Protect Yourself from the Sun with a Stylish Scala Visor!

WEARABLE SUN PROTECTION--FASHION AND GOOD HEALTH ALL IN ONE WITH STYLING FOR EVERY PREFERENCE: MAY IS MELANOMA AWARENESS MONTH AND AN IMPORTANT REMINDER TO STOCK UP ON HATS

SCALA COLLEZIONE AND TROPICAL TRENDS--GLAMOUR AND SUN PROTECTION PLUS
LIGHTWEIGHT, EASY PACK ABILITY FOR DAILY WEAR AND TRAVEL

"Did you know that May is Melanoma Awareness month? Melanoma is one of the most serious forms of skin cancer. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of their lifetime, so it's important for us to protect our skin. With the warmer months approaching, many of us will spend more time outdoors and in the sun. Dorfman Pacific's LP54 roll up  visor along with LP157, a floppy style brimmed hat both provide a good level of sun protection while remaining stylish!

LP54 comes in an array of colors and retails for $25. This paper braid hat also made it to O, The Oprah Magazine as one of her favorites! The roll up feature makes it perfect for travel and a must have.

LP157 is also paper braid and comes in 4 color variations. This particular hat carries the UPF sun protection factor of 50 plus and bounces back into shape making it another great option for travel at $25."

What we thought:  This hat is my new favorite summer accessory!  Living 2 blocks from the water means we spend A LOT of time at the beach year-round, especially when all the visitors flock to our home for summer vacations:)  Because I am fair-skinned and freckled, I am very prone to burn within just minutes of sun exposure. The Scala visor is a fashionable way to keep the sun out of my eyes and shade my whole face from those damaging rays.  This visor, along with a lot of sunscreen helps me brave the beautiful beach without fear of getting burned.  It also folds up so it can be stowed in the beach bag easily and then pops right back to it's original shape.  It comes in several colors to match your beachwear wardrobe as well!  All of these factors along with the affordable price point make this visor a summer must-have:)  ABCD Diaries gives the Scala Visor 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.

Be prepared for Bug Season with Combat Ant and Roach Bait Strips

"Did you know that there’s an actual Bug Season? From March through October, roach and ant populations multiply in the hot and humid weather, causing more bug problems in homes and creating more anxiety, stress and embarrassment among Americans!

In fact, a recent survey conducted on behalf of Combat asked people if they’ve ever experienced a bug problem and just how embarrassed they were about it.  Did you know 52 percent of Americans have experienced ant or roach problems in their home, AND 20 percent of American’s who have ever had an ant/roach problem in their home have not invited people into their homes because of their embarrassment!

Don’t let pesky pests ruin your summer plans this Bug Season! To help keep the insects at bay, Combat recommends:

·         Storing all food in airtight containers

·         Sweeping and vacuuming regularly

·         Keeping vegetation from touching the outside of your home

·         Cleaning all surfaces to remove any food residue

As the weather becomes warmer, Combat would like to make sure you’re prepared to defend your home against insects during Bug Season by introducing you to Combat’s Roach and Ant Killing Bait Strips. The new bait strips quietly kills roaches and ants at the source as they bring the bait back to the nest, eliminating the infestation completely. With its discreet design, the bait strips’ adhesive backing also offers versatility and can be placed out of reach of kids and pets.  For more prevention tips, please visit combatbugs.com/prevention-tips."

What we thought:  We tried the ant baits since we usually get invaded this time of year.  They worked really well and we've seen very few ants compared to what we usually see.  These baits were really easy to use.  We just set them behind the microwave and along the paths the ants usually take to get into the pantry.  It was that simple!  These baits are an easy and affordable way to curb your ant and roach invasion this bug season:)   ABCD Diaries gives Combat's Bait Strips an A+!

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

MommyParties Sponsored by Xtreme Customz by Ridemakerz...

"Does your son show signs of being a future car enthusiast? Does he appreciate the sleek design of his toy cars, the speed of their acceleration or even dream of assembling his own car? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then we have the perfect toy for him! From the creators of Ridemakerz we introduce Xtreme Customz.

With Xteme Customz, your son can build and customize the toy car or "RIDE" of his dreams. Choosing from a wide range of bodystyles (about the size of a cell phone), and interchangeable, snap-on parts to transform his RIDE from mild to wild. With so many choices, it's easy to Mix. Match. Make it Your Own™."

What we thought:  The boys (and girls:) had a blast at our Ridemakerz party!  We built the cars, had a car show, enjoyed some car racing and had a victory party where we made our own cars out of graham crackers, icing and other edible decorations:)  The kiddos had fun putting the cars together with little or no help from the adults.  They loved showing them off and comparing checklists and planning for future acquisitions from the Ridemakerz line up.  They built a race track complete with ramps and raced their custom rides with variations of lift.  Everyone left happy with their cool new rides:)  

These new customizable cars from Ridemakerz would make great gifts and are quite affordable.  Plus, the more you collect, the more variations you can make:)  ABCD Diaries gives Ridemakerz an A+!


The Xtreme Customz line (an extension of Ridemakerz), which is the line we reviewed can be found at www.xtremecustomz.com and is sold in Target and Toys R Us (not Ridemakerz stores or the website).  Xtreme Customz is $9.99

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

Crayola's Big Colorful Birthday Adventure Sweeps!

"To celebrate their 110th birthday, the 8 original crayons are throwing a birthday bash at the new fun-omenal Crayola Experience, the world's only interactive Crayola family attraction. Right now, they're out on a colorful adventure to spread the news, and you're invited to join the fun!

How can you join in on the fun? You can FOLLOW the crayons on their adventure, LEARN more about each color and enter to WIN a trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the Grand Opening of the all new Crayola Experience this coming May, 2013! Visit the Crayola Facebook page and click "enter now" for your chance to be first in line when the Crayola Experience reopens. The new Crayola Experience features four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child's creativity to life! The winner will be among the first to experience the fun, along with a three- night, all-expenses paid stay. It's an experience your kids will never forget - and neither will you!" Enter today and Good Luck! Disclosure: Though I was compensated for this post, all opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Oregon Chai "Snapshots of Happiness" Contest!

Check out Oregon Chai’s newest social promotion, Snapshots of Happiness. They’re asking fans to share and vote on photos that they think best capture happiness. You can enter through the Facebook app or through Twitter or Instagram using #CaptureHappiness. 20 lucky winners will receive an Oregon Chai and Oregon Café gift valued at $50 and everyone will get a $1 off coupon when they submit their moment.

Disclosure:  I was entered to win a $50 gift card for Oregon Chai and Oregon Café products as compensation for this post.  All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Sunbelt Snacks...

"Sunbelt Bakery has a wide variety of products that provide the nutritional value people desire today without sacrificing the great taste they also love to have in their snacks and meals. Sunbelt Bakery products offer whole grain goodness without high fructose corn syrup or preservatives, all with a bakery-fresh taste.

Sunbelt Bakery has some news:

They want to introduce you to their registered dietitian, Carolyn O’Neil, an excellent resource for food and nutrition bloggers. She’s a blogger - Dish on Dieting - best‐selling author, and an award‐winning television personality. Together they recently launched a new video campaign – Stay on Track with the Right Snack – to help consumers make informed choices on nutritional content without sacrificing the great taste people want in their snacks.  

I encourage you to like Sunbelt Bakery’s Facebook page so you can follow Carolyn as she continues to post new videos, personal tips and exclusive informative on how people can enjoy snacks that provide a mix of good nutrition and great taste as part of an overall balanced diet."

What we thought:  We loved these delicious bars!  They taste fresh-baked, probably the freshest tasting cereal and granola bars we've had.  They come in a variety of flavors sure to please every palette in your home:)  These bars make great additions to breakfast and lunch boxes and are a yummy, healthy and convenient treat, perfect for on-the-go snacking:)  ABCD Diaries gives Sunbelt Snacks an A+!

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

Mystical Waters Scarf by FRAAS...

"The rising interest in chic, year-round accessories and fashion layering is evident everywhere. Fashion-savvy women have discovered the versatility of scarves as an accessory and are collecting them each season to accent their wardrobes and individualize their personal style. FRAAS is on target with an exciting new range for Spring-Summer 2013,  which focuses on three stories.      

Mystical Coast incorporates an opulent, iridescent, natural composite for prints and deluxe, yet gentle detailing. East Meets West presents modernity meeting tradition. Jungle Fever is a lively, hot summer story encompassing the plant life of the jungle and the vivid creatures that occupy it. Lightweights in cotton, modal, silk, viscose chiffon, acrylic, tropical weight wool and blends flow beautifully in solid, ombre’, floral, fruit, stripe, plaid, dotted, splatter-paint, animal, sea and abstract patterns. Some are textured via crinkling, embroidering and puckering effects, others are classic,  and several are sheer and gauzy. Infinity silhouettes continue and are clearly understood by consumers because they are so easy to wear. There are several options that are unisex so that everyone can own a FRAAS scarf this season.  FRAAS is also on the mark with their color trends in which the season's prettiest neutral/soft, mid-tone, and bright palette options are represented within the range.  Retails range from $28 to about $130 (silk blend)."

What we thought:  What a gorgeous scarf!  It is really beautiful and so lightweight and silky.  It really livens up my spring outfits and the bright colors are super easy to coordinate with my other seasonal attire.  This scarf is a simple and affordable way to add some color to your fashion lineup.  ABCD Diaries gives the Mystical Waters scarf an A+!

You can find FRAAS items at specialty stores throughout the country and may order these styles directly from the company by calling 212-575-0191. Select styles are also available are also available at  fraas.com and amazon.com


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.