Have you ever heard of a company for the first time and then suddenly it seems to be everywhere? I learned of the company simplehuman from my affiliation with SheBlogs and decided to check out their products. Now I see them in ads all over the place! I shouldn't be surprised, everyone can use a little simplicity in their lives and that is what simplehuman is all about.

simplehuman makes tools for efficient living. From their site:
"We all have daily tasks we want to do faster, things that take up too much space, and projects we want to organize. simplehuman is committed to designing products that help efficiently achieve these goals."
Their products range from trash cans to soap dispensers to kitchen and bathroom organization tools. I don't know about your house but I could use each and every one of their products. The one item that I needed the most, just happened to be the item that I was sent to review: the 30L Deluxe Rectangular Step Can.

I have been using the same plastic trash can for years. I kept waiting for it to break so that I could go buy a new stainless steel can. I have tried to break that thing so many times! Now, thanks to the simplehuman's 30L Deluxe Rectangular Step Can ($99.99), I have a beautiful stainless steel, fingerprint-proof and stylish addition to our kitchen. Yes, I just described a trash can as stylish. I figure, you have to have a trash can, but it certainly does not have to look as ugly as the stuff it contains, right? It fits flush against the wall because of the invisible hinge and a smart bucket bag change system which makes changing trash bags a breeze.


One of my favorite features is simplehuman's lid shox® technology that uses air suspension shocks to control the lid for a slow, quiet close. It has a step pedal to lift the lid and when you release it, it doesn't slam down like you'd expect. You can use ordinary trash bags or their trash liners. It also has what they call bag tuck™ that allows you to place any excess bag into a spot on the back of the liner and you won't have any ugly trash bag overhang. The only thing that I would change is I would get a bigger size. We have 5 people in this household and one of them is a teenager. Need I say more?

My next purchase will be the simplehuman Sensor Soap Dispenser I just saw at Bed, Bath and Beyond ($29.99) that uses motion activation to dispense the soap. With all the company we will have over the holidays coupled with the cold and flu season, this will be perfect!

BUY IT!: You can purchase the 30L Deluxe Rectangular Step Can for $99.99.  You can also find simplehuman produts at simplehuman.com, at the simplehuman store in Los Angeles, Lowes, Bed Bath and Beyond and other major retailers. To find a store near you that carries their products, Click Here.

This post was written after receiving the product free of charge. It is the only form of "payment" that was received for writing this post and all views and opinions are mine alone. I cannot guarantee that you and/or your family will love it as much as we have, but I would be surprised if you don't.

Keeping it Simple - simplehuman Review

I recently heard on the news that they have had to recall thousands of H1N1 vaccinations due to them not being strong enough. My doctor still hasn't received any H1N1 vaccinations and while we got the 1st of the 2 flu shots needed for the boys, or doctor canceled and have not rescheduled, the appointment for the 2nd dose because they have run out. This causes me even more worry regarding my children's risk of catching the flu this season.

I was recently introduced to the Cold and Flu Tracker that is an online tool that provides a weekly data feed of cold & flu symptom trends by state plus other cold prevention tips for you and your family. All you do is click on your state and major cities are listed with the cold & flu level for that city ranging from Very High to Low. For instance the closest major city to me is Los Angeles, and we have a moderate level with 5-10% of the population effected with the cold and/or flu. Compare that to Fresno, where several of my relatives live, and they have a Very High level with 15-20% of the population effected. Planning on traveling this holiday? What a great tool to see what level that city is at. While you always practice healthy habits, this information may help make you more diligent about those habits.


Being a former teacher, I was always amazed when parents would send their clearly ill child to school. Then there was the other end of the spectrum when a child would miss school for a headache. On the Cold & Flu Tracker website, there are also Sick Day Guidelines that Triaminic®, partnered with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), have created. Parents know when their kids aren’t feeling 100% - these Guidelines are aimed at helping parents decide when to keep them at home, or send them off to school.

From Triaminic:

The Cold & Flu Symptom Tracker is brought to you by Triaminic®, a leader in children’s over-the-counter cold and flu symptom medication. When dispensing medication to children, remember to always read and follow medicine labels exactly, to ensure that the child receives the right dosage. Single-use products like Triaminic Thin Strips® provides a pre-measured dose of medicine that dissolves quickly on the tongue, so parents know their children are receiving the recommended amount for their age.

BUY IT!: Triaminic has a coupon for $1.50 off any Triaminic Thin Strips Cough & Cold, click here and then click on the image at right.

WIN IT!: 3 of my readers will win a pack (containing 3 boxes each) of Triaminic Thin Strips!

TO ENTER: Go to Triaminic's website and tell me what type of Triaminic medication you have used or could have used for your child's last cold or flu.

This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

• Follow my blog publically
  
• Add my button to your blog
• Add me to your text blog roll (not button) 2 entries, leave 2 comments
  
• Subscribe to my blog via email
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: Be ready for the next cold or flu! WIN Triaminic Thin Strips at A Giveaway Addicted Mommy @kariellen 3 Winners! http://tinyurl.com/yejo4kx Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.

Contest ends January 2nd at 11:59 PST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on or around January 3rd and they will have 72 hours to respond (one extra day more than normal due to the holidays). Open to US only.

**Entries are Per Person, Per Email Address, Per Household, Per IP Address and/or Per Blog. Failure to follow these rules will lead to disqualification in this contest and all future contests on this blog. In other words, no cheating please.
This post was written after being promised samples of the product. It is the only form of "payment" that will be received for writing this post and all views and opinions are mine alone. I cannot guarantee that efficacy of the product or any claims or promises the product claims.

Triaminic Cold and Flu Tracker + Giveaway

How many of you have ALL your holiday shopping done? No matter how hard I try, I am always doing some last minute shopping for gifts that I just didn't seem to get to or just forgot about. Staples is a great one-stop shop, if you are like me and don't have the time or desire to go shopping from store to store.

At Staples you will find great deals on everything from the latest technology gifts to fun stocking stuffers. They carry the Sony Reader and Flip Ultra 120 Camcorder as well as the $10 Staples exclusives like the Omnitech Mini Speaker Pod. I tend to forget about stocking stuffers and the $5 Crayola products like the Model Magic Jungle Animal Craft Pack and Washable Glitter Glue are a perfect price.

Another thing I forget to buy are batteries. Nothing is sadder than seeing a little kid all excited to play with their new toy and realizing you don't have any batteries for it (yes, I speak from experience). During the holiday season (through 12/26), Staples will be offering 100% back in Staples Rewards® on 20 packs of AA or AAA Duracell® batteries. It's like getting batteries for free, and a great way to ensure toys and electronics stay working long after the holidays have passed.

On Dec. 23rd and Dec. 24th, Staples will extend store hours, making it easy for you to pick up gifts for everyone on your list. And, orders over $50 on Staples.com ship free.

WIN IT!: Staples is offering one of my readers a $25 Gift Card to help you with your holiday shopping.

TO ENTER: Go to Staples and tell me what you would purchase with your gift card.

This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

• Follow my blog publically
  
• Add my button to your blog
• Add me to your text blog roll (not button) 2 entries, leave 2 comments
  
• Subscribe to my blog via email
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: WIN a $25 Gift Certificate to Staples - Helping make the holidays a little easier at A Giveaway Addicted Mommy @kariellen http://tinyurl.com/yeendhx Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.

Contest ends December 23rd at 11:59 PST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on or around December 24th and they will have 72 hours to respond (one extra day more than normal due to the holidays). Open to US only.

**Entries are Per Person, Per Email Address, Per Household, Per IP Address and/or Per Blog. Failure to follow these rules will lead to disqualification in this contest and all future contests on this blog. In other words, no cheating please.
Nothing was received for writing this post and all views and opinions are mine alone. I cannot guarantee that you and/or your family will love it as much as I have - but I would be totally surprised if you don't.

Staples - Helping Make the Holidays a Little Easier {Giveaway}

Tonight I was invited to go to a fun event at KFC. I got to be one of the first to try out their new product - Fiery Grilled Wings. Were they good? Well I am still full I ate so much!


KFC's New Fiery Grilled Wings will be available on December 28th, so you are one of the first to know about it. Fiery is a great description for them, they are spicy and a bit hot. I love hot and spicy food so this was just right for me. They are marinated in peppers and grilled but they aren't covered in sauce like other hot wings. They are also 50% larger than their normal wings, they look huge in the picture because they really are big!

Of the people at the event, some thought they weren't too spicy, some thought they were very spicy and some were somewhere inbetween. I really think that must be a personal thing. I brought some home and my oldest son thought they were just spicy enough and my husband said it was "spicy, not hot...with a kick." Both liked them a lot and I can see buying a platter of these for a party.



I also got to learn how they make the chicken and even make my own original recipe chicken to take home. I didn't know that they made all their chicken on site. They take raw chicken and bread it in the restaurant. All this time I just assumed it was breaded somewhere else, frozen and then shipped to the restaurants. Cleanliness is strictly enforced. I am not sure my hands have ever been so clean. It was a lot of fun and everyone was so helpful and nice. We even got to meet the Colonel!

Starting December 28th, you can purchase 5 Fiery Grilled Wings for $3.99, 20 Wings for $13.99 and 30 Wings for $21.99. A big thank you to KFC and Chris, Tom and DGWB Advertising and Communications.

WIN IT!: One of my readers will win a $25 Gift Certificate to KFC.

TO ENTER: Tell me if you are a KFC original or extra crispy chicken fan.

This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

• Follow my blog publically
  
• Add my button to your blog
• Add me to your text blog roll (not button) 2 entries, leave 2 comments
  
• Subscribe to my blog via email
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: WIN a $25 Gift Certificate to KFC to try their new Fiery Chicken Wings at A Giveaway Addicted Mommy @kariellen http://tinyurl.com/ycxea58 Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.

Contest ends January 1, 2010 at 11:59 PST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on or around January 2, 2010 and they will have 72 hours to respond (one extra day more than normal due to the holidays). Open to US only.

**Entries are Per Person, Per Email Address, Per Household, Per IP Address and/or Per Blog. Failure to follow these rules will lead to disqualification in this contest and all future contests on this blog. In other words, no cheating please.
This post was written after attending a free tasting. This was the only form of "payment" that was received for writing this post and all views and opinions are mine alone. I cannot guarantee that you and/or your family will love it as much as I have - but I would be totally surprised if you don't.

You'll Be First to Know! KFC's New Fiery Grilled Wings {Giveaway}