Creative Cat Review{Sponsor Spotlight}

Creative Cat is a mecca for anything crocheted and I mean ANYTHING!  Cheri is the creative genius behind Creative Cat.  This uber talented mama can take any idea you have and run with it.  She made me this awesome slouch hat for review.  I basically described to her my likes and dislikes with the only caveat that it be a hockey mama hat that I could wear to the rink.  I think she nailed it on the head!  She choose a grey soft comfy yarn and blinged it out with a super fun tulle flower.  I can't wait to rock it at the numerous youth hockey games I will be attending this year!  It will keep my head warm and provide fashionable flair.  If you are in the market for hats for your youngsters, Cheri has you covered.  Check out all of her creations here.  Cheri, also, lends her crocheting talent to designing photography props over at her other site, Creative Cat Photography Props.  If you are having your little ones pictures taken or you are a photographer yourself, check her props out here. She will help you create the perfect addition to your pictures.  Here are some of my favorites from the Creative Cat sites:  And make sure to come back tomorrow and enter the Christmas Gifts for Kids Hop running November 12-22 for a chance to when a $25 gift certificate from Creative Cat.

Indigo Ocean Dreams CD {Sponsor Spotlight & Raffle}

Mama's Emporium sent us the Indigo Dreams CD.  When traveling with baby, naps often come in the car.  This CD will help any little one to invite rest and relaxation in.  Indigo Ocean Dreams is a 60 minute CD/audio book designed to entertain your child in an ocean setting while introducing them to four relaxation and stress-management techniques. Children follow their sea friends along as they learn to release and manage anger with Angry Octopus, build self-esteem with Affirmation Weaver, implement breathing with Sea Otter Cove and visualize with Bubble Riding.

The narration is accompanied by calming sounds of dolphins, sea otters and gentle waves. An additional music sound track is included to further enhance your child’s relaxation experience. These proven techniques encourage wellness and provide tools for children who suffer from anxiety, stress, trauma, hyperactivity, anger, sleep issues and lack of confidence. This kids relaxation CD is ideal for bedtime, transitions and children’s health.
 One lucky winner will win this CD in the Travelin' with Baby Blog Hop

And if you haven't heard:  

Mama’s Emporium is having a huge raffle!

There will be multiple winners of this ongoing drawing through-out the month of October!

As more people enter, bigger prizes will become available (like the lottery jackpot)!

Winners will be drawn every few days through-out the month of October!

To enter the raffle or increase your chances of winning, purchase raffle tickets from Mama’s Emporium

  You can order them here. 

If you want to be sure that you will get something, even if you aren’t one of the raffle winners, check out the Grab Bags!

Mama’s Emporium Grab Bags contain 1 Raffle Ticket and 1 surprise each! You can find the grab bags here!

If you happen to win a prize you have no use for, you do have the option of store credit instead!

Possible PRIZES include:

3 Teething Bling Necklaces

1 Earnest Efforts Wooden Rattle – Winner S. J. 10/2/12

1 Baby Banana Teething Toothbrush

1 Baby Sharky Teething Toothbrush

1 Dapple Toy and Surface Wipes

1 EcoSprout Fresh Linen Scent Pail Freshner

1 EcoSprout Eco-Bottom Biodegradable Diaper Liners 100 count

1 Rockin’ Green Femme Rock Detergent

2 Mighty Bubbles 10 Count Detergent Packs

12 GroVia AI2 Diapers

4 GroVia Biosoakers 20 packs

4 GroVia booster 2 packs

1 GroVia newborn diaper

3 Rumparooz One Size Diaper Covers

11 Rumparooz One Size Pocket Diapers- Winners: A. T. 10/4/12 + 10 more winners TBA

Melissa and Doug Toys

Stress Free Kids Books and CDs

and More!

The Winner of Oct 2nd Drawing is #737935 – Winner’s Initials are S.J.!

The Winner of the Oct 4th Drawing is #737925 – Winner’s Initials are A.T.!

The Winner of the Friday October 5th GroVia Halloween AI2 Pack is #737918 – Winner’s Initials are A.S.!

The Prize for the Drawing on Saturday October 13th will be a rumparooz cover or anything from the GroVia Halloween AI2 Pack

(2 GroVia Shells, 2 cloth inserts, 20 count biodegradable inserts, 2 pack of boosters, and mighty bubbles 10 count!)

Drawings will be every few days through-out the month of October!

All winners will be announced in the Mama’s Emporium Facebook Group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mamasemporiummarketresearch/

Tiny Love Tiny Princess Soothe 'n Groove Mobile

Tiny Love Tiny Princess Soothe and Grove Mobile

When you are Travelin' with Baby it makes the transition to sleeping in new and strange places easier if Baby has familiar loves and surroundings along with them. If you are visiting relatives and they have a crib why not take along Baby's crib mobile? We brought along Baby Brooke's Tiny Love Soothe 'n Groove Tiny Princess Mobile this summer when we went on a 10 day, 3000 mile excursion. Brooke loves her Soothe and Grove Mobile sent to us by Tiny Love. It was super easy to set up. Brooke loves watching the cute little animals spin around. And  I love that it has music that plays and you can set the volume control.  In addition, it lights up.  I have looked at other mobiles before, but how can baby fall asleep to the animals spinning around when they can't see it in the dark of their room?  The mobile has helped our baby to learn to fall asleep on her own and she is actually excited to snuggle into her crib to watch her Tiny Love Soothe n' Grove Tiny Princess Mobile.
 
*I was given a product free of charge for the purpose of providing an honest review. All the opinions and thoughts are my own. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review.

Gutzy Gear Backpack Straps Get Together

We hosted a Gutzy Gear Get Together by MommyParties in August.  What is Gutzy Gear?  Gutzy Gear is a cool new accessory that allows your child to express their style and personality on any kind of school bag.  You attach the Gutzy Gear straps to your backpack, tote, duffle bag or messenger bag.  Then, you decorate those straps with your "Gutzies"(patches) to make your bag totally one of a kind. The kids loved decorating their straps and making them their own!

As part of the party fun we played "Gutzy" bingo and Pin the "Gutzy" on the backpack.  You can find Gutzy Gear online here or at select: Kmart, Office Depot, Shop Rite, Target, Toys R Us and Wal-mart stores.

Knaebean Creations Soaker Review {Sponsor Spotlight}

We were recently lucky enough to go on vacation. I have never taken a vacation with 2 under 2.  The first day we had lofty goals of driving 8 hours or more.  I wasn't sure how often we would be stopping to change diapers, so I decided to put our Knaebean Creations Natural Color Pure Virgin Wool soakers to the test. 

 Here is my sweet Brooke gearing up for the ride (I had to snap a photo before we completely buckled up).  Poor girl had hand, foot and mouth as we took off on our journey.  I put the wool over a pocket diaper and we were off.  We traveled 6 hours before needing to stop to change her.  I am happy to report that the soaker was just a touch damp.

 

Check out the totally cute flower butt on this soaker.  Knaebean Creations is so incredibly talented and takes the utmost care in crocheting a one of a kind design!

Another view of this sweet wool soaker.  Knaebean Creations can work with you to help come up with a fabulous soaker or other customized one of a kind crocheted piece.

 

Clara, the two year old is in the beginning stages of potty training.  Here is her adorable lady bug soaker.  She went 5 hours before needing a potty break and her Knaebean Creations Wool Soaker was completely dry!

You can purchase your own 100 % Virgin Wool Soaker here or win you own in the upcoming Blog Green Family Giveaway Hop on Mama Bucks blog September 15-30.

Snap Me Swimsuit Review {Vlog}

A review of the Snap Me Swimwear available at www.mamasemporium.com. Who knew the fast snap/unsnap crotch existed for infant and toddler swimsuits.  No more struggling with wet suits. Now that I have been spoiled by this feature in a suit, I am hooked!

Pizza Party Yoga Class for Kids DVD {Review}

I try to make time in each day to exercise. Most the time that is easier said than done.  Sometimes in order to get some movement in I have to find a way to incorporate the kids.  Enter the Pizza Party Yoga Class for Kids. OrganaKids sent us this DVD to test out.  We love it. I can do the yoga movements along side the kids (and vice versa).  The instructor in the video teaches the children the proper yoga techniques in a fun way with upbeat songs and bright classroom backgrounds.  The kids don't view the yoga as exercise, because other children appear in the video.  My 5 view it as just plan fun! If you are struggling to incorporate fitness with a busy family I highly recommend purchasing the video that retails for $19.99 here.

* I was given a product free of charge for the purpose of providing an honest review. All the opinions and thoughts are my own. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review.

Sodastream {Review}

I love soda, but I don't love the ingredients that are in it.  Enter the Sodastream.  With Sodastream you are able to bottle you own soda from your own home with Sodastream flavors and tap water.  Genius! There are over 60 different flavors. The regular flavors contain no high-fructose corn syrup, and diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda® brand sweetener, not aspartame. Certainly sounds better to me!  I think we have used our Sodastream almost everyday since receiving it.  We even brought it to a family reunion. And I love that it is so simple to operate that my 12 and 8 year olds can do it with ease.  You can purchase your own Sodastream Fountain Jet here, prices start at $79.95 and you can enjoy free shipping for a limited time.

*I was given a product free of charge for the purpose of providing an honest review. All the opinions and thoughts are my own. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review.

Copy-Kids DVD {Review and Sponsor Spotlight}

Copy-Kids is designed for children six months to 5 years to encourage healthy fruit and vegetable eating habits. It includes 12 chapters focusing on: bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, avocado, tomatoes, broccoli, oranges, bananas, raspberries, strawberries, apples and blueberries.Copy-Kids Media sent us there DVD Copy Kids Eat Fruit and Vegetables. Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical. In my head I thought, "My kids will watch this DVD and eat their fruits and vegetables...we'll see."I put the DVD in, sat back and observed. I was amazed at what I was witnessing. My children loved it! I could not believe how motionless they sat and how much laughter I heard. It is true kids love watching other kids do just about anything!
http://vimeo.com/24151268 Here is a link to the video.

The second part of my experiment came when my two and six year old daughters asked to try some red peppers in our refrigerator. The girls did not even want me to cut them up. My girls wanted to eat them whole just like you might eat an apple.It shocked me to find the girls not only eating the red peppers, but shrieking in delight at how delicious they were! Copy-Kids giving one of my readers a Copy-Kids DVD of their own in the Just for Baby Hop July 30-August 10.


*I received a product free of charge. All the opinions and thoughts expressed here are my own. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review.

Glowbug Cloth Pocket Diaper {Review and Sponsor Spotlight

Glowbug Cloth Pocket Diapers are an affordable solution for Mom's wanting to cloth diaper. 

Highlights
*They come in a variety of cute prints.
*The insert agitates out in the wash.
*They are a pocket diaper which means you can tailor the absorbency to fit your child.
*They are an affordable solution to cloth diapering.
*Includes two absorbent inserts.

Glowbug Cloth Pocket Diapers can be ordered here.  They are only available to order in sets of 12 in Boy prints, Girl prints or Gender neutral prints for $150.  The reason behind this is to save customers time and money.  You would never buy disposable diapers one or two at a time.  Glowbug will be giving away a pocket diaper in the Just For Baby Blog Hop July 30-August 10.

*I was giving a product free of charge for the purpose of providing an honest review. All the opinions and thoughts are my own. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review.

Sprout Cream {Review and Sponsor Spotlight}

The Willow Store sent us Sprout Cream to review.  It seems that our two little girls are constantly suffering from diaper ailments of one sort or another.  Sprout Cream is the all-over ointment that works to heal and prevent diaper rash. We have been using it with every diaper change and have kept the red bottoms at bay.  Sprout Cream is great for use with any type of diapers, washes out easily, and won’t stain which are all very important features for any cloth diapering parent. 

The first thing I did when we received the Sprout Cream was to read the ingredients.  It contains the following ingredients:

Ingredients:
Vegetable Glycerine
Cetearyl Glucoside/Phosphatidyl Choline
Silver Oxide and a dash of kindness

The 2 ounce container it comes in makes it extremely portable.  You can purchase you own Sprout Cream at the Willow Store for $9.95.  The Willow Store will be giving one lucky winner their very own container of Sprout Cream in the Just for Baby blog hop July 30th-August 10.

*I was giving a product free of charge for the purpose of providing an honest review. All the opinions and thoughts are my own. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review

Potty Cover {Review and Sponsor Spotlight}

Potty Cover sent us 6 of their disposable Potty Cover.  We are a family of 7 that are constantly on the go.  We travel quite often for kids activities which some times leads to some unpleasant bathroom visits.  I am talking about porta potties or wayside rest stops.

Enter in the Potty Cover, a disposable toilet seat cover for children.  You simply place the Potty Cover on the toilet and it covers the sides and front of the toilet keeping germs and wetness at bay.  Each Potty Cover is individually packaged in a small bag portable enough for the diaper bag. 

We took our Potty Cover on our latest hockey weekend.  We have a two year old dabbling in potty training so the Potty Cover arrived at a perfect time.  I love that it has a large front flap that prevents her legs and clothes from touching the toilet.  She is small and just learning to balance on the toilet, so the side flaps help keep her germ free.

Potty Cover will be giving away disposable toilet seat covers in Our Just for Baby Hop July 30-August 10.

Vincelli Designs {Summer Sizzle Sponsor}

We recently purchased some name signs from Vincelli Designs and Decor.  We had received a Vincelli Designs and Decor Name Sign for Baby Brooke as a baby gift so some of the other children wanted one, too!  Vincelli Designs and Decor is able to customize a name sign in pretty much an color you may be looking for.  Prices start at $4.99.  Amy, the talent behind Vincelli Designs and Decor, began making signs for herself, because she loved the creative outlet it provided her.  Soon others were wanting her handmade creations and her business began from there.  She has many varieties of signs and other personalized gifts and decor to choose from on her site.  Try her on anything not listed as she is able to come up with most anything you may be looking to purchase.

Vincelli Designs will be giving away a Patriotic sign and magnet prize pack as part of the Summer Sizzle blog hop beginning 6/24.  Stop back then to enter!

SocialWalker Creations Summer Sizzle Sponsor Spotlight

SocialWalker Creations is a creative Mama that crochets many amazing pieces.  The first item I ever purchased from SocialWalker Creations was this awesome Husky hat (the Husky is our High School mascot) for my baby girl. 

SocialWalker Creations is able to customize many hats, bandanas, purses and other accessories to your liking.  You can find her albums of work she has done here.

Most recently we were able to review this patriotic bandana.  It arrived just in time for Daddy's Flag Day birthday party!  My daughter is already planning on wearing her bandana for the 4th of July as well.  She loves it!

This is SocialWalker Creations stars and stripes bandana.  It features stripes in white and red with a blue star and a white button attached.  It ties at the nape of the neck. 

SocialWalker Creations can tailor your bandana in any color combination and embellishment.  The bandanas retail for $10 in any color with embellishment and $8 in solid colors with no embellishment.

SocialWalker Creations will be giving away a blue embellished patriotic headband in the Summer Sizzle Giveaway beginning on June 24th.  In the meantime, she is offering my readers 20% off any order of $20 or more or free shipping with the code MamaBucks.

Handmade with Care By KellyLynn Review and Giveaway

Handmade With Care By KellyLynn sent me Honey Oatmeal Soup, Coconut Lemongrass Lip Balm and Coconut Lemongrass Body Butter to review.

I was immediately impressed by the care in KellyLynn's packaging.  She uses muslin bags and green recycled paper wrap and even included a hand written note.  All of her ingredients are organic and she takes great care in making each item herself.  She started making her own body products for her children ages 9 and 5 months, because she was sick of all the bad ingredients used in the store bought products. 

The fragrance that came out of these containers are amazing!  I am seriously addicted to the Coconut Lemongrass Body scrub.  I can not get enough of that scent!  I smells so yummy you almost want to eat it!  It is that good!  It really absorbs and moisturizes nicely into my skin.

I love applying the Lip Balm at bedtime.  Handmade With Care's Lip Balm is amazing!  It's moisturizing effects last the entire night.  I love waking up to soft, supple lips. 

Handmade With Care By KellyLynn's Honey Oatmeal soap provides you with natural cleansing power.  I love its pure feel.  It is gentle, but the oatmeal adds just the right amount of exfoliating.  Click here to see her body products and use the coupon code review20 to receive 20% off through Sunday(6-17)  KellyLynn is celebrating 100 likes with a giveaway below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Food Should Taste Good Chips give me intense joy to eat!{Giveaway}

 Food Should Taste Good sent us several varieties of  their chips to try. 

We served both chocolate and Kettle Corn at our annual driveway movie.  The crowd fell in love the Chocolate Chips (everyone thought that "Chocolate chips" sounded clever, too).  The adults, especially loved this flavor as chocolate just leaves you feeling good.



My family's new found love is the Kettle Corn variety.  These chips just give us intense joy to eat!  I'm not sure where they have been all my live, but they are here to stay.  They are just the right intense blend of salty and sweet.  We are addicted and have already replenished our pantry with them. 

Food Should Taste Good Chips are all natural and made from real simple ingredients. For example, the Chocolate variety are made of: Stone Ground Corn, Sunflower Oil or Safflower Oil, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Powder, Evaporated Cane Juice, Corn Bran, Dutch Cocoa Powder, Vanilla Extract and Sea Salt. Food Should Taste Good Chips are free of cholesterol, preservatives and trans fat, and do not use genetically modified ingredients (GMOs). 

These chips are certified Kosher and Gluten Free, lower in sodium and are a good source of dietary fiber.

On the back of each bag are fun suggestions on what you could serve your chips with.  The Chocolate variety suggests:  Peanut Butter and Banana Slices, Vanilla Ice Cream, gently heated and salsa.

Food Should Taste Good is giving one of my readers a Sample Box of 5 bags of chips:
a Rafflecopter giveaway