Hormone-colored Reviews

Let's be honest

2011-04-29T09:12:00.002-05:00

This blog never really took off. In part because I'd rather write about stories than about stuff. That said, I'm happy to talk about products that become a part of my story, like this travel gear or this bra, but I don't do it on this "review" blog.

If you have a product that might fit the bill- travel, food, geek stuff, boy stuff, tween and teen stuff, hardware and housewares- drop me a note at reluctantrenovator (at) hotmail (dot) com.

Lands End Bathing Suit Review and Gift Card Giveaway

2009-04-20T10:35:00.007-05:00

I'm especially thrilled with the new Lands' End Slendersuit swim suit I was sent for review because on the final day of our recent water park trip I noticed the back of my old bathing suit was threadbare almost, but thankfully not quite, down to my bum.

I was mortified! But rather than question why not one person in my group of 11 pulled me aside and mentioned something, I'll gush about the new suit that covers me in all the right places. Make that covers me and holds me in in all the right places.

The Slendersuit lives up to it's name. It's like a tummy-tuck in a bathing suit. It gently holds my belly in without constricting my innards. A bit of shirred fabric enhances my waistline and as the website promises, the floral "geo daisy" pattern "conceals and flatters." Both DH and I give it a thumbs-up (though he might be sad to see my peek-a-boo look go).

I'm thrilled that this and many other Lands' End swim suits are available in petite sizes. I need a "short torso" suit to get the right fit. They also make plus-sizes (even petite plus) and suits for women who've had mastectomies.

I'm looking forward to sunny days at the pool in my new suit. And based on my experience with this brand, I expect to be wearing it next summer and the summer after, too.

And what about you?

Lands' End and I would love to get you ready for summer with a $100 Lands' End gift card giveaway.

You can pick up a suit that makes you feel fabulous, or cave and spend it on the kids. If you're the kids of person who avoids the sun, maybe housewares are more your thing? Lands' End makes super snoozy pillows and cushy mattress toppers that have earned the Moldofsky seal of approval.

Rules: Leave a comment letting me know how you'll spend the gift card.

Entries from US residents will be accepted through by 8 AM CST on Monday, April 27, 2009. Blog or Tweet this post for an extra entry each (come back and comment to let me know you did so). You can also gain an extra entry by subscribing to my main blog. Winner will be chosen via random.org.

Edited 4/22 to add a video overview of Lands' End swimsuits:

Cetaphil Daily Sunscreen SPF 50

2009-02-20T16:22:00.003-06:00

Age, health problems and the meds I use to treat those health problems have taken their toll on my skin. In a nutshell: it's dry, blotchy and extremely sensitive to the sun. So I was thrilled to sample Cetaphil's new facial moisturizer UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50.

Cetaphil is known for products that are easy on the skin, so when I read that this was a serious sunscreen that could also be used as a daily moisturizer, I got all excited.

In reality though, as many products with a high SPF, the lotion left a whitish cast on my skin. And after a couple of days of use, it appeared to be aggravating my skin.

Bummer.

I don't think I'm going toss this. I know when summer comes and I head to the pool or beach with my boys my options for a heavy-duty sunscreen that doesn't cast a ghostly pall on my face or clog my pores are limited, so I'll keep this around knowing I could do worse.

But for my daily moisturizer I'm going to stick with some lighter.

PhotoWorks $50 gift card giveaway

2009-01-20T21:56:00.006-06:00

When Smartypants, my 10.5 year old was born, we took a million pictures of him. Maybe not that many, but at the time we were still using film (film!), and I have many photo albums from his early years.

About five or so years ago we went all-digital with our pictures, and I'll be darned if we've printed more than 50 of them in all that time. Sure, they are categorized and available to easy viewing right on our desktop computer. But who wants to fit four people in a single office chair and review years worth of photos?

Not me.

So when I had the chance to make a complimentary photo book from PhotoWorks, I was thrilled. I jumped in with an ambitious (for a PW virgin) project- last summer's vacation to Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

In retrospect, I would have picked something a bit smaller for my first go-round, but I LOVE the results. I have a high quality photo book that I can leisurely page through as I snuggle on the couch with my boys. I can tote it to grandmas and show her the good times from our family vacation. At last I have a vacation memory book- which is crucial because I'm forty and those brain cells are dying faster than you'd believe.

Because this was my first photo book, I don't have much to compare the PhotoWorks interface and process to, but I can say I figured it all out on my own. I had many choices in terms of cover colors, layouts and fonts. In fact, so many that it overwhelmed me a bit as a newbie, but then again, no one in my family is known for their sense of design.

As far as the finished product, I already told you I love it! It's hardcover with sturdy pages and binding. The photo quality equals what I sent in- meaning, my sharp pictures came out crisp and my fuzzy ones came out, well, less sharp. My fault, not theirs. (I'm on a learning curve, people.)

I'm giving away a $50 PhotoWorks gift card to one lucky winner. You can use the credit toward a photo book or any other PhotoWorks products like cards or gift items.

RULES To enter, leave a comment below letting me know what PhotoWorks project(s) you'll make if you win. Entries from US residents will be accepted through 11:30 AM CST 1/26. Blog or Tweet this post for an extra entry each (come back and comment to let me know you did so). You can also gain an extra entry by subscribing to my main blog.

KenKen: the new Sudoku

2009-01-19T10:31:00.001-06:00

Move over Sudoku, there's a new game in town- KenKen. It's the latest international puzzle craze.

We were sent a KenKen book (price around $9) in order to experience these math logic puzzles for ourselves. My eight-year-old and I took to them immediately. Well, once we figured out what were were supposed to do.

KenKen builds numeric skills through simple arithmetic puzzles that involve simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, or sometimes all four operations. See an example here.

Ken is the Japanese word for wisdom. Get yourself a double dose of wisdom--make that a three double doses, because I'm giving away a set of three KenKen books to one lucky winner.

These make for great unplugged entertainment on long snowbound days and are perfectly portable, making them great for travel, too.

RULES To enter, leave a comment below. Entries from US residents will be accepted through 9:30 AM CST 1/19. Blog or Tweet this post for an extra entry each (come back and comment to let me know you did so). You can also gain an extra entry by subscribing to my main blog.

Chopped: the new Food Network show

2009-01-13T00:30:00.002-06:00

Get the scoop on Chopped over at Stacy Libby's blog, Laptop TV Mom. She was part of a phone call with host-to-be Ted Allen. He was a hoot when he spoke to us at Camp Baby, and it sounds like he's just as amusing over the phone.

For an more official take on the show, click over to Food Network.

Zenses Giveaway!

2009-01-04T12:35:00.004-06:00

I'm too busy with Twitter and (yes, finally) Facebook to play video games, but when the folks at Game Factory sent me Zenses Ocean and Zenses Rainforest for free, I figured the games were worth a try. With thoughts of Punta Cana on my mind, I opened the Ocean game and negotiated the use of Pikachu's Nintendo DS.

These games are advertised as addictive puzzles for women over the age of 25, which in some ways puzzles me, but DH had little interest in them, so I guess they know their target market. As for eight-year-old Pikachu, he pretended not to like the Zenses games, but was sucked in before the first puzzle was solved.

Zenses Ocean features six games with puzzles accompanied by spa-type new agey music. It's like Brain Age lite. There's no annoying professor or depressing brain age labels, but users might find themselves thinking a bit to meet the challenges. Gals (and guys) can set the level of challenge for each game and play to her heart's content.

I'm not one to pick up my boys' DSs and wile away my time- that's what Twitter is for!- but I did find these games rather addictive once I started playing. And, because my visual-spatial abilities are, well, lacking, and my memory is fading, I found some of these puzzles pretty challenging. I felt portions of my tired old gray matter springing back to life!

I'm giving away a copy of Zenses Rainforest for Nintendo DS, which also features six multi-level games and a soothing soundtrack. See a trailer for it here.

RULES To enter, leave a comment below letting me your big time sinks. Entries from US residents will be accepted through 9:30 CST 1/12. Blog or Tweet this post for an extra entry each (come back and comment to let me know you did so). You can also gain an extra entry by subscribing to my main blog. Please note I will be sending my unopened Rainforest game to the winner via USPS.

Good luck!

Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer

2008-12-17T15:17:00.007-06:00

I was amazed when Smartypants (or was it DH, Pikachu or I) was in the hospital this summer and they took his (my?) temperature with this high-tech doodad that simply scanned his (my?) forehead. The thermometer didn't require an open mouth, poking around ears or other orifices. It was like something out of StarTrek (well, maybe the 1960's version).

Simple, painless and efficient. What more does a mom want?

So when Exergen offered to send me the same type of artery scanning thermometer for free, I jumped at it.

It arrived the other day. Yes, just in time for my boys' coughs, runny noses and flushed cheeks. My boys can't line up fast enough for me to take their temperatures with this. We all love it.

You simply run it over the person's forehead and bam! In about two seconds (or less) you've got an accurate reading.

Seriously, this is bringing out our inner hypochondriacs because every time I turn around, some little person is asking me to take his temp. It's that easy and fun.

I'm sure the novelty will wear off at some point, but the convenience is here to stay.

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, I didn't know what this cost. In my mind I was thinking it would be $50-$70, but it's available many places for under $30. Such a deal!

And you can win one here for $0!

RULES

To enter, leave a comment below letting me know how you comfort your little ones when they are sick. Entries from US residents will be accepted through noon on 12/28. Blog or Tweet this post for an extra entry each (come back and comment to let me know you did so). You can also gain an extra entry by subscribing to my main blog, but come back and let me know in the comments.

Sick Much? I'm also giving away a handy medical info organizer over at Momformation.

Divine fair trade chocolate giveaway

2008-12-17T06:38:00.000-06:00

This one's over a Momformation, where I also share tips on other holidays gifts with a conscience. Give a click.

MBT, the Anti-shoe

2008-12-16T09:37:00.001-06:00

I received a pair of MBT shoes early in the fall after having a surgery for a herniated disc. I was intrigued by the shoes because I noticed that they work to build the same muscles I was trying to shore up in physical therapy. As it turns out, I developed new disc problems and the shoes didn't work well because of that. I stopped rehab and had another spinal surgery, but I hope to make these part of my rehab routine soon.

I picked a fun pair of sneaker-type shoes that match my blog, the Walk Pink US. This turned out to be an unfortunate choice because Smartypants, my ten-year-old loves the shoes. But ten-year-old boy + funky pink shoes is not the best combo. He did wear them to Hebrew school one day, but that's a pretty tolerant crowd.

Here's what my boy said about the MBT "hump shoes."

I like the shoes because when you walk with your heel first, they sort of lift you up into the air because of the backwards hump on the bottom. I also like to feel the squishy shape that forms the hump on the bottom of the shoe. When I run in them, I run faster than normal. When I run in them, I feel (I’m not sure exactly how to describe it) a little bit of weight on me and I can just run on the hump of it. I really, really, really want these shoes, but they are way too expensive for me because they would take up five eighths of my bank account. I would really like it if I could have my own boy-colored pair. I especially want to run faster because I am probably the shortest kid in my grade, and the shoes also make me taller because of standing on the hump, which is also good.

There you have it. I'll be back with my adult take when I'm ready for rehab.

About Hormone-colored Reviews

2008-12-10T08:59:00.005-06:00

Edited 1/10/11 to add: Thanks an for clicking! You are a true PR Pro, unlike the other 98% that (based on my stats and inbox) never bother clicking through and sen d me pitches for diapers and tutus. I am not interested in unsolicited items at this time as I do very few reviews these days.

However, I do spend quite a bit of time developing MomImpact, where I connect bloggers and brand for conversations, events, and product reviews. If you would like to receive our free monthly e-newsletter touching on trending issues and hot topics in the online mom-space, please sign up here or drop me a note at kim (at) momimpact (dot) com.

Thanks!

---------------------------------------------------------

Dear PR Pro,

Please note, I now post most of my reviews back at Hormone Colored Days. Please click to read more about me, or continue reading below to learn about products I like.

I'm an avid and influential blogger, Tweeter and social media consultant. I'm a managing editor at The Chicago Moms and my personal blog, Hormone-colored Days.

As an active social media mom, I've recently been quoted in Parenting magazine, the Christian Science Monitor, iParenting.com, The Chicago Tribune, MSNBC.com and Automotive News. Click over for the full view of my published writing and media appearances.

I am looking for products in the following categories:
Boy stuff
Tween Stuff
Mom Stuff
Geek Stuff
Food Stuff*
Books. We love books.

I rarely run ads, nor do I do pay-for-post work, but I'd like a sample of your product before I blog it. If my family likes it, I'll probably write about it and ask you to give the same fabulous product away to one of my readers. I love to share a great new find with my peeps.

I present real-life, balanced product reviews. However, if your product is a total flop, I likely won't waste my time writing about it. After all, I've got meals to cook, carpools to drive and clients to advise.

Please contact me before you send product my way. I'm pro-choice. I like to have a say in what you send to ensure we have the best possible match.

Take a peek at past product reviews. And while you're at it, maybe you'd like my thoughts about marketing to mommybloggers.

Sound good? Let's connect!

Kim

Pat the Husband: A giveaway!

2008-12-08T09:07:00.008-06:00

This book was one of my funniest 2008 finds. I first reviewed it on my main blog, Hormone-colored Days and now I'm giving away my very gently-used copy.

Pat the Husband: A Parody is a hilarious 16-page riff on the lovable children's book, Pat the Bunny. Only it's funnier. And for adults. Or young children who won't get the adult subtext.

Readers help Husband find the remote, discover where the ketchup bottle is hidden, and meet other daunting challenges. It's a hoot! It's a fun girlfriend gift and will make you the hit of any moms group.

There is one glaring omission in the book- there's no little activity to help Husband change the toilet paper, a task my DH is unable to master!

RULES To enter, leave a comment below letting me know what little task your husband falls short on. Entries from US residents will be accepted through noon on 12/16. Blog or Tweet this post for an extra entry each (come back and comment to let me know you did so). You can also gain an extra entry by subscribing to my main blog.

Good luck!

(Disclaimer: My husband is totally helpful other than the toilet paper thing.)

I'm giving away sex at Momformation this week!

2008-12-08T08:52:00.002-06:00

Well, sort of. I'm sharing my bounty to help my blogfriends get some booty this holiday season. I'm giving away a set of KY Yours+Mine at Momformation.

Let me clarify it's a factory-sealed boxed set of product. You can read my sort-of-review of Yours+Mine here. I posted about it back in May and Google is still bringing me hits. People are curious about this his-and-hers lubricant product, or should I call it an experience?

Don't miss out of your chance to win a free set.

Win a Nerf Rocket Pass

2008-11-28T06:52:00.008-06:00

This soft, Nerfy Rocket Pass Football lights up when you throw it in a neat spiral, something I've yet to do, but my boys seem to manage on a regular basis.

It also has a continual light up mode. We've had trouble getting that to work, but it does light up long enough to manage a pass in the dark, even an imperfect one. Edited 11/28 to add: We figured out how to work the light up mode. It involves holding pressing a certain area for about 10 seconds, rather than the four listed in the instructions. The boys are plating with it again tonight. They couldn't wait to show it to their friend.

This football was the hit of last night's Thanksgiving dinner. Well, that and my pumpkin pie. We had nearly a dozen children ages 6-13 outside after dark playing football. They had a blast with this ball. Everyone loved it!

Now you can have one, too. Along with passing tips from Peyton Manning, which I should read, and two “AAA” batteries.

To win a Nerf Rocket Pass, leave a comment below with a way to contact you. For extra entries (one each), Twitter or link to this post on your blog. Contest ends at midnight on Thursday, December 4. Winner will be chosen at random and the prize will be shipped by the sponsor. This contest is open to US residents only.