Isn’t This Precious?

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you so much for stopping by and entering.  The winner is Leigh (#70).  Congratulations!

I am a nostalgic kind of gal. I keep things most people don’t. Like wedding favors, cards/letters, my son’s hospital bracelet, and my son’s first painting. Most of the things I collect aren’t trinkets but meaningful memories of important events or special moments in life. I don’t have a lot of time to spend on actually fostering a collection, but as a child I loved collecting two things: bells and anything from the Precious Moments Collection.

When MomSelect (if you haven’t heard you must check it out!) sent me some information about a new website developed in partnership with Precious Moments, called Precious Moms, I had to check it out! The website was designed to meet the needs of moms who strive to integrate spirituality into their daily lives. Precious Moms is a place where moms can find celebration tools and tips on planning their most special days including children’s birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, baby showers, and more. We just celebrated my son’s first birthday and I would have loved to have used some of the ideas from the Precious Party Package. This is where you’ll find everything you need to plan a birthday celebration including invitations and thank-you notes you can print at home, recipes and activities and a party planning checklist to keep you organized. There is a wealth of information on the site including some fabulous resources. My favorite is Mom-to-Mom where you can connect with other moms.

To celebrate the launch of Precious Moms, I have a “Birthday Wishes With Hugs And Kisses” Precious Moments collectible to give to one reader.

Here is the 411:

Head over to Precious Moms and leave a two-part comment with one of the features you like about the site and which figurine you’d love to own. Comments will close on August 10, 2008 at 10 pm PST and I will announce the winner here. One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

P.S. You may want to consider coming back VERY soon. I still have several fun giveaways lined up including some BlogHer swag. I’m hoping to post that one today if my son, who has not been feeling well, takes a good nap!

You still have an opportunity to enter to win a GameStop Gift Card, an Oh Snap T for your trendy tot, one of four boxes of Cocoa Puffs Combos, and a Schlage Electronic Keypad Deadbolt Lock.

Isn’t This Precious?

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you so much for stopping by and entering.  The winner is Leigh (#70).  Congratulations!

I am a nostalgic kind of gal. I keep things most people don’t. Like wedding favors, cards/letters, my son’s hospital bracelet, and my son’s first painting. Most of the things I collect aren’t trinkets but meaningful memories of important events or special moments in life. I don’t have a lot of time to spend on actually fostering a collection, but as a child I loved collecting two things: bells and anything from the Precious Moments Collection.

When MomSelect (if you haven’t heard you must check it out!) sent me some information about a new website developed in partnership with Precious Moments, called Precious Moms, I had to check it out! The website was designed to meet the needs of moms who strive to integrate spirituality into their daily lives. Precious Moms is a place where moms can find celebration tools and tips on planning their most special days including children’s birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, baby showers, and more. We just celebrated my son’s first birthday and I would have loved to have used some of the ideas from the Precious Party Package. This is where you’ll find everything you need to plan a birthday celebration including invitations and thank-you notes you can print at home, recipes and activities and a party planning checklist to keep you organized. There is a wealth of information on the site including some fabulous resources. My favorite is Mom-to-Mom where you can connect with other moms.

To celebrate the launch of Precious Moms, I have a “Birthday Wishes With Hugs And Kisses” Precious Moments collectible to give to one reader.

Here is the 411:

Head over to Precious Moms and leave a two-part comment with one of the features you like about the site and which figurine you’d love to own. Comments will close on August 10, 2008 at 10 pm PST and I will announce the winner here. One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

P.S. You may want to consider coming back VERY soon. I still have several fun giveaways lined up including some BlogHer swag. I’m hoping to post that one today if my son, who has not been feeling well, takes a good nap!

You still have an opportunity to enter to win a GameStop Gift Card, an Oh Snap T for your trendy tot, one of four boxes of Cocoa Puffs Combos, and a Schlage Electronic Keypad Deadbolt Lock.

All Locked Up!

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you so much for stopping by and entering.  The very lucky winner is Sandra Williams (#151).  Congratulations!  Look for an email from me!

 

I hope you’ve had a chance to enter some of the fantastic giveaways across the blogosphere the past two days.  Pay attention because you’re going to want to lock in your entry for this next giveaway.  Remember my review of Schlage locks? I have an Electronic Keypad Deadbolt Lock to give away to one very, very lucky reader.  They retail for about $150.  I’m going to make you work just a little so here is the 411:

Check out my review or head over to the site and leave a two-part comment with one of the features mentioned on the review that you like and where you’d install the lock in your house.  Comments will close on August 8, 2008 at 10 pm PST and I will announce the winner here and on Prizey the following day. One comment per person, please.  US residents only as I am shipping this myself and it is HEAVY! Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. 

Want an extra entry?  Follow me on Twitter for details!

P.S.  You may want to consider coming back VERY soon.  I have several fun giveaways lined up you don’t want to miss out on, including some BlogHer swag!

You still have an opportunity to enter to win a GameStop Gift Card, an Oh Snap T for your trendy tot, and one of four boxes of Cocoa Puffs Combos.  

 

What Are You Doing This Week?

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you so much for stopping by and entering.  The winners are Kathleen McKee (#42), Jacqueline in Atlanta (#60), Audrey Okaneko (#39), and Tammy Darling (#52).  Congratulations!  Look for an email from me today!

I remember going to the local carnival as a child.  From music and entertainment to food and fellowship, I couldn’t wait until summer rolled around.  This week I’m attending a different kind of carnival.  Every quarter Bloggy Giveaways hosts a carnival where hundreds of participants hold giveaways all across the blogosphere.  You definitely want to head over as soon as possible to check it out.  I’ve met some wonderful bloggers this way.  Come back here later this week as I have some very cool things to give away including something to keep your home safe while you’re away.  

Cocoa Puffs is changing it up by adding a new twist to everyone’s favorite chocolate cereal.  Introducing Cocoa Puffs Combos cereal, which combines great-tasting chocolatey puffs with vanilla puffs.  Cocoa Puffs Combos is made with whole grains and is a good source of Calcium and Vitamin D.  

Win It!  Want to be one of the first to try it out?  Four readers will receive a coupon for one full-sized box of Cocoa Puffs Combos.  Leave a comment below telling me your child’s favorite culinary treat.  I need some ideas for my son!   Comments will close on August 3, 2008 at 10 pm PST and I will announce the winner here the following day. One comment per person, please.  US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. 

P.S.  You may want to consider coming back VERY soon.  I have several fun giveaways lined up you don’t want to miss out on, including some BlogHer swag!

BTW…You still have an opportunity to enter to win a GameStop Gift Card and an Oh Snap T for your trendy tot!

 

A Trendy Giveaway for Your Little Tadpole!

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you so much for stopping by and entering.  The winner is Lucy (#88).  Congratulations!

 

I absolutely adore shopping for my little boy.  Unfortunately, most of the modern, fashionable clothing I’ve seen is made for girls.  One company is rising above the mundane in children’s fashion. Take super soft, high quality fabrics + a clever, amusing message and you’re tot is sure to make a fashion statement with tees and onsies by Trendy Tadpole.  Gaining inspiration from her students, owner Julie Pruitt’s aim is to bring pop culture, a hint of nostalgia, and a pinch of fun to the table in every tee shirt.  Check out some of her most popular designs:

 

 

 

 

What I really like about Trendy Tadpole is the constant influx of change.  Julie welcomes your feedback to provide new designs, styles and ideas.  What I love even more are her fabulous prices!  Right now, every tee and onesie is only $11.00!  That’s a fab price considering that 50% of profits go to charity.  Check out her site for more information on the charities she supports.  

Profuse thanks to Trendy Tadpole and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity!

Win It!  I have an Oh Snap in size 2 to give to one trendy tot.  Head on over to Trendy Tadpole and have a look around.  Come back here and tell me which design you’d like to see your little tot in other than the ones mentioned in this review.  Comments will close on August 4, 2008 at 10 pm PST and I will announce the winner here and on Prizey the following day. One comment per person, please.  US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. 

P.S.  You may want to consider coming back VERY soon.  I have several fun giveaways lined up you don’t want to miss out on, including some BlogHer swag!

BTW…You still have an opportunity to enter to win a GameStop Gift Card!

Get Your Game On…Plus a Giveaway!

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you so much for stopping by and entering (all 700+ of you!).  The winner is Pamk (#543).  Congratulations!

I still remember the day my parents bought me my first Nintendo Entertainment System.  I was so excited I could hardly contain myself.  Technology has come a long way from this:

 

Gaming is all the rage, particularly now that summer is here!  And with the launch of the Wii (which I’ll probably never get closer to than I did at BlogHer) there is even more reason to get excited about gaming.  Regardless of the gaming system you currently possess, check out GameStop, the world’s largest video game retailer.  I stopped in two different stores (one by our house and one on the way up to visit the grandparents) and I have to say that I have never seen such a diverse and abundant selection of games in one location.  The staff were informative and helpful and moms and dads will appreciate their commitment to safety by adhering to the ESRB’s standards.  I was pretty close to buying Wii Fit….except that would lead to another purchase that I don’t think hubby is quite ready to endeavor.  

 

Kids are getting smarter and smarter these days and it’s very likely that they’ll either get tired of their current collection or manage to finish the game and then get bored. GameStop’s trade-in program allows you to bring in your child’s old games and get credit towards new titles or systems.  I was thinking about bringing in my old Super Mario Bros. but I didn’t want to get laughed right out of the store it may be a classic and actually worth something!  When I walked into the store there was an entire section of gently used games.  We love purchasing DVDs, CDs, etc. used because they’re affordable and usually in excellent condition.  If you like saving money and keeping your kids entertained, this may be the perfect option for you.  

By the way, GameStop’s selection is not limited to Nintendo systems.  You’ll find games for Playstation, XBox360, and even your computer!  Since I’m feeling so generous (wink, wink) I’m going to give one lucky reader a $30 gift card to use to your heart’s content, courtesy of Mom Central and GameStop.  Head on over to GameStop and have a look around.  Come back here and tell me which game you’ll purchase if you win (of course you can change your mind!).  And if you tell me you’re going to buy Wii Fit, you must understand that may entail me becoming a regular frequenter of your pad!

BTW…Comments will close on August 2, 2008 at 10 pm PST and I will announce the winner here and on Prizey the following day. One comment per person, please.  US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. 

P.S.  You may want to consider coming back VERY soon.  I have several fun giveaways lined up you don’t want to miss out on, including some BlogHer swag!

*Update*  Win something trendy for your little tadpole tot here!

 

BlogHer in the Real…

Where do I begin?  I just attended a conference like no other…  I was inspired to pursue writing which has always been a passion of mine and motivated to explore my interest in photography.  Here is a brief recap…

What better way to kick-off a conference than a party…or four!  Mom Central, Alltop/Kirtsy (pics here), The People’s Party, and The Newbie Mixer were all rockin’ to their own beat…and I managed to frequent all four.  Thursday was just the beginning.  Ruby Skye was hip and loud and the food was fab.  My favorite? The chic and swanky closing reception at Macy’s!  It was all about the food, shopping, makeovers by Bare Minerals, and dancing!  And then there were the “private parties…”  

Blogging is all about community, connection, and relationships.  Some of the most amazing bloggers writers are not only creative, intelligent, and artistic…they’re genuinely great gals to know!  I had a blast hanging out with Stephanie, Nicole and Mom Central’s Kara and Abbey, drooling over Rocco DiSpirito having lunch with Stephanie and Arianne, and chatting with This Military Mama and her adorable babe!  

You’d think that at a blogging conference there would be plenty of time to, you know, blog!  I was completely enthralled with soaking up all I could from the conference sessions and parties and socializing and networking and tweeting that I barely had time to breathe let alone blog!  Fortunately many other bloggers were focused enough to live-blog the sessions. Check them out on the BlogHer website.  While I would categorize myself as a mommy blogger, surprisingly I managed to miss those sessions.  As a relatively new blogger and aspiring photographer I found the sessions on the technical aspects of writing and blogging to be of most value.  My absolute favorite session was Me Rah Koh’s Photography Workshop and the subsequent Photo Walk with the Shutter Sisters.  Stay tuned as I’ll be uploading pictures of the entire conference to Flickr. 

What’s a conference without “stuff?”  The swag was everywhere!  Mom Select even had a suite filled with products I plan on telling you all about!  Stay tuned for your opportunity to score some BlogHer swag!

A huge thank you to Mom Select, Newbaby, and HP for the scholarship I received!  

And a ginormous hug and thank you to my incredible husband who trekked all the way to San Francisco with me so I could be close to our little boy.  

If you absolutely can’t wait for pictures, check out Arianne’s AWESOME shots on Flickr!

BlogHer Recap - People, Products, Parties

 

 

[Pictured Stephanie from Metropolitan Mama, Nicole from Apron Strings Aflutter, and me]

 

Snazzy new bluetooth called Zivio Boom, not even on the market yet!

 

Alltop/Kirtsy party at Guy Kawasaki’s house.

For Your Little Thinker…

Before my son was born, I spent my months in bed researching the most innovative products on the market.  With over eight years of experiencing caring for healthy and ill newborns, I was confident in my ability to feed, change, bathe, and care for my son.  But please don’t ask me about the safest car seat, the most durable stroller, or the toys and books most suited for infant development.  I had no clue.  As I began to research products designed to foster infant development, I came across the AAP’s guidelines on television viewing for children…after I had already spent at least a hundred dollars on DVD’s claiming to turn my little boy into a little genius.  I adhered for several months to those guidelines, determined not to inhibit the social and emotional development of my son.  When I noticed my son with eyes fixed becoming interested to the programs my husband and I were watching, I implemented a “no TV ban” in our house.  That lasted all but one or two weeks, if that.  I remember the day I opened one of those educational DVDs for my son.  It was brilliant.  One year later, I’ve changed my opinions on the appropriate use of media with young children. 

  Young children are naturally inquisitive.  Exploration and learning occur through the senses.  From mouthing toys, to imitating sounds, my son has learned much about his environment through the senses.  

Seattle-based children’s media company Braincandy is leading the way in child development with products designed to educate, enrich, and entertain. Braincandy’s developmentally appropriate content is a distinct synthesis of children, animation, and puppets designed to promote self awareness, stimulate imagination, and cultivate independent thinking.  

Thanks to Braincandy and Parent Reviewers, my son and I were able to experience Touch My World.  As soon as we started watching, I was immediately impressed by the company’s creative use of puppets, dancing silhouettes, and real children to convey the concept of touch.  I’d like to take different substances, place them in containers, and teach my son the difference between slimy, sticky, crinkly, fuzzy, and scratchy objects…like that which was shown in the video.  I always preview any videos or programs before allowing my son to watch.  One of the criteria I look for is how the content of the media fosters interaction.   Children learn through active play.  Media should engage the parent and child and integrate fun and learning for a meaningful experience that can continue once the program has finished.   Check out Braincandy’s website for more information on their products. 

You can purchase the entire Braincandy collection, including CDs, DVDs, and toys here.  

I highly recommend reading their perspective on media and children here.   

Mmmm…Strawberries!

Every year The California Strawberry Festival is held in Oxnard.  Music, entertainment, arts and crafts, strawberry-themed food booths, contests and more draw people from all walks of life to this extraordinary celebration.  This year California, who provides 88% of the nation’s strawberries has much to celebrate as their harvest is abundant this year.  Nearly 6 million crates of strawberries were picked and delivered to grocery stores nationwide.  Do you want to know what I did with the strawberries we bought last week?  I made one of my favorite recipes…Strawberry Scones!!  

 

 

Strawberries are actually quite versatile and provide numerous health benefits:  

• Strawberries contain powerful antioxidants which aid in memory performance and help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease
• Strawberries may help reduce the risk of heart disease, fight some types of cancer and lower blood pressure.

While strawberries taste great all by themselves, hubbie and I like to make fresh whipped cream and dip them for dessert.  We love to put strawberries in breads, smoothies, and other “sweet” recipes.  We’ve even cooked strawberries in a pan with a smidgen of water and a sprinkle of sugar to create a “syrup” that is then used on pancakes and waffles.  Strawberries also taste good in savory dishes.  I encourage you to check out the California Strawberry Commission website for tons of strawberry recipes.  

If you’re having difficulty getting your child to eat fruit, strawberries are perfect because they’re sweet and nutritious.  Here are some fun facts you can share with your children:

• If you lined up all of the strawberries grown in California in one straight line, they would wrap around the entire Earth 15 times.
• Guessing game! There are about 200 seeds on the outside of each strawberry.
• California harvests over a billion pounds of strawberries annually.  
• One acre of land (about the size of one football field) grows about 50,000 pounds of strawberries - that’s the same weight as 4 elephants! 

Next Page »