My take:  I really adore both the Moisturizing and Baby Collection for just about the same reasons….very light to non-existent scents, moisturizing without that greasy left on sensation, gentle to my baby’s skin and eyes and above all…super super soft skin!

Aveeno has generously offered 1 lucky MommyPR reader all the above products!!

Munich is the capital and the largest city of the German state of Bavaria. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich, or Munchen, is the third largest city in Germany, behind Berlin and Hamburg. It is one of my favorite cities in Germany. It’s the rush of people, the similarity of everyone, the beauty, and of course the tradition that the city hangs on to that makes me love it.

History:

While touring the city you won’t be able to miss the center of all the hustle and bustle. It’s Marienplatz’s market.. The square was originally known as Schrannen but it was renamed Marienplatz (St. Mary’s Square) as a way to ask Virgin Mary to protect the town from a cholera epidemic. The main entrance of the (New) Town Hall  is 259ft. It was built between 1867 and 1909 by Georg Joseph Hauberrisser in Flemish Gothic style. If you enjoy architecture any, you will thoroughly enjoy this building. There are faces, statues and dragons carved into every inch of the entire building.

The large column at the center of the square, erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of the Swedish invasion,  is known as the column of St. Mary. The four statues surrounding it symbolize the city’s overcoming of war, pestilence, hunger and heresy. At 11, 12 and 17 o’clock (11, 12 & 5) each day, visitors can watch the famous Glockenspiel. The figures perform the Schäfferltanz , which was originally performed in 1517 at the Marienplatz to commemorate the end of the plague.

Hops & Beer:

Humulus Lupulus (hops) are the flowering cone of a perennial vining plant that typically thrives in climates similar to the ones that grapes do. Hop plants are dioecious, meaning the males and females flower on separate plants — and the female cones are used in the brewing process. Hops put the “bitter” in beer. Italy has the vineyards and Germany has the Hops. All through Bavaria you can see fields and fields of hop farms. German beer is clearly different from American beer in its taste, color, alcohol level, and its acceptance. Beer is like water here, you have a glass at lunch, dinner, dessert, etc. Here you find breweries that are family owned and around every corner. Mostly saturated are lagers, the hefeweissen, and the helles.

What better place to start your beer tasting and touring than in the Beer Capital – Munich. Don’t worry if you are with your family or have children, as biergartens such as Hofbraeuhaus allow children inside. Let them grab a pretzel as you taste a summer lemonade, mixed with beer of course.

Christmas Market:

Each night from November 29th- December 24th, you will witness the most spectacular vision. I can not even explain it in words besides a feeling of warmth and a sense of home. After visiting this Christmas Market in 2008, we vowed to return as often as we could. The scents, the lights, the laughter. It over takes you. In all there are a further 20 Christmas Markets located throughout the city of Munich, including a Medieval Christmas Market with gospel singing at the Wittelsbacher Platz, a gay pink Christmas Market (Stephansplatz) and there is even a Christmas Market with ice skating at Munich’s international airport.

This is where I want to spend the rest of my life.

Oktoberfest:

The Munich Oktoberfest, or Beerfest, is one of the most world famous events. With almost six million people attending every year, it is an important part of Bavarian culture. Oktoberfest is the Largest Volksfest (People’s Fair) in the World! Think Disneyland + Woodstock (for adults).  Munich’s Oktoberfest began as a wedding for the Bavarian crown prince Ludwig to princess Therese on October 12, 1810 and attended by the local community. Today the Munich Beerfest traditionally takes place during the sixteen days up to and including the first Sunday in October.  To the locals, it is not called Oktoberfest, but “die Wiesn”.

Don’t think any beer is allowed here. Only beer conforming to the Reinheitsgebot, at a minimum of 13.5%  (approximately 6% alcohol) may be served at Oktoberfest. The beer must also be brewed within the city limits of Munich. Beers meeting these criteria may be designated Oktoberfest Beer.

Hard Rock:

You have not visited a city until you take a photo of the Hard Rock Cafe in Munich. Located across from Hofbraeuhaus, it makes it easy to stop in for a beer or 2 until Hard Rock opens for dinner. This international chain is like all Hard Rocks around the world, it’s filled with memorabilia, artifacts and representations of everybody from Eric Clapton to Madonna.

Munich is a city that intertwines the majestic view of snowcapped Alps, breweries, Gothic courtyards, and metropolis architecture like the Hard Rock Cafe. Walk, pedal a bike, or hitch a ride on public transport to the HRC Munich and get some good ol’ American cooking and a cold beer.

This post brought to you on behalf of Knok for the guide of 100 cities to home swap before you die

All photos linked to their respective owners. Article links are purely my own recommendations.

DOC MCSTUFFINS: Time For Your Checkup

Now you have the chance to win 1 of 5 FREE app codes! Simply go over and read my review and comment on the post!

5 Winners will receive a code for a free download of Learn The World App for iPad

Win It

Mandatory Entry:

Simply comment on my review post.

Share this giveaway on any social network platform.

Open to US residents only

Contest ends 11:59 pm Pacific Time on 6/3

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Pamper yourself and ease the daily grind for your family and home with bright ideas from P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? program.

As a mother, you wear many hats! Be sure to pencil in some much needed “R & R” in your growing to-do list!

Mommy, Mommy!: How to Bring Back “Me Time” into Your Everyday

• Treat yourself to a new summer dress or that colorful purse you’ve been eyeing at the mall!
• Why go to the spa when you can bring the spa home to you? Stock your at-home salon with products like:

Olay® Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo: this innovative, gentle 2-step system gives you smooth, visibly hair-free skin.

Head & Shoulders® Damage Rescue Shampoo and Conditioner: Together, these high-performing products condition to nourish damaged hair and help relieve dry scalp.

• Break the rules! Why stop at chapter 10? Stay up late and read your new page-turner cover to cover.
• Revamp your beauty routine with COVERGIRL + Olay® Tone Rehab™ 2-in-1 Foundation. With just one pump, it instantly covers discolorations, lines and wrinkles. One bottle hydrates to help improve skin tone over time!
• Every morning, pencil in some time to simply relax. That’s right! Give yourself 30 minutes right before bed orafter dinner to do absolutely nothing but relax and regroup.

Create new memories with these fun ideas:

La Familia: Making the Most Out of Family Time

•  On a hot day, get the family together and create your very own family ice cream flavor! Have each family member choose a component of the ice cream (i.e. sprinkles, chopped up cookies, chocolate sauce, etc.) and enjoy
• Take an every day activity, like brushing your teeth, and make it a family affair for you and the kids to brush your teeth together! Don’t forget to use the following oral care products when brushing your pearly whites:

  Crest® 3D White Glamorous White Toothpaste: Say cheese everyone! This product removes 80%of surface stains

 Oral-B® Glide White Radiant Mint Floss Picks: Flossing just got easier! This innovative product slides up to 50% more easily in tight spaces vs. the leading floss pick.

•  Create a new family tradition! Have the kids come up with ideas and vote on a winner. It will be something that is unique to your family that can be passed on from generation to generation.
• Family videos are a great wait to capture new memories and revisit the old. Put a spin on your home videos and conduct family interviews. What questions will you ask?

Make your house a home! Check out these fun and mom-friendly décor tips for your home.

A Mother’s Touch: How to Give Your Home Some Extra Attention

• Nothing screams holiday like a seasonal wreath! This year, add a Mother’s Day themed wreath to your rotation.  Include tulips and other spring flowers to make it feel extra seasonal.
• Bring Mother Nature into your home! Floral print lamp shades or earth toned pillows on your couch are small décor changes you can make that will transform your home during this season.
• Summer is a great time to start a vegetable garden in your yard. It will teach your family the importance of eating healthy while cutting down your grocery list!

Be sure to check out what Have You Tried This Yet? spokesperson, Vanessa Lachey, and the Trend Trio on www.pgtryit.com.

My take:  I was sent this bag full of goodies:

I am so set for spring cleaning with my Downy Infusions, Downy Unstopables and Tide boost Vivid White+ Bright….laundry watch out because I am coming for you!  I am super picky about razors and the Gillette Venus & Olay razor babies my skin which I will love- no more red irritated bumps after shaving and who doesn’t need more toilet paper?

P&G wants to offer one MommyPR reader a great prize pack of all of the above products!

Win It

Mandatory Entry:

Visit P&G and tell me your favorite product!

Open to US residents only

Contest ends 11:59 pm Pacific Time on 6/7

See Contest Rules for More Entries

There you have it – lot’s of ways to enter so please help us get the word out and good luck!!!!

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I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. I did a receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review or host a giveaway in return for the product. Receiving the product for free did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.

P&G everyday has also teamed up with Samantha Harris, celebrity mom and television personality,  to share some of the tips and tricks that she always has in her back pocket to help enrich those everyday family moments

Samantha Harris, celebrity mom of two and television personality, shares her favorite mom tips to help make your everyday extraordinary. 

• Tip #1: Schedule your mom activities like an appointment!  I like to pencil in workouts, carpool duty and grocery shopping right into my calendar so I can keep my to-do list organized. Seeing it all written down is a surefire way to get it all done and allow you to rearrange as needed.

• Tip #2: Make “date night” a priority! As moms, we are constantly juggling many hats and it can be easy to forget to focus some time for our relationships. Ask your relatives or a friend to babysit for a night (and offer to return the favor), then hit the town. Or have a “date in”, by setting up a sleepover for the kids (or putting them to bed early), and rent a movie, make some popcorn and curl up on the couch!

• Tip #3: Enlist the kids to help! Chores don’t need to solely fall on mom—I like to get my kids involved by making a chore wheel and set up a completion sticker chart with rewards. Have the kids choose the rewards like which family movie to rent that week or a special activity with mom.

• Tip #4: Look for resources that can help make it all a little easier. I rely on the new P&G everyday™ (pgeveryday.com) for tips, tools, reviews and discounts (we all love those!) to help me handle the stuff I need to do so that I can spend more time doing the things I want to do. It’s all about getting back time for those little rewarding moments with your family.

• Tip #5: Prep food for the week on Sundays! Sunday is a perfect time to gather the kids to help you in the kitchen and prepare the basics for the week.  Chop veggies and fruit and put each into their own container in plain view in the fridge. That way when someone needs a quick snack, it is all ready for eating and you can be confident they are eating something healthy. Great idea for prepping lunchboxes!

With living halfway across the planet, I enjoy apps, toys and educational products that help my girls learn where we are and where we have been. We even have a huge map on our wall that allows then to use a washable marker to draw lines, circle, and star places. It could be where grandma lives, where we visited, where we may have lived and so on.

If you have an iPad you will want this app to help even more. Its good for ages 4 and up and perfect for homeschooling too!

Learn The World For iPad:

The kids will have a blast using their imaginations in this dynamic & interactive 20 page coloring book.  The book allows you to choose from different colors & styles, freeform painting to drawing directly on the page, importing pictures or drawing amazing creations.  All artwork can be saved & shared.  This is a great app for kids to explore their creativity.

This app helps with

• Country Capitals 
• Country Currencies 
• World Continents 
• World Maps 
• History
• Atlas 
• Cities

Learn the World offers a few interactive activities to learn geographic knowledge. Map Learn, Fly Quiz, Text Quiz, and Map Quiz. My favorite for the girls is the Fly Quiz. They can move the plane across any flight pattern they want and see different countries. (Hey kind of our our life is! lol). The second best one for us is the Map Quiz. When you click any country a question will pop up. It could ask about capitals or money used in that country, etc. It’s even helpful to mom, who thought every country in Europe took Euro….right? (Maybe I need Euro Math next too…)

Learn The World App for iPad is relatively cheaper than some of the other kid apps I have purchased. At $1.99 I found it well worth those 2 dollars…I mean 1.55 euro. It looks like the company didn’t stop there either. Merge Mobile has a site full of educational apps that I look forward to testing also.

At Merge Mobile, we design and develop innovative apps for kids.  Apple, Parents’ Choice, Scholastic and iPad For Kids For Dummies have recognized us. Along with Parents, Teachers, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Homeschooler’s and so on are using a number of our apps (esp. our FreeFall & ClickySticky Series) to help them educate children.

As a proud sponsor of Autism Speaks, Merge Mobile donates 100% of net proceeds from the Autism Speaks Coloring Book App to the Autism Speaks Organization.

This post is brought to you by Merge Mobile

Are you ready for summer??  We sure are in this household.  I have the absolute best way to help your kids alleviate the hot summer heat….Blast Zone’s Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park

The Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park brings the excitement of the Water Park to your back yard!  Stop wasting money on gas and rentals, and turn your yard into a coooool water park! This upgraded version of the best-selling Blast Zone Water Park includes the features our customers have asked us for, including an inside return so kids don’t exit the pool to climb the slide, and a new slide design for a smooth landing!  Setting up your splashing paradise is easy!  Just unroll the colorful Spray N Splash 2, hook it to the continuous blower, inflate it and attach the hose, and you’re ready to party!  Your kids will have a blast climbing up the back,  zipping down the slide and splashing in the pool, over and over! Forget summer boredom!

The Spray N Splash has enough room for up to 4 Kids to Splash, Climb,  and Play all day!  Beat the heat with the included sprayer system.  Just “hook-and-loop fasten” it on, attach the hose and splash.  The sprayers spray down onto the top of the slide, and water runs down into the splash pool.  The Spray N Splash 2 is lightweight and portable, for traveling fun!
Dimensions:

• 17′ Long
• 8′ Wide
• 8′ Tall

Retails for $449.99 but is currently on sale for $299.99

My take:  My boys have had such a great time with this Inflatable Water Park and I know they will continue to do so.  They ask each and every day “can we get the water slide out” and know once school is officially over their fun times will begin in earnest.  I have recorded a video review as well:

Setup was incredibly simple.  Here is a picture of everything that came in the box:

There is also a helpful DVD that is included that speaks in general on how to take care and set up your inflatable:

I was determined to set this Inflatable Water Park up all by myself and found no problems in doing so.  Here are some pictures of my initial set-up:

Deflated:

Inflated:

The most amazing thing to me about set-up is that it takes less than a minute for the entire unit to be fully inflated!  Once the unit is inflated attach the water tube to the water park via the Velcro tabs found on the unit.  Attach your water hose and it is ready to go!

I love how much fun my kids have on this water park….every single time they go down the slide it is super wet and I can even adjust the flow of the sprayers if needed.  The absolute favorite thing for me….the path on the side of the water slide that allows the kids to stay inside the unit at all times which means way less grass and debris in the pool area!!

As I expected, the taking down took a lot longer….mainly because I wanted to make sure every square inch was completely dry.  If the unit is not completely dry mold buildup can occur and since we plan to use this great product for years to come I took extra care to make sure it was properly packed up.  Once the standing water was drained out (by stepping on the sides of the pool to let the water flow out), I deflated the unit to remove the remaining water.  Per Blast Zone’s recommendation, I re-inflated and let the unit dry out from the inside out.  About an hour later it was dry.  After deflation I noticed the bottom to be slightly wet so I flipped it over and let the sun do the rest of the work.

The only way I got my boys off of the Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park is by promising them we have the entire summer for hours of entertainment with it and I know we will get years of use which makes it well worth the price, especially at the current sale price of $299.99 PLUS there is a  10% coupon code:  BOUNCEBLOG!  I highly recommend the Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park.  My boys give it a huge thumbs up!!

Blast Zone is generously offering 1 very lucky Mommy PR reader their very own Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park!

Win It

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me what your favorite product is from Blast Zone

“Like” Blast Zone of Facebook

“Like” MommyPR on Facebook

Follow MommyPR on Twitter

Post giveaway on your blog (worth 5 entries)

Share this giveaway on your blog, facebook or twitter with a link to MommyPR and get an extra entry for each that you do daily. (must include link in comment section)

Open to US residents only

Contest ends 11:59 pm Pacific Time on June 7th, 2013

See Contest Rules for More Entries

There you have it – lot’s of ways to enter so please help us get the word out and good luck!!!!

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I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. I did receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review or host a giveaway in return for the product. Receiving the product for free did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.

First-of-its-kind Cellular BioEnergetics research has shown age-related decreases in skin’s energy levels make aging skin fatigued – aged in appearance and less responsive to anti-aging ingredients. This research also indicates hydrating skin may help to boost natural bioenergy production in aged skin. Inspired by this explosive field of research, Olay has reformulated its best-selling Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with Skin Energizing to help fight the look of Skin Fatigue and accelerate the appearance of anti-aging results.

New Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is designed to accelerate the appearance of anti-aging results with Skin Energizing Technology which contains a complex of ingredients that energizes surface skin turnover and includes two new anti-aging ingredients – Olivem and Lys’lastine.

Research conducted on nearly 2,500 women around the world shows new Olay Regenerist with Skin Energizing Technology hydrates to improve skin’s responsiveness and fight the look of Skin Fatigue by accelerating surface layer cell turnover, increasing brightness and decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

•  Regenerates skin’s surface layers up to 2x faster after 5 days

•  Hydrates better than leading luxury creams

•  Reverses 10 years of wrinkle appearance after just 4 weeks

New Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is available where Olay Products are sold.  Suggested Retail Price:  $24.99

My take:  I have been using Olay products for well over 15 years now and have always relied on their moisturizers to help keep my face looking its best.  I have been blown away by the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.  It is quite simply the best I have ever used and believe me when I say I have tried some of the most expensive moisturizer creams available.  I love the light scent, the creaminess that doesn’t have a greasy feel to it and most of all how it makes my skin look and feel fantastic.  As a mom of three young children I don’t have a lot of time to take care of my skin but I have always made sure to use a moisturizer each day and Olay has always been at the top of my list and will continue to be so thanks to the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

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I am a spokesperson for P&G.  I did a receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review  in return for the product. Receiving the product did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.

Cortex Solo 450 Jet Black Titanium Flat Iron / Hair Straightener (1″):

Discriminating Salons and Stylists around the globe expect the best from the tools of their trade. That’s why they choose the Cortex Solo 450 Collection for superior, longer lasting performance in hair expression. Our technologically advanced line uses the highest quality materials, which means beautiful results faster.  Cortex Solo 450 Collection is new to the market and made for professionals in the beauty industry. You probably could have guested this iron heats up to 450 degrees F, the hottest in the market. Adjustable heat and ergonomically designed this flat iron can be used on ultra thick frizzy hair or ultra thin hair. The results are amazing!

Retails for $259.99.  On sale for $129.99

Flat Iron Experts Iron Holder:

Flat Iron Experts Iron Holder has suction cups to grip onto smooth glossy surfaces, such as a glass table for increased stability & safety.

Retails for $14.99

KQC Thermal Shine Spray:

KQC Thermal Shine Spray (142g) is an ion enriched polishing complex formulated for superior heat protection and ultra gloss hair shine. Lightweight, non-greasy micro mist spray that eliminates frizz, softens and polishes hair without build up. Designed for all hair types. Use with flat iron, curling iron or hair dryers.

KQC Thermal Shine spray is great for all hair types.  Whether your hair is normal, oily or dry, you can prevent infrared heat damage resulting in split-ends, frizz, and so forth.  This is also a great way to help detangle your hair as the thermal shinespray allows for easy & smooth comb-throughs.  Directions: Spray on wet or dry hair.  Style with a hair dryer or iron for brilliant, ultra-gloss shine.

Retails for $18.99.  On sale for $13.99

Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment:

Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment is a therapeutic oil perfect for all hair types and is especially beneficial to dry, damaged hair. The Healing Oil Treatment is instantly absorbed, weightlessly infusing the hair with moisture and nutrients for silky smooth, healthy looking hair while providing natural UV protection from photo and sun damage. Dry, brittle hair is miraculously rejuvenated with increase shine and control. The Healing Oil Treatment can also be added as an enhancement to other conditioning and finishing products or mixed into color or other chemical service preparations for improved absorption and effectiveness, resulting in more vivid and long-lasting applications.

Retails for $39.99.  On sale for $35.99

My take:  I straighten my hair each and every day and when I spent the weekend at my parents’ house I noticed her hair straightener worked way better than mine so I knew it was time for a change.  On a recommendation from a friend, I decided to try Flat Iron Experts and boy am I glad I did!  Every since using their products there is not one bad thing I can think of to write.  Pictures say a thousand words so here is a before picture:

And an after picture:

Talk about a noticeable difference!  I love how quickly this hair straightener heats up, the easy use and how there is a holder with suction cups.  Easy perfect hair every single time!  The thermal shine spray and macadamia oil treatment help protect my hair which I love as well!

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I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. I did receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  Receiving the product for free did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.