Fish Window Cleaning: MUCH more than their foaming glass cleaner!

Fish Foam Premium Foaming Glass Cleaner

When I agreed to review the cleaning product Fish Foam by Fish Window Cleaning, I had no idea they were also a full-service company who actually comes out to clean all your windows, screens, gutters, chandeliers, ceiling fans, skylights, awnings and mirrors.

Since I've started working, weekends are already full with completing the basics (like maybe feeding my family a home cooked meal)  . . . much less deep cleaning like my windows and screens. So, I was in awe of the THOUGHT of having a service come handle the hard-to-reach spots my husband and I keep ignoring (like maybe the dirt will just rub off or blow away or something.}

When Fish Window Cleaning offered a full window cleaning for my home to try to service and their foaming cleanser, I was more than excited! In fact, I added a hallway chandelier cleaning to the day which I paid for myself.

Fish Window Cleaning

The Fish Window Cleaning Truck arrives at my house!

The service started with the owner of the local franchise, Barbara Young, coming out to see the house and determine what needed to be done. She was very helpful and friendly and left me with instructions. I had two main jobs: ONE, make the windows accessible by moving any knicknacks or furniture and raising the blinds; and TWO, buy new lightbulbs for the high-in-the-sky hallway chandelier. Well . .  I got the first one right. I had to run out to buy lightbulbs after the guys started cleaning and had no fresh replacements. Oops!

This is our garage/ wood workshop window before cleaning!

Here is the same window AFTER cleaning!

I asked if the window cleaners use Fish Foam throughout the house. They actually use a mild soap, water and a squigee for large areas. Fish Foam is used for tight spaces or small glass panes like the windows above. It's also great for touch-up spots (like the intentional face mark one of our kids thought would be funny to add to our back sliding glass door after the cleaning crew left. And, believe me, I have oily faced teenagers.)

Fish Window Cleaning comes with their own seriously huge ladders!

The truck has everything but the kitchen sink! Lots to get the job done!

In one sentence, I was very happy with Fish Window Cleaning Service. They did an amazing job  and I would definitely recommend their services! They came, they worked hard, my house shined and now I can see the rest of the dirt inside my house so much better – perfect for Spring cleaning everywhere else! Now, if they could just hose out the rest of the house and get rid of clutter! Just kidding, I wouldn't put that on anyone – that's on me.

AND, according to their website: FISH provides service to more than 100,000 commercial and residential customers nationwide. We specialize in cleaning: ground level storefronts; one, two, and three story office buildings; restaurants; banks; churches; schools; and homes. Whether at work or at home, FISH can offer a variety of services such as: exterior windows of all types, storm windows, construction clean ups, screens, mirrors, chandeliers, ceiling fans, gutters, and skylights.

Fish Foam Premium Glass Cleaner is a nice follow-up product, after using Fish Window Cleaning service for the whole house, because it STAYS PUT on the window, eliminating drips and runs. It also foams which not only makes the kids want to help but it cuts through oil and grease. You can tell this glass cleaner was made by professional window cleaners for a tough job.

See more pictures on my Google + album. My co-writer on DIYFrugal is doing a giveaway of a can of Fish Foam.

{Disclosure: I was treated to a full window and screen cleaning for my home and several bottles of Fish Foam for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Note: I only give this much coverage to products I truly believe in.}

Mystery Book "Come Home" by Lisa Scottoline — Coming Out Tuesday in Print & CD April 10.

I don't even have to listen to my new mystery book CD Set "Come Home" by Lisa Scottoline to know it will be good. I wanted to get this post up before the April 10th release but I am actually saving the book itself as a special treat for a long ride I need to make in about two weeks.

You may ask – how do I know it will be good? What do I know about Lisa Scottoline? I know that I have loved every one of her books since I read her first novel "Everywhere that Mary Went." Over the year, my sister and I have regularly sought out Lisa at local book signings so we could exchange her works for birthdays and Christmases as a special surprise. At least once, I read my gift before wrapping it so I wouldn't have to wait.

Note: I copied this image from the website. Click to get to all the links in the image.

{OR, order on Amazon Here: Come Home}

Lisa also lives in the Philadelphia suburbia not too far from me and she uses this entire area to build her rich and suspenseful mysteries. So, I get to imagine stories playing out in familiar territory and at the same time get wrapped up in all the multi-layered, tension filled-details Lisa adds that keep you reading or listening into the wee hours. I like the CDs for some of the long car trips I make.

Here's a synopsis of this new book from Lisa's website:

Jill Farrow is a typical suburban mom, who has finally gotten her and her daughter's life back on track after a divorce. She is about to remarry a great guy, her job as a pediatrician fulfills her, though it is stressful, and her daughter Megan is a happily over-scheduled thirteen-year-old, juggling homework and swim team.

Jill's life is turned upside-down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on their doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news — Jill's ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees to make a few inquiries, and discovers that things don't add up. As she digs deeper, her actions threaten to rip apart her new family, destroy their hard-earned happiness, and even endanger her own life. Yet, Jill can't turn her back on a child she loves and once called her own. COME HOME reads with the break-neck pace of a thriller, but also explores the definition of motherhood. It asks the questions: Do you ever stop being a mother? Can you ever have an ex-child? What are the limits and love of family?

However you decide to absorb this book, I know it will be awesome!

About Lisa Scottoline:

Lisa Scottoline graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1976. Her B.A. degree was in English with a concentration in the Contemporary American Novel, and she was taught by professors such as National Book Award Winner Philip Roth. Lisa then graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1981, where she served as an Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Lisa Scottoline graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1976. Her B.A. degree was in English with a concentration in the Contemporary American Novel, and she was taught by professors such as National Book Award Winner Philip Roth. Lisa then graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1981, where she served as an Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review.

Read more on her website.

Colgate Spruces up Easter with Oral Hygiene Nickelodeon Style! #EasterSmiles

Easter is an important holiday for my family. As Christians, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God's son. We go to church wearing our Spring finest and praise the Lord for His mercy and grace in our lives. It's a beautiful thing. He is Risen, He is Risen, Indeed!

BUT, as full-blooded Americans, sugar addicted and all, I can't seem to escape also celebrating the day with Easter baskets full of candy sprinkled marshmallow Peeps, chocolate candies, peanut butter Easter eggs, and the like. I do try to add in something personal, which is why this shoppertunity with Collective Bias came at a good time. Why not add oral hygiene items by Colgate into our Easter basket? It's a perfect addition to all the candy (not only the candy I buy but the huge cream filled eggs my mother-in-law buys)!

So, in preparation for this holiday, I knew Wal-mart was the best place locally to fill up on oral hygiene items, {I bought my candy at the grocery store later}. I knew it would have the two popular characters: Dora the Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants, based on the popular shows on Nickelodeon. I am happy to help make toothbrushing time as fun as possible.

Arriving at Walmart for Easter shopping!

I do love the great deals at our Walmart in Audobon, PA; especially with the new grocery section that gives you fresh healthy items too!

Oral Hygiene aisle

Shopping for Easter basket goodies in the oral hygiene aisle.

The Easter "pallet" for Colgate items was nowhere to be found but the items were there, integrated in with all the toothbrushes and toothpastes.

Colgate's Nickelodeon Dora the Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Easy to find! This Walmart is one of the best tended ones I have ever seen!

Easter basket with Colgate Toothbrush and Toothpaste inside. Now for more goodies!

The toothbrushes and toothpaste only took up a little room. I went shopping later for my kids' other favorites without going toooo nuts! I didn't get a chance to get a picture yet since I usually like to arrange everything the morning of Easter when my girls are still sleeping. Bags are pulled from various spots around the kitchen. It's like having my own Easter egg hunt!

Hope you have a wonderful Easter! See my whole Colgate shopping experience on my Google Plus Album. #EasterSmiles

Visit Colgate on Twitter or Colgate on Facebook

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bible Verses for Easter

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV)

Romans 1:4-5
And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (NLT)

Romans 6:8-11
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Philippians 3:10-12
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (NIV)

1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… (NIV)

Matthew 27:50-53
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.(NIV)

Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (NIV)

Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (NIV)

Best Flower Buds Doll Daisy- Popping up in time for Spring

DaisyDaisy, a new Best Flower Buds Doll from Jay at Play, made her way to my house this last week where her bright {and quality stitched} smile was a welcome sight.

Made in the same fashion as the Little Miss Muffin Dolls, this little 9" doll pops in and pops out for lots of Spring fun!

Best Flower Buds 9 inch Doll – Daisy wants to be your Best Bud Forever! Daisy is peeking out from under her flower waiting to play with you. Pop her out and flip her flower pot inside out to have fun all day with this Best Flower Bud. Daisy is a Best Flower Bud full of sunshine and encouragement. She's always there to provide a boost to your day and an uplifting cheer. That's what makes Daisy your Best Bud Forever!

The Best Flower Buds dolls come in a variety of colors: yellow (Daisy), shades of purple (Iris & Violet), blue (Blue Belle), pink (Blossom), and red (Poppy).

I popped her out and popped her back into her circular container and wrapped her up for a darling present for my niece's birthday party Friday night. She seemed quite excited to get this lovely little bit of sunshine.

{Disclosure: The Best Flower Buds Doll was sent to me for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I only review items my family and I truly enjoy.}

Daisy

 

 

Smash Your Food, A New App Mobilizing Families to Eat Well

Washington-based Food N’ Me™ announces the release of its award-winning, Smash Your Food™ educational game, now available for iPad at $2.99 on the Apple App Store. This fun and exciting mobile game encourages families to smash real foods—burgers, cola, French Fries and entire meals—to learn about nutrition, inspiring healthier food choices while providing parents with personalized emails filled with nutrition advice.

Smash Your Food was the winner of Michelle Obama’s “Apps For Healthy Kids” National Contest and was selected from hundreds of submitted games by industry leaders, including Mark Pincus, CEO Zynga (Farmville), and Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder, Apple Computer. Developers were challenged to “develop fun and engaging software tools and games that drive children, especially tweens (ages 9-12) – directly or through their parents — to eat better and be more physically active”.

The concept behind Smash Your Food was developed by a nutritionist with over 20 years of experience working with children.  A giant robot smashes 40 real foods like burgers, french fries, milkshakes, soda and more. Then it shows how much fat, sugar and oil is contained in each food. I made a lot of wrong guesses as to how much sugar there is in certain foods in drinks, which really made me realize how little we know about the things we consume. For example, I guessed that a can of soda had six cubes of sugar in it, thinking that was a ridiculous number, and it actually had even more! A can of soda has around eight cubes, or 32 grams, of sugar. Overall, I feel like this app could be very useful for families trying to figure out what to cook for dinner or what to order from a menu on a night out! As useful as it is, it is also very fun, and provides a way for kids to learn to about what's really in various foods and drinks in an interactive, technology-driven way.

For more information on Smash Your Food visit www.smashyourfood.com and www.foodnme.com.

Food Network’s HUNGER HITS HOME premieres on April 14th at 8pm/7pm central

 

To learn more about Share Our Strength, follow on Twitter at @NoKidHungry or go to the website here. Read about the Great American Bake Sale and learn about starting your own bake sale to end childhood hunger by 2015!

Face2Face with Therapon, Ulta and More!

What a lovely Saturday last weekend! I woke to beautiful weather and a happy household.

I got up, walked, got dressed and went down to the Desmond in Malvern where I met my friend Jo-Lynne who organized a wonderful pampering morning called Face2Face. There we were treated to a mini-facial by Christina of Therapon Skin Health, make-up by Ulta Beauty and manicures by ladies from a local nail salon.

{Can you believe I actually went OUT OF THE HOUSE without MAKEUP to a room of BLOGGERS with CAMERAS? Now, that's brave, I tell ya.}

And, of course, there were nice swag bags too. I came home with a number of goodies including a 4 step Theraderm Skin Renewal System including: a cleansing wash, fruit acid exfoliant, OPC reparative gel, and an enriched moisturizer. I can tell you now – I am glad they numbered the steps on the bottles.

I've been trying the system the last two nights and it's kind of like coming home after the hairdresser does your hair. You want to do it exactly the same as the expert but you feel a bit insecure the next day. Can I do this? Can I really fit this many steps into my routine?

But, I tell you, ohhh, your face glows when you are done. It feels so nice. I am a convert. At the event, we heard a bit about the background of Therapon and the amazing Dr. Beckman.

James S. Beckman, M.D. is a board-certified plastic surgeon and chemist, a life member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the founder and CEO of Therapon Skin Health®. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Arkansas Medical School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1970, followed by a surgery residency at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in 1975 and a plastic surgery residency at the University of Tennessee in 1977. Dr. Beckman set up his private practice, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, in 1977 and served there for 24 years. In response to skin concerns voiced by his patients, Dr. Beckman began developing unique products to restore skin to its optimal health and enhance the effects of plastic surgery. 

And, here's the morning crowd who joined me! {Another group came in the afternoon. I hear we were a bit more subdued in the am.}

{Disclosure: We were treated to a lovely morning with no obligation to post about it but I because I wanted to – and all thoughts and opinions are my own! ;) }

Additional thanks to swag bag sponsors: Lands’ End for the canvas totes filled with lovely gifts from LunchskinsUnforgettable Moments by PaylessShoesHeartwork OrganizingHappy Family FoodBendables and Divalicious Chocolate Dessert.

CLOSED: Bottom Dollar Food $25 Gift Card Giveway

Contest is closed. Congrats to Comment #1: Vickie. Enjoy your shopping and thank you everyone else for stopping by!

Do you like getting delicious food for "dealiciously" low prices? Bottom Dollar Food is taking the discount grocery world by storm with their diverse selection of every day goods, farmer's market style produce, fresh meat and cold foods.

In fact, for St. Patrick's Day, I just shopped there yesterday and stocked up on food for me, for the food drive in our community and even got a few things for the college care packages our church is sending to our 9 students in college right now.

Leave a comment here to win a $25 gift card giveaway to Bottom Dollar Food discount grocery store. Winner will be picked by Friday, March 30, 2012. U.S. Only.Tweet, Facebook, Google+ or post on your blog for additional chances to win.

 

Closed: Movie Screening Giveaway: Win One of 5 Family 4 Packs to Mirror Mirror in King of Prussia

Giveaway is closed. Congrats to Sarah F. , Carrie, Lynda, Jeanine and Dena.

Leave a comment for a chance to win one of 5 family 4 packs to go see the local movie screening of "Mirror Mirror" on Thursday, March 22, 2012 in King of Prussia, PA at 7 pm. Winners will be picked by Tuesday, March 20th. Seats are guaranteed!

Synopsis:

One of the most beloved stories of all time is coming to life in the motion picture event, Mirror Mirror.  A fresh and funny retelling of the Snow White legend, Mirror Mirror features breakout star Lily Collins (The Blind Side) as Snow White, a princess in exile, and Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts as the evil Queen who ruthlessly rules her captured kingdom. Seven courageous rebel dwarfs join forces with Snow White as she fights to reclaim her birthright and win her Prince in this magical adventure comedy filled with jealousy, romance and betrayal that will capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences the world over.  The film also stars Armie Hammer (The Social Network) as the Prince and Nathan Lane (The Birdcage) as the hapless and bungling servant to the Queen.

www.mirrormirrorfilm.com

In Theaters March 30