This past spring there was a post here asking for help for the Fresh Air Fund.  Here is a report on some great things they did this summer.

One out of four school children in the U.S. has vision problems, and 86% do not get their vision checked before age 12.

Many Fresh Air children do not have access to affordable vision care. Glasses break, are too expensive to replace, or are never prescribed in the first place. And often as a result, children’s performance in academics, sports and activities suffers.

For the fifth summer in a row, OneSight offered to bring their traveling optical clinic to all five Fresh Air Fund camp.

Together with OneSight’s Vision Vans – and a team of local doctors and volunteers,OneSight provides free eye exams and eyewear to thousands of children in need each year.

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This giveaway is now closed.  Comment number 2 was picked as the winner.  Congratulations Susan!

As a parent, I know that it can be challenging to find time to go to the gym. With the summer months officially upon us, the pressure to get fit grows everyday. And these days, few people have the money for costly home gym equipment…

The solution? Work out at home, with things that you already own!

To celebrate their now very affordable line of durable Stainless Steel Appliances, GE has created a humorous take on workout routines entitled “Strong As Steel.”  This exercise routine uses nothing but GE kitchen appliances as workout equipment! The video features The Biggest Loser’s very own Alison Sweeney.

In addition, you can buy select GE Stainless Steel Appliance for the same price of their regular appliances until July 6, 2009 at participating retailers.

As a thank you, we’d like to send one of you readers a lovely yoga mat and carrier – perfect for home workouts!  Just watch the video below and leave a comment by June 30, 2009.

Being totally honest with you, when I was first contacted about eating truffles to lose weight I laughed.  I also thought, “I’ll try any chocolate truffle they want to send me.”  Now since I’ve eaten them I understand how they can help Control Your Appetite/Satisfy Your Hunger/Eat Less.

Are you snickering?  I don’t blame you.  The Celebrate Truffles are packaged beautifully, look amazing, and actually taste good.  That was the second surprise to me.  I thought that since they had all that good-for-me stuff in them they wouldn’t taste good.  Wrong!

The first day I tried them I had sent the kids to a babysitter and was working on some projects at my house.  Times like that make it easy for me to just snack on junk food and skip eating a meal.  About 11:00 am I was really hungry.  Instead of grabbing a handful of candy I ate one cocoa covered almond and one truffle.  When the clock chimed at 12 noon I realized that I had not felt hungry for that hour.  I was able to make a healthy light lunch and go on with my work.

The next time I ate a cocoa covered almond and the second truffle was around 4:30 pm.  The kids and I start moving around again and like to grab something to munch.  Instead of eating some peanut butter cups I ate the Celebrate Truffle and didn’t even sneak bites when preparing supper.  I don’t know how they work, but they did!

Celebrate Life Nutrition is offering 2 mini boxes of truffles to one of you!  I wish I could win them.  The almonds were crisp and crunchy.  The truffle was soft, yet firm.  All that and control my appetite?  Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. 

To enter this giveaway leave a comment on this post before June 10, 2009.  For a second entry add the Celebrate website to your favorites/bookmarks.  You’ll have to leave a comment telling me you did.  I’m trusting you to be honest now.

This review was organized by the Family Review Network.

Pledge has made it possible to cut down on clutter by eliminating excess cleaners.  They now have a Multi Surface Cleaner.  I personally tested it on glass, wood, wood laminate, plastic, and metal.  I don’t have any marble to use it on or I would have tried that too!  What will we do with all that extra space in the cleaning supply cupboard?

Once I figured out how to open the nozzle it was easy to hold and use.  I breezed through several rooms spraying and wiping.  It handled the spilled food, mud, dirty handprints, toothpaste, and smudges quite well.  The scent I have is lavender.  It smells like most canned lavenders do.

They have offered to give Multi Surface Pledge to one of the readers here at Mom Giveaways!  Just leave a comment on this post by Thursday, June 4, 2009.  If you don’t win you can get a free coupon from their site at any time.

It’s also available in national retailers including Wal-mart, Target, and Lowe’s.

This review was sponsored by the Family Review Network.

Personalized things have always been special to me because they have to be custom made since my name is Jendi.  I waited with great anticipation for my name in a necklace from a company called BeautyName.  They sell stylish, trendy jewelry and personalized name necklaces.  It arrived in a little box tied with a pretty ribbon.  My necklace easily transitions from semi-formal to casual.  The only suggestion I have is to make the name attach to the chain with a swivel; my name occasionally gets stuck straight out.

Check them out by clicking the links above to their eBay and Etsy stores.  Here is some information from this Jerusalem based company:

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Today felt like a summer day more than a day in May.  It was the perfect weather for a cold treat.  We loaded up and headed to Rita’s.  The kids were interested in how the lady got in and out of the building, and why did we sit outside?  The treats we picked were a cherry ice and a gelati with fudge brownie ice and chocolate custard.

They were delicious!  The cherry ice was as good as I remembered. I like it best through a straw, and so did my 2 year old. The fudge brownie ice was better than I expected; my 4 year old finished that.  Previously the custard I had was icy, but not this time.  It was nice and creamy; my 6 year old ate that off the top first.  The kids made a mess, but managed to get most of it in their mouths.  It had been a while since I visited a Rita’s and the menu had grown quite a bit.  If you haven’t been to a Rita’s Italian Ice in a while you should go and try them again.

Rita’s is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.  If you go to their site you can enter to win a free trip to Mexico or $25,000.  Wouldn’t that be nice! 

If you leave a comment on this post you will be entered to win 4 coupons to Rita’s.  Two for a free regular ice and two for a free regular gelati.

There are 3 ways you can win.  

1. Get a Scratch and Win game piece from Ritas 
2. Comment for free coupons on this post before midnight May 27 EST
3. Visit their anniversary site and enter your email to win a free trip or cash every day through May 09.

This review was coordinated through the Family Review Network.

Comment number 3 – Dreamer – was picked as the winner.  Congrats!

If you’ve ever had a dog your heart will just melt when you read the book titled Dirty Bow Wow by Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz. It is 111 pages of dogs with their favorite toy.  The dogs favorite play things range from a plastic water bottle [has to have the cap] to a large luxurious quilt.  The Katz’s did a great job of describing the dog and it’s toy in one paragraph.  

The publisher has a copy of this book for you!  One winner can receive a copy of this book by leaving a comment for this post by May 15, 2009. [U.S. residents only]

Just below is one more thing you need to know about!

Thanks to Family Review Network I recently had the opportunity to try out Kinesys Performance Sunscreen for kids.  Kinesys is known for their micro spray application, being oil-free, and fast drying.  When I sprayed the sunscreen on my kids for the first time I was a little worried about the fast drying part because it looked really wet on my kids’ skin.  I shouldn’t have worried, within about 2 minutes the sunscreen had completely dried and I couldn’t even tell they were wearing any.  Since you apply the sunscreen with a spray nozzle, my son can do it by himself, which is a big plus!

My only complaint is that since it dries so fast and is oil free, I can’t tell when it is wearing off.  I have searched the website but have been unable to find how often you are suppose to reapply.  All I have seen is “Don’t be shy to re-apply!”

For your children you have multiple options of sunscreen for you kids including a 30SPF fragrance free spray and 30SPF Girl Vanilla Green Tea Scented spray.  Right now Kinesys is offering 10% off your purchases using the code BRC10.  If your discounted purchase is over $45 you also get free shipping.

I’ve always liked the Always brand of pads.   The only thing that confuses me is the frequent change of packaging.  I’m starting to figure it out.

Now, besides having wings, sizes I like, nice packaging, attached clean wipes, and comparable prices…they have a new line out.  It’s called Always Infinity.

When I first opened them up I did a double take because the pad had holes in it.  I could actually see through the pad.  ”How is this supposed to work?”  But it did work; and work good.

To try one for yourself fill out the form at Always website.  You won’t regret it!