My Vicks Smart Temp Thermometer from Influenster

I haven't blogged about anything for a long time... Mostly because of this thing that society calls a "toddler" that I have been blessed with. I'm, of course, kidding. My son truly is the best thing that my husband has ever given me. Little Chunkas, as I affectionately call him, is the most amazing little being ever; he's curious and adventurous and loves meeting new people whenever possible. He's constantly touching and examining things and... as any parent knows... that means he's also coming into contact with *shivers* GERMS! Nasty little germs that turn my fun-loving, snuggly, outgoing little boy into a ball of fevers and whimpers. Finally, though, I have one new tool to add to my arsenal that will be changing the Momma Nurse game forever ---

The Vicks Smart Temp Thermometer

I am being 100% serious when I tell you all that I love love LOVE this new gadget of mine and it really is a game changer! You look at it and you can automatically tell it isn't your mom's old thermometer. Right off the bat, you see that there isn't a screen. That's because YOUR PHONE is the screen! You download the free Vicks Smart Temp app and then turn the Bluetooth capability on on your phone and link your thermometer to your phone. From the app, you are now able to use the thermometer. You can set a profile for everyone in your home where a log of all of the temperatures read will be stored and also set a reminder for when you need to read a temperature again and/or administer medicine. You can also let it know whether you are checking the temperature via mouth, armpit, or rectum, which is huge for me because I never remember the conversions. It also lets this neurotic mommy know when to be concerned with my babe's temperature via a color-changing system. It's green when all is good, yellow when its a little high, and red when I should be concerned and possibly considering contacting a nurse or doctor.

This thing definitely helps me keep my head straight when I haven't slept a wink all night because I've been holding and comforting my little Chunkas. I owe a lot of my sanity to the Vicks Smart Temp every time my little man gets sick. Thank you, Influenster, for an AMAZING new tool!

If you all have any questions about Influenster or would like to sign up to review and test new products, please let me know! I would love to answer any questions and help you sign up! And please feel free to see what I've been up to on here! I've had loads of fun trying new products with the VoxBoxs and reviewing all of the products that I love!

Thanks for reading, TTFN!

Sara <3

(Disclaimer - I received this product for free from Influenster for testing and reviewing purposes.)

Veggie Tales - Celery Night Fever!

"Broccoli! Celery! Gotta be...

Veggie Tales!"

I can't even express to all of you how excited I was when I opened up that email and learned that I was chosen to do a review of Veggie Tales - Celery Night Fever! I had grown up watching Veggie Tales and just hearing the theme song brought back fond memories of Bob and Larry and Vacation Bible School. The Pirates That Don't Do Anything has always been my favorite but they're all so good in their own way. Fifteen plus years later though, I have a son and I am so excited to let him watch this with my niece and nephew. The amazing part about this though, is that I was just as excited to watch it as they were! Veggie Tales is and always has been really good at really good at making movies interesting for the entire family.

In 1993, Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki created Veggie Tales through their company Big Idea Productions. Since then, they have created 45 Veggie Tales episodes, 13 compilations, and three feature length movies. Their work is now available on Netflix and in stores on DVD and Blu-ray as well as on cable TV like NBC. Veggie Tales has always been so good at taking real-life situations and teaching children about them and how to deal with them in a kind and Godly way. At the end, Bob and Larry always talk about a scripture that portrays to the lesson and taught children so much about the Bible and the stories inside it. Celery Night Fever is their newest creation and, I must admit, I absolutely loved it!

While I obviously wasn't around in the 70's, I can thoroughly appreciate the groovy music and psychedelic suits. The entire story is all about forgiveness, from Laura Carrot and Junior Asparagus having to forgive each other to The Groovy Brothers having to get past their old grudge and forgive each other and Bruce Onion, voiced by Terry Crews (yay!!), even learns a few lessons. At the end of the movie, we learn that God has forgiven us and we need to be able to forgive each other too because, in the end, forgiveness helps everyone.

After we had finished the movie and enjoyed the bonus features like the sing-alongs and checked out the downloadable activities, my niece and nephew said they loved it and asked when they could watch it again. I have a feeling this will be a family favorite for a while! I am excited to let you all know though that your families will have a chance to win your very own copy! I will be hosting a giveaway in the (very!) near future where you will have a chance to win your own copy of Veggie Tales - Celery Night Fever! Be on the lookout!

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway, which may contain affiliate links. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I received a DVD in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.



Mr. Pete, Where Are Your Feet (Review)

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to review a very cute looking book, little did I know though that it would be one of the best books my son and I have read together.




Mr Pete Cover Page

Mr. Pete, Where Are Your Feet by Katherine Bartlett is such a cute book about a little blue parakeet who sees his mother every day and each day she asks him, "Mr. Pete, where are your feet?" He soon realizes that he is missing a toe and tries to figure out where he has left it. Soon, different types of birds try to help him figure out where his toe has been placed, but he soon learns something much bigger. When his mother comes to see him again, he is worried that she will not love him as much because he cannot find his toe, but she reassures him that he was born this way and she loves him just the way he is, with or without the toe.

This is such an important lesson for children to learn. As children grow, they become more and more aware of the differences that they have from other children and differences that other children have from them. With so much diversity in our world, it is vital that children learn early on that they will be loved and respected, regardless of how they look. Instead of Pete's mother pretending he was the same as the other birds, she acknowledged the difference head-on and explained that she loved him just the same as she loved the others. This helped Mr. Pete understand and accept the fact that he was different and learn to love it. This is exactly what children need and the sooner they can learn this, the better!

As a preschool teacher, I strive to teach children about differences and loving diversity every day and I know they would absolutely love this book. Along with the bright, bold picture and learning about different types of birds, this would be a wonderful way to teach them to loves with own differences and the differences that others possess. I look forward to purchasing a copy of this book and reading it again with my son and with my students!

 



Click HERE to go to the Amazon.com page for Mr. Pete, Where Are Your Feet so you can read more about the book and purchase your own copy!

** All thoughts, opinions, and words in this post are my own **

Smile Brilliant Giveaway

Welcome to the

Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Tray Giveaway!

The giveaway is sponsored by Smile Brilliant and hosted by Merlot Mommy.

I'm so excited to bring this giveaway to all of you! Your smile is one of the first things people notice when meeting someone new and no one wants to be self conscious about their smile. This product is absolutely amazing and I wish you all luck!

With all of the foods we eat, even with great dental hygiene our teeth can become stained and yellowed over time. Want to learn more about a great home teeth whitening system from Smile Brilliant with professional quality results?Merlot Mommy had a chance to try out the system and loved it. You can read the full review from Merlot Mommy.

Enter to win your own Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Trays Kit (ARV $148.95) by using the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entry is optional. All entries will be verified. Open to continental U.S. residents ages 18 and older. One entrant per household. Neither Merlot Mommy nor any of the other participating blogs are responsible for prize fulfillment.

New Baby Needs Giveaway!

 

New Baby Needs Event Is HERE!! We Are Excited To Be Celebrating These New Additions!!

Joy Of Momma Joyner and This Mama's Life have just added new babies to their families! To celebrate, they have teamed up with an awesome group of bloggers and wonderful sponsors to bring you great products that a New Baby Needs! ONE WINNER will walk away with this whole prize package worth over $1250! The Prize Package includes items from these sponsors:

Halo – SleepSack – $29

Pish Posh Baby – Baby Jogger Vue Stroller – $199

Undercover Mama – Nursing Tank Top – $35

Fairhaven Health –

Making Mama’s Milk Cookies – 1 Month Supply Of Cookies – $48

Avent –

Tiny Love – NEW Tummy Time Fun: Under The Sea – $30

Applecheeks – Applecheeks Bundle – $30

Tommee Tippee – Colorful Bottle 3-pack – $24

Little Toader - Teether - $10

Baby Shusher - Baby Shusher - $35

Buncha Farmers - stain remover, 3 varieties of our hand made manuka honey soaps, hand sanitizer, body and facial skin cream - $39

Buttons Diapers - 3 Diaper Covers and 3 Daytime Inserts - $43

Baby Box Company - Baby Box - $150

Clever Relish - Wipes Case Cover - $15

Levana - Oma+ Powered by Snuza - $99

Bobee - Diaper and Wipes Dispenser - $40

Hairbow Company - Outfit - $20

Aden + Anais - Dream Blanket - $50

Mixie Baby - Mixie Bottle - $20

PediPed - 1 Pair of Originals - $35

MAM - Cooler Teether and Oral Care Rabbit - $12

BabyBjörn - Bouncer Balance Soft - $199

Chewbeads - Jane Necklace - $30

Ciinolin - Swaddles and Baby Steps Cards - $55

GlowBug Cloth Diapers - Diaper and Insert - $13

PRK Products - Baby Food Organizer - $25

So, what do you think? Ready to enter? It’s simple! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools Form below. There are plenty of entry options, and the more you do, the better your chances of winning are! The New Baby Needs Event Prize Package is open to all legal residents of the United States who are 18-years-old or older. This event will run from 12:00am EST Sunday, June 1, 2014 through 11:59pm EST Sunday, June 22, 2014. Best Of Luck!

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: Joy Of Momma Joyner, This Mama's Life, and all the participating blogs are not responsible for the fulfillment of the prizes. The sponsors will send the prizes directly to the winner. We are also not responsible for any unfortunate accidents that may result from the use of any of these products.

Make your own Disney Family Decal

He ya'll!

I found something that I think you will ALL love! The Build Your Disney Side website is letting everyone make their very own Disney themed family decal right now FOR FREE! Yes, 100% free, no shipping costs or anything! Have fun with this, there are so many different options for clothes, accessories, and even backgrounds. The site has been known to run a little slowly, so be patient because this is totally worth the time and effort!

Take care and TTYL <3

Click here to start making your own Disney Family Decal

 



My UniVoxBox from Influenster

A few months ago, I was fortunate to stumble across a website called Influenster. It is a fabulous site where you can review and share your opinion about products as well as read what other people say about them. I've also used it a few times to ask questions about products and see what others may say about something I've thought about trying but wasn't too sure. Along with the product reviewing, there is also a really fun part of Influenster where you can unlock Expert and Lifestyle badges to earn more points. I personally think it's really fun because there is a to-do list where you can find out what you still need to.

If you're fortunate enough, you can get an email from Influenster saying you're being considered for the upcoming VoxBox. VoxBoxes are AMAZING! Like, seriously... Amazing! A VoxBox is a box filled with products either from one brand or a few different brands. They can contain either a wide variety of products from various companies or it can have a few different products from one company. You can qualify for one by unlocking those badges I was just talking about,  you'll get another email saying you've been approved for the box and that you'll receive it in a few weeks. The day I went to the post office and got that yellow card saying I had a box waiting for me made me feel like a little girl that had just won a prize! It was all I could do to not skip all the way back to my truck with my little UniVoxBox!

Once I got home, I immediately sat down and started opening my box. The first thing I pulled out was the NYC New York Color Expert Last Lipstick . WOW! Can anyone say "PINK!" I received the lip color in "Forever Fuchsia" and the color pops so well. It's also super-moisturizing and the color stays put instead of smearing everywhere. I did the whole "put the lipstick on and then buy a coffee at Starbucks and take a big long drink" test and it totally passed! My only recommendation, because I prefer a little more of a shine, is topping off with a tiny bit of a clear gloss to give it that extra oomph. Now here's the kicker... It's only $1.99 at most drugstores (prices vary, of course!) and you can't beat that! It's comes in 19 other shades so I can't wait to see what other beautiful shades I can find this in!

Next was the Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. I have such a hard time finding a foundation that doesn't irritate my skin so I was a little skeptical about this one, but it totally worked for me! It went on smoothly and didn't have the oily, greasy feel that most foundations unfortunately possess. It was nice and light and didn't clog my pores either, which was a nice surprise. It was a bit on the light side for my complexion though, so I'll definitely be buying this foundation, but I'll be on the lookout for a darker shade next time.

Next was the Broadway Nails imPRESS Manicures. I got the "Chic Mystique" print and oh my goodness... ADORABLE! It was such a cute print and they went on surprisingly smoothly. These definitely aren't the fake nails that I used to put on when I was a little girl. You get quite a few different sizes so you're all but guaranteed to find the size you need for your nails and they come in prints, colors, and glitter for a total of 36 styles so there's something for everyone! You can find these in most drugstores and supermarkets for $5.99 for colors and $7.99 for prints, so they're also reasonably prices. I am sad to say though, that while these are supposed to be able to last up to a week, these gave me four hours worth of cute nails. So while I wouldn't say to wear these on a weekend getaway, they would work real well for a party or get-together!

The Pilot Acroball Pure White is my new favorite pen! When I pulled it out of my box, I thought it would be just another pen, nothing special. But this is called a "hybrid" pen because it has the smooth writing and glossy color of a gel pen combined with the quick drying of a ballpoint pen so I was intrigued. I had a research paper to write for my Art History class and I decided to give this pen a shot and it was great! Usually, by the time you write an entire page, you have ink on the side of your hand and a few smudges around the page but not with this pen! It wrote smoothly, didn't blot or have any breaks in the ink, and it was comfortable in my hand the entire time. The pen comes in a pack of four for about $4.99 and is worth every penny in my opinion!

Red Rose Real Tea Premium Water Enhancers... YUMMY! I got the Black Tea Water Enhancer in my UniVoxBox and I loved it for a few different reasons. There are no colors or dyes added, just real brewed tea that has been lightly sweetened. There are 24 servings per bottle, but you can make the water as strong or as light as you would like so that varies a bit. The bottle is small and compact so you can bring it wherever you would like, which helped me start drinking more water while I was out. There is caffeine in the Black Tea, so I had to be careful with how much I was drinking since I breastfeed, but most people wouldn't have a problem with it. I haven't been able to find this in stores,  but I found it for $4.99 on www.redrosetea.com

The last thing in my UniVoxBox was a box of Playtex Sport Fresh Balance. Now, I'll be completely honest with this one... I haven't been able to use these. Yet. Nothing against the product, I just haven't had the chance to use them. What I can tell you though, is that it has 360 degree protection which, as any girl that has ever used a tampon can tell you, is very important! You don't want any spotting... Ever. There is also an Odor Shield, which is also very important. You want to be as comfortable as possible when "Aunt Flow" comes to visit, you don't want to worry about having an unpleasant smell lingering around.

All in all, I am very happy I had the chance to receive the UniVoxBox from Influenster and do a review of the wonderful products! I got an email recently saying I was also approved to do a review of two more VoxBoxes, one virtual and one that I'll be receiving in the mail soon, so be on the lookout for more blogs on great products!

Take care and TTYL!

Sara ;)
** I received all of these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes **

I'm Baaaaack!!

Hi everyone! If you haven't noticed, I've had to take a bit of a break from blogging. There's been almost three months of love, loss, personal development, and learning.

Back on February 28th, I celebrated my 25th birthday. This is no big deal to most people, but for me, it was a bit huge. I am (roughly) a quarter of the way through my life and I'm here thinking, "What have I done with my life?!" Now, I know I've met the man of my dreams, given birth to the two most beautiful boys EVER, and have started an amazing career with my Child Development education, but what else have I done? Have I, in my 25 years, made any bit of a difference to anyone? Have I done anything on my bucket list that I can brag about? I've only left the country twice and that was just going to Mexico! I want to go to Italy, I want to see a giraffe in it's natural habitat, I want to know I've made a difference in the world, even if its just a small one. I want to read Oprah's book list, stare in amazement at the beauty of the Northern Lights, and witness a miracle. I have a bucket list with over 100 things on it, and my new goal for the next five years, along with finally getting my degree, is to check off a few of those things.


In March, my family and I unfortunately went through A LOT! March 3rd, I started a new job working as an aide in a special needs preschool. I thought I was prepared for it because I'm familiar with children with special needs, but I had no idea what I was getting into! Its so amazing though and I feel so fortunate to be able to work with those children and the other teachers in the classroom. I wasn't planning on working until Aaron was at least a year old, but this is only for five hours a day, four days a week, so it's great. Early March, my beautiful Great-Grandmother Eileen was hospitalized after having numerous strokes back to back. She had had a lot of health issues so a few people in my family weren't too concerned because she was always able to bounce back, but something just told me this wasn't going to end well. That was something I would gladly have been wrong about. Mid-March, we got the phone call we were hoping wouldn't come. She had passed away. Because she lived out in Wisconsin and we live in California, we weren't able to attend the funeral, but we were definitely there in spirit. A few days later, my uncle was then hospitalized after having a heart attack. He had a few other health problems as well but we all expected him to come through. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and we had to say goodbye. I was incredibly close to him and this was so hard on me. We went down to Southern California to visit my aunt and let her know we were all there to support her and it felt so strange going out to dinner and not seeing my uncle. Just a few months before that, we were all together and introducing him to our son, and now all we had left were memories. After losing Edward, loss has manage to hit me incredibly hard, so March was a ridiculously hard month for me. I had to take care of Aaron, work and take care of the children there, continue with my schooling, all the while keeping it together after the two losses.


April was a bit more enjoyable, while still insanely busy! I had a week off of from college classes, just in time for a crazy busy week at work. Then, I was able to help my future brother-in-law plan his proposal to my sister! I've never seen her happier than when she is with him so I was more than happy to help him and it was such a beautiful moment! The surprise was almost ruined a few times, but we pulled it together and my sister is now proudly sporting a gorgeous engagement ring!


May is now here (WOW!) and I am so happy to be back doing what I love! While I am still a full time mommy and wife, a student avidly working on that degree, and a preschool aide, I am once again in a great place in my life and am here blogging. I have three blogs that I can't wait to bring you all and much more in the works!

I'm back, and I have so much in store for you all!

Princess Sophia and the Frog Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. I can go on and on about how important it is to read to infants and carry that on through their childhood. Some people ask why it would be right to read to a child if they aren't able to understand, but we wouldn't wait to talk with them until they were able to put a sentence together, so why not read to them and help them develop these very important skills? Reading to infants help build a bond between the parent and the child, associates a comfort between the voice and books, introduces colors, shapes, letters, and numbers in a fun and exciting way, and helps them build a strong vocabulary. So when I was able to review the Kindle E-book "Princess Sophia and the Frog" I jumped at the opportunity! I love reading to my son and a new story is always welcomed! A wonderful fairy tale about friendship and happiness: Princess Sophia is a little princess who has everything a little princess could wish for: a big castle with many things inside. However, she is bored and wants to fly to the moon. One day a little frog comes by and helps her fly high up into the sky. They come to land on different planets, where Sophia learns about feelings. She also learns that she can choose what mood she surrounds herself with, as this will impact her own. After her return to the castle she realizes that all she needs to be happy is to be surrounded by good friends. This is such an adorable story The words are simple enough for a child to understand and, once the child is old enough, this is an appropriate book for a child to practice with. The pictures are also very bright and aesthetically appealing. The colors are vibrant and would any young girl is sure to love them! What I love most about this E-book though is the message behind the story. At one point, every child has a hard time learning about feelings. They learn about how they feel and how to communicate it appropriately, as well as learning that other people have feelings and how to respect and respond to them. As Princess Sophia travels from planet to planet, she has a chance to learn that other beings have feelings and her own feelings can be affected by those feelings around her. I would strongly recommend this E-book to other parents and child-care providers that want a fun way to teach children about feelings! 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.

PicturesOnGold.com Giveaway

I am so incredibly excited to bring you all this giveaway! As a mother, I LOVE pictures, especially of my husband and my son, so naturally I love lockets! PicturesOnGold.com makes such beautiful lockets, among other things! I hope you all love this giveaway as much as I do. GOOD LUCK!

*This blog did not receive any compensation for this giveaway. It is not endorsed, sponsored, or affiliated with Facebook, Google +, Twitter, Pinterest, or any other social media*

Win a Design Your Own Locket from PicturesOnGold.Com RV $170

Hosted By: Sweet Southern Lovin & The Binder Ladies

Co Hosted By: Simply Southern Couponers

Sponsored By: PicturesOnGold.Com

PicturesOnGold.Com has been around on the world wide web since early 2000. They are located and opereated in the USA. They create custom engraved jewelry for all of your needs. PicturesOnGold.Com uses laser engraving to add black and white, sepia, and color photos to your lockets. You can also purchase engraving on your lockets. The jewelry is also waterproof so it can be worn 24/7. Each photo is also enhanced before it is etched and they can also remove the background from photos. Shipping is also extremely fast, as in one day.

Sweet Southern Lovin had the opportunity to review a locket from PicturesOnGold.Com. Visit here to see her full review. Giveaway Details: February 4th 8AM EST to February 12th 11:59 PM EST Prize: One lucky winner will win a Build Your Own Locket from PicturesOnGold.com (RV $170) Open to the US only. Void where prohibited. Must be atleast 18 years old to enter. By entering this giveaway you are agreeing to the terms laid out on the entry form. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to winning email. Thanks for entering and good luck!

Entry-Form

$75 Wise Decor GC Giveaway

Hosted by Crazy Stepford Wives and Wise Decor

Wise decor has been around for 10 years providing excellent decals and designs. Everything from patterns, to quotes and scriptures.  Crazy Stepford Wives received a set of house rules to review and you can check that out here! There are also some really adorable decals and quotes that would be a great fit for a nursery or kid's room. I found a few that I would love to have in my son's nursery and I know you all will be able to find a few that you love too! There are quotes and decals for every room so the possibilities are endless! Enter to win a $75 gift certificate to Wise Decor - what would you choose? a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer ~ Silly Seely's Reviews did not receive financial compensation for this post or product and sponsor is responsible for prize shipment

Rainbow Loom Book Giveaway

I have 2 boys ages 11 and 7. Never in my life would I ever have expected them to get hooked on the newest toy craze called rainbow loom. Both of them are obsessed with it. If you don't know what a rainbow loom is allow me to share with you. A rainbow Loom is a plastic toy loom used to weave colorful rubber bands into bracelets, charms, and other shapes. It was invented in 2010 by Cheong Choon Ng. The Rainbow Loom is a plastic pegboard measuring 2 inches by 8 inches. It has push pin type pegs over which small, colored rubber bands are looped and pulled by means of a plastic crochet hook. The resulting looped knots can be assembled on the loom into bracelets and other shapes. My boys not only make these bracelets, but they trade them at school for other bracelets that other kids have made. Not only that but they watch you tube videos of how to make the latest and greatest patterns. It sort of makes me smile and giggle at the same time. Recently I was sent a book in the mail called "Loom Magic: 25 Awesome, Never-Before-Seen Designs for an Amazing Rainbow of Projects". This book includes twenty-five new rubber band loom projects, including bracelets, sports-themed charms, key rings, pendants, and even a working slingshot. I have to say that while this book has some amazing projects, it does require the use of MULTIPLE looms. Multiple meaning like 4 looms for about ten of the projects. I don't know about you but I only have 1 loom and I am not going to be buying anymore when we can make bracelets using pencils and forks. While this book was too challenging for my 7 year old, my 11 year old made a few of the patterns and he said the pictures helped him along the way. Some of the neat patterns they have are a mustache

Barrettes

A Watch Band

And a Daisy Chain Bracelet

Loom Magic is available on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Loom-Magic-Awesome-Never-Before-Seen-Projects/dp/1629143340

Disclaimer: I received this book complimentary for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am giving away 1 copy of "Loom Magic: 25 Awesome, Never-Before-Seen Designs for an Amazing Rainbow of Projects". Enter Below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Harlem Globetrotters Tickets & Meet and Greet!

Are you ready for an awesome giveaway? One lucky fan from Family Review Guide will be winning the chance to catch the game on February 15, 2014 at 7 p.m. with a family four pack of VIP tickets, meet & greet passes before the game and a basket full of Wonderful Pistachios to snack on. Enter the rafflecopter entry at the end of this post. IMPORTANT DETAILS: The game will be at the Honda Center in Anaheim on February 15, 2014. The game starts at 7 p.m. and the meet & greet will start at 6 p.m. Sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios, Howard Johnson Hotels and Greyhound Lines, the Original Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating their 88th consecutive year, continuing a world famous tradition of ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry, and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that continues to thrill fans of all ages. Throughout their history, the Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 122 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans—among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents—over more than eight thrilling decades. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, and to purchase tickets and team merchandise, visit the Globetrotters’ official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com. The Globetrotters were the first organization in sports and entertainment to let fans vote on rules when the team introduced the concept last year. Since the fan response was so overwhelming, the team is doing it again – but with a major twist. The 2014 online ballot includes three never-before-seen revolutionary rules:

• Hot Hand Jersey – Both teams will have a “Hot Hand Jersey” they can pass among each other. The player who is wearing this jersey will receive double points on made baskets.
• Make or Miss – The quarter begins with only two players on the court for each team. When a team scores, a teammate may enter the game. When they miss, the player missing the shot must leave the court, leaving his or her teammates shorthanded.
• Trick Shot Challenge – Via three challenge flags per team, each coach can challenge the other team to make a trick shot. If the team makes the trick shot, they earn five points. If they miss, the other team receives five points.

With a roster showcasing stars such as Special K Daley, Big Easy Lofton, Flight Time Lang, Hi-Lite Bruton and Dizzy Grant – plus female stars TNT Maddox, T-Time Brawner and Sweet J Ekworomadu* – the Globetrotters’ one-of-a-kind family show features mesmerizing ball handling, an assortment of trick shots, high-flying dunks and precise timing – all with an array of comedy guaranteed to entertain the young and the young at heart. After virtually every game, Globetrotter stars remain on the court for autographs and photographs with fans.# Tickets are now available at harlemglobetrotters.com and each respective arena box office. Information on group and scout tickets can also be found at harlemglobetrotters.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Matilda Jane $50 GC

  Hosted By:  The Binder Ladies

Co-Hosted By: Sweet Southern Lovin,  Cookies Kitchens & Silly Seely's Reviews!

The life of a little girl is whimsical. It's majestic, it's silly, energetic, giggly and stylish.  Matilda Jane Clothing takes all of the best qualities in being a little girl, and wraps those ideals into their clothing.  It's about patterns, textures, colors and styles - then jumbling them all up to create something unique and beautiful - just like every young lady that wears them!  With new styles being created twice a year, Matilda Jane clothing gives a fresh approach to getting dressed everyday.  Think of Matilda Jane as being a classier, more modern Pippi Longstocking sort of style!

The Binder Ladies was able to review two adorable outfits from Matilda Jane!

You can read the full review over HERE.

Learn more about Matilda Jane Clothing HERE, checkout their Facebook Page HERE and follow them on Twitter HERE!

One winner will score a $50 gift certificate to Matilda Jane Clothing!

 Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win! Giveaway ends on 2/1 @ 11:59 pm PST.

This is available to U.S. residents, 18 years and older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post, nor are they responsible for prize shipment.  Winner will have 24 hours to respond after being contacted via email.  The Binder Ladies is responsible for prize shipment.   If you have any questions, please contact thebinderladies@gmail.com

The Baby Shusher Giveaway!!

Welcome to the Baby Shusher Giveaway!!

Hosted By: Tales From A Southern Mom

Sponsored By: Babyshusher.com

This "sleep miracle" is the thing that every parent is looking for in the middle of the night when nothing is working to calm your baby down. It gives a rhythmic shushing sound in timed sessions to help calm and comfort even the hardest to settle babies. Can be used from birth and many parents take it to the hospital with them.

To see more about the Babyshusher read Tales From A Southern Mom full review here.

My son occasionally has a rough night and he always seems to be soothed by a calming little shushing. This product will be great for any mommy and baby needing a nice little rest. Good luck everyone!!

Giveaway Details:

Date: 01/16/14 thru 01/30/14

Prize: One lucky reader will win their very own Baby Shusher (ARV 35.99)

Open to US residents only. Must be 18+ to enter.

How to Enter:

Enter using the Entry Form below.

By entering you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions listed on the Entry Form.

All winning entries will be verified. Winner will receive an email from Jennifer at talesfromasouthernmomof3@gmail.com and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Good Luck and thanks for entering.

Entry-Form

A New Beginning

I decided a few weeks ago to begin a blog that would allow me, as a new mommy, to meet and talk with other mothers on a neutral ground. I have the intentions of communicating about day to day events, venting about problems and finding solutions, reviewing the various products that I find and am personally interested in, and review and raise awareness about the safety, or lack there of, of the products and places that my itty bitty uses and goes to. My Story - I am a preschool teacher but a stay at home mommy for the time being, a student studying Child Development, and a wife to the most amazing man I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Back in June of 2012, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. He was born perfectly healthy and four hours after he was born, things went downhill. He stopped breathing for unknown reasons and was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center's NICU. He never recovered and six days after he was born, he passed away. Needless to say, when I found out I was pregnant again, I started really thinking about the safety and effectiveness of products made for children and mothers. I am a preschool teacher, so I've been looking into products for a while, but not like this. I started looking at and researching ingredients, looking at pieces and parts of a product, and really thinking about the appropriateness of a product in regards to the age group it was made for. I told everyone from my husband to my doctors that I was going to be an anal and neurotic parent, and I've lived up to my words. That doesn't mean though that I don't to have fun with my son, I definitely want him to play and experience everything and go places. I just male sure that he has the best quality products available. I welcome all of you to take part in this blog. I want to know everyone's opinions and experiences and welcome you all to make this as merry and comfortable of an environment as possible!

Paci, Binkie, Dummie... Pacifiers!

From the moment I found out I was pregnant with our second son, my husband and I agreed that we would not use a pacifier. And then he was born. While I still held on and refused to use a pacifier on our son for fear that it would cause nipple confusion, my husband was adamant on buying at least a few "just to keep him happy!" and because pacifiers have been thought to reduce the risk of SIDS. Just like with almost everything we've bought our son, I decided to do my research. I have listed my three favorites along with useful information on each.

Right now we're using Avent Soothie Pacifiers and Chunkas seems to like these the most. Unlike other pacifiers that seem to be oddly shaped, the Soothie closely resembles a nipple, and since Chunkas is EBF, its no surprises he has responded best to these. I am a fan of these pacifiers for a number of reasons but I'll just list my favorites.

1. No BPA! BPA, or bisphenol A, is a chemical used to make some plastics and resins and "Exposure to BPA is a concern because of possible health effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children." (mayoclinic.org)
2. One single piece instead of pieces that can fall off or break. The Soothie is made of high-quality silicone, instead of the attached piece that most other pacifiers have.
3. Ease of sanitizing. The Soothie is very easy to sanitize because of the high-quality silicone and the fact that it is dishwasher safe.

MAM is one of my favorite companies for high quality baby products and they also make great pacifiers. While, of course, being BPA free, MAM makes their pacifier's nipples out of either high quality silicone or a natural, sustainably sourced latex, giving parents a choice and an option. These pacifiers also come in some pretty darn cute designs too! Newborn is pretty basic, but once your LO starts climbing that ladder, you can pick between different shields, designs, and even glow-in-the-dark pacifiers!

Lastly, Dr. Brown's PreVent Pacifiers. These pacifiers are pretty neat! The nipple has their patented Suction-Free Air Channel that helps reduce suction on the roof of your baby's mouth, is designed to help lower the pressures inside your baby's mouth by spreading while being sucked, and the stem is extremely thin and comfortable as opposed to the bulky ones. Like other paci's, these are available in three different sizes and plenty of super cute designs and colors.

These three companies are Chunkas' and my favorites and we highly recommend each one of them. There are plenty of different companies that make pacifiers and every child is different from the next, so I highly suggest each parent does their own research. I have provided what I have learned and what my child and I like, but I cannot guarantee that you and your child will feel the same. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and if you have anything you would lie to add, please feel free to do so!

Voyage to Farland Giveaway!!

I'm going to be entirely upfront - roguelikes are one of the types of games that, while I like them, I'm not very good at them. I've heard such good things about some of them, text-based ones particularly, but the controls are so crazy and equipment is a hassle and I die on the first or second floor every time. While Voyage to Farland has a lot in common with those, it's far better, has more going on, but manages to do it all while keeping the required buttons to a minimum, using intuitive menus and making equipment a breeze. Oh, and it's a graphical roguelike, so you don't control an @ symbol fighting letters, shooting *s, etc.

Heavenly Soles Giveaway!

Here it is... The Heavenly Soles Giveaway!! These boots are absolutely AMAZZZING!! Good luck everyone!!

  Hosted By:  The Binder Ladies

Co-Hosted By: Sweet Southern Lovin,  Cookies Kitchens & Silly Seely's Reviews!

Looking for the perfect pair of Winter boots?  We've found them!  Heavenly Soles Sheepskin Boots

Dee over at The Binder Ladies, got to review the Chestnut Classic Tall Sheepskin Boots and can't say enough about the comfort, support and style they offer.  You can read the full review over HERE.

Learn more about Heavenly Soles Sheepskin Shoes & Boots for men, women and babies HERE, checkout their Facebook Page HERE and follow them on Twitter HERE!

 Want to score a great deal on some Heavenly Soles?  

Score 15% off your purchase when you use our exclusive code:  TBL134  at checkout! 

One entrant will win a pair of Heavenly Soles Sheepskin Boots of their choice!

 Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win! Giveaway ends on 1/21 @ 11:59 pm PST.

This is available to U.S. residents, 18 years and older.

**** a Rafflecopter giveaway ****

*The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post, nor are they responsible for prize shipment.  Winner will have 24 hours to respond after being contacted via email. If you have any questions, please contact thebinderladies@gmail.com