Tips for Healthy Kid Friendly Snacks

Tips for Healthy Kid Friendly Snacks
by Lisa Cain, co-founder SnackSnoop.com, a website devoted to healthy snacking

Feeding children snacks on a daily basis is a really big challenge.  First, you want to feed them something healthy.  Secondly, you want to feed them something that they like.  Finally it can't be too expensive.

Healthy snacks, especially ones that aren't in packages, aren't hard to find.  You just need to be organized and a little creative.  Here are five tips to help you choose well:

1. Shop the perimeter of the supermarket.  Since we are in Summer, it is easy to find peaches, plums, watermelon, cherries, and cantaloupe for a reasonable price.  Yes, you will have to wash them off and cut them up, but any whole food that you choose will be much more healthy than anything you buy in a package. 

2. If you only shop once a week, buy a collection of fruits and vegetables that you can serve immediately and some that you can serve later.  For example, strawberries or peaches should be eaten right away, but you can store cantaloupe or watermelon for over a week (even cut up!).  Keep canned pineapple on hand for when you run out of fresh fruit.

3. Use dips.  Kids love to dip.  If you are feeding them carrots or broccoli, have a little cup of dressing for them to dip in.  Hummus, yogurt, and peanut butter, are also good choices for dips.

4.  Make it a game for children to eat their snacks.  Pretend the broccoli is a tree and everyone in the room is a dinosaur.  Or fashion little faces out of apple slices, raisins, and add carrot sticks for the legs.  Give them the raw ingredients and then let them "make" their snack.

5. Read the label carefully of any packaged snack.  Too often, the label will say "all natural" or "make with real fruit" and you think you are buying something healthy.  A good indicator of whether it should be considered a healthy snack is if it contains high fructose corn syrup.  If it does, that food item is more likely a treat than a healthy snack.

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The Safe Sippy 2 - Review & Giveaway

** Giveaway Winner - Ruth! **

Ever since the BPA scare, I'm always looking for safe and clean alternatives to plastic. While there are several types of plastic bottles and straw sippies, the one that caught my attention was the The Safe Sippy 2 drink cup by Kid Basix. Created by a Dad who felt steel was the safest way to go, The Safe Sippy 2 is the world’s first and only 2-in-1 sippy-to-straw bottle! It has all the great features of the original Safe Sippy cup, plus many new features!

The stainless steel body is the most important element of The Safe Sippy™ cup. Made of durable and lightweight food grade stainless steel, the 11 oz. Safe Sippy™ bottle is non-leaching and toxin free. So what you put in is what your children get out. Nothing more. Nothing else.

New Features include:

• Dust cap to keep the spout clean.
• No-leak travel plug for those days Mom absolutely, positively has no other place to stick The Safe Sippy but her purse.
• Straw and straw adaptor that instantly turns The Safe Sippy into a straw bottle –without that pesky extra $15 for another cup.
• Comes in pink, green or blue

Original Features :

• Made from durable, eco-friendly stainless steel 
  
• Angled, straw shaped spout: research has shown that a wide, flat drink spout can cause developmental and speech problems in young mouths. 
• Outer Sleeve: The rubbery covering surrounding the cup is called TPR, or thermo plasticized rubber. It provides insulation for cold liquids on hot summer days, and protects little hands from the cold. It also acts as a cushion to protect the cup from dents. 
• Removable Handles: The handles are made with a bumpy texture to help little hands hang onto the cup. Once a child is big enough to grip the bottle using the ribbed waist, the handles can be removed. 
• Top rack dishwasher safe 
• Holds 11 ounces 
• Ages 6 months and up 

My kid loves his Safe Sippy 2 and we've used it thus far with juices, water, and even milk! And even I love it, for it's so easy to clean. Steel really is easy to wash clean and the results are shining (pun intended!). And best of all, there is neither the "plasticky" smell you get when a plastic straw/sippy cup is left closed and unused for a while; nor is there any lingering smell of the previous occupant of the cup. Can't tell you how much of a boon that is as my son has a highly sensitive nose and I've had to wash and rewash other bottles! But not the Safe Sippy 2. We've used it as a sippy cup for his bedtime milk and as a straw cup while on the go. It's worked out great for us and believe me, we've put it through some rigorous test.

GIVEAWAY

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Please read Blog Disclaimer as well

The Prize

One lucky winner will win The Safe Sippy 2.

To Enter

1. Visit Kid Basix online, and leave a comment (including your email address) saying why you'd like to win.
2. Only comments containing all the info will be considered.
3. No email address inside your comment = NO Entry.
   
4. And your email address may be shared with the Sponsor so they can notify you when your prize ships.
   

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• UNLIMITED ENTRIES - Comment on any non-giveaway post. Comment here with the title of that post for each you do.

Deadline   Midnight CST of August 30, 2009.

Eligibility  US only.

Good luck!
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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Dittany Baby One day Sale!

Dittany Baby is having a One Day Only Stash Sale! 

Just $4.00 for 17 inch skidpants (leg/arm warmers).

Link

Inventory is limited and the sale ends tonight at Midnight PST.

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Dozy Dolphin On The Go

Cloud B the baby sleep specialist, was established by two new mothers with the philosophy that every baby deserves a sound night’s sleep for healthy development. Cloud B uses only the finest materials to ensure the quality and elegance that a child deserves.

They sent me the Dozy Dolphin On The Go for review. The peaceful water-based sounds of the Dozy Dolphin ooze tranquility and it has time and again soothed my fussy baby when she's in unfamiliar surroundings or even when she's just tired and cranky. Plus the soft toy is in itself a great attraction! And the Bamboo fabric is a BIG plus!

Dozy Dolphin On The Go features:

• Huggably soft hypoallergenic bamboo fabric
• Four peaceful, water-based sounds:
• Comes with Dolphins Playing, Whale Songs, Tranquil Melody, and Ocean Waves
• Velcro strap allowing easy attachment to car seats and strollers
• Push-button sound selection with volume control
• Two sleep timer options: 23 and 45 minutes
• Booklet teaches children about endangered dolphins
• Includes Dozy Dolphin story and adoption certificate
• 2 AA batteries included
• Ideal for all ages 

Benefits of Bamboo Fabric:

• Naturally hypoallergenic won't irritate even the most sensitive skin
• Grows without the need for fertilizers or pesticides
• The most renewable resource on the planet and 100% biodegradable

Antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-static and softer than cotton Dozy Dolphin On The Go is part of the Cloud B Endangered Species Collection which helps bring awareness to our animal friends who need our attention.

Buy it! Cloud B has a host of other Sleep Products as well as Gifts & Accessories. Also a portion of your purchase will go to Conservation International. For more information, please visit http://www.cloudb.com/.

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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Mitchel Musso Concert Ticket Giveaway

Mitchel Musso, from the Disney Channel hit series “Hannah Montana” recently released his Walt Disney Records self-titled solo album on June 2 which debuted at #19 on Billboard’s 200 chart. The album also hit #2 on the iTunes Pop chart (second only to Lady Gaga) and #5 on iTunes Album chart on the very first day of release. The album debuted at #11 on Billboard’s Digital album chart with over 50,000 digital downloads.

Named MTV’s “Male Pop Rookie of 2009,” Mitchel proves himself every bit the showman behind the microphone that he is in front of the camera. The single “Hey” is in rotation on Radio Disney and the music video can be seen on Disney Channel. The song “Hey” rocketed to #8 on the iTunes Pop chart and #23 Overall during the week the album was released. http://www.myspace.com/mitchelmusso

To buy the tickets, please visit - http://www.livenation.com/artist/mitchel-musso-tickets/

Tour Schedule:

Sunday, August 02, 2009 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater

Wednesday, August 05, 2009 Detroit, MI Clutch Cargo's

Thursday, August 06, 2009 Cleveland, OH House of Blues

Saturday, August 15, 2009 Chicago, IL House of Blues

Sunday, August 16, 2009 St. Louis, MO The Pageant

Sunday, August 30, 2009 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues

Tuesday, September 01 Sacramento, CA Crest Theatre

Wednesday, September 02 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

Thursday, September 03 Anaheim, CA House of Blues

Friday, September 04 San Diego, CA House of Blues

Saturday, September 05 Mission Viejo, CA Lake Mission Viejo Park

Wednesday, September 09 Boston, MA House of Blues

Thursday, September 10 Hampton, NH Hampton Beach Ballroom

Friday, September 11 Wallingford, CT Chevrolet Theatre

Saturday, September 12 New York, NY The Fillmore

Sunday, September 13 Philadelphia, PA TLA

Wednesday, September 16 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore

Thursday, September 17 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues

Friday, September 18 Orlando, FL House of Blues

Saturday, September 19 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution

Sunday, September 20 St. Petersburg, FL State Theater

Tuesday, September 22 Dallas, TX House of Blues

Wednesday, September 23 Houston, TX House of Blues

Thursday, September 24 New Orleans, LA House of Blues

GIVEAWAY

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Please read Blog Disclaimer as well

The Prize

One lucky winner will get a pair of tickets to the Dallas-HOB show.

Note - Winner will be able to pick up the tickets at will call on the day of the show. And please bring an appropriate form of identification in order for you to pick up your tickets. 

To Enter

1. Why do you want to win? Just say that in a comment, along with ur email address.
   
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Deadline   Midnight CST of August 12, 2009.

Eligibility  US only.

Good luck!

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Have Fun and Earn with Gather.com

One of the best things about blogging is the opportunity to connect with Moms across the world. And, truly, I've met the most amazing women online – Moms who understand how busy and often complex life raising kids can get! And the virtual connections we forge so often spill over into everyday life as we have the chance to talk on the phone, meet in person, and form lifelong friendships. So where to start when looking for others who share your interests, views, challenges and dilemmas?

Gather.com has created a vibrant and diverse social networking community where you can meet some amazing people literally gathered together around shared interests and unique passions. Gather hosts thousands upon thousands of groups and conversations on topics ranging from how to cope with your rambunctious toddler to creating a thriving organic garden; from books that you'll want to stay awake all night reading to the latest pilates moves; and from cooking without recipes to taking the challenge of creating movie reviews in Haiku (tougher than you'd think!).

Best of all, on Gather you earn points for the content you contribute to the site, which can be redeemed for gift cards to stores like Home Depot, Gap, and Target, and even for PayPal cash. The more recipes, tips, stories and advice you share with others in the community, the more points you earn. Now that's a great incentive!
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I wrote this review while participating in a blog and giveaway campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gather.  Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”


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Baby Eggi - Review & Giveaway

** Giveaway winner - Carol! **

For all you parents out there on search for hip, sophisticated, yet affordable clothes - look no further than Baby Eggi ! As you may have guessed, Baby Eggi is a online store specializing in stylish, one-of-a-kind lifestyle clothing for babies and toddlers. Jennifer Ahn-Newman, the Managing Director of The Film Foundation and fashion industry veteran Julie Ahn-Kim got together with famous tattoo artist Mark Mahoney of California and the result is a unique line of children's clothing that's as hip as it is cute.

The easy, breezy website divides its products under the catergories Dudes, Chicks and Stuff and is very easy to navigate! They were kind enough to send some clothes for my kids and I can't stop raving about them!

The Hooded Dress is a ultra soft, hip and fun hooded short sleeve puff shoulder dress has a drop waist and kangaroo pockets. She can wear alone or with leggings. Perfect for the young girl on the go!


And the Angel Wings
is a ultra soft long sleeve tee with puff sleeves that's once again great to wear alone or layer.

The breathtaking Blooming Lotus hoodie has really soft long sleeves and a chic one button front w/kangaroo pocket. There's artwork on sleeve and back with foil accents. The overall effect is really stylish.


My son was the lucky recipient of the red Classic double layer long sleeve tee with contrast sleeves that features a noble but fierce lion on the front. This was a big hit with him and he now goes "roar roar" all the time, while he's wearing it and even when he's not :)

He also got the Choo Choo Train tee where the design wraps around, front to back and that's something I've never seen elsewhere. It certainly keeps my little boy chugging, I can tell you!


The Soaring plane tee was another smash hit and just right to take him to new heights.

That's not all! They have lots of variety and I must say, the artwork is totally eye-catching, and certainly not something you'll find just anywhere. NO wonder Baby Eggi clothes are a celeb favorite among A-listers like Angelina Jolie, Tori Spelling etc.

Buy it! Baby Eggi is offering 10% off of all items exclusively for readers of this blog. Use coupon code "momreview". Offer expires August 31st, 2009.

They're also currently having a great SALE going on, so take advantage of that! And in buying from them, you can also contribute to charity. That's right! Their Good Eggi program has been designed to allow customers to actively participate in donating 20% of Baby Eggi’s net proceeds to charity.

GIVEAWAY

Read the Disclaimer / Rules
Please read Blog Disclaimer as well

The Prize

Baby Eggi is sponsoring a 3-piece giveaway for readers of this blog (excluding the "Days of the Week Onesies")!

To Enter

1. Visit Baby Eggi online, and make a comment here about your favorite item.
2. Only comments containing all the info will be considered.
3. No email address inside your comment = NO Entry.
   
4. And it may be shared with the Sponsor so they can notify you when your prize ships.
   

For Extra Entries

Please leave a NEW comment for each extra entry you do.

• 1 ENTRY - Subscribe to Mommy Reviewed feed
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• 10 ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway including links to the Sponsor and this giveaway
• UNLIMITED ENTRIES - Comment on any non-giveaway post. Comment here with the title of that post for each you do.

Deadline   Midnight CST of August 27, 2009.

Eligibility  US only.

Good luck!
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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Baby Star

Which parent doesn't want to attire their little ones in clothes that are not just cute but of good quality clothes as well. One such store providing fun and unique clothes is baby star.

baby star is a baby apparel and accessories company that creates products for the design-savvy parent and the texture-loving child. Born out of the desire to balance style and functionality, baby star strives to create essential items for both baby and parent in a clean, simple and modern way. All of baby star's products are made out of combinations of 100% cotton and formaldehyde-free fabrics, making them safe for baby and the environment. baby star believes in responsibility, sustainability and creating safe products for children.

Buy it! baby star products are available at children's boutiques, specialty stores and etailers throughout the united states as well as internationally. For more information, please visit www.babystar.com

baby star has also offered a DISCOUNT exclusively for readers of this blog! Use coupon code "20twinkle09" to get 30% off retail price. This offer expires 12/31/09
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Swami Baby Boutique

I've seen many new and exciting baby boutiques out there. But what makes Swami Baby Boutique unique is their philosophy! Katie Holley, the owner of Swami Baby Boutique, wanted to create a line of babywear and gifts that reflects the natural teacher, or swami, that children can be if we just listen. Swami Baby not only strives to give this wisdom a voice, but also acts as a calming reminder for adults to relax, enjoy themselves and take life one baby step at a time.

The Swami Sayings Onesies are my favorite and I love to dress my little one in the "Om Shanti Om" onesie while my toddler happily runs about in his organic cotton Earth elements t-shirt. The quality of their clothes is excellent, the material soft and comfortable. And the sayings are just terrific! They also carry Toddler Pants, Infant Caps and Think Green T-Shirts. They also offer Custom Embroidery. In addition, they have many of the same in adult sizes, plus Hoodies, Long-Sleeve T-Shirts and Yoga Pants.

So, let your wise little one speak with these adorable clothes that help to remind us adults of the important things in life!

Buy it! For more information and to browse/buy their one of a kind items, just visit http://swamibabyboutique.com/.

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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Smart Mom Jewelry

Who doesn't love bling bling?! I know I do. What I'd really like is my baby to chew/drool on something other than my expensive jewelry. Ta da! Step in, Smart Mom Jewelry! This is bling bling your little one can happily gnaw on and which looks good on you to boot!

Kendra & Amy started Smart Mom Jewelry as way to promote pretty and practical ideas for real Moms and met with enormous success. They use only the highest-quality, phthalate-free, federally approved silicone in their Teething Bling™ line products that are designed for adults to wear to soothe and entertain babies with emerging teeth. The material is non-toxic, latex-free, food–safe, even dishwasher-friendly! It is the same silicone used in many other popular teething products and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp.

Donut Shaped Pendants, Heart Shaped Pendants, Coordinating Bangles, Teething Bling Gift Sets, Teething Bling Keychains, Smart Mom Gift Cards are all some of the things you can find there. They also have a captivating line of onesies with their vibrant colors and Shakespearean quotes!

Practical, quirky and yes, smart - Smart Mom Jewelry is something I can safely offer my baby to drool and chew on and look good while about it! And it has the added benefit of keeping my baby occupied and she doesn't appear as fussy when occupied with Smart Mom Jewelry.

Buy it! Visit Smart Mom Jewelry and browse their great selections. As an added bonus, a portion of every sale this month @ Smart Mom Jewelry will go to: http://www.baileybaioangelfoundation.com

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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Tees for Change SALE!

Tees For Change are eco-friendly tees that inspire positivity. Their motto - You buy a tee, we plant a tree!

They've recently moved and are having their first ever moving sale! All their organic cotton baby onesies and toddler tees will be sold at 50% off retail price.

The sale starts July 21 and ends when all items are sold out. They have a very limited amount in stock and they’re discontinuing their baby items…

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Zutano - Review and Giveaway!

Zutano, the Vermont-based designer of children’s clothing, has unveiled an extraordinary web boutique dedicated to showcasing its premier line of newborn and preemie clothing specially designed to fit newborn babies in their first days of life.

Shop.zutano.com showcases the adorable Itzy Bitzy collection, which is available in two sizes to fit 4-8 pound and 9-13 pound babies. The lovely garments they sent for my kids from this line are just adorable! The new patterns for Spring are full of bright, exuberant colors with sweet,delicate florals that sit side by side with outspoken graphics that include little dogs, tractors, colorful gardens, snails and toys. The collection is organized according to a print family, with each print family containing a dominant print complemented by solids and stripes.

On the site, it is easy to navigate through a wide range of boy, girl and unisex options. A shopper can mix and match to create their own outfit for that special baby or shop for lovingly coordinated giftsets in each boy or girl section. Perfect for busy new parents as well as gift-givers, each piece comes beautifully wrapped in tissue paper with a special Zutano sticker and an optional gift card that coordinates with the Itzy Bitzy collection.

“While our entire line of baby clothes are extremely popular, we recognized that our newborn and preemie sizes were really gaining attention,” says Michael Belenky, President of Zutano. “With the overall increase of lower-birth weight babies and the desire of parents to have the same choice in style and design as larger babies, we’ve recognized these needs and have created an irresistible line that will fit even the tiniest of newborns. A line with such style and detail did not exist in the marketplace so we’ve made it easy for every small baby to now enjoy all the great Zutano patterns from day one!”

The line is available in various silhouettes including gowns, a long-sleeve wrap bodysuit, dresses and the popular kimono top as well as others. Most of the Itzy Bitzy pieces have ‘easy access’ points, as many premature babies may have various medical devices or IV’s attached. Each piece of clothing has a loving message printed on its tag to welcome a newborn into the world. Each garment is made of 100% cotton Interlock.

Zutano is now available at more than 1,500 gift and specialty boutiques and retailers worldwide as well as on the web at select e-tailers and the Zutano e-boutique. New York’s famed FAO Schwarz houses a 500-sq ft. Zutano boutique which carries the entire line of sweet and sophisticated designs.

For More Information: Visit the Zutano web site at http://www.zutano.com

GIVEAWAY

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Please read the Blog Disclaimer as well

The Prize

A $75 shopping spree at the Zutano web site -- which features newborn clothes only (Itzy Bitzy).

To Enter

• Visit Shop.zutano.com. Come back here and leave a comment with your email address at the end of your comment in the format xyz AT abc DOT com telling what you'll choose for your prize.
  
• Only comments containing all the info will be considered.
• No email address inside the body of your comment = NO Entry. Use the format xyz AT abc DOT com to evade spammers.
• And your email address may be shared with the Sponsor so they can notify you when your prize ships.
  

For Extra Entries

Please leave a NEW comment for each extra entry you do.

• 1 ENTRY - Subscribe to Mommy Reviewed feed
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• UNLIMITED ENTRIES - Comment on any non-giveaway post. Comment here with the title of that post for each you do.

Deadline   Midnight CST of August 20, 2009.

Eligibility  US & Canada only.

Good luck!
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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Mitetees - Review & Discount

Ever been to a baby shower and have your gift overshadowed? Well, with the fun and inspiring Mitetees Personalized Gifts, no one will ever be able to outshine you again! Mitetees is an unforgettable gift line to be worn today and treasured as keepsakes for years to come. They have an uniquely creative way of celebrating parenthood and the result are adorable gifts that everyone is sure to ooh and aah over and this I know from personal experience!

What you do is select any of their series - Family, Smart, Sports, Gift Set (still under construction) - then click on a design stamp, & then choose style, size & design stamp color. All garments come in white. Their "Production" series is naturally a bestseller and I can certainly see why, since it's so apt.

They kindly sent over a "Go Green" Tee for my toddler and an @ onesie for my girl just like the Keenan one above with her name and year of birth. The soft and well-made clothes came beautifully packaged, folded in tissue paper and with cute tags on them. Plus the outside of one of the garment's plastic sleeve had a pink button foam flower (like above) and the other one had a crown! This level of personalization shows Mitetees' commitment and it's what sets them apart. These clothes aren't scratchy, both my kids wore theirs without squirming (a big plus in my book!). Of course they got them dirty as well. Good thing is the writing withstood the rigors of my washing machine and appear as fresh and crisp as when they were new.

Buy It! Visit Mitetees and have fun browsing their creative choices.  Use coupon code "SAVE4" to get $4.00 off your order. Offer ends Sep 1, 2009.
You will definitely find something to love, especially for back-to-school!

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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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BabySafeTravel - Review & Giveaway!

Summer is here and school's out - which means it's vacation time! But traveling with kids - whew! It's not easy even in the smoothest of times, but all the more harder nowadays what with tight airline security, long lines, the heat etc. That's one of the reasons why we've opted for a staycation this year! The other reason being that the very thought of traveling with my infant daughter sends me into a panic. I mean, where will she sleep?! I can't take her bassinet with me and the thought of using something a hotel provides - shudder! I can't even imagine it.

The solution came to me in the form of the Eddie Bauer Infant Travel Bed which I found at a wonderful site dedicated to safe travel with kids, appropriately called BabySafeTravel.com. They have a ton of stuff there to make parent's life easier while on the go with kids. From the Travel Potty (a great idea if you're in the middle of potty training and don't want traveling to interrupt this important process) to Diaper Bags (the Diaper Dude Black Dragon Diaper Bag is just killer! Get one for him even though Father's come and gone) to Trunki (Kids will absolutely love this hardshell suitcase that they can ride on!), Strollers, Baby Carriers and many other practical, yet pretty products.

To get back on topic, the Eddie Bauer Infant Travel Bed they kindly sent me for review is something I'm absolutely delighted with! This infant travel bed has a collapsible frame - the sides fold down easily for compact travel with a carry strap - and has a Nylon surface that easily wipes clean. It's also lightweight and has large storage pockets to hold all the essentials. It includes two soft toys, a padded bottom and sides, and a fitted sheet. I've used it to keep my baby daughter in when we went to visit a friend's house (staycation, remember?) and she went to sleep peacefully. Needless to say, the dinner table conversation centered around our versatile and attractive Eddie Bauer Infant Travel Bed. Did I mention, it also makes for a compact and comfortable diaper changing station as well?!

Buy it! Want to buy this great product yourself? Or some of the other wonderful items they have? Well, you're in luck! The folks over at BabySafeTravel.com have kindly offered readers of this blog a 10% discount on any items from their Baby Boutique. Just enter the coupon code "summertravel" at checkout in order to receive the discount!

GIVEAWAY

Read the Disclaimer / Rules
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The Prize

BabySafeTravel.com will send one lucky winner will get a $10 gift certificate to their store.


To Enter

• Visit The Sponsor. Come back here and leave a comment with your email address at the end of your comment in the format xyz AT abc DOT com "".
• Only comments containing all the info will be considered.
• No email address inside your comment = NO Entry.
• And it may be shared with the Sponsor so they can notify you when your prize ships.

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• UNLIMITED ENTRIES - Comment on any non-giveaway post. Comment here with the title of that post for each you do.

Deadline   Midnight CST of August 1, 2009.

Eligibility  US only.

Good luck!
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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Munchie Mug

The family car is like a second home to us, and one of the things my toddler loves to do while traveling is munch on some treats; cookies are his absolute favorite. While I love to see my picky son eat, I don't like passing the treats back to him while driving or enduring his screeches while I put safety first. Giving him the food is not a good option as opening the plastic baggies/boxes frustrate him and if he does get them open, all the snacks come tumbling out and the result is a mess of horrendous proportions!

But not so with the Munchie Mug, 100% proudly made in America with safety in mind. The Munchie Mug comes with a 16 oz. plastic jar that effectively holds 10 oz. of dry foodstuffs and is suitable for children 10 months and older. It features a screw-on top that makes it very difficult for children to open. How do they get the snack then, you may ask? Good question!

When hungry, my toddler just puts his hand in through the soft, non-scratchy opening and grabs the snack. And he can freely pull back his hand with nary a wince and with the snack still in his hand. And presto! the cloth opening closes by itself. A solid stay fresh lid is also supplied in order to keep the snack fresh when the Mug is not in use. And when I need to clean it, all I need to do is put it in the top rack of the dishwasher - simple! Currently they come in three colors - blue, yellow and pink.

Buy it! For more information or to buy the product, just visit http://www.munchiemug.com/

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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Clean Fun with Flipper

My toddler is determined to do things on his owm - every single thing. He can brush his own teeth now (proud Mommy moment there!) but lacks the patience to put his toothbrush back in its holder. Where, of course, it doesn't fit for, like all toddler brushes, it's way too thick to fit the small opening properly. So often it's just lying out there on the counter and gets knocked into the sink or onto the floor. The germs on it - Yuck!

I came across a fun and innovative product that eliminates this problem entirely - The Flipper toothbrush holder! Winner of three international design awards, including the prestigious Red Dot award from Germany, the Flipper ensures that a child's toothbrush stays dry while preventing mold and protecting the brush from harmful bacteria. It offers an aerated and ventilated environment, sticks easily to the bathroom mirror, and best of all, it's completely automatic. A gentle pull on the toothbrush handle opens the cover, and the Flipper closes when you push the brush back. Even my toddler can do it and he now insists on brushing his teeth everytime he catches sight of his fun Flipper!

The Flipper comes in over 30 designs, from cute puppies to dinosaurs, to delight children and make brushing a little more fun each day. Needless to say, my toddler is already in love with his Giraffe holder! As an added bonus, they have these holders for adults as well.

Buy it! The Flipper toothbrush holder is currently available at a wide variety of retailers, including Target.com, in addition to their website  - www.myflipperusa.com

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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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Wash the Dishes with All Your Heart

Wash the Dishes with All Your Heart by Victoria Moran,
Author of Living a Charmed Life: Your Guide to Finding Magic in Every Moment of Every Day

In a charmed life, the best thing going is what is happening now.

Even the most dazzling lives are punctuated more by commas and periods than by exclamation marks. You virtually guarantee a charmed life when you can give yourself as fully to doing the dishes, and tending to the other miscellanea that make up your day, as to some grand adventure. This is because you can count on the dishes. They’ll be there alongside the grand adventures, and if no adventure is immediately forthcoming, the dishes won't let you down. Besides, feelings of enthusiasm, excitement, and positivity about anything and everything attract adventures to a life the way an open bag of trail mix attracts bears to a campsite. They just can't stay away.

About fifteen years ago, I picked up a severe case of flu while traveling and it kept me in bed for a month. I'll never forget the first night I washed dishes after I was better. It was the most delectable experience: warm water halfway up to my elbows, and slippery, shimmery suds to play in. I momentarily wondered if the high fever had addled my brain -- I mean, please: dishes? -- but if it took being addled to feel this extraordinary, I didn't want it any other way.

During the first few weeks of getting back into life, I was having these ah-hah moments during activities once inconsequential in their ordinariness. "Wow, driving a stick is really fun! . . . What did they put in this hot cider? It's amazing! . . . The sunset was so beautiful I pulled my car over to look at it." Smitten with my new way of seeing things but questioning its normality, I called one of my mentors, a woman named Gladys Lawler who was nearing ninety and always knew the answer.

She told me that everything seemed so stunning because I was in the moment. "When you're in the moment," she explained, "everything is exquisite because you're truly experiencing it." Life, I learned from Gladys that day, ought to be this way all the time, but we're so used to being removed from the present by keeping our minds one place and our bodies another that these periods of resplendence are uncommon. She also told me that I'd be back to the old, disconnected way of being before long, but that since I now knew that being truly present was possible, I could remind myself to go there again.

Her prediction was correct. As soon as my full strength returned, I was back to busy mode: scheduling, planning ahead, multi-tasking. But even now, the otherworldly beauty of that convalescent time can come back when I'm washing dishes. I have a dishwasher these days but I often use the sink just the same. It gives me the opportunity to stand in one spot and focus on one cup, one glass, or one perfectly circular rubber gasket that, in its modesty, gives me the use of my blender.

I recommend that you try some conscious dishwashing. Release all judgment ("I always get stuck with the dishes . . . ") and just be with the process. Run the water and be aware of the sound it makes rushing from tap to sink. Look at the bottle of soap before you squeeze: what's in it? Do you like how it smells? Watch the suds as they build and billow. Pick up a dish at random -- your coffee mug maybe, or the bowl your daughter used for cereal this morning -- and regard it as a gift from a grab bag. Have fun with it. Maybe it has something to tell you, something to remind you of. Be with it and with every subsequent plate and fork and measuring cup until the task is through.

Then give yourself as wholeheartedly to whatever comes next. In a charmed life, the best thing going is what is happening now, even when it's scouring a skillet.

Lucky charm: The next time you do the dishes, feel the water, caress the crockery, and be present with all that's in you.

The above is an excerpt from the book Living a Charmed Life:Your Guide to Finding Magic in Every Moment of Every Day by Victoria Moran. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Copyright © 2009 Victoria Moran, author of Living a Charmed Life:Your Guide to Finding Magic in Every Moment of Every Day

Author Bio:Victoria Moran, author of Living a Charmed Life:Your Guide to Finding Magic in Every Moment of Every Day, is an inspirational speaker, a certified life coach, and the author of ten books including The Love-Powered Diet, Lit from Within; Fat, Broke & Lonely No More; and the international bestseller Creating a Charmed Life. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications including Body + Soul, Natural Health, and Yoga Journal. Her blog, "Your Charmed Life," is published daily on BeliefNet.com. She lives a charmed life in New York City.

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Make bathing fun with BathLuve

 

Both my kids are fond of water and Bath time is generally one of the most fun times that I have with them. While they love being in the water, they get chilly really quick and then the fun is gone. This is especially true of my baby and I have to be very quick about bathing her as she starts wailing and shivering as soon as I start to lather her up.

To eliminate these bathing blues (literally!), Momtreprenuer Amy Seckinger came up with Bath Luve (Love-ee), the only product on the market which helps parents keep baby warm during bath time. The Patent Pending Bath Luve is made of soft, 100 percent cotton material and is designed with baby’s safety in mind. This product is perfect to introduce from the day the umbilical cord comes off.

What I do is this : After my baby is situated safely and comfortably in a few inches of water, I dip the Bath Luve in the warm water and use it to cover my child during bath time. It clings to the baby’s torso, allowing me to take the time to properly wash my baby while enjoying a bonding bath experience. The design even incorporates a squirt stopper! And after the bath, I just toss it in the washing machine to clean, it's that easy. It further serves as a washcloth and a soft toy as the baby grows.

This ideal shower gift is now part of an entire line that consists of: Bath Luve (duck, fish, frog), Bath Luve Buddy (duck, fish, frog), hooded towels, washcloths and towels.

Buy it! Bath Luve products are available on their website www.bathluve.com and in select retail locations. See their website for list of stores.

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*** This product was received for review consideration. No other compensation was provided. The information provided here at the Mommy Reviewed blog is for entertainment purposes only and reflect only the personal opinion of this blogger. Readers of this blog reading and/or using any of the information they glean here, do so at their own risk. ***

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