Mother’s Day 2009: HP, Snapfish, and Creative Studio

Photo gifts are one of my favorites to receive.  I love the personal, sentimental meaning behind photo books and framed pieces.  My husband dabbled in some photography when he was in college, so we have a lot of beautiful pictures and books in our home.

I know in my heart that it’s the thought that counts, but there is a little part of me that wants someone to look at me and what I like…my personality…and come up with an idea that is unique to me.  And for me, that would be photo gifts (which I will be talking a lot about this week!)  That’s why I love HP, Snapfish and Creative Studio.  The projects available can be tailored to that special mom you’re celebrating this Mother’s Day.

So, if you’re stumped for ideas, you may consider some of these suggestions from HP and it’s partners.

1. Square Key Ring – People are always asking to see pictures of my son.  With this key ring, I don’t have to worry about pulling pictures up on my smartphone.  ($18.99)

2.  Sterling Silver Photo Bracelet – For the mom with more than one child, this bracelet allows you to display up to six photo charms.  ($39.99)

3. Photo Collage Fleece Blanket – This unique way of displaying memories adds a warm feeling to the home.  You can add up to 30 photos for a photographic journey through childhood or another special memory.  And…it looks super cozy!  ($49.99)

4.  Photo Panel – Who needs a frame when you can display your child’s latest picture on a wood panel.  This would be great for the working mom’s desk.  The panels are also UV and scratch-resistant.  ($14.99)

6.  Breakfast in Bed – This free, DIY project gives you the tools to create customized menus, decorative place mats, table cards, and more.

7.  Spa Day – This free, DIY project gives you the tools to create CD inserts and labels, bath salt jar labels and wrappers, and votive candle wrappers.

If you’ve never visited HP’s Creative Studio, you’re definitely in for a treat.  The site is packed full of all kinds of unique projects, many of which are free.  Some of the projects include a personalized cookbook and customized stationery.  Don’t forget to take advantage of the site’s free wrapping paper, bags, and gift tags.

Be sure to check out all three sites for more Mother’s Day gift ideas.

And…you still have time to enter to win a “you color my day” photo book and goodies from philosophy.

A Baby Story: First Time Parents Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winners are Kimberly, Ed N, and Amanda U.  Congrats!

On May 5, TLC and Genius Products will release A Baby Story:  First Time Parents.  I don’t know about you but I LOVE watching the reality-based shows on TLC. In fact, two years ago (in June) my husband, son and I were on Bringing Home Baby (episode NICU Nurse’s First).  Both of these shows are designed to give parents a first-hand, insider’s look as to what it’s REALLY like to have a baby.  A Baby Story “takes viewers inside on an intimate and emotional journey by profiling couples’ experiences from the final weeks of pregnancy through the first weeks of a new life.”   I commend these couples for allowing us into such a personal life event.  I recommend that all parents watch the shows as they’re highly educational.  Here is a little more information about the soon-to-be released DVD.

Share in the experience and all the emotions parents feel when they first greet their newborn.  From the final weeks of pregnancy through the first weeks of a new life, TLC’s Emmy Award-winning series “A Baby Story” goes inside the delivery room for a first-hand look at the drama of labor and the joy of the unforgettable birth moment.  Chronicling soon-to-be parents from all walks of life, “A Baby Story: First Time Parents” is a colorful collection of heart-warming tales detailing events leading up to and shortly after the arrival of each family’s new addition.

What a wonderful Mother’s Day gift this set would make, especially for first-time moms!  A Baby Story: First Time Parents will be available for $14.95.

Win It! Three of you will win a copy of A Baby Story: First Time Parents.  Simply head on over to TLC and then come back and leave me a comment with something you liked or learned!  Comments will close on May 7, 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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Lunapads: Green. Period.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Andrea!  Congrats!

I never imagined I’d be reviewing a reusable menstrual pad.  I never imagined I’d be USING a reusable menstrual pad.  But today…I’m going to talk to you about Lunapads! I’m all about recycling, using a reusable bag at the grocery store, drinking filtered water instead of bottled water, buying local, organic products and making my own cleaners.  I do as much as I can to reduce, reuse, recycle…when it’s convenient, right?  Well…I like to think I make great efforts to preserve our precious environment including spending more time, energy and resources doing so.

Before I was offered the opportunity to review Lunapads, I had read a lot about them.  I was intrigued and curious about a product that claimed to be healthier for the environment and myself while saving me money.  But I have to admit that I didn’t want to give up my freedom to throw out pads whenever and wherever I wanted.  I am mostly a tampon user, however, I do use pads both as a back-up for those initial heavy days, and I give myself a break from tampons at night.  Using a reusable menstrual pad was going to cost me something.  I was going to have to plan ahead, do a little work, and get accustomed to a whole new way of thinking about “that time of the month.”  After learning that “14 billion disposable pads, tampons, and applicators are discarded into landfills on an annual basis in North America,” I decided that Lunapads just might be something I’d have to try.  I mean…if it didn’t work out I could at least say I gave it a try, right?

So…I did it!  I tried Lunapads. And while I was a little hesitant…nervous…apprehensive…they’re growing on me! There are a ton of positives.  First, here is a little more information about the company from the site:

Lunapads International is a women-owned small business based in Vancouver, Canada.  Our mission is to help women have healthier and more positive experiences of their menstrual cycles, and by extension, their bodies overall.  Our team is made up of a passionate group of gals who believe that using natural menstrual products is a creative and empowering way to honor and care for ourselves and the planet.

I received the Pads & Pantyliners Intro Kit and decided to try these out overnight (I put a towel down just in case), since I felt this would give me the most accurate perception of how the product works.  The kit comes with an assortment of pads, liners, and pantyliners in different sizes based on absorbency. The basic premise is that you have a liner that attaches to your underwear and  holds the pad in place.  You can add extra liners to accommodate your flow.  The company created a series of informative videos including this “how to” which I highly recommend watching:

So…what do I think?  First off, the fabric is not only 100% cotton (or organic if you choose), it’s super soft and cozy…unlike disposable pads.  Lunapads are made of 100% cotton fleece and flannelette with a thin layer of breathable nylon between the layers of flannelette to prevent leakage.  The fabrics are adorable and ALMOST make me forget about how dreadful that time of the month can be.  The pretty prints alone make me want to use them…if only for that reason (although there are many more important reasons to use them).They are simple to use and they stay put (which I was surprised about since I had no clue whether snaps and ric rac bands would keep everything where it’s supposed to be).  I used them all night and woke up without ruining my underwear.  You can wear Lunapads as long as you’d where a disposable pad in a similar absorbency.  I know you want to know so I’ll just answer right up front….there was no odor after wearing them overnight. There…I said it!  I know you were worried too!  So the only part I have a little trouble reconciling in my head is how to use these when I’m out.  In theory, I know that I just bring a plastic bag of some sort and put them in the bag as needed (the company sells a cloth pad bag).  However, I’m having difficulty thinking about carrying them around all day at work, at the mall, etc.  I suggest that if you can get to a sink while you’re out, do so.  It will make cleaning them much easier.  Speaking of washing, I just soaked them as soon as I took them off, threw them in the washing machine, and had no difficulty getting them clean. If you’re looking to try reusable menstrual pads, the Intro kit ($56.99 USD) is the ideal way to start because it gives you a sampling of their pads/liners.  You can also visit their site and click on Find Your Fit, to find out which pad is right for you.

In summary…I’d love to keep using these for tampon back-ups and nighttime.  I don’t know that I would use them on the go, but I think any little bit I can do to save on the amount of disposable pads thrown into landfills helps.  The company also sells Postpartum pads, underwear and the Diva Cup (which is an alternative to tampons that I must try at some point!).

Use the code “rockinmama” to save $5.00 off a orders over $35.00 (expires Dec. 31, 2009)

Win It! One of you will win a Sampler Pack so you can try Lunapads out for yourself!  Head on over to the site and find the answer to the following question:  What is the name of Lunapads‘ pad donation campaign for girls in developing nations?  Fill out the form below AND leave a comment telling me why you want to try these.  Please note that all extra entries must be posted in the comments section.  Comments will close on April 22, 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.

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No more submissions accepted at this time.

A Wisp of Fresh Breath…

So…you know you’re supposed to brush twice a day right?  If you’re really ambitious you might aim for after every meal.  I work in an industry where I am in constant contact with people.  I am very conscious of my own personal hygiene, especially my breath.  I carry gum or mints with me most days but the constant chewing is wreaking havoc on my jaw.  And chewing gum is really only masking the obvious right?  Ideally, I’d love to be able to brush after every meal to keep my teeth clean and my breath fresh.  There’s only one problem. I’m not always in a place with running water and I don’t carry my toothbrush with me everywhere I go.

Colgate just released the coolest product ever (on April 1 to be exact)…a mini toothbrush that you can carry with you to brush and freshen your breath without water or toothpaste.  Now why didn’t I think about that?  Colgate Wisp is a single-use, mini brush with a refreshing liquid-filled bead, available in three flavors (Peppermint, Spearmint, and Cinnamint).  They come in four and sixteen packs and each mini brush is individually wrapped.  You literally open up a brush, use it, and toss it.  The freshening bead releases flavor as your brush.   I actually like all three flavors, but the Cinnamint is my favorite (I just love the taste of Cinnamon).  None of the flavors are overwhelming and they do in fact leave your breath feeling fresh for several hours. I’ve been using them at work on breaks and after meals and am actually really surprised at how effective they are, considering how small they are.  The cleaning bristles remove plaque and food.  The end of the brush is a soft pick which helps you reach in between your teeth or anywhere else you have difficulty brushing.

I have a package in my purse ready for any time I need a little wisp of fresh breath.  I’m thinking about how PERFECT these are for plane rides and camping and Disneyland and..  You can find Colgate Wisp mini brushes at retailers nationwide.  A pack of four will cost you $2.39.  Download a coupon for $1.50 off of a sixteen pack from Drugstore.com. Colgate also has a coupon for 50 cents off on their site. 

Baby Human: Play and Learn Baby Spoon

I remember how anxious I was to start my son on solid foods as an infant.  I don’t know why but I was so excited about having him eat “real” food as opposed to just drinking milk.  If you watch the video on my sidebar, you’ll see how difficult it was to get him to eat those first bites.  Not much has changed since then, except that he’s feeding himself, eating more, and getting pickier.  If you have a toddler, then you know how messy mealtimes are.  My son can feed himself, but he prefers that I feed him and I know that he’ll eat more.  As he approaches two, I really want him to become more independent at meal times.  He hasn’t mastered the use of utensils yet so I thought that the Play and Learn Baby Spoon might be the perfect tool to teach him.  Here is a little more information from the site:

The Play and Learn Spoon is designed to help your baby transition to a real spoon.  When children start to use their new skills to feed themselves, they have refined the tracking motion from plate to mouth, reducing frustration and increasing eating success.  The Play and Learn Spoon is made of durable rubber.  The unique handle, dual-headed design and lateral guards make self-feeding easy and safe.

One of the things my son first noticed about the spoon was it’s odd shape and vibrant color (we received a two-pack of orange and green spoons).  To him, it looked like a new toy, so he took off with it to play.  I have been practicing with him over the past couple of weeks.  Take a look at the video I shot of us trying to teach him to use the spoon:

I shot this video when we first introduced him to the Play and Learn Spoon and I felt like he was able to grasp it and put food into his mouth with my help.  One of the things I really like about the spoon is how it’s contoured to fit perfectly in my son’s hand. The company designed the spoon to be double-sided which allows tots who are left or right-handed to use it.  It also has a mouth guard to prevent gagging and a curved handle to align with the baby’s mouth. The shape and flexibility of the spoon allow for a toddler to grasp it and scoop up some food.  I also feel ike that it’s a safe way to teach my son to feed himself. In my opinion, it’s best used for foods like applesauce or yogurt.  I really like the company’s philosophy of using play to learn how to use a spoon.  Children learn so much through play and I definitely see the value in introducing something like this at any early age as a toy…even before an infant is ready to feed him/herself.

The Play and Learn Spoon is BPA, phthalate, and lead-free and a two-pack retails for $8.99.

Profuse thanks to Baby Human and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity.

Unstable Fables

Remember Aesop’s Fables? Short stories designed to teach children moral lessons like “you get more bees with honey” and “to work today is to eat tomorrow”?  The Jim Henson Company (in collaboration with Prana Animation Studios and Flame Ventures) has modernized 3 of those famous fables in a new series entitled Unstable Fables.  I had the privilege of attending a private screening of Unstable Fables:  Tortoise VS Hare (the second of three CGI animated films to be released on DVD) at the Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles with other local bloggers thanks to Momlogic.

Tortoise VS Hare is THE rematch of the century.  Featuring the voices of Danny Glover, Jay Leno, Vivica A. FOx, Drake Bell, and Keke Palmer, Mr. Tortoise and Mr. Hare are racing again…this time with their children.  The movie is funny (for children AND adults), endearing, and ends with a positive take-home message.  I was thoroughly entertained (the music was fab!) and can’t wait to see the third in the series entitled The Goldilocks and the 3 Bears Show (sheduled for release in December).

After the preview, we had privilege of speaking with producer Lisa Henson and director Howard E. Baker and touring the studios (which is not open to the public!).  We were treated to a fabulous lunch outdoors on the lot and went home with a goodie bag that included a copy of Tortoise VS Hare, 3 Pigs and a Baby, a gift card to Dale and Thomas, and a pedometer.

Here are some of the pictures from the event:

Momlogic has an exclusive video from the event here.  Check out Tortoise VS Hare which is on sale now!

Thank you Momlogic for a fabulous day in Hollywood!