Jolly Rancher Crunch 'N Chew

I grew up loving Jolly Ranchers. They were my go-to candy and I would sneak one any time I had the chance. I was so excited to see that they recently introduced a new product to the Jolly Rancher line, the Crunch 'N Chew.

The Crunch 'N Chew has a crunchy outer shell and a soft, chewy middle. Like the original Jolly Rancher, it offers bold, sweet, fruity flavors, plus the chewiness of Jolly Rancher Chews. Flavors include watermelon, blue raspberry, cherry, and green apple.To launch the candies with a bang, Jolly Rancher Crunch 'N Chew partnered with Poptent, an online videographer community. Community members were asked to create a video spot highlighting the candy. More than 200 submissions have now been narrowed to the top three finalists. Voting for the top spot is being held now, and you can cast your vote daily through February 15th.

The Crunch 'N Chew has become a favorite in our house, and I've caught hubby stealing them to take to work. We love their sweetness and the combination of textures. I think I'll be buying him his own personal bag for Valentine's Day!

Buy It:
Find the Crunch 'N Chew at your local grocery, drug, or convenience stores

Samples were provided for review. All opinions are our own.

201 Organic Baby Purees Review

Seven years years ago, when my oldest started eating solids, I never even considered making his baby food. I was young and it seemed so complicated and time-consuming. After all, didn't baby food come out of a glass jar, smelling almost like something you could consider edible?

When Babycakes came along, I realized just how simple making baby purees could be. Our first attempt yielded us over 30 meals worth of apples and sweet potatoes at about 10 cents a serving. (I love getting good deals!) And, it only took me about 20 minutes of work time. Ah-mazing.201 Organic Baby Purees, by Tamika L. Gardner, is the first baby cookbook I've used. And I have to admit, it will likely be the only one. Not only does it offer recipes for first foods through 12 months and more, it covers the basics of preparation and storage. The recipes range from simple to complex, but all sound like yummy flavors and combinations for little palates. I can't wait to try Avocado-Pumpkin Mash, Cinnamon Peas Galore, and Plummy Potatoes with Babycakes. I have even added a few of the recipes to next week's meal plan for our entire family. Cheesy Corn Nuggets and Mika's Rainbow Corn Medley sound too good not to try.

201 Organic Baby Purees is not only about purees. In addition to the 201 purees, it offers healthy recipes the whole family can enjoy together. I love that it suggests flavor combinations I wouldn't have created on my own and tells me which recipes will freeze well. It's a great cookbook to keep on hand well beyond baby's first year.

Buy It: 201 Organic Baby Purees is available for under $12

A copy was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Yes, I am

It seems that at least once a week, people question whether I'm still breastfeeding. And not in a positive, way to go, you rock for giving your baby the best possible nutrition kind of way.

Before Babycakes came along I never realized there was such controversy surrounding breastfeeding. I was occasionally disgusted after hearing of a mom being chastised in a store, but overall, I heard over and over that breast is best.

Now that I'm 5 months and counting into our breastfeeding relationship, I'm dealing firsthand with the questions.

When are you planning to stop? Aren't you tired of him always on your boob? Aren't you going to teach him to eat real food? Isn't it a pain to pump? Don't you want to drink, go out, etc?

Well the truth is this: We'll stop when he's ready. But at this point, I'm pretty sure it'll be before he finished high school. No, I'm not tired of him. I love staring into his little eyes. Last I checked, my milk is perfectly designed to sustain my baby. (And he's eating purees, but just for fun.) Pumping can be a pain. Not physically though. Those bottles and parts are a pain to wash. And I do go out. To my oldest's Cub Scout meetings, to baby group, to dinner.

I have to wonder why are so many people concerned with how I feed my baby? Breastfeeding has not limited how I live my life. But it has given me the chance to bond with my baby, to get to know his sweet little attitude, to see him thrive. I am proud of our relationship, as any breastfeeding mother should be. It's not always easy, but is well worth the reward.
So here's to the last 5 months, and the many months to come. And if you're a fellow breastfeeding mom, fielding questions from people too nosey for their own good (or any mom for that matter), I just want to say: Good for you! You rock!