Green Toys Tea Set Review & Giveaway!!

I recently came across a company called Green Toys. Here is a little bit about this awesome company from their site.

Green Toys Inc. makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet.

Start Simple: Recycled Plastic Milk Jugs
We use recycled milk containers as the main ingredient in creating our toys. Yes, the exact plastic milk jugs that you and your family drink from every day. When you finish your milk and toss the container in the recycling bin, these milk containers are collected at your curb by a local recycling company, who then sorts them from all the other types of plastic. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. For you plastic geeks, the plastic material we use is called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This material is considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around.


So in disbelief that these toys were made from recycled milk jugs I was anxious to get my hands on some of their toys and test them out. Danika received the Tea Set for review and loves hosting tea parties with all of her animal friends. I was very impressed with the construction of the set and the high quality of it. Danika was impressed with how fun it is :)

Here is a little bit about how they even work to reduce packaging:

Green Toys environmental mission even extends to our packaging. We strive to minimize packaging, and all of our boxes use as little material as possible. All Green Toys products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. So, not only are they earth-friendly and ready for your recycling bin, they are really easy to open for those little fingers just itching to get at the toys!!

Green Toys has a great variety of toys for both girls and boys. When Aiden gets older I'm sure he would love to have this fun Recycling Truck!

You can go HERE to locate a retail location near you where you can purchase Green Toys wonderful products.

Win! One lucky reader will win a Green Toys Tea Set!!

This giveaway has ended. Congrats to the winner:

Comment #606

mom2anutball

Pipila Winner!

Congrats to the winner of the Pipila Pacifier Sterilizer!

Comment #29
shopannies

Winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be drawn. Thanks to all who entered and to Pipila!

Start Your Day Off Right With Breakfast Cereal!

I was recently given the opportunity through My Blog Spark to review General Mills Cereals. I was provided with coupons to try some of their cereal for free. We are big cereal fans in this house so I was very glad to learn of the benefits of General Mills cereals. I was happy to hear that General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce the amount of sugar in cereals marketed to kids 12 and under. They are also increasing the amount of key nutrients in cereals. The new cereals will be hitting store shelves soon.

Here are some of the benefits of cereal that General Mills shared with me.

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits:

Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

You can visit General Mills site HERE to find more information about their cereals. I was glad to learn that my family could enjoy the cereals we love and rest assured that they would contain less sugar. You can watch for the cereals with less sugar coming to store shelves soon. General Mills makes some of our favorite cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix and more!

You can go here to get a $1 off coupon for their awesome cereals!

*VIP coupons, information, and online coupon link have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark

Aiden's Birth Story!

As many of you know I was scheduled for a c-section on Monday, December 21st at 7:30am. We live about an hour from the hospital so we knew we had to get up at 3am to get ready and be there to check in by 5:30am. We had gotten everything ready the night before and went to bed.

At 2am I woke up with contractions and couldn't sleep anymore so I told my husband I was just going to get up and start getting ready since I couldn't sleep through my contractions anymore. I got up and took a shower and started getting ready. My contractions were getting stronger so I told my husband that he better get up and get ready too. We left at 3:30am and I was definitely in labor. They were coming every 5 minutes and were very strong.

Little did we know the roads would be terrible! It was snowy and blowing around creating a whiteout condition and terrible roads for driving. It was a long and very tense trip to the hospital which is over 60 miles away. I told my husband he better not go in the ditch or I was afraid we'd be having the baby in the car. He was understandably very nervous trying to keep the car on the road while still getting me to the hospital as quick as possible. He did a wonderful job (through listening to me during my painful contractions!) and got us to the hospital a little before 5am. They got me up to my room and checked my cervix and I was already dilated to 5cm and 95% effaced with the head at +2 position. He was getting ready to come out! They quickly paged the surgical team and got me down to my c-section by 5:30am. By then I was in terrible pain with my contractions and practically begging them to do my spinal before the next contraction came.

My wonderful OB doctor held my hand as I contracted while they placed the spinal and finally I had relief! Aiden made his wonderful arrival at exactly 6am! I was relieved to be done with labor and have a healthy wonderful little boy! Dad was super excited and got to peak over the curtain during my c-section and watch him come out. He was 7 pounds 11 1/2 ounces and 21 inches long.

So Mr. Aiden decided he couldn't wait a few more hours until the scheduled time :) He was ready to come out a little earlier! Big sister Danika loves him so much and has turned into such a little mommy with him. I am so surprised and delighted at how well she has adjusted to having him home and how much she really loves having him here.

My c-section went so well and I was feeling great. I ended up only staying two nights in the hospital and got to go home on Wednesday. Here is Aiden in his going home outfit :)

Here he is in his car seat leaving the hospital. I have to say two must have items in this picture are the JJ Cole Urban Bundleme and the Elephant Ears (review to come!). They made it easy to bundle him and keep him warm and keep his head from slouching.

I had a wonderful birth experience even though I had to go through labor unexpectedly :) I am recovering well and getting into the swing of things. Aiden is a champion nurser and is up to 7 pounds 13 ounces. Now I'm gearing up for the Bringing Home Baby event which starts in January so be sure to grab the button and visit for reviews and giveaways every day! I have tons of great products to share with you!!

Thank you so much for your support and for being such wonderful readers!

Winners!

Click on the links below and scroll to the bottom of the post to see if you won! Congrats to the winners!

Myclyns Germ Protection Spray

Bravado Sublime Nursing Bra

My Little Snuggle Bug

Busy Bee Basics Floor Cushion

Florastor Probiotics

The Sunglass Man Sunglasses


Winners have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be drawn. Thanks to all who entered and to the sponsoring companies!

Keep Your Purse Off The Ground With FUMI! Review!

As many of you know I am a self professed germophobe. I hate the idea of putting my purse on the floor at a restaraunt and then coming home and putting it on the table-YUCK! I was introduced to a new take on a purse hook called the FUMI. FUMI stands for Fashionable, Unique, Multi-Purpose, Innovation. I have to admit it is different than any other purse hook I have used before and I like it.

I was sent the FUMI Dazzling for review. They have lots of different designs to choose from so you are sure to find one to fit your style. You can wear the FUMI as a bracelet in addition to using it to hang your purse from the table. I use mine a lot at home too. I use it to hang my purse on the end of our countertop so I don't have to leave it on the floor or put it on the table (ewww!).

One thing I really like about the FUMI that you don't get with other purse hooks is the ability to pull your purse, hook and all of the table and it simply clamps around your purse handle and you're ready to go. And since it is fashionable it looks nice on your purse too! I like not having the added step of removing your purse hook from the table and putting it in your purse.

All in all this is one of my favorite purse hooks I have tried! You can buy the FUMI on their site for $24.95. They also have some other fun accessories to check out!

Welcome Aiden!

Welcome Aiden! He was born 12/21/09 at 6am. 7 pounds 11 1/2 ounces and 21 inches long. He is healthy and doing great! I can't wait to share more pictures with you along with our delivery story! Thank you for all of your support and well wishes! Mama is doing great too :)

Baby Genius Favorite Counting Songs DVD Review & Giveaway!

I have shared with you several Baby Genius reviews from their new toy line and today I am bringing you a review from their collection of DVD's! I love their variety of educational DVD's for kids.

We received the Baby Genius Favorite Counting Songs DVD for review. Danika is big into counting lately (she tries to count anyway) and she loves music so I thought this would be the perfect fit for her.

From the site: It’s pure fun in motion when children visit a karate class and rowing club, step in tune to the marching band, practice cheerleading moves and much, much more. Kids will enjoy stunning visuals and delightful children’s songs that introduce little ones to the world of numbers. Each song focuses on a number from one to ten in this fun, magical and musical adventure.

Danika loved the DVD and being able to sing a long and see the different numbers and pictures. She also loved that it included a horse in the DVD-one of her favorite animals :)

Danika is a big animal lover so I think the next DVD we will have to get for her is the Baby Genius Baby Animals Sing-A-Longs. They have a wide variety of dvd's which also include Mozart, seasons, nursery rhymes and lots more!

Baby Genius also sells CD's and Books. You can become a Baby Genius Club Member for $19.95. You will receive a Membership Kit with a growth chart to track your child’s growth, a room sign personalized with your child’s name, and your choice of 2 FREE Baby Genius DVD’s/CD’s. This is a $39.95 value! Baby Genius Club member benefits also include: Ongoing communications about the ever-expanding world of Baby Genius products, Exclusive, members-only promotions and an opportunity to earn points towards future purchases of Baby Genius products. You will also get 10% off all purchases made through the Baby Genius Store!

You can also buy Baby Genius products at Wal Mart. They are all very affordable. The DVD we reviewed sells on the Baby Genius site for just $9.95.

Win! One reader will win a Baby Genius Favorite Counting Songs DVD!

This giveaway has ended. Congrats to the winner:

Comment #247

Marie

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas To all of my wonderful readers!!

Thank you so much for all of your support and for visiting my blog! You make this blog what it is and I am thankful for each and every one of you! Have a very Merry Christmas this year!!

Baby Genius DJ's Sing-A-long Keyboard Review & Giveaway!

I have yet another amazing product from Baby Genius to share with you! The DJ's Sing-A-Long Keyboard is sooo much fun for your little kiddo!

The keyboard is recommended for ages 2 and up and offers hours of fun for your child. They can hear 7 different Baby Genius sing-a-long songs or play along with 22 different tunes. They can also just play the keyboard by itself without any preset options. It also includes four instrument sounds including the flute, whistle, guitar and saxophone. And what I think is the coolest option is the ability to record your song and play it back! There are also volume, beat and tempo controls. There are so many options to keep your kiddo busy making music!

As I told you earlier Danika is in love with Melody, the puppy from the pet care center so as you will see in these pictures she never puts her down! She also loved the Keyboard though and had fun pushing all of the different buttons and making music. Later she was dancing along! This would be another great gift idea for any child.

You can buy the Baby Genius Keyboard at Wal Mart! All of their toys are very affordable too, priced at $5-$25!

Win! One lucky reader will win a Baby Genius DJ's Sing-A-Long Keyboard!!

This giveaway has ended. Congrats to the winner:

Comment #393

Christine

Baby Genius Smile & Click Musical Camera Review & Giveaway!

Yesterday I introduced you to a wonderful company called Baby Genius. We absolutely love their educational, role play toys and I will be bringing you some more great product reviews and giveaways from this great company!

Danika loves pretending to take pictures and asking everyone to say "cheese". When I saw Baby Genius's Smile & Click Musical Camera I knew it would be a perfect fit for her.

She loves to push the buttons and hear the shutter sounds and see the flash light up. It makes it look more like a real camera. She can also adjust the click and zoom lens and push the character buttons to hear what they have to say. I like that the buttons are large enough for her to easily push and operate. She love the realistic look and feel of it.

You really need to check out the huge line of Baby Genius products. They have everything from toys to cds and dvds. I love how educational and fun their products are!

You can buy all of the Baby Genius products at Wal Mart. They are very affordable and range in price from $5 to $25!!

Win! One lucky reader will win a Baby Genius Smile & Click Musical Camera!!

This giveaway has ended. Congrats to the winner:

Comment #528

Daniel M.

Baby Genius Pet Care Review & Giveaway!

I have found a wonderful company that has a new developmental toy line called Baby Genius. They have incorporated the Baby Genius characters into these extremely fun toys. They are musically inspired and encourage role play. I love to get Danika toys that are not only fun but are also educational. I love that she is getting to the age of being able to role play too! It is so much fun :)

We received the Baby Genius Pet Care Center for review. Knowing Danika is obsessed with puppies I thought she would like this and I was hoping that it wasn't too advanced for her. It is meant for ages 2 and up and she is turning 2 in March. Well, from the moment I opened it up she hasn't put it down! She absolutely LOVES it and sleeps with Melody, the puppy at nap and bedtime. They are inseparable!

She loves to "feed" her with the canned dog food and dog dish. I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised at her understanding of it and her ability to role play. My little girl is growing up! You can see Melody is in her cage in this pic :) She loves to take her in and out and when you open the door Melody's theme song plays which is so cute.

The Pet Care Center comes with Melody, the puppy, the pet porter and 7 pet care accessories for your child to take care of their pet. They can listen to their heart, feed them, trim their nails, take their temperature and more!

This would make a great gift for any child! You can buy this and other Baby Genius products at Wal Mart. They sell for $5 to $25 so they are very affordable!

Win! One lucky reader will win the Baby Genius Pet Care Center!!!

This giveaway has ended. Congrats to the winner:

Comment #450

LT

Robeez Review & Giveaway!

Robeez is one of the most well-known manufacturers of premium, leather footwear for newborns to pre-schoolers. I think most moms are familiar with the name and I just love their footwear! They have such cute designs.

Robeez has a great Holiday Gift Guide to help you find the cutest styles for this holiday season. We were able to review this absolutely adorable (I'm in love with them!) pair of Robeez Booties in Pastel Pink. Danika loves wearing them and they are just too cute. The inside is so soft too! Beige flecked with cream, cuddly soft, teddy bear plush lining provides warmth and protection for toasty warm tootsies. I love that they are flexible and comfy for her to wear indoors and keep her toes nice and warm! They also come in navy and cream for boys.

What little girl wouldn't look adorable in this pair of shoes with her pretty Christmas dress?

Robeez believes that the best shoe mimics bare feet, by supporting - not constricting tiny growing feet.

Robeez footwear flex and bend with every step. They promote good balance and unrestricted growth, while protecting little feet from the world. They stay on too, with elasticized ankles to ensure a perfectly snug fit.

From crawling to cruising, walking to running, for indoors and out, Robeez makes different shoes for newborns to four-year-olds.

I would like a pair of these cozy ankle booties for me! Don't they look soooo comfy?! These would be adorable for a girl or boy.

I'm also loving these little boys loafers. How cute would these be on your little man? Robeez has tons of great options for dressing your kiddos up for the holidays as well as great gift ideas.

You can buy all of Robeez adorable shoes on their site as well as at retailers near you which you can find here. Whether you have a newborn or a pre-schooler you are sure to find shoes that will be perfect for your baby. We LOVE their shoes!

Win! One reader will win a pair of Robeez shoes from their Holiday Gift Guide!!

This giveaway has ended. Congrats to the winner:

Comment #152

Jennifer