Holiday Gift Guide: Pillow Pets Review & Giveaway!

Perfect gift idea for: Traveling kids

Pillow Pets are one of the favorite items I’ve discovered here on this blog.  If you’re not familiar with this toy, Pillow Pets are unique characters that convert from a cuddly stuffed animal to a comfy pillow in seconds.  The animal is made by folding the pillow in half and securing it with the sewn-in velcro patch.  And when it’s time for a snooze, you just undo the velcro and turn your favorite buddy into a pillow.  It’s great for around the house and ideal for travel.

Over the summer I had the pleasure of bringing you a Patriotic Pup giveaway, and just a few weeks later the pup became our very first Pillow Pet friend to come and live with us.  The excitement has not worn off since, and Emma loves rolling around with her Pillow Pet.  It’s her favorite cushion, and I totally understand why.  The chenille fabric is so soft it’s heavenly.  I would love a pillow like this just for myself.  But even with our newset addition, Magical Unicorn, she doesn’t like to share.  

She even found a way to use both of them at once.  The stinker!

Magical Unicorn took this here survey to help you learn about her personality, in case you might want to adopt her.

Your name – Magical Unicorn
Where you live – A castle in Europe
Best friends – Ms. Ladybug, Proper Penguin
Favorite things – Flowers and sparkles
Favorite food – Like a horse, I usually eat things like oats and grass. I love fruits and vegetables of all kinds. Plus, I love marshmallows!
Favorite color – Purple
Favorite thing to do – Making flower necklaces and being with my friends
Favorite thing about you – It used to be my mane, but I’m starting to like my unique horn more and more.
What your friends say about you –
Proper Penguin: “Magical Unicorn is simply lovely. She is sweet and kind and always there to give you a hug. There is also something special about her that I just can’t put my beak on yet.”
Ms. Ladybug – “My favorite thing about Magical Unicorn is the twinkly flair she brings to everything she does. It’s like a special occasion every time we see each other – and she usually brings marshmallows!”

Isn’t that cute?  A lot of time goes into these Pillow Pets, from their name and design to the character and the high quality of the finished product.  I can’t say enough about how luxuriously soft the chenille is, and it doesn’t shed!  We’ve tried copy-cat versions, but the original is always the best and that’s definitely the case with Pillow Pets.  And since they’re so reasonably priced at $24.95 there’s really no need to look elsewhere.  They also offer a smaller version for $15.99.   

GIVEAWAY!
Win the Magical Unicorn Pillow Pet, ARV $25!
(US Only - Ends 11/25)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Pillow Pets and tell me another favorite character.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+2 Extra Entries EACH if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect, become a feed subscriber, or an email subscriber
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+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Pillow Pets on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+1 Extra Entry if after you ‘Like’ them, you leave this comment on their wall: I entered to win the Magical Unicorn Pet at Girl Gone Mom - http://bit.ly/dxqMf2
+1 Entry if you follow Pillow Pets on twitter.
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It’s a Pillow and a Pet – It’s a Pillow Pet! #WIN Magical Unicorn #GGMHolidayGuide  -  http://bit.ly/dxqMf2

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+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on Nov. 25th 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me the product free of charge to facilitate my honest review, and has generously offered the same prize to a lucky reader.

Holiday Gift Guide: Alegria Mini-Boots (Review & Giveaway)

Gift them to: The stylish lady on your list.

I’ll probably be complaining about the blustery cold weather a few months from now, I won’t lie.  But to tell you the truth, I do love it.  Sure, I wish the season was a bit shorter, but you can’t deny how invigorating it is when you breathe in that fresh crisp air while taking in the holiday décor and enjoying winter festivities, picking out your Christmas tree, watching a fun parade or playing in the snow.  That is, as long as you’re bundled up in a comfy coat, warm gloves, and toasty boots while sipping a nice hot cup of cocoa.

My newest pair of comfy-cute boots is from Alegria.  Shoes by Alegria are popular with women who are on their feet all day.  Doctors, nurses, flight attendants, teachers and artists are among those who rave about this footwear brand, and for good reason.  You can see that they’re fun and fashionable, but they also promote health and wellness.

First, they have an anatomically correct patented interlocking footbed system with arch support.  Removeable footbeds are constructed of latex, memory foam and cork, which create a custom fit by molding to the natural contours of your foot. 

Also, they feature a rocker bottom that is extremely popular right now.  The outsole induces a normal walking motion while naturally toning leg muscles, promoting good posture, and reducing stress on muscles, joints and back.

These are properties my mother would look for in a shoe – but my Mini Boots look nothing like what she’d wear.   (No offense mom, but you lost your fashion sense a long time ago!)

The Mini Boot features a Suede Leather Upper, leather-lining and a mini bottom outsole.  They feature that a moveable footbed system I told you about before and they’re hand-stiched.  Talk about great quality.  The fit is very generous.  I like that they’re water repellent – they’ll be suitable for wearing in the rain, snow, etc.  Now I need to just get a pair of skinny jeans or leggings so that I can look as cute as this model pictured below!

GIVEAWAY!
One reader will win a pair of Suede Mini Boots, ARV $160!
(US Only - Ends 12/3)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Alegria and tell me which color you’d want if you are lucky enough to win these Mini Boots!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+2 Extra Entries EACH if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect, become a feed subscriber, or an email subscriber
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+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Alegria on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+1 Extra Entry if after you ‘Like’ them, you leave this comment on their wall: I entered to win the Suede Mini Boots at Girl Gone Mom -
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

I entered to win a pair of Alegria suede mini-boots, a $160 value @GirlGoneMom #GGMHolidayGuide and you can too! http://bit.ly/atDJY4

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+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on December 3rd, 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me the product free of charge to facilitate my honest review, and has generously offered the same prize to a lucky reader.

Create home movies easily with muvee Reveal (Review & Giveaway)

Today I was finally able to fine tune my video editing skills using the muvee Reveal software I downloaded a few weeks ago.  I couldn’t decide what kind of video to make at first.  Of course I’d love to put together all of the clips I took of Emma when she was a baby, but I knew that would be too stressful an undertaking for my very first video montage.  I wanted something fun that would allow me to just explore the software and learn what can be done with it. 

When I re-discovered the old videos and photos we’d taken of Winston and Spencer when they were kittens, I couldn’t wait to get started on my very first home movie.  I got together all of the pictures and video clips that I wanted to include and I picked out a song that I felt matched the personalities of these on again off again brothers. 

 

At first, I was frustrated because I didn’t think you could actually do any editing of the clips themselves, but I poked around and discovered how to do it.  The menus are simple and easy to understand, and there are great features built right in.  You can set the video/photos to be displayed in different styles, highlight certain areas, shorten the music and many other sound settings.  I chose to mute the background noise in my video clips so that the focus would be on the background music.

Like the product description says, this software has powerful yet easy to use editing tools.  So easy to use, but the end result looks very professional.  What do you think of The Adventures of Winston and Spencer?

I know I’ll get a ton of use out of this software between my blog and personal use.  The possibilities are endless.  You can make videos for friends to give as gifts, make videos just for fun to share on YouTube and Facebook, or for your business – all without hiring a professional.  I had so much fun experimenting, and now I’m ready to make some ridiculously good-looking videos thanks to the easy to use muvee Reveal platform.

GIVEAWAY!
Enter to win a copy of muvee Reveal ARV $60.00!
(World-wide - Ends 11/19)

Mandatory Entry:  Tell me what kind of muvee you would make.  G-rated, please.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+2 Extra Entries EACH if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect, become a feed subscriber, or an email subscriber
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+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ muvee on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+1 Extra Entry if you follow muvee on twitter.
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Intimidated by video editing?  Don’t be. With muvee Reveal it's easy to make custom videos in HD. #WIN it @GirlGoneMom http://bit.ly/d9C6Jm

+1 Entry if you subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment on my video.
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Contest is open world-wide and closes at Midnight EST on November 19th, 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me the product free of charge to facilitate my honest review, and has generously offered the same prize to a lucky reader.

Holiday Gift Guide: Paddywhack Lane Review & Giveaway

Ideal gift for:  Christian girls age 3 and up.

“It’s What You Believe Inside That Makes you...You!   The Outside is Mostly Fabrics and Stitching.” 

I love this quote from Paddywhack Lane, and it’s a great lesson that it’s what’s inside that truly counts.  It’s important life lessons like this that Paddywhack Lane teaches children through the guise of play.  Paddywhack Lane specializes in creating a collection of heartwarming, inspirational stories, high quality, role-play toys, gifts and music for young children that parents can feel good about giving to their children.  They believe that Children are the most wonderful gift that we parents have been entrusted with. Underneath each adorable little exterior, hidden inside each child, is a personality and identity that was creatively and supernaturally created by God to bring out the best in each one.  I certainly cannot argue with that! 

We received a delightful hardcover book called Lauren and the Leaky Pail from Paddywhack lane.  The story teaches children the power of persistence and faith.  It follows Lauren and her desire to win first prize in a gardening contest.  Her leaky pail, however, is ruining everything.  Some unexpected surprises lay ahead for Lauren, and she’s rewarded in the end for her hard work, even if it wasn’t what she envisioned.

It’s an impressive size at 11”x9” and is 32 pages long.  This is not a book that my daughter will sit quietly and follow along while I read it to her.  She’s too young for that now, but I did really enjoy it myself and I know that she will in a year’s time.  The illustrations are gorgeous.  The book is great quality from the story to the finished product, and is a good value at $15.99.

Another cute item from Paddywhack Lane is Courtney's Tea Party Playset.  It’s a miniature size tea-party hosted by Princess Courtney, with Lizzy the bear and all of Courtney’s favorite treats.  The figurines are poseable and the set is very detailed, down to the teeny-tiny saucers and spoons.  It’s really adorable, but I wouldn’t let Emma play with it.  It’s labeled 3+, but because of the extremely small parts I probably wouldn’t introduce this until 4 or older.  I’ve included my thumb in the photo so you can get an idea of size.  This set is $22.99.

Paddywhack Lane is offering a 20% off special for my readers if you use the promo code usablogger at checkout. 

GIVEAWAY!
A lucky winner will receive a copy of Lauren and the Leaky Pail and their choice of playset from Paddywhack Lane – ARV $40!
(US Only - Ends 11/19)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Paddywhack Lane and tell me another toy that you think would make a great holiday gift.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+2 Extra Entries EACH if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect, become a feed subscriber, or an email subscriber
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+1 Extra Entry if you follow Paddywhack Lane on twitter.
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Paddywhack Lane offer's quality gifts for kids.  #Win a miniature playset and beautiful book ARV $40 #GGMHolidayGuide http://bit.ly/9f5FOP

+2 Extra Entries if you add my main blog button to your blog’s main page.  Please leave link.
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+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on November 19th, 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me the product free of charge to facilitate my honest review, and has generously offered the same prize to a lucky reader.

Holiday Gift Guide: Baby Alive Bouncin’ Babbles Doll (Review)

Perfect Gift Idea for:  Doll-loving toddlers

Right now, Emma can’t get enough of her baby dolls.  Big and small, soft or firm, she loves them all.  And let me tell you, she is a really good mommy to her babies.  She hugs and kisses them, carries them around, and pushes them in the stroller.  She even feeds their bellies and changes their diapers – even when they don’t have diapers.

Yesterday, she saw the Baby Alive Bouncin’ Babbles doll in our office/holiday gift guide storage area.  She went crazy for it, so I had to let her open it.  After all, she is working on this gift guide too, right?

She has several other dolls to play with, but this weekend she’s been focusing all of her time and attention on her new Baby Alive baby. 

They went for a long stroll around the house, taking stops to kiss her gently on the head, and then Emma cuddled her the entire way to her cousins’ house where she was still playing with her Bouncin’ Babbles.  I love this photo of her getting ready to take a ride on the slide.  It’s the cutest thing watching my little girl play mommy, but there’s a lot more to Baby Alive. 

Just like the name hints at, she acts just like a real baby.  When we press her left hand, she will coo, talk baby talk, and bounce up and down.  I shot a brief video below just to show you all she can do.

 

It would be nice if this doll came with a playpen like the one she comes packaged in.  This keeps in her place when she decides to bounce up and down, and Emma doesn’t really understand that she has to hold on tight to keep the baby from falling over. We were able to keep her packaging in tact so that we can use the packaging as her playpen, but being that it’s made of cardboard I know it won’t last long.  That’s the only improvement I think could be made for this toy.  Or maybe an accessory sold separately?

The Baby Alive Bouncin’ Babbles doll is available in Caucasian, Hispanic and African American ethnicities.  The retail price is $24.99.  Since Emma liked Bouncin’ Babbles so much, I’m looking into getting her more Baby Alive dolls for Christmas this year.

No compensation was received for this post.  My daughter received the doll in order to facilitate our review, but all of the views expressed in this post are my own.

Holiday Gift Guide: Socks 4 Life as Stocking Stuffers (Review & $20 GC Giveaway)

Great Idea for: Stocking Stuffers

We could always use more socks around here.  Whether one of a pair gets “lost” in the dryer or holes develop, there seems to be a constant shortage of the ones we want to wear.  I’m always digging in the drawer for my black socks, Emma likes her ankle socks, and daddy prefers crew socks.

People always joke about receiving socks and ties for Christmas, but I love the practical gifts and I see nothing wrong with giving socks as stocking stuffers.  Especially during the cold winter season!

Socks4Life sent us our stocking stuffers a little early.  Daddy received the American Made Men's Solid Black Crew Socks:

Emma was sent a few pairs of the Dolce children’s low-cut ankle socks:

I received a few pairs of Women’s socks including a couple of great knee socks and these adorable slipper socks.  The other pairs we tried were basic socks, but these are quite different, and so soft.  They’d even make a great gift for Christmas when paired with some other foot pampering products.

Socks4Life has a 30-day money-back guarantee and also offers free shipping on orders over $50.  Get all of your stocking stuffers from one place – how easy is that?

GIVEAWAY!
Enter to win a $20 gift certificate to Socks4Life!
(US + CAN - Ends 11/19)

Mandatory Main Entry:  Head on over to Socks4Life and tell me how you’d spend your gift certificate.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+2 Extra Entries EACH if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect, become a feed subscriber, or an email subscriber
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

Socks make great stocking stuffers! WIN a $20 gift certificate to Socks4Life#GGMHolidayGuide: http://bit.ly/a5bgPu

+2 Extra Entries if you add my main blog button to your blog’s main page.  Please leave link.
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+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Contest is open to US and Canadian residents and closes at Midnight EST on November 19th 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me the product free of charge to facilitate my honest review, and has generously offered the same prize to a lucky reader.

Blueline Powercost Monitor and Microsoft Hohm (Review)

My car has a handy gauge that tells me how many miles per gallon I’m getting.  I like to glance at it while getting to point B to see how my driving style affects the efficiency of my vehicle.  When I first got the car, I was absolutely obsessed with getting the best mileage possible.  I thought, wouldn’t it be great to have something like this for your home, to show you how well you’re using your electricity?

I think many of us are hip to turning off lights when we leave the room and the like, but the Blueline Powercost Monitor helps you actually see the results of your actions in real time.  With the WiFi Edition, it connects with your Microsoft Hohm account to help you analyze it further by providing charts and graphs while offering tips and suggestions.

Though I have to admit I did have some anxiety about it, installing the system was pretty easy.  The most difficult part for me was determining my billing rate.  My bill wasn’t clear so I had to call the power supply company, and talk to a representative, who I hope gave me the correct information (she didn’t sounds too confident).

Once I got everything programmed, installation was a snap.  I followed the instructions carefully and managed to install it properly the first time.  I’m always shocked when things work on the first attempt.

 The results of my handiwork.  I’m the man in the family.

The monitor itself is nice looking, and even displays the time and outside temperature which is handy.  Best of all, I like seeing my monthly electric bill estimate.  It definitely helps keep the family mindful of their electricity use when we can all see the results in real time. 

We sure could have used this over the summer when we racked up that $430 electric bill.  I did a few screenshots of my Hohm account, but I didn’t have much data to display so my chart looks like a vertical line, but I grabbed images from the Microsoft Hohm blog to show you an example of how your energy use might be charted out.  You can ID the results by what appliance you had running, time of day and compare information from month to month, and year to year.  This system is similar in detail to charts you’d use to monitor your spending.

The PowerCost Monitor™ WiFi Edition has an MSRP of $268, and includes sensor, in home monitor, WiFi Gateway, AC adapter, mini usb, and manuals.  It’s an investment for your home and your environment and helps provide that first step toward a green home.

I have not been compensated for this post.  I received the products mentioned in order to form my opinion and share it my readers.

Create Kodak Gallery Halloween Photobooks until Nov. 11th {$50 American Express Gift Card Giveaway–2 Winners!)

Digital photographs make our lives much easier in so many ways.  I remember when the technology first came out; the big draw was the ability to delete and retake photos without spending a dime on prints.  Now we can do more than we ever thought possibly with the memories we capture on camera, all with a few clicks of a mouse.  I’ve made great photo gifts like calendars, Christmas ornaments, and mugs but my absolute favorite way to neatly preserve memories is with photobooks.  I love that the images are printed right there on the page so nothing can slip out or go missing, and of course I really enjoy the fun layouts and captions.

The other reason I love photobooks?  I don’t have to choose just one favorite photo when I can display an entire book.  And how could you sum up all of your Halloween adventures in only one photograph?  It’s nearly impossible.  Kodak Gallery is now offering special Limited Edition photobooks for Halloween, but only until November 11th!  These photobooks have Halloween themes backgrounds and layouts, and with Kodak’s new SMARTFIT Technology, you can create fantastic Halloween photobooks in minutes.

I started my book, and I love that it auto-filled the photos for me.  I’m still able to move things around, as I like but it’s a great starting point.  There are fun Halloween backgrounds in orange and black, spider webs, bats etc.  We had fun trick or treating with our cousins, and I think it would be a nice gift to give out trick-or-treating buddies too.

GIVEAWAY!
TWO lucky readers will receive $50 American Express Gift Cards – plenty of cash to make great Kodak Gallery photobooks!
(US Only - Ends 11/19)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Kodak and tell me another item you’d like create in order to preserve your Halloween memories.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+1 Extra Entry if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect. (your public profile must be visible)
+2 Extra Entries if you add my main blog button to your blog’s main page.  Please leave link.
+4 Extra Entries if you post my Holiday Gift Guide (snow globe) button to your blog’s main page.  Leave link.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Kodak Gallery on Facebook, leave your FB name.
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+2 Extra Entries if you add my blog url to your text blog roll. Leave link.
+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.
+1 Extra Entry if you follow Kodak Gallery on twitter.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

#Giveaway $50 American Express Gift Card Courtesy of Kodak Gallery http://bit.ly/9t8VmR 2 Winners @GirlGoneMom #kodakgalleryfan #hocusfocus

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on November 19th, 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me a gift card and is offering the same prize as a giveaway for 2 lucky readers.

Inchbug Orbit Labels (Review & Giveaway)

I don’t know about you, but between my circle of friends and family, everyone’s kids seem to be carrying around the same sippy cups and bottles.  It’s a confusing matter trying to figure out what belongs to whom, and in this season of cold-catching, it can also be dangerous.

We have a few types of labels in our house to help combat this.  There’s the washable stickers with Emma’s name on them and we also have rubber bands that you can wrap around cups and containers.  The stickers work well, but they don’t wrap the entire area of the sippy, and the rubber band labeling system worked until it was put in the wash and the permanent ink rubbed off.

My new favorite method of labeling sippy cups, sports bottles, and snack containers is the Orbit Labels by Inchbug.  These labels can be personalized with your child’s name, nickname, whatever you want – and the text you choose is embedded in the label so it won’t fade or wash off.  They can be washed, boiled, sterilized – you name it.  The wide labels orbit around anything from a 4 ounce bottle to a 30 ounce sport bottle, so they can be used not only by children but are for adults too.

The other cool thing about these is that the personalization can also be “read” in braille.  Orbit Labels come in a package of four that you can have personalized whatever way you like in the color you choose.  After you select your details, they ship in about 5-10 days.  It is well worth the wait, and these only cost $13.95 for a package of four.  For Em, we chose pink and inscribed her full name.  I like that they are nice and wide and large enough to be seen from afar.

GIVEAWAY!
One winner will receive a set of four personalized Orbit Labels!
(US Only - Ends 11/17)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Inchbug and tell me which color label you’d like and how you’d personalize it.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+1 Extra Entry if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
+2 Extra Entries if you add my main blog button to your blog’s main page.  Please leave link.
+4 Extra Entries if you post my Holiday Gift Guide button to your blog’s main page.  Leave link.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Inchbug on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+2 Extra Entries if you become a feed subscriber and tell me which reader you use.
+2 Extra Entries if you are an email subscriber.  Leave email address.
+2 Extra Entries if you add my blog url to your text blog roll. Leave link.
+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.
+1 Extra Entry if you follow Inchbug on twitter.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

Orbit Labels by @Inchbug; the best way to ID sippy cups, bottles with embossed personalization @GirlGoneMom #WIN a set! http://bit.ly/druNKk

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on November 17th, 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me product sample and is offering the same as a giveaway prize(s). 

Little Scholastic Books Giveaway: TWO Winners!

I remember reading the Scholastic booklets that came in the mail when I was in grade school.  It was a real treat not only to find something in the mail just for me, but having an interesting short story to read or a fun activity to do was even better and certainly kept me busy.  And now, there’s Little Scholastic, a developmental publishing program that introduces reading to babies and toddlers ages birth to three years. Each book features rhyming, repetitive, or predictable text, interactive components, and familiar subjects—all formatted to delight babies, toddlers, and parents.

Of all the reading material in Emma’s collection, our favorites are the board books by Little Scholastic.  Early this year, someone thoughtfully sent her The Noisy Egg and Rhyme-A-Round, two fun Little Scholastic titles that she still enjoys reading over and over again.  I love the fact that they combine bright colors and simplistic images with textures.  It’s a great way to combine nearly all of the senses to engage young children just learning to love to read. 

Now Emma has two more Little Scholastic books at her fingertips.  Welcome Winter and Colors are geared for children up to 2 years old.

Colors is a board book featuring animals in bright and bold colors for children to name and touch.  To Emma, everything she points to is “Blue”, so I know this will help us turn a corner in her learning of colors.

Welcome Winter is a bright, tactile board book celebrates a first encounter with winter. Bold, simple illustrations and textures show what a child first sees, hears, touches, and feels.   This will be Emma’s third Winter as she turns two in December, but she’s at that crucial age where all of the information starts to come together.  This will assist in her making all of the appropriate seasonal connections, in a fun engaging way.

I am sold on Little Scholastic – if you haven’t seen their books in person you should definitely check them out.  They’re great for learning and very reasonable in price.  The two titles above are priced between $5.00-$6.00 each, great items for stocking stuffers!

GIVEAWAY!
TWO folks will win both of the Little Scholastic Books featured above!
(US Only - Ends 11/17)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Little Scholastic and tell me another book you like that wasn’t featured above.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+1 Extra Entry if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
+2 Extra Entries if you add my main blog button to your blog’s main page.  Please leave link.
+4 Extra Entries if you post my Holiday Gift Guide button to your blog’s main page.  Leave link.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Scholastic on Facebook, leave your FB name.
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+2 Extra Entries if you are an email subscriber.  Leave email address.
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+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.
+1 Extra Entry if you follow Scholastic on twitter.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

Win two board books from Little Scholastic @GirlGoneMom @Scholastic #giveaway TWO Winners http://bit.ly/aj87uR

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on November 19th, 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me product sample and is offering the same as a giveaway prize(s). 

Filtrete Water Pitcher (Review & Giveaway)

As embarrassing as it is to admit, we still buy bottled water.  We’ve gone back and forth between using tap and bottled for over a year.  We’ve seen lots of tests proving that most store-bought versions are no better than what you get from your tap, but having a filtering system is a nice happy medium between the two.  You do have the added cost of replacing filters, but it’s nowhere near what you’d spend buying water, all without the waster of disposable plastic bottles.

We’ve always been sold on the concept, but have gone through several different water pitchers only to go back to bottles.  There were various reasons why we didn’t stick with it.  One was too tall for the shelf in our refrigerator, and a few others were clumsy to operate or flimsy.  Plus, the waiting.  Many pitchers work this way:  They have a reservoir at the top to pour the water into, it slowly flows into the main part of the pitcher, and after waiting several minutes you have to repeat the same steps once or twice before you get that pitcher completely filled up.  If you can’t get your man to change the toilet paper roll, he certainly won’t get to work on a water pitcher that requires so much attention.

Look how fast this Filtrete™ Water Pitcher fills up.  There is absolutely no waiting – other than the time it takes for your faucet to release all of the water.  Filtrete has determined that it’s approximately five times faster than traditional pitchers.  I made a quick video just to demonstrate how fast the process is. 

The filter lays at the top of the pitcher.  It is flat, leaving more room for all 12 cups of water. The lid fits nicely and doesn’t flop around.  We’ll definitely be sticking with this one.   A filter costs about ten dollars or so and will last about 3 months – much cheaper than buying water.  It’s more responsible – both for the environment and your wallet.

Filtrete was nice enough to sweeten the deal for you too.  Here’s a coupon for $10 off a Filtrete Fast Flow Water Pitcher!

GIVEAWAY!
One lucky reader will win the 12-Cup Filtrete Water Pitcher (ARV $33)!
(US Only - Ends 11/15)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Filtrete™ and tell me another product you’d like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+1 Extra Entry if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Filtrete on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+2 Extra Entries if you become a feed subscriber and tell me which reader you use.
+2 Extra Entries if you are an email subscriber.  Leave email address.
+2 Extra Entries add my new (green) button to your blog sidebar.  Leave the link.
+5 Extra Entries if you post my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar.  Leave link.
+2 Extra Entries if you add my blog url to your text blog roll. Leave link.
+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.
+1 Extra Entry if you follow Filtrete on twitter.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

Win a 12 cup Fast-Flow Water Pitcher from Filtrete http://bit.ly/cPGysK and say goodbye to bottled water for good! @GirlGoneMom #giveaway

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on November 15th, 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me product sample and is offering the same for a lucky reader. 

Giveaway: Foster Farms Great Bites Chicken Cheeseburgers (Five Winners!)

I never thought that a microwaved cheeseburger on the bun would ever taste good, but DH and I tried the chicken burger Great Bites from Foster Farms and they were delicious!  There are two varieties of these flame-broiled wonders: The All-American BBQ Burger with real smoky bacon and cheddar cheese, and the Santa Fe Burger with real creamy pepper jack cheese and chipotle sauce. 

The crowd-pleaser was the All-American BBQ. 

The Santa Fe one was very good too but on the spicy side.

These burger bites are like little sliders, but much smaller – truly bite-sized.   They’re a great appetizer to serve up on game day.  Sports fans will love that they are microwaveable and ready in 2 minutes.The fact that they’re chicken instead of beef means fewer calories but the serving size is just one teeny burger – I can easily eat all six of them.  Sadly for me, these are only available in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Deleward, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois and D.C. – but not New Jersey.  Shoot!

GIVEAWAY!
FIVE readers will each receive 4 free product coupons (ARV $32 for each winner!)
(US Only - Ends 11/15)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Foster Farms and tell me another product you’d like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+1 Extra Entry if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Foster Farms on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+2 Extra Entries if you become a feed subscriber and tell me which reader you use.
+2 Extra Entries if you are an email subscriber.  Leave email address.
+2 Extra Entries add my new (green) button to your blog sidebar.  Leave the link.
+5 Extra Entries if you post my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar.  Leave link.
+2 Extra Entries if you add my blog url to your text blog roll. Leave link.
+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

#Giveaway – Win four free product coupons for Foster Farms Great Bites @GirlGoneMom, 5 Winners! http://bit.ly/8YWfHO

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on November 15th, 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me product samples and is offering the same for a lucky reader. 

Butter Bell® Crock (Review & Giveaway)

Nothing’s worse than ripping up a slice of bread by trying to spread cold butter onto it.  It’s unavoidable, and even if you can manage to skim a thin layer off of that rock hard butter, your bread barely looks edible when you’re done. 

With the Butter Bell® crock, I don’t have to remember to take the butter out of the fridge an hour before our meal.  Spreadable butter is always at my fingertips.

There are many crock styles from Butter Bell to fit any kitchen décor, but I like the antique version best.  It definitely fits with our french country-ish décor. The color was randomly chosen, but it fits our kitchen nicely.  The is fairly small, measuring at 4.25” x 3.78” and it’s made of New Bone China.

This unique design allows you to keep your butter out on the counter or tabletop without refrigeration for up to 30 days.  This is how it works.

1) Add 1/3 cup of cold water to the base.

2) Pack the bell firmly with softened butter.

3) Insert the bell into the base.  The cold water seals the butter for freshness.

Other than being very useful, the Butter Bell® crock looks great on display.  It’s available in several colors: Lavender, Goldenrod, Sienna, Ivory Rose, Rouge, Vert, Azure, Sea Spray and White Linen.

• The Original Butter Bell^® crock is a modern version of the authentic French beurrier. Made from high quality, durable New Bone China, the Butter Bell crock safely keeps butter at room temperature -- on the counter or tabletop -- without spoilage, refrigeration or odors. Through the study of traditional and historical butter storage methods, L. Tremain has recreated and improved this natural method of preserving the creamy texture and delicate flavor that makes butter the most desirable and most-used spread in the world.

As a special for the holidays, customers will receive a free Butter Bell® crock when they purchase two until December 15th.  There are some nice holiday styles to decorate your own table with.

GIVEAWAY!
One lucky reader will win a Butter Bell Crock!
(US + CAN - Ends 11/15)

Mandatory Entry:  Tell me which color Butter Bell® crock you’d like.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+1 Extra Entry if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

The Butter Bell^® crock allows you to store spreadable butter right on your countertop @GirlGoneMom Giveaway: http://bit.ly/b8QIC4

+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Butter Bell on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+2 Extra Entries if you become a feed subscriber and tell me which reader you use.
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+2 Extra Entries add my new (green) button to your blog sidebar.  Leave the link.
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+1 Extra Entry for every other current giveaway you enter.
+1 Extra Entry if you leave a comment on a recent non-giveaway post.
+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

[Product review & giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."]

SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Socks (Review & Giveaway)

Does that seam at the toe bother your child?  I know it bothers me sometimes – depending on where that row of stitches is located, and I think it must annoy Emma too because she hates wearing socks in the house.  If I put them on her, she usually removes them.

She’s been wearing her new seamless socks from SmartKnitKIDS all day now, and hasn’t attempted to take them off.  Success!  I am a little jealous; I want a pair of these.  Based on these features, who wouldn’t?

Seam-Free
SmartKnitKIDS socks are completely free of seams – they’re knitted like a cocoon starting from the toe up so seam is at the top facing outward, also known as the Non-binding Halo Top™.

No Heel Design
Your child won’t outgrow these like they would with a traditional sock because there is no heel sewn in.  What a novel idea.

Comfortable
The socks are made of stretchy Corespun and Lycra yarns that hug feet and won’t wrinkle or bunch up.The fibers actually wick away moisture to prevent sweaty feet.

In case you’re wondering, they do make these socks for adults too.  I need a pair!

GIVEAWAY!
Enter to win 3 Pair of SmartKnitKIDS Socks for your little one!
(US + CAN - Ends 11/15)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit SmartKnitKIDS and tell me your favorite color.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+1 Extra Entry if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
+1 Extra Entry if you follow SmartKnitKIDS on twitter, leave your ID.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

Enter to win 3 pairs of seamless socks from @smartknitkids and @GirlGoneMom - http://bit.ly/cm87AZ

+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ SmartKnitKIDS on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+2 Extra Entries if you become a feed subscriber and tell me which reader you use.
+2 Extra Entries if you are an email subscriber.  Leave email address.
+2 Extra Entries add my new (green) button to your blog sidebar.  Leave the link.
+2 Extra Entries if you add my blog url to your text blog roll. Leave link.
+1 Extra Entry for every other current giveaway you enter.
+1 Extra Entry if you leave a comment on a recent non-giveaway post.
+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Contest is open to US + CAN residents and closes at Midnight EST on 11/15/2010.  One main entry per person.  The sponsor provided the products for this review/giveaway, but no other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Preggers Maternity Hosiery and Socks (Review & Giveaway)

Being pregnant was no barrel of monkeys for me.  I am not one of those people who liked being pregnant, and one of many issues that I experienced was extreme swelling.  My cankles were out of control, and elevating them only helped so much.  Plus, a person needs to actually get up and walk around to get things accomplished at some point.

I would have benefitted from Preggers Hosiery – a line that helps to prevent swelling and improve circulation.  The description written by the company puts it more succinctly.

True gradient compression hosiery delivers a controlled amount of pressure greatest at the ankle and gradually decreases towards the top of the stocking promoting better blood flow to help energize tired legs and feet, improve circulation, and assist in the prevention of swelling.

If I had been aware that these products existed some time in those 40 weeks of discomfort, maybe I would have been a little less miserable.  But, you don’t have to pregnant to get the same benefits from compression hosiery.  Improved circulation is good for any body, with or without child.  I really like the Trouser Socks – probably my favorite out of the three products I received.  They’re tight, but not painfully.  They feature a handsome diamond pattern, and best of all they stay put. 

Another product I thought was pretty cool are the Footless Tights.  These can also be worn when you’re belly free, and they fit very snugly.  It’s hard to imagine that a big belly would fit under the top.  There was some unraveling between the top section and leg section – it seems like it wasn’t sewn in the best way.  I like them now, and love that they’re footless,  but to be honest I am not sure I would if I was pregnant again since I opted for clothing to fit under the belly instead of over.  However, I know many ‘Preggers’ feel the opposite way.

Lastly, the Knee-Highs feature the same compression as the other too, but in a sheer material which is most like regular panty-hoes.  Great for wearing with dress shoes, and like with the Trouser Socks they stay in place nicely.

GIVEAWAY!
One lucky lady will receive their choice of ANY 2 products from Preggers!
(US Only - Ends 11/15)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Preggers Hosiery and tell me the two products and colors you’d love.  Choose carefully – this is what you’ll receive if you win!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+1 Extra Entry if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
+1 Extra Entry if you follow Preggers Hosiery on twitter, leave your ID.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

#Win 2 products from @PreggersMomma – great compression hosiery for improved circulation.  @GirlGoneMom - http://bit.ly/aZO4fs

+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Extra Entry if you like Preggers on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+2 Extra Entries if you become a feed subscriber and tell me which reader you use.
+2 Extra Entries if you are an email subscriber.  Leave email address.
+2 Extra Entries add my new (green) button to your blog sidebar.  Leave the link.
+2 Extra Entries if you add my blog url to your text blog roll. Leave link.
+1 Extra Entry for every other current giveaway you enter.
+1 Extra Entry if you leave a comment on a recent non-giveaway post.
+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on 11/15/2010.  One main entry per person.  The sponsor provided the products for this review/giveaway, but no other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed are my own.