Kidz Bop 21 and Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits (Review and Giveaway!)

There are many things to be said about music and children.

With seven children in the house, there is usually someone playing music somewhere in the house. One thing is for sure in our house...the children, including our sweet four (almost five) year old and our two year old son were even jammin' out to the songs on the Kidz Bop CD's.

I almost collapsed laughing when I realized that the two little guys knew all of the words to some of the songs...apparently learned while listening to music with their older siblings. Because Kidz Bop, if you live under a rock and have never heard of these CD's before, pick popular songs that the kids are listening to on the radio and then they have a group of kids sing the songs for the CD, rather than the original singers on the radio. It's popular pop songs meets children's karaoke, in a way.

We received Kidz Bop 21 a few weeks ago, and when my husband popped the CD in, all of the children started to dance around and sing to it. It's an immediate party in my living room! 

Kidz Bop 21  

Kidz Bop 21 is already available for purchase, and features the following songs:

• Party Rock Anthem
• Moves Like Jagger
• The Edge of Glory
• Good Life
• Without You
• Fly
• Hello
• Many More!

Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits

Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits will release on May 8th (yes, I already received my copy!). A usual, my children were ecstatic to get it in the mail and couldn't wait to pop it in and sing along to the following hits:

• Hey Soul Sister
• Single Ladies
• You Belong With
• DJ's Got Us Falling In Love
• You'll have to buy it - OR WIN IT - to find out more!

Now, my kids want to take the CD's in the van when we go places and "jam" to their "tunes" as we "cruise"...

GIVEAWAY!

And, now your kids can jam out to their tunes with Kidz Bop, because TWO lucky Mommy Rantings readers will win a fresh-off-the-press copy of the yet-to-be-released Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits, right here! Your kids are going to love it!

Two winners will be chosen randomly from the comment section below. Here's how to enter:

1) Like Mommy Rantings on Facebook. (mandatory entry)

You said you want more entries?

2) Leave a quick comment to tell us how your kids react to music. (one entry)
3) Subscribe to Mommy Rantings newsletter (top left hand corner of the site, under Pinterest button). (one entry)
4) Tweet this giveaway. (one entry)
5) Share this giveaway on Facebook (there's a handy share button at the top of this post). (two entries)
5) Blog about this giveaway (five entries)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.

Please be sure to post your email address in your comments so I can contact you if you win!

This giveaway will end on April 30th at midnight EST. Good Luck!

We were provided Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits and Kidz Bop 21 CD's to review, as well as the CD's for giveaway. No compensation was provided for this review.

Pillsbury Ready to Bake GIVEAWAY! #MyBlogSpark

Okay, I seriously tried to get photos of the cookies that we baked, but they were gone as fast as they came out of the oven! That's what happens when there are seven children in the house...

So, let's talk about what I have in store for you! This giveaway consists of some super cool items for your kitchen, kitchen lovers!

Wouldn't you love a new Pillsbury cookie jar, cookie spatula and this awesome Pillsbury oven mit that hangs conveniently on your oven or refrigerator to add to your kitchen ensemble?

But, wait, there's more! Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark don't want you to have to think about what you'll bake first, because they're also going to send you a VIP coupon so you can grab Pillsbury® Ready to Bake!TM Shape® Cookies for FREE! Yes, we're going to make sure you have everything you need...you just have to have a stove!

Please be sure to follow Pillsbury:

• Pillsbury Website: http://bit.ly/PSCEASTER  
• Pillsbury Facebook: http://on.fb.me/EasterPSC
•  Pillsbury Twitter: http://bit.ly/PSCEasterTW

GIVEAWAY!

You will get ONE entry into this contest, and it's an easy peasy entry. All you have to do is "Like" Mommy Rantings on Facebook and leave a comment on this post.

This giveawayu is open to U.S residents and will end April 20th, 2012 at midnight EST.

That's it! Good luck!


The product, prize pack, information, and giveaway have all been provided by Pillsbury through #MyBlogSpark.

Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks Review and My Blog Spark Giveaway!

Not all fruit snacks are created equal. I say this because there are some that are really soft and chewy, but have little to no taste, while others can be hard and difficult to chew, but they taste delicious! Then, there are the ones with fruity juices in them - my kids LOVE the juicy ones! But, wait! There's one that has the flavor of the juicy fruit snacks without the juice.

We had the opportunity to try out Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks. The kids said that they tasted just like the fruit snacks with the juice in the middle - they loved them! As a matter of fact, we were sent 6 boxes of the Berries and Cherries and I don't think they lasted two days in this house! (I even caught my husband sneaking them by the box!) They also have the "assorted fruit" flavor.

The Healthy Part

You can put Ocean Spray's fruit snacks on the "healthy snack" list, because they'll give your children their daily dose of Vitamin C and they're made with real fruit juice. Aha! And, kids don't know that the fruit snacks are good for them!

GIVEAWAY!

Did you say you wanted to try them for yourself? Here's your chance!

Ocean Spray and My Blog Spark have offered to giveaway Ocean Spray Fruit Snacks to one lucky Mommy Rantings reader! Here's what you need to do:

1) Leave a comment - What do you look for in a fruit snack? (Don't forget your email!)


Want extra entries? (Remember to leave a comment for each entry!)

1) Like Ocean Spray on Facebook.
2) Follow Ocean Spray on Twitter.
3) Like Mommy Rantings on Facebook.
4) Follow Mommy Rantings on Twitter.

This giveaway will end at 4pm EST sharp on March 7th! Good Luck!

This review and giveaway was sponsored by Ocean Spray and My Blog Spark. Thank you! No compensation was received and all opinions are truthful.

Teething Bling! Mom Jewelry and Baby Teether All in One!

The concept is ingenious! You take the fact that our little teethers are constantly trying to yank on our jewelry - with the main goal, just like any other object that they get their chubby little hands on, of somehow getting it into their mouths. Collide the two ideas and you get Teething Bling by Smart Mom Jewelry.

This is the one I have!

Now, I loooooooooooove jewelry. Lia Sophia, Park Lane, Napier, Monet...I have collected an assortment of bracelets (yes, including bangles), necklaces, anklets, rings, earrings, you name it. (Many were steals on eBay and finds at yard sales, lucky me!) So, when you add another element to jewelry, like keeping a baby content and soothed (especially a teething baby, oh, the joys!), you hit the jackpot with me! Now, I've added Teething Bling to my favorite list of jewelry, too.

The pendant on the necklace that I received feels just like a soft, chewy baby toy, but to the eye, it looks like it could be ceramic and it's super-sparkly-glimmery-shimmery. After looking through their product pages, I can tell you that they couldn't have selected a more perfect choice for me!

Here are a few more necklaces that I really like:

Zebra pendant (under Patterned Pendants)

And, don't forget your favorite tween who helps with the baby:

Jungle Green Tween Bling Heart Shaped (under Tween Bling)

And, did you say that you needed a matching bangle bracelet?

Jade bangle

Is It Safe?

Now, I know the question that immediately popped into your mind...Is Teething Bling jewelry actually safe for babies to have in their mouths? And, my immediate response is: Do you think I would back a product that isn't safe for our precious little munchkins? Of course not!

Here's the scoop: According to Smart Mom Jewelry, the pendants and bracelets are made of "medical-grade, food safe silicone", which is the same material used for the baby spoons and teething toys that we already purchase for our babies.

Here's more information, straight from the horse's mouth:


"Teething Bling^® contains no harmful chemicals: no phthalates, BPAs, PVCs, lead or latex.  Our products are CPSIA compliant, carry the European CE mark for safety and are FDA approved.  Pendants also come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature. We remind users to never put a pendant ON a baby, and never leave your child unattended with jewelry of any kind."

And the cord? Obviously, you won't be leaving your child unattended with your necklace, because it's supposed to be conveniently worn around your neck, but just so you know, the nylon cord that they use has been safety tested, as well.

We haven't hit the teething stage here yet with Chase (thank goodness!), but he is starting to figure out how to grasp things and does that crossing-the-eyes thing while he tries to get them to his mouth. He has taste-tested the Teething Bling already, and I can tell that it's going to be a lifesaver in the very near future!

A product was provided for the purpose of this review. Thanks, Smart Mom Jewelry! You rock!

Amazing Deals on Glasses (And A Blessing)! 39dollarglasses.com Review and Giveaway!

Blessings never cease to amaze me when they occur!

Veronica, my 10-year-old daughter, woefully came to me with her prescription glasses - one piece in each hand. Somehow, Kodi-bear had gotten his devious little hands on them and broke the (let's see if I get this right...) "temple" in two. (I'm referring to the piece that goes from the frames to the ear - did I get it right?) Needless to say, she was devastated. And, I reluctantly added "Get Veronica new glasses" to my to-do list for the upcoming week. Ugh! Do you KNOW how much the last pair of glasses cost me?

Unfortunately, with school coming up fast, Dylan's surgery date impending and the new baby on the way, my to-do list was overwhelming and getting Veronica glasses fell to the bottom of the list. Fortunately, she only has to wear them for reading and seeing in the classroom, so they weren't necessary for everyday activities until she actually went back to school. However, school was coming up FAST!

The Blessing

Remember I mentioned a blessing? Just as the kids are gearing up to start school, Dylan's surgery is on the brink, the baby's birth is impending, and my to-do list doesn't seem to be dwindling as fast as I need it to, the opportunity to work with 39dollarglasses.com presents itself. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "God works in mysterious ways!"

When I received the email about reviewing the site - and the opportunity to receive a pair of glasses in exchange for the review of the site and the glasses, I was so excited! It was actually beyond that - I was ecstatic and amazed at the timing of the proposal.

The 39dollarglasses.com Website

One of the first things that I did when I visited the 39dollarglasses.com website was check out the selection of glasses. Would my daughter even like any of the choices that they offered? First of all, the organization of the website is extremely user-friendly, from start to end. There are quick-access tabs at the top of the homepage that will lead you to the type of glasses that you are looking for. So, quickly and simply, I clicked on the "Shop Eyeglasses" tab and found the "Kids Eyeglasses" category. Just with a quick glance, I knew immediately that Veronica would find something that she would love.

Because I want her to feel comfortable, classy, sophisticated and pretty when she wears her glasses, I chose to let her make the decision on her own. I told her to get on the laptop and look through the kids eyeglasses on her own. One of the coolest things about the website is how you can click on a pair of glasses to view them and then change the color of the frames and lenses with a click of a button. It's actually quite fun and we ended up spending far longer than I expected "designing" our own glasses. However, as I mentioned, I wanted Veronica to choose a pair that she would like for a long time and feel good about wearing.

After a ton of playing around, she decided that she loved the "Rabbit" style in lavender. I couldn't agree with her more. They are stylish, chic and make her feel pretty. (See pic below)

Glasses sure have come a long way since we were children! I know quite a few kids who would have loved the opportunity to choose from the selection of glasses that 39dollarglasses.com offers back when I was in school!

Ordering

Once you have chosen the type/color glasses that you want to buy, it's time to order. Now, I am a prescription eyeglass script Loser. I have no idea what any of the numbers mean - or even how to enter the numbers correctly on an order form.  I have never ordered glasses online before, either, so this part was surely going to be difficult!

To my surprise and disbelief, 39dollarglasses has this covered! They make ordering prescription eyeglasses simple for a dum-dum like me. :) Managing a veterinary hospital several years ago taught me the O.D. and O.S. part of the prescription (right eye and left eye, respectively), but the rest was foreign. Unfortunately, the script I was provided by Veronica's ophthalmologist had no graph, no lines, and no way to easily figure out which number went into which box.

Like I said, though, 39dollarglasses has this covered! They have a "How to Read My Prescription" link that opens up a new window. This window breaks down each aspect of the script and even has 6 more questions to help answer common questions that people might have about their script. With this information and instruction, I was easily able to enter the appropriate numbers into the correct spots. (And without this guided ordering, I would have become frustrated and probably have left the site and looked for a more user-friendly site if I was ordering eyeglasses for the first time.)

Polycarbonate 

I learned a new word back when I first ordered glasses for my kids (I have two in glasses): Polycarbonate. This basically means that they are impact-resistant, and it is "the same material used to make bulletproof glass", according to the site.

Accidents happen, especially with children (hence the broken pair in the first place!). When I was ordering glasses at the ophthalmologist's office last time around, they highly recommended polycarbonate glasses for the kids, as they were much, much safer.  They told me that if one of the kids wore their glasses in gym class, for example, and a ball hits their glasses, shards of glass could go into their eyes - not a pretty thought! Unfortunately, my insurance did not cover this aspect of the glasses, so up went the price $100 for each pair!

Would you know that 39dollarglasses does not even give you the option to choose polycarbonate glasses when you order glasses for your kids? ALL of their children's glasses are made with the polycarbonate glass, so no matter which pair you choose, your child's eye will be as safe as they can be. And, there's no extra charge or fees for the polycarbonate - I LOVE that! (An immediate savings of $200!)

The polycarbonate is also lighter and thinner than most regular glasses, which is great for children's little faces, too!

More Options

I was provided an allotment to spend at 39dollarglasses, so when it came time to check out, I was able to select the anti-reflective coating, as Veronica likes to use the computer frequently. The last step was probably the most fun, as we were able to choose a "designer" case. This is the one we chose:

How adorable for a 10-year-old girl! And, it all cost less than $75! In addition, I ordered Veronica's eyeglasses on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, and we received them in the mail on Wednesday...how's that for fast shipping?


My Opinion...(In case I haven't said enough!)

I can't say enough about 39dollarglasses.com. They not only make it easy to order prescription eyeglasses on their website, they also have a ton of different styles of frames, colors and even cases to choose from! From now on, forget about replacing accidentally broken eyeglasses through our ophthalmologist or at any of the local eyeglass places around here! I'm going to save time and money the next time around and order through39dollarglasses.com!

Affiliate Program

If you are interested in working with 39dollarglasses.com, they have an excellent affiliate program.

Giveaway!(A Blessing for You!)

39dollarglasses.com wants you to check out their website, their easy ordering and their excellent prices, too! They are passing on the blessing of a pair of prescription glasses (up to $75) to one very lucky Mommy Rantings reader! (US or Canada addresses only)

Simply "Like" the 39dollarglasses.com Facebook page. (But, be sure to NOT leave a message that Mommy Rantings sent you, as it is their policy to remove posts that include blog names)


Did you say you wanted extra entries???

For extra entries:

Like Mommy Rantings on Facebook

Follow Mommy Rantings through GFC (left hand column of blog)

And, for three extra entries, you can blog about this giveaway and leave three comments with a link to your blog.

This giveaway will end on October 7th at midnight eastern. Good Luck!

Thank you, 39dollarglasses.com for this opportunity and blessing! I was provided an allotment to spend at 39dollarglasses.com in order to perform this review. All opinions in this review are mine.

Jungle Speed: A Challeging and Fun Game Kids Love (Even the Computer-Addicted Children!) - Review and Giveaway!

It's always exciting to get a box in the mail for the children to review! It's even more exhilarating for us to have the opportunity to give a super-cool product away to another family!

When I started to explain the email to my children about the game Jungle Speed by Asmodee, my 9 year old, Nicholas, announced, "Hey! My teacher has that game! It's soooo fun!" As usual, the cheers arose when I told the kids that we were receiving the game to review.

It came quickly in the mail, so there was no delay in getting right to the reviewing! The first thing that I noticed about the game was that it was perfect for a large family like ours. Most games only accommodate only 4 or 6 players, but Jungle Speed has room for 2 to 10 players.

Then, although the game requires the speed of children who are aged 8 and above, the concept of the game was simple enough to include both the 6 year old and our four year old, which was also wonderful! For kids who are addicted to the Internet and computers, I am proud, delighted and surprised to say that they will actually decided to play Jungle Speed without being kicked off the computers because their precious "computer allotted time" per day has expired. Now, THAT should tell you something!

This isn't one of those games (and most of them turn out this way) that my kids play once and then put up on the shelf to collect dust. HONESTLY, they have played it at least two times per week since we received it about 6 weeks ago. THAT should tell you something, too! It surprises me every time I hear one of my kids say, "Hey, you want to play Jungle Speed?" to a sibling. It makes me feel good, too. It's a great game for coordination and quick action. It's also great, with our size family, for my oldest children to take the time with the younger ones and teach them how to play, which requires (and also teaches) my older children patience! Bonus points!

Here is how the email described the game:

Jungle Speed is the fast and furious game of quick thinking and lightening fast reflexes.  Think classic card games Spoons or WAR, embellish the cards with abstract shapes and colors and add a call to action to race opponents to a totem.  Each player must be spot-on, in between outbursts of laughter and action!  Jungle Speed features easy-to-learn play for entertaining and animated fun for the entire family.

It’s good for the brain, too! Recent research shows that board games, such as Jungle Speed, are positively impacting on children’s cognitive development skills and brain motor function.  The game play also helps kids develop valuable skills in patience, cooperation, concentration, teamwork and perseverance.

GAME PLAY

The Jungle Speed game is engaging and exciting.  The complete deck of cards featuring abstract images is divided evenly among all players.  They place their cards face down in front of them.  A bright yellow totem is placed in the middle of the table.

•       Each player, in turn, reveals the top card of their draw pile. As players become more familiar with the symbols, they flip cards faster.  Players are looking for identical cards.  Colors do not matter, only symbols.

•       If two cards are identical, those players must make a grab for the totem.  The faster player then gets to dump off all their cards to their unfortunate adversary.

•       To add to the difficulty, certain symbols on the cards are almost identical, which can trick a player into grabbing the totem by mistake.

•       Just when players think they've got it down, one of three special cards can temporarily change the rules and keep them on the edge.  Players may be called to make a grab at once, look for matching colors and not symbols, or even simultaneously flip cards.

•       The first person to get rid of all their cards wins the game!

•       Players:  2 to 10

•       Price: $19.99/ Ages: 8 and up/ Availability: July 2011

Where to Buy

Jungle Speed can be purchased at Walmart, Target, Toys 'R' Us and many other retail stores across the U.S.

Win It!

Aha! But, now you have the chance to win Jungle Speed, right here on Mommy Rantings! Gear up to show your kids a ton of fun. I'm going to make this giveaway simple for you, too!

"Like" Jungle Speed on Facebook.(Leave a comment on their page that Mommy Rantings sent you!)

"Like" Mommy Rantings on Facebook and say "hi" to the other Mommy Rantings "Likers".

Then, post a comment below this post that you did both and you are officially entered to win Jungle Speed! This giveaway will end Sept 10th! Good luck!

I received a product for the purpose of review. I was not compensated for this post. All of the opinions stated in this post are my own.

Certain Dri "100 Days of Summer Giveaway" (Review & Giveaway!)

Certain Dri is a different type of anti-perspirant. It's not your normal run-of-the-mill, over-the-counter deodorant/anti-perspirant. First of all, with the help of the insert that came along with the product, I want to explain the difference between a deodorant and an anti-perspirant.

Deodorant

According to the insert, a deodorant is "any kind of fragrance used to cover up or deodorize one odor with another". It also mentions that, "rarely, however, can a deodorant inhibit perspiration or retard bacterial growth and odor for more than a brief time".

Anti-Perspirant

"A TRUE anti-perspirant", according to Certain Dri's insert, "should shrink and close off underarms pores to inhibit the flow of perspiration." In addition, "an anti-perspiration is also a deodorant because it prevents perspiration which is the source of odor-causing bacteria; but a deodorant is not necessarily an anti-perspirant."

Now, with that mess straightened out, maybe you'll be able to shop better. :)

Opinion

The instructions require application at bed-time, and the reason for this is to get those pores to close while you are sleeping...as opposed to working against your active lifestyle during the day. Once applied, Certain-Dry touts that its protection lasts 72 hours. Now, I started using Certain Dri at the beginning of the summer and with being pregnant and the summer heat combined, I can safely say that I'd give Certain Dri, if applied as directed, about 48 hours to last. I was definitely in need of more deodorant after day two, however that may be because showers come into play - did you think I would go 3 days without showering? No thanks!

All in all, though, I have been very happy with Certain Dri and haven't bought - or even thought of buying - another anti-perspirant or deodorant all summer. And, there's still plenty left!

Giveaways!

Certain-Dri's "100 Days of Summer Giveaway" is almost over - they're giving away one Certain-Dri until it ends on Sept 3rd. Simply like them on Facebook to enter. Every Friday, the weekly winners are announced.

But, if that's not enough for you, Certain-Dri has also offered to give away a Certain Dri Solid Anti-Perspirant to one U.S. winner, right here on Mommy Rantings!

Just click on the link about to "Like" Certain Dri on Facebook and then "Like" Mommy Rantings on Facebook. Don't forget to tell Certain Dri that I sent you on their Facebook page!!!

Finally, leave a comment that you liked both pages and you're entered! This giveaway will end on September 7th. Thank you, Certain Dri, for offering a product to review and sponsoring this giveaway!

I was provided a sample product of Certain Dri to perform my review. I was not provided compensation for this post. All opinions are specifically my own.

TheraBreath Review and Giveaway: How To Get Fresher Breath

Fresh breath is a necessity in life if you plan to get close to anyone, right? But, even if you don't get close to anyone...you still want a healthy smile and fresh breath, I'm sure. I'm not going to go into the hundreds of reasons to keep your mouth/teeth/gums healthy, because you should already know that you only have one smile and you need to take care of it. This so very true for your children's mouths, too.

I will say that there have been mornings when I have been corralling the kids, working on getting them off to school, when I've gotten a whiff of some of the worst morning breath of the century!(I'm not even exaggerating!)

So, I had to hunt down the culprit - or culprits - with the stinky breath and send them straight to the bathroom to brush and rinse with TheraBreath.

I have to mention, first of all, that the toothpaste is not as strong as many of the toothpastes that you find over the counter, so my children weren't as turned off at the taste of the TheraBreath. (Which is great! The less complaints around the house, the better!) In addition, the toothpaste does not produce all of that foaminess that regular toothpastes create, so there is less to spit out.

Dr. Harold Katz is the genius mind behind TheraBreath - and I actually learned something new from the Dr.! When reading the mouthwash instructions, I realized that a great deal of bad breath germs were located in the throat...so, the directions noted that you should rinse your mouth out and then gargle (hold your head back and get the mouthwash into the throat area - gurgle gurgle) to get rid of those bad breath germs in the throat.

Funny, I noticed for many years that I could brush my teeth and swish with mouthwash, but I still didn't feel like I had completely fresh breath. No wonder!!! Now, I know the trick to an even fresher mouth - and the freshness lasts longer. The mouthwash, like the toothpaste, does not have a strong taste to it, so again, the children do not complain about it. With TheraBreath, it's not like pulling teeth :) to get them to take care of their teeth.

If you ever get metallic, sour or bitter yuckiness in your mouth, the TheraBreath mouth rinse will immediately eliminate it. 

What I loved most about the TheraBreath system was the lozenges. Apparently, the children loved them, too, because I ended up having to put them up on top of the refrigerator. The two little ones kept asking for the "nannies in the box" - which translates to "the candies in the box". Let me say that these are the perfect little breath mints to keep in your purse, on your desk at work, and anywhere else you might need to quickly freshen your breath up. They have a nifty taste of mint and citrus, which is different, tasty and leaves the smoothest aftertaste for a breath mint - and it even leaves your mouth moist! 

The box is handy-dandy and perfect for reaching in and grabbing either one for the road or a handful to stuff in the purse. Think about it, too: for a family as large as mine...if we go out to eat and then, say, head over to a friend's house for a play date, bringing toothbrushes and a messy tube of toothpaste for everyone is not the ideal situation...and then, where are we all going to brush? The lozenges resolve this issue...just stuff them in the purse (in a zip-lock bag)...they are individually wrapped and don't take up any space at all. Don't feel like carrying your purse today? Pop a handful in your pocket!

The lozenges work in 3 stages: they eliminate the yucky odors and flavors in the mouth, attack bad breath germs with a combination of Zinc, Oxygen and Xylitol, and then they send out a salivary agent that stimulates the production of saliva, which eliminates that dry-mouth issue.

All in all, the entire family really likes the TheraBreath products and hope you like them, too!

Giveway!

And, you'll be able to let me know what you think, because TheraBreath is going to give away a tube of their toothpaste and a bottle of their mouthwash to one lucky Mommy Rantings reader. (U.S. entrants only) TheraBreath also requests that if you have already won a TheraBreath prize on another giveaway, please refrain from entering so that others can try their products.

The mandatory entry is:

Go to their website and tell me something that I didn't mention.


You say you want some bonus entries??? Extra (optional) entries (remember, the more you enter, the better your chances are to win!) Leave a separate comment for each entry. :)

1) "Like" Mommy Rantings on Facebook. (right hand column of blog) 

2) Follow QueenBMomma on Twitter. (left hand column of blog)

3) Subscribe via email (left hand column)



4) Blog about this giveaway - tell me your blog's URL.

5) Tweet this giveaway (you can do this once per day!) (1 entry per tweet -leave twitter name)

6) Link to Mommy Rantings from your blog (leave the link).

7)  "Like" TheraBreath on Facebook and tell them that Mommy Rantings sent you!
 
8 )  Follow TheraBreath on Twitter.

Winners will be chosen through Random.org and the winning entries will be validated (I will make sure that you did the mandatory entry and the entry # or #'s that is/are chosen). PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN EACH ONE OF YOUR ENTRIES. RUNNING AROUND THE INTERNET TRACKING DOWN WINNERS IS NO FUN!

Thank you to TheraBreath for sponsoring this giveaway! This giveaway will end on 7/28/2011 at midnight EST. I will contact the winner by email and they will have 24 hours to respond before the runner up is chosen. Good luck!

I received products to perform this review. Everything that I have mentioned in this review is my own personal opinions. No compensation was received from TheraBreath.

Honeycat Cosmetics Review and Giveaway!

You know what they say about first impressions...

And then, there is the second impression and the third impression...and Honeycat Cosmetics hits them all!

I'll start with the first impression...when I opened the box, the first thing that I saw was the leopard print tissue paper and the pink (yes, pink!) packing popcorn. An A+ for the first impression.

The second impression was the actual packaging of the products. Anyone in marketing knows that in order to make your products stand out from the next company's products, you have to come up with packaging that not only represents what your company wants to portray, but also creates a lasting impression and creates some type of appeal for your products. As I mentioned, Honeycat hit a home run on the packaging. They also appealed to my nose, and if you're a regular reader here at Mommy Rantings, you already know how quickly I fall in love with products that have delicious aromas!

The cutest packaging that I have ever seen came in the sardine-can looking Foaming Bath Crystals. The third impression was the aroma that came from the can (which was nothing like the nose-burning smell of sardines). A minty, raspberry chocolatey aroma wafted from the bath cystals - it is prrrr-fect for a relaxing soak in the tub.

The next thing I had to sniff was the You Gotta Be Kitten Me shower gel, which was adorned with a pretty pink bow. I immediately picked up the strong, yet soothing aroma of pomegranate - how I love the thick scent of pomegranate! It gets better than the aroma, though. The nutrient-rich shower gel has ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter and sweet almond oil to delicately enrich your skin...and it will last forever (especially if you use it with a bath puff), because a drop makes an enormous lather. More prrrr's.

Frisky Kitty Bath Time Fizzy also has its own unique packaging...and inside, you will experience the soothing aromas of lilac mixed with a little bit of honey and lavender. Some of the ingredients you will find in the bath fizzy are: avocado and sweet almond oils, oatmeal, Goat's Milk and lavender. You can drop the whole entire ball into your bath for a fizzy festival...or you can frugally make it last forever like I'm doing by breaking off pieces into your bath and saving the rest for another time.

Mmmm...but, my most favorite impression of all was the aroma that met my nose when I opened the Warm Milk Martini Moisturizing Powdered Milk Bath. Just listen to the ingredients and imagine the dreaminess that I experienced: Goat's Milk powder, Butter Milk powder, Coconut Milk powder, Sweet Almond oil, Vitamin E and Olive Leaf. Somehow, combined together, the powders create a martini-like aroma with a twist of lime. It's just one of those things that you have to experience for yourself...better yet is the skin-softening creamy milk bath that the powder creates. 

You may be wondering how it can get any better...well, it can! Honeycat Cosmetics prides their company on making products that are both natural (and, you know I love that!) and completely free of animal testing...as a former Practice Manager of a veterinary hospital, that's another major plus in my department!

I even have to mention that I made the ultimate mistake of letting my husband get a whiff of the different fragrances in my new assortment from Honeycat Cosmetics...and needless to say, I'm hiding this box from his sneaky paws! 

 

Giveaway!

And, of course, the moment that you've been waiting for...(drum roll please)...the giveaway! Honeycat Cosmetics has offered to give away one of their scrumptious shower gels to a Mommy Rantings follower!

 

Entering is simple. For this giveaway, all you have to do is:

Mandatory entry: Go to the Honeycat Cosmetics website and tell me which shower gel you would love and why.

Extra (optional) entries (remember, the more you enter, the better your chances are to win!)

1) "Like" Mommy Rantings on Facebook. (right hand column of blog) 

2) Follow QueenBMomma on Twitter. (left hand column of blog)

3)Subscribe via email (left hand column)


4) Blog about this giveaway - tell me your blog's URL.

5) Tweet this giveaway (you can do this once per day!) (1 entry per tweet -leave twitter name)

6) Link to Mommy Rantings from your blog (leave the link).

7) Like Honeycat Cosmetics on Facebook (you'll want to do this anyways!) AND tell them Mommy Rantings sent you!

Winners will be chosen through Random.org and the winning entries will be validated (I will make sure that you did the mandatory entry and the entry # or #'s that is/are chosen). PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN EACH ONE OF YOUR ENTRIES. RUNNING AROUND THE INTERNET TRACKING DOWN WINNERS IS NO FUN!

Thank you to Honeycat Cosmetics for sponsoring this giveaway! This giveaway will end on 7/29/2011 at midnight EST. I will contact the winner by email and they will have 24 hours to respond before the runner up is chosen. Good luck!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.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. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Tangle Teezer and Magic Flowerpot Review and Giveaway! How to Get the Tangles out of Hair without Tears! CLOSED

I love it! I love it! I love it!

Did I say that I love it? It's called the Tangle Teezer...and it's seriously ingenious! Is your hair unmanageable and difficult to brush? Do you fight with your hair every day...if you do, how much hair are you losing in that brush or comb? I can bet that if your hair is anything like mine or my daughter's, you're finding gobs of hair in the brush after pulling through the tangles!

Two Totally Different Hair Types

My daughter and I, believe it or not, have two totally different hair types. I have below-the-bum-length, dirty blond, thick, bone-straight hair, while she has the gorgeous medium length, spiral curly hair that is hard to brush and definitely impossible to manage at times. Despite how beautiful her hair is, she hates to brush it (she has SPD, so she is especially sensitive when it comes to brushing hair).

The Tangle Teezer

It looks like a simple concept, but I was surprised at how well it worked! After several years of purchasing numerous detangling "solutions", hair serums and oils and a plethora of brushes and picks and combs, the solution to detangling hair without causing breakage and assaulting it comes in the form of this little "brush", the Tangle Teezer.

My hair loves it! The Tangle Teezer makes my hair soooo soft! There is a "trick" to using the Tangle Teezer, too (you can find it in the instruction manual that comes with it). When you are in the shower (or my favorite - the bath!), while conditioning your hair, use the Tangle Teezer to evenly distribute the conditioner through your hair and comb through any tangles right then and there. This works so well! When you get out of the shower (or tub), your hair is already untangled...all you have to do is dry it and style it. And, it will be soft, soft, soft! When my hair gets tangled throughout the night - I toss and turn when I sleep - it's best to start at the bottom of my hair and work my way up to get out all of the tangles.

This conditioning trick works great for my daughter's very unmanageable hair. No more fighting with the hair after the shower...all she has to do is scrunch her hair after the shower and it's a done deal! Oh, the struggles that I won't have to face anymore!

The Tangle Teezer is also supposed to reduce breakage and damage to the hair - and I can see how it does this. The bristles are gentle, flexible and shorter than a normal hairbrush or comb and they are very thin, so they won't pull on the hair and get caught like most bristles. 

Here is a shot video about the Tangle Teezer:



The Magic Flowerpot

I received a special bonus in my package to review! And, I have to share that when I was conversing by email with the representative for Tangle Teezer and she offered to send the Magic Flowerpot, too, I was thinking, "Cool! My kids love to grow flowers!" I immediately thought that she was referring to a flowerpot that would magically grow flowers! (LOL) But, this is a miniature version of the Tangle Teezer, made specifically for little girls.

Isn't it the cutest thing? It doesn't come with the hair thingies inside, but there is plenty of room to store little hair items. Here is what it looks like closed:

As you can see, there are different colors to choose from. If this wouldn't make the perfect gift for a little girl on her birthday or for Christmas, I don't know what is!

Because my "little girl" was away at a friend's house when we opened the package, I had 5 "little boys" trying out and reviewing the Magic Flowerpot. All of my boys have a variation of curly hair, from fine and curly to thick and curly, and when you wet the boys hair and comb through it with the Magic Flowerpot, it makes those curls bounce right back! It's like using a pick. I didn't have to use any other products on their hair (the usual mousse or gel) to get those curls...the Magic Flowerpot magically created them without the added products.

Other Reviews

I actually combed through - cute pun, huh? - other reviews on the 'net and found many-a chickies with hair that looks far more difficult to work with than my daughter's hair, and they raved about the Tangle Teezer, too.Curly Nikki recently updated her review to say that she thinks that the Tangle Teezer might be the culprit for her newly forming split ends...bummer! But, I personally think that most brushes/combs/etc and normal daily care is going to cause split ends - so, considering how quick and easy it is to use and the immediate results that it has proven on both my and my daughter's hair, I won't be "shelving it" like Nikki.

Buy It

You can get your own Tangle Teezer at Sally's Beauty Supply or visit the order now page. Amazon and Google have also jumped in on the bandwagon. You will find the Tangle Teezer for about $10. If you think about all of the hair care products that you have gone through trying to find the perfect solution, $10 is just a drop in the bucket in comparison.

But, Wait! There's More! Giveaways!

There will be two different giveaways...one winner will be chosen for the original Tangle Teezer and one for the Magic Flowerpot. Be sure to mention in your entry which one you would like to receive. I will do my best to get you the one that you request. I will make the method of entry fairly simple:

1) Join Mommy Rantings via Google Friend Connect (left hand column) OR "Like" Mommy Rantings on Facebook (right hand column). This is a mandatory entry.

Other possible entries:

1) Visit the Tangle Teezer website and tell me something that I didn't mention.

2) "Like" Tangle Teezer on Facebook. Leave them a message that Mommy Rantings sent you!

Please be sure to leave your email in your entries! I will not track you down if you don't. :( This giveaway will end July 6th at midnight eastern!

Thank you, Tangle Teezer for the opportunity to do this review and giveaway!

FTC disclosure: I received products to perform this review. All opinions expressed are solely mine. No compensation was received for this review.

Kiki's Fashions: Cheap, Trendy Maternity Clothes! Review & Giveaway! CLOSED

When you're expecting a new baby, the last thing you want to do is spend a fortune on maternity clothing. And, if you have other children already, you will definitely want to find some cheap maternity clothes! Unfortunately, if your belly is expanding and your wardrobe isn't stocked with elastic-waist pants and stretchy shirts, you're going to need to invest some money in maternity clothing.

I, personally, have done a ton of investigation to find inexpensive and trendy maternity clothing. The thrift stores have limited, if not dull and boring selections - and that is if they even have maternity clothes in stock. Online stores with trendy maternity clothing, even in their clearance sections, can be very expensive! But, I found one store where the prices are $30 and under on pretty much everything they carry. They even have an under $10 section, too!

Kiki's Fashions, an online maternity store that I found, carries a ton of trendy maternity styles, including maternity dresses, tank tops, bottoms, short sleeves - you name it! And, their stuff is absolutely adorable!

The One I Chose

I chose this one (with the help of children and hubby):

There is a bow on the shoulder and, at first when I took it out of the package, I thought: "Oh, that is a bit gaudy!" But, when I put it on, it was adorable! It's a little bit funky, a little bit 80's and a little bit cute-and- sweet, all mixed together. In addition, it's lightweight, as the top layer is completely lace and the under-layer is a thin, nude colored polyester/spandex material. Sassy and chic, trendy and affordable - I love it!

How Do You Feel When You Are Pregnant?

I have always thought that pregnant women are adorable...but never felt the same about myself. You feel uncomfortable, round, overheated, bloated, waddle-y, frumpy...have I missed any adjectives? With all of those adjectives mixed together, the last thing I want to do is wear clothes that aren't trendy and fashionable. Beyond that, I can't afford to spend a fortune on a new wardrobe that will only be necessary during the short-term weight gain period.



So, thank you, Kiki's Fashions, for knowing that us mom-to-be's need to feel fashionable and trendy - and for especially knowing that we need to keep an eye on our wallets because there is a new baby coming.

Giveaway!

In honor of my soon-to-be-here seventh baby and in the spirit of maternity clothing that is fun and trendy, yet so very affordable, Kiki's Fashions is offering a $25 gift certificate to one Mommy Rantings' followers! (And, I can tell you after searching through their site for many hours, this will purchase almost anything there!)

How can you win?

Mandatory entry: Go to the Kiki's Fashions site and tell me what you would choose if you were to win the gift card.

The winner MUST be a Mommy Rantings GFC follower to win the giveaway. Remember, the more entries you do, the better your chances are to win!

Extra entries (leave a comment for each entry):

1) "Like" Mommy Rantings on Facebook. (right hand column of blog)

2) Follow QueenBMomma on Twitter. (left hand column of blog)

3)Subscribe via email (left hand column)Blog about this giveaway - tell me your blog's URL.

4) Tweet this giveaway (you can do this once per day!) (1 entry per tweet -leave twitter name)

5) Grab my button and put it on your blog (leave the link).

6) Update your Facebook status with this giveaway.

7) Like Kiki's Fashions on Facebook (you'll want to do this anyways!) AND tell them Mommy Rantings sent you!

Winners will be chosen through Random.org and the winning entries will be validated (I will make sure that you did the mandatory entry and the entry # that is chosen and you are a GFC follower). PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN EACH ONE OF YOUR ENTRIES. RUNNING AROUND THE INTERNET TRACKING DOWN WINNERS IS NO FUN!

Thank you to Kiki's Fashions for sponsoring this giveaway! This giveaway will end on 7/1/2011 at midnight EST. I will contact the winner by email and they will have 24 hours to respond before the runner up is chosen. Good luck!


I was provided a product in order to conduct my review. All opinions are my own.

Product Review Bloggers Beware!

Oh, yes, I am double posting today! It's a shame, because I loved the 12 Weird/Bizarre Baby Products post, however I simply could not let this one go under the carpet. Here's my rant for the day:

So, yes, "Mom Bloggers" are supposed to be a great target group for PR reps that are responsible for promoting their products to offer review opportunities to, right? Apparently, some of these PR reps think that they are either dealing with a group of dumb chicks who do not know their worth - or how much their time is worth, or else they think that we actually think it is a privilege to promote their products for them.

PR reps: let me clue you in! We are helping you do your job, which is - and correct me if I am wrong - promoting your products. We have spent time building our own loyal group of readers and we are spreading the word about your products, which takes time and energy. I'm not going to once again talk about how long it takes to write a decent review with links and images...let alone how long it takes to build our own loyal following.

Why am I saying all of this?

Well, I stumbled across a pitch today that royally hit a nerve...go ahead and read this and then come back and read the rest of this post.

Did you read it? Essentially, in case you did not read it, Melissa & Doug posted today in their "Bloggers: A Great Opportunity for You!" that they want us bloggers to get our fans and followers to send 200 Facebook "likes" to their page (I guess your people should say that they came from your blog) and once you hit 200 Facebook "likes"...(have fun, whoever is keeping track of this), you get one set of plastic beach things to give way on your blog. Although these toys are absolutely adorable, I don't think so!

Now you can see why I am irked. Melissa & Doug has some awesome awesome toys, arts & crafts, puzzles, classroom supplies, etc. - I am not knocking their products here, in the least! What I am knocking is their obviously ridiculous pitch to bloggers (Mom Bloggers, for the most part...duh, these are toy reviews!).

First of all...did it say something about recruiting 200 Facebook "likes" for you? Companies PAY BIG MONEY to social media companies to recruit that many Facebook likes...and you want us to do it for FREE? Do you have ANY idea how long it takes to get 5 new Facebook "likes"? And then, promote your product and conduct a giveaway, too? Again, I am not going to talk about how much time and energy it takes to do giveaways.


Here is my ultimate question, because this blog post on Melissa & Doug is a bit confusing

We are supposed to write a blog post about Melissa & Doug and send people to their Facebook page...and then we get a toy sent to us to review? Is that how this works? Or are we supposed to write a blog post and hope that we are chosen to review a product? Then, we get to do a giveaway if we manage to send 200 people to the Facebook page? Wow, that's a lot of work! Because, that's all prior to receiving and reviewing the product.

And...what if we have never bought an item from Melissa & Doug? This is surely not the case for me...like I said, I absolutely love their products, but a blogger is supposed to promote Melissa & Doug before they even try their product(s)? I think that defeats the purpose of true blogger marketing...and it also a bit deceiving, like putting the cart before the horse, wouldn't you say?

Dear PR rep at Melissa & Doug:

That's simply wayyy too much to ask of bloggers and I feel bad for the people who try to do this. You have awesome products, but to take advantage of bloggers by requesting such heavy terms is...well, you fill in the blank.

For Bloggers:

If you choose to take on this "opportunity", to each his own, but you are taking on a monster when there are thousands of companies who appreciate the hard work that bloggers put into reviewing products - so there are plenty of other opportunities out there for you. Good luck!