The Fat Boy Chronicles DVD Review...

"Inspired by a true story, The Fat Boy Chronicles reveals the emotionally painful world obese teens experience in the face of a thin-obsessed society.
At age fourteen. 5'5 Jimmy weighs 187 pounds. Outside the comfort of his family and church, life for Jimmy is a constant struggle. The cruel taunts of his classmates make going to school or playing sports a humiliating experience. Yet, he still manages to focus on his goals -- to lose weight and win over the girl of his dreams."

What we thought:  The Fat Boy Chronicles is a touching and heartbreaking story that many parents and children will be able to relate to.  It is a great tool for teaching children AND adults how to treat one another(or NOT treat one another) no matter how different they may be.  This inspirational movie is full of characters that everyone can relate to.  The message is really important and this would be a great film for families to watch together.  ABCD Diaries gives The Fat Boy Chronicles an A+!



Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given a sample for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Aerobie Megatop Review & Giveaway...

"The Aerobie Megatop will keep kids occupied for hours of indoor and outdoor fun. It is a high-performance, precision-crafted spinning top that can achieve spin rates of over 3000 rotations per minute. The Megatop comes with a catching plate for tricks and a Spin-Booster to speed up and prolong spin. It is recommended for ages 8 and up, retails for $9.99, and is sold online through Amazon.com and other retailers. You can watch a video of the Megatop in action here: http://aerobie.com/videos/Megatop320.wmv."

What we thought:  This top was crazy cool!  It was a little to difficult for 5 yr old A and 3 yr old D to operate, but B and I had a blast playing with it:)  It would be great for ages 8+.  It is really amazing how fast you can get the Megatop spinning with the Spin Booster and the catch plate adds a whole different element of fun.  B and I had a good time trying to one up each others tricks and which proves kids and adults alike will love the Aerobie Megatop!  This is definitely the most fun top I've ever played with:)  ABCD Diaries gives this super awesome top an A+! 

Buy It:  Find the Aerobie Megatop at amazon.com!

Tropical Traditions Organic Rolled Oats Review & Giveaway...

ORGANIC THICK ROLLED OATS
"Oats provide high quality, well-balanced protein. Thick Rolled Oats and other whole grain oats are a good source of soluble fiber. Tropical Traditions Thick Rolled Oats are most commonly used for oatmeal, and cook in about 15 minutes. Thick Rolled Oats can also be used in granola and of course oatmeal cookies."

We found the following recipe at http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com/

Creamy Fall Oats
Servings: 2

Preparation Time: 10 - 12 minutes
1/3 cup rolled oats
1 2/3 cups water
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 apple
Dash of cinnamon

Mix the oats and water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Cover. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer and cook oats for 5 or 6 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for another 3 or 4 minutes.
Remove lid and stir in pumpkin, coconut oil, and honey. Spoon oats into serving bowls.
Cut apple into small chunks and divide between 2 bowls of oats and then sprinkle each with cinnamon.


What we thought:  Prepared in the above recipe our Tropical Traditions oats were absolutely delicious!  They also worked well in oatmeal cookies, B's favorite:)  There are a variety of other recipes that incorporate these oats and I'm excited to keep trying them out:)  Tropical Traditions Organic Oats are easy to work with, tasty, affordable and best of all, a good way to add a little healthiness to your diet:)  ABCD Diaries gives the Organic Rolled Oats from Tropical Traditions an A+!

Buy It:  Find these oats and other great organic products at Tropical Traditions!

Oscillo and Chestal Review & Giveaway...

Get ready for cold and flu season with Oscillo and Chestal!

"Oscillo has been shown in clinical studies to help reduce both the severity and the duration of flu-like symptoms, helping you feel like yourself again. In one recent study published in a British scientific journal, nearly 63 percent of patients who took Oscillo within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms showed a “clear improvement” or “complete resolution” in as fast as 48 hours. Oscillo has no side effects and is packaged in individual doses, so it’s easy to carry with you and take as you need it. It’s sweet-tasting, melt-away pellets dissolve quickly under the tongue and require no water, chewing, or swallowing, and it’s safe for ages two and up.

Uses: Temporarily relieves flu-like symptoms such as body aches, headache, fever, chills, and fatigue. Take Oscillo at the first sign of flu-like symptoms"

"Children's Chestal Honey is safe cough syrup for children ages two and above. The honey in Children's Chestal coats and soothes the throat, while the blend of safe homeopathic medicines loosens chest congestion, thereby making coughs more productive for a speedier recovery. In the daytime, Children's Chestal works without drowsy side effects. At bedtime, it calms those dry, fitful coughs that prevent sleep. It is also dye-free and works naturally with your body.

Uses: temporarily relieves cough and throat irritation."

Be the first to know about cold and flu outbreaks in your area before they strike in your home. Just enter your zip code in Boiron’s Cold and Flu Tracker at http://www.oscillo.com/flu-tracker to find out your region’s risk level.


What we thought:  We are huge fans of Oscillo:)  I first started using it way back before I had kiddos.  At the first sign of a cold I would take the Oscillo and it really helped stave off sickness.  After I had kids, I was excited to learn that Oscillo had a children's variety and have used it with my little ones for a few years now.  Its great since it has no side effects and works quickly and it doesn't hurt that it tastes good:)  That makes it a lot easier to dispense than other not so tasty medicines we've tried.  This was our first experience with Chestal.  We got to put it to good use when A got a cold last month.  When she gets sick with a cough, it seems to last FOREVER!  She has been known to have coughing fits so bad she gets sick and it usually happens while she is asleep.  So when she came down with a cough and the OTC cold medicine didn't seem to be helping, we tried Chestal.  She loved the taste...she said it tasted like honey and made her throat feel better immediately.  I tasted it myself and it was surprisingly good!  Her coughing stopped within the hour and she was able to fall asleep and stay asleep which was great for the whole house:)  We are definitely believers in the power of Oscillo and Chestal!  Both will be staples in our medicine cabinet from now on!  ABCD Diaries gives Oscillo and Chestal an A+!

Buy It: Oscillo and Children’s Chestal are available at Walgreens, CVS, Whole Foods and local health food stores. Learn more about Oscillo at www.oscillo.com and Children’s Chestal at www.childrenschestal.com. “Like” the Oscillo Facebook page for great tips about staying healthy during cold and flu season, as well as fun giveaways at www.facebook.com/oscillo.

A note from the sponsor:
"Enter our "How Do You Say Oscillococcinum Sweepstakes!" In January, we'll be selecting 10 random winners to receive free products and a $50 Walgreens retail gift card. Plus, watch our fun new video of people trying to say Oscillococcinum. If you are one of our random prize winners and also guess which fan says it correctly, you’ll be eligible for a bonus $100 Walgreens retail gift card! That’s triple the prize!
Enter the sweeps until 1/20/12 here: http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/180373"

Laura's Wholesome Junk Food Review and Giveaway...

"Using ingredients you can pronounce, Dr. Laura grew up making healthy cookie recipes with her mom. Creating healthy treats with tasty, exciting flavors. Each healthy cookie made by Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food follows in this tradition. Our passion is making deliciously decadent healthy cookies for everyone to enjoy. In addition to her yummy, sweet & healthy treats, look for more healthy cookie recipes in Dr. Laura’s book, The Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook."

What we thought:  We really enjoyed reviewing Laura's Wholesome Junk Food.  We used them as snacks when our holiday guests were staying over and they were a huge hit!  They are very filling and come in a variety of flavors to suit everyone's tastes.  The cranberry bites were great and not super sweet.  The chocolate varieties were decadent, which isn't very common in a snack that is as healthy for you as Laura's Wholesome Junk Food!  These would make great afternoon snacks, tide-me-over snacks or lunch box additions.  I love it when we can find a snack that taste so good and isn't packed with empty calories:)  ABCD Diaries gives Laura's Wholesome Junk Food an A+!

Buy It:  Find out more about these great bite-sized snacks at Laura's Wholesome Junk Food!

Robert Rothschild Farms Review and Giveaway...

About Robert Rothschild Farm:
"Robert Rothschild Farm, a family-founded company in Urbana, Ohio, is the purveyor of award-winning specialty foods including preserves, mustards, dips, sauces and sweet toppings. Recognized for bold flavors and expert blending, our open and serve products are ideal for busy, yet discerning hosts and cooks."

Description
"Caramelized onions, balsamic vinegar and crushed red peppers join together for this incredible spread.
•Perfect to use as a cheese topper – serve with toasted bread for a delightful appetizer.
•Also great as the base for a goat cheese pizza.
•All-Natural
•Gluten Free

This tasty potato recipe is made all the better with the inclusion of our Caramelized Onion Balsamic Spread.
Ingredients
•Aluminum foil
•1 1/2 lbs. New potatoes, cut in quarters
•6 cloves Garlic, more if desired, do not remove the skins
•Olive oil
•1/2 cup Robert Rothschild Farm Caramelized Onion Balsamic Spread
•Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
•2 sprigs Fresh thyme
•2 sprigs Fresh rosemary
Instructions
1.Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2.With a double layer of aluminum foil, create a packet for the potatoes.
3.Place the potatoes in a mixing bowl with the garlic; add enough olive oil just to coat the potatoes.
4.Fold in the Caramelized Onion Balsamic Spread and season with salt and pepper. Place the potatoes and garlic in the center of your double layer foil packet.
5.Top with herb sprigs. Fold the foil over the vegetables; fold over the remaining 3 edges at least twice to seal.
6.Place foil packet in preheated grill for 30-40 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Be careful of the steam when opening the packet. Discard the herbs, check for seasoning and serve hot."

What we thought:  Yummo!  That recipe is how we decided to use our Caramelized Onion Balsamic Spread from Robert Rothschild Farms.  It was delicious!  This spread is really fantastic...even those who don't like onions should try this one.  The sweetness of the caramelized onions combined with the balsamic vinegar is mouthwatering!  I can't wait to try this spread on a pizza.  Great job Robert Rothschild Farms!  ABCD Diaries gives the Caramelized Onion Balsamic Spread an A+!

Rothschild Kids Outerwear Review and Giveaway...

Rothschild Kids is a great place to find cute and affordable outerwwear for your little ones this winter.

D got to review the Color Block Fall Jacket 2T-4T which retails for $45.00.  That's a pretty good deal for such a great jacket!

"Your little man will be ready for action in this adorable jacket.
Zip front closure
Three front pockets
Wind Resistance
Adjustable half cinch cuff for wind and water resistance
100% polyester
Machine washable"

What we thought:  D loves his new jacket!  It fits really well and looks great on him.  Even though its listed as a jacket, here in Texas we would consider it a coat and it definitely keeps D toasty and protecte4d from the elements.  One of my favorite features is how easy it is to clean.  Spills wipe away easily and mud can be washed off with one swipe with a damp towel.  That is a definite plus in a coat for a 3 year old boy...you don't have to wash it constantly!  Rothschild Kids has a large variety of outerwear for both boys and girls and some really competitive prices.  Right now they have a code on their website to score 50% off your purchase, so if you're looking for some really great, really affordable children's outerwear, check out Rothschild Kids!  ABCD Diaries gives them an A+!

One ABCD Diaries reader will win a coat or jacket from Rothschild Kids.  You pick the size and gender and the sponsor picks the style.  Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.