When 1001 Grill Covers contacted me, I was so happy! I'd finally found a grill cover for our custom made table for out Big Green Egg smoker and grill. A good grill cover that's not plain black or green, is really hard to find. Seriously have you ever looked around? Blah! I know that my husband, step father, brother in laws, father in law and friends will certainly love the cool barbecue grill covers that they will open for Christmas this year! They have some cool covers for almost any grill out there. Some cover the entire barbecue grill, some only the grill top. I'd never seen a cover like this even after selling grills for over 10 years. I'm quite impressed with the options that they have available. This is a gorgeous grill cover with Banana leaves all over it. Wouldn't that look great beside a pool or on a great wooden deck? I think this would be perfect for my sister's husband. This is certainly what my husband would pick out. He loves peppers and right now we even have a little basket on the table full of peppers! I can't wait to see his face when he realizes this one will fit our custom table that he is building out of cypress! With all of the grill covers, I know that you will find the perfect one for the man on your shopping list! This is a sponsored post from 1001 Grill Covers.

Here recently I hit a blogging milestone. I completed Kelly McCausey's Blogging Internship. If you have never heard of Kelly, let me tell you a little bit about her. She's a single mom of a teenage son, and internet entrepreneur. Kelly's motto, "Working at home whenever I want.

One of the things that really impressed me with Kelly is that she has created the tools to help mom's work at home.

In today's day in age, blogging is the big thing, right?

A lot of my friends and family look at me like I'm crazy when I mention that I blog. They have no idea what that's about, they just know that I'm internet savvy. Well until this summer, I wasn't nearly as savvy as I am now.

There are mom blogs of every shape and size these days. Mom's of all walks of life are blogging, and I was one of those mom's.

I always felt like I was missing something.

(more...)

Yep, its been a while. I'm still around, mostly lurking, but I'm here. My life has changed a lot since I posted last. I've gained a husband, 2 kids and 3 dogs! I know right! So please excuse my absence. Here lately other than wedding stuff, we've had a few rough weeks. In order to get into the spirit of spring I'm sitting down with one of my sewing projects tonight. I'm not sure if that's a way to de-stress or not. Over at my personal blog I'm about to start a series about control journals. If you don't know what that is, then you may need one! Right now I have a wonderful giveaway for something similar that you can access online, its called BLIS: Best Life Information System. Its the coolest thing! It helps you keep up with all of your appointments, your kids school things, doctor's records, that remodeling project and even helps write your grocery list from your own recipes! (hey there's a link to my Chocolate Pound Cake too!!) I also have another giveaway that should be up later this week from UPrinting. So why not come subscribe to Polka Spot Farm, and keep up with what's going on. I miss y'all!

Hurry and comment! We are giving away one copy of ToDoodList. This is a great orginizational tool that we reviewed a while back, and loved! Nick gave us multiple copies to giveaway, so this is your chance! Comment number 30 will win a copy and also copy goes to comment number 35 (or next on the list if same as 30)!

*UPDATE* Please comment with ideas for the future of Sensational Divas Review Blog. Additional entries can be gained for subscribing to our personal blogs found in column to your right. 1 comment for each subscription please.

Hurry and you will have a good chance on winning one of these! More live giveaways to come!

Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School by Herman Parish and Lynne Avril, is such an adorable book. This is not the first book to be published, but it’s a great addition to our collection. Our family loves Amelia Bedilia (never call her only Amelia by the way). This little girl is the cutest little girl ever. She takes everything that the teacher says literally. You never tell Amelia Bedilia to keep herself glued to her seat. Can you imagine what that child’s mother thought after her first day? Whew! This is a great book with great When we read Marley Goes to School by John Grogan , we laughed so hard, because the first day of school, our Dottie wanted to go also. It was hard to keep her in the van while I walked the kids to their classes. Kayla loved this story because Marley reminds her of our dog Dottie so much. Marley however makes it into the school and interupst the entire day. Just like the playful pup we have, Marley is always the center of attention. My daughter enjoyed these books so much that they have read and re-read them in her classroom for the last two weeks. These two books are parent, kid and teacher approved. Thanks goes out to Harper Collins for the opportunity to review your books! They are staying on our bookshelf for a while.

When I heard that we were reviewing Piggy Paint, I was so happy. I had heard about this product and have been very excited about using it. Being advertised as natural as mud, I was pretty skeptical. I searched for a color that both my daughter and I could use, and came up with something nice. In fact it was very similar to other brands that I had been using.

I used this on myself first, because my kids were with their dad on their summer break. I painted my toenails and was impressed that there was no chemical smell to it at all. I’m so used to my polish nearly taking my breath that I was very impressed. The first thought was that it really smelled like mud! Ha!

The polish remover has no smell at all, not sure how they do that, but it’s pretty cool. I’ve used it to take my polish off, and it works with only a bit more time and scrubbing than the normal stuff I buy. Something that I have started using it for, is removing the pesky temporary tattoos from my daughters skin. It does have alcohol in it, but the aloe helps to keep it from burning. This has worked really well for us, because nothing else gets those things off without turning her skin red with scrubbing or burning.

I’m very impressed with these products and will be buying them in the future. It looks like part of my Christmas and birthday lists has been taken care of with these products. Thanks for allowing me to review your products Piggy Paint! I’m so excited to find a new product for all of the women and girls in our family.

Christi: I found the gummy bear’s package this morning, and no one owns up to eating them! I'd rather that they sneak these than real candy.

LaDonna: yummy!

Christi: But I didn't get to try them! (the gummy bears that is) These only had 70% of vitamin C daily recommendations, but you know some of them had 100% and some had 100% Calcium too.

LaDonna: If I hadn't of been right here when the package arrived I wouldn't have gotten any.

Christi: I had at least some of all of the others.

LaDonna: no corn syrup. I like that too.

Sweets: and of course organic! So the kids loved them?

LaDonna: yep; J too.

Christi: Can you get these locally? I don't think we can, but I'll ask my local health food store to order them, because I'd love to keep these around.

LaDonna: I don't know. I know you can get them at Toys R Us and we have those stores in the cities. Yeah, I could ask the health food store. I'm sure she'd get them in for me.

Sweets: Toys R Us? Really! That's great.

LaDonna: That's a pretty big store.

Christi: We try to avoid that store, but I guess we could go in for good-for-you snacks on our Kidless Weekends

LaDonna: Yeah, I've never been to a Toys R Us, but I would never want to take my children there!

Christi: So which of the TruSweets do you like the most? My favorite was the Sour worms.

LaDonna: Even though the Sour Berry Bears had a different texture I liked them best. It wasn't so different that I didn't get used to it quickly, but different than I first expected.

Christi: I was expecting the same texture as you would get in any candy isle, but these were different, not bad different, but different.

LaDonna: The girls loved the Gummy Worms.

Christi: I was a little disappointed that the sour varieties were not all that sour, but they were still my favorites.

LaDonna: Yes, you are right there. But I'm sure that sour stuff is all synthetic bad for you chemicals.

Christi: I guess you are probably right, but that doesn't make me like it! lol

LaDonna: hee hee What are some of the other samples we were sent?

Christi: rofl! I don't remember. There was the gummy bears, and the worms, and some kinda swirl one...We ate them so fast I couldn't keep up!

LaDonna: Well, some of the others listed on the information sheet include: Gummy Worms, Gummy Swirls, Gummy Bears. Fruity Bears and Jelly Beans.

Christi: I didn't get jelly beans

LaDonna: We didn't get the jelly beans, I don't think. Sour Worms, Sour Berry Bears and Snack Packs. Organic, organic, organic. I think it's something we can trust - they taste good. They look good. The kids love 'em!!

Christi: yep! and I LOVE THEM!

LaDonna: And so do the moms and the dads!

A Big thanks goes out to TruSweets for allowing us to review your products! The Diva's love them and are gladly giving away a package on SSDR. So hurry and sign up!

Christi: LaDonna, have you used your Fuji EnviroMAX batteries?
LaDonna: Yep, in lots of things like flashlights, remotes, and W's camera.
Christi: Well I forgot to charge my batteries before we left for Tuscaloosa, and forgot the charger. So I took some of Scott’s batteries and put them in my camera. They lasted for 2 pictures before dying! I was upset! I thought it was my camera. So I dug out the EnviroMAX AA's for electronics. I was really impressed. They lasted for about 200 pictures. My reusable batteries that cost a TON last about 300 pictures.
LaDonna: WOW! That's great!
Christi: I know, right!
LaDonna: That's similar to what Tammy said.
Christi: Now Scott's batteries were not Duracell or Energizer, but they were working in everything else. Most of the time I opt for the regular Duracell or Energizer and they last for 150 pictures or something; I normally don't get the ones for electronics.    I haven't priced these batteries, but for my camera, I'd buy them even if they were a little more, especially because they are environmentally friendly.
LaDonna: See I have only bought rechargeable Duracell for my camera.
Christi: I bought Fuji rechargeables that week too, and like them. I wonder if they will do the rechargeable ones in the environmentally friendly ones?  We should check online for that and for a price.

Christi: So what was your experience with them?
LaDonna: We put them in J's Mag-light (it takes C's). It was shining brighter than the store brand batteries.
Christi: Oh I bet with him being a fire fighter, that could be a great advantage!
LaDonna: except he never uses that flash light while fire fighting.
Christi: oh ok
Christi: He may want to now, if it’s that much brighter.
LaDonna: Yeah
Christi: Men sometimes treat their flashlights like their dogs (man's best friend). But I never have one when I need it, or the batteries are dead.
LaDonna: Yeah.

LaDonna: I put them in the remotes and I haven't noticed a difference but it takes a long time for store brand to run out of power in remotes. W has an old 35mm camera that we've put them in. They work great in there.

Christi: With these batteries, I'm not as worried about them being left in flashlights and things long term. cause if they leak, I don't think there's anything in there that will be harmful.
LaDonna: To me, batteries are batteries. I never worried before. But I do like that they are safer. And that they last longer than store brand. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fuji+enviromax+batteries The prices are comparable to regular batteries. that's important too.
Christi: Yep, 'cause even though I love the environment and all, I live on a very tight budget.
LaDonna: Yeah, we are living on one income too with 5 kids. I may just change brands of batteries whether I go environmental or not. To me, they are making an effort in that direction.

LaDonna: I can't actually buy them here in Canada. But I can order them online.
Christi: Oh, well that sux. If you do bulk, it should be less expensive too.

Kim: I thought the batteries were pretty good. I don't think anything I've used them in has ran out of juice. I'm sure a lot of people would think they would run out quick due to the fact they are environmentally friendly, but they seem to hold a good charge.

Steph: Nothing I used them in has run out and DH has used them in his xbox and he normally goes thru batteries left n right. I also used them in the flashlight.

Don't forget to enter our giveaway too.

The Colors Are Bright AND FUN!!!

Don't forget to enter our giveaway.

LaDonna: I have used my Mabel’s Labels on dishes, clothes and other things.  I have one picture of W holding a bowl with a label on it.
Christi: cool, send it to me!
LaDonna: Ok.
Christi: Which color combo did you get?
LaDonna: Hmm, purple, pink and blue I think.
Christi: I think what we got was the Princess colors; nope, it’s the Cotton Candy.
LaDonna: It's the Back to School Package that we received.
Christi: I put Kayla's first and last name on them and she picked a kitty for the icon.
LaDonna: Here’s the package we received for review - $39.00 for a pack of 50 Tag-Mates, 40 Skinny-Minis, 16 Shoe Labels, 2 NEW Teeny Tags.  Dishwasher/microwave-safe and UV resistant. Clothing labels are laundry safe.

There Are Lots Of Logos, Too. Great Personalization Options!

LaDonna: I had no icon and put H***** Family on it.
Christi: That's a great idea. We have a mixed family, so I just chose one kid.
LaDonna: I love these labels!  I have put them on toys, which W promptly removed.  I have put them on K's purse.  I put the metal tags on my 2 diaper bags.  I love them.
Christi: I was kind of disappointed by getting the Tag-Mates, because none of my kids’ uniform shirts have labels, but the pants do, and they've worked great for that.
LaDonna: Oh, I didn't put them on the tags, but then I haven't put them on an article of clothing specifically, just K’s purse.  I haven't used the shoe ones either.
Christi: I would have chosen the iron-in ones.  The shoe ones are wonderful. They are staying in much better than I thought.
LaDonna: That's good.
Christi: I liked the skinny minis too. They've stayed on thru dishwashing, and look like I just put them on.
LaDonna: Yeah, that's what I was going to say, Christi.  I expected fading and peeling.  Oh, I put one on my glass 9 by 13 baking pan. Nothing.  Looks brand new.
Steph: I just went thru the school clothes and am putting some on there.
Christi: They are stretchy kinda like, so they don't stay straight when you put them on.
Steph: I’m waiting to use mine on dishes until I get my Tupperware I ordered for the girls’ and DH’s lunches.
LaDonna: These labels look great too.  Not tacky.  Now when I take my dish to church, I know it will come back.
Christi: One actually got stuck to itself on the corner, I used it anyways, and washed it, and it still looks like it’s gonna stay on there.
LaDonna: Sweet.

Very, Very Versatile

LaDonna: I need to put some on my crock pot and its base.
Christi: That's a great idea; I wish they were oven proof.
LaDonna: Going to do that now and take a picture.  They aren't?  Because I baked mine and baked it good.
Christi: lol.  Then maybe it is!
Steph: Ok will put mine on stuff too and take a picture. Be right back.
Christi: Send me the pictures please so I can compile them.

Christi: I used those on glass and plastic, and both stayed wonderfully. I'm quite impressed.
LaDonna: Same here.
Christi: Most of them are smaller than I expected, but I actually enjoyed them.  If they were larger, it would be too much.  And I put the metal tags on her school stuff - one on her backpack one on her pencil pouch.
LaDonna: And you are right about them not being too big; I worried about them being too small too.  But they are perfect.

Just the RIGHT Size!!!

Christi: Did you see that they do household labels too?  I'm thinking of ordering some of those.  I would love to find some glass spice jars to use. I don't care for the plastic ones; they absorb the oils too easily.
LaDonna: Yes.  I am going to get some labels for the girls’ birthdays.  At least that's the plan.  Stuff with their names specifically on them.
Christi: Great idea.

A Wonderful Product for Moms!

LaDonna: Definitely made by moms, at the very least by keeping moms in mind.
Christi: I would order all of these and multiples of some that I've seen on the website and they aren't too expensive.  I do wish that some of them were offered in different colors.  I have a label maker, and these are so much better and cheaper than making my own.
LaDonna: Yes.

Cheaper Than Making Your Own

Steph: Ok I love the Mabel’s Labels; they are so cute.  I kinda wish I hadn’t picked pink as the color since I put N***** Family.
Christi: But you can use them for everyone but your husband's things.
Steph: lol I put them on his big and small food thingies that hold hot stuff; I just put them on the bottom.
Christi: That works. Steph, did you choose an icon?
Steph: A flag.

Christi: Kim, what do you think about the Mabel's Labels?
Kim: LOVED them.  They came just in time for our camping trip and dd6 was with other people.
Christi: Right.  What did you put on them?
Kim: I put them in dd6's jacket, as well in some clothing items.

LaDonna: The other thing I was thinking about the labels is that they are great for each kid.  I'd like to have laundry baskets for each one, things that get mixed up easy.
Christi: I can think of a ton of things to use them on.  If you had a pack for kid, and color coded, it would be so much easier!
LaDonna: Yep.

LaDonna: Shoes are tough for me because they are growing so fast and K and CJ share so much.  Gonna try out the ones for shoes in my shoes right now though.  They are so easy to apply!
Christi: Yeah I agree there, I wonder how hand me downs will be? Can they be removed from clothing and shoes?
Steph: I put it into the girls’ school shoes that have to stay at school; that way they don’t get lost.
Christi: They have to stay at school? Wow!
Kim: A friend of mine has kids who have to keep extra stuff at school.
LaDonna: We always had to have a pair at shoes that never left the school.
Christi: I know Payton came home with one of his shoes once, and one from the same style, color and size, but much older pair.
Steph: I went thru 3 brand new sweaters for S. last year so I also put them on the sweaters and sweatshirts.

Cute Labels for Shoes!

Christi: http://www.mabel.ca/mabel.php?n=bin%20labels%20custom Those would be great for bins and baskets; you can customize them for each person in the house. Or Christmas decorations or whatever.
LaDonna: I love the bin labels too!  I need those for the too small - too big clothes!
Steph: I want the neat freak combo.

Christi: I want it ALL!
Steph: lol me too!!

Christi: I'm thinking I could put one on Scott too, maybe everyone will know he's mine then! ROFL!
LaDonna: lol
Steph: lol

Christi: Kim, how have they held up for you? Washing and stuff?
Kim: It held up great to washing.  Even though we won't be doing public school this year, we do have a couple of activities planned with other people.  I probably will attach labels to snack containers as well as sippy cups.  I also need to put one in my diaper bag.
LaDonna: Cool.
Christi: If you do swimming for the girls, most towels have tags; you could use one on them. I hate to buy a nice towel and then some other kid grabs it.
Steph: That’s a good idea!

So Far, They Don't Come Off!

Christi: Did anyone browse the Kid Safety Products at Mabel’s Labels?
LaDonna: No, I don't think I did.
Christi: They do 2 products.
Steph: Yeah, the wristbands, right?
Christi: My 411 Wristbands and Allergy Alerts. Great ideas! I know this is a Mom company!  If I had a kid with food allergies that would be a must for me.
LaDonna: Yep.
Christi: Ha! They give 10% to Autism Speaks for those! I really like that! I have a few friends with kids that are ADHD and some on the Autism Spectrum. They could really use these with the kids that wander.  Those bands are cute, looks like cute bracelets.

Mabel's Labels Donates to Autism Speaks!!!

Kim: That back to school pack had a ton of labels on it; definitely a good value!
LaDonna: I will be using them for a while to get them all used up.
Christi: Yeah same here; should last more than one school year too.

A Great Value for Your Dollars!!

I was presented with this review a little while back, and said okay I'll review it. It's water, I like water. It tastes like fruit, I like fruit. I knew that it was a package of different flavors, but really I was wondering what all the hype was about. I've seen it in the stores, but normally I just grab a case of water or a water filter for my pitcher. I had been considering one of those water filters with "fruit shots" so I decided to see if that would be worth it by trying Fruit2o.



When the mail lady showed up, she wasn't at my house. The package didn't fit into my obscenely gigantic rural mailbox. It was a big box. So as is the custom here, don't leave the package on the table beside the door, drive to the nearest neighbor (1/4 mile away) and see if they are at home. If they are not home, leave it on the ground by their door.

So I ran by my neighbor's house to drop off the kids, or pick them up or something. I don't really remember. (Hey! This summer has been nothing but GO! GO! Go!) I was told that there was a package waiting on me, so I was thrilled. I love packages! I don't love mail, that usually includes bills, and I don't like those.

I promptly ran back to my van and before I could get home, I'd opened the box. There it was, in all its glory! Fuit2o. My first thought was that the packaging was ingenious! I wish that I had pictures, but somehow they are lost. I took a LOT of pictures of this package, and poof! There was a produce bag, like oranges come in, with two bottles of water. There was a plastic container, like a quart of strawberries would be sold, with two bottles (falling out and crushing, but it was a great idea if not a great shipping idea) inside. Then there was a plastic vegetable bag, like you'd tear off and put an onion inside, with one bottle of water inside and tied/taped closed. There was also a list pad, you know like the ones you write a grocery list. That's a real handy little sucker!

Since I had been in and out, on vacation and on the Go! Go! Go! I decided to take my package with me to Tuscaloosa, AL when I spent the most of 2 weeks in a hotel. I promptly put my bottles in the fridge (after painstakingly taking a ton of pictures that have now gone traveling into space) so that when I wanted something to drink, they were ready to go.

I told Scott about them, and that he could take a bottle or two to work with him. He  was pretty happy about that, and happily grabbed the bottle of Blueberry Pomegranate, he has been drinking that flavor faithfully since its release. I asked if he wanted to take any of the others, and he declined.

So I faithfully opened the Citrus.

Here is the good stuff about Fruit2o

• The nutrients of 2 servings of fruit in every bottle
• 1 gram of fiber
• flavor....um wait a minute

Well I did take a sip of the citrus flavor, spat into the sink (YUCK!) and offered Scott a sip. He thought it tasted like grapefruit and said to never ask him to do that again. My sentiments exactly.

After this experience, it took a few days to get my courage up to try another flavor. I decided on the strawberry kiwi. I thought this was a safe bet, because normally anything of this flavor combo is my pick. This flavor didn't rock the gag reflex, but I only drank about a quarter of the bottle before throwing it out, and that took all day long.

One evening we were going downstairs to visit with some friends, and I grabbed the cherry acai flavor. We were only about 3 doors from the elevator. I opened it, and took a sip. Scott took a sip. We both agreed that it was cough syrup hiding in water. It was promptly closed and thrown into the trash beside the elevator.

I have yet to try the other flavors, and I'm not really sure what happened to them, but mind you I won't be buying these for myself. Scott loves the Blueberry Pomegranate, but rarely picks one up while we are out.

While I prefer plain filtered tap water, I think I'm finished trying to drink watered down fruit juice. But if I did want to kick it up a notch, I'd add my own fruit to my water. It has got to be better than this stuff.



If you like this stuff, and a lot of people do, We are hosting a Fruit2o giveaway where you can choose your flavor. In my house we'd pick the Blueberry Pomegranate of course.

The good things about this review from my end: I got a nice reusable produce bag, a note pad, and learned to spit like a man!