Sprout® Organic baby food

October 6, 2015 by 4 Comments

Disclosure- This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own and honest.  For more, see “I Disclose”.

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Recently, there is a new cultural swing in food.  From fast, cheap to make and easily dispensed, to organic and more wholesome foods that have that extra nurturing touch and are better for your and yours.  It is now time to make things healthier, specifically for your little guy or gal.  This includes (or course) baby and infant food.

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We are looking at the new Sprout Organic baby/toddler foods today, which come in several varieties and quite a few flavors.  Sprout’s mission is to create delicious and nutritious foods for the entire family using the finest organic ingredients. Three guiding principles help shape all that they do: “we believe in nourishment without compromise; empowering people with transparency; and a better future through organic whole foods”.

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In regard to the food itself, each variety is naturally sweet and wholesome. Sprout recipes are made with certified organic ingredients and contain no preservatives, artificial colors, flavors or other additives. Sprout is also pleased to be able to offer a selection of recipes suitable for those with allergies and food sensitivities as well.

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Growing up, our little guy had few food sensitivities, but it is scary to think about how difficult it would be trying to keep a balanced diet for your little ones while keeping them safe from common allergens and preservatives.  Our little guy has always had such a big personality, even as a toddler.  Always babbling about something or another, even if it made no sense to the rest of us.  To keep that energy going he needed to be best nourished with real, honest, pure ingredients.  It’s not worth messing around with what you feed your child- even a kid with no allergies or health issues can only benefit form eating proper foods not filled with garbage, fillers, byproducts, and chemicals.  Those are not meant to be in anyone’s body- keep them away from your most precious love. Check out all that Sprout Organic has to offer, and see if your little one likes it.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sprout® Organic Baby Foods. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: baby, food, kids, review Tagged With: ,

Win Halloween PEEPS Prize Pack #PEEPSONALITY

October 1, 2015 by 67 Comments

Disclosure- The PEEPS® and PEEPS & COMPANY® products, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by PEEPS® and PEEPS & COMPANY®. All opinions are my own.

While PEEPS are usually thought of as an Easter treat, they are available year round. They chance themes and often colors with each holiday and season, but the fun #PEEPSONALITY is there year ’round. My son is a PEEPS fanatic, and there is never a bad time for PEEPS.  He especially loves when I put some into his lunchbox as a surprise treat. This year there are some fun new flavors available in three packs as well, like Carmel Apple and Candy Corn.   Those are perfect for snacks, and for lunchboxes too.  My husband loves all sorts of candy, and especially the Hot Tamales. This time of year is perfect for these sweet treats, make sure you get what you like best while they are still available.

PEEPS®

  • NEW PEEPS® Tombstones: These fun and frightening PEEPS® marshmallow shapes are sure to be gobbled up this fall. The scary grave markers include silly epitaphs that will grab fans’ attention. The new shape is perfect for recipes and crafting spooky décor for Halloween festivities! SRP: $1.49 – $1.79 for a nine count package.
  • PEEPS® Chocolate Mousse Flavored Marshmallow Cats: A black cat crossing your path is usually a scary sight around Halloween time, but these chocolate mousse cats are sure to delight. Any child would be happy to get these yummy cats as a Halloween favor. SRP: $0.79 – $0.99 for four count package, $1.39 – $1.69 for eight count package.
  • PEEPS® Marshmallow Ghosts: Boo! These white ghost-shaped marshmallows adorned with spooky faces can be enjoyed in a package size of three or nine. These marshmallow flavored ghosts are perfect for decorating and crafting throughout the Halloween season. SRP: $0.79 – $0.99 for three count package, $1.39 – $1.69 for nine count package.
  • PEEPS® Marshmallow Pumpkins: Have fun with Halloween pumpkins without all the carving mess! These orange pumpkin-shaped marshmallows decorated with jack-o-lantern faces come in a delicious marshmallow flavor. SRP: $0.79 – $0.99 for eight count package, $1.39 – $1.69 for 24 count package.
  • PEEPS® Milk Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Orange Chicks: Indulging in this package of three delectable marshmallow Chicks dipped in milk chocolate is a perfect way to reward yourself with a sweet treat this Halloween. These Chicks are a representation of iconic Halloween colors with the orange marshmallow and deep chocolate color. SRP: $1.99 for a three count package.
  • NEW PEEPS® Pumpkin Spice Flavored Chicks Dipped in White Fudge: With the arrival of fall starts the pumpkin spice craze! Now PEEPS® is joining the highly anticipated trend with new marshmallow Chicks in a pumpkin spice flavor that are dipped in white fudge. SRP: $1.99 for three count package.
  • NEW PEEPS® Caramel Apple Flavored Chicks Dipped in Caramel Fudge: Caramel apples now come in a cute and quirky Chick shape! PEEPS® captured the taste of this fall tradition with marshmallow Chicks that are apple flavored and dipped in caramel fudge. SRP: $1.99 for three count package.
  • NEW PEEPS® Candy Corn Flavored Chicks Dipped in White Fudge: Orange, yellow and white, these PEEPS® Chicks are sure to delight! PEEPS® is now making Chicks that are candy corn flavored that will be gobbled up this fall. To really give your taste buds an extra treat these festive Chicks are dipped in white fudge. SRP: $1.99 for three count package.

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MIKE AND IKE®

  • Mummy’s Mix/Vampire Variety Snack Pack: When you can’t decide between the two delicious varieties, what do you do? MIKE AND IKE® won’t make you choose and wants you to have both. This variety bag comes with MIKE AND IKE® pouches of both the Mummy’s Mix and the Vampire Variety flavors. SRP: $5.00 – 5.50 for 45 count package, $7.00 – 7.75 for 72 count package.
  • Original Fruits Snack Pack: MIKE AND IKE® Original Fruits has been loved by kids and adults alike for 75 years. This fall you can enjoy the mix that started it all and give out the perfect treat to trick-or-treaters. This variety comes in both a snack pack and a new Halloween theater box. The Halloween theater box is available exclusively at Walmart. SRP: $2.50 – 3.00 for 21 count package, $1.00 – 1.50 for theater box.

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HOT TAMALES®

  • Fierce Cinnamon Snack Pack: Want to give your trick-or-treaters something extra spicy for Halloween? This HOT TAMALES® snack pack is perfect for party favors or Halloween lunchbox treats. This variety comes in both a snack pack and a new Halloween theater box. The Halloween theater box is available exclusively at Walmart. SRP: $2.50 – 3.00 for 21 count package, $1.00 – 1.50 for theater box.

GOLDENBERG’S® PEANUT CHEWS®

  • GOLDENBERG’S® Original Dark and Milk Chocolatey PEANUT CHEWS®: Just in time for Halloween, you can now buy Goldenberg’s® Original Dark or Milk Chocolatey Peanut Chews®. A monster’s favorite kind of Halloween candy is a combination of chewy chocolatey bites loaded with crunchy peanuts! This bag is perfect for handing out treats to all the neighborhood children. SRP: $2.99 – $3.49 per 12oz bag.

You can find PEEPS on social media as well- here are a few of the ways you can follow them;

One of you can win a PEEPS prize pack.  Please feel free to enter using the RC form below. Ends Oct. 24, 2015.

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Filed Under: giveaway, holidays, review

Win Modern Family Season 6 #ModernFamilyInsiders

October 1, 2015 by 27 Comments

Already a fan of Modern Family?  Maybe you’ve just heard good things and want to give it a whirl.  It’s a funny show, and one we watch together all the time.  Now one of you can win a 3-disc set, the complete Season 6.

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The honeymoon is over, but the laughs continue in Season Six of “Modern Family,” ariving on DVD September 22nd! As freshly hitched Cam and Mitch acclimate to the realities of wedded bliss, Phil and Claire find their marriage stressed by annoying neighbors, Thanksgiving dinner gone awry and Claire’s online snooping. Meanwhile, a spy-camera drone wreaks havoc in Jay and Gloria’s backyard and a close call on the highway leads to amusing changes in various members of the Pritchett-Dunphy clan. It all adds up to the funniest season yet of this brilliant and acclaimed comedy.

This is a cute and funny show, acclaimed as one of the best on now (and in a while).  If you are a fan, you will want this for your collection.  If you haven’t seen it, now is the perfect time.

Feel free to enter for your change to win this set by using the RC form below.  Good luck! Ends Oct. 24, 2015.

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Win MUTTS Prize Pack

September 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

The treasured characters in the MUTTS comics have a special charm to kids and adults of all ages. The friendship, warmth, and humor between characters that are seemingly unlikely matches create a special dynamic that will warm your heart. The graphic novel style collection of the MUTTS diaries introduces some of the cast members through a variety of their most popular comic strips.

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With winter on the way, there could not have been a better time to open up this book, so I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of The Mutts Winter Diaries, the second Mutts collection for kids! If you are a fan of MUTTS, you will love this collection. It, of course, has all of our favorite characters – Shtinky Puddin’, Sourpuss, Guard Dog, Bip and Bop, and even Crabby. The strips that McDonnell uses for this collection are quirky and thought provoking, perfect for inspiring children to care for animals and their environment.

Patrick McDonnell created the comic strip MUTTS, which now appears in over 700 newspapers in 20 countries. MUTTS has been described by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz as “One of the best comic strips of all time.” McDonnell has received numerous awards for this strip, including the National Cartoonists Society’s highest honor, The Reuben, for Cartoonist of the Year.

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MUTTS also won awards for its environmental and animal advocacy: two Genesis Awards from The Ark Trust, The HSUS Hollywood Genesis Award for Ongoing Commitment, the PETA Humanitarian Award, and a Sierra Club award, all for good reason. We love the awareness the author brings to shelter animals and animals that are tied up outdoors. It is such a great life lesson and the MUTTS diaries make it an easy transition into teaching our kids about how to treat animals.

McDonnell’s website, MUTTScomics.com, promotes his animal- and earth-friendly philosophy. Consistent with McDonnell’s concern for the environment, all of the MUTTS books are printed on recycled paper. So not only do you get a great, heart-warming book, but you get to feel great about it too!

We think that you will love The Mutts Winter Diaries as much as we did, and we want to give you a chance to get your very own copy of the book, as well as a special Comics sleepshirt.

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Munch Mitt-Great Teether for Baby

September 27, 2015 by 2 Comments

Disclosure- We received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and honest.
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Having a baby that is chewing on everything around them is no fun, especially when you have several things that you really don’t want in their mouths. I know that my girls were huge fans of chewing on their fingers, then would cry when they realized that it hurt!  I must say that the Munch Mitt is an awesome product that I would have loved to use with my girls.

About Munch Mitt:

When Melissa, the owner of Munch Mitt, had her first baby, it was a very happy baby. Then at 3 months she saw him turning into a monster baby. He was now cranky, up all night and drooling like crazy. She noticed that he had started to put his hands in his mouth all the time. She later realized that at 3 months old, the teething process had started. Because of how young her son was he was unable to hold the typical teethers and provide himself relieve. He would then turn to his hands , or her hands. Sometimes she would have to sit and hold teethers to his mouth for hours! In addition to this, he had very sensitive skins. With all that saliva, his hands started to get hard and dry.

She knew that she needed something that would protect his hands, give him pain relief and keep him interested. He also needed to be able to access it himself when he felt like it. That is how the idea of the teething mitten came about.

Today, the Munch Mitt is a huge pride for her. After 3 years of research, design, development, sourcing, testing, and a 2nd teething baby, she is happy and excited to know that she is helping other parents and their little ones with the Munch Mitt.

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My Thoughts:

I think that this product is absolutely amazing. My youngest had 8 teeth by the time that she was 6 months old. That is crazy. She was constantly chewing on everything and hated that she would chew on something that felt good, then drop it because she couldn’t actually hold it. I think that this product would have been a lifesaver for me. I will be purchasing this for all of my friends that have babies, and definitely holding onto mine for when I have another.

Purchase:

If you are interested in purchasing a Munch Mitt Mini or Standard sized, head on over to their website and order one. I guarantee if you have a little one you will not regret that decision.

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Filed Under: baby, review Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

American Girl Beforever Maryellen Review

September 25, 2015 by 3 Comments

Disclosure- We received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and honest.


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Meet the newest American Girl Doll Maryellen Larkin from the 1950s.

About American Girl:

At American Girl, they celebrate girls and all that they can be. That’s why they develop products and experiences that help girls grow up in a wholesome way, while encouraging them to enjoy girlhood through fun and enchanting play.

They have a wide variety of products that they offer which include:

  • American Girl Characters
  • My American Girl dolls
  • Bitty Baby
  • American Girl magazine
  • American Girl Retail Stores
  • Books
  • e-books

They hope that their stories, characters, and more speak to girls everywhere, helping them become all that they can be.

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About Maryellen Larkin:

Maryellen Larkin is the latest addition to American Girl’s stable of historical dolls (BeForever line), which includes characters from World War II years, colonial times, The Great Depression, the Civil War, 1970s, and even more.

Maryellen, whose story is set in 1954, is a strawberry blonde doll that loves to draw. She even has many adorable outfits from the 1950s era.

She comes with 1 of the three books in the series that have her navigating the post-war world of the 50’s.

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My Thoughts:

My girls were absolutely thrilled when they received the amazing Maryellen Larkin. She was absolutely adorable. My girls loved her outfit- even down to the shoes :). Her hair is adorable in the ponytail and is very soft so it is easy for the girls to style her hair in different styles. The outfit that she is wearing is adorable on her as well as my daughter ;). The additional outfits that are available for Maryellen are also absolutely perfect for the era.

My girls love playing with Maryellen and have a hard time being willing to take turns with her, even though they know that they have to.

American Girl dolls are our favorite. They are great dolls that are made to last many years into the future, and they are made extremely well. Your child can play with the doll daily, it doesn’t need to just sit on the shelf and look pretty.

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Purchase:

If you would like to purchase the Maryellen doll, you only have a few more days to purchase her before the year is over. However, there are many other great products that American Girl has to offer. I am sure that any little girl in your life would be excited to open an American Girl doll on Christmas morning. Head on over to the American Girl website to find the right item for you!

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide 2015, kids, review, toys Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Win an Adorable ZippySack Bedding Set

September 22, 2015 by 51 Comments

Disclosure- We received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and honest.

It’s a bright shiny day, and the best way for a little one to start that day is by making their bed, right? This is how it happens in your house isn’t it? A nice straightened out bed room with bed made with perfect corners on it? Yeah, mine too. In reality, mornings are a point in time when we all need some help sometimes- those days when little ones who just won’t move. Any way to make their morning go a bit smoother is a step in the right direction, and this is just one of the wonderful attributes of a ZippySack. This is a fun way to get kids to help- it’s a fitted sheet which also acts as a cover/thin blanket, and is easy to “make” in the morning. The easy way to make your bed with a ZippySack is by zipping it up. With a simple zip up your bed is made. Not only is it easy to make your bed, but it also adds some fun to bed time by being able to sleep as a plush.

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We were still able to use his breathe-right pillow under his zippy sack, which is great for us.

It’s hard to hold kids accountable for completing the bed-making task when really there is an art to perfecting it that most adults have problems with.  But, with ZippySack, a new, innovative line of kid-friendly zippered fleece blankets that allows kids to easily and creatively transform their bed into a cuddly friend, a simple ‘flip and zip’ makes a neat and clean bed in a synch and helps foster an early appreciation for household responsibility. Each ZippySack comes complete with a secret side pocket for bonus storage. Choose from four fun animal themed prints including Panda, Dino, Kitty and Puppy.  These are available in Twin ($29.99) and Full ($39.99) sizes (Walgreens, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Toys R US).

ZippySack is simple and easy to use, it fits snug on a bed just like a regular sheet.  Solving one of the most common childhood sleep-time complaints, regular covers that fall off or untuck during bedtime, ZippySack keeps children warm and bundled under covers that stay in place throughout the night.

  • Soft Fleece Fabric = Cozy Throughout All Seasons
  • Snuggly and Safe
  • Cool, Hip & Fashionable
  • Strong Elastic Corners Keeps Sheet In Place
  • Machine Washable
  • Fosters sense of accomplishment

There are 8 different patterns available including robot, puppy, dino, and kitten. Each has a colorful character on it and a bright background. For those who don’t want a character, there are 2 without. One which sports a camo pattern in blue and the other, a pink floral design. As an added bonus, there is also a pocket big enough for a tablet or a book by the side of the bed.

The little guy loves his zippy sack. His main reason is that is has a huge puppy on it. He also likes the pocket on the side, a perfect spot for a small plush of course. The reason I like it because its an easy way to keep him sleeping in one spot without his nightly sleep around the bed.

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ZippySacks are available online at ZippySack.com and at fine retail stores everywhere. The twin size retails for $29.99, and the full $39.99.

One of you can win one of your own- feel free to use the RC form below. Ends Oct. 20, 2015. Good luck!
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Filed Under: giveaway, review

Roadtrips with Kids- What to Take

September 22, 2015 by 1 Comment

When you are taking a road trip with the kids, you want them to be comfortable and occupied (and quiet!) so the trip will be more enjoyable for everyone.  Here are some new road trip accessories for kids of all ages to help you keep on truckin’.

You’ve likely heard of BubbleBum (an easy to take along car seat that folds up and flattens out for travel).  They have expanded their lines to include Sneck (a seatbelt travel pillow) and Junkie.

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The Junkie helps keep your kids organized, and the car cleaner.  It is both a car organizer and an activity station that can help keep the kids busy once you put their favorite things inside. It is easy to harness into the backseat and store activities, coloring books, snacks, drinks, and more between two children (and carseats).  There are two retractable trays, two cup holders, an insulated area for cold items, and plenty of storage.  The tote bag is removable, so you can bring your “projects” into the house, hotel, restaurant- wherever you are headed next-  easily.  Junkie makes road trips more organized.

Sneck is a travel pillow that lets kids nap easily in the car, filled with micro-beads and is plush on the outside.  The Sneck attaches most headrests easily with a Velcro strap so it stays where the child wants it to.  There is a small mesh pocket that can hold a small toy or electronic device.  Kids can use Sneck 3 ways to find the position that is most comfortable for them to sleep in.

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You can find BubbleBum, Sneck, and Junkie on Btheir website as well as Target.com, Babiesrus.com, Sears.com and Walmart.com. You can also connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

NeckNapperz are easy to take along, adorable, transforming plush pillow/stuffed toys that are perfect for roadtrips, planes, trains- or even for your child’s own bed.  These neck pillows transform from plush toy into a plush neck pillow and back again, which makes them great for dual uses.  Kids are easily bored, as we all know, and being able to entertain themselves while you wait to board the plane or snuggle up with in the car, then use it when they are ready to nap is doubly-useful.
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The pillow offers support and cradles your child’s head, so none of those stiff shoulders and necks when they wake up from sleeping “funny”.  The neck pillow has a snap on the end, so they can snap it shut and secure if they would like to. It is easy to attach it to luggage or a carry on while you are moving about, so it doesn’t get lost.  They are priced at $19.99- you can get yours at http://www.necknapperz.com/

Equiptbaby is for the littlest travelers, and makes it easy to put baby to sleep wherever you are. This portable bassinet is so small, you can fold it up and put it into your diaper bag.  Made of rip stop nylon, it has SPF 50 protection from the sun to keep baby safe while he or she sleeps. Baby is visible from all angles and protected against insects with fine mesh- there are no chemical sprays used.  The inside, soft padded insert is machine washable, so if baby has an accident, cleanup is easy.  Setup is a breeze- it pops right out in about 2 seconds.  No worries!  It’s easy to fold back up too, and place back into your bag when baby wakes up.  Recommended for ages 0-6 months. You can get yours for $69.95 at www.equiptbaby.com

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If you are headed to a hotel, cabin, campground, or even a relatives house where you will need more sleeps pace then you have, check out Kid O Bunk.  These portable bunkbeds are perfect for camping, or anytime when you need an extra bed for the kids.  There are no tools needed to put it together, as it has lock in disks that snap together. They look somewhat like army cots, but are smaller in size and are built as multi-use bunk beds.  You can also use it like a bench/couch for daytime use, or side by side beds if you have the room or the kids prefer it.

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The bed’s material is machine washable, should anyone have a spill or an accident.  They come with a zippered carry bag for storage and to take it from place to place, and have side organizers to place “treasures” in for safe keeping while they sleep.  The Kid O Bunk is recommended up to age 12, but bigger kids will be too long to fit easily.  Each cot holds up to 200 lbs, so that’s a non-issue for most kids of those ages (one would think).  There are no ladders or mattresses needed- you can get your bunk for $289 at http://www.kidobunk.com or Cabela’s in lime green or teal.

Disclosure- I have received the above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are my own and honest.

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