Thanks for coming to link up and browse great giveaways! Hope you have a great holiday weekend.
Before you leave, make sure you check out some giveaways that end soon, including Petunia Pickle Bottom TourGuide Baby Carrier, little twig $50 Gift Certificate and Choice of Clothing (up to $100) from Smitten NYC!
Make sure you stop by Baby Loving Mama and link up your giveaways there, too!
In the constant quest to make our backyard more livable, I’m on the hunt for quality, modern and affordable furniture. And, that combination is not exactly easy to find. Outdoor Furniture Plus has you covered with everything from sophisticated teak furniture to cozy wicker patio furniture to the fabulous mommy and me Adirondack Chairs we received for review.
Outdoor Furniture Plus is an authorized factory direct dealer of new first quality outdoor furniture and outdoor accessories for all of your home, lawn, garden, and commercial needs!
We are family owned, and… We have been in business for over four years. We offer customers highly competitive prices, with attentive family owned service. Everyone here is charged with making EVERY customer experience the best it can be. From pre-sale to after-sale support you’ll have the full attention of dedicated furniture professionals.
Our backyard has the bones to be fabulous, but it’s been lacking some furniture to make it more of a living space. Seriously, until we received the Adirondack Chairs, we had to sit on the ground. It’s really amazing how drastically only 2 chairs change the feel of our yard (I can only imagine what an outdoor dining set or a stylish bit of outdoor living would do !). In any event, the Adirondack Chairs are perfect and they would look just as at home on a lovely covered front porch.
The Adirondack Chairs arrived and thankfully my husband was around to put them together. The directions were very clear and he was able to do the bulk of it by himself in about half an hour. We immediately took them outside to lounge and enjoy.
The chairs are very solid and sturdy and have withstood my little ones climbing all over them as if they were a jungle gym. But, one of the best compliments about the Junior Chair, in particular, is that the kids will actually SIT STILL in it. There’s definitely room to spare, but the compact size is inviting and comfortable for little bodies. Compared to some other Adirondack Chairs specifically for kids, the Junior size chair is bigger and would easily fit a tween comfortably. Heck, I can sit in it!
I really enjoy lounging in the chair when the kids are splashing around in the pool or playing in the backyard. It’s just so comfortable and a great way to relax. My husband fits into the chair easily, too, and here they are showing off the chairs Daddy & Me style.
To Buy… The Adirondack Chairs from Outdoor Furniture Plus are made of hardwood aspen wood and hold up very well to the elements. It seriously storms every day in the summer here and the Chairs look just as good today as they do when we put them together. The Adirondack chairs are offered in eight different color options so you can find something that matches your outdoor space. They are comfortable and what’s not to love about a set with a mini-me chair for your tot.
Or Not to Buy… Adirondack Chairs are expensive and these are an investment. If you’re looking to turn the outside into real living space it’s worth the money.
Shop! The Hardwood Aspen Adirondack Chair regular price is $230.99, but it’s on sale for $177.99 Unfinished (plus $25 for color). The regular price for the Hardwood Aspen Junior Adirondack Chair is $111.99, and it’s on sale for $85.99 Unfinished (plus $10 for color). Make sure you shop NOW during the Summer Staycation Sale at Outdoor Furniture Plus to receive FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100.
Now that I am nursing my second baby, I have been a lot more relaxed in my approach to breastfeeding. I am happy to say that so far this approach has served us both well, and going into month 5 of nursing baby number 2 is going well. I nursed my son until he was about 14 months, and I would have loved to have had the Simple Wishes Breast Pump Bustier last time around as well.
The hands-free Bustier is ultra-comfortable, supportive, simple to use and easy to size. Simple Wishes makes pumping easier, convenient, and more productive. It allows for multi-tasking while pumping, and allows mom to return to work with peace of mind.
The Simple Wishes Bustier arrived and I was eager to try it out during my nightly pumping session. I have to say that when I got pregnant with baby number two, I really wanted to get a new pump, as mine was on its last leg. I decided to go with a high-end and rather expensive pump for its portability and hands free option. While I love the pump for the fact that it is battery operated, the hands free part of it is really kind of a pain to hook up. Maybe if I was using it 4 or 5 times a day as a working mom, I would be better at it. But, the few times I have attempted it, I find it more of a hassle than it’s worth. After trying the Simple Wishes Bustier, I now know, if going hands-free were my only concern, this is the way to go! A lot cheaper, and easier to convert any electric pump into hands free.
First of all, I was really impressed with how clearly everything was labeled and the instructions for adjusting the bustier for your size. It is able to be adjusted so easily, which is such a great feature since nursing moms know that you change sizes all the time! The straps can be worn in four different ways, I chose not to use them at all. Once I got pumping I sat down to a 15 minute session on the computer while I pumped away. It was so easy to set up, and I was able to get about as much milk as I normally do in the same time frame when I don’t go hands free. I actually went a little longer because I got caught up on the computer! If you are a working mom, or a mom who is pumping and bottle feeding, this is something you could definitely use. The seal was tight, nothing felt like it was moving, and there was no leaking anywhere.
For more information and detail on how to use the Bustier, check out this video on how to use the Simple Wishes Bustier.
To Buy… If pumping is a part of your daily routine, several times a day, you will really love using the Simple Wishes Breast Pump Bustier. It will allow you to continue to work, eat your lunch, answer emails, or just relax with a cup of decaf-all while pumping for your little one.
Or Not to Buy… The only downside with this is I am someone who needs to use breast compressions squeeze out those last few drops of milk towards the end of a pumping session, and it is hard to do that with this on. Easy to work around though bu simply ending the pumping session without the bustier.
Shop! The Simple Wishes retails for $35 and is available for sale at www.simplewishes.com. Also check out the other products available!
How to Enter: Visit Simple Wishes and take a look around. Leave a comment here with your color and size preference.
Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.
Utah is stunning. Like absolutely beautiful. I have to admit that I had no idea what to expect, and it was beyond anything I could have imagined. I’m telling you, it was even gorgeous from the airplane. The evo Conference was at The Canyons Resort in Park City – here are a few of my favorite pictures from the grounds.
The Canyons
Views from Our Suite
A Picture from the Grounds – Taken During the Hands-On Photography Session. (This is an unedited picture I took in Manual Mode, y’all!
I look forward to seeing your photos!
After two and a half years of sippy cups in the house, we’ve used our fair share of cups. Every price range, every feature… you name it, we’ve tried it. Here’s a round up of our favorite cups for different milestones and the wallet.
The thinkbaby Trainer Cup is a set comprised of a thinkbaby bottle and conversion kit to put easy to use handles on the bottle. $8.49 for 1 cup.
To Buy… The soft silicone spout is perfect for transitioning from bottle feeding or breastfeeding. Like all thinkbaby products, the cup is BPA free and is made of polypropylene so it can be recycled when your child outgrows it.
Or Not to Buy… It’s more expensive than many other cups we’ve used and isn”t entirely leak-free.
Read the full thinkbaby Trainer Cup Review.
We love the Playtex Insulator Cups
To Buy… The large size, characters available and leak-proof valve make it a winner for kids and moms alike.
Or Not to Buy… The spout is rigid and not good for little ones making the transition to sippy cups.
Gerber sippy cups
To Buy… When you can buy a set of 2 for $7, what’s not to love? The cups are pretty leak-proof and will outlast your child. The cups are also now BPA free.
Or Not to Buy… The spout is rather stiff so it’s not the best transition cup for younger toddlers.
What’s your favorite sippy cup?
VTech is at it again. On the heels of introducing the awesome MobiGo, VTech has just announced the V.Reader – an interactive, animated e-book system for kids, similar to an adult e-reader, only better.
The V.Reader Animated E-Book System makes reader vivid and fun for your child! With animated characters, kids discover the joy or reader and take a journey into a world of imagination as they touch and play their way to learning core reading skills, while playing interactive reading games.
- Interactive stories with touch screen play
- Great stories featuring your child’s favorite characters
- Storytelling comes alive with animation and sounds
- Ideal for kids who are learning to read
- Downloadable stories are coming soon – many free
When I first learned about the V.Reader I was very excited – on behalf of my son. My husband has an eReader that he thoroughly enjoys and I knew my son (who is also a gadget dude) would be into the V.Reader. As soon as it arrived, we ripped the box open to start exploring. There is really so much to the gadget that it’s hard to describe everything so I encourage you to watch the introduction video about the V.Reader on Vtechkids.com.
Even with all the activities, my son’s favorite thing to do with the V.Reader is Watch the Story. Page by page, the V.Reader reads a book aloud as animated graphics move along with the plot. The words appear alongside the pictures and the colors change as the story is told so little eyes can follow along. The Story Dictionary is an interactive feature to help with vocabulary – select words are highlighted and when you tap the word the definition appears. You can also access the Dictionary separate from the story.
There are also a number of Reading Games, ranging from story comprehension to phonics to counting and colors. The V.Reader animated stories are recommended to different age groups and I assume the games and vocabulary words are different for each age group. For example, the games on The Little Engine That Could recommended for 3 to 5 year olds are perfect for my son, but I’m sure those on the Scooby Doo story cartridge (for ages 5 to 7) would be over his head.
My primary complaint with the V.Reader is the size of the screen. The entire gadget is approximately 7 inches by 8.5 inches but the screen is only 3.75 by 2.5 inches. Granted my son does not need to be nearly as close to the screen as he is in the photos below, but the screen should be larger than it is.
It’s worth mentioning the construction of the V.Reader is great. There is a plastic cover that goes over the front so you don’t accidentally push buttons or damage the reader when not in use. But, the cover does have an opening so when you’re Watching the Story and not playing games you can navigate the story and turn the pages. In addition to a full QWERTY keyboard, there are also large colored buttons to help navigate the way around the story and activities.
To Buy… My son loves exploring books on the V.Reader and I am really impressed. It’s perfect for times when I can’t read to him, like when we’re traveling. The compact size and lightweight make it easy to take along on airplane or car trips. The V.Reader has a lot to offer for the $60 price tag.
Or Not to Buy… In theory, the idea of an electronic gadget that replaces actual paper books makes me sad. My husband loves his, but there’s something special about reading books with children that is irreplaceable. In practice, the screen should be bigger on the V.Reader.
Shop! The VTech V.Reader is available exclusively at Target online and in stores with a suggested price of $59.99. You can also pre-order a reader in pink or blue from Amazon
How to Enter: Check out the “Animated stories & Accessories” (on the right hand side of the V.Reader page) or browse the V.Reader stories at Target and tell me one book you’d love to explore with the V.Reader.
Bonus Entries – valid only after completing the first required entry. Please leave a separate comment for each you do.
This weekend I had the tremendous pleasure of attending the evo’10 Conference at The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah. I was totally honored to be there as an Ambassador for Scandinavian Child – a company that distributes amazing baby products throughout the US and Canada. (To learn a little more about a couple of their products, check out the Anka High Chair Review, lillebaby Baby Carrier Review and How to Make Baby Food featuring the Beaba Babycook.)
I knew I liked the brand (or else I wouldn’t have represented them), but I had no idea how much I would enjoy the people of Scandinavian Child. Erin and Jessie from Scandinavian Child, Karie of Grand Avenue Baby and the other SCI Ambassadors (Gena, Kadi and Lauren) were all a joy and getting to know them made the weekend complete.
The conference was awesome. It was thought-provoking, informative and seriously fun. I’ll definitely blog more this week about some of the highlights, but my absolute favorite session of the conference was the Closing Keynote talk by Brene Brown and Karen Walrond. Holy smartness, people. The two women spoke about a topic that weaved its way throughout the conference: authenticity. They shared their brilliant thoughts on how to blog, live and be true to yourself. I wish I had a nickel for every time I nodded my head or thought, “Oh my, I need to write that down” while they were speaking. It was a great way to end the formalities of the weekend.
But, the fun didn’t end with the Closing Keynote… it was just beginning. The Bush’s Beans party at the Park City Mountain Resort was a total blast! My (new) friends and I cowgirl’ed up and hit the alpine slide, alpine coaster and danced the night away.
I left the conference motivated and inspired. And, more importantly, with several new friends.
Now that I’m back home I need to regroup, gather my thoughts and edit through my hundreds of pictures so I can share more about evo with you. I can’t wait!
The popularity of Toy Story is currently at it’s all-time high in our house due to the recent release of Toy Story 3. At bath time, my daughters were practically giddy at the sight of Woody on the label when they saw the new L’Oréal Kids Toy Story 3 Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Shampoo. We received Woody’s Giddy Up N’ Go Mango for review, which is an orange mango smoothie formula.
Scents include:
Like all L’Oréal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Shampoos, the Toy Story 3 formulas promise no tears and no knots, and helps protect hair from damage, split ends and dryness, leaving it silky and shiny. The bottles are also soft and easy to hold, allowing tiny hands to have fun learning to lather up.
Our ExperienceWith Woody on the label, my daughters were eager to open the bottle to find out how it smelled. The mango scent was very fruity, but not at all overpowering as you might expect with a mango-scented product. The shampoo created a rich lather and was easy to rinse out. It seems inevitable that my kids get shampoo in their eyes at bath time, and the L’Oréal Kids formula did not cause any discomfort for them when I was rinsing it out of their hair.
After her hair dried, there was a noticeable difference in the softness of my older daughter’s hair. The brush went through more easily, and her hair had a softer texture. I usually use baby shampoo on her hair, and will generally use leave-in conditioner after the bath. With the L’Oréal Kids 2-1 formula, there was no need for additional conditioner, and the results were better than our shampoo + leave-in routine.
L’Oréal Kids will be featuring an exclusive Toy Story 3 sweepstakes for a chance to win exciting prizes including a family trip to New York City for a toy shopping spree, and a fun new “collect all four” de-coder game revealing fun coded facts and trivia on the website (visit www.lorealkids.com for sweepstakes registration, de-coder game and more fun information for kids to discover).
To Buy or Not To BuyTo Buy…Until now, I had not considered L’Oréal Kids shampoos, but will most definitely buy it in the future. For only $2.99 it is completely affordable, and actually costs less than our usual shampoo + leave-in conditioner routine. We loved the scent and will most likely buy another Toy Story 2-1 as soon as this bottle runs out (though I’m guessing my almost 4-year old will choose Jessie’s Yippin’ Yodelberry).
Or Not to buy… Unless you are not Toy Story fans (do those people exist?) or you prefer an unscented shampoo, there is no reason not to try the L’Oréal Kids Toy Story 3 Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Shampoo. The gentle formula, fresh scent, conditioning power, and affordable price make it an obvious choice in our house.
Shop! L’Oréal Kids Toy Story 3 Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Shampoos join the existing line of L’Oréal Kids grooming products at www.lorealkids.com and chain drug, food and mass-market retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.99.
Moms: find a pre-screened day care center near you.
Want to find creative Halloween costumes? Visit our friends at FancyDressBall.
If you are looking for information about partnering with The Shopping Mama™ blog, please email for a current Media Kit. The Shopping Mama™ was founded by Kate Marsh Lord in January of 2009 to share the latest and greatest in gear, clothes and toys for kids. After graduating law school and moving around the world with her Air Force husband, Kate settled down and had two beautiful little ones. The children changed her online motivation from researching legal issues to tracking down the
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