La La B Jewelry Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on April 23rd, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Giveaways, Spring Into Spring

Just in time for Mother’s Day, I’m excited to introduce you to La La B Jewelry. Featuring semi-precious gems and sterling silver, La La B Jewelry is handmade, bold and absolutely beautiful.

About La La B Jewelry

LA LA B Jewelry features a line of sophisticated, contemporary jewelry with fabulous aesthetics and the highest quality of materials. LA LA B is a combination of adventurous spirit and good will. Each piece is hand created in Nepal using sterling silver and semi precious stones. LA LA B’s fresh, bold look includes cutting-edge style, the finest materials and beautiful workmanship.

Bold Style

I’m a silver girl so I was immediately drawn to the La La B collection. Every piece is unique and bold and so stunning. I love the way the stones are polished and smooth on some pieces and on others the gems are faceted. Plus, knowing each piece is handmade and not mass produced means you’re wearing something special.

Any one of those earrings would look great adding a little color and bling to a night on the town and dressing up jeans. I would love to wear those Amethyst chandelier earrings with a nice black top and jeans for a date night.

Handmade in Nepal

In addition to creating beautiful jewelry, LA LA B creates opportunities for poverty-stricken women to generate sustainable income in Nepal.Over 150 artisans in the Kathmandu valley are empowered by the work provided by La La B. This is jewelry you can feel good about wearing – and buying!

Shop! La La B Jewelry can be purchased online at www.lalabjewelry.com. Pieces range in price from $65 for Stacked Sterling Rings to $175 for Sterling Chandelier Earrings and everywhere in between and higher.

Win! The Sterling Silver Bubble Gum Wrapper Bracelet worth $150!

Prize details: Sterling Silver Bubble Gum Wrapper Bracelet. Bold, chunky links, create a bracelet that’s both classic and of-the-moment. Price: $150.

How to Enter: Visit La La B Jewelry, admire the beautiful jewelry and then leave a comment here with your favorite piece. (Please be specific and include detailed name; ie Sterling Silver Bracelet B00343 or Bubble Gum Wrapper Bracelet.)

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

* Spring into Spring! Enter the Carolina Pad giveaway at Baby Loving Mama and let me know you did.
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do. Win a gorgeous La La B Jewelry Silver bracelet worth $150 @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/cwmc18
* Fan / Like The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Be a Shopping Buddy, aka, follow in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS
* Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post and www.lalabjewelry.com – leave 5 comments with your link
* Post the Spring into Spring button on your blog


Spring into Spring blog bash

Disclosure: Giveaway ends May 7. Open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to La La B Jewelry for providing the giveaway prize. Opinions here are my own.

Three is the New Two

by Kate on April 23rd, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Life, Parenting

I’ve heard the rumor that “3 is worse than the terrible twos.” And that is certainly true in my house. Yesterday it was confirmed.

I thought I had to worry about my daughter biting everyone and causing trouble at school this summer, but turns out it’s my son causing problems. When I picked him up from school, instead of running to me like he normally does, his teacher picked him up and gave me a subtle “Come here, we need to talk” nod. Uh oh.

His teacher said, “What do we need to tell your mom today?”

Preschool Boy, with a giant grin on his face, “I have a bad abbitude.”

No I didn’t misspell that. He insists the word is “abbitude.” It was cute and endearing when he was tattling on other children (“So and so has a bad abbitude.”). But when he’s ratting on himself? Not so cute.

Anyway, his teacher proceeded to tell me that both of the teachers in the classroom has noticed increasingly negative behavior from my son. She said he throws tantrums, pounds his fists on the floor and the table and the straw that broke the camel’s back was when he screamed, “NO!” when the teacher asked him to use the bathroom. {cue my weeping mama tears}

The truth is, he’s been increasingly difficult at home so I’m not all that surprised. I’m just disappointed. I was hoping that Preschool Boy was laying on the charm and being his sweet self at school while saving his tantrums for home. I want my kid to be liked. I want him to be kind and thoughtful and well behaved.

Obviously I’m glad the teacher talked to me. We can now use the same language and be consistent when dealing with his tantrums and “bad abbitude.” It’s just upsetting to learn that he’s causing trouble at school and disappointing them. I will love him no matter how poorly he behaves, but other people are less forgiving. I know this is probably wrong, but I’d really like him to be the teacher’s pet and not the troublemaker. And, in my head he was the teacher’s pet. It hurts my heart a little bit to learn he’s not.

So I’ll read up on the mind of three year old and how to handle temper tantrums. And I will hope his teachers have patience and love and that this is only a phase. A short one.

Project Potential: Field Trips for All

by Kate on April 22nd, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Blogging

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Lunchables. All opinions are 100% mine.

The financial crisis and has affected nearly everyone in the country. And while our kids may not have large stock portfolios or real estate holdings that took a hit, they are certainly feeling the pinch in other ways. School budget deficits mean drastic cuts in “extra” activities like the arts, sports and field trips. A 2009 report from The American Association of School Administrators, estimates that during the current school year, the number of school districts eliminating field trips will increase by 56 percent. That’s more than 30,000 schools.

Project Potential

The Lunchables Team has a new initiative called Project Potential aimed at empowering kids and hopes to provide children with enriching experiences they might not otherwise have. “Field Trips For All” is the first program to help kids reach their full potential. Recognizing the importance of hands-on learning beyond the classroom, “Field Trips for All” aims to help deserving kids across the country go on educational and inspiring field trips!

An Alien Field Trip

Check out this video from Lunchables about the Field Trips for All program, and one fifth grade classroom’s interesting field trip.


Field Trips for All Contest!

The reality is not all school systems and not all students have field trips in the budget. With this in mind, Project Potential’s Field Trips for All is sending 50 classrooms on an educational field trip experience.

Do you know a classroom that deserves a field trip? Anyone 6 years of age or older can nominate a deserving 1st through 8th grade classroom by going to Lunchables and filling out a simple form. From all nominations received, 50 classrooms will be selected to go on a field trip.

I nominated the local elementary school classroom because it’s going to be a difficult year with lots of adjustments. One local school has closed meaning kids are being shuffled every which way into larger class sizes. And, being a military town, the school is full of children whose parents deploy, travel and move constantly. On top of that, the school year starts August 5 – so they get an especially short summer.

So, what classroom are you going to nominate? Why? If you know a deserving classroom, share the nomination form on Facebook or email it to friends. In other words, spread the word so students can enjoy the benefit (and fun!) of learning outside the classroom.

Visit my sponsor: Field Trips For All

Click Here

Happy Earth Day!

by Kate on April 22nd, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Life

As I’m sure you know, today is the 40th Earth Day and I’ve been thinking about how to share Earth Day with young kids. And, while this post may be too late for this year, it’s not too late for Earth Day next year, or this summer, or tomorrow. Because, really, there’s no reason we can’t incorporate lessons about the importance of protecting our Earth and its resources every day, throughout the year.

Explaining Earth Day and its purpose to little ones might be a little difficult. And, if your child is anything like mine, they’ll ask, “Why?” a hundred times no matter what you say. But, I found this definition on the EPA Kids’ Page and I thought it was worth sharing.

Earth Day is a Birthday! Just like a birthday is a special day to celebrate a person, Earth Day is a special day that celebrates the Earth. Earth Day was born on April 22, 1970, in San Francisco, California. Every year, America and over 100 different countries join together in the celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd. Earth Day is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide. On Earth Day, we remember to appreciate nature and learn ways to protect our environment. Find ways that you can help keep the planet clean and help protect our environment!

If you need a little motivation, check out the amazing photos from 100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear – a collection of images of “some of the most beautiful places on earth and a reminder that they are magical, fragile and, ultimately, transient.” It’s absolutely stunning.

Now that you’ve seen all that beauty and are ready to save the earth, put that energy into some fun and learning with your wee ones. Ali at No Time for Flash Cards has a great list of Earth Day crafts and books. I just love the earth coffee filter craft and who knew there’s a Little Critters book about Earth Day?

Did you do anything to celebrate Earth Day this year? Do you have a favorite children’s book or craft or other way to teach your little ones about the environment?

Happy Earth Day!

Together We Can Recycle! Plus Martha Stewart Prize Pack Giveaway (Clsoed)

by Kate on April 22nd, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Giveaways, Spring Into Spring

Purina’s Together We Can Recycle campaign is what Earth Day is all about. It’s a reminder that making small changes can have a big impact on the planet. I mean, really, how hard is it to recycle your pet food cans?!

About Together We Can

Friskies® and Fancy Feast®, together with Keep America Beautiful®, are raising awareness about aluminum pet food can recycling. Here’s how you can help. Learn more about recycling, take the Together We Can pledge and discover how we can all make a difference.

Recycling Facts

  • Recycling one 3oz. aluminum can (like a Fancy Feast cat food can) saves enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for over 2 hours.
  • Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy used to make aluminum cans from virgin materials.
  • Aluminum pet food cans contain approximately 40% recycled aluminum, the industry average.
  • Recycling 1 ton of aluminum cans conserves the equivalent of 36 barrels of oil, or 1,665 gallons of gasoline.
  • Aluminum never wears out. It can be recycled forever (where facilities are available).

Together We Can Pledge

Purina is asking pet owners to take the Together We Can Pledge – a promise to recycle aluminum pet food cans, including Friskies and Fancy Feast. If the benefits to the Earth aren’t motivation enough, Purina will donate $1 for every pledge made (up to $100,000).

Win! Martha Stewart Collection Products Valued at $200.

To make recycling a little more fun and encourage you to take the pledge, one reader will receive an amazing prize package of products from Martha Stewart Collection at Macy’s. The prize may include merchandise in the Collection’s four main categories: bedding, bath, dining and entertaining, and kitchen.

How to Enter: In honor of Earth Day and the spirit of the Together We Can Recycle program, leave a comment telling me one small (or big!) change you’ll make to help protect the environment.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

* Spring into Spring! Enter the Green Giant Seeds of Change giveaway at Baby Loving Mama and let me know you did.
* Take the Together We Can Recycle Pledge! Leave a comment letting me know you did.
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do. Together We Can Recycle! Celebrate with a Martha Stewart Prize pack valued at $200 @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/bUZYxn
* Fan / Like The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Be a Shopping Buddy, aka, follow in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS
* Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post – leave 5 comments with your link
* Post the Spring into Spring button on your blog


Spring into Spring blog bash

Disclosure: Giveaway ends May 6. Open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to Purina for providing the giveaway prize. Opinions here are my own.

Bake Some Spring Sweetness with Duncan Hines + Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on April 22nd, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaways, Giveaways, Reviews, Reviews, Spring Into Spring

I have to admit that I initially had mixed feelings about doing a Duncan Hines review. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to eat sweets and baked goods. I’m quite good at it, in fact. But, what I’m not good at is baking or finding the time to bake. But, when I looked through the recipes on Duncan Hines and I thought, “Even I can do that.” And then, “Yum, that looks freaking good.” Fast forward to last weekend and I tackled the springy and kid friendly Captivating Caterpillar Cupcakes!

Baking with Duncan Hines

With a box of Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe® Classic White Cake Mix and Duncan Hines® Creamy Home-Style Classic Vanilla Frosting in the hands of my trusted little assistant we gathered some basic ingredients and set to make and decorate our cupcakes. Preschool Boy is totally getting into helping me in the kitchen and was very excited about our joint project. The recipe (online and on the side of our cake mix) was different than the standard cake mix because it called for egg whites. Now, this was really testing the limits of my baking ability, but I did manage to get 3 egg whites into the mix without any pesky shell or yolk getting in the way.

After distracting my son long enough for the cupcakes to bake and cool, it was time for decorating and turning our plain white cupcakes into colorful caterpillars. Vanilla frosting with a few drops of green food coloring became grass, crushed cookies turned into dirt and M&Ms and jelly beans transformed into caterpillars. We had so much fun! Even my husband got in on the action and helped my son and I decorate the cupcakes.


Captivating Caterpillar Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients

Baking Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 ºF. Grease muffin pans or line with paper baking cups.
  2. Combine cake mix, egg whites, water and oil in large bowl. Beat at low speed with electric mixer until moistened. Beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Fold in 1/3 cup star decors. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full.
  3. Bake at 350 ºF. 18 to 23 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove to cooling racks. Cool completely.
  4. Tint vanilla frosting with green food coloring. Frost one cupcake. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon chocolate cookie crumbs on frosting. Arrange 4 candy-coated chocolate pieces to form caterpillar body. Place jelly bean at one end to form head. Attach remaining star and nonpareil decors with dots of frosting to form eyes. Repeat with remaining cupcakes.

To Bake or Not to Bake

To Bake… I’m so glad I took the time to bake and decorate with my son. And that my husband wanted to join in the fun. We really had a good time making caterpillars. It was hysterical to see my son’s personality come out – notice the caterpillar with no “dirt”, that was his caterpillar. The recipe was easy to follow, used basic inexpensive ingredients and it required no real skill on my part. It’s a winner!

Or Not to Bake… We simplified a few things

Shop! Duncan Hines cake mixes and frostings are available in grocery stores pretty much everywhere. Happy baking!

Win! A Spring Baking Basket from Duncan Hines!

Prize details: The gift basket includes Duncan Hines products used in this recipe, as well as some fun baking supplies including an oven mitt, cupcake tray. The ARV is approximately $50.00.

How to Enter: Visit Duncan Hines, check out the recipes and leave a comment with something you’d like to make.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

* Spring into Spring! Enter the Seventh Generation giveaway at Baby Loving Mama and let me know you did.
* Fan / Like Duncan Hines on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do. Bake some spring sweetness with a Duncan Hines $50 gift basket giveaway @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/aha60I
* Fan / Like The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Be a Shopping Buddy, aka, follow in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS
* Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post – leave 5 comments with your link
* Post the Spring into Spring button on your blog


Spring into Spring blog bash

Disclosure: Giveaway ends May 6. Open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to Duncan Hines for providing sample products to facilitate baking this recipe and the giveaway prize. Opinions here are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product.

Thursday Giveaway Linky

by Kate on April 21st, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Giveaway Linky, Weekly Features

Thanks for stopping by to link up. I hope you’ll stick around and check out some of the great giveaways here at The Shopping Mama. Here are a few that end soon:

KidsCraft Creation Cottage

Little Tikes School Bus Activity Gym & Backyard Barbeque – enter here and at Baby Loving Mama

KidKraft Outdoor Playhouse from Hayneedle

Don’t forget to check out the Spring into Spring giveaways at Baby Loving Mama and link up there, too.

Thanks! And see you next week.

SwaddleDesigns Stroller Blanket Review + Giveaway (Closed)

by Kate on April 21st, 2010  |  5 Comments  |  Baby, Giveaways, Giveaways, Reviews, Reviews, Spring Into Spring

The cornerstone product of SwaddleDesigns is, not surprisingly, a swaddling blanket. The multi-use swaddling blanket is made from lightweight material and even has swaddling instructions on the blanket – so smart. But, in addition to the must have swaddling blanket for newborns, SwaddleDesigns has beautiful products for older babies including the ultra-cozy Stroller Blanket.

About SwaddleDesigns

At SwaddleDesigns, we are focused on innovative, stylish, and quality baby products that help parents comfort and care for their baby. Each component is carefully chosen with passion and care for its color, texture, durability and visual appeal. We design with baby’s best interest in mind and to help new parents. We hope you will join the hundreds of thousands of customers who have discovered and delight in using SwaddleDesign products. Have fun mix and matching! Our products are offered in a multitude of patterns and colors to coordinate with any nursery or mom’s personal style.

Stroller Blanket

We received a Stroller Blanket in Pastel Pink Puff Circles for my daughter. The blanket arrived in the most beautiful packaging and I kept wishing I knew someone about to have a baby girl so that I could order one as a gift. After unwrapping the tissue paper, the blanket is tied in a matching bow. Seriously, I could never make a blanket look this cute for a baby shower – love that they take care of that and I’d just need a little wrapping paper or a gift bag.

The blanket is so soft and cuddly. I love the Puff Circle Design which adds a little interest, but is very subtle. The reverse side is plain and there is a satin border around the blanket. The blanket is good size for a toddler as a cuddling blanket but is also perfect to fold up and cover a baby in a car seat.

SwaddleDesigns Spring Collection

Featuring fresh pastels and color trim, the SwaddleDesigns spring collection includes everything you need for baby and is a great source for baby shower gifts. In sweetly soft shades of pink, blue and kiwi, the spring collection includes the Ultimate Receiving Blanket perfect for swaddling, the wearable blanket zzZipMe Sack , Burp Cloth sets and more.

To Buy or Not to Buy

To Buy… The SwaddleDesigns Puff Circle Stroller Blanket is a great gift for a new mom. When my kids were young I loved having a “fancy blanket” to cover them when we were going somewhere nice (or as nice as you go when you have a little baby), and this blanket will last from baby years to toddlerhood and beyond.

Or Not to Buy… At $48, it’s a bit on the pricey side. If you want the cuddly factor in a smaller package (and price tag), check out the Puff Circle Baby Lovie for $16.

Shop! Swaddling Blankets, Stroller Blankets and all the other SwaddleDesigns goodies are available at eswaddle.com. And, you have to check out the SwaddleDesigns Deal of the Day – every day they offer one limited quantity product for 50% off! (Today was a Swaddling Blanket for only $12.50.)

Win! A Puff Circle Stroller Blanket in your choice of Blue, Pink or Kiwi. (A $48 Value!)

How to Enter: Visit SwaddleDesigns and leave a comment here with something else you love.

Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.

* Spring into Spring! Enter the Petunia Pickle Bottom giveaway at Baby Loving Mama and let me know you did.
* Follow SwaddleDesigns on Twitter
* Fan / Like SwaddleDesigns on Facebook
* Follow The Shopping Mama on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. You may do this every day, just leave the link when you do. Win a soft and sweet SwaddleDesigns Puff Circle Stroller Blanket @TheShoppingMama http://bit.ly/cOwrPj
* Fan / Like The Shopping Mama on Facebook
* Be a Shopping Buddy, aka, follow in Google Friends Connect
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or RSS
* Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post and www.eswaddle.com – leave 5 comments with your link
* Post the Spring into Spring button on your blog


Spring into Spring blog bash

Disclosure: Giveaway ends May 5. Open to US mailing addresses only. Thanks to SwaddleDesigns for providing sample products for review and the giveaway prize. Opinions here are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product.
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