KINeSYS Giveaway
August 30, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Gloria! Congrats!
Daily sunscreen use is a must in our household, particularly because we live in Southern California where the summers are long and hot. My husband and son have fair skin and skin cancer is a serious threat. Skin cancer is not the only threat, unfortunately. Many sunscreens contain harmful chemicals I don’t want on my son’s skin.
We’ve been using KINeSYS sunscreen for almost a year now and I really appreciate it’s safety, efficacy, and ease of use. I’ve actually reviewed and promoted KINeSYS multiple times because it’s a product we use regularly. KINeSYS sunscreen was rated by Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database as one of the safest and most effective sunscreens on the market and I feel comfortable putting it on my family. The Kids’ Suncare products are free from oil, alcohol, preservatives, and PABA but offer protection against UVA and UVB sun rays.
The Kids’ Suncare products have a very light, pleasant scent to them. Besides the fact that they’re safe, I LOVE how easy it is to apply it to my son. If you have a toddler, then you know how wiggly and sqirmy they can be. And they’re also not good at being patient! So spraying him down is a lot more effective at ensuring I’ve rubbed lotion all over him.
KINeSYS products can be purchased directly from the site or at retailers nationwide.
Win It! One of you will win a 4 oz Kid’s Spray & 1oz Hydrating Moisturizer w/SPF 15. Simply head on over to the site and take a look around. Come back here and leave me a comment with an interesting fact you found on the site. Comments will close on September 14, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
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Stylish Sun Protection From Kokopax (Plus a Giveaway)
August 30, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Susan. Congrats!
For some of us, summer is far from over. In fact, we have been experiencing record breaking temperatures in Southern California. I’m extremely diligent about keeping my son protected from the sun. We use sun protective clothing, sunscreen, and hats.
We recently had an opportunity to review the Savannah Baby Sun Hat in the Sailor print from Kokopax. It’s a darling cotton brimmed hat with a chin strap (so it should, in theory stay put). I have to admit that my son has not always been a fan of wearing hats. However, as he’s gotten older, he’s getting used to them. My son has light skin like his daddy so it’s important to keep his head and face covered from the sun. Not only is it stylish, it offers a fair amount of protection due to the brim. The hat comes in both a “boy” and a “girl” version and retails for $19.99 (which is a bit pricey, but adorable). It also comes in 3 sizes up to 24 months.
Kokopax is a stylish online boutique, noteworthy for their framed baby carriers. Here is a little more information from the site:
Contemporary simplicity is our design inspiration. Making daily life easier for young families is our goal. Both come together in kokopax products, for families going places, in style.
What you’ll notice about the product offerings is that they are unique in style and function. There is nothing ordinary about the store or the products they sell. From totes to organic accessories, I’m most impressed by the gorgeous fabric options available.
Right now if you use the code “sisf2009″ you’ll save 10% off your order.
Win It! I have a Savannah Baby Sun Hat (sailor print) to give away. Simply head on over to the site and take a look around. Come back here and leave me a comment with the name of another product you like, including the fabric name. Comments will close on September 14, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
Add the “Spring In For Summer Fun” banner to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure to visit the main party post for more details on extra entries)
Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #SummerEvent
Enter Tanya and Amanda’s giveaways
Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.
Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.
Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!
Teaching Children About Babywearing
August 29, 2009
My son LOVES his “night night” bear. It’s his little security blanket. Lately he’s been “talking” to Mr. Bear. Asking him if he’s “ready for school,” or “ready to eat.” I don’t know what we’d do if he ever lost that bear. My son has a lot of stuffed animals, but there are only a few that he actually “engages” with. While I think stuffed animals are “cute,” very often they just sit around, gathering dust. We recently received an adorable organic teddy bear from Sleepy Wrap that I guarantee is not going to just “sit around.”
Awhile back, I reviewed a Sleepy Wrap to review. I “wore” my son until he was about a year and half or so. He loves to be carried and I’m certain he would have enjoyed being close to mommy and daddy for longer, but when I found out I was pregnant with number 2, I had to stop (because of my previous high-risk pregnancy). We’re anxiously awaiting and planning for our second baby and I have every intention of wearing him or her as well. So along with preparing my son for all of the changes he will soon experience (divided attention, breastfeeding, etc.), he will also be adjusting to mommy carrying another baby.
The creators of the Sleepy Wrap have designed the very first stuffed toy designed to promote babywearing. Thanks to Parent Reviewers, we received an organic cotton Sleepy Bear to review. The “mama” bear has her “baby” wrapped in a Sleepy Wrap. Not only is it soft and eco-friendly, it’s a great way to introduce my son to this concept. I’ve started talking to my son about how mommies wear or carry their babies close to them. I also told him that when he was a baby, I wore him close to me, just like the mama bear is wearing her baby bear. He’s still too young to actually “wrap” the baby bear himself, but the foundation is being laid. My hope is that his exposure to babywearing (via the bear), will help prepare him for the time when baby number 2 arrives and he or she is carried close to me. I want to help my son adjust and avoid jealousy and I think this toy is an excellent way to teach my son the concept of babywearing.
The Sleepy Bear has her baby wrapped in an Organic Khaki wrap. It’s available in full size for moms on the site. It’s designed for children over three, however, my almost 2 1/2 half year old loves it. I feel very comfortable letting him play with it since there are no removable parts that could pose a choking hazard.
The Sleepy Bear is not actually available for purchase on the Sleepy Wrap site. It is exclusively available for purchase at the following retailers (approximate retail value is $30):
Tadpoles & Butterflies
Sherwood Park, Alberta CANADA
info@tadpoles.ca
www.tadpoles.ca
1.888.312.6554
Supermommy’s Superstore
2411 Ring Road, Suite 105
Elizabethtown, KY
accounts@supermommyssuperstore.com
www.SupermommysSuperstore.com
270.769.6693
Sweet Infant
1007 S. Country Club Rd.
Lovington, NM
support@sweetinfant.com
www.sweetinfant.com
575.441.3005
Nurtured Family
8525 Jackrabbit Rd., Suite B
Houston, TX
support@nurturedfamily.com
www.nurturedfamily.com
832.239.5140
Heavenly Hold
510 Briarfield Crossing
Marietta, GA
amber@heavenlyhold.com
www.heavenlyhold.com
404.849.5394
Baby Carriers-n-More
265 W Cimmarron Way
Erda, UT
robyn@babycarriersnmore.com
www.babycarriersnmore.com
801.671.5740
Attached to Baby
Seattle, WA
sara@attachedtobaby.com
www.attachedtobaby.com
800.887.1461
Profuse thanks to Parent Reviewers for this review opportunity!
A Little Update…
August 29, 2009
This week has been super busy for me! I’ve had the privilege of meeting and engaging with some incredible brands and their representatives including Mattel, Gap, General Mills, and Annabel Karmel. I have pictures, posts, videos, giveaways and exciting news to share with all of you! But first, we’re on a little vacation to see some family.
Posting may be sporadic. But come back for my little announcement! We’re so excited about our new addition.
Winners…so many winners! Please check your emails. I usually give you 48 hours to respond but since I’m on vacation I’ll be making sure I hear from everyone by the end of the week.
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Have a great week!
Elmo’s World: All About Faces (DVD Giveaway)
August 28, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winners are Dan, Ken, and Val. Congrats!
My son just turned two and he is so curious about everything! We spend a lot of time going over certain concepts, one of them being the parts of his body. Many of you know that my son co-slept with my husband and I for many, many months and we still nap together. Very often when he’s waking up, he’ll start pointing to his eyes and mommy or daddy’s eyes…his nose and mommy or daddy’s nose…you get the point.
Genius Products and Sesame Workshop will be releasing a brand new DVD on September 1st entitled Elmo’s World: All About Faces. It’s perfect for toddlers interested in learning about their body. Here is a little more information about the DVD:
A delightful “Elmo’s World” compilation, the DVD features three separate episodes illustrating different parts of the face and significance of taking care of each one in a fun and entertaining way. In “Elmo’s World: Mouths,” Elmo and his friends love all the things they can do with their mouths; whistle, brush their teeth, and if you’re Cookie Monster, eat cookies! Kids will also learn how to wink like Dorothy and why they should get their eyes checked regularly in “Elmo’s World: Eyes.” The third segment, “Elmo’s World: Noses,” teaches children all about noses through “The Tournament of Noses Parade,” how to smell a flower, and much more!
The DVD is set to be released on September 1st and will retail for $12.95.
Win It! Three of you will win a copy of this DVD. Simply head on over to the site and take a look around. Come back and leave me a comment with something you liked or learned. Comments will close on September 12, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.
Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.
Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.
Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!
Hip Green Deals
August 28, 2009
Sometimes I feel like going green means giving up more of my own “green.” If you’ve followed my blog, then you know that my journey to becoming eco-conscious has been a slow process. Every day I learn something new about preserving our environment. Don’t run away! I don’t hug trees or stand outside of kennels with signs that save Save the Animals. But my husband and I do our part, especially when it comes to consumerism. I’m not sure if you’ve read any of my “green” posts, but in the past I’ve shared how my husband and I save money while still purchasing eco-friendly products.
Thanks to Sommer from Green and Clean Mom, I was recently introduced to a site called Hip Green Deals. The site JUST launched on Monday and it’s seriously fabulous! Every day you’ll find a new deal for a hip, eco-friendly product. For example, today the product is a Bath By Bettijo Organic Baby Gift Set (and I just so happen to be having a baby…how convenient) which is currently selling for 60% off the retail price! This “daily deal website is helping women accessorize themselves with fresh, eco-friendly finds such as jewelry, bags, and body care at 40-80% off retail.” Every day at 6 am (MST) you’ll find a new deal (I’m planning on subscribing so I don’t miss out!).
I’ve actually signed up for a few of these types of sites in the past and love the ones that sell brands I’m familiar with. HipGreenDeals.com has partnered with top leading brands to give you discounts from companies such as The Andean Collection, BYOB, Moonrise Jewelry, Priti Nails NYC and more. The site was created to help make eco-friendly shopping easy, fun, and affordable. I highly recommend checking it out if you’re looking to purchase more eco-friendly products at affordable prices.
Profuse thanks to Green and Clean Mom for this opportunity!
HP Is Helping You Stay Connected This Fall! (Printer Giveaway)
August 27, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by! The winner is Stephanie V. A huge CONGRATS!
My husband and I are very “connected.” My husband, in particular, is a gadget and tech guy. He loves electronics and he loves checking out “the latest.” HP recently launched the world’s first Web-connected home printer offering people simple, one-touch, wireless, on-demand access to free, popular Web content. You can access coupons, maps, recipes, calendars, Sudoku puzzles, coloring pages and much more…and you never have to go on the Web. On September 9, 2009, HP will announce the retail availability of the HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web printer.
Here is a little more information about this printer from the site (I realize it’s long but it gives a very good explanation of how this printer is innovative in this industry):
The HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web features an entirely new web-based printing platform with HP applications (apps). Similar to other Internet-connected devices, these apps, which are viewable on an extra-large, intuitive-to-use TouchSmart panel, allow people to connect instantly with fun, informative and personal content.
The world’s first HP app partners will be USA TODAY, Google, Fandango, Coupons.com, DreamWorks Animation, Nickelodeon, Web Sudoku and Weathernews Inc. Through these apps, people will have free access to customized daily news, maps, coupons, coloring pages, movie tickets, recipes, personal calendars and more – all at the touch of a finger. The new printers also will connect directly to a user’s Snapfish account to view, print and upload photos. People additionally can access projects from the HP Creative Studio.
This printer will be available in the fall and will retail for $399.
Win It! One of you very, very lucky readers will win this printer! Simply leave me a comment with your idea for a new printing application (must be original, please). HP really wants to know what printing apps will be helpful to you and your families. Comments will close on September 8th, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.
Want an extra entry?
Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Alternatively, you can spread the word about this contest via blog or Facebook or another social media venue, but only 1 extra entry will be given total.
Keeping Germ-Free This Fall
August 25, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winners are Jackie, Bob, and Lorie. Congrats!
Colds, flus, SWINE FLU? Ok…with summer coming to an end, I always worry about the dreaded cold and flu season. And this year with the Swine Flu lurking, I’m going to take even further precautions to limit our exposure to this virus. As a nurse, I’m super diligent about ensuring all 3 of us wash our hands regularly. But very often we’re out and about in places where washing hands is not convenient. You will ALWAYS find a small package of antibacterial hand wipes in my purse.
I recently had an opportunity to sample Wet Ones Antibacterial Hands & Face Wipes. In the hospital where I work, we use antibacterial hand gels in between patient contact. It’s actually an acceptable policy on our unit, provided we wash our hands after a certain number of uses/contact. The gels we use in the hospital are very strong and I’m always turned off by their strong alcohol aroma. I like using wipes with my son because I don’t find them to be as strong in odor but they’re still effective against 99.99% of germs. I also like wipes because I can actually get dirt off of my son’s hands (something that you can’t necessarily do with gels). I tend to feel like our hands are cleaner with a wipe and I like that they can be used on the face as well (they’re hypoallergenic). The wipes are also more gentle on the skin. My hands tend to be really dry after a day of using the alcohol-based antibacterial hand gels.
With the school year approaching (or already in session for some), you may want to consider placing a travel-sized pack of Wet Ones in your child’s backpack. You can teach them to use these when soap and water are not readily available, before and after eating, playing, etc. Here are some more tips on keeping your family healthy this season:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Wash for 20 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers or antibacterial hand wipes are also effective when soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
If you’re concerned about chemicals and odors (the original does have a mild fragrance to it), you can try the Sensitive variety.
Right now you can visit the site to receive a coupon for $1 off a package of Wet Ones.
Win It! Three of you will win a package of Wet Ones to try out for yourself! Simply leave me a comment with something you and your family do to stay germ-free! Comments will close on September 1, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
Add the “Back To School” banner to your sidebar and leave me a comment.
Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #back2school
Enter Tanya and Amanda’s giveaways
Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.
Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.
Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!
Back to School In Style With Land’s End
August 25, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Cherice. Congrats!
One of the best memories I have of going “back to school” was shopping with my mom. We would plan a special day together and go shopping for clothes and school supplies. Every year she always managed to keep me excited about the upcoming school year. I truly believe that is one of the reasons why I always enjoyed and looked forward to school (even as an adult).
My little boy started going to a little preschool this summer and he’s signed up again for the fall. He is really enjoying it and I hope that this is just the beginning of a lifelong love for learning. As you know, I’ve been sharing some back to school ideas and product picks this past week.
I was first introduced to Land’s End about a year ago at BlogHer through Mom Select. The company sells a vast assortment of clothing and products for the home. Right now, the company has a Back to School sale offering up to 50% off on hundreds of kids’ styles. They even have an entire uniform section, if your child attends a school with that type of dress code (I actually attended a uniformed elementary school as a child). You could purchase your child’s entire wardrobe including accessories, shoes, a lunch box, and a backpack at one store (how convenient is that?).
My son received this adorable outfit:
The styles are trendy and modern. Most importantly, they are super comfy! I love how soft the clothing feels. Each of the pieces he received could easily be matched with another pair of pants or another shirt and I like the ability to layer the clothing for the winter. The prices are affordable and like I mentioned earlier, they’re having a SALE!
One of the things I really like about the site is the number of color options available for any given article of clothing. It definitely makes it easy to color coordinate outfits.
Win It! One of you will win an entire boy’s outfit from Land’s End (it’s the exact same outfit my little boy will be wearing). The outfit will include a Little Kids’ ThermaCheck 100 Fleece Hoodie Jacket, a Little Boys’ Long Sleeve Stripe T-shirt, and a pair of the Boys’ 5-pocket Washed Corduroy Pants. The winner will be able to choose colors and sizes. Simply head on over to the site and take a look around. Come back here and leave me a comment with another Back to School item you’d like from the site. Comments will close on September 5, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
Add the “Back To School” banner to your sidebar and leave me a comment.
Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #back2school
Enter Tanya and Amanda’s giveaways
Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.
Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.
Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!
It’s a Girl….For Kailani!
August 25, 2009
Kailani and I have been working together along with several other bloggers as editors for the Family Review Network. Although we’ve never met in person, I feel like we’ve gotten to know each other and have become friends while working together. It’s been so much fun. She is kind and funny and genuine. Her blogs are incredible. I have no idea how she manages to contribute to all 3 plus raise a family and work. She’s truly a rockin’ mama! She has two gorgeous girls and a third on the way.
A few of us from the Family Review Network have joined together to throw her a Cyber Baby Shower (I feel so techie saying that!). Please join us over at An Island Life for An Island Baby Shower during the week of September 28 through October 4. No shower is complete without gifts and games! So come join us all week at the following blogs for some fun baby shower games (with amazing prizes you won’t want to miss):
- Andrea @ Chocolate Fingerprints
- Caryn @ Rockin’ Mama
- Cathi @ The Way I See It Too
- Kailani @ An Island Life
- Kristen @ Our Ordinary Life
- Linda @ My Trendy Tykes
Our current list of sponsors (which is ever-growing) includes the following:
If you’d like to participate, just blog about the baby shower and/or place this cute little button on your site. Then leave your link on An Island Life and you’ll be eligible to win some cool prizes! In addition, there will be even more prizes available when you play the various baby shower games on the other blogs. Hope to see you there!
