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Friday, April 30, 2010

Tanya

Step2® Recalls Basic Rhythms Drum™ Toys Due to Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Step2® Basic Rhythms Drums™
Units: About 21,000
Importer: The Step2 Company LLC, of Streetsboro, OH
Hazard: The plastic clips used to attach the drumsticks to the drum can break. The small broken pieces present a choking to young children.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves Step2® Basic Rhythm Drums™ intended for preschool age children. The toy drum is sold with two drumsticks that can be stored in clips on the side of the drum. A red "Step2®" logo in printed on the side of the drum.
Sold at: Toys "R" Us, Burlington Coat Factory and other retail stores nationwide from August 2009 through March 2010 for between $10 and $15.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy from children and contact Step2 to request a replacement toy.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Step2 toll-free at (866) 860-1887 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at http://www.step2.com/recall/
Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1025
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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Tanya

Awesome Blog Awards Are a Comin'

NOMINATE and vote for www.tanyapeila.com PLEASE!

From: iammommy.typepad.com
So I just wanted to let you know I have decided to go ahead and host the Awesome Blog Awards 2010!
Do you remember last years? (be sure to check out this link so you know why on earth I would host such a thing!)
Here is the skinny.
There will be a nomination period in about a few days.
I am going to have five total categories where you can be nominated.


Awesomest Parenting Blog
Awesomest Inspirational Blog
Awesomest Food Blog
Awesomest Photography Blog
Awesomest Overall Blog


You can be nominated in every category if your blog fits the topic, but you can only win one.
The nomination period will only be one day.
It will be Friday, April 30th.
That means on Friday you can stop by and nominate yourself or whomever you want to honor for them awesome blog-ness. If only one person gets nominated in a category, then that person wins!
Then, most likely next Monday, the voting will begin! The voting period will be open for one full week! So you will have time to call grandma and let her know she needs to log in and vote for you. ;)
Now. Why do you want to win the Awesomest Blog Award?
There will be over $250 in cash and prizes up for grabs.
Plus braggin rights.
So be sure to stop back on Friday and nominate yourself or your bestie or your favorite blogger.

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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Tanya

Win an Apple iPad!

I’m participating in a contest at Best Kids Apps, a blog about iPhone apps for kids, for a chance to win an iPad. What I would like for Mother's Day:
Spa Day (massage a MUST)
p90x

And that's about it!

My fav iPhone apps, I don't have an iPhone, I would like one but I don't want AT&T! I like T-Mobile!
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Monday, April 26, 2010

Tanya

Spring cleaning!

As much as I loath spring cleaning when you are done it feels GREAT! So out of 7 rooms and 1 closet, I have 4 rooms done and about 10 bags of garbage, clothig and toys! Or was good the weather was not nice Saturday or I would have neglected t!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch
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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Tanya

Road Trips and Guitar Picks

Jason Aldean and Brooks and Dunn appear EIGHT days from today at the Tacoma Dome!
And man isn't Jason a cutie!

As a secretly aspiring country-western singer I love learning about where artists came from. Not many people know but before I met my husband I actually went to Nashville to check out the scene and look for housing. My friend Shannon and I were to move down there just month before I met my husband. And the rest is history...

Jason's Journey
The path to success isn't always a direct route. Jason had big dreams and worked hard to obtain them.

Jason's road trip to being a successful recording artist started at performances for just a few people in small Georgia bars. Even though he was just a kid, singing after school before he started on his homework, Jason knew that this was his start, no matter how small, and he was on his way: his journey had officially begun.

The road to success in Nashville certainly had its detours. Jason's first attempt was a success at first but then he was dropped from his record label. With determination and the support of his family and friends, Jason tried again. This time, a record label signed him and his career took off.
I received complimentary tickets and backstage passes to the upcoming concert from COUNTRY Financial! I am also the COUNTRY Financial Official Tacoma Blogger!
I am SO excited!
So onto the tour, Road Trips and Guitar Picks!

What is a Roadie?
A Roadie is someone who signs on to an artist's tour to help set the stage before each performance - it's hard work. A Road Trips and Guitar Picks Roadie signs on to the tour and gets access to artist content, updates, prizes, and more - no manual labor, just fun!

How Do I Become a Roadie?
By rocking the Roadie Quiz and playing the Wheels of Fortune game, You'll get instructions on how to create, download and print a Roadie Pass. Wear the pass to a Road Trips and Guitar Picks concert to be eligible for special prizes on-site.

What is the Roadie Ranking?
See what type of roadie you are when it comes to your financial security. The results of our quiz will let you know where you stand. Are you a Fortune 500 CEO, an Honest Accountant, or a Frugal Fran? Get your friends to take the challenge and compare the results! Are you cruisin'... or runnin' on empty!

There are games, quizzes, free music, and other free downloads.

Check it out today. Even though I won't be seeing Jewel she is part of the tour too. I LOVE her as well!

So will I see you May 1, at the Tacoma Dome?
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Tanya

GlassesUSA!

My cousin got some SUPER cute eyeglasses that she only has to wear while reading. She bought them online!

I had to wear prescription glasses while in school then switched to contacts. But I will could not remember to change them all the time. So I got Lasik three years ago. So far so good. But my husband still needs glasses.


We have found glasses to be rather expensive and honestly insurance does not make a big dent in your bill!


That's when we started shopping for glasses online. You can find SUPER deals. All you have to do is enter your prescription! It's as easy at that and you can save up to 70% off!



GlassesUSA.com is the premier online retailer of prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. Our mission is to guarantee the highest quality optical products at the most affordable prices in the fastest time span possible – all across the world.We guarantee our customers the highest quality - yet affordable - prescription eyewear because we own our laboratories, saving our customers on every order! We pay less. You pay less. It’s a win-win situation!
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Tanya

Earth Day 2010

Earth Day is April 22, 2010 this year. Here are some great activites for children:

Coffee Ground "Fossils"
From kaboose.com
What you'll need:
1 cup of used coffee grounds
1/2 cup of cold coffee
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup of salt
Wax paper
Mixing bowl
Some small objects to make impressions in the dough (Shaped cookie cutters work well.)
Empty can or a butter knife
Toothpicks, optional
String to hang your fossil, optional
How to make it:
Stir the together the coffee grounds, cold coffee, flour, and salt until well mixed.
Knead the dough together and then flatten it out onto the waxed paper.
Use the can to cut out circles of the dough or use the dull knife to cut slabs large enough to fit your "fossil" objects.
Press your objects firmly into the dough. When you take the object out, you have your "fossil". If you want to hang the fossil, poke holes into the edge to hold the string.
Let the fossil dry overnight (and up to two days) and then hang it if you wish.
Tips:
To reduce the drying time, bake the fosils for a short period of time to get the "dough" to harden.

Planet Earth Coffee Filter Craft
from dltk-kids.com
Materials:
coffee filter
blue and green washable markers (we used crayola brand)
squirt bottle or small glass of water
black construction paper
glue
Optional: white paint, old toothbrush and popsicle stickNote: You can complete this project using food colouring instead of washable markers. However! I find this option to be very messy so would not do it with young children (if they get food colouring on their clothing you won't be able to get it out). I would only use this option with children over age 10 and even then would want a good amount of supervision and old clothes to be worn.
Instructions:
Flatten out a coffee filter on a plate.
Scribble the filter with blue and green washable markers.
Use a squirt bottle to spray the coffee filter 2 or 3 times.
I like to squirt right in the center of the filter and then sit and watch the water wick the colours over the filter (this takes 4 or 5 minutes)
Young children will tend to over wet the filter... the project still works, but it won't turn out quite as pretty (the colours tend to blend too much if you soak the filter) To help prevent this, encourage them to squirt it just once in the middle and watch for a bit for so they can see the process unfold. You can always add more water later if it doesn't get wet all the way to the edge after 5 minutes or so.
Let dry (this takes about 1/2 an hour, but will take longer if the filter has been soaked by an over-zealous crafter!)
We found ours turned out mostly green (I think our blue was a bit too light). After it dried, we coloured some more dark blue in the center and squirted it once with water.
Optional: Splatter paint a piece of black construction paper:
Cover your work area with newspaper
Dip a toothbrush into white paint and tap it off to get rid of the excess.
Hold it over the black paper and lightly rub the edge of the popsicle stick against the toothbrush to splatter dots of white paint onto the paper.
Repeat until your black paper looks like a star filled universe.
Set aside to dry
Glue your earth to a piece of black construction paper (or to a splatter painted piece of black construction paper.
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Monday, April 19, 2010

Tanya

History of Earth Day

from www.earthday.net/
Earth Day -- April 22 -- each year marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

Among other things, 1970 in the United States brought with it the Kent State shootings, the advent of fiber optics, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Apollo 13, the Beatles' last album, the death of Jimi Hendrix, the birth of Mariah Carey, and the meltdown of fuel rods in the Savannah River nuclear plant near Aiken, South Carolina -- an incident not acknowledged for 18 years.

It was into such a world that the very first Earth Day was born.
Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, proposed the first nationwide environmental protest "to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda. " "It was a gamble," he recalls, "but it worked."
At the time, Americans were slurping leaded gas through massive V8 sedans. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of legal consequences or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. Environment was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news.
Earth Day 1970 turned that all around.
On April 22, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. Denis Hayes, the national coordinator, and his youthful staff organized massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.
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Friday, April 16, 2010

Tanya

Good (&Cheap) Eats

I am trying to lower our monthly grocery bill and also help my family eat healthier. This is a difficult task being a full time working mommy! I found SO many great sites to help me with this! Here are two I would like to share with you this week!

Good (& Cheap) Eats!
Good (& Cheap) Eats is dedicated to eating well without spending a fortune. By well, Jessica mean "healthfully" as well as "deliciously". It's a tall order, but she is hopeful that it can happen.

Money Saving MOM
Crystal Paine, the blessed wife of Jesse and mommy to three precious little children (Kathrynne was born in 2005, Kaitlynn in 2007, and Silas–our first boy!–was born in May of 2009).

First introduced to couponing by her mom, she made her a coupon organization box, and gave her a copy of Miserly Moms. Not only that, but she also put her in charge of the grocery shopping, menu-planning,and cooking for their family of nine for a few years while she was still living at home. Talk about great practice for the future!
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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Tanya

General Mills and Pssst… Introduce Budget-stretching Cookbook

Looking for recipes to stretch your food dollar? How about a cookbook with 200 recipes, none costing more than $5 to make?
“The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook” by Erin Chase, a MyBlogSpark member and creator of 5DollarDinners.com, prepared her first $5 dinner in August 2008.

She turned it into a three-fold mission:
• To make dinner for my family every night for $5 or less!
• To prepare healthy meals using natural and wholesome ingredients!
• To encourage and inspire others to do the same!

In addition to 200 economical recipes each with a Frugal Fact, she offers suggestions for making the most of grocery shopping and couponing. Her tips on meal planning include sample menus and ideas for using leftovers. Her recipes feed a family of four and list the approximate cost of the ingredients. Here’s a recipe Erin suggests to get you started.
I am a member of Pssst… and occasionally get information and free products from General Mills.
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Tanya

My Job Chart!

I just signed Little Man up for this. One he LOVES jobs with rewards and two he loves to use the computer to accomplish this!

Spring is officially upon us. And in addition to warmer weather, chocolate bunnies and blooming flowers, this season signifies far less fun for most Moms- spring cleaning! If you're having trouble rallying your troops to help you clear out the clutter and get your house in tip-top shape, we just might have the perfect solution for you. And unlike those pretty petals in your garden, this is one tool that will be brightening up your household throughout the seasons!


If you haven't had a chance to check out http://www.myjobchart.com, now is the perfect opportunity. Can you imagine your kids actually looking forward to doing chores? My Job Chart makes it possible.


My Job Chart is a FREE online Chore Chart that teaches kids to work in a fun and productive way. Using an easy and fun online system, My Job Chart inspires kids to do their chores on time. An interactive point system tracks your child's progress, creating excitement and enthusiasm among kids. And the fully customizable chore chart allows you and your child to decide upon mutually determined rewards, fostering communication and developing responsibility. You even get an email or text message when your kids finish their chores or they earn a reward!


Sign up HERE!
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Tanya

Dragons!

We received a copy of How To Train a Dragon for Nintendo DS. And let me say, Little Man LOVED it SO much he used his birthday money to go buy the Wii version! We had to go to three different stores to find it too! He was very excited to find out we were receiving a copy for review. Every day he asked to look in the mail for it!

Train Your Dragon For Battle!
Battle your friends in this all-new adventure, based on the world of DreamWorks Animation’s movie, How to Train Your Dragon! With countless ways to customize, you’ll design the coolest dragons to ever live on the Island of Berk. Explore this epic world as Hiccup or Astrid in Adventure Mode or experience fierce battle action in Arena Mode as you fight, fly, and fire your way to victory!
Features
Create your own Dragon
Six types of dragon species and thousands of ways to customize their appearance and abilities
Train Your Dragon
“Level Up” your dragon’s speed, power, fire, and more through challenges and training
Endless Multiplayer Battles
Use your arsenal of dragons to battle your friends in a variety of unique environments

Get your copy of How To Train A Dragon on Wii, PSP, or Nintendo DS here! Rated E for Everyone
We receieved a complimentary copy of How To Train A Dragon for Nintendo DS for this product review.
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Tanya

Baskin-Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night

Looking for a sweet way to treat the entire family to ice cream? Baskin-Robbins is hosting its fourth annual 31 Cent Scoop Night on April 28 from 5–10 p.m. at stores nationwide. We are once again paying tribute to local fire fighting heroes and thanking our customers by lowering the price of Baskin-Robbins scoops to just 31 cents! A family of four can enjoy their favorite flavors for less than $1.50!
It’s for a good cause too – as part of the event, the Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation will make a $100,000 donation to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring fallen fire heroes and assisting their families and coworkers. Participating Baskin-Robbins stores will help raise additional funds for local firehouses by inviting fire departments to the event to collect donations.
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Monday, April 12, 2010

Tanya

Butt Paste!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

So I am on my second child now. And with my first he would absolutely SCREAM when I used diaper rash ointment on him. I never wanted to use it. It was suppose to make him feel better not sting, which is what I am assuming it did! We literally had to hold him down to put it on him. Just as her was about to turn 1 someone told me about Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.
Only only does Boudreaux’s Butt Paste not have the "diaper rash cream" smell (you know what I'm talking about MOMS), but it does not bother either of my children. No having to hold them down to change their diapers, no tears, no screams. And honestly I LOVE the name!!

You can pick up Butt Paste at any local chain store or drug store. It comes in small tubes from 1 oz. packs up to a full sized 16 oz. jar!

Boudreaux’s Butt Paste has also been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, The Tonight Show and in magazines such as People.


I hope if you have not already tried Boudreaux’s Butt Paste that you will soon (no more smelly "diaper rash cream scents!). Here is a link to get a sample to get you started! http://www.blairex.com/BLButtPaste.php

Visit my sponsor: Boudreaux’s Butt Paste
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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Tanya

Gund Recalls to Replace Baby Books Due to Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Gund Baby Paperboard Books
Units: About 15,100 in the United States and 865 in Canada
Importer: Gund, of Edison, N.J.
Hazard: The styrofoam used to fill the book binding can detach, posing a choking/aspiration hazard to infants and young children.
Incidents/Injuries: Gund has received three reports of children mouthing the styrofoam that detached from the books. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves three miniature children's paperboard books with plastic handles designed as baby rattles. They include "Animals" (item number 059174), "Numbers" (item number 059175) and "Colors" (item number 059176). The books were also sold as a three-book set (item number 059173). The name "Gund" and the item number are located on the back of the books. The books measure 4 1/2 inches by 7 inches.
Sold at: Gift and specialty stores nationwide from January 2009 through March 2010 for about $8 and $20 for the set.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the books away from young children and contact Gund for a free replacement product.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Gund at (800) 436-3726 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at http://www.gund.com/News/index_wkg.cfm
Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1008
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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Tanya

Spring Break Activites! DISCOUNT!


So for many of you Spring Break may already be gone. But for us it is just beginning!!! But the ideas I have to share with you can be used for Summer Break as well!

Have you joined Tropicana Juicy Rewards program yet? If not WHY?

You are missing out on some great savings!

Here are some of our favorite redemptions so far!~

Bowling - Two free games; 1 pt.

Miniature Golf - Buy one game get one free; 1 pt.

Odyssey 1 - Enjoy one complimentary PLAY PARK OR LAZER TAG ADMISSION when a second PLAY PARK OR LAZER TAG ADMISSION of equal or greater value is purchased; 2 pts.

Pacific Science Center - Enjoy one complimentary EXHIBIT ADMISSION when a second EXHIBIT ADMISSION of equal or greater value is purchased; 1 pt.

Okay so MAYBE we won't be able to fit it ALL in this week but we can sure try!
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Tanya

NEW Little Blends

My children absolutely LOVE yogurt. Here is a new yogurt, made by Horizon, for those of us that have a hard time getting them to eat their veggies. Little Blends, is a yogurt made with fruit and vegetables. Click HERE to print your coupon!
Whole milk natural yogurt plus veggie & fruit purees. Every spoonful of Little Blends™ offers sound nutrition and creamy flavors kids love. With calcium, protein, prebiotics and DHA Omega-3. Produced with milk from cows not given added growth hormones (rbST).¹ No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and no high fructose corn syrup.

Here are a few more products we think you will like:
• Whole Milk Plus DHA Omega-3
• NEW! Tuberz™
For more information, visit HorizonDHA.com

¹ No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rbST treated and non-rbST treated cows.life'sDHA™ is a trademark of Martek Biosciences Corporation
*I'm a BzzAgent and I was given a smaple of this product for this review.
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Friday, April 2, 2010

Tanya

Happy Easter!


Since I don't post on the weekends I wanted to wish you all a wonderful Easter!

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Tanya

RECALL - Bauer Recalls Children's Hockey Sticks Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Youth and Junior Hockey Sticks, Shafts, and Blades
Units: About 67,000 in the United States and 60,000 in Canada
Importer: Bauer Hockey Inc., of Greenland, N.H.
Hazard: Paint and decals on the sticks, shafts and blades contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The following hockey sticks, shafts and blades are involved in the recall: see http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10189.html
The hockey and goalie sticks, shafts and blades come in various shapes, sizes and colors. The name "Bauer" and the model descriptions are on all of the sticks, shafts and blades. Most of the sticks also have the Nike symbol.
Junior player sticks and replacement shafts are each identified by the markings "JUNIOR," "52 Flex" or "JUNIOR Flex 52."
Youth player sticks are identified by the marking "YOUTH Flex 42" or "YTH Flex 42." These markings appear on all models on the narrow side of the stick shaft either near the top of the stick or near the blade.
Junior replacement blades fit only the Junior sticks and are identified by the markings "P92" or "PM9" followed by "JR", which appear on the narrow side of the blade near where the shaft and blade are joined.
Junior goal sticks are identified by the markings "P31 - JR - 22 ½" or "P31 JUNIOR - FLEX 52 - 22 ½" which appear on the narrow side of the stick shaft near the top of the stick.
Sold at: Sporting goods stores nationwide from February 2005 through March 2010 for about $80 to $200 for sticks, $30 for blades, and $40 to $90 for shafts
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled sticks, shafts and blades away from children immediately and contact Bauer for a replacement or refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Bauer toll-free at (888) 734-0443 between 8 a.m. and midnight ET Sunday through Saturday or visit the company's Web site at www.bauer.com
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Thursday, April 1, 2010

Tanya

LittleMissMatched $4 Sale!!

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Tanya

Baby Look alike Meter

By Guest Writer Jane Bell
The Baby Look-alike Meter can be a fun tool for family discussions – and maybe serve as a evidence to settle one point of contention once and for all: who does your baby look alike the most: you or your partner?
To use you it, you must upload a face picture (the clearer the better) of you, one of your partner and one of your little dumpling; the meter kicks into action and in minutes retrieves the results. It will show you the percentage of resemblance to either parent, and, in some cases, it will even show you that your baby carries equal similarities to both.
The technology used for this tool is called Facial Recognition Technology (aka FRT), which has been in use for years by security firms, including the police.
Almost since its very beginning, My Heritage has been using features of FRT to help its members track relatives who may be also users of the site’s free family tree software. By activating this application, users receive a number of profile pictures who resemble the searcher or the user’s ancestor.
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