The Chill Factor Slushy Maker

Chill Factor Slushy Maker

We have had a lot of fun with the Chill Factor Slushy Maker! I’ve had root beer slushies and Jordan made a Dr Pepper one. The slushy maker is easy to use and to clean. It will be a lot of fun all summer long. You literally just chill, fill and squeeze; how easy is that? You can use your favorite juice or soda to make a slushy in minutes. Watch the video, it really works.

After each use just wash with warm soapy water. When the white insert is dry, pop it in the freezer for 4+ hours and it is ready to use again and again!

Chill Factor Ice Cream Maker

The Chill Factor Ice Cream Maker works on the same principle as the slushy maker, but our results weren’t nearly as good. I believe the real problem isn’t the ice cream maker itself, but the recipe. If you look at the image below, we followed the top recipe which came in the box with our Cool Factor Ice Cream Maker. Yes, 2 TBS vanilla seemed like an awful lot, but we followed the recipe anyway. When our ice cream came out soupy and nasty tasting, I looked on the Cool Factor website and, as you can see by the screenshot at the bottom of the image, that recipe is very different.

We aren’t giving up on the ice cream maker, but I do need to go shopping for caster sugar, which melts quicker than granulated sugar before we try again.

I love the concept of both of these products. I’ll be giving the ice cream maker another try soon. Make sure you follow me on Instagram and Twitter to see how it goes the second time around.

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The Target Summer Learning Tips are based on Search Institute’s positive youth development, resiliency, and prevention research. This research led to development of a framework entitled Developmental Assets which comprise 40 commonsense, positive experiences and qualities that influence the choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults.

Studies of more than 2.2 million young people consistently show that the more “Development Assets” young people have, the less likely they are to engage in a wide range of high-risk behaviors, and the more likely they are to thrive. These Development Assets apply to all young people, regardless of their gender, economic status, family, or race/ethnicity. “Search Institute is proud to partner with Target on the Facebook Summer Learning Series,” said Peter Benson, President and CEO of Search Institute. “We hope this campaign helps parents make the most of the summer and helps their kids be better prepared for school in the fall.”

According to the National Summer Learning Association, all students experience learning losses when they don’t engage in educational activities over the summer.

• Students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do at the beginning of the summer.
• Most students lose almost three months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months.
• Low-income students also lose more than two months in reading achievement.

“We’re excited to partner with Search Institute as part of our ongoing commitment to education,” said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. “We hope that this fun and educational Facebook application inspires parents and caring adults to nurture their child’s love of learning.”

The Target Summer Learning Tips and Search Institute Facebook campaign will offer weekly updates and tips to engage children ages 3-13. Join Search Institute and Target on a summer adventure filled with creativity, adventure, and learning by visiting www.facebook.com/target and www.facebook.com/SearchInstitute.

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It is a photo of Ron and Jordan exploring a waterfall in Ocho Rios, Jamaica on our vacation in 2005. This picture has long been a favorite of mine because of the way they are holding hands and carefully stepping on the slippery rocks.

I don’t know if I will win the $250 prize but I am thankful to Uprinting.com for asking me to dig through my photos and find a summer favorite.

UPrinting.com is a leading online provider of business cards, color brochures and mailing postcards. Please see UPrinting.com for all of your printing needs.

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ChickChill is discrete relief from the heat. It is only 5×3.5″ in size but it helps keep you cool. ChickChill is a cold pack inside a velour pouch. Just pop the cold pack in the freezer for a few hours and then slide it in its pouch and pop it in your purse or tote. The cold pack stays cold for a few hours and is ready when you need to chill.

I have used my ChickChill at a Memorial Day BBQ, Epcot, while working out and around town; it is perfect for keeping me fresh on a hot summer’s day.

You can buy a ChickChill at MumsatPlay.com for $12.95.

You can win a ChickChill here!

Mandatory Entry visit MumsatPlay.com and look around. Come back here and tell me the name of the developer of the ChickChill.

Bonus Entries: May be completed after the Mandatory Entry. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Subscribe to my blog via the RSS feeder or e-mail (current subscribers just leave me a comment letting me know you subscribe)
2. Follow my blog via Google Connect (current followers just leave me a comment letting me know you subscribe)
3. Add my button to your blog and leave me a link to your blog in the comment.
4. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this “Keep cool this summer with @MomMaven & @ChickChill Enter to win a ChickChill http://bit.ly/w6dbz” Leave the Tweet URL in your comment
5. Stumble, Digg and/or Prop this post (you can do each of these)

This giveaway ends June 12, 2009 8:00pm and is open to US residents only. Good Luck and stay cool!

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What is Care.com? It is a website that connects care providers with families that need them. This is not just a babysitting service. Care.com connects babysitters, pet sitters, tutors, elder care givers, special needs care givers and house cleaners with families in their area who are in need of their services.  With summer just around the corner, now is the time to find the caregiviers your family needs. Does your son need a math tutor? Do you need a pet sitter for when you take your family vacation? Do you need a break from caring for great-grandma 24/7? Do you need someone to come in oce a month and deep clean the house? Then Care.com is the place for you.

Normally the Premium membership costs $30 a month or $90 a year. This weekend you can try the Premium membership for FREE! The Premium membership allows you to:

• Post jobs so that caregivers in your area can find you
• Review the full profile of caregivers in your area
• Contact caregivers to schedule interviews
• Check references
• Run FREE background checks

Care.com also has lots of great articles like Nannies: Myths VS Realities, Emergencies and babysitter Safety, Teaching Your child About Their Peers with Special Needs,  The Senior Care Guide, Creating a Mold-Free Home and many, many more.

You owe it to your family to hire the best caregivers you can. Start that search this weekend at Care.com.

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