SkinGlow Bedding Collection

This Product was received for review consideration.

The first few months after welcoming a bundle of joy to the family, new mothers focus all of their attention on the baby, often forgetting their own needs. I know, I certainly did! Having a bath, and combing my hair all in one day was a great achievement! Beauty regimens took a back seat to changing diapers, feedings and more.

The SkinGlow bedding collection, however, offers new mothers a beauty treatment while they sleep, so we can actually accomplish two things at once and take no time away from the little tot (provided we can catch a few hours of sleep!).

SkinGlow is a copper-infused line which is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet in just four weeks of use. The innovative pillows, pillow protectors and comforters start at just $19.99 and are available at select Bed Bath & Beyond stores and nationwide on bedbathandbeyond.com.

How it works - Copper ions woven into the fabric are activated by moisture released from the body during sleep, beautifying skin's appearance, making it look smoother and younger while nourishing stressed and aging skin. The ions last for the lifetime of the product, even after repeated washings, without losing effectiveness, as long as fabric softeners aren’t used. In addition to its beauty benefits, the non-sensitizing and non-irritating copper-infused fabric has natural deodorant properties that reduce body odor-causing bacteria, fungus and microbes.

I've been using the copper infused pillow protector for the last few weeks. It's a nice fabric to rest my face against. I haven't seen any visible difference in my facial skin so far, but perhaps its too soon to tell. Or maybe the damage was too...ok, not going there! Time will tell how this works. But so far, so good.

Visit bedbathandbeyond.com to buy SkinGlow products.


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Adorable Calico Critters

This product was received for review consideration.

Halloween is a time for dressing up and having fun. Creepies and crawlies abound. But nothing says they can't be adorable, right? Like International Playthings’ adorable “Costume Critters” sets from Calico Critters.

In the picture above, you see featured Benji the Brown Bear Brother and his sister, Polly the Polar Bear. Benji looks precious in a furry lion costume with a fluffy tail, while Polly is cute in a frog costume complete with “webbed” feet and hands. They're really well made and the details are amazing. The critter costumes are also made with care and at that samll size, you can really appreciate the effort that went into it.

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Children's Book Nook - Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo

Why are the hyenas crying boo-hoo? And what gave the rhino a sickly green hue? It starts when Felicity Floo wipes her red, runny nose and transfers the goo. . . . Follow a sniffly girl on a hands-on trip to the zoo, and you’ll find one miserable menagerie -- and a comical ode to the virtue of tissues in Felicity Flu Visits the Zoo (Candlewick Press, 32p, ages 4-8, isbn-0763634441).

Kids will be happily grossed out to follow the icky trail as she pets one hapless, bleary-eyed creature after another. With whimsical, stylized illustrations showing Felicity’s handprints on every spread, this cautionary tale will have readers roaring out loud -- and racing off to wash their hands!

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Adopt a Creature

This holiday season, Oceana is providing a unique and meaningful way to give to loved ones while raising important funds for Oceana's campaigns to protect coral reefs, address climate change, protect sea creatures and maintain a healthy and abundant ocean.

When supporters virtually adopt a marine creature through Oceana's website (www.oceana.org/adopt) gift recipients can receive up to six ocean themed cookie cutters or up to four sea creature plush toys. This year’s program also includes special gift wrapping and a customized gift certificate as an extra premium. You can view all creature options at http://www.oceana.org/adopt.

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Sunday Book Nook - The Green Year

Trick or treating has a frightening impact on the environment. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spend upwards of $5 billion on the spooky celebration annually – and that adds up to a lot of plastic masks, candy wrappers and fake tombstones.

Jodi Helmer, author of The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference offers these tips for making the black and orange holiday a little more green :

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Movie Feature - Clancy

Filmed on location in Louisville, Kentucky 'Clancy' is a heartwarming story that intertwines bits of humor, discovery, friendship, faith, sacrifice and courage in the face of adversity and betrayal.

An independent young girl, full of faith and hope for better things to come, runs away from home fearing child protective services will take her away from her abusive mother. An ill-tempered, homeless Gulf War veteran becomes her unlikely protector and friend. Political ambitions of the local mayor and police chief threaten their futures as they discover how true friendship can change a life forever.

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Flu!

Despite all precautions, I've caught the Flu, maybe even H1N1. Doctors can't tell.

As such, I'm offline until I get better.

Sorry for any inconvenience. Hope to be back soon.
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Sunday Book Nook - The Warmest Place of All

A day of winter fun in the snow comes to an end when Sophie’s mother calls her inside. Sophie wants to find the perfect place that will make her feel toasty warm, but no matter where her mother suggests, the chill of winter creeps back into her bones. From the kitchen with a hot cup of cocoa to her cozy bed, Sophie cannot seem to find the warmest place.

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Family Fun Football for Wii

Family Fun Football for Wii is a fun, arcade-style casual sports game for everyone to enjoy. One can play against friends and family in vibrant themed football stadiums, such as the Tecmodome or Moonrock Field! Choices of the game's quirky characters range from animals, luchadors, ninjas, pirates, aliens or robots. One can even unlock the mode to play as your own Mii.

The ability to coach teams with a simple offensive and defensive playbook coupled with intuitive Wii Remote controls makes the game appealing to all ages for a fun pick-up and play party experience.

Game Features include :

• Simple playbook: A coaching playbook that makes it easy for everyone to learn and play the game of football!
• Power-ups: Earn power-ups during gameplay to enhance certain attributes including speed, strength, passing, and interception for a limited amount of time. Use them wisely to gain momentum in the game!
• Quickplay: Jump right into the action! Select two teams and the stadium you want to play in to get started. Up to four players can play for 2-on-2 football fun!
• Season: Play through a nine game season, each game against a different opponent. Defeat every team to be the best!
• Tournament: Play your way through a double-elimination tournament and be the last team standing to win it all!
• Mascot Mode: You can play as your team’s mascot, or as one of 10 unlockable mascots in Mascot Mode!
• Mii Compatibility: Load in your own Mii and play against your friends’ and family’s Miis for a more personal experience.

Additional information on the title, including a trailer and downloadable coloring book pages, can be found at www.familyfunfootball.com.
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Miss Brittany’s Organic Preschool Fun Dough

Old or young, digging your fingers in Play Dough and letting loose with your imagination, remains an evergreen and joyful experience. And what better Play Doh to do it with than Miss Brittany’s Organic Preschool Fun Dough! The line was created by a preschool teacher who felt the need for a better, safer play dough; a more kid-safe and environmentally responsible play dough.

This deluxe play dough gift set (pictured above) makes the perfect non toxic, eco-chic present for children ages 2 and up. Set includes three 7 oz containers of Miss Brittany's Organic Preschool Fun Dough, a 100% organic toddler apron featuring the logo "Organically Awesome!", a child sized made in the U.S.A. wood rolling pin, and four made in the U.S.A. wooden shape stampers. It’s a great kit for back to school. Everything is 100% organic, even down to the ink used on the packaging, so kids are sure to play safely. You can also buy individual color play doughs on the site and

What I love about it:

• Organic
• Non Toxic
• Handmade in the USA 
• Organic Fun Dough comes in 5 fabulous colors: Pink, Orange, Green, Purple and Blue.
• Ingredients used: filtered water, organic flour, mediterranean sea salt, organic canola oil, kosher cream of tartar, organic vitamin c,  and nontoxic usa made liquid watercolor.
• Organic Fun Dough is packaged inside 100% biodegradeable and compostable corn plastic containers for a truly eco-friendly package.
  

The only con I can find is that it's a bit pricier than ordinary, but it's worth the price for the safer and better quality ingredients.

My toddler just loves this play dough and we've had fun times with it, rolling it out with the mini-rolling pin which is just right for a toddler's hands, using the stamps and even mixing them up to create new colors! And I can rest assured that even if some of the play dough goes in his mouth (let's face it, it inevitably does!), it's still completely safe! We love it here and I think it'd make a great gift this Holiday season.

For more information, visit www.organicfundough.com.

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Clips 4 a Cure

   

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and on this occasion, I'm happy to feature a wonderful new store, Clips 4 a Cure.

As a 14 years cancer survivor, Single Mom of 2 wonderful girls, now Physical Therapist Sheridan Savio has first hand experience and empathy for those suffering with cancer. To help those with cancer or contribute financially to research promoting prevention and a cure for cancer, she started a small business designing and selling hair clips and accessories with a portion of all proceeds going towards cancer research through the American Cancer Society. The result, Clips 4 a Cure where she sells Handmade Flower Hair Clips: Headbands, and Hats for Infants, Toddlers and Big girls; Flower Pacifier Clip Holders, Custom Boy Pacifier Clip Holders and Flower Clip Holders. All made with Swarovski Crystals. Their latest addition are BLING flip flops.

I look forward to putting the polka dot pink bows on my little girl (once she has enough hair, that is :). I'm already using the bow-topped flip flops and loving it! The pacifier clips are a boon, for kids never seem to get out of the habit of flinging things just for the joy of it. And as they grow older, they can be used as a backpack clip as well. I love such versatile products that grow with the kid, don't you?

Clips 4 a Cure gives 20% of their profits to the American Cancer Society and also the Susan G.Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. I definitely recommend you stop by there and soon! More information at http://www.clips4acure.com/.


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Sage Green Bags

   

Going Green has never been more fun (or hip!) what with the growing availability of re-useable bags, totes and more. As you can experience for yourself by trying out the ones at Sage Green Bags. They made me fall in love with *green* bags all over again!

Sage Green Bags offers the eco-conscious consumer many multi-purpose water and mildew-resistant tote bags for their use. Whether you are looking for personalized bags or customized sizes of canvas, jute, non woven polypropylene, PET bags made from recycled water bottles, or woven polypropylene, they are the one stop shop for reusable bags.

Why I love them:

• Stain resistant 
• Mildew resistant 
• Washable
• Extremely sturdy and built to last
• Customizable. Call them an earth-friendly way to personalize or advertise, so to speak.
• Come in a variety of materials like Canvas, Jute, or Non Woven Polypropylene (inert recyclable plastic).
  
• Eco-Friendly 
• Multi-purpose 
• Light weight
• Generous size
• Available in a variety of colors as well
  

No wonder Sage Green LLC reusable shopping bags were chosen by the television series Wa$ted on the Discovery Channel as products that are emblematic of the need to focus on reusing products over and over throughout our daily lives.

For more information and to check out their great products, visit www.environmentbags.com

Finally, I'll leave you with this interesting fact - For each reusable bag used, 300-500 plastic bags are saved from landfills or the oceans.
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Sunday Book Nook - Stepmonster: A New Look at Why ...

One in two women in the United States will marry or live with a man with children, according to projections by experts who study divorce and remarriage. And the research is clear: it’s harder for women to be a stepparent than it is for men. Who are these women? What motivates them? Are they really wicked?

Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do, by Wednesday Martin, Ph.D., [336 p, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN: 0618758194] is an empowering, original, and realistic book that offers a completely new way of looking at women in relationships with men who have children.

Rather than focusing on how such repartnering affects the child, Martin explores stepfamily life and dynamics from the stepmother’s point of view, asking how remarriage with children affects her — psychologically, socially, and economically. Drawing on her own experience as a stepmother; interviews with other stepmothers and stepchildren; and fascinating insights — from anthropology, literary criticism, psychology, and evolutionary biology — that reveal the little-understood realities of this most demanding role, Martin unlocks the mysteries of why stepmothers think, feel, and act the way they do.

To read an excerpt from this book, visit my book blog, A Bookworm Reads.

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Leading Lady - Nursing with Style

It's a well known fact that Breastfeeding your baby provides the perfect nourishment for optimal growth and development. What's not so well known is that this beautiful experience can become a pain (especially when the milk just starts coming in) if you're not wearing a comfortable and supportive nursing bra.

The first nursing bra I ever got was some years earlier with my first child and involved an irksome saleswoman at Motherhood Maternity who was more interested in specifying that all sales are final, rather than trying to make a sale in the first place. I needed a nursing bra badly, and none of the other stores nearby carried one, so I had to go there. It was a horrible experience and the nursing bra lacked any support whatsoever so I ended up chucking it. I dreaded going there again when I needed a nursing bra again. So, I did some research online and surfed over to Leading Lady.

Leading Lady has provided quality nursing intimate apparel for more than 60 years. This gave me the confidence to approach them and they were kind enough to send me their Baby Sees It Cotton Wirefree Nursing Bra to try out. It's now my favorite bra of all time, nursing or not! Reason :

• It features a printed sling that visually stimulates baby while nursing.
  
• Cotton cups and an invisible inner seam prevents irritation. And it's so comfortable to wear, in all weather.
  
• Full sling for support while nursing.
  
• Wide cushioned, adjustable straps for comfort. These are the best part and provide support and comfort when most needed.
  
• 3-step drop cup accommodates changing breast size. So I can use it long after the breastfeeding is over.

They also sent over their Stylish sleep tank to try out. I just love how comfortable and yet fashionable this is. It's long enough that I can wear it around the house and yet provides for quick one-handed clasp for easy nursing. It also has an inner sling for support throughout the nursing experience. It also keeps you cool in the hot weather and keeps you looking gorgeous all the while! It also comes in three colors - Turquoise, Rose and Black.

That's not all. Leading Lady has a variety of products for women - whether you're expecting, nursing, looking for a full-figure bra or for post-masectomy - they have something for everyone. For more information, visit www.leadinglady.com

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Make Home Safer for Kids with Dream Baby

With ever-curious toddlers and children constantly adapting to common safety products, parents and caregivers must stay one step ahead to keep their kids out of harm’s way.

Dream Baby is making this job easier than ever with the Dream Baby Cable Lock and Dream Baby No Tools No Screws Safety Kit.

The Dream Baby Cable Lock keeps children safe by preventing them from opening cabinets, deterring stroller theft and securing a multitude of items with its cable loop. For kids who are able to unlock traditional safety locks, the Cable Lock utilizes a built-in combination locking system.

Now, this is the only thing that my toddler hasn't been able to get the better of, and I simply LOVE it! It's also adjustable up to 15.75" length.

The Dream Baby No Tools No Screws Safety Kit is a 35-piece set of child accessories that doesn’t require any tools for installation. The set includes outlet plugs, corner protectors and various locks and latches designed to keep children safe in nurseries, daycares, or at home. It is also ideal for both homeowners and renters who are concerned with maintaining their cabinets, drawers, appliances and other pieces of furniture.

No tools?! Now that's right up my alley. I'm enjoying myself making full use of this versatile and highly recommended kit!

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Pump with Style, Pump with Simple Wishes Bustier

Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful experiences of Motherhood. Unfortunately, not all Moms are able to indulge this experience due to work or other commitments which doesn't leave a lot of time to breastfeed. A great alternative is pumping and a simple solution to that is the Simple Wishes Hands-Free Bustier.

The brainchild of four sisters with one vision, Simple Wishes Hands-Free Bustier is an affordable and quality alternative to the fussy and unflattering nursing-intimates on the market. Designed as a bustier with adjustable straps providing the option to wear it many different ways ensuring a flattering fit no matter how full a woman is at the time. And while luxury lingerie may not be an option during those nursing days, the stylish sisters behind Simple Wishes wanted women to feel as pretty as possible while pumping. Hence, aesthetically pleasing materials and cuts were incorporated into the Simple Wishes Bustier. Environmentally conscious packaging and a commitment to charitable organizations are the icing on the cake for this “you can do it all” new mommy must-have.

So whether a woman wants to read a paper to catch up on current events, put the finishing touches
on a big presentation, or simply sip a cup of tea while visiting with her sisters, Simple Wishes pumping solution nurtures her needs. For more information, visit http://www.simplewishes.com/.

Buy it! Amazon has this Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier in soft pink for $35.

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Stay With Me Socks

Buying cute baby socks is one of the joys of Motherhood. Things would be perfect if only the darn things would stay on! Either they're too loose and fall off on their own or the babies pull them off for fun (and sometimes to happily chew upon).

As the name suggests, Stay With Me Socks has come up with a range of socks that are not just pretty, but which stay where they're supposed to.

• They feature a snag-free Velcro strap that fastens around the ankle to keep the socks securely and comfortably on the baby's feet. 
• This feature also makes them adjustable for growing feet. 
• In addition, they feature non-skid grippers on the bottom of the socks for those first adventurous steps. 
• Since it's the velcro keeping the socks stay put, it means the elastic on top of the socks doesn't have to be tight enough to leave red marks on the baby's legs. B
• est of all, you can loop the velcro straps of both the socks together and toss them in the wash. That way they never get lost. 
• The socks come in a variety of colorful stripes and fit babies 0-14 months of age.

No wonder these socks won an iParenting award for Outstanding Product this year. For more information and to check out more of their pretty yet useful socks, visit https://www.staywithmesocks.com/

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Just Plain Fun - Norman PhartEphant

As any Parent will tell you, it's not easy teaching Kids manners. Thankfully there's help in the form of a cute little elephant, Norman PhartEphant.

Super soft and squeezable, at 10 inches round, Norman PhartEphant offers a variety of 8 fart sounds with a squeeze of his tail. That's right, I said the F word, lol. Of course, Norman apologizes - on occasion. That's not all. This little elephant actually has his roots in reality : Norman is an African Elephant that was adopted by a US zoo. Although Norman is enjoying his new permanent home, the change of diet has caused him to become rather gassy.

I must say the concept's brilliant! By making it fun, Norman's teaching kids a valuable lesson about bodily functions and how to respond without being preachy or anyway adult-like. And he also teaches Kids not to take themselves seriously or be embarrassed when such situations arise. Besides, Norman's so cute and cuddly, that lessons aside, this soft elephant is just plain fun.

From the website - Norman belongs in a class of children's toys that makes perfect "big brother" gift when the new baby arrives. And since this happened when my daughter arrived some months ago, I can tell with perfect honesty, that it's true. I'm not saying Norman solved all the issues that arose with the new one's arrival, but he sure helps things calm down and provides a good distraction whenever my son's having a temper tantrum or some such. He's surely brightened up our home. Why not bring him to your home this Holiday season or send him as a gift?!

For more information, visit www.phartephant.com.

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