I'm Back!!!!!

I'm back................!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, things have been cRaZy! My unplanned absence from Smarty Pants over the last 2 weeks is due to a calamity of reasons....from my knee being a pain and in pain, to an impromptu role as a summer camp counselor!

Well, I'm back and have tons to catch up on!!! Over this week I will post:

1. The winner of the last Smarty Pants Product of the Week Giveaway for the Rock N Learn CD.
2. The next Smarty Pants Product of the Week!
3. Over a dozen CPSC product recalls!
4. A FABULOUS summer recipe!
5. A GREAT website to use with your munchkin(s)!
6. and more!!!!!!!

Looking forward to spending the summer with you, my super fantastic Smarty Pants Mama readers!

Smiles,
Caroline

Smarty Pants Product of the Week - Nursery Rhymes CD

Product
Nursery Rhymes CD by Rock N Learn
Smarty Pants Review
Tested by kids! At my daughter’s summer camp, full of 2 ½ to 4 ½ year olds, the Nursery Rhymes CD played all day today! The kids loved the songs, and with a selection of over 40 songs, you are certain to hear your favorite childhood rhyme! A lyric book comes with the CD! This is a FANTASTIC bonus for us mama’s who have forgotten the lyrics to some rhymes that we haven’t sung in decades!
Why is it a Smarty Pants of Product?
The Rock N Learn Nursery Rhymes CD provides the classics – the songs you learned as a child – in a lively tune to be adored and sung by your munchkin(s)!
Retail Value
$12.95
Website
http:// http://www.rocknlearn.com/

And the Winner is..... read to find out!!!

Thanks for the many responses for the Smarty Pants Product of the Week Giveaway for the Bottle Snuggler! Below are some of the responses! Read below to find out the name of the lucky winner!

• teddybear
• My snugglers are my nieces who kindly hold the bottle to help their Aunt feed Baby Brody. =)
• My favorite is the precious puppy!
• love the cuddly cow!
• The Precious Puppy is so cute
• As a first-time upcoming Grandma, this item would be perfect! Precious Puppy would be just right! Thanks for offering such a nice prize.
• Cuddly Cow is my favorite, it's so cute!
• Precious puppy
  I like the Charming Teddy Bear snuggler best. So cute!
• i love the pinky pig
• my snuggler is the precious puppy it is so cute
• Yummy Yellow Bunny!
• I would love to try precious pubby. So cute!
• Oh, my snuggler is a charming teddy bear!
• Charming Teddy Bear is my choice should I be fortunate enough to win.
• Charming Teddy Bear
• precious puppy
• cuddly cow
• puppy
• yummy yellow bunny

And the lucky winner is..... Christine Walker! Congrats Christine!!!

Recall Wednesday - 2005 Novara Trionfo Bicycles, Bugaboo Bee Strollers, & Offset Patio Umbrellas

Below are the CPSC recalls that I have received this past week. Components of the recalls are included below. Please see the CPSC website for more detailed information on the items.
Smiles :-)Smarty Pants Mama
PS - Has Recall Wednesday ever alerted you of a product that you have had in your home? I want to hear about it!!! Please share!

Name of Product: 2005 Novara Trionfo Bicycles
Hazard: The fork can separate from the steerer tube which can cause the rider to lose control, posing a fall hazard.
Description: This recall involves 2005 Novara Trionfo bicycles with Aprebic carbon fiber forks. The bicycles are blue and white with black forks, and have the name “Novara” printed on the bars.
Sold at: REI retail stores nationwide from January 2005 through August 2006 for between $720 and $1,900.
To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09234.html

Name of Product: Bugaboo Bee Strollers
Hazard: One or both sides of the brakes can fail, causing a stroller to unexpectedly roll away on an incline. This can pose a risk of injury to the child occupant.
Description: Bugaboo Bee strollers have item code 580210 on a label on the back of the seat and item code 50100 on a label on the plastic support under the seat. The strollers were sold in blue, dark khaki, pink, red, yellow, and black. “bugaboo® bee” is printed on the left side of the seat.
Sold at: Juvenile product retailers nationwide and on various Web sites from August 2007 through April 2009 for about $530.

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09233.html

Name of Product: Offset Patio Umbrellas
Hazard: The patio umbrella and its pole could tip over and strike consumers if the umbrella’s collar or sleeve is not removed prior to closing the umbrella, posing a risk of impact injury to consumers.
Description: The patio umbrellas are beige with a brown offset pole. They stand 11 feet tall. The base is a brown cross about 18 inches long.
Sold at: The Home Depot stores nationwide from January 2009 through February 2009 for about $250.

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09232.html

The New Excercise Routine!

It's now been nearly 4 weeks since my latest knee surgery (hardware removal and scope)! Ouch!

Over the last year, I have had to dedicate much of my time to the recuperation from my very serious knee injury (Feb. 08) and subsequent surgeries (Feb 08 & May 09.) It has been a struggle to find an exercise routine that would get my hear rate up, not hurt my knee and ideally be enjoyable. With the limiations of no high impact cardio, walking with a limp and the inability to run, I finally found the solution with water aerobics. Have you ever tried it? I love it! Yes, I'm typically one of the youngest in the class, but it provides EXACTLY what I need! I enrolled in a water aerobics class at the local community college last fall. I go 2 nights a week.

Last weekend, we took our exercise plan to a new level in this house! We joined a gym! Yes, the gym has water aerobics, in a great indoor pool! It has a full size basketball court and unbelievable equipment for the hubby, and most importantly for the munchkin in this house, it has a great Kids Club. The munchkin has a great time doing her own exercise while I swim and daddy lifts weights and shoots some hoops!

I'll let you know how it goes! I hope we stick to it!

Smarty Pants Product of the Week - Bottle Snuggler

Product

Bottle Snuggler
Smarty Pants Review
The Bottle Snuggler is one of those products that must have sensed my tremendous frustration when my munchkin was bottle feeding!! I will never forget the dreams I would have, anxious for the day when she could hold the bottle herself! If you’re a mommy, especially a baby's mommy, you know what I’m talking about!!!
The Bottle Snuggler is essentially “mommy’s hand!” The bottle easily sits in the BottleBand™, which velcros to the adorable toy (pink bunny in my sample), and then sits on the baby’s belly – positioned so the baby can easily drink her bottle. Now, please understand that this is no substitution for mommy’s presence. A baby must ALWAYS have someone monitoring them as they drink – in case of burping or choking.
This product is available in a variety of colors and animals.
Why is it a Smarty Pants of Product?

Gives mommy a break!! No more cramped wrist from holding the bottle!!
Retail Value

$23.95

Website

http:// http://www.bottlesnugglers.com/

And the winner of the Health Master is...read to find out!

I received EXCELLENT ideas for smoothie ingredients!!! Below are some of the comments/ingredients. Are you inspired to make a yummy smoothie! I am!!! I've read both in the comments and in the Health Master recipe collection that comes with the blender, the use of spinach in a smoothie. I LOVE spinach but never have thought of using it together with fruit. I'll have to try it out! (PS....at the end you'll find the name of the lucky winner!!!)

• My favorite smoothie ingredient would be honey - no matter what else I throw in as regards fruit etc, a small drizzle of honey just pulls it all together.
• I loove blueberries in my smoothies! I could seriously eat just blueberries, soy milk and ice.
• My favorite smoothie ingredient is non-fat yogurt with a dash of vanilla extract.
• My favorite smoothie ingredient would be strawberry if I had ever drank one. I would honestly love to try one.
• We love having fruit smoothies and our favorite ingredient to use is mango!
  strawberry and banannas
• yogurt
• Pineapple. One pineapple can go a LONG way in smoothies and it always adds a tropical feel to the day.
• I add bananas to almost every smoothie!
• I love frozen strawberries in a smoothie!
• My favorite smoothie ingredient has to be strawberries.
• Banana Strawberry SPinach! YUM!!!
• Bananas and strawberries
• My favorite ingredient is whey protein. I could really use this for protein shakes.
• My favorite smoothie ingredient is strawberries.
• My favorite smoothie ingredient is banana - I make can't make one without one!
• I love a TON a different items in my smoothies...I'm a girl who enjoys variety. However, a smoothie just doesn't seem complete to me without banana.
• I love adding wheat germ to my smoothies! You can't even really taste it but it gives a definite health boost. Thanks
• my favorite ingredient is mangoes.
• My favorite ingredient is probably bananas.
• My favorite ingredient is strawberries!
• Yogurt! The base of any great smoothie.
• My favorite smoothie ingredient is fresh strawberries! Yum!
• My favorite smoothie ingredient that I use all the time is orange juice.
• We love making smoothies out of yogurt and a combination of fresh and frozen fruit.
• Current faves are berry kefir, frozen raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries if we don't have fresh ones around!
• My favorite smoothie ingredient is bananas & strawberries.
• My favorite smoothie ingedient is good old strawberrys
• Favorite smoothie ingredients...
  Bananas with peanut butter & milk! The kids LOVE it!
• I love raspberries in my smoothies!
• My favorite smoothie ingredients are frozen berries. Blueberries, blackberries or strawberries!
• My favorite smoothie ingredient is MANGO. Yummy!
• I love fruit smoothies, especially with pineapple and coconut or mixed berries.
  My favorite is bananas and strawberries. Thank you!
• Strawberries
• Banana and Strawberry is my favorite kind of smoothie.
• blueberries
• I always add frozen bananas!
• My smoothie recipe: whey protein, flax seed, wheat germ, psyllium, ice, soy milk, blueberries
• My favorite smoothie ingredient is blueberries. They have a nice texture and sweetness when properly blended, and they are loaded with antioxidants. They are great blended with vanilla soymilk or plain yogurt alone or with other fruits and veggies.
• My favorite smoothie ingredient is peaches and raspberry sorbet
  I make the chocolate Arbonne protein shake and add 1tsp peanut butter and 1/3 banana. It's great.
• We use bananas most, they add a nice natural sweetness.
• We love strawberry smoothie
• I love making smoothies and vegetable drinks. I love making banana and strawberry smoothies....
  1 cup strawberries
  1 med. banana
  1 cup ff plain yogurt
  1 tab. peanutbutter.
  Blend til smooth.. then drink up and enjoy.
  I would love to have an Healthmaster so I can make smoothies for my whole family.
  I work hard to make healthy meals for my family.
  www.myhealthmaster.com .... The BEST
• My favorite smoothie is avocado.
• I like smoothie with yogurt
• Cranberry, Spinage, Carrots, Greenapples and oranges!! Taste Great!!

The lucky winner of the Health Master is......(drum roll please)....ROXY!!!

Congratulations Roxy!!!!

Thank you to the remarkable number of readers who entered the giveaway! Be sure to check out this week's product of the week!