Attention all you fitness mamas out there. It may be the end of summer and pool days may be coming to a close as Labor Day weekend approaches, but I always find I get a renewed motivation to work out when cooler weather arrives, the kids are in school and I can carve out a little time for myself at the gym, or just to take a walk in my neighborhood.

Finally there is a new protein powder product on the market specifically made for women.

Tight Curves protein powder, along with proper nutrition and exercise, will:

• Support low carb diets
• Facilitate muscle toning
• Accelerate fat loss
• Reduce water retention
• Increase endurance
• Increase bone density
• Elevate mood
• Improve, hair, skin and nails

Tight Curves™ is formulated especially for women. The berry flavored protein powder contains only natural ingredients of the highest quality—soy protein, PeptoPro amino acids, calcium, Black Cohosh, and St. John’s Wort—all scientifically proven to deliver the benefits that women seek. These include enhanced weight control, muscle tone, bone density, mood, endurance, and recovery. Simply add one scoop to 6 to 8 oz. of water or your favorite beverage.

Let’s face it, there is an overwhelming number of supplements, vitamins, minerals and compounds on the market to choose from and unless you’re a celebrity mama like Kelly Ripa or Madonna, you probably don’t have access to personal trainers or chefs or wellness gurus. Tight Curves brought together a team of experts and, based upon research, developed a formula that meets the most common needs active women seek as they develop their workout routine and goals.

Get trim, get toned, lose weight, and improve your mood with Tight Curves.

Do you want a salon quality microdermobrasion experience at home, without the price?

Microdermx from Nikkel Holistic Skincare is a new in-home microdermabrasion kit that uses medical grade corundum crystals to help even skin tone, diminish pores, and fade wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars and brown spots without the use of synthetic or chemical ingredients.

It’s a safe, effective, and affordable alternative to the microdermabrasion treatments received from a doctor’s office or salon.

The high grade crystals used in Microdermx are suspended in a base free of synthetic or petrol chemical additives such as parabens, mineral oil, or propylene glycol. They also have concentrated amounts of natural botanicals, nutrients, and active enzymes, unlike most of the second-grade exfoliants found in other home formulas.

The Microdermx process involves two steps. Step One is the microdermabrasion process which removes older, tired skin cells to reveal new, more supple ones. Step Two takes the treatment further as it nourishes the skin with hydrating “skin food” You get 15 to 18 treatments from each 2.1 oz jar of Microdermx, which retail for $79 as a two-step kit. It’s safe for all types of skin, even sensitive skin, as well as textures and colors.

My mom tried out the Microdermx system samples and loved them. She noticed a difference in the texture of her skin after one treatment! If you’re looking for a spa quality microdermabrasion results, without the price tag, then Microdermx is for you. If you’re Amy Winehouse, than nothing is going to help your skin at this point.

We have a winner! Cassandra, who commented August 1: Holy-moley, roly-poly! This is amazing! Thank you!” She blogs at Love Without Wings. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Every mom needs that one ultra hip t-shirt. You know, the one you can put on with a pair of great jeans to attain instant fashion Zen.

Well, now you can attain t-shirt nirvana. Look hip for a good cause with this gorgeous CARE t-shirt. Savvy Housewife is proud to offer this beautiful shirt (retail value $38) from PeaceLoveMom as part of the Bloggy Giveaways quarterly carnival.

The Powerful Mom tee celebrates the strength, passion and dedication of women around the world by helping benefit and promote CARE. Savvy Housewife is giving away one of these beautiful t-shirts to one lucky winner. Simply leave a comment on this post. Entries will be closed midnight Friday, August 1; a random winner will be drawn from all eligible comments.

For each Powerful mom tee sold, PeaceLoveMom will give $3 to CARE to help advance their work to empower women all over the world. CARE is a leading non-profit humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. They believe that if equipped with the proper resources, women everywhere have the power to change lives.

Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival

Savvy Housewife readers get free shipping on orders $20 or more from PeaceLoveMom with code BLONDEMOM now through August 7.

For more information about CARE, visit their website at www.care.org

My oldest daughter, Miss C, starts first grade in less than one month. Our school system passed a standard school attire dress code for the 2007-2008 academic year. While there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth, as a mom to a girly girl with a penchant for channeling her inner Punky Brewster or Cyndi Lauper, I was all “Praise the Lord and pass the khaki!” Getting dressed on school mornings is so easy now. Toss the girl a khaki jumper and a pink polo and she’s happy.

I thought I would give an overview of how Miss C’s kindergarten attire survived numerous washings, yogurt dribbles, and art classes.

Because I am cheap (nay, resourceful!) I bought several brands of polo shirts last year. Many were consignment from sales or eBay. Basically I budgeted no more than $10 per polo and some I got for a mere $5. I love the Ralph Lauren polo insignia as much as the next Southern girl, but I refuse to pay more than $10 for a kids’ polo that is going to get abused on the playground. This doesn’t mean I don’t look out for for the Polo pony at a consignment sale, though.

My candidates for Best Quality School Uniform Polo are GAP, JC Penney (IZOD brand), Target (Cherokee brand), and WalMart. I’m sure there are other great brands on the market, but these are the ones we tried.

Miss C had a cute white polo with a tiny blinged out flower from The Children’s Place, but it was made from very thin cotton material (and not from their designated school uniform line) and there was already a small hole in the front, near the buttons, in just month four of kindergarten!

My candidate for Best Quality Khaki School Wear have been found at The Children’s Wear Outlet website. Miss C loves her jumpers. I may not be a fan of The Children’s Wear Outlet polo shirts, but her khaki jumper from their site, as well as a cute navy skort and jumper (seen below), have held up wash after wash. She also has a Children’s Place khaki jumper I bought consignment for less than $5 that is excellent quality.

Miss C last fall all dressed up for kindergarten in her pink GAP polo and navy jumper from Children’s Wear Outlet. (Dora shoes from Target; she wasn’t “too cool” yet for Dora.) And, why yes, that is a temporary tattoo on her arm!

My mother just bought Miss C a Wal-Mart Faded Glory brand khaki school jumper for $9.98 and I’m anxious to see how it holds up. It’s also been pre-treated with Scotchguard.

Earlier this month I snagged a cute Cherokee brand polo for Miss C at Target for a mere $4.88, but noticed they are not marked down online, so you may want to scour your local Target. I also picked up another Cherokee polo at Goodwill for less than $3. Thankfully most of Miss C’s clothes from last year still fit, so I’ve spent very little on her first grade wardrobe thus far….maybe $25, and that includes a pair of discounted Tinkerbell tennis shoes.

Solid pima cotton polos for girls from Sixth Alice at CWD Kids are on sale for $5.99 (marked down from $24). I haven’t tried these, but that’s a great deal.

Here are my picks for savvy online children’s school uniform resources:

The Children’s Wear Outlet

Land’s End Overstocks

Ebay uniforms section

JC Penney

JC Penney Online Outlet

Wal-Mart

Target

Where do you find good deals on school uniforms?

As a mom to two little ones, especially a daughter about to begin first grade (say it isn’t so!), I’m really partial to educational products that are both fun and engaging.

School Zone is an award-winning publisher of children’s educational products that has been around for more than 25 years. Their line of products, from activity books to flash cards, are for not only for babies and preschoolers, but will grow with children up through sixth grade level.

My girls especially loved the new School Zone 3D Think & Blink numbers flash cards, which come in a nice, sturdy carrying case and are colorful and engaging.

School Zone’s new Math Readiness Sticker Workbook makes learning early math fun by incorporating that universal kid item of guaranteed fun: stickers. It helps teach skills like telling time, counting objects and money, matcing and comparing amounts, and learning basic addition and subtraction.

The Big Alphabet Workbook, for ages 3 to 5, has more than 300 pages of fun alphabet activities to help children learn letter recognition, beginning sounds, and basic writing skills.

School Zone also puts a fun twist on the traditional game of Go Fish with fun animal cards.

Their website also features a great online Kid Zone, with educational online games (which I love), stories and songs, and videos.

The holidays will be here before you know it, and School Zone products would be a wonderful suggestion for gift ideas.

Savvy Housewife School Zone quick picks for under $10:

My First World Atlas

Happy Faces Infant Mirror Cards

Magnetic Tins and Wooden Peg Puzzle Books for kids ages 3 and up

Adrienne Gordon, who commented, “the Squeeze & Clean Floor Cleaner because we have four different types of floor,” is the winner. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Weiman Products sent me a few more of their handy and easy to use cleaning wipes in two different formulas: wood and granite. I love the wood cleaning wipes and, as you can see, so does my 6-year-old. Huzzah!

Yes, sometimes being a savvy housewife means mastering the fine art of delegation.

The Weiman furniture wipes are great for my daughter to use because I don’t have to supervise her spraying a hard to manage cleaner. As far as the granite wipes, although I don’t have granite countertops (a woman can dream), they can be used on several surfaces. Out of all the Weiman handy cleaners in wipe form, however, my favorite is definitely the furniture wipes.

Weiman Furniture Wipes:

• Feature Weiman’s lemon oil furniture polish
• Clean dust, dirt, grime, and smoke residue
• Contain UVX-15 sunscreen, which protects wood from the damaging effects of the sun

Weiman Granite Wipes:

• Are great for everyday cleaning
• Remove grease and grime from sealed granite, marble, quartz, and most stone surfaces
• Are safe to use on a multitude of surfaces such as Corian, ceramic, chrome, fiberglass, auto interiors, laminated plastics, and patio furniture

Weiman is offering Savvy Housewife readers a prize pack of their cleaning wipes line, as well as products from their Perfect Planet line, eco-friendly cleaners with the EPA’s Design for the Environment seal of approval. To enter, simply visit the Weiman website, take a look around at their many great cleaning products, and come back to this post and leave a comment about which of their products you would find most useful. A random winner will be chosen from all eligible comments left by midnight Sunday, July 27.

Who says file folders and mousepads must be boring utilitarian and uninspiring?

Galison makes beautiful office supplies (and I do love me some purty office supplies) that will make your workspace sing, whether it’s a swank corner executive suite, a compact cubicle, or just the corner of your breakfast bar.

To celebrate the 4th anniversary of the Galison blog, they’re having a giveaway. Check out some of the desk bling:

Just visit the Galison blog giveaway post by July 31 to enter and be prepared for me to sulk if you win the Gali-swag, and I don’t.

Barbara Baker, who commented, “Periwinkle is my favorite (along with my girls)…those are too cute. It looks like something that would go well with their barbie collection,” is the winner!

Most little girls go through the horse and pony stage (boys, too, I should add!) If you’re lucky, they’re happy with the kind that don’t really require tack and a pasture. If you’re really lucky, they end up with so many colorful play horses and their 9 million accessories that you might as well build a special stall for them (insert sarcasm here.)

Savvy Housewife was recently asked to review a beautiful handpainted toy horse and poseable doll from Paradise Horses. My girls, especially my 6-year-old, are especially crazy about the horse and my daughter has been carrying hers to play at her grandmother’s every week.

These are not your ordinary plastic toy horses from your big box retailer. Paradise Toys feature a gorgeous line of very realistic toy model horses that are fully poseable (and good size at 10 inches tall) to encourage “serious horse play.” Their website also features a fun Paradise Horse Club for kids. Membership is free and the site features postcards, coloring pages, and more. I love toys that spark my girls’ imaginations!

Savvy Housewife is giving away a beautiful toy horse valued at $49.99 from Paradise Toys. To enter, simply visit their website, take a look around, and then come back and let me know the name of your favorite horse or pony at their site (my daughters have Rhythmical). A random winner will be chosen from all eligible comments left by midnight Thursday, July 24.

Paradise Toys is offering Savvy Housewife readers 20% off all orders at checkout with the promo code savvyparadise.

Tired, literally, of sleeping on a squeaky wheel of a mattress, Savvy Dad and I went on a mission Sunday afternoon—a mission to find, and bring home, a good quality mattress, at an affordable price.

After doing a search on the Internet for mattress companies, I was pleased to discover the SleepWell Mattress Outlet, which had an endorsement from money manager guru Dave Ramsey himself.

SleepWell touts famous names, minor flaws, and major savings and it did not disappoint. On the outside, the actual store wasn’t much to look at (low overhead, Savvy Dad reminded me), but as we walked in and surveyed the selection, we were very impressed. We were also trying to shop with a 3 and 6-year-old, so we had little time, and patience, to spare. We cut to the chase and got down to the business of lying down on the job…the job of finding the perfect mattress.

Savvy Dad quickly found a mattress to his liking. I liked it, too, but the selling point was when the salesperson told me it was a latex core mattress, which meant it was hypoallergenic. Savvy Dad has terrible allergy problems, so we were sold.

SleepWell Mattress Outlet specializes in selling quality factory-second mattresses from major bedding manufacturers, like Serta and Sealy. These could be overstocks, close-outs, freight damaged, mismatched, or pieces that are blemished or have stitching flaws.

We bought a gorgeous Sealy latex core queen size mattress with no detectable flaws at all. We paid $900 for it, which was half of the original $1,800 price. It is worth every penny and the salesperson told us it should last 15 to 20 years. It’s so comfortable, it’s like sleeping on a giant soft, yet firm, marshmallow. It’s such an upgrade from our sad, sagging excuse of a mattress that was well past it’s prime after a decade, that I felt like I was sleeping in a luxury hotel suite, and not our master bedroom.

As you can see, Savvy Dad doesn’t like the new mattress. Ignore the gift bag stash and digital scales peeking out from under the bed.

So, Savvy Housewife gives SleepWell Mattress Outlet a thumbs up. Visit their website to see if there is a location near you.

Sobering thought while our old mattress and box springs were being hauled off by a delivery service, independent of SleepWell: “Our girls were conceived on that mattress!” God speed old girl, God speed.

I can think of a hundred more things I’d rather do than scrub the bathtub. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it and around my house that someone would be moi. (Savvy Dad does 75 percent of the cooking, so I can’t complain.)

Thanks to Mom Central I had the chance to review the new Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber from SC Johnson, which makes several household cleaning brands we have all grown up with, from Windex to Pledge. The scrubber is actually made from a heavy duty foam type substance with an easy-to-grip handle. The back of the cleaning pads attach to the scrubber. Each pad contains tiny scrubbing fibers and concentrated Scrubbing Bubbles® formula to cut through soap scum on tile, tub and shower surfaces, and even shower doors. For those hard to reach corners and tight spots, you can detach the scrubbing pad. I actually used mine to wipe out the bathroom sink once I’d finished cleaning the shower and tub.

We have one shower slash tub in our house (yes you read that right…apparently homeowners in 1968 didn’t really want the master bath treatment) so it gets a lot of use which equals a lot of soap scum. I really liked the fact that I could toss the scrubbing pad once I was done with it. No sponge or scrub brush to sit and breed unwanted microscopic bath buddies.

So, while the new Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber doesn’t make the physical act of scrubbing the tub and shower fun, it does make it quick and easy, which is a bonus in my busy mom handbook.

Click here for a coupon for $2.75 off your in-store purchase of the Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber, which is a great deal since it retails for around $5.