Mahayla's Mommy

Tie Buddies Review and Giveaway

2010-06-19T15:25:00.001-04:00

Mahayla will be 3 years old next month! My little girl is growing up and getting ready for school. Mahayla will be starting private school in August. That means school uniforms and shoes with laces. One of our summer goals has become teaching Mahayla how to tie her shoes. Only if there was a product out there to help. Wait! There is....Tie Buddies!Tie Buddies help your child learn how to tie their shoes faster. Tie Buddies are available in two design combination's, a fairy and her wand and race cars. You simply thread the Tie Buddies onto the shoe laces, follow the instructions, and make up a story for your Tie Buddies characters. The pull tabs are easy to use for small clumsy hands. The more times they practice, the better they get, and eventually you can remove the Tie Buddies.

My Thoughts: My advise is to follow the instructions to the tee. The instructions say to have 3.5" of lace between the Tie Buddy and the last shoe eyelet. This was the hardest part to me. Mahayla only wears a size 6 toddler shoe. They generally don't have 3.5" or more of lace left over after they are completely laced up. I had to find her a pair of tennis shoes that had longer laces for these to work. Some shoe laces are also difficult to thread through the holes of the Tie Buddies. The thinner the lace the better. We made up our "Tinkerbell" story to go along with her Tie Buddy characters (Fairy and Wand). She still hasn't quite got it down but it is much better than before when she would just wad up the laces and call them tied. Overall, they are a quality product and do help with learning to tie shoes once you get all the right measurements and laces needed.

Buy It: Tie Buddies are available for sale online for $8.99 (plus S&H)

Win It: Tie Buddies is offering one of my followers a Tie Buddies set of their choice. Leave me comment about how you taught your child how to tie their shoes.

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Make a purchase from Tie Buddies for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 7/3/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Jengd (Comment # 8) for winning the Tie Buddies Giveaway!

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Tie Buddies who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Jeep Liberty Renegade Baby Walker Review and Giveaway

2010-06-19T14:33:00.001-04:00

It's hard to believe that Tre' is quickly approaching 6 months old! Boy how time is flying. When Mahayla was 6 months old she spent a majority of her time either in her Jumperoo or her walker. She always had to be on the move. Tre' is following in her footsteps. He likes to be constantly moving or standing up. He loves playing in his Jeep Liberty Renegade walker! He likes honking the horn and trying to run over his big sister!

The Jeep Liberty Renegade walker is durable and sturdy. I don't have to worry about this walker collapsing or tipping over when Tre' is playing in it. The seating area is made from plush, foam-filled, easy-to-clean material for comfort and support. The seat is easily removed for washing and trust me you will need to wash it! Tre' is teething and the seat is always covered with baby drool when he is done playing. All the toys are within his reach. The side mirrors spin and the electronic steering wheel honks, roars an engine, and plays music to keep Tre's attention (and drive us nuts). The wheels swivel for easy mobility. I also like that the wheels have a rubber coating on them so they don't scratch up my wood floors like Mahayla's walker did. Best of all, this walker has 3 height adjustments so he won't grow out of it too quickly. The Jeep Liberty Renegade is available in two color combination's: Everest (beige and light green) and Storm (red and black).It also has a cup holder/snack holder for when he gets older. Right now we use it to hold his pacifer. My only two critiques for this product are that they need to have a volume control for the electronic steering wheel and perhaps they could add some flashing lights. This is my little man below....isn't he so handsome!

Founded in 1946, Kolcraft has become one of most recognized and trusted names in babies and childrens products. Kolcraft has partnered with Sealy, Jeep, Sesame Street, and Contours to bring top of the line, affordable, and safe products to our homes. There are definitely "must haves" when you are having a baby. Whether its a bassinet, crib mattress, high chair, pack-n-play, strollers, walkers, or activity centers ;Kolcraft has those "must have" baby products!

Buy It: You can find Kolcraft's products at all of your favorite retail stores and online like Target, Walmart, Babies R' Us, Amazon, and Burlington's Baby Depot. The Jeep Liberty Renegade walkers suggested retail price is $ 64.99.

Win It: Kolcraft is offering one of my followers a Jeep Liberty Renegade walker for themselves ($65 value)! Leave me a comment telling which other Kolcraft product you think is a "must have" for new moms.

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Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 7/3/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Carol (Comment #23) for winning the Kolcraft Giveaway!

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Kolcraft who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Children's Clartin Coupons

2010-05-31T20:38:00.000-04:00

I have 8 (eight) coupons for Children's Clartin that are for $3 off. Mahayla isn't able to take Clartin so if any of you are interested send me an email (randsmountney@msn.com) with your address and I will mail them to you.

Daisy Rock Review and $75 GC Giveaway

2010-05-30T23:01:00.001-04:00

In an already strained economy, communities are being forced to cut funding for school music and art programs. Many value athletic programs over music robbing our children of a much needed part of their education. Those music programs that are still operating often require its participates to purchase their own instruments which can be extremely expensive. This requisite would eliminate lower income students from participating in music programs and private lessons too are expensive. We began teaching Mahayla the importance of music education before she was a year old when she got her first drum set.

Daisy Rock Guitars mission is to empower girls by helping them develop confidence and enjoy music.
The Daisy Rock Guitars are a line of high-quality instruments that are attractive, affordable, and are a perfect fit for girls. Daisy Rock girl guitars are available in acoustic, electric, acoustic-electric, short scale and basses. These specialty girl guitars are also available in 11 colors and available in different sizes based on need. Daisy Rock also sells related accessories such as guitar straps, cables, guitar bags, gig bags, and apparel.

Buy It: Daisy Rock guitars can be purchased online and at select music stores across the country. Daisy Rock girl guitars start at $79.95.

Win It: Daisy Rock is offering one my readers a $75 Daisy Rock Gift Card! Leave me a comment telling me what you would purchase with your gift card.

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Make a purchase from Daisy Rock for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 6/12/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to lilshuga2001 (Comment #129) for winning the Daisy Rock Giveaway!

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Daisy Rock who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Creativity for Kids Craft Kit Review and Giveaway

2010-05-30T21:10:00.001-04:00

One of my fondest memories as a child involved doing arts and crafts with my mother. Today I still enjoy creating things and making handmade presents for people. Growing up without a lot of money, this was often the way we exchanged gifts. I still feel that it is better to get a handmade gift from someone versus a store bought gift. I know that when that handmade gift is given, it was well thought out, it holds a piece of the person who made it, and it was made just for me! Now that Mahayla is almost 3, I've started to do more arts and crafts projects with her. I love seeing her light up when she see's the finished product of what she has created. It's also wonderful that she wants to share her projects with others and often she gives them away.

Creativity for Kids craft kits by Faber-Castell are wonderful kits that have something to offer people of all ages, gender, or interest. Faber-Castell is committed to providing our children with quality, innovative, and thought provoking products to inspire healthy creativity and imagination. Creativity for Kids has a wide variety of safe and fun products to inspire children's curiosity and encourage self expression through art.Whether your child likes princesses and fairies or rockets and robots, there is a Creativity for Kids craft kit for them. I got the Butterfly Bedroom kit for Mahayla. The kit came with 3 pre-made tulle butterflies, 4 glitter paint pens, and rhinestones and a tulle swag. With supervision, Mahayla painted designs on the wings and placed rhinestones on them. The butterflies come pre-strung to hang from the ceiling or you can use the enclosed hanging tabs to put them on the wall. Either way they make fun, easy to make, affordable, and stylish decorations for your child's room.

Buy It: Creativity for Kids kits can be purchased online and at arts and crafts retailers across the country. Kit prices start around $4.99.

Win It: Creativity for Kids is offering one my readers a Butterfly Bedroom Kit ($13.99 value) for themselves! Leave me a comment telling me which other kit you would like to have.

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Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 6/12/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Butterfly_024 (comment # 41) for winning the Butterfly Bedroom kit from Faber-Castell.

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Faber-Castell who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

EcoSmart Natural Bug Killer Review and Giveaway

2010-05-15T20:17:00.003-04:00

Our dog, Hunter, is 16 years old and we have been battling resistant fleas. Hunter has been on Frontline for years but we've noticed over the past couple of years it's just not touching our Florida fleas. Having small children in the house makes it difficult to treat pest effectively because all the products are filled with toxins and carcinogens. EcoSMART is the world leader in safe, eco-friendly natural home pest control and home and garden pest control products.

EcoSMART is the only 100% safe insecticide proven to work and they carry the only insecticides that are
"EPA exempt" in the US. Made from natural ingredients and essential oils, EcoSMART is safe for use around pets, children, and won't contaminate water supplies. No strong chemical smells or toxic residue to worry about. EcoSMART carries a full line of products to manage insects, weeds, and disease. How does your household pesticide measure up?

Buy It: EcoSMART can be purchased online and at major retailer across the country. EcoSMART bundles start around $23.

Win It: EcoSMART is offering one my readers one a value bundle of their choice. Leave me a comment telling me which value bundle you would like to have and why.

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Make a purchase from EcoSmart for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 5/29/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the Continental US (except Alaska & Hawaii) Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Hannah (Comment # 32) for winning the EcoSmart Bundle!

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to EcoSmart who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

OrganicKidz Review and Giveaway

2010-05-15T16:36:00.001-04:00

Before my maternity leave came to an end, we had to tackle the issue of switching from breast to bottle. With Mahayla, bottle training was a nightmare. I think we probably bought every bottle and nipple on the market. This time I was going from experience and just purchased the same bottle system that worked with Mahayla. I recently came across a new bottle by OrganicKidz and it is awesome!

OrganicKidz specializes in stainless steel baby bottles. Not only are these baby bottles stylish, they are good for the environment and safe for our children. OrganicKidz stainless steel baby bottles are BPA free, PVC free, Phthalate free, and bacteria resistant. These bottles are designed to grow with your child. These highly functional bottles can be easily converted to sippy cups when you purchase the OrganicKidz sippy lid and a sports spout is also in development. The lid doubles as a measuring cup and they are compatible with most nipples.OrganicKidz baby bottles are available in several different styles and sizes and also available in both wide or narrow neck.

OrganicKidz has won several industry awards including the iParenting Media Award, Mom's Best Award winner, JPMA 2009 Innovation Award, and was recognized as the "Top Green or Organic Product" by Disney.

Buy It: You can purchase your OrganicKidz baby bottle and sippy cup accessories online and at fine retailers across the country.

Win It: OrganicKidz is offering 2 of my followers their own OrganicKidz stainless steel bottle. Leave me a comment telling which OrganicKidz bottles you would like to own.

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Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 5/29/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Kim (Comment # 33) and CinnamonLaine (Comment # 43) for winning the OrganicKidz bottle giveaway.

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to OrganicKidz who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Running Slow.....

2010-05-12T06:10:00.000-04:00

I'm running slow on posting new giveaways lately and I wanted to apologize. My full-time job right now is like two full time jobs so I've been extremely bogged down. No worries though! I will post some new giveaways hopefully this weekend. I've got some awesome reviews and giveaways coming up....like a Jeep baby walker from Kolcraft and a $75 GC to Daisy Rock!

Check back soon!

Two Weeks to Nourished Skin Dove Difference Challenge and Giveaway

2010-04-24T16:06:00.001-04:00

I never knew how bad some body washes and soaps can be for your skin. All regular body washes cause or contribute to dry skin damage. Current body washes actually damage proteins and lipids in the skin’s outer layer which can lead to the loss of moisture. When skin lacks proper moisture, dryness, tightness and irritation/redness can occur. Some existing body wash are focused on minimizing protein damage and alleviating visual symptoms of moisture loss by adding heavy moisturizing ingredients that sit on top of skin. While these additives help mask dry skin damage, they do not address the deeper problem of lipid damage.

The new Dove Body Wash collection contains NutriumMoisture™ technology that cares for surface skin ten layers deep. Unlike other body washes, this first-of-its-kind body wash technology takes a dual approach to healthy, nourished skin by preserving both proteins and lipids during cleansing. Only Dove contains NutriumMoisture™, a breakthrough formula of soybean oil and natural lipids.

I recently was contacted by Dove to review their new line of body washes with NutriumMoisture. I received a bottle of Go Fresh Energize body wash in grapefruit and lemongrass scent. I love the scent of this body wash! It is so refreshing and clean smelling. My skin is always so dry and flaky but after using the Dove NutriumMoisture products my skin feels soft and revived!

Buy It: Dove NutriumMoisture body washes are available at your local drug stores, chain retailer, and grocery stores for around $5 a bottle. I encourage you to take the 2 week Dove challenge and see which NutriumMoisture body wash is your favorite.

Win It: Win a Dove Difference Challenge kit for yourself! Leave me a comment telling which of the Dove NutriumMoisture body washes you would like to start your challenge with!

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Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 5/8/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Janet Faye (Comment # 3) for winning the Dove Giveaway!

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Dove who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Curious Chef Review and Giveaway

2010-04-24T15:43:00.001-04:00

Mahayla loves helping me cook. I think her favorite thing about helping mommy cook is getting to lick the cake batter off the spatula when we're done (my favorite part too). As hard as she tries to help, the cooking utensils just are not made for little hands. Curious Chef makes uniquely designed kitchen utensils for our budding chefs.

Curious Chef's products help foster children's imagination and curiosity all while spending quality time with family. Some of my fondest memories as a child involved baking with my dad. Curious Chef's products allow for children, under guidance, to explore culinary possibilities.I want to stress that Curious Chef's utensils are real kitchen utensil! They are dishwasher, heat safe, and made with BPA free materials. I especially love the cooking kits available from Curious Chef. Their pizza party or ice cream sunday kits are great for sleepovers or birthday parties. We received the Curious Chef foundations kits and it has all the utensils necessary to make great family cooking memories.

The Curious Chef 27 piece foundations kit comes with everything pictured. All of the utensils (minus the rolling pin) fit into the mixing bowl for easy storage. Mahayla looks so cute in her apron and hat! She really loves using this set. Whenever I start cooking, she grabs her apron, her mixing bowl, and pulls up a chair.Buy your Curious Chef set today and start making more wonderful memories!

Buy It: Visit Curious Chef and explore their selection of cooking kits and utensils.You can order your child the 27 pc foundations set for $59.99. Cooking kits start at $19.99. Individual utensils prices start at $3.99.

Win It: One winner will receive 2 (two) utensils of their choice from the foundations set pictured above. Leave me comment letting me know which two utensils you would like to own.

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Make a purchase from Curious Chef for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 5/8/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Goodwitchglenda (Comment #13) for winning the Curious Chef Giveaway!

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Curious Chef who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Celebrate in Pink Review and Giveaway

2010-04-18T21:28:00.003-04:00

When my mother was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer in 2003 it sent our families world spinning. Nearly 7 years later, she remains a fighter...a survivor. Her diagnosis was one of the main reasons I decided to specialize in Oncology Nursing. Every year we take part in and raise funds for cancer research. Our relay team usually sells handmade jewelry, sell used books, and make fruit smoothies. I make and sell a bracelet called "Beading the Odds" to help meet our team goal each year. I found an awesome survivor owned business that can help make your fundraiser event even more memorable, Celebrate in Pink .

Celebrate in Pink is the only provider of Pink Ribbon celebration ware. Whether you're hosting a fundraiser event or throwing a celebration of life, Celebrate in Pink has something to offer. Celebrate in Pink offers an exclusive line of pink ribbon table ware, celebration fundraising baskets, gift baskets, stationary, and t-shirts. Their party ware is available in several different package size and are affordable. Party package prices range from $13.50-$29.50.

Celebrate in Pink's mission statement reads,

"Every three minutes one of our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends are diagnosed with breast cancer. This can be financially devastating for families, even those with health care. We are committed to helping these women who so desperately need a voice. Our products are created out of love and admiration for them; the real heroes who fight everyday for their lives. Help us make a difference, a portion of our profits are donated to help these families."

Buy It: Visit Celebrate in Pink and order your supplies for your upcoming fundraiser, celebration of life, or milestone party. Enter the code SAVEME15 to get 15% off your purchase!

Win It: Celebrate in Pink is offering one of my readers their choice between the "Full Monty" party ware set or the "Save the Girls" T-shirt for free. Leave me a comment telling me your fundraiser idea in which you would use Celebrate in Pink's products.

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Make a purchase from Celebrate in Pink for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 5/2/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Lily K. (Comment #45) for winning the Celebrate in Pink Giveaway!

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Celebrate in Pink who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Diaper Cake Review and Giveaway

2010-04-11T22:12:00.004-04:00

When I was pregnant with Mahayla, I received a diaper cake as a gift at one my baby showers. I thought it was the best gift ever...and it was made by a man which made it even more special. So when a cousin of ours was expecting, I made her a diaper cake. I found assembly instructions and design ideas on the internet. I bought all the supplies and made my very first diaper cake and a baby sock roses bouquet. The finished product cost me about $100.

If you are wanting to give an expectant family a diaper cake but not wanting to spend the time and money I did, you should consider Diaper Cakewalk. Diaper Cakewalk offers unique and wonderfully decorated diaper cakes at a reasonable price. With prices starting at around $35, Diaper Cakewalk offers multi-tiered diaper cakes for boys, girl, neutral or pre-made "do-it-yourself" cakes. Diaper Cakewalk uses premium diapers such as Pampers or Huggies. I love that "Eco Friendly" diaper cake are available and made from Seventh Generation chlorine free diapers. Diaper Cakewalk products are fully functional as well. None of the diapers are glued together so they can actually be used. Their cakes are decorated with brand names products such as Burt's Bees, Johnson & Johnson, Gerber, and Playtex. Diaper Cakewalk are affordable baby gifts and they can be shipped directly to you fully constructed and gift wrapped.

Buy It: Purchase your unforgettable diaper cake from Diaper Cakewalk for your next baby shower. Not only do they make wonderful baby shower gifts, they are beautiful centerpieces as well. Prices start at around $35 for the do-it-yourself and around $50 for a decorated cake. Your order generally ships in 3 business days. Standard shipping is $9.95 but rush shipping is available.

Win It: Diaper Cakewalk is giving one of my readers their choice of one the two diaper cakes above. Visit Diaper Cakewalk and let me know which diaper cake is your favorite or telling me what baby product you think all new mothers should have.

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Make a purchase from Diaper Cakewalk for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 4/24/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Brittney aka Cuddles & Camo (Comment # 149) for winning the Diaper Cakewalk Giveaway!

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post nor did I receive any free products for review. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Diaper Cakewalk who supplied the products for the giveaway.

DownEast Basics Review and Giveaway

2010-04-05T22:05:00.002-04:00

It's springtime which means its time to clean out the closet. Out with the old and in with the new. My post baby body has meant that I needed to invest in an all new wardrobe. DownEast Basics has made it easy and affordable to replenish my wardrobe with stylish and feminine clothes. DownEast Basics just released their new spring arrivals and they are awesome!

DownEast Basics has a great selection of womens and children's fashion and accessories at reasonable prices. I'm a bargain shopper so I love their sale section. Right now you can get an additional 30% off clearance items when you enter the promo code THIRTYR1 at checkout.

Buy It: Shop online at DownEast Basics or you can visit one of their stores if you live on the West Coast. Don't miss out on two great specials that are running right now. Save an additional 30% of clearance items with the promo code THIRTYR1 plus free shipping for purchase over $40 when use promo code BLOG310.

Win It: DownEast Basics is offering one my readers a product of their choice from the Spring New Arrivals! Leave me a comment telling me which one of their new arrivals you would like to add to your closet.

Additional Enteries:

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Make a purchase from DownEast Basics for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 4/19/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post nor did I receive any free products prior to posting. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to DownEast Basics who supplied the products for the giveaway.

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Tracey (Comment #71) for winning the product of choice from the "new arrivals" from DownEast Basics.

Expressive Nursing Wear $35 Gift Card Giveaway

2010-04-05T17:29:00.001-04:00

I'm a breastfeeding mother and sometimes it is difficult for me to breastfeed out in public. Not only can it be challenging to feed my son discreetly; he is also a messy eater. Having to deal with nursing covers can be difficult to maneuver if your hands are full. Nothing says, "Look at Me!!", more than a hungry screaming baby. It never fails, the one time you want to be invisible is when your child decides to become the drama queen/king of the day. Well, problem solved with Expressive Nursingwear.

Expressive Nursingwear specializes in stylish nursing attire that have hidden openings so that you can nurse discreetly and with confidence. No more untucking and pulling up your shirt or fumbling with nursing covers. These "easy access" clothes make breastfeeding even more convenient. Expressive Nursing wear has a great selection of affordable shirts, dresses, and intimate apparel. I LOVE my "I make milk...What's your superpower?" shirt from Expressive Nursingwear. It's made of ultra-soft cotton and it makes an awesome statement don't you think? My Expressive Nursingwear shirt has enabled me to nurse Tre' in public with no one ever noticing. To onlookers it just looks like I'm holding a sleeping baby. I also found their breastfeeding tips and resources section helpful. It contains some great advice to new mothers or for those who just need a refresher.

Here's a few of my favorite Expressive Nursingwear outfits below.

Buy It: You can buy your own Expressive Nursingwear by visiting their website. Right now they are offering free shipping for orders over $50. Make sure you check out their clearance section as well for some great deals on closeout items.

Win It: Expressive Nursingwear is giving away a $35 gift card for their merchandise!

Required Entry: Leave a comment with your name and email address (I am required to forward all entries to Expressive Nursingwear.)

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Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Make a purchase from Expressive Nursingwear for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 4/19/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US Only

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Expressive Nursingwear who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Nicole (Comment #11) for winning the Expressive Nursingwear giveaway!

Baby Star Half Off Sale!!!!!

2010-04-02T07:36:00.000-04:00

Easy Lunchbox System Giveaway

2010-03-27T12:38:00.001-04:00

We are a family of "brown baggers." Who can afford not to be in this economy? Every night I pack our lunches for the next day to save time in the morning. I use just cheap "throw away" tupperware and lots of sandwich bags.The Easy Lunch Box System is an economical and "earth friendly" way to pack healthy lunches for all members of our family.

The Easy Lunch Box System includes a lunch box (available in 5 colors) and a set of four compartmentalized storage containers. The Easy Lunch box is made out of non-vinyl products. They are roomy enough to hold the Easy Lunch box storage container, ice pack, drink and a few snack. I also like that they have a grommet on the handle that makes personalizing each bag easier...also looks better than writing our names on them in permanent marker.The Easy Lunch box storage containers come in a four pack with four different colored lids. They are made out of non-toxic, food-safe, polypropylene (PP or plastic #5), BPA-free lunch boxes, and phthalate-free. They are freezable, microwave and dishwasher safe. These storage containers make organizing meals easier and with less containers.

I truly love my Easy Lunch box. Although, I've had some issues with the containers. The lids to my containers don't seem to fit securely. The lids come off easily and have caused spillage in the lunch box. I'm not putting liquid foods in them and they were washed on the top shelf of the dishwasher. Perhaps they would have worked better if they were hand washed. The two side compartments seem small to me for adult servings but work great if your just packing some sliced fruit or granola. All in all the Easy Lunch box System is easy to use, affordable, and helps save time and money. Here are some healthy lunch ideas they had listed on their website below:

Buy It: The Easy Lunch Box containers (4 pack) is available of $13.95 and the lunch box can be purchased for $7.95.

Win It: Easy Lunch Boxes is giving away their complete Easy Lunch Box System to one of my followers! Just leave me a comment and tell me what you do to help save time and money when it comes to meal preparation.

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
follow this blog
fave this blog on Technorati
Stumble this blog
Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
add my button to your sidebar
Follow the Easy Lunch Boxes Blog
Follow Easy Lunch Boxes on Facebook or Twitter
Make a purchase from Easy Lunch Boxes for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 4/10/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to residents of the US and Canada Only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to CC (comment #91) for winning the Easy Lunchbox System Giveaway!

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Easy Lunch Boxes.com who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Moody Mama's Giveaway

2010-03-15T14:46:00.002-04:00

When I was pregnant, I found it difficult to find fashionable maternity clothes. It is almost an oxymoron. I mostly wore my scrub pants and a plain tee maternity shirt. Not very attractive but comfortable and cheap. Moody Mamas offers hip fashionable maternity clothes for the "pregnant movie star" in all of us. Moody Mamas has an extensive collection of maternity tops, dresses, bottoms, and nursing attire at department store prices ( prices range from $40 - $120) You can shop Moody Mamas online or at other retails such as Target and Nordstroms.

Fierce Mamas designs by Christian Siriano (former winner of Project Runway) is an exclusive higher end colletction also available from Moody Mamas. Fierce Mamas designs are about twice as expensive as Moody Mamas with prices ranging in the mid-100's to high $200's. A bit too pricey for my wallet but maybe not yours. I guess you can invest the money if you know your going to have more than one pregnancy and will reuse the clothes.

I would definitely make sure that you check out their "Steals and Deals" section where you can find some fabulous deals on both Moody Mamas and Fierce Mamas. From what I can tell you could save between 30-60% off which is great way to get the higher end Fierce Mamas designs.

Buy It: Visit Moody Mamas to make a purchase. You can shop online or visit a Target or Nordstroms near you.

Win It: Moody Mamas is offering one of my readers $50 in Moody Mamas Merchandise! (to be determined by Moody Mamas). Visit their site and comment on which Moody Mamas outfit you'd like to own.

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
follow this blog
fave this blog on Technorati
Stumble this blog
Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
add my button to your sidebar
Make a purchase from Moody Mamas for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 3/27/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to US Residents Only

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post nor did I receive any free products for review. Honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Moody Mamas who supplied the product for the giveaway.

Contest Closed. Congratulations to HotSnotty2 (Comment # 68) for winning the Moody Mamas giveaway!

20% off at Skin MD Naturals

2010-03-15T12:13:00.000-04:00

Skin MD Naturals is offering 20% off to my readers. Just enter the discount code FOCUS at checkout. Offer is valid for 30 days from this post.

Discount Code for Momzelle.com

2010-03-15T12:05:00.000-04:00

I'm a breastfeeding mother and one of the hardest obstacles I've had is being able to breastfeed discretely in public. Momzelle specializes in breastfeeding apparel. Momzelle offers stylish and attractive nursing shirts that have universal openings that ensure discretion and comfort while you breastfeed. All of their styles are long through the body, formfitting, and made of silky soft cotton and spandex.

Momzelle has issued a discount code for my all of readers. Enter discount code Mahayla for $5 off your order!

Pillow Pets Easter Giveaway

2010-03-14T21:10:00.004-04:00

If you missed out on the last Pillow Pets Giveaway here's your chance to get in on the action. Pillow Pets is again offering one my readers the opportunity to win a Pillow Pet for Easter! If chosen as the winner you can choose between the bunny, duck or lamb Pillow Pets which would be great basket stuffers for Easter. I've re-posted my previous review below.

The next time your child asks you for a new pet you can say, "YES"! No more worrying about getting a pet that you'll ultimately end up taking care of because the children lose interest, are too busy, or whatever new excuse they come up with this week. Pillow Pets are great because it's not just a pillow... its a pet! These award winning (iParenting Media Award & The 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Product ) Pillow Pets come in 28 different animal friend choices; so whether your child likes unicorns, monkeys, or dolphins there is bound to be a Pillow Pet that is made just for them. Pillow Pets are made out of super soft chenille fabric and open up to make a full size pillow.

Pillow Pets are affordable ($19.95) so they make a great gift for any occasion. They are sized right to be great travel companions as well and since they double as a pillow you will save on space while traveling. I know being the mother of two that we have to pack the house whenever we travel. Since the Pillow Pet can double as a toy and a pillow that is one less thing I have to pack! The Pillow Pet is secured with easy to use Velcro and when open the Velcro has a cloth cover to keep hair, fuzz, and other debris from sticking to the Velcro.I put a few of my favorites below.

Buy It: Available online at Pillow Pets for $19.95 plus shipping and handling. They offer 20% off each additional Pillow Pet that you purchase so you can buy all your favorites.

Win It: Pillow Pets is offering one of my readers a free Pillow Pet (Duck, Lamb, or Bunny). Visit Pillow Pets and leave me a comment to which one you'd want in your Easter Basket.

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
follow this blog
fave this blog on Technorati
Stumble this blog
Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
add my button to your sidebar
Make a purchase from Pillow Pets for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 3/26/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to US Residents only.

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Pillow Pets who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Kim (Comment # 11) for winning the Pillow Pets Easter Giveaway!

Win A Free Pair of Prescription Glasses From GlassesUSA

2010-03-12T14:17:00.007-05:00

I’ve worn glasses since I was in the 3^rd grade. One could say that I have a love hate relationship with them. Buying new glasses has always been as exciting as going to the dentist for me. Do you know how hard it is to pick out frames when you are too blind to see the frames on your face? Very frustrating. I usually depend on my husband’s opinion on whether or not a frame looks good or not, unfortunately our tastes aren’t always the same. My vision is too poor for contacts, so unless I want to shell out nearly $7000 for custom Lasik then eyeglasses it is.

So when GlassesUSA contacted me to review their prescription glasses I jumped at the opportunity. I do have to admit that it is hard to shop for glasses online when you can’t physically put them on but it does take off some of the pressure of buying. GlassesUSA has a huge variety of frames to choose from. I honestly had a hard time picking just one pair. The good news is that since the frames are so reasonably priced that you can buy more than more pair! The ordering process was easy and all I had to do is get my prescription from my Optometrist. You can either provide the script online, fax it, or email it. They provide all of the same "extras" that other optical shops. You can purchase additional options such as light and thin lenses, AR coating, or anti-scratch coating which range in cost from $4.95 to $110 extra.

I got the “Storm Blue” drill mount rimless frames which were $49.95 including lenses (plus S & H which is free for orders over $99.) My order arrived in a little over a week. They included a cleaning cloth and hard shell case. It also came with a coupon for 15% off my next purchase and a coupon for a friend for 10% off. I'm really impressed with these prescription eyeglasses. They are made out of light weight and flexible metal so they are easy on the nose and durable. I did find that one of the difficulties of purchasing frames online is that they don't come adjusted to fit. I had to take mine to an optical shop to have them fitted properly and have the arms cut down to fit. My optical shop did this for free.

GlassesUSA is one of the leading online eye glasses websites and since they own their optical lab they can pass the saving onto their customers. A complete pair of eyeglasses start from around $18, free shipping for orders of $99, and come with a 100% Satisfaction guarantee. GlassesUSA ensures that their lenses exceed FDA requirements and must undergo and pass their "5-Stripe" process prior to shipment. GlassesUSA uses the best products and technologies to manufacture and process the lenses backed by their "money back guarantee".

Buy It: Visit GlassesUSA and find the eyeglasses that are right for you. Prices for a complete set of single vision lenses with frames start around $18.

Win It: GlassesUSA is offering one my readers a free pair of single vision lenses and frames of their choice for free!

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
follow this blog
fave this blog on Technorati
Stumble this blog
Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
add my button to your sidebar
Follow GlassesUSA on Facebook or Twitter
Follow GlassesUSA blog
Subscribe to GlassesUSA newsletter (Plus you get a $5 off instant coupon)
Make a purchase from GlassesUSA for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 3/26/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to US Residents only.

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to GlassesUSA who supplied the product for the review and giveaway.

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Ardy (Comment #69) for winning the GlassesUSA giveaway!

Rest In Peace Layla Grace

2010-03-10T14:13:00.000-05:00

God has called his angel, Layla, back to heaven. Layla Grace passed away on 3/9/10 in the arms of her parents. My thought and prayers go out to the Marsh Family. I know that there are no words that could possibly make losing your beautiful baby any easier. Take comfort in knowing that she is at her higher powers side dancing around in her tutu and feeling no more pain. I will continue the good fight in your honor Layla. May our higher power continue to work his magic through my hands as I work daily with these beautiful angels.

To my followers and blogger friends; keep Layla's family in your thoughts and prayers. Help spread Layla's story and awareness for Neuroblastoma. Layla's family still needs helps covering medical expenses. If you'd like to help you can donate through PayPal or make a deposit at Wells Fargo Bank to the Layla Grace Marsh donation account. Little Diva's Tutus is also continuing to make the "Layla Grace Tutu" and proceeds from its sale goes directly to the Marsh Family.

So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook Review

2010-03-04T23:30:00.000-05:00

"I don't like it." We've all heard it before. Children can be a challenge when it comes to ensuring a balanced nutrition. I know I have had to be creative at times to get Mahayla to eat anything other than a turkey sandwich or pancakes everyday. Mahayla really is not a picky eater for her age. However, she does have a selective aversion to green foods. She will only eat spinach or broccoli if it is well disguised and only the "flat" green beans. I usually chop up the spinach and broccoli to where its unrecognizable and add it to brown rice.

Previously I reviewed the So Easy Baby Food making kit from Fresh Baby and loved the product. It was a fast, healthy, and cheap way to make baby food. Now Fresh Baby has written a cookbook for the next step in the food making evolution...So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook.

The So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook has some wonderful recipes that are toddler friendly. Mahayla loves the Banana Strawberry Smoothie, the breakfast burrito, and the broccoli and rice casserole. I love the fact that they have included in the cookbook tips on developing healthy eating habits and how to deal with picky eaters. The So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook also references the "Ten Times Rule for Toddlers" which I had never heard of previously. The "Ten Times Rule" is based on a study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics that concluded that the average toddler might need to see a new food on their plate 10 times before they will try it. All the recipes include pictures of the finished dish along with the nutritional facts for each.

All in all, the So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook is easy to use, comes with helpful tips, and some delicious kid friendly recipes. I was a little disappointed that there weren't more recipes (35 total). The paperback book is thin and is less than 50 pages. The So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook is reasonably priced at $8.95 and is available in both English and Spanish publications.

Buy It: The So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook is available for sale at Fresh Baby for $8.95 (plus s&h). Also make sure to check out their other great products.

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Fresh Baby who supplied the product for the review.

3 Day Sale on all Baby Star Totes

2010-03-01T15:11:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite children's rock n' roll apparel sites is having a sale! Baby Star has a 3 day sale going on for their Baby Star Totes! These stylish and modern diaper bags are great for both mom or dad. This rockin diaper bag has room for everything you need, even a lap top. It features a wide zipper pocket on one side and two open pockets on the other side that can hold a wipe case, bottle or cell phone. It also includes a BPA free wipe case. As always all Baby Star products are safe for baby and the environment.

Right now all Baby Star totes are on sale for $29.99 (ends at midnight on 3/3/10). Don't forget to enter to win a Baby Star tote on their site as well!

Super Deals on Diapers and Wipes at Walgreens

2010-03-01T14:08:00.000-05:00

Walgreens has a deal this week if you buy (3) Huggies products you get $5 in Register Rewards towards your next purchase. Also they have Aveeno Baby products marked down 20% plus get $3 in Register Rewards when you purchase two. I split my transactions to maximize the savings (Just make sure you have a patient cashier:)

Transaction #1:
(2) Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo ($4.79 each)=$9.58

Used (2) $2.00 off mfg coupon

Total= $5.58 plus tax and got $3 RR

Transaction #2
(2) Huggies 216 count wipes ($5.99 each)

Used (1) 75 cents off mfg coupon

Used (1) 50 cents off mfg coupon = 10.73

(1)Huggies Jumbo pack diapers ($8.99 each)

Used $2.00 off mfg coupon= 6.99

Total=$17.72 plus tax

Used $3 RR from transaction 1

Final Total $14.72 plus tax and got back $5 RR

Transaction #3

(2) Aveeno Essential Moisture Baby Shampoo ($4.79 each) $9.58

Used (2) $1.00 off mfg coupon

Used $5 RR from transaction 2

Total= $2.58 plus tax and got back $3 RR

Transaction #4

(1)Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion ($4.79)

Used (1) $2.00 off mfg coupon

(1)Aveeno Soothing Relief Cream ($4.79)

Used (1) $1 off mfg coupon

Used $3 RR from Transaction 3

Total= $3.58 plus tax and got back $3 RR

Transaction #5

(1)Huggies Jumbo pack diapers (8.99)

Used $2 off mfg coupon

(1)A&D diaper ointment (3.99)

Used $1 off mfg coupon

Used $3 RR from Transaction 4

Total= 6.98 plus tax

Grand total= $33.44 plus tax

Then I went across to CVS because I had $10 ECR and bought another 2 packs of 216 count Huggies wipes (5.99) and paid $2.72 OOP)

So all in all I spent around $35 for 2 packs of Jumbo Huggies Diaper, 4 packs of 216 count Huggies Wipes, 1 bottle of A&D, and 6 bottles of Aveeno baby products for a savings of over 50%!

As a bonus the Walgreens register printed out 2 $5 off Enfamil Formula coupons (I don't use formula) but still high value coupons to pass along to someone else!

Bloggers and Followers: Layla Grace needs our HELP!

2010-03-01T08:59:00.002-05:00

Several months back I did a a review and giveaway for Little Divas Tutus. At that time I asked everyone to please buy the "Hannah's Lady Bug Tutu". Proceeds from that purchase went to a good cause plus she would make an identical tutu and send it to St. Jude's Children's Hospital for another child to enjoy. Again Melissa (owner of Little Divas Tutus) is asking for help...not for her but for a precious angel, Layla Grace.

Layla Grace is 2 years old and has Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer that affects the sympathic nervous system. Layla has been courageously fighting this battle but has now entered Hospice. Sadly, the doctors have told her parents that she only has weeks to live. Click here to read more about Layla. It's heart breaking. All of you know how passionate I am about this. I work as an Adult and Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Nurse Coordinator and have taken several of these Neuroblastoma children to transplant. I see this picture everyday and it doesn't get any easier.

Layla's parents have mounting medical bills and need our help. Melissa with Little Divas Tutus is again raising money to help this family. Little Divas Tutus has a beautiful tutu (designed by Layla's mommy) set as a fundraiser for Layla. Melissa sends half of the proceeds directly to Layla's family. To date she has sent them nearly $1000! This is wonderful but I personally know how expensive cancer treatment is even if you have the best insurance in the world.

I'm asking that my blogger friends and followers either blog about this fundraiser or purchase the fundraiser tutu. You get to have a beautiful tutu for your child and help out a family that desperately needs and appreciates the help.

Win the best kids pet in the world....a Pillow Pet!

2010-02-24T19:45:00.002-05:00

Buy It: Available online at Pillow Pets for $19.95 plus shipping and handling. They offer 20% off each additional Pillow Pet that you purchase so you can buy all your favorites.

Win It: Pillow Pets is offering one of my readers a free Pillow Pet of their choice. Visit Pillow Pets and leave me a comment to which one is your childs favorite.

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
follow this blog
fave this blog on Technorati
Stumble this blog
Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
add my button to your sidebar
Make a purchase from Pillow Pets for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 3/12/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to US Residents only.

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Pillow Pets who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Jennifer (Comment #22) for winning the Pillow Pet Giveaway!

Win an adorable Kidorable Umbrella!

2010-02-22T11:23:00.001-05:00

When was the last time you went out and played in the rain? I know it is hard to remember. We get wrapped up in our "adult" lives that we forget to stop and have fun sometimes. Mahayla reminded me of this not to long along. It was a nice winter Florida weekend but it had been raining off and on all weekend. Mahayla loves to play outside but because of the weather she's been restricted to indoor play. She wanted to go outside and play sooo bad and of course my adult self said "NO! It's raining outside and you'll get all wet and dirty!" Mahayla's reply, "It's bath night anyway." I still didn't let her play outside in the rain that weekend but I did the next time she asked. I got Mahayla the Fairy Collection from Kidorable and solved our playing in the rain dilemma plus she looks so adorable in the outfit!

This outfit is so adorable! The rain boots have little fairy wings on the toes and the jacket has them on the back. Mahayla loves Tinkerbell and she thinks all fairies are Tinkerbell. She has even worn her rain boots to school.

Kidorable was established in 1997 with the goal of creating fun, functional, and inspiration clothing and accessories for children. I think they have accomplished that! Kidorable offers a colorful variety of children's apparel and accessories. Whether your child loves ladybugs, mermaids, dinosaurs, or a space hero there is sure to be a style that both child and parent will love. Kidorable makes their products out of upscale materials that are made to last and kid tested.

Kidorable has been featured on the several national media outlets such as People, In Touch, TBS, and the Today Show. They even have a celebrity following! Suri Cruise (Tom Cruise's kid) seems to have the entire Kidorable collection!

Okay, now the down side. The entire outfit (umbrella, raincoat, and rain boots) can be expensive. The Fairy collection I got above is retailed around $80. Having said that, we've gotten the monies worth out of the outfit. Mahayla wears her boots almost constantly, even to school as I mentioned, the raincoat seems to be sized big so it will fit for a while and she shouldn't out grow her umbrella until at least middle school. The other option if you really love Kidorable's collection but don't want to pay retail is to check out their outlet store. They have a limited number of items but at a much more discounted rate.

I also signed Mahayla and Tre' up for the Kidorable Birthday Club. It's free and they will send your child a birthday gift plus you get special offers from Kidorable.

Buy It: Visit Kidorable and pick out your child's passion. The cost depending on product purchased will start at $11.50. Shipping is at a flat rate of $7.95 in the US and free if your order is over $100.

Win It: Kidorable is offering one of my followers a Kidorable Umbrella of their choice ($13.50 value)! Visit Kidorable and let me know which of their style collections is your favorite!

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
follow this blog
fave this blog on Technorati
Stumble this blog
Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
add my button to your sidebar
Make a purchase from Kidorable for 5 additional entries
Follow Kidorable on Twitter and/or Facebook
Subscribe to the Kidorable newsletter

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 3/5/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry, Open to US Residents only.

Disclaimer: This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Kidorable who supplied the products for the review and giveaway.

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Heather (Comment # 14) for winning the Kidorable Umbrella!

Cover Your Hair Accessories Giveaway

2010-02-02T14:27:00.001-05:00

I'll be honest, I've never been one to do much to my hair besides brush it and put it in a ponytail (if your lucky). I practically live with my hair pulled back because of the nature of my job...nursing. Trust me, you never forget a ponytail holder after getting vomit or diarrhea in your hair. Mahayla on the other hand, loves having her hair done. I think she's trying to beat some "how many ponytails will fit on your head" contest. Which would be much easier to win if she actually had a good amount of hair. Needless to say my 2 year old daughter owns more hair scrunchies, clips, ribbons, barrette's, and hats than you'd find at your local supercenter.

Cover Your Hair has a huge selection of hair accessories in loads of styles! Cover Your Hair sent me a very cute crochet knit pull on hat. It's perfect for our Florida "winters" and still quite fashionable. I wore it recently to the ICE event at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando...for the none Floridian's that read my blog let me describe....a sculpted ice winter wonderland that is kept at 9 degrees...parkas are issued at arrival. Anyways, the knitted hat helped keep my fragile little Floridian head nice and warm!

WIN IT: Cover Your Hair is giving away a $25 box of surprise hair accessories to one my readers. Just go to Cover Your Hair and let me know which of their hair accessories that you would like.

ENTER TO WIN:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
follow this blog
fave this blog on Technorati
Stumble this blog
Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
add my button to your sidebar
Make a purchase from Cover Your Hair for 5 additional entries
Follow Cover Your Hair Blog
Follow Cover Your Hair on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace
Add Cover Your Hair button to your sidebar

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 2/12/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Christina (comment # 66) for winning the Cover Your Hair Giveaway!

BPA-Free Baby Dipper Bowls now Available!

2010-02-02T12:59:00.001-05:00

I have previously reviewed the Baby Dipper Bowl and I wanted to update everyone and let them know that the Baby Dipper Bowl is now available in BPA-free plastic. Also, the Baby Dipper now comes with both a fork and spoon! The Baby Dipper is available for purchase on Amazon.com, One Step Ahead, and at The Baby Dipper.com. I have reposted my review below for review:

Mahayla is 2 years old now and boy is she the most stubborn and independent child I know! We never taught her how to use a fork, spoon, etc because she wouldn't let us. She was very determined to learn herself and would freak out if we helped. She made quite the mess but she did learn. I recently was able to try out the baby dipper bowl and spoon. I wish I had this when Mahayla was learning the eat, but atleast I'll have it for peanut #2!

The Baby Dipper was created by a mommy of twins who searched for a one handed feeding system and found none. So she created the Baby Dipper! The Baby Dipper set is a wonderful feeding/learning tool for you child. The contoured edges help quide food onto the spoon, it has a non-skid base, and the spoon is curved to rest on the side so it never falls in. The product is Phthalate-free and lead-free. The Baby Dipper set is microwaveable and dishwasher safe.

The size is great for baby food and rice cereals but is alittle small for bigger portions of foods. Mahayla loves her bowl set and likes to use it to eat her yogurt and ice cream.

Great Deals at Walmart this week!

2010-01-14T14:26:00.000-05:00

Our local Walmart is clearing out alot of their old toys in stock to make room for the 2010 products. I wanted to share with everyone a couple of awesome deals that I came across yesterday.

I found this PlaySkool Explore 'N Grow Step Start Walk ‘N Ride toy on clearance of $8.00 (retail $ 24.99). There was a coupon $5 off in the Sunday circular and on coupons.com last month (expires 1/15/10). So I only paid $3 for it!

I also found the PlaySkook Busy Ball Popper on clearance for $10 (retail $24.99). Again, there was a coupon for $5 off that expires 1/15/10 so that made the final price $5!

Hurry to your local Walmart and check out all the cool deals they have. Let me know if you come across some more frugal buys!

Tre' Has Arrived!

2010-01-12T21:46:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that Robert III aka Tre' has arrived! Tre' was born 1/9/10 weighing 8 lbs 7 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. We are both home and healthy! I will be taking sometime off (1-2 weeks) from blogging to concentrate on being a mommy for two children under the age of 3 and getting our new routine down (scary). Thank you for all of your well wishes and thoughts.

Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms Cookbook Giveaway

2009-12-28T13:34:00.001-05:00

As a full-time working mom, I'm very hard pressed for time and rarely cook dinner every night. I often fix our week day dinners in bulk during the weekend and we re-heat the left overs throughout the week. Truth of the matter is that the meals aren't always that healthy and get boring. Not to mention the once a week frozen pizza or restaurant visit that we do because we're bored with the left overs.

Jane Doiron author of Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms has put together a fabulous "how to" cookbook to help us save time in the kitchen and spend more time doing what we love...spending time with our families! I love that her recipes include not only prep and cooking instruction but also the freezing and reheating instructions. Not only are the recipes time saver but money savers which is something I think everyone needs a little help with.

This past holiday weekend I gave a few of her recipes a try. I admit that I'm no Sara Snow or Rachael Ray but I made some mean dishes for Christmas. I used her Bruschetta recipe which was quick and easy (however, I did add mozzarella to the top and melted it...delicious!) I also made several loaves of her Hawaiian bread that we gave to all of our aunts and uncles for Christmas. Again, the bread was delicious, fast, and fun to make. I also had all the needed ingredients to make the Hawaiian Bread already in my pantry so I didn't have to go and buy anything (with the exception of the holiday baking tins that I used).

I know all of you are just as busy as I am...some probably more so. I think this cookbook is definitely worth your time and money because it can help you save both!

Buy It: Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms is available for purchase on Amazon.com for around $16 (new). You can also purchase a printable electronic version for $12.

Win It: Jane Doiron is offering a free copy of her cookbook, Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, to one of my readers! Just leave me a comment sharing one of your "time saving" strategies for busy moms!

Enter To Win:

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Add Make-Ahead Meals Button to your sidebar

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 1/8/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Jennifer (Comment # 40) for winning the Make Ahead Meals Cookbook!

Stonyfield/ Yo'Baby Prize Pack Giveaway

2009-12-20T17:07:00.002-05:00

As parents, we strive to provide our children with wholesome healthy products. Stonyfield Organics has a long reputation for providing quality organic yogurt, ice cream, milk, and smoothies to families across the country. StonyField Organics brands include Yo' Baby and Oikos as well. Stonyfield Organics offers products for all members of our household...even baby food. Yo'Baby offers organic baby yogurt, fruit & cereal, drinkable yogurts, and their new 3-in-1 meals.

Yo'Baby 3-in-1 meals are available in three varieties; apple & sweet potato, pear & green bean, peach and squash. The 3-in-1 meals taste surprisingly good and offer a balance of 3 components of the food pyramid (dairy, veggies, and fruit) all in one convenient cup.Yo'Baby products are made with certified organic produce and whole milk making them deliciously healthy without exposing our little one's on harmful chemicals, preservatives, and pesticides.

I love Stonyfield Organics website as well. It offers not only recipes and nutritional facts but you can also learn how to live more "green." My personal favorite is the coupon section. If you register with StonyField Organics online you will have access to money saving coupons each month! Who doesn't need help saving a little money?? I know people who don't buy organic products because they are "too expensive" now they don't have any excuses!

Buy It: Stonyfield Organic Products are available at Supermarkets, natural food stores and specialty stores, and wholesale clubs and SuperCenters across the country. (Prices vary depending on location, products, and size).

Win It: Stonyfield Organics is offering one of my followers a Yo'Baby Prize Pack that includes a Yo'baby travel bowl with lid, organic cotton bib, Eric Carle growth chart, and coupons for three (3) Yo'Baby meals! Just leave me a comment and let me know which of their products you love and what you're doing to live "more green."

Enter To Win:

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Register with StonyField Organics
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Join MyStonyField Rewards Program
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Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 1/2/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Lilyk (comment # 83) for winning the Yo'Baby Prize Pack!

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

2009-12-18T16:26:00.001-05:00

Mahayla has long suffered from severe eczema and we've literally tried every lotion and moisturizer on the market...both over-the-counter and prescription. I've been very cautious with prescription medications because of the side effects and steroid exposure. So when Skin MD contacted me about reviewing their shielding lotion, I was like "Sure...what could it hurt?" I'm so glad that I tried Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion on Mahayla. We've been using it once daily for 4 weeks now and have seen a drastic improvement in her eczema.

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion is a relatively new concept in skin care. The shielding lotion binds to the skin in such a way that it doesn't allow environmental elements to penetrate and breakdown the skin. Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion formulation of homeopathic, natural ingredients gives the added benefit of antimicrobial action. Because of the quantities of homeopathic and holistic ingredients you have the benefit of decreasing the overall bacterial load without creating bacterial resistance which can be seen over time with prolonged use of other antimicrobial products.

Skin MD Natural contains all natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Vitamin E, and a proprietary new ingredient that has shown to be 6 times more effective that glycerin which is commonly seen in other comparable products. Another feature of Skin MD that I love is that it is not greasy! Skin MD Natural is
Dermatologist tested, contains no animal products or undergone animal testing, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, fragrance and colorant free, and Paraben free.

Win It: Skin MD Natural is offering one of my followers a bottle of Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion to try for themselves! ($18.00 value).

Enter to Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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Make a purchase from Skin MD Natural for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 1/1/2010 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Rose Manning (Comment # 20) for winning the Skin MD Naturals Giveaway!

Baby Star Promotion

2009-12-07T14:32:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! Baby Star is having a great sale right now. I love their selection of infant clothes and bedding. Right now they are offering 30% off retail price with coupon code 20twinkle09 that expires 12/31/09. I've listed a few of my favorite things below....

Balboa Baby Nursing Cover Giveaway

2009-12-07T12:11:00.001-05:00

We all know that breastfeeding has many benefits; not only for baby but for mom as well. Breastmilk contains high quantities of white blood cells (fight infection) and immunoglobulins (prevent infection). Nursing helps prevent obesity, heart diseases, juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and asthma. It's supposed to help mom shed a few pounds, too! I think every mother should be supported despite her feeding desires whether bottle or breast.

When I was breastfeeding Mahayla, one of the biggest challenges was finding a way to nurse discretely. I hated having to duck into a restroom stall and the nursing shaw I tried to use was difficult to get on and maneuver. I eventually would retreat to my truck to breastfeed and would schedule trips around her feeding schedule. Not the best solution in the world but it worked...mostly. Balboa Baby recently sent me a nursing cover to try and wish it was the one I had from the beginning!

This is the 2nd Balboa Baby product that I've reviewed and I absolutely love this company! I think every new mom should add this to their list of "must have's" for baby. Balboa Baby's nursing covers innovative design allows for comfortable, confidence, and discretion so you can nurse your baby anywhere...and stylish while doing it! The Balboa Baby Nursing Cover is designed to cover both mom and baby securely and helps eliminated external stimulation while nursing. I love the way the neck line is designed to hold the fabric away from moms face allowing her to maintain eye contact during nursing. Balboa Baby has also incorporated a pocket in the front to store burp clothes or nursing pads for added convenience. I also find the innovative design is great because it can double as a sunshade for your stroller or car seat...more bang for the buck!

Balboa Baby Nursing Cover is available in 10 different colors/designs. I received the "Sage" design and love it. I find it to be universal and could be used with either sex. The Balboa Baby Nursing Cover is another wonderful product that was developed, tested, and recommended by leading Pediatrician Dr. William Sears.

Win It: Balboa Baby is offering 1 (one) of my readers a nursing cover of their own. This makes a wonderful addition to your baby "must haves" or to give as a baby gift. All you have to do is let me know which color/design you would want plus one other Balboa Baby product you'd like to have!

Enter To Win:

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Make a purchase from Balboa Baby for 5 additional entries.

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 12/18 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Kerrie (Comment # 35) for winning the Balboa Baby Nursing Cover Giveaway!

HALO SleepSack Giveaway

2009-11-26T16:05:00.001-05:00

When I was pregnant with Mahayla, a childhood friend of mine lost his daughter at the age of 3 months from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The death of a child is always devastating but seems even more so when it happens so unexpectedly. I remember having trouble sleeping each night not because of a crying baby but because of my own fear that Mahayla too would die from SIDS. Unfortunately, this devastation has been experienced by families all over the world. Despite a dramatic decrease in the incidence of SIDS since the initiation of the national Back To Sleep campaign in 1994, SIDS remains the number 1 cause of death in children from birth to 12 months of age. First Candle/SIDS Alliance are programs that are dedicated to the research, advocacy, and education to decrease the incidence of and prevent SIDS. First Candle/SIDS Alliance and The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers 10 simple guidelines to help reduce the risk of SIDS. One of those recommendations is the use of "wearable blankets"

HALO Innovations, Inc. is dedicated to creating a healthier and safer sleeping environment for adults and children. Founder William Schmid began researching sleeping environments after he lost a daughter to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 1991. Since 1994, he and his company have worked to develop products that encourage healthier and safer sleeping as well as bring peace of mind to your home. HALO offers a variety of safe sleep solutions for newborns, infants, and toddlers such as the SleepSack Swaddle; SleepSack Wearable Blanket; Technical Comfort System Layette with Cool Max Technology; and the Active Air-Flow crib mattress and secure fit crib sheets.

I used the HALO SleepSack Swaddle blanket with Mahayla and I loved it! It's unique 2 in 1 design both swaddles your baby and provides warmth thus replacing the need to use loose blankets. Mahayla always hated being swaddled in blanket...she liked having her legs free. The Swaddle blanket/sack would allow us to swaddle Mahayla's upper body but leave her legs loose in the sack.

HALO recently sent me a SleepSack Wearable Blanket to use when Tre' arrives next month and I can't wait to try it out! With the cold months coming, parents may be tempted to cover their baby with warm blankets which is a big no-no. The SleepSack Wearable Blanket is perfect for this time of year.The SleepSack wearable blanket replaces loose blankets for safer sleep. The SleepSack wearable blanket reduces the risk of rebreathing (the inhalation of carbon dioxide), which has been associated as a possible cause of sudden infant death syndrome. The SleepSack wearable blanket allows your baby to stay safe, warm and cozy all night long.

HALO SleepSack's are being used in hospitals around the country and are the only swaddle/sleep blanket of its kind to carry Seals of Approval or Recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics and leading SIDS organizations such as First Candle. Halo donates a percentage of their sales to First Candle/SIDS Alliance and the Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths to support SIDS research and education.

Win It: HALO Innovations is giving away a HALO SleepSack Blanket to one of my readers! All you have to do is visit HALO and let me know which one of their SleepSack Blankets you would want plus one other product you would want to try.

Enter to Win:

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Visit the First Candle Website
Make a donation to First Candle for 5 additional entries
Make a purchase from First Candle for 5 additional entries
Make a purchase from HALO for 5 additional entries.

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 12/5 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Jennifer Kruse (Comment # 48) for winning the HALO giveaway!

Coco BonBon's Giveaway

2009-11-22T12:28:00.002-05:00

I love finding clothes for Mahayla that are as unique as she is. Coco Bonbons recently sent Mahayla a beautiful brown heart and flower dress with matching leggings. She absolutely loves the dress and we happened to already have a pair of matching boots! Coco Bonbon's slogan, " If children could design their own clothes, they just might look like Coco Bonbon's " is quite fitting.

Coco Bonbon's clothes are of bright and cheerful colors and designs. They use high quality fabrics and beautiful embroidering work. Mahayla's outfit has been washed several times now and all the embroidering remains intact and looking as new as the day it arrived. Coco Bonbon offers girls and boys clothing complete with accessories and shoes! Coco Bonbon's beautiful clothes are available on-line and at fine retailers around the country.

Win It: Coco Bonbon is offering a free outfit of one's choice to one of my readers! All you have to do is visit Coco Bonbon's website and let me know which girl/boy collection outfit you would want!

Enter to Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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Make a purchase from Coco Bonbon's for 5 additional entries.

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 11/30 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to the Lenoard Family (Comment # 65) for winning the Coco Bonbon giveaway!

O' My Darlin Kids Giveaway

2009-11-10T22:36:00.001-05:00

Mahayla is my little rock star artist. She enjoys drawing, coloring, painting.... just being creative! She's always asking to get her "colors" out. I love watching her sit at her drawing desk and make pictures for mommy. Sometimes she shows a wisdom well beyond her years. O' My Darlin Kids recently sent Mahayla a "Rock Star" art smock for her art time use.

O' My Darlin Kids creates custom art smocks and crayon holders from a variety of fabrics that are sure to inspire your childs creative side! O'My Darlin Kids art smocks and crayon pouches can be made custom as well. Just choose your childs favorite character, designs, or colors, add a wipe-n-go cover or even button your crayon pouch to the smock. You can pick from their fabric selections or send them the fabric you want to use. Best of all, customization is at no additional charge and shipping is free!

O' My Darlin Kids art smocks and crayon holders are one-size-fits all for ages 2-8 so your child (& you) will be able to get years of use out of this quality product. I have washed Mahayla's smock several times and it has stood up well to multiple washes and toddler abuse. These "clothes savers" are affordable as well. You can purchase a smock for $18; crayon pouch $12, or the set for $28.

Win It: O' My Darlin Kids is offering one my readers an art smock and crayon pouch set in the design of their choice! All you have to do is visit O' My Darlin Kids and let me know which design you would want!

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Make a purchase from O' My Darlin Kids for 5 additional entries.

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 11/21 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to SweetSue (Comment # 59) for winning the O'My Darlin Kids Giveaway!

Piggy Paint Promotion

2009-11-10T21:39:00.003-05:00

Okay mama’s, have you ever been trying to paint your toe nails and your child becomes obsessed with it and wants their nails painted too? If your child is like mine, they won’t relent until their toes look just like mommies. I’ve always been apprehensive to paint Mahayla’s toe nails because of the chemicals inside the polish and polish remover. Mahayla has very sensitive skin and eczema. She has contact allergic reactions to almost everything. If you or your child has similar issues, I have found the perfect product! Piggy Paint!

Mahayla and I got to have our “Mommy/Daughter Day spa” this weekend and we used our new Piggy Paint. Since Mahayla loves purple we used Piggy Paints Girls Rule! Nail polish. I already had store brand nail polish on my toe nails so I used the Piggy Paint Nail Polish Remover. I took a bit more scrubbing to remove the store brand polish but it easily removes Piggy Paint brand polish. The real test was going to be how long the polish actually lasted. So far the polish has held up well and no chips yet. I have to say, I love it! Piggy Paint’s slogan is “Natural as Mud” because it pretty much is. Piggy Paint contains no harsh chemicals, it’s non-toxic, odorless, and hypoallergic! Since the product is all natural it is safe for your little one and the environment! The offer a wide variety of fun colors, nail polish remover, and gift sets.

Piggy Paint has recently received the Excellence Award from Safebaby.com and now proudly has their seal of approval as an approved Vendor of Mom approved-child tested product!! As always, they use 100% reused peanuts from their local community to ship their products. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

PiggyPaint is offering all of my followers 15% off their order (including sale items)! The coupon code is THANKYOU15L and expires Valentines Day 2010! Orders over $25 have free shipping. So head over to their website www.piggypaint.com and order your some Piggy Paint for your little one!

Happy Green Bee Sale!!!

2009-11-02T20:42:00.001-05:00

Happygreenbee is currently running a huge inventory reduction sale on their web store to make room for their Spring 2010 line – www.happygreenbee.com. They are currently offering 50% off all purchases until 11/15/09. The only items not included in the sale, are their factory store items, which are typically already reduced at more than 50% off!!

The promotion code is BIGSALE ! Just in time for Christmas!!!

Balboa Baby Sling Giveaway

2009-11-01T22:38:00.001-05:00

I've been shopping around for baby "must haves" for little Tre'. One "must have" that I used with Mahayla was a sling. Mahayla had colic and one of the only ways we could keep her happy was either letting her live in her swing or carrying her around everywhere in a sling carrier..the latter caused my already bad back to hurt worse. Balboa Baby recently sent me a wonderful sling and one that I wished I had the first time around!

Balboa Baby adjustable sling carriers have a soft, comfortable, and natural design. Balboa Baby Slings are designed to grow with your baby so one size really does fit all! Research has shown that cuddling or slinging your baby helps promote bonding, makes babies less fussy, and cry less. The Balboa Baby sling has wide contoured padded straps for maximum comfort and its sleek design helps distribute your baby's weight. (which equals less back pain) The Balboa Baby Sling design ensures your baby is safe and positioned close to you. The outside pocket fits your essentials which can be accessed easily. Balboa Baby slings are convenient to use and store.

The Balboa Baby adjustable sling is available in 11 different patterns. One of my favorite features is the Owner's Manual that is included with the sling. I know you'd think that its pretty idiot proof but you'd be surprised. The Owner's Manual has instructions and illustrations for different carrying styles. These different carrying styles are unique from "store bought" brands that you can only use one way. Versatility to me equals more for my money.

The Balboa Baby sling was developed, tested & recommended by renowned Pediatrician and best selling author, Dr.William Sears.

Win It: Balboa Baby is offering one of my followers a Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling of their own (pick from classic black and blossom patterns). A $59.99 value! All you have to do is let me know which pattern you'd like to have!

Enter to Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Follow Balboa Baby on Facebook
Make a purchase from Balboa Baby for 5 additional entries.

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 11/14 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Helen (comment # 125) for winning the Balboa Baby Sling Carrier Giveaway!

Stay With Me Socks Giveaway

2009-10-25T22:00:00.001-04:00

I know that all of you moms and dads out there have had this experience; you go to the grocery store with two socks on your baby and you leave with one. How about the always elusive missing socks after nap time?

It always amazed me how Mahayla could always get her socks off...she couldn't hold her head up unsupported but she could pull off both socks and throw them across the room! I wish I knew about Stay with Me Socks when Mahayla was born and I'll be using them for sure when Tre' arrives in January.

Stay with Me Socks are an ingenious solution to the missing sock saga. Stay with Me Socks have adjustable velcro straps that adjusts in the front or back depending on your kickers needs. You can use those same velco straps to loop together during washing so no more socks eaten by the "washing machine monster." Stay with Me Socks feature skid-proof bottoms, come in a variety of colors and designs. Stay with Me Socks are available in two sizes: 0-3 months and 3-14 months.

Stay with Me Socks has received an iParneting Media Award for the 2009 outstanding product for their unique design and excellent quality. Stay with Me Socks are available for purchase on line and will be available this fall at Target.

Win It: Stay with Me Socks is offering one of my readers a pair of Stay with Me Socks of their very own in the size and color of their choice! Leave me a comment telling me which color and size you would want.

Enter to Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Make a purchase from Stay with Me Socks for 5 additional entries.

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 11/7 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Krista (Comment #25) for winning the Stay-With-Me giveaway!

Medela Sleep Bra Giveaway

2009-10-22T21:58:00.001-04:00

Medela has long been an industry leader in breastfeeding and breastpumping supplies and remains the #1 choice of Hospitals and health care professionals. I used a Medela Pump in Style with my first pregnancy and won't consider every using another brand breastpump. I never realized all the services and products that are available from Medela.

Medela offers an variety of personal use breastpumps depending on your pumping needs, breastpump and feeding supplies, cleaning and storage supplies, as well as intimate apparel. They even have a Certified Lactation Consultant available for support! Some may argue that Medela pumps are too expensive. Well, I'll tell you that you get what you pay for. I've used lower quality pumps and none of them can compare to Medela. They may be more expensive but well worth the money.

Medela sent me one of their limited edition mid-blue sleep bras. This bra is perfect for both non-breastfeeding and breastfeeding moms. This sleep bra is made of super soft combed cotton and is tag less. The design is well fit, comfortable, convenient for night time feeding and holds breast pads in place without leaking during the night. Medela even has a "bra-fitting" tutorial on line video that you can watch to help you ensure your buying a correctly fitted maternity bra. I found this tutorial extremely helpful and discovered that I've been wearing the wrong size bra my whole life!

Win It: Medela is offering one my readers a free limited edition color Mid-Blue sleep bra of their own!

Enter to Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
follow this blog
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Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Make a purchase from Medela for 5 additional entries.

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 10/31 at 10pm EST

Sorry US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Chazvgo (comment # 54) for winning the Medela Giveaway!

Boon Groovy Interlocking Plate and Bowl Set Giveaway

2009-10-17T11:38:00.001-04:00

Boon recently sent me a variety of their products to test and review. I've always seen their products at Target but never actually purchased one; boy have I been missing out! They offer an array of products from organizational tools and supplies to children's bath toys and accessories. I love their modern designs and fun colors. Boon products are BpA-Free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free so they are safe to use with our children.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Boon will donate $1 to breast cancer research for every purchase made at www.booninc.com that includes one or more of their pink feeding items. Donations will be made for all orders placed during the month of October.

Win It: To to things off, Boon is offering one of my readers the chance to win the Groovy Interlocking Plate and Bowl Set ($12.99 value)!

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
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Follow Mahayla's Mommy on Facebook
email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Follow Boon on Facebook, Twitter, or Blogger
Make a purchase from Boon for 5 additional entries.

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 10/25 at 10pm.

Sorry, US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Susan (Comment #22) for winning the Boon giveaway!

Kimochis Giveaway

2009-10-11T22:01:00.001-04:00

Everyone knows how difficult & frustrating it can be to communicate with a toddler. They can't always communicate their mood; we can't always interpret what they are trying to communicate which leads to a mental breakdown on both sides. If there only was some way to help foster this communication....well there is Kimochis!

Kimochis means "feeling" in Japanese. Kimochis are these wonderfully designed stuffed animal characters that come with feelings inside them. The Kimochis feelings are illustrated on these colorful little pillows that have feeling written on one side and the facial expression on the other. The feelings are then placed in the Kimochis pocket. Your child can help explain their feeling using their Kimochis friend by selecting the "feeling pillow" that suits them and either showing you the emotion or by putting it in their Kimochis friend.

Each Kimochis character comes with its own unique personality, three feelings, and a feelings guide. You are able to pick the Kimochi whose character is close to your own child's character. I got the Kimochi "Cat" for Mahayla. "Cat" is very persuasive, likes to be in charge, and can be bossy. You can use your Kimochi friend to help teach your child not only how to communicate their feeling but also how to get along with others, overcome fears, and foster self-esteem and confidence.

Kimochis were developed with the help of child communication specialists and psychologists. They have been used successfully in the school setting where lessons have been created that both teachers and parents can use at home. Kimochis have received the Dr. Toy Award for 2009 and the Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award. Kimochis have been featured in several national parenting industry magazines. Kimochis are available for purchase for around $25 and extra feelings are $12 for a pack of 12.

Many of you know that I work with adults and children undergoing bone marrow transplantation. Working with children with cancer is one of my passions in life. After reviewing Kimochis and visiting their website, I decided that Kimochis would also be of great benefit for my tiny warriors. Children battling life threatening illnesses are overwhelming brave but also have difficulty expressing their fears and worries to their caregivers, nurses, and doctors. I have met many children who were scared to tell their parents how scared and lonely they were because they didn't want to upset their parents. These child often feel as if they need to be "stronger" so mommy and daddy will stop crying. I approached our hospitals director of Child Life and the StreetLight program regarding the Kimochis. They are currently working on a pilot program for the Kimochis to help children and teens express their emotions and feeling while being hospitalized for treatment for their life threatening condition.

Win It: Nina from Kimochis is offering one of my followers a Kimochis friend of their own! All you have to do is visit the Kimochis website and let me know which Kimochis character best fits your child.

Enter To Win:

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Make a purchase from Kimochis for 5 additional entries.

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 10/19 at 10pm.

Sorry, US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Susan (Comment # 148) for winning the Kimochis giveaway!

PurpleTrail.com Membership Giveaway

2009-10-06T20:53:00.001-04:00

Have you tried PurpleTrail.com yet? PurpleTrail.com is an online site that offers free invitations, e-cards, and announcements. PurpleTrail.com offers a huge collection of "e-stationary" that can be personalized and designed to fit your specific need or event. PurpleTrail.com has both a "free" service and a paid membership service depending on your social/party needs. So why use PurpleTrail.com over other sites? Well here's a couple of reasons; larger collection of designs that can be personalized, you can email your cards/invites via SMS or Facebook, address book import capability, track your RSVP list, manage event details, communicate with event guests through their messaging board, and no pop-up ads

PurpleTrail.com free services include access to it's collection of e-cards/announcements/invitations, send up to 75 emails per event, and up to 250 e-invitations per month with a 2 day priority service. Their paid membership varies from a basic plan to a premium plan based on your individual need. The paid services (depending on the plan) include print-at-home designs, a payment collection module, and the ability to duplicate the event, have increased email invite per event/month than the free plan, animated graphics, chat with guests and event management.

With the holidays right around the corner, PurpleTrail.com would be a great way to send out holiday cards, social event invitations for those company/family parties, or birth announcements in my case. PupleTrail.com also offers party and event ideas, themes, and game ideas. I recently hosted a bridal shower and was able to find decoration and game ideas for a western theme, which was very helpful since I've never hosted a shower or having any idea about country-western things.

Win It: PurpleTrail.com is offering one my followers the Basic Membership Plan ($14.95 value) so you can get started on your holiday party planning and cards! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post about a great party theme you've thought of and visit PurpleTrail.com and try out their selection of e-cards etc.

Enter to Win:

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Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 10/17 at 10pm.

Sorry, US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Lilyk (comment #1)!

Win a $60 GC to Mikarose

2009-09-30T22:13:00.001-04:00

I wanted to let everyone know about this fabulous Women's fashion company, Mikarose. Mikarose has beautiful and well priced women's clothing. Mikarose specializes in fashionably modest, affordable, elegant dresses for all occasions. Most of their dresses are available in several color options which is nice addition. I love their selection of women's dresses, some are very reminiscent of Jackie O. I posted some of my favorites below:

Mikarose also features a small selection of little girls dresses as well. Mikarose girls collection is also available at a wonderful price and are absolutely adorable as well.

I also want to mention that Mikarose has a clearance section for those frugal shoppers out there. Make sure you stop by and check them out.

Win It: Mikarose is offering a $60 Mikarose gift card to one of my followers. All you have to do is visit Mikarose and let me know which dress is your favorite!

Enter to win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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Make a purchase from Mikarose for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 10/10 at 10pm.

Sorry, US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Sarah Osborne (Comment #146) for winning the $60 Mikarose Gift Card Giveaway!

Belle Baby Carrier Giveaway

2009-09-27T21:00:00.004-04:00

My husband and I are expecting our 2nd child, a boy, in January. After we had Mahayla we were undecided whether or not to have anymore children. Unfortunately, we got rid of a lot of baby supplies. So here we are having to buy them all over again 2 years later! One of the baby items we had that couldn't live without was our baby carrier. Mahayla had colic and one of the only ways we found to soothe her was to carry her around in a sling or her baby carrier. Belle Baby Carriers recently sent me one of their organic baby carriers and it is wonderful!

Belle Baby Carriers offers several different color/pattern options to choose from. Belle Baby Carriers are easy to use and are one size fits all. Belle Baby Carriers helps promote bonding by ensuring direct contact between you and your baby by not have any fabric between the two of you. Your baby is able to ride either forward or rear facing. I love that Belle Baby Carriers are machine washable (for the diaper accidents that tend to happen).

Belle Baby Organic Carriers are made from certified Organic cotton and hemp blended fabric. The fabric is lightweight and breathable ( a must for our Florida weather). Belle Baby Carriers are ideal for babies that weigh between 8-30 lbs. Most other carriers I've used would eventually cause my back or neck to hurt from the weight. Belle Baby Carriers use an independent waist belt and cross-over should strap that helps transfer the weight off your shoulders and down to your hips for increased comfort and reduced strain. (Awesome!)

Belle Baby Carriers have been featured in several national magazines and worn by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, and Nicole Kidman! Belle Baby Carriers has also received numerous industry rewards including the 2008 Creative Child Seal of Excellence, the Sweet Pea Baby Seal of Approval, and the JPMA Innovation of the Year finalist. Belle Baby Carriers is offering FREE SHIPPING right now during their Dog Days of Summer Sale so stop by and check them out.

Don't just take my word for, you can research baby carriers on Fresh Deals. Fresh Deals is a new way to shop for those must have items. Fresh Deals features product reviews, promotions, online deals, and Q & A discussion board so that you can effectively research a product before you buy it. No more blindly buying a product and turn around and hate it. If you own your own business, you can even have your product or promotion featured on Fresh Deals to help spread the word.

Win It: Belle Baby Carriers is offering one of my followers a Belle Baby Carrier of their own ($99.95 value)! All you have to do is visit Belle Baby Carriers and let me know which design/color you'd want!

Enter to Win:

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Make a purchase from Belle Baby Carriers for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 10/9 at 10pm.

Sorry, US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Cindy (Comment #96) for winning the Belle Baby Carrier Giveaway!

Crazy Baby Clothing Giveaway

2009-09-26T22:21:00.002-04:00

Hey, everyone I found another "Rock-N-Roll" clothing company, Crazy Baby Clothing. They recently sent Mahayla a "Born to Rock" t-shirt. Of course, she loves it! Crazy Baby Clothing offers not only infant and children's clothes but also a assortment of gift sets, diaper bags, bibs, pacifiers, blankets and even lullaby rock music. I love the gift sets that they have and would be a "favorite" to any new mommy/daddy-to-be. Their products are quality made and arrive quickly. Crazy Baby Clothing offers a flat $3.99 shipping rate no matter how much or little your purchase. I found their prices to be reasonable plus they have a clearance section on their site. So if your watching your wallet like most us, you can still dress you kid fashionably without spending your whole paycheck! Make sure you check out the Crazy Baby Clothing Blog for insider coupon codes and deals of the week.

Win It: Crazy Baby Clothing is offering one of my readers a onesie or t-shirt of their choice! All you have to do is visit Crazy Baby Clothing and let me know which onesie/tee you want and the size!

Enter to Win:

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Make a purchase from Crazy Baby Clothing for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 10/4 at 10pm.

Sorry, US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Egare1 (comment #73) for winning the Crazy Baby Clothing Giveaway!

Gotfreecards.com/$15 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

2009-09-24T22:35:00.004-04:00

Earlier in the month I held a giveaway for an awesome Halloween outfit from Little Diva Tutus; now here's a site to find free Halloween cards! Got Free Cards offers a huge selection of free e-cards & printable cards for all occasions! I personally love that Got Free Cards offers the printable cards for free without having to download a special program. Their printable cards can be personalized and you can upload your picture into your favorite card.

Got Free Cards website is easy to navigate and use. Their site is clustered with advertisements or site promotions, just free cards! There's no registration or sign-up required! This is a cheap and easy alternative to mailing Halloween cards...save on the cards...save on postage...and save time. Who doesn't need to save some money in this economy?

So here is an even bigger incentive for everyone to visit Got Free Cards, you could win an Amazon $15 gift card compliments from my friends at Got Free Cards. All you have to do is visit Got Free Cards and let me know which free Halloween printable or Halloween e-card is your favorite.

More Chance to Win:

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Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 10/3 at 10pm.
Sorry, US residents only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Raelena (Comment # 55) for winning $15 Amazon Gift Card!

Scribble It Gift Card Giveaway!

2009-09-19T19:29:00.002-04:00

We've been wanting to redecorate Mahayla's bathroom but hadn't quite figured out what we were going to do. I decided that since Mahayla loves her rubber ducky collection so much that we'd do a ducky theme. I also thought that since our baby due in January is a boy, it would be unisex that way its appropriate for both kids. I've been scouting items online to redo her bathroom and I came across Scribble It.

Scribble It offers vinyl lettering decor, wall art, and metal art that is available in both pre-made designs or you can design your own wall art. I recently got the "rub, a dub, dub" vinyl lettering for Mahayla's bathroom. They offer a huge variety of colors to choose from as well....I got purple since that's Mahayla's favorite color. the vinyl design comes with easy to read instructions and I found it pretty simple to apply. It does require an extra set of hands to help hold and place the design in the right place and make it as level as possible.

Scribble It designs are available in several different sizes and most are available for customization.They also offer holiday designs and decor that would be perfect for the upcoming holiday seasons. Scribble It's designs are reasonably priced and ship within 24 hours from the time of purchase. Scribble It offers a free decal with every purchase and free shipping is available for purchases of $65 or more. Remember to check their website often to see what the deal of week is!

Win It: Scribble It is offering one of my readers a $15 gift card good towards their purchase! All you have to do is visit Scribble It and let me know which design you'd want!

Enter to Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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Make a purchase from Scribble It for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 9/27 at 10pm.

Sorry, US residents only

Congratulations to Charlene Kuser (Comment #72) for winning the Scribble It giveaway!

Baby Rock Apparel Review

2009-09-19T12:49:00.000-04:00

I love finding "rocker" clothes for Mahayla. She's such a little rock star and has been jammin' since before she was born. She actually got her first drum set when she was 6 months old! Her favorite shoes are One Star's that are black with red flames on them; of course she always wears them with pink or purple socks. Baby Rock Apparel recently sent me a cute tee shirt for Mahayla that said "Drama Queen: Just like Mommy" on it. The drama queen part is soooo her..........not the mommy part.

Baby Rock Apparel offers a wide variety of infant and childrens clothes, infant shoes, hats and fedora's. They have a "Boob Man" onesie I want to get for our little boy that is due in January. Baby Rock Apparel offers quality, affordable, and stylish outfits for our "mini-me's". Baby Rock Apparel makes for a wonderful present and is available gift wrapped in a Baby Rock Apparel lunch box.

Baby Rock Apparel offers free shipping for orders of $75 or more. Right now you can get 15% off your order if you use the coupon code "MAHAYLA" between now and October 25, 2009. So hurry up and order your "mini-me" some rockin' clothes!

Hannah's LadyBug Tutu Giveaway

2009-09-11T22:58:00.008-04:00

Mahayla's at that age now where she enjoys playing dress up and pretend. I found this wonderful mommy owned company called Little Diva Tutus that makes a wonderful collection of tutus, fairy wings, etc for little girls and mommy,too! I have just fallen in love with this company! I love that their costumes are handmade with care and use quality materials. They are available in 2 designs and have several color options that are sure to become your little diva's favorite outfit. Michelle, creator of Little Diva Tutus, sent Mahayla "Hannah's Ladybug Tutu" set. She wore this costume all day when she got it, but she thought the antenne's looked better on her daddy:)

Little Diva Tutus designed this beautiful outfit in honor of a little diva named Hannah. Hannah, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma in 2006. 16 months later, after receiving 5 rounds of chemo, numerous radiation therapy treatments,and surgery, Hannah was called to Heaven. Little Diva Tutus donates 25% of its proceeds from the sales of "Hannah's Ladybug Tutu" to St. Jude Children's Hospital. Further, from now until October 15th, for every "Hannah's Ladybug Tutu" sold, a 2nd one will be made and sent to St. Jude's for a child undergoing treatment to enjoy!

Most of you know that caring for these brave little ones is my passion. I'm asking that each of you hug your little ones tight then pass this story along. Encourage your friends, family, coworkers to purchase "Hannah's Ladybug Tutu" costume. Halloween is right around the corner and it would make a great costume. The proceeds go to a wonderful cause and it will put a smile on not only your child's face but also a child who needs a reason to smile.Little Diva Tutus is also offering my readers 20% off if they use the coupon code "NEWBIE"

Win It: To sweeten the deal further, Little Diva Tutus, will be giving away a "Hannah's Ladybug Tutu" complete with wings and hair accessories to one of my readers! You just pick the size and color! Head over to Little Diva Tutus and let me know what color and size you'd want plus one other tutu costume you'd like to have.

Enter to Win:

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Make a purchase from Little Diva Tutus for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 9/20 at 10pm.

US residents only

Contest Closed. Congrats to Luv to Save (Comment # 81)!

PlasmaCar Giveaway!!!

2009-09-09T21:25:00.003-04:00

I'm so excited about this giveaway! I received my PlasmaCar in the mail about 2 weeks ago and I'm not sure whose played with it the most, Mahayla or us! PlasmaCar is an innovative mobile car that is powered by the never-ending energy sources we call our children! The PlasmaCar is built out of durable plastic and has no pedals, buttons, or batteries which means no maintainence costs and is easy to assemble. The part that I love is that PlasmaCar is also adult friendly and holds weights up to 220lbs on a flat smooth surface (hence my earlier remark about us having fun with it).

PlasmaCar works by a combination of centrifugal force, gravity, friction, and our childs (or our own) energy. The PlasmaCar is propelled by turning the steering wheel back and forth continuously. We've spent the last couple of weekends riding our PlasmaCar in the driveaway. The PlasmaCar is a fun and safe outdoor/indoor activity for even my little Mahayla because it only can go as fast as Mahayla can make it go (max of 3.1 yards/sec). However, it is not recommended that you use the PlasmaCar on hardwood or laminate floors. The PlasmaCar is available in five fun colors. I received the red PlasmaCar which we named "Red Rover".

PlasmaCar has won several industry awards such as the 2001 Gold Medal award at the International Patent Fair, the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award (2005), the Today's Parent Top Toy award, and the Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada Gold Star Award.

Win It: PlasmaCar is giving away a PlasmaCar to one of my readers! ($69.95 value) All you have to do is visit the PlasmaCar website and watch their video and let me know what color PlasmaCar you'd want!

Enter to Win:

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Make a purchase from PlasmaCar for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 9/19 at 10pm.
US & Canada entries

Contest Closed. Congratulations to CC #181 for winning the PlasmaCar Giveaway!

You've Been Sentenced Family Game Giveaway

2009-09-05T14:42:00.002-04:00

mcneillbrighterminds.com

In a society where both parents not only work full time, its a necessity, and our children have become "lock-key" we have struggled to find ways to reconnect with not only our spouses but our children. There is a growing number of families who have instituted "Family Game Night" in order to re-establish that stretched connection and become present. I have come across a wonderful family friendly and educational game to add to our "Family Game Night" collection, You've Been Sentenced!

You've Been Sentenced! is a creative language game that uses pentagon-shaped cards that contain conjugations of funny words, famous names, and places. Each player is dealt 10 cards, where the players goal is to build grammatically correct and justifiable sentences while trying to score the most points per round. Once you've made your sentence, you must defend your sentence creation to the other players that it is grammatically correct. The other players then vote on whether or not the sentence is correct or not. The players whose sentence was considered correct will be awarded the points for the cards used. The game is great not only for adults, but also for school aged children (8 and up) who are learning sentence structures. It encourages children to be use both their creativity and language skills and it definitely stimulates interest and increase motivation.

mcneilldesigns.com

One of my favorite things about the game is the expansion pack of cards that are available. The expansion pack topics include pop culture, sci-fi fantasy, sports, Readers Digest National Word Power Challenge, & gourmet cuisine. My personal favorite is the Sci-Fi fantasy expansion pack. There are literally endless sentence possibilities so the game is never the same. You've Been Sentenced! is also available in a classroom addition and talks are in the works for a television game show! You've Been Sentenced! has won acclaim from numerous industry leaders including: Seal of Excellence from the Creative Child Magazine, Dr. Toy Best Products, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, FAO Schwartz Toy Audition Winner, and the MENSA Society's Parenting for High Potential magazines, Resource Roundup Pick!

Win it: Donald McNeill, CEO and Chairman of McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds, is offering 4 of my followers the opportunity to win You've Been Sentenced! to add to their "Family Game Night" collection!

Enter to Win:

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Make a purchase from McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds for 5 additional entries
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Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address on your comment! Contest ends 9/12 at 10pm

US entries

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Bridgette, Elizabeth, Gianna, and Purango!

Dove Body Wash with Nutrium Moisture Review

2009-09-05T12:14:00.000-04:00

I never knew how bad some body washes and soaps can be for your skin. All regular body washes cause or contribute to dry skin damage. Current body washes actually damage proteins and lipids in the skin’s outer layer which can lead to the loss of moisture. When skin lacks proper moisture, dryness, tightness and irritation/redness can occur. Some existing body wash are focused on minimizing protein damage and alleviating visual symptoms of moisture loss by adding heavy moisturizing ingredients that sit on top of skin. While these additives help mask dry skin damage, they do not address the deeper problem of lipid damage.

The new Dove Body Wash collection contains NutriumMoisture™ technology that cares for surface skin ten layers deep. Unlike other body washes, this first-of-its-kind body wash technology takes a dual approach to healthy, nourished skin by preserving both proteins and lipids during cleansing. Only Dove contains NutriumMoisture™, a breakthrough formula of soybean oil and natural lipids.

I recently was contacted by Dove to review their new line of body washes with NutriumMoisture. I received a bottle each of their new Dove Bodywashes with NutriumMoisture for gentle exfoliating, deep moisture, and sensitive skin. I would have to say that my favorite is the gentle exfoliating. Something about those little exfoliating moisture beads makes me feel cleaner. My skin is always so dry and flaky but after using the Dove NutriumMoisture gentle exfoliating body wash my skin feels soft and revived!

Dove NutriumMoisture body washes are available at your local drug stores, chain retailer, and grocery stores for around $5 a bottle. I encourage you to try the New Dove and see which NutriumMoisture body wash is your favorite.

Wett Giggles Review

2009-08-25T22:13:00.000-04:00

wettgiggles.com

Mahayla loves bath time and she especially loves all of her rubber ducky's. I think she has about 11 of them total in her basket. Mahayla is a super independent, strong willed, and stubborn child and has been since the day she was born. All are wonderful traits in an adult....not so much in a child going through her terrible two's! So her latest "I do it!" routine his her baths. She always insists on washing herself and washing her own hair. She tries but lets face it; she's two.

Karen from Wett Giggles sent me their super cute soap/nail brush toy. Let me break it down...image a bath toy with a nail brush underneath....now encase it in soap! Such a wonderful idea. The soap is 100% natural glycerin soap with essential oils and shea butter. They are all hand made with care for that extra personal touch. Wett Giggles offers 9 different "toys" to chose from and each has a different scent. Each bar comes with its own soap dish. We received "Ophelia" in the mail. I don't know how Karen knew about Mahayla's duck obsession but now we have an even dozen! "Ophelia" is lemon scented. It takes awhile to wear the soap down to where you can use the nail brush but the item overall is wonderful and can be used for quite some time. When all the soap is gone, then you have a nail brush and a toy! "Ophelia" helps Mahayla with her baths as well. Mahayla can easily hold onto the toy end of the soap while she's soaping up without constantly dropping the slippery soap into the tub. So this product has actually helped foster Mahayla's independence further and she has fewer mental breakdowns when she has trouble doing it herself.

Wett Giggles are reasonably priced at $10 (with nail brush); $8 (without nail brush); or $5 (toy only). Right now they are offering a special that gives you 20% off your purchase plus shipping is a flat rate of $4.99! Hurry over to Wett Giggles and order yours today!

Monave Mineral Makeup Giveaway

2009-08-20T21:18:00.007-04:00

Those of you that know me well, know that I don't wear makeup. My skin just doesn't like it. I can put makeup on and within an hour you can't even tell I ever had any on. My pores just soak it up.....an then the adult onset acne occurs. I've been wanting to try mineral makeup but other companies I've looked into were too expensive in my opinion and some required you to enroll in an automatic shipping program. I just want to try the makeup not make a long term relationship with it.

Monave is a wonderful wholesale mineral makeup company that has reasonable prices and a wide variety of colors and shades. They offer "FREE" samples so you can try out the makeup and figure out which shades are best for you! One of the many things that I love about Monav e mineral makeup is that it is light and looks natural. It helps hide skin flaws and gives your skin a nice even tone. I've been using Monave for about one month and no acne breakouts!

Win It: Monave is giving away 2 of their Spring/Summer Sample Packs! Just head over to Monave and let me know which one of their other products you would like to try!

Enter to Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Make a purchase from Monave for 5 additional entries
Subscribe to the Monave newsletter

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your comment another Monave product you would like and your email address! Contest ends 9/4 at 10pm
US entries only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to panicxduh (#24) and Heather (#101) for winning the Monave Mineral Makeup giveaway!

Win the So Easy Baby Food Kit from Fresh Baby!

2009-08-15T13:13:00.007-04:00

When I had Mahayla, I wanted to make my own baby food. I quickly found that there were not a lot of resources available to learn how and the methods I found were time consuming or contradictory to the guidelines of the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics). Of course, all of this was compounded by my "First-time" parent syndrome and lack of sleep. Now, with baby #2 on the way (and the bad economy) I have a new found determination to learn and commit to making my own baby food.

I want to take a minute to tell everyone about a wonderful product offered by Fresh Baby, the So Easy Baby Food Kit. Fresh Baby has put together a time, life, and money saving kit to help us learn how to make our own baby food!The system is designed for quick, easy, and healthy preparation of baby food in 30 minutes per week. The kit includes a cookbook, 2 freezer trays, "How To" instructional DVD, and a nutrition card. The only thing not included is a food processor...but they are relatively cheap to purchase from your local large chain store.I love the cookbook! The cookbook follows the AAP guidelines for infant nutrition. It offers recipes, prep strategies for daycare, restaurants, and travel.

Fresh Baby also offers a unique line of feeding products to support breastfeeding parents and introducing solid foods. Most of their products are made in the USA and all of their plastic products are free of BP-A, pthalates, and PVC. I highly recommend giving Fresh Baby a try. It offers a simple and hassle free alternative to jarred or processed baby food and the best part is that you can save a lot of money even if your using organic foods.

Win It: Fresh Baby is offering one of my followers the Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food kit for Free! ($37.95 value)

Enter to Win:

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Make a purchase from Fresh Baby for 5 additional entries
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Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address in your comment! Contest ends 8/29 at 10pm
US entries only

Contest Closed. Congratulations to Sarah for winning the So Easy Baby Food kit from Fresh Baby!

Win a $75 gift card good towards Itzy Bitzy Line from Zutano

2009-08-13T20:17:00.007-04:00

Zutano recently sent me a beautiful outfit for Mahayla and for peanut # 2! Zutano is a wonderful "mom created" children's clothing line that features high quality children's clothing with pleasing colors and designs. Produced using 100% cotton, in over 90 solids, dots, patterns, ginghams and stripes, Zutano offers designes that can be mixed and matched....a feature that I personally love.
Based out of Vermont, this whimsical clothing line offers cotton and fleece basics for babies and seasonal fashion pieces for toddlers and their new Itzy Bitzy Line for newborns! Zutano offers online ordering from several different retailers that are reasonably priced and have shipping specials. Several of the online retailers actually have several clearance items available from the previous seasons designs that will further expand you little ones wardrobe but also save on the wallet.

Make sure you check out Zutano and all of their wonderful mix & match options as well as their adorable Itzy Bitzy Line for newborns. I love the "Flower Show Zinnie" pattern in the I tzy Bitzy Line. Another cool option is that Zutano offers matching accessories such as hats, booties, blankets, and plush toys to help complete the I tzy Bitzy look.

Win it: Zutano is offering one of my followers a $75 gift card good towards purchases from their Itzy Bitzy Line! Leave me a comment telling which design/outfit from their Itzy Bitzy Line you would like for your new baby!

Enter to Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Make a purchase from Zutano for 5 additional entries
Follow Zutano on Facebook or register for their online email

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address in your comment! Contest ends 8/22 at 10pm
US entries only

2009-08-04T20:31:00.007-04:00

I love organic cotton clothes and linens! My favorite set of sheets are made of organic cotton and I just love the way they feel on my skin. Organic cotton is safe to wear and free of toxins found in regular cotton harvest. Happy Green Bee sells a wonderful selection of baby and kids organic clothing and at a reasonable price. Make sure you check out their factory store online where they have discounted their outfits even more! I recently was able to try out an outfit from Happy Green Bee, an organic kids clothing line, the pumpkin/butterscotch skort and radish bean shirt (shown below). This outfit is so adorable and colorful. The colors are so vibrant and I haven't found them to fade with washing. The soft stretching and gender-free colors and outfits are wonderful and make excellent gifts. I love the chemise top with legging and the matching blanket!

You may be asking, " What is so special about organic clothing?" Well here's the skinny of it. "Conventionally grown cotton occupies only three percent of the world's farmland, but uses 25 percent of the world's chemical insecticides, including Parathion, which is at least 30 times more toxic than DDT! " If you've read any of my previous posts on chemical exposures you'd remember the risks involved with long term exposure to such toxic chemicals can lead to increased risks of certain cancers and birth defects. Pesticide and chemically-treated clothing traps heat and prevents skin from absorbing adequate moisture often causing rashes and eczema on sensitive skin. Whereas, organic cotton is natural and breathable. Children with allergies particularly benefit, as organic cotton does not have the residual toxic residues that linger on conventional cotton. Organic cotton is grown in soil free of herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers which in turn is healthier for us and the planet.

Happy Green Bee is dedicated to creating "cheerful gender-free organic kids clothing with sustainable earth friendly manufacturing practices in an effort to meet and increase the demand for organic children's clothing that not only looks and feels great but is contributing in positive ways to the welfare of our planet."

Win It: Happy Green Bee is giving away the same outfit pictured above: pumpkin/butterscotch/radish bean skort and radish bean shirt to one of my readers! Leave me a comment and let me know what size you'd want and what other items from Happy Green Bee you'd love to have!

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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Make a purchase from Happy Green Bee for 5 additional entries
Follow Happy Green Bee on Facebook or Register for their catalogue

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address in your comment! Contest ends 8/14 at 10pm
US entries only

The Baby Dipper

2009-08-03T13:48:00.006-04:00

Mahayla is 2 years old now and boy is she the most stubborn and independent child I know! We never taught her how to use a fork, spoon, etc because she wouldn't let us. She was very determined to learn herself and would freak out if we helped. She made quite the mess but she did learn. I recently was able to try out the baby dipper bowl and spoon. I wish I had this when Mahayla was learning the eat, but atleast I'll have it for peanut #2!

The Baby Dipper was created by a mommy of twins who searched for a one handed feeding system and found none. So she created the Baby Dipper! The Baby Dipper set is a wonderful feeding/learning tool for you child. The contoured edges help quide food onto the spoon, it has a non-skid base, and the spoon is curved to rest on the side so it never falls in. The product is Phthalate-free and lead-free. The Baby Dipper set is microwaveable and dishwasher safe.

The size is great for baby food and rice cereals but is alittle small for bigger portions of foods. Mahayla loves her bowl set and likes to use it to eat her yogurt and ice cream.

Win It: Barbara (creator of The Baby Dipper) is giving away a Baby Dipper Set to one of my readers!

Enter to Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
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email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Make a purchase from The Baby Dipper for 5 additional entries
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Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address in your comment! Contest ends 8/14 at 10pm
US entries only

See Kai Run Giveaway!

2009-07-18T22:00:00.007-04:00

I finally had the pleasure of reviewing a pair of shoes from See Kai Run and now I know what all the fuss is about! These children's shoes are absolutely wonderful. See Kai Run offers a wide variety of styles and sizes and they are sooooo cute. Some of the shoes can be little pricey if your on a budget, but they will last you longer than your average shoe so they are definitely worth the money. See Kai Run makes quality shoes that are fun and stylish. I specially love how soft the leather and insoles are. I was able to review the girls "Dorothy" shoe from See Kai Run. Mahayla loves her new shoes and wants to wear them all the time. I think I forgot to mention that my 2 year old is a little obsessed with shoes....not my fault I shall add.
Most importantly is that See Kai Run brand has the seal of approval from the APMA. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is the premier organization of physicians and surgeons who specialize in foot and ankle health. Their Seal of Acceptance certifies that See Kai Run and Smaller footwear meet their rigorous standards for healthy foot development, functionality and safety.

Win It: See Kai Run is offering one of my followers a pair of shoes of their choosing from the See Kai Run or Smaller line of shoes! Head over to their website and let me know which pair of shoes you would want to win!

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
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email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Make a purchase from See Kai Run for 5 additional entries
Follow See Kai Run on Facebook or register via email for their mailing list

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address and which pair of shoes you would like to win in your comment! Contest ends 7/31 at 10pm
US & Canada entries only

Win a Blog Makeover

2009-07-18T21:00:00.006-04:00

As most of you might have noticed, I recently had my blog redesigned by a professional. I liked my old design, which I did myself, but there was still a lot of things I didn't know how to do. So, I gave in and just decided to have a blog designer take a stab at it. Czianya with Czny "Blog" Designs did a wonderful job capturing everything that I wanted. She was very easy to work with and kept in contact with me almost daily. I just told her what colors I liked, my little fairy obsession, and which features I wanted on my page. She even threw in a few bonus items (Mr. Linky :). She can do both custom designs or you can pick from a digital scrapbook template. She has excellent prices compared to some other blog designers I've researched. Czianya is generously offering a special to my followers right now where they can get a custom blog design done for $35 and it includes free troubleshooting for 6 months. If you change your mind on the design, she will do a 2nd design within 1 year free of charge...So that's 2 custom designs in 1 year for $35. All you have to do is use the coupon code MAHMOM624. Hurry because this offer expires on August 15th!

Win It: Czianya is also offering one of my followers a free blog makeover! So head over her site and check out her portfolio!

Enter To Win:

blog about this giveaway with a link back here
subscribe to my blog
follow this blog
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email three (3) friends about this blog and cc to randsmountney@yahoo.com
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Use the MAHMOM624 coupon code to purchase a blog makeover for 5 additional entries

Please leave a separate comment for all you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include in your email address in your comment! Contest ends 7/31 at 10pm
US entries only-sorry