Googly Bands Review

The crazy silicone shaped wrist bands have become the latest "must have" collectable this year and have given lil bear yet another item to begin yet another new collection! I do like the price point on this new craze however, it's lower than most, the bands are small enough they don't take over the house and they're much easier to trade than a beanie baby or webkinz!!

Caity received a package of series VI "Lets Sk'8" and series VII "Beauty" which are sparkle bands from the Imperial Toy Company's version called Googly Bands. She was very excited when she saw the sparkle bands, having been looking for that style unsuccessfully for a while now.

The packaging is minimal but eye catching and fun, which is nice because it's much more environmentally friendly and the bands are cute. She had a little trouble getting some of them to form their correct shape but I think that may be to do with the thin shapes of some of them. They do seem larger than some of the other styles she's tried, this is a definite plus because they don't limit circulation in the wrist and leave a mark!

In her long hair they do tend to snag, but I really don't think many kids are buying them as hair accessories anyway, however it is something to keep in mind. The colors are bright and the glitter styles are really pretty and overall she's as pleased as punch with them.

I'd definitely recommend them, they are available in stores like Walmart, Toysrus and Christmas Tree shops, so if you have a youngster who just has to have some, I'd recommend you give these a try!

Step Into Spring Giveaway

It's officially Springtime and time for a brand new giveaway!!

The giveaway is for a fabulous box of ducky crystal barley hard candy lollipops just in time for Easter and valued at over $10!!

Entry is easy, just visit my Sweet Lollipop Shop Etsy shop then come back here and post telling me which flavor or sweet treat you like the best.

*Want more entries?*
-Post this giveaway on Twitter/Facebook.
-Follow me on TWITTER
-Become a fan on facebook Sweet Lollipop Facebook Page
-Refer a friend to become a Facebook Fan and if they post they were referred by you & they win the giveaway I'll send YOU a matching prize too for referring them!
-Blog about this giveaway and leave a post that you did and where.(2 EXTRA ENTRIES!!)
-Add my button to your blog
-Subscribe to and/or follow my blog (Make sure you activate your subscription!)

Each of these can give you another entry! Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!


Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 24 hours a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened to everyone, everywhere.

The winner will be drawn on Easter Sunday and receive a fabulous package of ducky crystal barley hard candy lollipops!

Giveaway Ends: Sunday 4th April 2010 @ 10am EST

The H1N1 Curry Cure

When you're a mom and you're little one is sick you feel helpless, your heart aches in a way that you really can't describe and you'd gladly be sick for them if it makes them feel better again.

After 2 days of a high fever whilst suffering with the flu, Caitys appetite had all but disappeared. She'd lost 4lbs in a few days and she's already a petite 62lbs for her 10 years, I was desperate to find some way, any way, to find something she could enjoy and keep down. First with the aid of some tylenol I was able to get her fever down but she was still barely managing the odd spoonful of ice cream.

Her dad and I had assumed jello, ice cream and ginger ale would be her hearts greatest desires whilst she felt icky but apparently we were wrong, so I offered her anything she wanted, didn't matter how crazy, how complicated, I would get it for her if it would help her feel better.

I was thinking chicken noodle soup or another comfort type food ...

Oh No!

She chose homemade curry with mushrooms and white rice!

Yes you heard right, a 10 yr old wanting mushrooms - the same 10 year old that HATES them normally wanted me to cook a curry with them for her!

What's even more amazing is that not only did she eat a full dish of it, she kept it down, had one more bedtime dose of tylenol and woke up this morning with NO fever!

Did my curry cure the flu? I doubt it - but this mom will happily take some credit for helping her lil bear feel better.

Do you have any foods that make you or a loved one feel better when they're sick? Maybe you have a funny food story? I'd love to hear about it!

Frantic Follow Friday

It's been a crazy week here in the Sweet Lollipop Shop and the feeling of going stir crazy is overwhelming. My youngest munchkin came home sick from school on Monday, complaining of a sore throat and cough, with all the insanity with this new flu I decided to keep her off school and as it turns out that was the right thing to do as she got steadily sicker, finally yesterday getting diagnosed with flu (suspected H1N1).

The pedeatrician seem almost irritated by the question of H1N1, it seems that they feel that it's been totally blown out of proportion. She said they don't even test for it unless you're so sick you need to be hospitalized, it's assumed instead that because it's too early for the seasonal flu, that it must be H1N1 and asked me to simply let my daughters school know that she is having flu like symptoms.

The confusing messages that are being sent out I believe simply adds to peoples panic, I have to say at one point yesterday morning I was really at the point where it flashed in my mind "what if she doesn't get better". Her temp was 103, she couldn't eat/drink or keep medicine down and she was so sick I was feeling guilty that I'd thought this whole swine flu craziness was a media hyped nonsense. I honestly had never seen her so sick before and it scared the heck out of me and so I can see clearly where any parent would go to panic mode.

Thankfully today she's done a total turnaround, temperature is back to normal, she's back to talking a mile a minute and bouncing around the house sounding like a croaky frog, the sore throat being the only real noticible symptom remaining and I'm back to realising as the doctor said, H1N1 is just another strain of flu, no better, no worse, just slightly different. Most people will exhibit symptoms for 5 days or so with no long lasting ill effects, just maybe some fatigue for a few weeks afterwards. And yes for some just as with the seasonal flu, it can develop into something much worse and you should be particularly careful if you are in one of those high risk groups.

Want to know the symptoms of the flu? The main ones are sore throat, cough, fever, sore/achy body, nausea, diarreaha, runny nose. Because it's a virus, there isn't a magic medication and tamiflu the doctor explained only shortens the length of time you may experience symptoms and carries it's own risks of side effects and currently is impossible to find anyway.

I hope everyone can stay healthy this coming holiday season.

Have you been affected by the flu/H1N1 virus? Do you have an opinion on the subject? Let me know what you think!