Plagentra Winner!

Congratulations to Melissa Huie! You are the winner of this giveaway! I'll be forwarding your info onto the company so they can get your prize sent out to you right away! Enjoy it!!

Winnie the Pooh DVD Winner!

Debbie Moretti--you are going to be seeing this DVD at your house very soon! Congratulations and enjoy your prize!! You already supplied all of your shipping info, so you should be seeing it very soon!

Incredibum Cloth Diaper Review/Giveaway

Woo hoo! I have a new cloth diaper to tell you about! It comes from the Incredibum line! Have you heard of them yet?

I was chosen as an Alpha Incredimom blogger and I'm pretty excited about it! A few weeks ago I received this diaper in the mail:

First off, they hadn't asked me about color choices but I was SO thrilled that I got the Caterpillar color! They couldn't have chosen a better one for me. I just LOVE greens!! This green is a really pretty shade too! They have a line with 7 different color choices.

So, there are a couple of things I'd like to point out to you about this diaper. First off, it is a One Size diaper. That means that this diaper will fit your child for *most* of the time they are in diapers. I was able to start using a one size diaper on my daughter when she was about 1 month old. It was rather large-looking on her, but it still worked! Now that she is 19 months old, the One Size diapers fit her great and I think they will easily carry her all the way through potty training.

Second, this may look like your average pocket diaper but it's not. This is actually an All-In-Two diaper. What that means for cloth diapering newbies is that instead of stuffing a back pocket with an absorbent insert, you lay inserts inside the cover and those inserts are what is against your baby's skin. All-In-Two's tend to be a little bit less expensive to make a stash of because you can essentially purchase just one cover for every 3-4 inserts.  When your child has a wet or dirty diaper, you just take the old dirty insert out and replace it with a clean new one (as long as the cover is still dry/clean). That means if you want to have enough diapers on hand to do 20 diaper changes before you wash diapers, you'll buy 20 inserts but just 5-6 covers. This can be a huge money saver and an option that a lot of people are using these days! They are also a little quicker than stuffing a pocket since all you have to do is quickly snap the inserts in.

Third, these inserts are made from bamboo (The bum pad insert is made up of bamboo (67%), cotton (23%), and polyester (10%). The shell is made up of polyester (100%), TPU waterproof coating and Microfiber fleece lining.). If you haven't had a chance to feel bamboo fabric yet, you really must! It is SO soft! It's also great for cloth diapers because not only is it (generally) safe and comfy to put against baby's bum, it also absorbs liquid really well without a lot of bulk and is naturally antimicrobial. It's the kind of fabric that is so soft you just want to run it across your face. I LOVE bamboo!!

So, like I said, we got this diaper a few weeks ago. It came with 2 inserts. One is smaller and perfect for a newborn/small baby OR to use as a doubler and the other inserts is nice and long (which is the one we generally use). I love that this diaper has a LOT of snap options to choose from so you can get a good fit. It also has crossover snaps on BOTH sides! I find that sometimes I get a diaper with crossover snaps but it's on the "wrong side" for me--does that ever happen to you. I always start on the right side when I close my diaper and if the crossover snaps are on the other side---well, it just throws me off!

We've had great success with this diaper and Maggie seems to be pretty comfy in it! We only have the 2 inserts, so I haven't been able to use the cover over a few times during the day, but I definitely would have if I'd had more inserts! I did not use this diaper for overnight because I knew that with just those 2 inserts, it wouldn't be enough to hold her ALL night long (and I just hate changing her sheets!). She is a super soaker!! I think if I had 3 of the large inserts stuffed inside for nighttime it would not only be enough absorbency but it also still wouldn't be THAT bulky. These bamboo inserts are much less bulky than microfiber inserts and they move with Maggie a lot better. I need to look into getting some more!

Maggie is getting pretty stubborn about standing or sitting still for diapers pictures now, but I was able to snap a quick on the other day:

Lastly, I'm called "thrifty nifty" for a reason. I LOVE a good deal. These diapers are priced at just $16.95--and this includes both inserts. That's about $3 cheaper than your other pocket diapers and most AI2's I've seen. You can see all the pretty color options and purchase one or two yourself to ty out by visiting one of their retailers, like Sandbox Lane.

Also, one of my lucky fans is going to win one of these diapers! Just fill out this easy entry form.

**Sorry--Google Docs seems to be having issues right now and will not let me embed it into this post. Please CLICK HERE to be taken to the entry form.**

Cutesy Tushies Winner

Congratulations to Elizabeth Stearns! I'm going to send you an email so you can get in touch with Cutesy Tushies and redeem your gift certificate! I hope you enjoy your new diaper!!

Aller-Ease Winner

Congratulations to Mary Michaud! You are the winner of this giveaway! Congratulations!! You already supplied your shipping info and mattress cover preference, so I'm forwarding it onto the company and you should have your prize soon! I hope you enjoy it!!

Stella & Dot Earrings Giveaway

Tina, an Independent Consultant with Stella & Dot would like to give one of my readers one of her best selling earrings from the Stella & Dot collection. Winner will have the choice between the Deco Drop Earrings ($49) or the Paradise Studs ($24)

In addition she's also running a Stylist Incentive- If any of you would like to sign up as a Stylist during the month of October- On top of the current $450 in free Jewelry the company is sponsoring- I will give any stylist who joins my team a $75 Gift Certificate following their first Trunk Show! That would be a total of $525 to jump start your career.

The giveaway is open to all US residents 18 and over. To enter, just fill out the easy entry form below. Good luck!

Gyro Bowl Review and Giveaway

Have you seen the commercials for the Gyro Bowl yet? We don't watch very much tv so I still haven't caught a glimpse of the commercial on TV, but my in laws told me about it months ago! They thought it would be a great product for my daughter to try out! Just in case you are like me and haven't seen the commercials yet, have a look:



Features:

• Kid-Proof Gyro Bowl
• Inner Bowl Rotates 360 Degrees
• Virtually Indestructible
• Saves Time, No More Cleaning
• Use it for Non-Food Items
• BPA-Free Plastic
• Top Rack Dishwasher Safe
• Not Microwave Safe

The Gyro Bowl is a revolutionary no spill bowl that will bring an end to messy child eating habits. Perfect for traveling and for around the house! The Gyro Bowl is a kid-proof bowl that uses 360-degree technology to keep items inside the plastic sphere. The bowl stays open-side up, no matter which way a child decides to twirl it, throw it or dump it. Gyro Bowl is virtually indestructible and works just like a globe! Parents can rejoice at the thought of never having to clean snacks off the carpet or out of the deep crevasses of a car seat (we’ve all been there) again. Children will love taking this super snack contraption with them everywhere they go.

What We Thought:

Maggie has been using the bowl for a few weeks now. She loves to have her snacks in it. It's pretty cute to watch when she walks with it; she tries really hard to hold it properly so she won't spill, not realizing how the bowl works. Time after time I've given her snacks in the bowl and I've yet to see her have one little piece of cereal, raisin, grape, etc spill from it. I gave it the Mommy Test and tried to MAKE it spill. I  have to admit that I WAS able to get it to spill, but that was only when I was being really rough with it and, as I said, purposefully trying to make it spill.  It cleans up great in the dishwasher and I love that it comes with a lid!

In conclusion,I think this is a great non-spill bowl for your kids! If you have a child who is determined to spill from this and make a mess, yes, there's a good chance that they might figure out how to make it happen, but with normal use, it will not spill! It's a great little bowl and we are going to get a second one for Grandma's house!

Buy It!

You can buy these bowls directly from their website. They have a promotion now that you can get 2 bowls for $14.99. I've also seen these bowls in a store at our mall, so I'm sure you can find them while you're out and about as well!

Win It!

One of my readers is going to win their own Gyro Bowl to try out! Just fill out this easy entry form for your chance to win!

Green Earth Baby Works Final Reveal!

Have you been following along all month to the mystery prize pack giveaway from Green Earth Baby Works? If so, you've seen the first 3 prizes that are being given away and now I'm going to bring you the 4th and last one. It is..................

BuzzaGoGo Cold Be Gone!!

What is Cold Bee Gone?

Cold Bee Gone is a remedy that you swab inside your nose to help you fight cold and flu. It is a unique blend of the world's most powerful medicinal honeys and essential oils. This includes Active Manuka Honey which has proven anti-viral properties. Targeting the treatment in the nose allows the remedy to work its magic where most cold and flu replicate. It smells like lime and lavender. It's pleasant, its not sticky and it works!

How does it work?

Your nose is the gateway to viral infections because 95% of infections start in your nasal passages. Once the virus gets into your cozy nose, it will remain dormant for up to three days waiting for the warmth of your body to melt its waxy shell so it can infect your cells. Once that happens, your cells do all the dirty work by replicating the virus millions of times within hours. Manipulative little bug! That is when you will start to feel that familiar tickle in your throat. Cold Bee Gone nasal swab remedy can help rescue you from the misery of a cold or flu by killing the virus directly where it replicates....in the nose. Use it daily to fight infection risk. If you are already feeling sick use it more often to lessen the severity of your illness. It's safe, it's natural and best of all, it's effective!

What Did I Think?

Well, when I got the product I read the name and the first line of the description and though, "gosh, I kinda hope I don't get the chance to review this anytime soon. I don't want to get sick! It wasn't until Kim from Green Earth Baby Works told me to keep reading the description that I realized you not only use this to help when you are sick, can use it to help PREVENT yourself from getting sick! Well, as luck would have it, the day I learned this bit of information I started feeling not so great (no joke!). It figures right?! I was kicking myself for not learning more about the product sooner! Since I'm pregnant, it's not always easy to tell if what I'm feeling is a cold or pregnancy related but I definitely felt even more mucusy and my head just had that "sick" kinda feeling--you know what I mean? I always feel like I can feel a cold coming on about 24 hours before it really starts to get me down. I grabbed the bottle of Cold Be Gone and swabbed some of the solution inside my nose right away. The next day I woke up and still felt a little off, so I swabbed it a few more times throughout the day. You know what, the next morning I woke up and felt just like my old self (well, like my old pregnant self!). Now, obviously this was only once so I can't say it's scientific yet, but I've been swabbing some every night before bed and so far so good! I'm hoping it can help keep my healthy all winter long, especially since I don't like taking over the counter or prescription drugs while I'm pregnant!

Buy It!

You can buy BuzzaGoGo Cold Be Gone from Green Earth Baby Works for $14.95.

Win It!

SO, now you know it all! At this point you should know every prize that is in this mystery prize pack. There are all kinds of great goodies!! Have a look:

This is your final chance to get entries into this giveaway! This giveaway will end at 11:59pm EST on October 31st.  Good luck!!

Win a $50 Visa Gift Card!

Visa Prepaid is running another contest on their Facebook page! This time they are giving away $50 Visa prepaid gift cards! All you need to do to enter to win is stop by their Facebook page and share a tip that makes your daily life easier. Tips can be about anything from how to stay on top of the latest deals to how to get the kids up and ready in the morning (or even how visiting Thrifty Nifty Mommy every day helps you enter and win all sorts of fun giveaways, ha ha!). Users will vote on the tips that they find most helpful, and the tip with the most votes in each category (shopping/travel/family/work) will win the weekly $50 Visa Gift card prize! Weekly winners will be eligible for a chance to win the monthly prize of a $500 Visa Gift card, and monthly prize winners have a chance to win the grand prize of a $1000 Visa Gift card. There's no purchase necessary to enter or win.

Go check out the Visa Prepaid Everyday Tips for Everyone Contest here: http://www.facebook.com/VisaPrepaid?sk=app_281882425175302. You can enter and vote for your favorite tip everyday! The contest runs through January 1st, 2012. Good luck! I'd love to see some of my fans win!

*This post sponsored by Visa Prepaid. *

Shadow in Serenity Book Winner!

Congratulations to Heather Beshures LaRue! You'll be receiving this book soon! I hope you enjoy it!

Scooby-Doo Trick or Treat Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Jenn Huey!! You are the winner of this giveaway and should be receiving your prize soon! Enjoy it!

Big Things Are Coming!

You may have noticed the past couple of days that my blog is acting a little weird. Well, that's because I'm in the process of switching over to my own domain! My new address will be http://www.thriftyniftymommy.com/ and it will be ready in about 24-48 hours! Don't worry though--if you happen to type in the blogspot, once I'm switched over you will just be forwarded to the new address.

In the meantime, if you have trouble trying to click a link on my tabs or sidebar, here is a tip. Say for instance you have clicked on the Winnie the Pooh DVD giveaway link on the right sidebar. You most likely got this message, " The blog you were looking for was not found. If you are the owner of this blog, please sign in." Have no fear--you can still access this giveaway. Here's how:

On that screen that tell you "The blog you were looking for was not found. If you are the owner of this blog, please sign in," you'll see this address at the top: http://www.thriftyniftymommy.com/2011/10/brand-new-winnie-pooh-dvd-giveaway.html  just insert "blogspot." directly before the "com" and hit "enter" and you'll go to the giveaway. For instance, the new address will look like this: http://www.thriftyniftymommy.blogspot.com/2011/10/brand-new-winnie-pooh-dvd-giveaway.html. This will then take you to the Winne the Pooh DVD giveaway. It works that way for any page you are trying to visit right now.

I'm very sorry for the extra work right now and hope it will be completed soon! Thanks for hanging in there with me!! I wanted to have everything changed over before the big holiday gift guide rolls out. I've got tons of great products to show you and some AWESOME giveaways for you!!

Ubokia.com

Have you heard of Ubokia yet? I just found out about it and thought some of my readers might be interested! If you're like me, you're always searching Craigslist and yardsales to find thrifty nifty finds for your family!

Ubokia is a community that puts buyers in control. To do this, they have reversed the model for online shopping by allowing members to post something they want to buy, then sellers come to them and make offers - it is basically like a reverse Craigslist!  In other words, Ubokia connects you with the things you're passionate about, whether it's bicycles, cars, fine wines, or anything else you can imagine.

I just got on there to see if I could find any local people looking for Football cards. We have BOXES of them in our basement and my husband is finally ready to give them up. I didn't find anyone on there yet looking for sports cards, but I'm going to keep checking back! It's nice because your information is private unless you want to give it out, and the site is absolutely free to use! I think I'm going to post that I'm looking for cloth diapers and see if I get any hits!

You should check it out! You just might find that item you've been searching for! http://www.ubokia.com/

Step2 Reversible Designer Playmats Review and Giveaway

Step2 sent me a package of their brand new Reversible Designer Playmats. I decided to make my first video review so you can really see how we use them!! SO, I'm not going to tell you twice what I thought about them by typing it all out, just watch the video!

Buy Them!

You can purchase these playmats from Step2 directly from their website at http://www.step2.com for $22.99 ( plus just $ .99 for shipping!)

Win Them!

Step2 is going to give one of my fans their own set of Reversible Designer Playmats! Just fill out this easy entry form. Good luck!

Bluapple Review and Giveaway

So, how many of you go out shopping, buy lots of yummy, fresh produce for your family, only to end up throwing half of it away because it spoils before you get to use it. This happens to me ALL the time! I really want us to eat more fresh fruits and veggies but I get frustrated with wasting money when we don't eat everything.

I saw these Bluapple products at my local Martins store a few months ago when I was in there and I thought, "gosh, I really want to try these! Are they worth the money? Will my produce really last longer??"

So, How and Why are They Supposed to Work?

Ethylene gas is given off naturally by fruits and vegetables as a signaling mechanism in order to coordinate uniform ripening. However, once concentrated in your refrigerator or other storage areas, the presence of ethylene gas continues to speed up ripening and hasten spoilage.

The BluApple is designed to provide effective ethylene gas absorption for three months in a typical home refrigerator produce bin or storage container. The active ingredient does not "wear out", but continues to absorb ethylene until it has reached its capacity. A One Year Refill Kit rounds out the BluApple ethylene gas management product line, allowing consumers to reuse BluApples and not add them to landfills.

Sounds Great and Easy Right? But Does It Work...

I tested them out in my produce bin and I have to say that I really DO think they helped my produce last longer! My head of lettuce I bought 2 weeks ago still looks fabulous as do the grapes and apples I bought! This is great for my small family of 3 and definitely worth the cost of just $9.95 for the 2 apples which will last for 3 months. I'm certain that I throw out more than 4 a month on produce, so it is paying for itself in just over 2 months. You can then purchase a year's worth of refill packs for only $9.95.

I took some pictures of my produce when I got it home from the store, but they are trapped on my camera that is not working right now. *sigh* Luckily I have a back-up camera and can show you my produce 2 weeks later:

I know YOU probably want a chance to try them out too! Bluapple is going to give away THREE of the starter packs! For your chance at winning one of them, just fill out this easy entry form.

Barney Holiday Boxed Gift Set

Every other year I've complained when the stores started breaking out Christmas items in September. Not this year! I just can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to it!! I've started buying Christmas presents and I'm counting down the days until Black Friday so I can break out the Christmas decorations! And yes, we've been watching a lot of Christmas movies already. We just got finished watching a new Barney Boxed Gift set from Hit Entertainment. If you'd ask Maggie, the only thing better than a Barney movie is THREE Barney movies! We've enjoyed cuddling up on the couch at night and watching these DVDs. Here are the details about this box set:

BARNEY™: HOLIDAY FAVORITES 3-DVD GIFT SET DESCRIPTION:

Have a holly jolly holiday this year with everyone’s favorite purple T-rex as he and his friends ring in the joy of the season in Barney™: Holiday Favorites 3-DVD Gift Set, unwrapping in stores October 18, 2011 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Spend the night before Christmas at Santa’s Workshop, search for the perfect gold star to top the Christmas tree and welcome fellow preschool favorites Bob the Builder™, Kipper™, Thomas & Friends™ and Pingu™ for additional frosty, festive fun.

Trusted by moms and adored by children, Barney displays sharing, caring, imagining, dancing and learning on television and through digital media, live events, home entertainment, toys, and publishing. The Emmy® award-winning series, Barney & Friends™ is one of the top-rated preschool shows today, airing on PBS KIDS® and Sprout®.

DVDs Include:

Barney’s Night Before Christmas Movie

Barney and his friends spend the most wonderful time of the year on a magical journey to the North Pole as very special guests of Santa’s workshop. With music in the air, and laughter everywhere, it’s a dream come true as Santa unveils a holiday treat – his secret toys for Christmas!

Barney: Christmas Star

'Tis the season to be jolly with Barney and his friends! The festive fun begins with a joyful journey to find a shiny gold star for the Christmas tree and includes loads of magical, musical merriment along the way. From little drummer boys to “The Night Before Christmas,” it is a holiday adventure that features ten festive songs that the whole family will enjoy!

HIT Favorites: Frosty Friends

Bundle up with your favorite preschool pals in these playful, wintertime tales. Learn the true meaning of Christmas with Barney, build a snowman with Bob, go sledding with Kipper, whistle down the snowy tracks with Thomas and laugh along as Pingu plays hilarious tricks on his winter wonderland friends.
 
Watching these DVDs has been a great way to start teaching Maggie about Christmas. Even though she had her first Christmas last year, it's not something that she remembers. I'm hoping that because we've been watching these specials, when it does come time to set up our Christmas tree this year, Maggie will recognize it and start to really understand Christmas!
 
This DVD Boxed Set is available at lots of retailers. I saw it just yesterday at our local Target for $19.98! Pick it up and enjoy it with your kid(s)!

Farmhouse Foods Review and Giveaway

Farmhouse Foods makes all-natural pasta and rice dishes, with nothing artificial added. They make a great side dish for any meal. Farmhouse Foods is committed to producing delicious, wholesome products in an environmentally sustainable manner. They use only 100% natural rice and durum wheat semolina, cheese, vegetables and dairy products from farms and co-ops located in Arkansas, California and throughout America’s Heartland. Their products are then packaged in Idaho, providing jobs for American workers.

Farmhouse Foods makes family favorite natural rice side dishes, including, Herb and Butter Wild Rice, Mexican Rice, Rice Pilaf, Brown and Wild Rice and several more mouth-watering varieties. They also make natural pasta side dishes, such as Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta, White Cheddar Pasta, Parmesan Pasta and Four Cheese Pasta. Farmhouse® all natural side dishes will add appetite appeal and panache to any meal and will be enjoyed by the whole family.

Farmhouse Foods sent me 10 boxes of their pasta and rice side dishes and we've been trying them out for a few weeks now. I make a lot of "one meat, one side, one veggie, one fruit" type of meals so I was really excited to try these dishes. I hate serving my family foods that have any artificial and/or msg ingredients! Our family's favorite Farmhouse Foods product so far is the Four Cheese Pasta. It is SO SO good! We loved it!

Overall, I've been really impressed with these Farmhouse Foods! We enjoyed every dish that we've tried so far. Unfortunately for me, there are no retailers who sell them on the East coast--yet. Hopefully that will change soon! If you live out West though, check the store locator at http://www.farmhouse.com/ to find out if there is a store near you where you can buy these dishes! You can also order these dishes online and have them shipped directly to you as well though, which is what I'll be doing!

I took some great pictures of me cooking some of these meals and my wonderful camera has broken....taking all of my pictures with it. *sigh* Sorry guys!

Farmhouse Foods would like to give one of my readers their own prize pack of 10 different Farmhouse Foods side dishes to try out!

Just fill out the easy entry form below to enter to win! Good luck!

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Merry Christmas Thomas DVD Winner

The winner of this new Thomas DVD is Brandy Dotson! Congratulations! You already supplied your shipping address, so you should have this prize soon!

Repechage Winner

Congratulations to Melissa Wilson! You should be receiving this prize soon! I hope you enjoy it!

U R Some 1 CD Winner!

Congratulations to Amanda Alvarado! You should be receiving this CD soon! Enjoy it!!

Green Earth Baby Works Mystery Prize Pack Reveal #3!

Did you read about the awesome mystery prize pack giveaway happening this month with Green Earth Baby Works? If not, click here so you can get caught up and read all the details!

Last week I revealed the second prize in the mystery prize pack, and now I'm about to reveal the third prize! It is........................

A Dozen 6x6 Cotton Velour and Flannel Wipes made by Munchki Fluff!

These wipes are SO cute and SO soft!! I couldn't believe how cute these wipes were when they arrived! If you cloth diaper, using cloth wipes (for me anyways) makes cloth diapering  easier...and it just makes sense! These wipes have fun pirate/monkey prints on them. The bottom picture shows the colorful, soft velour back of the wipes.

Buy Them!

You can purchase these cloth wipes from Green Earth Baby Works for just $12! Please note, they are not currently shown on her website becaues they sell so quickly! If you'd  like to purchase some of these wipes, just send her an email at "kim (at) greenearthbabyworks.com and visist her online store at http://www.greenearthbabyworks.com/.

Win Them!

The Mystery Prize Pack from Green Earth Baby Works will contain one dozen of these wipes (and a couple other great prizes!)! Here's your fourth chance to get entries into this fun giveaway. Make sure you act now, because once the next prize reveal happens, this entry form will no longer work! Good luck!

Thirty-One Gifts Winner!

I know, I know--I took a long time to draw this winner. Sorry guys! Things have been very busy lately! Without further delay, the winner of this giveaway is...Jennifer Dansberger Jones!! Congratulations! I'm going to be sending you an email so you can let me know if you'd like the $25 Gift Certificate or an organizing utility tote! Check your inbox and/or spam folder!

Brand New Winnie the Pooh DVD Giveaway!!

The movie at the top of Maggie's Christmas list is, I'm pretty sure, probably on your child's too--the new Winnie the Pooh DVD that releases on DVD October 25th! We are SO excited to see this movie! We didn't make it to the theater to watch it and we're just itching to see it! I can't come out soon enough!!

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, for the latest adventure featuring the world’s beloved bear, Winnie The Pooh! Join Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Christopher Robin, Owl, Kanga, Piglet, Eeyore, and all of the classic characters you know and love when Walt Disney Pictures releases Winnie The Pooh on DVD and Blu-Ray October 25, 2011!

Check out the widget below to take the Pooh Personality Quiz (find out which character fits you and your child best) and download lots of fun activities like coloring sheets, exclusive "Pooh" cooking recipes, party ideas, crafts, games, and more!




I know you want to win this new DVD and here's your chance!! Just fill out this easy entry form and one of my readers will win their own Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack!!

$20 Whole Foods Giftcard Giveaway

Get your immune system in gear this fall, with tips from Whole Foods Market. All of the essentials for protecting yourself and your family from the cold and flu season are featured in a three part podcast series on understanding the immune system for winter wellness, homeopathy for cold and flu season and a shopping list for ideas on natural products that support the immune system. Podcast summaries are included below. For more information and to listen, click: http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/category/whole-body-podcast/

Understanding the Immune System for Winter Wellness - October 2

Ever wonder what the immune system is actually made of? Learn how the body responds to foreign invaders and tips for both internally and externally supporting winter wellness in this revealing encore presentation. Nancy Angelini is National Science Educator for Source Naturals and Planetary Herbals, with more than 15 years (and 1500 lectures!) in the natural products industry.

Homeopathy for Cold and Flu Season – October 18

Homeopathic remedies have a long history of use worldwide, but can they really help at this time of year? And are they okay to use with immune-supportive formulas? Tune in to this encore interview for the answers and some expert recommendations. Dr. Christophe Merville is the Director of Education and Pharmacy Development for Boiron USA.

Seasonal Wellness Shopping List – October 29

It’s the time of year that we need to take extra good care of our bodies and specifically the immune system. Join us in exploring herbs and nutrients available at Whole Foods Market that may offer support. Malia Curran, MS, MPH is a nutrition consultant, speaker, and mom of two young children.

Whole Foods would also like to offer one of my readers a $20 gift card so you can purchase good, wholesome foods to help you through this cold and flu season.



*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary giveaway item.*

Shaun the Sheep We Wish Ewe a Merry Christmas DVD Review

My WHOLE family was eagerly anticipating this DVD release!! We just LOVE Shaun the Sheep--and Christmas--so it doesn't get much better than this! We all sat down together as a family and had a blast watching this DVD. Shaun the Sheep never disappoints and this DVD was no exception! If you've never seen Shaun the Sheep before, I urge you to check him out! It's a great show that your whole family can watch and enjoy together!

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Celebrate with Shaun the Sheep™ as he revels in his first holiday-themed DVD in Shaun the Sheep: We Wish Ewe A Merry Christmas arriving on DVD October 18, 2011 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. The sheep make sure The Farmer isn’t alone on Christmas, help to free him from his snowed-in house, take care of Bitzer, find him the perfect new hat and make merry in these seven hilarious episodes -- the perfect way to join Shaun and his barnyard buddies in ringing in some holiday “shear”!
Five minute shorts of the series currently air in the U.S. on the Disney Channel and the series ranks in the top five animated shorts on the network!

DVD SYNOPSIS

‘Tis the season to be woolly, with Shaun the Sheep and his farmyard friends. Frolic with the flock as they decorate the farmhouse for The Farmer, watch Bitzer and Pidsley battle for a spot by the fire, join a massive snowball fight and much more in these seven hilarious episodes from the Oscar®-winning creators of Wallace and Gromit™.

Episodes include:

•We Wish Ewe A Merry Christmas: Shaun discovers that The Farmer will be spending Christmas Day alone. The animals work through the night festooning the farmhouse with decorations so that The Farmer wakes up to the most magical Christmas that he has ever experienced.
 •Snowed In: Shaun and his buddies awaken to find the farm covered in snow. But while the sheep enjoy themselves in a massive snowball fight, they are all unaware that The Farmer is snowed inside the farmhouse and trying desperately to escape.
•Fireside Favorite: Bitzer has caught a cold and The Farmer decides to tuck him up in the house to recover. In doing so, Pidsley the cat is ousted from his favorite spot next to the fire. The mean cat attempts various ways to remove the snotty dog while the sheep do their best to keep Bitzer where he needs to be.
 •An Ill Wind: The Farmer receives a huge electricity bill and decides to build his own wind turbine to power the farmhouse. As soon as The Farmer’s back is turned, Shaun and the flock adapt the noisy new contraption into something much more fun – a ferris wheel. It’s not long before The Farmer blows his fuse.
•Bitzer’s New Hat: The Farmer gives Bitzer a horrible new hat. Bitzer is very upset, as he treasured his old hat. The flock rally round to try and cheer him up with a selection of dashing alternative head-gear. Meanwhile, Shaun heads off on an adventure to find out what The Farmer did with the old one.
•Chip Off The Old Block: The Farmer has taken up sculpting, but unintentionally drops a huge slab of stone on top of Timmy’s teddy. Shaun and the flock must struggle and strain to lift the heavy block and retrieve the precious toy.
•Shirley Whirley: In a bid to help move Shirley around the farm, Shaun has the idea of fitting up Shirley with wheels. Using a remote control, Shaun can now maneuver his large friend around easily – until The Farmer’s TV remote interferes with the signal, causing Shirley to run amuck.

This DVD is so good, I'm sure we'll be watching it long past the Christmas season! You can purchase this DVD at most retailers. It has a suggested retail price of $14.98.

*Thanks to the company for the complimentary review item.*

Phix Review & Giveaway

What's Phix?

Phix is a company dedicated to the idea that:

We can all live healthier and more energized lives.

That’s what we think about from the moment we wake up (or at least once our morning Phix Energy has kicked in) ’til the moment we go to sleep (which is sometimes later than we should). In other words, we’re not perfect. But we’re trying.

Phix was started up in the Pacific Northwest, where the winters are long and kind of, well, grey, and where we sometimes found ourselves in need of a little support: a pick-me-up on a rainy morning, an immune boost to stave off a cold, or calming sleep aids to send us off on a great night of sleep. And in the upper-left corner of the country, we like to look to Mother Nature for answers whenever possible.

We believe in natural solutions, but we’re not kooks. That’s why we work closely with top naturopathic doctors and dietitians to help us figure out what to put in our cool little single serving stix. Phix energy drink powders and sleep aids are all-natural, so next time you need some energy or calming sleep aids, think Phix.

Our natural energy drink powders and sleep aids really work. They're different from anything else we’ve found on store shelves. Our Phix powders are entirely natural, vegan, and gluten free. All our energy drink and sleep aid solutions are good for you and of course they’re completely safe.

What Did I Try?

Phix sent me a box of their Variety pack Natural Energy Drink Powder and a box of their Lemon Chamomile Sleep Aid Powder.  Because I'm pregnant right now, I am pretty picky about what I'll put into my body. My husband, on the other hand, is always happy to try out new energy drinks and happily agreed to doing this review.  He tried the energy drink and said that it tastes good. It also contains a lot of vitamins to help him get through the day. He said it was hard to tell if it gave him extra energy or not, but he felt great all day when he drank them.

After doing some research, I decided that the ingredients in the sleep aid would be okay for me to try out, despite the fact that I'm pregnant. There are only a few, natural ingredients that are all safe to drink (in my opinion--please keep in mind I am not a doctor!) I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately. I've had crazy pregnancy dreams. I feel many nights like I'm dreaming all night long and wake up feeling less than rested. So, I was excited to give these drinks a try and see if they helped me at all. You know what, they really did! I still had weird dreams, but woke up only remembering 1 or 2 of them, as opposed to 4-6, PLUS I felt so much more rested! It was amazing. Oh, and it tastes great too!

Great tastes and all natural ingredients makes this a product I'm happy to add to my cupboards!

Buy Them!

You can purchase these drink mixes directly from Phix at http://shop.phix.com/

Win Them!

2 People will each win 2 boxes of the 6 Stix Variety Packs! For your chance to win, just fill out the easy entry form below.

Scentsy Sasha Bear Winner

Congratulations to Gina Benway! You're the winner of this giveaway! Enjoy your prize!

Angelina Ballerina Dancing on Ice Winner

Leigh Owens, the UPS man will be dropping this DVD off at your house very soon! I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we have!

Greening the Cleaning Review

Did You Know?

•Indoor air is often two to five times more contaminated than outdoor air.
•Childhood asthma has nearly doubled in the last 20 years (American Lung Assoc.) and some cleaners may be triggers to asthma attacks.
•The average home contains 25 gallons of hazardous chemicals - a major portion of these can be found in household cleaning products.
•Over 90% of all poisonings occur in the home.
•Cleaning products are involved in 11% of poisoning exposure in children under 6 years of age.
 

That's Why Today I'm Bringing You "Greening the Cleaning!"

 
 Greening the Cleaning®(GTC) Citrus Sage All Purpose Cleaner and Glass & Window Cleaner are now available in a concentrate kit. Two Bottles Of NEW GTC Concentrate Equals 10 Bottles Of Regular Spray! Now Greening the Cleaning is as Easy as 1-2-3!

The New Greening the Cleaning®concentrates are:

• Safe for kids and pets - all plant based, non toxic ingredients only
• Great for the planet - re-using the bottles saves them from going to the landfill
• Better for your wallet - you save over 50%
• Easy to use - Just fill the bottle with concentrate and mix with tap water and you're ready to clean green - easy as 1, 2, 3!
• Truly Green - Some companies claim their products are green but are they really? Greening the Cleaning® Concentrate is TRULY GREEN!

Greening the Cleaning sent me one of their Concentrate systems to try out and I've been using it all over my house! They are so easy to use. All you need to do is take the concentrate bottle and pour it into the spray bottle up to the concentrate line (see photo below). Then, you fill it the rest of the way with water. It's that easy!

I have found that these cleaners work wonderfully in my house with a very slight citrus scent! Since I'm 10 weeks pregnant, I'm being extra cautious about the chemicals I'm around. It makes me so happy to know that I can use these cleaners and not worry about any harmful chemicals affecting my baby!

Greening the Cleaning comes from the Imus Ranch. The Imus Ranch is a working cattle ranch for kids with cancer that was started by Don Imus and his wife Deirdre. It is located in beautiful Ribera, New Mexico and has hosted more than 1,000 kids since 1998. 100% of the profits from the sale of this cleaner go directly into the Imus Ranch.

Buy It!

You can purchase this concentrate set (you get a total of 10 bottles of cleaner out of it!) for $24.95 from the Imus Ranch Foods Website.

*This is not a paid review. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review items.*

Barney A Very Merry Christmas DVD Winner!

Congratulations to Ada Miller--you've just won this giveaway! You should be receiving your DVD soon!

Plagentra Review and Giveaway

There's a brand new line of skincare products I want to introduce you to--Plagentra! For over ten years these products have helped thousands of mom's and babies throughout Asia and Europe, and they are now entering the US market!

The unique skincare systems in the  Plagentra & AtoPlagentra lines are specially formulated to treat common skincare conditions such as Stretch Marks and Eczema. Unlike existing products on the market, CA Pharm offers a complete skincare system from soap to lotions to oils, enabling consumers to customize their experience and treatment. Additionally they recently launched new skincare products for expectant mom's, such as their specially formulated Blemish Balm designed for women's delicate skin during pregnancy.

Their popular Plagentra and AtoPlagentra series for moms and babies were recently ranked:

•Number one in stretch mark care (2011 Korea Satisfaction Consumer Index)
•Number one brand for moms and babies (2010 Korea Satisfaction Consumer Index)
•2011 best luxury skincare brand (Korean Governments Department of Ministry of Women and Family).

I was sent a large mix of products from Plagentra products to try out including diaper cream, wipes, natural soap, stretch soap, and stretch mark lotions and oils!  I'm currently in week 10 of my second pregnancy, which means that I'm getting to the point where I want to start using this stuff again to make sure I don't get any stretch marks! I was fortunate enough to leave my first pregnancy, for the most part, stretch mark free (don't hate me!).

I always love it when I can find products that work hard to have natural and organic ingredients and that's one of the reasons I really liked this diaper cream. Natural ingredients like Argan oil, sunflower seed oil, EGF & FGF and PGA effectively care for your baby's skin, soothing and moisturizing baby's troubled skin. EGF&FGF ingredients repair skin, and bean protein, PGA, chamomile extract and green tea extract constantly moisturize calm baby's skin. Organic natural ingredients provide soothing, moisturizing and anti-oxidant effects!

• Soothe baby's bottom naturally
• Diaper cream is a rich blend of nourishing oils meant to soothe delicate skin
• Keeps baby dry and comfortable
• Goes on and wipes off easily
• Helps treat and prevent diaper rash

The wipes are specially formulated sensitive skin baby wipes to eliminate and treat common skin problems, such as atopic symptoms and acne. They have a seven step water purification system  to remove harmful and abrasive chemicals such as chlorine, making it gentle and safe to use on your baby's delicate skin. Plagentra Baby wipes contain anti microbial ingredients such as nanosilver and nano-organic germanium that has been proven to kill bacteria such as MRSA, Candida, Staphylococcus aureus, O-157, E-coli, Salmonella and black bear mold.

I've used both the cream and wipes on Maggie and really like them. Neither have a strong fragrance and they have been very gentle on her. I like to rub the diaper cream onto her at night to help give her an extra barrier of protection while she sleeps.

I was really excited to get the goodies for myself! As I said, I remained basically free of stretch marks after having Maggie but I rubbed a lot of lotions/oils onto my belly while I was pregnant! I've also never heard of a company making special stretch cream soap before and I was really excited to try it out! The soap smells SO good and leaves my skin feeling nice and moisturized. After I get out of the shower, I've been rubbing on the lotion or oil (I alternate days) and my skin is looking nice right now! I have faith that these Plagentra products will keep me stretch mark free again! I'm going to have to get myself some more when I use up all of this!

Buy Them!

You can purchase these and lots of other great products from Plagentra by going to their website at http://www.myplagentra.com/. Are you like me and like to try before you buy? Well, have no fear, you can sign up on their website to receive FREE SAMPLES! Click here to go to the form!

Win Them!

Right now on their Facebook page, Plagentra is holding a Mommy & Me Halloween Costume Photo Contest where users can upload, comment and vote, the top 3 photos (based on user votes) will win a complete set of products for both mom and baby!!

Additionally, 2 of my readers will win their own tube of diaper cream and a package of wipes! Just fill out the easy entry form below to enter to win!

Buckalope Elementary Career Day DVD Review & Giveaway

My daughter loves to watch tv...probably a little too much! I try to limit her tv time to educational DVDs and shows so that at least while she's watching, she's also learning.

That's why I was really excited to review a brand new DVD from Buckalope Elementary. “Buckalope Elementary” is a puppet show geared for elementary school children (k-3) which promotes character development, career awareness, problem-solving, critical thinking, and above all, motivation. This program is grounded in educational theory and supported by research and over 10 years of personal experience as a teacher and counselor.  An important feature of “Buckalope Elementary” is that all lessons conveyed are student-driven, to where kids themselves discover the meaning of the intended lessons and teach one another. In addition, students model good character as they teach others the right thing to do and motivate and support each other.  The program has also been praised for its songs, which capture the true essence of each lesson with their catchy lyrics, and memorable melodies.



Although this DVD was geared towards grades K-3, Maggie still really liked it! She loved watching the puppets interact and also loved the music in this DVD. This DVD will introduce your child to careers available to them in a fun, creative way.  I also liked that this DVD will help get kids talking about their talents. Every child is unique and therefore has different skills and interests. This would be a great DVD to integrate into your homeschooling curriculum or share with your child's school.

Buy It!

You can buy this DVD directly from Buckalope Elementary by going to their website at http://buckalopeelementary.com/. It sells for just $9.99 (plus S & H).

Win It!

Five, yes I said FIVE of you will win your own copy of this DVD! Just fill out the easy entry form below! Good luck!

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items.*

Green Earth Baby Works Reveal #2!

Did you read about the awesome mystery prize pack giveaway happening this month with Green Earth Baby Works? If not, click here so you can get caught up and read all the details!

Last week I revealed the first prize in the mystery prize pack, and now I'm about to reveal the second prize! It is........................

Ruby Moon Natural Wipe Bits!!

Made with luscious goats milk soap, Ruby Moon Wipe Bits are so versatile and moisturizing you will use them is so many different ways. Lightly scented with Oatmeal, Milk and Honey, it's like a mini spa wherever you go! These are perfect to make wipe wash for your cloth wipes, washing up after a playing outside, bath time, and are a great addition to your diaper bag for cleaning up messes on the go! Just add to hot water and you have a silky and moisturizing soap solution that will help clean up any mess and keep your skin smooth!

What I Thought

I've been using cloth wipes for just about as long as I've been cloth diapering. I think it's easy and just makes sense to use cloth!  I  reuse my Peri Bottle by putting water in it to wet my cloth wipes. This works really great to wet them but if I let the water sit in the bottle longer than a day (or let my wipes stay wet with plain water) they get stinky. *Dislike* This was always a big problem and I'd find myself ready to change my daughter's diaper only to realize I didn't have fresh water.I finally started trying wipe bits a few weeks ago and I really love using them! I was afraid at first about the cost, but really one bag of wipe bits I know is going to last me a long time!  I drop in one chunk to a whole bottle of warm water and it last me for days! I can even wet her wipes and let them sit in her wipes container without them turning stinky. I love the way that these Ruby Moon wipe bits smell!! I will definately have to buy some more when I run out of these!

Buy Them!

You can purchase these wipe bits from Green Earth Baby Works for just $5.95! Click here to visit the store.

Win Them!

The Mystery Prize Pack from Green Earth Baby Works will contain one package of these great Ruby Moon Wipe Bits! (and a couple other great prizes!)! Here's your third chance to get entries into this fun giveaway. Make sure you act now, because once the next prize reveal happens, this entry form will no longer work! Good luck!

The Dirty Sock Funtime Band CD Winner

Congratulations to Kathy Davis! You should be receiving this CD very soon!

Cutesy Tushies Cloth Diaper Giveaway

Okay guys, are you ready for the Cutesy Tushies diaper giveaway of the month? This month, it's choose your own prize! That's right, the winner of this giveaway gets to choose any regular print OS pocket diaper, up to $15.00! (please note that the shipping is not included with this).

I was able to review a Cutesy Tushies Diaper not long ago and we're still loving it! It works really well for us! You can read my review here.

To enter for your chance to win this month, just fill out the easy entry form below. Good luck!

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary giveaway item.*