Thrifty Nifty Mommy

Aller-Ease Winner!

2012-03-18T20:34:00.002-04:00

Holly Chernoff, you are the winner of this giveaway! Congratulations!! I hope you enjoy this great prize!!

Brand New Strawberry Shortcake DVDs

2012-03-18T14:53:00.000-04:00

Did you watch Strawberry Shortcake when you were young? If so, now you can share her with a whole new generation of viewers! Twentieth Century Fox just released (March 6th!) 2 brand new Strawberry Shortcake DVDs: Berry Brick Road and Berry Bloomin' Garden!

The first DVD Maggie and I watched was Berry Brick Road. In this movie Strawberry Shortcake and her pals recreate the Wizard of Oz story. Just like in The Wizard of Oz, a tornado carries Strawberry Shortcake and Pupcake's house up and they land on the wicked witch. Of course, this saves the Berrykins, Rainbow, Blueberry and Lemon, who are so grateful and agree to help Strawberry get home. Off they go to Emerald City. If you've seen the Wizard of Oz (I have probably a hundred times!) you can imagine where the story goes from here! It has been nice to be able to share this version of the Wizard of Oz with Maggie because it is certainly less frightful for her than the original would be! She has really liked this DVD and has already watched it a few times!

After loving Berry Brick Road so much, she and I were eager to dive into the second DVD, Bloomin Berry Garden. In this DVD, Strawberry and her friends are preparing for the Spring Flower Festival! While busy getting ready for the big event, magical sparkles make the Berrykins grow tall and the girls shrink down small! Through this, the girls discover that even when they’re tiny, they can make a big difference! It's such a great message for young children!

We've really been enjoying both DVDs and I'm so happy to have them in our collection! You can find both of these DVDs available for purchase at Amazon.com.

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

Thomas & Friends: Up, Up & Away Winner!

2012-03-18T12:02:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Amy Witherstine! You are the winner of this giveaway! I hope you love your new DVD!

Awesome Adventures: Rescue Friends DVD

2012-03-17T22:02:00.000-04:00

Helping Heroes To The Rescue!

AWESOME ADVENTURES: Rescue Friends

On DVD, Digital Download And On Demand

March 13, 2012 From Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

An all-new line just for boys is coming to the rescue! Awesome Adventures features six episodes from your favorite preschool characters Thomas & Friends™, Fireman Sam™, and Bob the Builder™ in Awesome Adventures: Rescue Friends available March 13 on DVD, Digital Download, and On Demand from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Join your friends for these thrilling episodes as they act with courage, heart and selflessness to help their friends and save the day!

DVD SYNOPSIS

Calling all heroes! Spencer shows his mettle when he steams through thick fog to rescue Percy while Toby’s new whistle rings friends and animals to safety! Bob the Builder’s Machine Team helps Scratch out of a sticky situation, as Dizzy surprises her friends – and herself – when she turns a big mistake into a great success. Fireman Sam proves that a hero’s work is never done and James learns that some rescues are best left to the professionals. Everyone is racing to the rescue in this exciting collection from your favorite preschool friends!

DVD EPISODES

Thomas & Friends – “Spencer the Grand”
Thomas & Friends – “Toby’s New Whistle”
Fireman Sam –“Off Duty Sam”
Fireman Sam – “Fireman James”
Bob the Builder – “Scratch Goes Solo”
Bob the Builder – “Whizzy Dizzy”

What We Thought:

Well, obviously this DVD is geared a little more towards boys than girls. It doesn't mean that Maggie didn't like it, but I have to admit it's not her absolute favorite. She loves the Barney, Angelina Ballerina, and Timmy Time DVDs from HIT the most, but she has watched Thomas & Friends before (she has one Thomas DVD that she loves and there are parts that always make her laugh aloud). She has also watched some Bob the Builder episodes. I can tell that although they aren't her favorites, she does still enjoy them, and this DVD was no exception. This was our first DVD that included Fireman Sam, and he held her attention as well. If you have a boy (and possibly a girl!), I'm sure he'd love these high action, adventure episodes! I've never met a little boy who didn't love these shows! The nice thing about this DVD is that you get to enjoy 3 different shows in one movie. It's always nice to have some variety!

Buy It!

This DVD has a suggested retail price of $14.98 and is available online at stores like Amazon.com and also at many of your favorite retailers!

Sun Baby Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway!

2012-03-17T18:50:00.002-04:00

~This is a guest post from Alex at What This Mommy Thinks! Please check out her blog and go there to enter to win a Sun Baby Cloth Diaper! Enjoy!~

I was ecstatic to be able to review a SunBaby diaper. I had heard about them A LOT on cloth diaper forums and even from friends that use them. I HAD to know what they were about. Honestly, I wasn't so sure it'd be possible to get a quality diaper for about $5.00 a diaper.

SunPei, the owner of SunBaby Cloth Diapers is great. She is a mom to a 2 year old boy who happened to stumble across cloth while looking up baby products for her son when he was 5 months old. Since then, her and her husband have been working on their own business- SunBabies! I was very impressed with how quickly SunPei replied to e-mails and answered my questions thoroughly.

What are SunBaby Cloth Diapers?
They are one size pocket diapers. They have a PUL outer layer that makes the diaper waterproof. The inside material is soft microfleece. I'm not lying when I say SOFT! The inserts are made of super absorbent microfiber, but she is also working on coming out with a bamboo insert!

Product Features

Hip snaps and back elastic for a better fit.
Waterproof and breathable PUL exterior.
Gentle yet snug elastic.
Three rise settings to fit babies from 7 to 35 pounds.
Back flap to prevent leakage.
Soft micro fleece inner layer.
Waterproof insert stopper.

In the picture above you can see how the diaper grows with your baby! Truly a one size from birth to potty training!

We were sent a Doll Print diaper in size 2 from SunBabies.

This print is really cute! My 2 year old LOVES it!

Here is the diaper all snapped closed.

The SunBaby logo and an up close pic of the hip snap! *a new feature on the 4.0*

The inside of the diaper and 2 inserts I was sent. You can see in this picture the PUL folded over at the belly- this helps prevent leaks. I love the large pocket opening, it comes in handy when my husband needs to stuff diapers!

Fit on our 26lb 25month old. Still plenty of room to grow.

I love the snug fit around the legs! Perfect for preventing leaks and blowouts!
As I said before I was unsure you could get a quality diaper for about $5.00 but boy was I proven wrong! This SunBaby diaper is just as good as all our other diapers! We LOVE it! I was shocked at how soft the inner microfleece stayed after a few washes! The fit is perfect, and I even snapped it down to the newborn setting to get an idea of how it would fit and was surprised at how tiny it got. It's hard to find one-size diapers that'll snap down with the leg openings small enough for a little newborn, but SunBaby diapers do!

We had no issues with this diaper! I washed it right away when we received it and put it on our daughter. No leaks, no issues at all. We've been using it ever since without a problem! As I keep saying, we love it! I plan to buy the new baby some SunBaby diapers!
Also, SunBaby offers 2 one-size options- a size 1 and a size 2. Size 1 is better for smaller/skinny babies and size 2 is better for bigger/chunky babies.

BUY IT!

You can purchase SunBaby Cloth Diapers online at http://sunbabydiapers.com/
You can buy 6 diapers with 12 inserts for only $45.00!!!!

WIN IT!
One lucky "What This Mommy Thinks" reader is going to win a SunBaby Cloth Diaper!
Click here to go to the Rafflecopter form to enter. Good luck!

Momzelle Nursing Top Review and Giveaway

2012-03-17T14:21:00.002-04:00

I've already nursed one baby and I plan to nurse baby number 2 for at least a year as well. There were a lot of items I didn't have while I was nursing Maggie, one of those items being nursing shirts. It wasn't that I didn't want to have a few, but they just weren't in the budget, so I did without. This time around though, I'm really hoping to have a few nursing shirts to make life a little easier on me!

Momzelle is a clothing line for nursing mothers out of Canada. They have a full line of nursing tops, dresses, nightgowns, and bands! I contacted them about reviewing one of their tops and they were happy to send one down to me!

I really like nursing tops because they help make it possible to maintain modesty out in public. Because there is a flap in the middle that opens to allow access for nursing, your tummy stays covered the whole time! This is also nice in the winter when it's cold!!

I was sent Momzelle's V-Neck Tee in the Dalhia color. This tee is made from 94% cotton and 6% spandex. I had two concerns about these nursing tops. I wondered if it would be super noticeable that it was a nursing tee, and I also wanted a top that would be longer. I prefer my tops to be long enough to cover the top of my pants well. When I saw the shirt hanging on a hanger, I thought that the band in the middle (where you lift up to nurse) was going to be really noticeable. Once I put the shirt on though, I'm so excited to say that you really don't even notice it! This shirt is also plenty long, in fact I can wear it NOW while I'm 32 weeks pregnant!

I'm thrilled with this nursing shirt from Momzelle and so happy that I'll have it around when I'm nursing our new baby this summer! I know I'll be wearing it a lot!

Visit Momzelle at http://www.momzelle.com/ to see their entire product line and use code "Thriftynifty5" to save $5 off your first order!

One lucky fan will also win a $25 Gift Certificate to Momzelle! If you'd like to win, just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form below. Don't see the form? Click "read more" to bring it up!

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Step2 My Clubhouse Winner!

2012-03-16T15:20:00.000-04:00

So many of you have been waiting to find out if you are the winner of this awesome clubhouse from Step2. The wait is over! The winner is.............Katy Bolton! Congratulations Katy! I hope your family enjoys this clubhouse as much as we have been! You already supplied your shipping info, so I've forwarded it on to Step2. You should have your prize soon!

Denise Austin's Newest Workout DVDs

2012-03-16T14:32:00.000-04:00

I was recently sent Denise Austin's most recent DVD releases: Shape Up & Shed Pounds and Sculpt and Burn Body Blitz. Here's some info about these DVDs:

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION--Shape Up & Shed Pounds

America’s favorite fitness leader has the formula for pure fat-burning fun with the DVD and Digital Download release of Denise Austin: Shape Up & Shed Pounds. Denise Austin helps fans kick-start their weight loss goals with low-impact cardio and total body toning moves that are perfect for beginners. Denise Austin: Shape Up & Shed Pounds also includes custom workout and music-only options.

Low-Impact Cardio (30 minutes): Mambo, power walk and kick yourself fit with fun, heart- pounding moves that boost the metabolism in a total-body workout that’s easy on the joints.
Stretch & Tone (20 min): Sculpt a leaner, firmer more flexible body with yoga leg trimmers, core exercises, plank variations and more that reshape the legs, buns, waistline, arms and shoulders. A mat is recommended for these exercises.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION-- Sculpt & Burn Body Blitz

Forget the “blah” and bring on the “Blitz!” This September, Lionsgate presents the brand new workout DVD from America’s favorite fitness leader, Denise Austin: Sculpt & Burn Body Blitz. A high-intensity cross-training cardio workout, Austin takes the very best training methods to sculpt lean muscle in all the right areas. Each powerful workout – including mixed martial arts, athletic conditioning, cardio sculpt and kettlebell-inspired moves – helps to boost metabolism to dramatically reshape your body in just 30 days. Denise Austin: Sculpt & Burn Body Blitz also includes custom workout and music-only options.

Warm-up (5 minutes): Ignite your metabolism and condition your muscles from every angle with athletic moves that get your body ready to burn.
Mixed Martial Arts (10 minutes): Jab the flab and chisel a champion physique with explosive kick boxing moves, power jacks, ab-blasting twists and more.
Athletic Conditioning (10 minutes): Train like an athlete and score big with classic sport drills and new interval training tricks that shed serious fat and sculpt strong muscles.
Kettlebell-Inspired (10 minutes): Swing, chop and twist your way to a trim and toned body using a single weight and controlled momentum for amazing results.
Cardio Sculpt (10 minutes): Double your burn with dynamic combo moves that integrate cardio and strength training to blast several muscle groups at once for a total-body blitz.
Cool Down (5 minutes): Release muscle tension and slowly lower your heart rate with critical stretches that calm the mind and reward the body.

An innovator in fitness, Denise Austin is spokeswoman for Skechers Shape-Ups, and has sold more than 25 million workout units (DVD and VHS).

What I Thought:

I have exercised to Denise Austin for years--way back when I was watching her on VHS!! I always find her exercises challenging yet easy enough to follow along, get my heart rate up, and get me the exercise I need! Of all the exercise DVDs I've tried over the years, I always come back to Denise Austin as my favorites, and these are no exception. Of the two DVDs, my favorite has been the Sculpt and Burn Body Blitz DVD. I love the mixed martial arts workout--so if you can only afford one, I'd say to go with that one. You can buy either of these DVDs for less than $10 now at Amazon.com!

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

Conceive Easy Winner!

2012-03-16T12:22:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Tessa Smith! You are the winner of this giveaway! You already supplied you shipping info and bonus option, so I've forwarded it on and you should have your prize soon.

Bright Starts Sunnyside Safari Swing Winner!

2012-03-16T12:15:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Megan Sutliff! You are the winner of this great Plug-In Swing from Bright Starts! I've forwarded your shipping info on and you should receive the new swing soon. Enjoy!!

New Safety 1st App

2012-03-15T21:07:00.001-04:00

Have you heard about the new Safety 1^st app? The Safety 1^st Baby Book app was just released for iPhone and iPod Touch and although I just started trying it out, I'm liking it a lot already!

The Baby Book app can be used for multiple kids and allows parents to capture milestones, photos and notes in one convenient place. You can download the free app by clicking here!

App features include:

Baby Book: Facilitating instant updates, the Baby Book feature allows moms to capture milestones, photos and notes in one convenient place. Moms are also able to create an individual, color-coded Safety 1^st Baby Book for each child.

Tags: Assign tags to each photo and note to easily organize events such as baby’s 1^st checkup, 1^st words, 1^st steps and more. Moms can also create their own custom tags to personalize and organize.

Photos: Moms can take or import photos for one or multiple Safety 1^st Baby Books. The app also allows users to save photos to their photo library.

Tips & Articles: Helping to navigate the everyday concerns of a parent, users can browse child safety tips and articles that are specific to their child’s age range. Tips and articles can also be pushed to users for instant age-appropriate notifications, such as car seat safety, home safety and child care.

Share: Unlike typical baby books, moms are able to instantly share photos, milestones, notes and articles on Facebook, Twitter and via email.

Barney: Clean Up, Clean Up Winner!

2012-03-14T23:49:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Monica Catherine Larson, you are the winner of this giveaway! Since you already supplied your shipping info, you can expect this DVD soon! Enjoy it!!

Alvin and the Chipmunks Pinterest Giveaway

2012-03-14T23:39:00.002-04:00

If you Pinterest and you and your family love Alvin and the Chipmunks, check out this giveaway!

In celebrations of the Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download release of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked on March 27^ththey have partnered with Parenthood.com to bring you an exclusive Pinterest contest and board where you can “Pin Your Crafty Chipmunk Ideas To Win!”

Check it out here: http://pinterest.com/parenthoodcom/pin-your-crafty-chipmunk-ideas-to-win/

Pin It To Win It - Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Parenthood.com are hosting a contest on Pinterest! Participants will be entered to win a copy of the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Download Combo Pack.

To enter, pin your crafty, DIY chipmunk ideas to your board and be sure to use the hashtag #chipwrecked. Parenthood.com will re-pin your idea and contact you via Pinterest if you are a lucky winner!

Good luck!!

Angelina Ballerina: Ballerina Princess DVD Winner!

2012-03-14T22:41:00.000-04:00

Congratulationss to Yolanda K Robinson! You are the winner of this giveaway and you should receive your DVD soon! Enjoy!!

Origami Owl $25 GC Giveaway!

2012-03-14T22:28:00.000-04:00

Have you heard of Origami Owl? I just met Jennifer who is an Independent Designer with Origmai Owl. I hadn't heard of this company before, but the lockets they make look really neat!! I'm going to let Jennifer tell you a little about herself and her business:

Just over one month ago I made one of the best decisions of my life, I signed up to be an Origami Owl Independent Designer. In one month I have accomplished so much more than I even imagined! I have earned extra money for my family, had some fun parties, and even signed up my first recruit. One of the best parts of my "job" is helping people to design a locket to tell their story, some stories are emotional while others are inspirational and others just fun. Since the locket stays closed with magnets you can change your story as often as you want!

Origami Owl was started by an ambitious 14 year old girl who was determined to save money for a car when she turned 16. She began by hosting home parties, craft shows and a mall kiosk. The product is only available through Independent Designers now and there are only 700 Designers nationwide.

You can see all that Jennifer has to offer by visiting her website at http://jennifer.origamiowl.com/ and also become her fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OrigamiOwlByJennifer. Jennifer has decided to offer my lucky fans a giveaway! One of you will win a $25 Gift Certificate to spend towards your own personal locket! If you'd like a chance to win, just use the easy Rafflecopter Entry form. Don't see the form below? Click "read more!"

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Movie Mall Virtual Storefront

2012-03-14T21:53:00.002-04:00

If you're family enjoys movies (ours certainly does!) you'll love this brand new way to buy movies that Twentieth Century Fox and Taubman Shopping Centers just announced! Basically you'll be able to use your smart phone to purchase movies and have them shipped directly to your house. Read the full release below for all the details!

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND
TAUBMAN SHOPPING CENTERS ANNOUNCE UNIQUE
YEAR LONG PARTNERSHIP

Malls Will Introduce First-Ever Fox Movie Mall Virtual Storefront Allowing
Consumers the Ability to Purchase Movies in an
Instant Using Their Smart Phones

Breakthrough Consumer Experience Kicks Off Across the Country March 16
With Home Entertainment Lounges & Easter Set Tie-ins Timed to the Home
Entertainment Launch Of ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED.

Los Angeles, CA, March 14, 2012 – Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has partnered with Taubman Centers to create a groundbreaking new shopping experience for consumers with the installation of Fox Movie Mall virtual storefronts. With the introduction of the Fox Movie Mall app available at the iTunes Store and Android Market, shoppers at the mall can simply Stop, Scan and Shop, providing convenience and accessibility like never before. An industry first innovation, consumers can pick one of the film titles from a wallscape, scan a QR code and instantly be taken online to make their purchase and have it shipped right to their door. Those that download and launch the Fox Movie Mall app can save up to 50 percent on their purchases and have access to the RIO coloring app, additional games, trailers, movie and TV clips and more.

The year-long exclusive partnership will also include home entertainment lounges in central locations with state-of-the-art HDTVs showcasing footage from the upcoming ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED Blu-ray™ along with many other family-friendly films courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Additionally, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED will be fully integrated into the Easter Bunny Set at participating mall locations.

“The Fox Movie Mall virtual storefronts are a truly unique experience for mall visitors,” said Mary Daily, President & CMO WW Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “We are constantly looking for new opportunities to reach consumers and this technological advancement has allowed us to further engage with them by offering a convenient and fast way to get the movies they love.”

“As the finest collection of retail real estate in America, we are always looking for partnerships with premium brands that enhance the shopping experience for our customers,” says Glenda Cole, Vice President, Sponsorship & Center Marketing for Taubman. “We welcome the addition of Fox’s multifaceted programming that entertains and rewards our shoppers and gives them a new, convenient way to shop for home entertainment products.”

Participating Taubman shopping centers include Beverly Center, Los Angeles, CA; Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Denver, Colo; Dolphin Mall, Miami, Fla; Fairlane Town Center, Dearborn, Mich.; Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, Va.; Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, Auburn Hills, Mich.; International Plaza and Bay Street, Tampa, Fla.; MacArthur Center, Norfolk, Va.; The Mall at Green Hills, Nashville, Tenn.; The Mall at Short Hills, Short Hills, N.J.; The Mall at Wellington Green, Wellington, Fla.; Northlake Mall, Charlotte, N.C.; Stamford Town Center, Stamford, Conn.; Sunvalley Shopping Center, Concord, Calif.; Twelve Oaks Mall, Novi, Mich.; Westfarms Mall, Farmington, Conn.; The Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, Texas and Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, Ill.

A media day will be held on March 14th at the Dolphin Mall in Miami, Florida in celebration of the partnership and the home entertainment release of ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED, featuring an exclusive look at the special features available on the Blu-ray, Alvin costumed characters, Fox Movie Mall app demonstrations, games and more.

Immortals

2012-03-13T23:05:00.001-04:00

~I've been asked to start to include reviews for men on my website, and my wonderful husband has offered to take on that task! Here is his review of the brand new DVD, Immortals from Twentieth Century Fox!~

Fox recently sent me a copy of Immortals to quench my manly desire for violence and bloodshed all while I sit on my nice Broyhill sofa, in my nice air conditioned living room. When I first saw the trailer for Immortals I got the sense that it would be a combination of 300, Clash of the Titans, and Troy. The basic synopsis:

A brave young stonemason assembles a fierce band of warriors to prevent an evil king from acquiring the artifact that will permit him to rule the world in this epic mythological fantasy from visionary filmmaker Tarsem Singh. King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) is a brutal tyrant on a bloody mission to seek out the mythical Bow of Epirus. Should he succeed, even the gods of Olympus will be forced to bow before him. In his efforts to locate the invincible and elusive weapon, Hyperion leads his Heraklion army on a brutal rampage across Greece, razing every town in their path, and killing with impunity. When the Hyperions lay waste to his village and cut down his mother in cold blood, vengeful stonemason Theseus (Henry Cavill) emerges from the rubble determined to make the king pay for his crimes. Later, the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), experiences a vision of Theseus' future that convinces her he will play a pivotal role in defeating King Hyperion. Armed with that supernatural knowledge, she agrees to help Theseus assemble a small army capable of defeating the tyrannical king and preventing him from enslaving the entire human race. Stephen Dorff, Kellan Lutz, and John Hurt co-star.

Cool...

The movie has more story than you would think for an action flick. A fair amount of time was set away from the epic CGI enhanced battles but it wasn't so much that I got bored or started wondering when the next battle would commence. The special effects were pretty good. For some reason I loved the stylized blood. It just looks so... so... awesome... The acting was decent as far as this genre goes. Henry Cavill as the hero Theseus got more screen time and dialogue than anyone else, but none of the cast did poorly.

The quality of the fight scenes was great. Not a single fight scene went by where I was like "ok, I waited 5 minutes for that!?." The fight with the Greek Gods was very well done, although many people may disagree (more on that in the next paragraph). Most of the fights are just "look at Thesius... oh how he knows how to fight." But I personally couldn't care less how many people are fighting as long as the fights are well done.

The battles and fight scenes were fantastic. Not once did I get bored with the action. I thought the fight with the Greek gods and the titans was especially well done. On the flip side, the mythology was far different than the traditional Greek stories. Only five gods are ever shown and the titans are portrayed as vicious animals rather than cunning adversaries.

The movie was what most people would expect: Awesome fights, blood splatter, and Greek mythology.

Guide for parents:

Violence

A character has oil poured on him and burned (mostly seen from a distance)
A character cuts his tongue off (you watch the character grab his tongue and slice it off with two knives with mild blood effects)
A character is castrated by a huge hammer (you see his legs being forcibly spread and you watch the hammer just about to hit it and the screen blacks out with painful screams and crunching noises)
A character's throat is cut with bloody detail
Sight of burnt women dying (you see the women's flesh burned to a crisp and hear them gasping for air)
A bunch of characters heads and bodies explode with very gory results
A scene involving eye gouging (you watch a character force his fingers into someones eye sockets no blood is visible, crunching noises are heard.)
A few characters are beheaded
A bunch of characters bodies are decapitated by use of a hammer, chain, and other weapons many resulting with extreme gory results
Characters are killed with large splashes of CG blood.
A Titan is cut in half with a chain, and his insides can be clearly seen
One of the main characters is clearly seen being stabbed and torn apart by the Titans

Sex and Nudity

Hyperion spends much of the story searching for a priestess named Phaedra, an oracle who can see the future so long as she remains a virgin. She travels with three other women, and all of them dress to accentuate their cleavage and curves. One man quips, "I wouldn't mind knowing them all for a night."
Phaedra ends up confessing to Theseus that her visions are more of a curse than a blessing, and so, after kissing him, she lets her robe drop. We see the woman naked from the back and the side. And we see sexual motions as she and Theseus set about banishing her "gift."
As mentioned, Hyperion hopes to impregnate pretty much every woman in Greece by way of either seduction or rape. In one case he's with a woman whose bare leg is moving sensually. (The rest of her is hidden by a wall.)
Naked male statues get screen time, as do the bare breasts of a woman pretending to be a statue.

Language

One grammatically correct use of “bastard”
One use of “whore”

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

Applebees $20 GC Winner!

2012-03-13T19:53:00.002-04:00

The winner of this giveaway is Stephanie Jones! Congratulations!! I hope you get to go out on a fun date night!!

Thirty One Gifts Review and Giveaway

2012-03-13T17:00:00.002-04:00

Amy Williams is my Thirty-One Gifts independent sales consultant. I have worked with Amy a number of times now and it's always a pleasure. Back in October I reviewed an Organizing Utility Tote. I'm still using this tote ALL the time! Then, in November I was lucky enough to receive a Fold-N-Go Organizer from Amy and it's been fantastic to have! They have both been great products that have held up to my abuse!

You may have read before that we live in a townhouse. Well, I have a habit of setting items on the bottom few stairs each day that need to be taken upstairs. This helps me from having to make trip after trip up the stairs all day long. It really works out well for me except that at the end of the day, I'm trying to scoop everything up into my hands to carry it all, while I also help my daughter walk up the stairs. Amy had the perfect solution for me! Thirty-One Gifts makes these cute little Mini Utility Bins and they are the perfect size for setting on my stairs! Problem solved! Look:

Everything fits easily into the bin with lots of room to spare! Now I make one trip up the stairs without fearing that things are going to fall out of my hands on the way up! The Mini Utility Bins are collapsible, making them easy to store when they aren't in use. They also come in 6 fun prints with the option to embroider! Oh yes, they have handles on the side to, making it so easy for me to carry it upstairs each night!

The Mini Utility Bins are part of the March special at Thirty-One Gifts: For Every $31 you spend, you get a Mini Utility Bin for $8 (Reg - $22). To shop Amy's Thirty-One Gifts, click here!

I know you're either dying to try Thirty-One Gifts, or you love them already and you want to buy some more! (BTW, Mother's Day is just a few weeks away, I bet your mom would love something from them!) I'm hosting an online party with Amy, so click here to start shopping now! Don't forget the March Special: For every $31 you spend, you get to choose a Mini Utility Bin for only $8! Amy is also going to discount shipping for my fans and make it a flat $3 shipping fee. The total will be incorrect when you go to pay (because of the shipping), but she will adjust it when she closes out the orders and you will only be billed the $3 for shipping.

Also, if you are looking for some extra income, Amy would love to talk to you about becoming an independant sales consultant for Thirty-One Gifts. I've also talked to other consultants and they all rave about how much they love the job! If you think at all that this might be something for you, Amy would love to talk to you about why she started her Thirty-One business, how it has blessed her family, and answer any questions you may have. You can reach her directly at 256-486-5843 with questions about selling Thirty-One Gifts OR with questions about your order! You can also click here to join Amy's Facebook group so you can stay up-to-date on the new products coming out, current sales, and more!

I'm loving this mini utility bin and it's certainly made my life a little easier! Amy is going to give one of these mini utility bins to one of my fans! What would you use a mini utility bin for? If you'd like to enter to win, just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form. Don't see the form? Click "read more" to bring it up! Good luck!

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Timmy Time: Timmy Finds Treasure Review

2012-03-12T22:37:00.000-04:00

Dig In To A Trove Of Good, Wholesome Fun!

Timmy Time^™: Timmy Finds Treasure

Available On DVD March 13, 2012

From Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment

There’s tons of fun to boot-y with preschool favorite Timmy in the all-new release Timmy Time™: Timmy Finds Treasure, available on DVD March 13, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Come aboard and yo-ho-hold on as the loveable lamb gets his pirate on in five treasure-filled episodes that arrrrrr sure to entertain your little swashbuckler again and again.

With slapstick humor and not a single line of dialogue, Timmy Time follows a day in the life of barnyard preschoolers. With diverse animal characters along with a rich and colorful nursery school backdrop, Timmy and his friends learn life lessons that every preschooler needs to know. Timmy Time is part of Disney Channel’s Disney Junior programming for kids ages 2-7 and their families, which airs in more than 99 million U.S. homes. The show is created by Aardman Studios, the Academy Award^®-winning creators of Wallace & Gromit™ and Shaun the Sheep™.

DVD SYNOPSIS:

Ahoy! There’s LOOTs of fun to be had with Timmy and his mateys in this collection of woolly tales! Timmy practices his pirate captain skills, accidentally leading his crew to special treasure. There’s mis-arrrdventure on the hunt for treasure and the crew must get creative to get back on course. Then when Timmy sets sail, he and his friends cause chaos on the seas. Join Timmy for some swashbuckling fun and see that good mateys are the best treasure of all!

Episodes:

“Timmy Finds Treasure”
“Timmy’s Treasure Hunt”
“Timmy’s Tractor”
“Timmy Makes A Splash”
“Timmy’s Spring Surprise”

DVD BONUS FEATURES

Timmy’s Day of the Week Video
Shaun the Sheep™ Bonus Episodes: “Spring Lamb” series - 2 episodes

What We Thought:

I opened up the shipping envelope that this DVD was in after Maggie went to bed one night. After glancing at the DVD, I set it on our piano and went about finishing up my cleaning and such for the evening. The next morning, Maggie and I were on our way to the kitchen to start breakfast and her little eyes noticed the DVD right away. She grabbed it and ran to me, excitement in her eyes! She wanted to watch Timmy right away--and for the first time ever she pointed to him and excitedly said, "TIMMY!" (She has been saying a LOT of words all of a sudden!) Then, she proceeded to say "Pleeeeaaassseee" in her sweetest voice. What was I to do, of course I had her eat her breakfast, but then I let her watch her new movie right away. She was so happy!

This is a really cute DVD and we're loving it at our house! Make sure you look for it out on DVD tomorrow!! Your kids will thank you!!

All About Grandmas Book Review and Giveaway

2012-03-12T13:51:00.005-04:00

No two grandmothers are alike, but there’s one thing all grandmas have in common, and that’s the love and wisdom they have to share. ALL ABOUT GRANDMAS (Dial;9780803737143; March 15, 2012; Ages 3-5; $16.99) by Roni Schotter with illustrations by Janice Nadeau, is a stylish tribute to everyone’s favorite grandma- their own.

Grandmas today come in different shapes and sizes. They do different jobs and have different hobbies. They even go by different names! But one thing all Grandmas have in common is the love and wisdom they have to share and no one says that better than this rhyming celebration of the modern Grandma. From the nagging Grandmas and the bragging Grandmas to the cooking Grandmothers and the good-looking Grandmothers, this book covers them all. For children who don’t have a Grandma to call their own, this book suggests you find one on loan. And when you’ve found the one you call Grandma, act grown up and wise; tell her you love her, it’s there in your eyes.

With its clever rhythm and gentle refrain, ALL ABOUT GRANDMAS is perfect for a Mother’s Day story time with Grandma. The pairing of Schotter’s ode to a Grandmother’s love with Nadeau’s beautifully crafted illustrations makes this one tale that should not be missed.

What We Thought:

This book is darling!! The pictures are bright and colorful and they rhyming is wonderful. I love it! I've set it aside to give to one of Maggie's grandmas for Mother's Day this year. I'm planning on putting her hand prints (and hopefully the hand prints of her newborn baby brother if he has arrived) on the inside cover of this book as an extra special personalization for Grandma! I can't wait to let Maggie give it to her. I know that she and Maggie will enjoy sitting together reading this book many, many times!

Two of my readers will each receive their own copy of this book! If you'd like to win, use the easy Rafflecopter entry form below to enter. Good luck! Don't see the entry form? Click "read more" to pull it up!

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Initials Inc Winner!

2012-03-11T13:10:00.000-04:00

Julienne Verdi, your day just got better! You are the winner of the Initials, Inc giveaway! I have sent you an email or you can email me directly at thriftyniftymommy (at) yahoo.com to claim your prize. Congratulations!!

Rescuehood Child Safety App

2012-03-10T16:04:00.000-05:00

I think one of my greatest fears as a parent is to lose sight of my child, even for a few seconds! I remember as a child getting lost in a department store. In reality, my mother wasn't very far away but I was terrified when I could not find her. I hope that my daughter never has to go through a scary moment like that!

There's a new App out now called Rescuehood that is designed to help parents or caregivers find lost children. Rescuehood works by allowing parents to instantly broadcast an alert with their child’s pre-built profile from their mobile phone, to other mobile phones within a 5-mile radius. You can check out their website at http://rescuehood.com/ for full details.

This app costs $1.99, so what I want to know is, would you buy it? Do you think it will catch on? Why or why not? I think it's a great idea and something I'd invest $2 in for my child's safety, but obviously for this service to work there have to be a number of parents within your 5-mile radius that also own this service. That's why within the next 2 weeks, the company plans to roll out a free version on the market that will allow people to respond to alerts! I can easily see it catching on first in big cities like New York and Chicago, then slowly trickling down to the smaller communities.

What are your thoughts on the Rescuehood App? Do you think this will be a game changer for child safety?

No Music Talent Required

2012-03-10T13:19:00.002-05:00

Children have an innate love for music. They absorb it with every fiber of their being. Most children show their appreciation by dancing to the beat. Accompanied by the dancing is usually lots of smiling and contagious laughter. You see it all over youtube.

What about those children who feel like they have a constant fast paced dance going on inside of their head? Sarah is 8 years old. She was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) two years ago. ADHD can be defined as a "persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and is more severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development." (source: DSM IV) Sarah has trouble focusing at school and is a handful for her parents, to put it mildly. Her teachers and parents are becoming very frustrated and she has very few friends. Sarah is living a lonely life. What can help her control her ADHD and make her feel more "normal?"

Sarah's parents decided to try music therapy, as Sarah is resistant to talk therapy, and medication alone is not enough. She loves music, so why not give it a try? For Sarah, considering her diagnosis, it is most important to improve her ability to focus, decrease impulsivity, and achieve a sense of calm. Would she be open to trying music therapy? Yes, she would! Sarah agreed, because she loves music. Music is non-threatening, so it makes children more open to the idea of working with a therapist, and it's fun! Children with ADHD can be quite creative, so are very drawn to music and music therapy can also bring out hidden musical talents.

For the first time Sarah was excited about the prospect of a form of therapy. To help her focus, the music therapist engaged Sarah in various instrumental rhythmic exercises. How did this help her? The rhythmic aspect of the music provided Sarah with a structure to organize movements and participation, which improved her impulse control, and focus. This helped increased her academic performance, and improved her behavior at home. Listening to and playing music also helped Sarah. She learned how to express her emotions and needs more appropriately and her communication skills improved (through singing). Her interactions with both her parents and teachers improved, and Sarah was making more friends. She was starting to feel....well more..."normal," which also raised her self-esteem. Sarah was feeling good about herself and it showed. She was smiling and laughing more often, and feeling like a "normal" kid who looked forward to going to school every day, because she was getting better grades and had people with whom she could spend time. To add, Sarah was excelling at music. She was a talented singer, who was learning skills on the piano. Not only did music therapy change Sarah's feelings about herself and life, but it also gave her parents a renewed sense of faith in their daughter.

Music therapy grabbed her attention and kept it.

~This is a guest post from Elizabeth Campbell. Elizabeth has a varied and successful career in many aspects of music performance and education. Her professional background has combined a lifelong love of music and performing with a degree in Psychology from Syracuse University. She has combined these interests in the area of Music Therapy (graduate certificate from Arizona State University). She has worked in the field of music therapy for over 9 years, most of which has been spent working with severely emotionally disturbed teenagers. She is especially proud of her experiences in Jesus Christ Superstar, Bye Bye Birdie, Fiddler on the Roof, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, singing with the Boston Pops under the direction of Keith Lockhart, and her invitation to audition for the LA Opera Chorus under the direction of Grant Gershon. She has performed live with several rock bands as lead singer, back up singer, and keyboard player. Visit her website at http://www.elizabethjcampbell.com.

Do you have a child with ADHD? Maybe music therapy would help them too! Have you found any other therapy options that have helped your child with ADHD?

Annmarie All-Natural Skincare Review and Giveaway

2012-03-10T10:08:00.002-05:00

Today I'm pleased to share with you Annmarie Gianni's Skin Care products.

Annmarie Gianni is an internationally known author, health advocate, personality and founder of Annmarie Gianni Skin Care.

Just a few years ago, Annmarie started to take a hard look at the products she was putting on her skin. In just a few short days of research, what she found shocked her. Skin care products were severely under-regulated and most contained ingredients that weren’t safe at almost any amount. Even products that claimed they were organic or natural had hidden preservatives and other nasty additives. She was frustrated and motivated to find a better option, because she realized so many people were using these supposedly “natural” products. What she found was not encouraging. Many of the truly natural products weren’t up to her standards of quality or effectiveness.

It wasn’t long until she realized that if she wanted to have a truly clean and natural skin care line, she would have to do it herself. So she did, and Annmarie Gianni Skin Care was founded to provide a clean, natural skin care experience using natural, organic and wildcrafted ingredients. Annmarie now spends her time educating audiences around the United States about how to preserve your beauty and longevity from the inside out as well as what to look for when you’re searching for a skin care line that will keep your skin glowing and vibrant. She can be seen as a regular co-host on the popular online health show “The Renegade Health Show” at www.RenegadeHealth.com.

Annmarie has also trained as a massage therapist, athletic trainer and has run a successful personal training business in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Currently Annmarie and her husband and author Kevin are living in an RV and traveling the United States spreading the word of good health and good skin care. When she’s not being a business woman, training others, or hosting her weekly internet show, Annmarie enjoys traveling, being outside and preparing healthy meals. She loves to hike and run in the woods, and spend time with her cat Jonny 5.

I was sent a sampling of Annmarie's products including coconut body oil, ayurvedic facial scrub, aloe-herb cleanser, herbal facial oil, and neroli toning mist. The products smell nice and all felt great on my skin. My skin feels nice and soft after using them! My favorite thing about them is that I can share them with my daughter (who wants to do everything mommy does) without feeling bad about it since these are natural products.

If you are like me and like to go natural whenever possible, I'd certainly recommend checking out Annmarie's products!

Annmarie would also like to give one of my readers a chance to try out her products! The winner of this giveaway will win a Normal Skincare Travel Kit. There are six items plus a small booklet that explains every item in the Annmarie Skin Care line. Included in this kit are:

*Herbal Facial Oil for normal & combination skin (5ml)
*Aloe-Herb Facial Cleanser (1 0z)
*Neroli Toning Mist (1 oz)
*Coconut Honey Mask
*Coconut Body Oil
*Dead Sea Facial Scrub

If you'd like to win this giveaway, just use the easy Rafflecopter form below. If you don't see it, click "read more"!

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

2012-03-09T23:08:00.000-05:00

I just joined Pinterest. I think I have a LOT to learn! You can find me as "ThriftyNiftyMom." If you follow me, I'll follow you back (as long as I can figure out how to!!).

Diaper Cakewalk Diaper Cakes!

2012-03-09T17:39:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the Fed-Ex man brought me something really fun yesterday--a baby gift for our little man who arrives in May! I was sent a diaper cake from Diaper Cakewalk! It is so cute too! I was sent a Striped Safari cake which is a brand new design for 2012! This is what it looks like:

The cake I was sent has over 70 diapers, plus extra baby accessories that are sure to come in handy! Baby shower diaper cakes have become very popular over the last few years and I can see why now! This is the first diaper cake I've ever been given, but I can honestly say that I would be thrilled to receive something like this as a baby gift! It is so cute and also very practical for a new mom! A lot of my readers know that I typically use cloth diapers, but we do use disposables at night and for the trips out sometimes, so I always like to keep some disposable diapers on hand!

When you order a cake from Diaper Cakewalk, obviously it is going to be shipped out to you (or directly to the recipient of the cake if you'd like) since this is an online store. I receive a lot of packages now that I review products and let me tell you, sometimes the boxes arrive pretty well beat up. You might be concerned about how your cake would look when it gets to its destination. I'm happy to say that when my cake arrived, it looked stunning! Diaper Cakewalk takes the time to package your cake very securely so that it will not get damaged during the shipping process.

Diaper Cakewalk has a large assortment of cakes to choose from including girl, boy and gender neutral diaper cakes. If you're looking for a fun, unique gift for a new baby, I would definitely recommend that you check out Diaper Cakewalk! Visit them at http://www.diapercakewalk.com/

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

Ava Anderson Winner!

2012-03-09T13:02:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Kathy Pease! You are the winner of this giveaway! You've already supplied your shipping info, so you should receive your prize soon. I know you'll love it!

New Specials at Step2!

2012-03-09T12:41:00.000-05:00

All of Step2's new Spring 2012 toys available on Step2.com are 10% off now through Sunday, March 18 with promo code S2SPRING12 at checkout.

In addition, they have re-launched their “Weekend Deals.” Each weekend they’re featuring one to two products on sale for 4 days only (a savings of up to 20% off). They will announce the deals on the Step2 Facebook page every Friday. This weekend’s deal is the LifeStyle Grand Walk-In Kitchen – just $188 ($70 off regular price) and the lowest price of the year! Just enter promo code S2GW312 at checkout through Monday, March 12.

*Please note that both deals are not valid on previous purchases, future exchanges, replacement parts, or Canada shipments.

Let me know if you buy anything fun during this sale!!

Invent-A-Tale I-Pad App

2012-03-08T22:04:00.001-05:00

Maggie and I read every night before she goes to bed. She LOVES to read books together! I just found out about a new, exciting app for the I-Pad. I wish I had an I-Pad so I could get it for us to try out! Even though I'm not able to try it, it sounds like so much fun I wanted to share it with you anyways!

Storytime is a special time between kids and their parents. That is why Melissa Heuser, a mother of two created an interactive storybook platform for the iPad that gets the whole family involved in a non-traditional reading time. The app is narrated and the adventures are chosen by the child, ranging from toddlers to preschoolers.

More about Invent-A-Tale from its creator, Melissa Heuser.

As a mom of two, I look forward to the precious moments shared during story time. Storytelling is a way for both the parent and child to interact in an imaginary world together. The true magic came when my kids decided to lead certain events in the story I was telling them. Their eyes lit up. I could see the wheels turning as their imaginations created magnificent twists to our adventure. Realizing the happiness this brought us was the catalyst for Invent-A-Tale.

Invent-A-Tale creates e-books and apps that cater to young minds who are learning and exploring their own world of imagination. Invent-A-Tale delights the reader with playful interactions by allowing the child to control the main character of the story.This new found freedom allows for an evolving story with lots of possibilities that the child will never grow tired of.

Let's inspire the next generation of readers, writers and creators!

You can click here to go to the ITunes store and download this App for just $1.99!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

2012-03-08T15:15:00.001-05:00

Just 2 years ago I was a pregnant girl, working at a bank, and the idea of becoming a mommy blogger had NEVER entered my mind. I knew nothing of the world of blogging. I knew nothing about marketing or PR, or writing product reviews.

Then my beautiful little Maggie was born. Deciding I would quit my job and stay home with my daughter was a nobrainer for me. This however meant that our family's income was literally cut in half. I had to find ways to save as much money as possible and one of those solutions was cloth diapers. As I began researching cloth diapers, I was quickly introduced to the world of Mommy Bloggers and their product reviews. I researched and read about all the different types of cloth diapers, and then purchased them myself. I started to follow a few blogs, read all the baby product reviews I could get my hands on, and entered a number of blog giveaways and then it hit me. I always loved English and writing in school, I'm a pretty opinionated person, and writing reviews that could help others the way I was helped sounded like a lot of fun!

I don't really know what made me take the plunge, but one day I decided I was going to start my own Facebook page to share the deals I found for baby/family giveaways and deals. About a month later I started up my blog and began with reviewing products I had either won or already owned.

Now, less than 2 years later I have over 9000 fans on Facebook, 2000 + Twitter followers, and my website has really blossomed! Through banner advertising and the occasional sponsored post, my husband and I have been able to use the extra income I've earned to pay down some of the debts we have. In my wildest dreams, I would have never imagined that this blog would grow to what it is today!

I have a blast trying out all the new products that are coming onto the market, and love the opportunity to bless others with giveaways!! I have worked with so many people over the years and many of them have become friends!

I want to say thank you to everyone who has followed me on Facebook, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, etc. I want to thank you for sharing my website with your friends and family, for your many votes to make me a "Top Mommy Blog", for your words of encouragement, constructive criticism, and friendships along the way. Thank you to the companies who have supported me by sending me products to review and giveaway and by purchasing advertising spots on my website. It's because of all of you that Thrifty Nifty Mommy is what it is today!!

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart for your support of this blog! I may take the pictures and write the posts, but YOU are what makes it successful!

I love blogging and I plan on sticking around for a long time! I hope you'll continue to join me in my journey!

Safety 1st Baby Monitors Winner!

2012-03-08T14:19:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Brittney House! You are the winner of this giveaway! You already supplied your shipping info, so keep an eye out for your prize arriving soon!

Preserving a Sense of Wonder

2012-03-08T13:57:00.005-05:00

I have another guest blogger post for you today from Cassie at Preserving a Sense of Wonder PLUS a chance to win a $10 Gift Card to My Child's Bookshelf! I hope you enjoy it, and make sure you check out her blog at http://preservingwonder.com/!

Books. There really isn’t a replacement for a good book, especially for children. Books are a tangible item that little ones can explore with their hands, especially the “touch and feel” books. They help foster imagination and perhaps inspire some day dreaming, which I think is important for young developing minds. Although my daughters are obviously not reading yet, my oldest loves to flip through her board books and point at the pictures. This is the main reason we decided to build book shelves that were accessible for her, but also looked nice for us. This is also why when I stumbled upon My Child’s Bookshelf, I knew I was in trouble…but the good kind.

My Child’s Bookshelf is a family owned business that just started up in 2011. Their intent is to

Combine an internet bookstore shopping experience with a hometown bookstore feel.

I think they definitely have done that. My Child’s Bookshelf is seriously my “local” bookshop…I just drop in on their facebook page and ask whatever question I may have. Amazingly, they have been able to answer my random questions and even ordered books into their shop when I inquired about them. I love how receptive to feedback they are and their willingness to carry books based on their customer’s interests and not just the popular titles you see everywhere.

I have ordered from My Child’s Bookshelf several times and I haven’t had any problems. Their customer service is outstanding and delivery has been prompt. The items arrive safely packaged in sturdy boxes. This store also offers some used books for a great price and the ones I have received looked barely used.

Now what really got me hooked on making my purchases through My Child’s Bookshelf (besides that they have gone out of their way to help me) is their reward program. Their reward program is easy.

Each book has a number of reward points associated with it.
When you purchase the book, you get the reward points.
The reward points can than be redeemed for gift cards.
Use your gift card to buy more books and get more points. :)

Their reward program also doesn’t take forever. You don’t need a million points to get a $5 gift card. You can even boost your reward points by writing reviews for books on their website. In addition, you also can become an affiliate, which I’m really excited about. As I mentioned in my disclosure policy, I always want to be upfront about any affiliate marketing I do, so if you do use the links from this page to purchase items from My Child’s Bookshelf, I will receive some reward points too. I think the system is a win-win since both of our children will be able to get some new books!

Speaking of win, you also have a chance to win a $10 gift card to My Child’s Bookshelf by using the rafflecopter form found here .

Wooky Baby

2012-03-08T13:39:00.000-05:00

Babies grow fast! Wooky Baby, a clothing rental service for size 0-3T, was founded with the goal of reducing the "cost-per-wear" of children's clothing. At an average of $8 per outfit, a customer can save upwards of $50 by renting instead of purchasing an outfit that a child may only end up wearing once or twice. Clothing rental is perfect for holidays, weddings, family photos, and other special events. Renting is not only cost-effective but also environmentally responsible. The Wooky Baby site offers unique, fun clothes that are changing daily. Labels include Burberry, Florence Eisman, Good Lad, and Bonnie Baby.

The Wooky Baby online catalog works like most shopping carts. There is a $5 flat rate shipping fee which includes the cost of a label to return the items when the child is finished wearing the clothes. The clothes can be returned with the supplied shipping bag and label provided via email. The shipping bag will be picked up in the mailbox by the postal service. The cost includes a one-month rental, but the clothes can be kept for longer. A recurring fee will be charged for each month the clothes are rented. The $5 flat rate shipping fee applies to both the rental and/or purchase of as many outfits are in the order.

Easter is coming up, and I know for us it's one of those events that we buy special clothes for Maggie the she only ends up wearing for Easter. I think this is a great way to save a little extra cash, especially with gas prices, rising grocery prices, etc. already putting a strain on our budget! Wooky Baby has tons of cute clothes to choose from too! The option to purchase outfits (new and used) was recently added to the site and I am very impressed with the prices for purchasing items!! Whether you go with renting or buying, you'll get a great deal at Wooky Baby!

Visit Wooky Baby's Website, Facebook Page, and Twitter Feed!

Wooky Baby is offering a $5 off coupon to all of my readers! Just use code "FIVE" to receive the discount!

Step2 Wagon for Two Plus Review and Giveaway

2012-03-08T10:35:00.001-05:00

It was almost 65 degrees outside yesterday and today its supposed to hit 70! I am SO excited!! Maggie and I are going to be heading outside shortly to go for a nice long walk with her new Wagon for 2 Plus PINK wagon from Step2!!

We--well Daddy, with the "help" of Maggie, set her wagon up about a week ago, and Maggie has wanted to take daily walks in it since. Now that the weather is warming up, we can really enjoy those walks!

The wagon was pretty easy to set up--even with Maggie wanting to put the wheels on herself and then climbing in and out, in and out, in and out while Daddy worked. You know how that goes! Even with her help, it took my husband less than 15 minutes to get it all put together. Watch the wagon come together:

The day the wagon was put together it was very sunny outside, but COLD and windy! That didn't keep Maggie from wanting to try it out! We bundled her up and took her out for a walk and she loved it! When Daddy and I were frozen to the bone, she was still begging to walk longer.

One of the things we love about this wagon is that the handle folds up underneath the wagon. This makes it easy to take in our van. We packed it up and took her for a walk along the Potomac river yesterday and she had a blast! I have a feeling that this wagon is going to be well traveled over the next few year!

Maggie loves the storage compartment that is under one of the seats. She has been using it to store books to read on her walks! It's a great place for storing extra snacks, drinks, sunscreen, you name it! The wagon also has 2 cup holders! I don't know how your child is, but Maggie seems to always be thirsty and asking for a drink cup!

Some other great features of this wagon is that it comes with seat belts, a door that is easy to open and close, drain holes for rainy days, and of course, since it's made by Step2 is it very durable!

Lastly, many of you know that we are are adding a little BOY to our family in just a few weeks. I was excited to find out that you can purchase a "Tag Along Trailer" to connect to this wagon! The Tag Along Trailer is Green, so next summer when our little boy is old enough to ride with his sister, we can add the trailer for him!

Maybe you don't have a little girl, so a pink wagon is not what you're looking for. Don't worry--Step2 sells a wagon identically to this one in two other colors: Willow Green and Denim Blue! Here is what the green wagon looks like, with the optional Tag Along Trailer!

The Pink Wagon for Two Plus is available exclusively at ToysRUs for $79.99! The Willow Green and Denim Blue Wagons are available at Step2.com for $69.99.

I'm so excited today to offer a giveaway of the Step2 Wagon for Two Plus to one of my readers. The winner of this giveaway will be able to choose the Pink wagon OR the Willow Green wagon!

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Win $120 Cash!

2012-03-07T19:25:00.001-05:00

Contest Chest has teamed up with a couple of other bloggers to give out a $120 Cash prize! If you want a chance to enter to win, just use the Rafflecopter form below. Please keep in mind, this contest is being run by Contest Chest, therefore they will be announcing the winner. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tooth Fairy 2 Exclusive Content!

2012-03-07T16:20:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't make it to my 50 RTs on Twitter yesterday to give out a free Tooth Fairy 2 DVD, but I did get the go-ahead to release this exclusive video clip for you. Enjoy!

Watch for a full review of this DVD on Thrifty Nifty Mommy soon!

200 Fabulous Fan Fest Giveaway

2012-03-06T20:48:00.001-05:00

I'm pleased tonight to bring you a guest post from Shaped by Grace! She's having a great giveaway event you might be interested! Check it out!

Woot! Woot! Guess what? It's giveaway time baby!

Within a couple days of each other I reached 200 Facebook fans AND 200 blog followers!! Wow! I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful readers!! Thank you so much for following along! In celebration of YOU I am SO excited to host this giveaway and highlight two beautiful ladies! You are going to LOVE them! Are you ready?

First up...

Introducing Kristine from The Foley Fam {Unedited} and shop owner of J&M's Eye Candy! I was lucky to work with Kristine this month for a giveaway on her blog and many of you new fans were sent by her, so you already know how awesome she is! {She IS pretty cool - I love the joyful spirit and energy she naturally portrays on her blog and Facebook page!} Check her out!

Hi, I'm Kristine! Wifey to the Hubs, Momma to our M&M girls, and Lover of Life and Laughing! Follow along as I share our adventures! I blog about {us}. The Good, the Bad, & the Dirty. You’ll also find some crafting, my fashion style, and all the bits and pieces that make me {me}. I can be a wee bit sarcastic, but try not to take offense mmmkay? Hope to see you around our neck of the woods sooner than later!

Kristine is giving away this super adorable Triple Fall Hydrangea Headband!

Isn't this headband adorable? I kinda wish I could win one too!! ;-)

You can find more of Kristine items and cuteness at these lovely places:
Blog / BlogLovin / Facebook / Shop pe / Twitter / Google+ / Pinterest

Up next is another lovely lady, Rebecca from The Crafted Sparrow! What do I love about Rebecca? Rebecca is a fellow woman of faith! I first met her when I won a necklace from HER blog giveaway and I could tell right away she was full of kindness and grace! And now she's back to share the love with YOU!

Hi, my name is Rebecca and you can find me at The Crafted Sparrow.

I'm a stay at home mom of two crazy cute boys. My passion is crafting, home design, basically anything that gets the creative juices flowing. And I love to inspire others to create. Stop by the blog sometime for a visit and say hello. You can also visit my Etsy shop, The Crafted Sparrow Shop where you'll find anything from boutique style baby products, hair accessories, hand stamped jewelry, and more. I'm honored that Reannah asked me to participate in her giveaway, I hope you all love her as much as I do!

Win this hand stamped necklace...made by me. Good luck.

Aren't these ladies awesome! Thanks for being so gracious and offering up these fun prizes!!

BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE! Last but not least -- another prize from yours truly! You can also win these handmade pink rosette earrings!

That's right - one lucky winner will receive all of these gifts!! Yeah!!!

So, let's get to it! Here's how you enter! {My first time using raffle copter! Double yeah!} :)

GOOD LUCK!!!

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE AND FILL OUT THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM!

{Giveaway prizes will be shipped to US addresses only. Winner will be announced on this blog and will have 72 hours to claim prize. If prize is not claimed within 72 hours, winner forfeits prize and a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Thank you for entering and good luck!}

I hope you enjoyed this post! Visit Reannah's blog at http://shapedbygracelife.blogspot.com for more great posts from her!

Tooth Fairy 2 Twitter Giveaway

2012-03-06T15:22:00.001-05:00

So today, March 6th is not only the Blu-ray and DVD release of Tooth Fairy 2 (watch for a review on Thrifty Nifty Mommy coming soon!), but coincidentally, National Dentist Day also. That being said, 20th Century Fox and I have teamed up to give my readers a chance to see some exclusive content prior to the Blu-ray and DVD release and to give one of my Twitter followers a copy of this brand new DVD!

I need 50 RT's on this tweet to unlock a never before seen clip exclusive to the Tooth Fairy 2 Blu-ray extras which is out today! If I get those 50 RT's, one of you will win your own copy of this brand new DVD!

Once the 50 RT's occur, this will unlock the exclusive content for everyone to check out here on this blog!! And, don't forget, everyone who participated and aided in helping to expose the clip will be eligible to win a copy of the DVD!!

Bloggers--You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours!

2012-03-06T14:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, so here's the deal fellow bloggers. I've got this big clubhouse giveaway going on right now with Step2 and obviously I want to get the word out to as many people as I can about it. Do you have a giveaway on your blog right now that you'd like to get the word out about? I think we can work together and help each other. Here's what I'm thinking:

If you are willing to put up a "guest post" from Thrifty Nifty Mommy on your blog which would basically be a replica of the My Clubhouse review that is on my blog right now with a link to my blog so they can enter the giveaway, then I will do the exact same thing for you. I'm sure your fans would enjoy the chance to enter this giveaway and I'm sure MY fans would enjoy entering the giveaway you have to offer right now. If you're interested in this, send me an email at thriftyniftymommy@yahoo.com and we'll work out all the details!!

Undercover Mama Review & Giveaway

2012-03-06T13:20:00.002-05:00

Modesty is really important to me. That's why I tend to buy nursing tanks rather than nursing bras when I'm breastfeeding a baby. It's so nice to be able to pull your shirt up to feed a baby but still have your stomach covered! It's also really nice in the winter when it's cold out!!

I do however own a handful of nursing bras because:

Bras tend to be cheaper than tanks
The tanks are not always as flattering under certain shirts
I bought a bunch of bras at the beginning, not realizing how much more I'd like tanks!
I like to have nursing bras for while I'm pregnant. My regular bras no longer fit, but I don't want to stretch out my nursing tanks with my big belly (and some of the nursing tanks won't cover my full belly!)

I'm excited today to tell you about a company I came across a few weeks ago. It's called Undercover Mama. Undercover Mama is a strapless camisole that attaches right to any nursing bra, essentially making it a nursing tank!

Undercover Mama agreed to send me one to try out and it arrived just days later. The first thing I noticed about it is that it's long. I am able to wear it right now with my nursing bras and pregnant belly. I really like this feature because when my belly is gone, I know these tanks will still be long enough to cover the top of my jeans fully which is what I like.

The Undercover Mama is really easy to get on. You have two options to secure it to your bra, whichever works best for that type of bra. I have tried it with 3 different nursing bras now and it works great will all of them! It is really easy to secure and unsecure! Because the Undercover Mama has a strap attachment, you can easily continue to use this as an "under-tank" with your non nursing bras too!

Lastly, the Undercover Mama is sold online starting at $24.47 on Amazon.com and is availabe in 7 different colors!

Overall, I have to say that I'm really impressed with the Undercover Mama and very happy to find a solution for turning all of my nursing bra into nursing tanks easily whenever I need to. It is a great addition to my nursing wardrobe and I'm so happy to have one!

One of my reader will be lucky enough to win their own Undercover Mama! The winner can choose between white or black! Just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form below to enter. Good luck!

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

The Descendants

2012-03-05T20:43:00.000-05:00

To celebrate the upcoming release of The Descendants to Blu-ray and DVD March 13, author Kaui Hart Hemmings will be participating in a special Featured Author Group Chat on social media network GoodReads next Tuesday.

All day on March 13, Kaui will be answering user/fan submitted questions to the group page: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/64649.The_Descendants_Ask_Kaui_Hart_Hemmings_

GoodReads members can join the group and be notified when it officially starts and begin submitting questions. If not a GoodReads user, it’s easy to sign up and then join in the fun. DVD/book bundles are also being given away on the site to commemorate the release!

Kool Aid Play Dough Recipe

2012-03-05T15:22:00.002-05:00

One of the ways we save money at our house is trying to make things ourselves at home. Play dough is one of those things that is easy to make, and so much fun for kids! This morning, Maggie and I made "Grape" play dough, and I thought I'd share the recipe with you so you can try it out.

Kool Aid Play Dough

Ingredients:

1 cup of water
4 Teaspoons of Double Strength Baking Powder
1 cup of flour
1 package of Kool-Aid Mix (any flavor of unsweetened)
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1/2 cup of sugar

Directions:

Mix dry ingredients in a large/medium pan.

Add water and oil.

Stir over medium heat until it looks like slightly lumpy play dough--the 3rd picture below--and all water is absorbed.

The end result should have the color of your chosen kool aid. I cooked mine for about 6 minutes. Depending on your stove, you'll need to adjust that time.
Let the dough cool completely before moving on to the next step--it's hard for kids to wait I know, but this is important.
After the dough has cooled, if it is still sticky, add flour to thicken it up.

Let your kids have a blast with this fun, cheap play dough that smells great too! Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness!

Kids Pick Up on Everything!

2012-03-05T14:52:00.000-05:00

I went in last night to cover my daughter up, as I always do, and found this:

Apparently she's been watching her pregnant mama sleep and learned that sleeping on a whole bunch of pillows is pretty darn comfy!

Paperly Personalized Gifts

2012-03-05T14:09:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure what I was thinking. When I got this great set in the mail, I should have saved it and surprised Maggie with it for her birthday which is at the end of this month, but I didn't even think about that when they arrived. I guess I just knew she'd love it so much, so I was excited to give it to her.

I let Maggie help me open up the box and she was really excited when she saw the bowl and plate inside (the place mat shipped separately). She's still too young to realize that they have been personalized with her name, but she LOVES the animals!

I had her sit down so I could take a picture of her and her new dishes but it took me forever to get her to look up at me to smile--she was too busy studying them! She was really excited for dinner that night! She really loves this set and uses it anytime its not in the dishwasher.

Speaking of the dishwasher, that was, of course, one of my main concerns. I hate to hand wash anything, so dishes at our house need to be dishwasher safe. I'm happy to say that these have been through the wash a number of times now and have done great! They truly are dishwasher safe!

Besides her plate and bowl, Maggie also received a matching place mat. The place mat is 2-sided. I was able to choose the same picture on both sides or a different one for each side. I decide I'd use the Princess picture for the back, so Maggie can change it up some days if she wants! So far, it's been animals every time, but I'm sure as she gets a little older that will probably change!

I was sent these products to review from Jocelyn who is an independent consultant with Paperly. Maybe you're like me and before today have never heard of Paperly. Well, Paperly is a company that specializes in personalized stationary and gifts. One of their hot items right now are personalized IPhone cases! They also have just about any paper product you might need, picture frames, clip boards, water bottles, stamps, and more! These items would be great as gifts or to purchase for yourself just because! Check out Jocelyn's website here: http://www.mypaperly.com/jchallas/. When you place an order, if you mention that you heard about Paperly from Thrifty Nifty Mommy, you'll save 10%!

Thanks Jocelyn for Maggie's personalized products. She LOVES them!!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Food and Love Winners!

2012-03-04T14:28:00.000-05:00

There are 3 winners for this giveaway! They are:

Crystle Tellerday
Thomas Gibson
Stephanie Mixon Boone

Congratulations winners! I have addresses for all of you, so you should be getting your book soon!

Cloud9World Books Review and Giveaway

2012-03-04T13:24:00.000-05:00

Over the last half-century, our fast-paced culture has radically altered the nature of the American family. Our children are required to grow faster and in doing so are faced with challenges in life that can be very difficult to over come. Unfortunately now a day their self esteem is exposed to a number of situations at school and in their everyday activities.

Cloud9World™ was created by mothers who developed a common language that helped them aid their own children during challenging times. The messages were simple, but results were incredible.

Thus, the Cloud9Kids™ collection was born. By instilling good thoughts, engendering good behavior and boosting the wearer’s self-esteem, Cloud9Kids™ products empower both children and parents to become better human beings.

Cloud9World sent me their "I Love Giving" collection to review. The six books in this set speak of giving and selflessness. They show our kids how being generous actually brings love into their lives when they show:

Love
Generosity
Loyalty
Respect
Integrity
Compassion

Maggie was really excited to read these books when she saw all of the animals! In fact, you should see the box they came in now. It has been openned and closed so many times that it's looking pretty worn just after owning it for about 2 weeks! Unfortunately, these books are still a little wordy for her to sit still and really listen to them completely. I would recommend getting these books for children who are at least 4 years old. Maggie and I have still enjoyed going though the books and I modify the story to her level.

I have read through the books myself and they all have great messages. My favorite is Generosity featuring Brigitte and Clara the Cow.

There are a total of 18 stories/18 virtues available. You can purchase them individually or in gift boxed sets of 6.

If you'd like to add some of these books to your collection, visit their website at http://www.cloud9world.com/.

One of my readers will be lucky enough to win the "I Love Giving" Collection to enjoy in your own home! Just enter using the easy Rafflecopter entry form below. Good luck!

~Like this giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great giveaways to share with you!~

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

Aller-Ease Washable Pillows Review and Giveaway (ARV $216!)

2012-03-03T15:07:00.002-05:00

Have you ever washed a pillow? If so, the result was probably a lump, flat mess. I even tried to wash a feather pillow one time, and let me save you the trouble and tell you--DON'T do it! That pillow was SO stinky after washing it!

Aller-Ease has created a line of pillows that are designed to be washed!! The hypoallergenic fiber in their pillows refluffs each time it is washed, making the pillow look and feel brand new. The pillow shell is also allergen barrier and blocks dust, pollen, and other particles that commonly trigger allergy symptoms. Aller-Ease specializes in bedding products that provide protection from dust mites, pollen, pet dander, mold, spills and stains, and bed bugs.

A few months ago, Aller-Ease sent me one of their Allergy Protection Mattress Encasement and a 2-pack of Aller-Ease Allergy Pillow Encasements (click here to read the review). We are still loving our mattress and pillow encasements, so when they contacted me about reviewing their washable pillows, I was really excited for the opportunity!

I tried the pillow out right away and I LOVE it! My head feels so good sleeping on it! This has honestly become my favorite pillow! It replaced my memory foam pillow! My husband tried a pillow also. He agreed it was very soft, but he felt that it was a little too soft for him--he likes a firmer pillow. (Please note, we were sent the "medium" support pillows. You can however purchase firm or extra firm pillow from Aller-Ease!) Since we were sent 2 pillows, this made me pretty happy. I now get to have BOTH pillows. Most of you know I'm pregnant, so, yeah, I will take all the pillows I can get!!

The pillows weren't really in need of being washed yet, but I wanted to go ahead and wash one of them to see if they truly would wash well. After washing and drying, I can honestly say that it feels the same way it did when I first got it.

I love these pillows so much! In March 2011, Good Housekeeping rated this pillow the #1 Fiberfill pillow! I want to get another set of them for my daughter to have. You know kids, they are always spilling things or getting sick, so being able to wash her pillows frequently would be so nice!

Aller-Ease is offering one of my fans a huge prize package today. You will win 4, yes FOUR of these washable pillows PLUS a $150 gift certificate to their online store: https://shop.aller-ease.com!! This is a prize worth over $200! Just use the Rafflecopter entry form below to enter. Good luck!

~Like this giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great giveaways to share with you!~

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

Bed Head Mini Straightener Winner!

2012-03-03T09:02:00.000-05:00

The winner of this giveaway is Caitlin Bradley! Congratulations Caitlin! You should receive your prize soon!!

$20 Applebees Gift Card Giveaway!

2012-03-03T08:18:00.000-05:00

I'm really excited to present The Art of Marriage Ops blog App. Earlier this year they had a small outreach to help military families strengthen their marriages when they return home from service. Now, due to the overwhelming response, they’ve decided to expand their outreach to get the word out so everyone can help!

With the The Art of Marriage Ops blog app we all can help the men and women who have defended our country strengthen their marriages!

What Can You Do to Help?

Spread The Word! Did you or someone you love serve in the military? Help us spread to word and share this app on your Facebook or Twitter! Use hashtag #marriageops ! The more people who realize this is an issue, brings us one step closer to helping more families!
Donate! Text OPS to 80888 and donate $10.00 to help our men and women in the military strengthen their marriage by attending an event showcasing The Art of Marriage! Less than the price of two cups of coffee!
Five Date Ideas! It’s not just military men and women who need help with their relationships. Here are five great inspirational date ideas that will help bring you closer to your partner!

One of my readers will also enjoy a $20 Applebees Gift Card so you can take your loved one out on a great date night. We LOVE Applebees! I think that's my husband and I's favorite place to eat out! If you want to win, just use the Rafflecopter Entry form. Good luck!

~Like this giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great giveaways to share with you!~

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

Thomas & Friends Up, Up, & Away DVD Review and Giveaway

2012-03-02T16:23:00.000-05:00

Thomas Is Racing Down The Tracks For Easter!

THOMAS & FRIENDS^™: UP, UP & AWAY

Available On DVD, Digital Download And On Demand

March 6, 2012 From Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Thomas and his engine friends reach new heights of fun and adventure in Thomas & Friends™: Up, Up & Away, a collection of four soaring episodes available on DVD, Digital Download and On Demand March 6, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. This all-new release special feature content includes a game and puzzles, exclusive only to the DVD. Timed to the release this spring, five Thomas & Friends toys will also be available so kids can reenact their favorite Up, Up & Away adventures!

For over 65 years, the award-winning Thomas & Friends has taught timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation, inviting generations of children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

DVD SYNOPSIS

Thomas and his friends reach new heights in these high-flying adventures! Thomas and Percy have a special adventure as they try and try again to bring balloons to Mr. Bubbles’ Big Balloon Show. At the Children’s Steam Fair, Emily learns there are great rewards – and laughs -- in helping others; Kevin tries his hook at Hide and Peep and Thomas has a wonky whistle! Up, Up & Away for fun and adventure with Thomas & Friends!

Episodes include:

Up, Up & Away
Wonky Whistle
Kevin the Steamie
Emily and Dash

DVD BONUS FEATURES

Catch the Balloon Game
Guess Who? Puzzles
VOD BONUS FEATURES

“Buzzy Bees” Bonus Episode

What We Thought:

Before bed last night, I turned to my husband and said, "I think I'm getting sick." Unfortunately, that's exactly how I woke up today. The good thing though is that I had already planned to stay home all day! I decided that today would just be a lazy day for my daughter and I. I don't really like her to watch a lot of television each day, but if either of us is sick, I make an exception. We had this Thomas DVD still brand new in it's packaging, so I knew that today would be a great day to break it out. Maggie and I stretched out on the couch and watched this movie together--twice so far today! It is a really cute Thomas DVD--honestly, I've never watched one Thomas DVD with her I didn't like! Maggie especially loved the brightly colored balloons, and I was even able to use them as a teaching opportunity. She has gotten very interested in colors lately, so we talked about the colors of the balloons AND engine's while she watched.

We've really liked this DVD and I think you will too! Don't forget, it releases on DVD March 6th with a suggested price of $14.98.

One of my fans will also WIN a copy of this DVD! Just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form to enter. Good luck!

~Like this giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great giveaways to share with you!~

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*I was not paid for this review. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review and giveaway items. Please note, this giveaway is not open to anyone who has won this DVD from another blog giveaway.*

I Guess I'm an Adult Now...

2012-03-02T08:15:00.000-05:00

Do you ever feel like you feel the same way you did when you were a teenager? Here I am, 1 child, another on the way, but so many times I still "feel" so young. It feels weird to think of myself as an adult even though I'm in my mid 20's. My husband and I have talked about it countless times. We feel exactly the same way we did when we were in high school. When you're a kid, you look up to adults like they've got it all together, they are so mature and knowledgeable--but now that I'm an adult, I still feel like a child myself most days!

Wednesday night we had high winds and rain where we live. Our townhouse lost some shingles, resulting in our roof leaking. Yeah, it wasn't good! My husband works 12 hour shifts which just happened to start on Thursday morning this week. He's also unable to make personal phone calls while at work. That meant that calling our insurance company (we're home owners) and making any necessary arrangements fell on me. I would have SO rather left this up to him to do, I mean, roofs are much more of a man's territory! I know NOTHING about roofing!

We've only owned our home for 2 years, so this is the first homeowners claim we've ever had to file. I had no idea what I was doing and yet I knew it had to be done. I called our agent, who then had me call a 1-800 number to file our claim. I was told that the adjuster wouldn't make it out until Tuesday and we needed to take "any necessary precautions to prevent further damage or (we) would be liable for any new damage." Ugh, really?! I checked our weather and they were calling for more rain Friday (tonight). I pulled out the phone book and called one of the roofers listed. They came out right away and put a temporary patch on our roof (according to him it was a rather large spot and it was a good thing I called with the coming rain!)

So, why I am telling this long story? Well, the roofer just stopped by to drop off the estimate for completing the job so I can give it to our insurance adjuster. Call me weird-- I may have gotten married, bought a number of vehicles, bought a house, given birth, but it's been dealing with our leaky roof that has really made me feel like, "gosh, I guess I really AM an adult now!"

Have you ever had a moment like this?

$2.99 Shipping at Step2!

2012-03-01T20:20:00.001-05:00

Visit Step2.com to get a great deal on outdoor toys for this Spring and Summer. $2.99 shipping, PLUS some items are even 10% off!

The following outdoor play items are shipping for $2.99 (up to a $27 savings):

· Clubhouse Climber

· Welcome Home Playhouse

· Skyward Summit

· Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center

· Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center w/Glider

· Extreme Coaster

In addition to the $2.99 shipping sale, the following items are 10% off with code S2ADVEXT

· Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center

· Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center w/Glider

· Extreme Coaster

They also offer flexible payment options now including PayPal and BillMeLater (since these are higher priced items).

Also, the Fun Fold Jr. Picnic Table is 15% off with code S2FF15

*S2ADVEXT and S2FF15 promo codes valid now through 11:59 PM ET on March 5, 2012. S2ADVEXT only valid on Naturally Playful® Adventure Lodge Play Center, Naturally Playful® Adventure Lodge Play Center with Glider, and Extreme Coaster off current listed price on Step2.com. S2FF15 only valid on Play Up Fun-Fold Jr. Picnic Table off current listed price on Step2.com. No promo code necessary for $2.99 shipping. $2.99 shipping only valid on Naturally Playful® Adventure Lodge Play Center, Naturally Playful® Adventure Lodge Play Center with Glider, Extreme Coaster, Welcome Home Playhouse, Skyward Summit, Clubhouse Climber, and Extreme Coaster. Regular shipping prices resume at 12:00AM ET March 6, 2012.

Not all products available at Step2.com are available in Canada. Product selection, pricing, shipping, and availability vary by ship to country. Offers sent via email, listed on Facebook, or mentioned on Twitter are not applicable for Canadian shipments. Offers mentioned in this email are valid only within the 48 Contiguous US States. Not valid on previous purchases, future exchanges, replacement parts or Canada shipments. Prices and availability are subject to change. Sales tax is only applied to orders being shipped to Ohio. *

Step2 My Clubhouse Review and Giveaway!

2012-03-01T12:37:00.000-05:00

I've been talking about this for a week on my Facebook page and it's finally here--my review of the Step2 My Clubhouse! We were SO excited to be given the chance to review this from Step2! We have a number of Step2 products and all of them are extremely well made AND well played with!

My husband and I have been wanting to get my daughter her own playhouse so this came at the perfect time. The box arrived and I'll warn you, it's pretty big and weighs 61 pounds! Thank goodness my husband was home to carry it inside because I would not have been able to do it! My daughter Maggie saw the big box and the picture of what was inside it and she wanted it set up right away (and she's not even 2 yet!). To say she was really excited is an understatment!! Unfortunately for her it was nap time so we told her that it would have to wait. She took an extremely short nap (we're wondering if she just couldn't sleep because she was so excited,) and an hour later she came downstairs asking about it. We left the big box in the entry way of our townhouse and just carried the pieces up to the main level of our house.

I have never seen my daughter so excited before! Her eyes just sparkled as we carried the pieces upstairs and she ran all around the house. We cleared a place for the house and my husband got to work right away.

*I do want to mention here that if you plan on making this house an outdoor toy, I would recommend setting it up outside. Unless you have wide doors, there's a good chance it won't fit through your doors! We decided to make this an indoor clubhouse.*

One of the questions I was asked by a fan was how long this house would take to set up. From start to finish my husband spent an hour setting it up. I do want to mention however that we took time to film AND he had the "help" of my daughter while he worked. Without distractions, I think the house could be set up in about 40-45 minutes.

My daughter was playing with her new clubhouse long before my husband had it finished. In hindsight, we probably should have set it up while she was taking a nap to make it easier on us, but we didn't think about that. She kept running in and out of the house through the doors saying, "door, door, door..." just as happy as can be. My husband says that the house was super easy to set up. Honestly, I think just working around Maggie's excitement was the hardest part! She had a blast using her own tools (coincidently, from Step2 also--see my review of the Step2 Home Depot Big Builders Workshop) to "help" Daddy while he worked.

Another question I was asked about this clubhouse is the construction of the roof. The roof is made from a piece of sturdy canvas and has a few plastic support beams under it. It does not however have a solid plastic roof. I'm not sure how much weight the canvas would support, but I would not recommend allowing your child to climb on it. They aren't going to fall THAT far, but they probably would tear the canvas!

The clubhouse has 2 doors--the main door and a side door. It also has another crawl space. The clubhouse also comes with a built in picnic table/bench. Maggie has really enjoyed playing with that feature! Normally her daddy or I sit inside the clubhouse (comfortably too!) and we serve her. She has really enjoyed playing "restaurant" with her new house! She has also decided that the tabletop can double as bed and enjoys laying on it. I always find it amazing the ways that children use their imagination!

There are a couple bug decals on the clubhouse. Maggie loves to point them out to me and then exclaim, "EWWWW" in perfect little girl fashion!

The clubhouse also has a chalk board on the outside that Maggie has really enjoyed writing on. The only "improvement" I plan on making to the chalkboard is to tie a small piece of yarn around a piece of chalk and wrap it behind one of the top screws. The chalk is always falling on the floor and I think that will make it a lot easier on Maggie. I just haven't made it out to buy any yarn yet.

There is a place above the door that you can personalize with your child's name. We plan on purchasing some vinyl lettering and putting our last name on there. It's a very cute feature!

Maggie's cousins (ages 3 and 7) were here over the weekend and they all had a blast playing "house" in the clubhouse. It is the new hit toy at our home!

I can't say enough great things about Step2 products! We truly have loved everything we've ever gotten from them (whether it be a review item, gift, or something we purchased ourselves). This is a company I trust, and I'm happy to recommend them to my family, friends and you!!

The Step2 My Clubhouse is available exclusively from ToysRUs with a retail price of $199.99, but I've frequently seen it on sale for less!

Step2 came out with a number of great new items for Spring. Click here to visit their blog to read all about them! Make sure you check back in about a week for a review and giveaway of ANOTHER new product from Step2! You won't want to miss it!!

Step2 has generously offered to give one of these My Clubhouses away to one of my readers! I am so excited to give one of these away! Just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form below to enter to win. Good luck!

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Is Your Child's Diet to Blame for Cold Sores?

2012-02-29T23:05:00.002-05:00

~ Tonight I'm pleased to share with you an informative post from guest blogger, Carrie Shannon about cold sores. I found this to be very educational and interesting and hope you do too! ~

While food does not actually cause the herpes virus, it can play a monumental role in triggering outbreaks; more so than most parents are really aware of.
Even if you try your hardest to make sure that your child eats a balanced diet every day, they may not be consuming the right foods. Not to mention, you are not always around your child, and can't really control what they eat at school or at their friend's house. Therefore, it is important to talk with them about why you enforce dietary guidelines, and why it is so crucial that they stick with them.
Dos and Don'ts of the Diet
Are you giving your child a peanut butter sandwich everyday because they love them, and you are trying to make sure they get a lot of protein? Well, you could be triggering their outbreaks.
First of all, peanuts contain high levels of arginine which has the ability to activate a dormant virus. Although a small handful of nuts can be eaten as a snack (never a meal), it is better to eat these raw than in peanut butter.
You are probably wondering what the difference is, right? Well, when you spread that peanut butter on bread, you are immediately adding simple carbohydrates to their meal as well. What do simple carbohydrates turn into during digestion? Glucose! Unfortunately, all types of sugar can trigger herpes.
Therefore, the less sugar in your child's diet, the better off they will be. For those of you that think you are doing the right thing by offering juice or juice boxes, think again! Check the label; if it is not unsweetened, it is no better than soda. Now, just imagine if you are putting jelly on that sandwich too! That would be even more sugar!
The best way to get necessary protein into your child's diet is through sources that are high in lysine, which has the ability to inhibit the virus. Some of these sources include beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, bison, lamb and wild game.
With busy schedules and picky eaters, it certainly never hurts to make sure your child takes a high-quality supplement every day either. This will ensure that they get all the vitamins and minerals that they need on a regular basis.
Handling a Symptom
If your child is really young, you will notice a symptom before they are aware of what it is. They will likely experience a little tingling, but you will see redness and probably catch them touching their face a lot. They need to be taught right away to stop touching it, or they will only make it worse.
Symptoms should be addressed right away. Dedicate a drawer in the bathroom or even a Tupperware container to creating a cold sore remedies kit. In it should be cotton swabs or balls and hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.
If your child is at least 8 years old, they will be able to clean the sore themselves. If they are younger, you will need to do it but at least everything will be handy. You won't have to reach for something, realize you are out of it and run to the store in the middle of the night or before work in the morning.
While it is healing, kisses must be kept to themselves. Let them know that although absolutely everyone loves and appreciates their kisses, they will have to bottle them up to save for when the sores go away. Herpes can spread lightning fast through kissing.
Once the cold sore is completely gone, always swap out their toothbrush for a fresh one. Children (and adults), don't always rinse their toothbrush as well as they should, and germs can linger. If they continue to use the same brush, a vicious cycle is created.
Educate
Even a young child can be taught the basics about the herpes virus. While they will not understand anything technical, or why their body continues to produce them now-and-then, they can be taught that there are millions of others just like them going through the same exact thing.
It is scary to feel as though you are different or think that something is wrong; this is natural. They probably have no idea that the vast majority of their friends have had at least one too. The more knowledgeable they are, the more secure they will feel if they are teased, because face it, kids can be unkind.
If you don't understand the virus yourself, ask your pediatrician for pamphlets or for tips on explaining it. There are reports you can access from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) as well. Of course, you can always just rely on the internet; there is a tremendous amount of information on cold sores available. Just make sure that if you are looking for more technical information, that you use trusted sites, such as Mayo Clinic and Web MD.
Author Bio
Carrie Shannon is the publisher of YourColdSoreRemedies.com, a website devoted to providing information on safe and effective cold sore treatments. One day a cold sore appeared on Carrie's face and she asked "What's the fastest way to get rid of a cold sore?" and YourColdSoreRemedies was born. In her spare time you can find Carrie walking her Yorkies, Oscar and Maggie, near her home in Hermosa Beach, Ca.

TTC Kit from ConceiveEasy Giveaway!

2012-02-29T17:58:00.003-05:00

After the birth of my daughter, I expected us to get pregnant again pretty quickly. Yes, I was nursing her exclusively for the first 6 months, but after that I figured it wouldn't take long at all to get pregnant with baby number 2. I couldn't wait to be pregnant again and hoped that my children would be less than 2 years apart. Well, it was a few months after my daughter's first birthday before I was pregnant again. I had a handful of friends who had babies right around the time that I had Maggie and they seemed to all get pregnant months before me! Of course, most of you know that I am pregnant now and due with our second child in May--I can't wait!!

I was just contacted to review a new product from ConceiveEasy. They have created a Fertility Trying To Conceive (TTC) Kit. Obviously now is not a good time for me to review this kit (although I would have loved to have reviewed it a year ago!) but they have been generous enough to offer to give one of these kits away to one of my readers! This is a $152 value! I am so happy to be able to offer this to one of my readers that is TTC right now!

Here's a little bit of more info about the ConceiveEasy TTC Kit:

News of famous Hollywood mothers and parents-to-be such as Natalie Portman, Victoria Beckham and Tori Spelling fill the supermarket tabloids, along with baby buzz rumors about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Those headlines can be discouraging and frustrating for those who experience difficulties conceiving, but the new ConceiveEasy TTC Kit™ can help parents join in on the Hollywood baby boom.

“We are excited to announce the launch of our newest fertility product, ConceiveEasy TTC Kit™, for women who are trying to conceive (TTC),” said Claire Beauchamp, Senior Fertility Specialist at FertiBella ConceiveEasy. “The complete, all-in-one TTC Kit is all you’ll ever need to increase your fertility and help you get pregnant faster with our all-natural solution, without any side effects. Now, for a limited time, moms-to-be can try the new TTC Kit™ and choose to customize their Kit with any combination of an exclusive bonus gift of 20 free pregnancy tests, 20 free ovulation tests, or 10 pregnancy & 10 ovulation tests (a $72 value).”

ConceiveEasy is a natural aid that boosts the body’s fertility level by stimulating ovulation and effectively overcoming the seven most common causes of infertility. The formula has been clinically tested and those using ConceiveEasy showed an increased pregnancy rate of 33 percent. The kit assists women in increasing their fertility rate in just 28 days with no unpleasant side effects or dangerous fertility drugs.

The human body is a delicate organism and even small imbalances and irregularities can prohibit conception. ConceiveEasy’s proprietary blend of ingredients supports and enhances the body’s own reproductive cycle to eliminate common problems with conception that includes a progesterone deficiency, irregular cycles, poor quality mucous in the cervix and hormone imbalances.

The ConceiveEasy TTC Kit™ provides information on how to get pregnant and those with questions can speak with a specialist before making their purchase. The firm is a proud supporter of breast cancer research, with $1 of each kit sold going to benefit the fight against breast cancer.

ConceiveEasy provides new hope for those who have had difficulties in conceiving a child. The blend of natural ingredients enhances the body’s chemistry, helping increase your chances for conception without the use of fertility drugs. The TTC Kit™ allows women to take the first step toward feeling the same joy that celebrity parents in Hollywood are experiencing.

This kit sounds awesome! The winner of this kit will also be able to customize their prize with a bonus gift! These are the options for the bonus gift:

Bonus gift #1: 20 Early Result Pregnancy Tests
Bonus gift #2: 20 One-Step Ovulation Tests
Bonus gift #3: 10 Pregnancy & 10 Ovulation Tests

If you want a chance to win, just use this easy Rafflecopter entry form. Good luck!!

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Betty Lukens Winner!

2012-02-28T15:47:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Miranda Welle! You are the winner of this giveaway! I sent you an email so that you can let me know which set you'd like.

Free Pancakes Today Only!

2012-02-28T15:15:00.002-05:00

If you live close to an IHOP, here's your chance to get some free pancakes! Today is National Pancake Day! Hop on in to your local IHOP today from 7am-10pm for a free short stack of their Buttermilk pancakes.

Sunnyside Safari, Plug In Sway & Swing Review and Giveaway

2012-02-28T14:54:00.001-05:00

I'm realizing more and more every day that although I have just over 2 months until our new addition arrives, that really isn't a lot of time! I mean, gosh--it's been 2 months already since Christmas!?! So, I'm starting to prepare our house for baby #2 and getting together all the baby gear we'll be needing.

You might remember that I reviewed the InGenuity™ Cradle & Sway™ Swing from Bright Starts when Maggie was a baby. I LOVE everything about this swing except that it does not have the option to plug into an electrical outlet. I hate buying batteries all the time! Knowing how much I've always loved the products from Bright Starts, I was so excited when I found out that they just released a new swing that has an AC adapter! So, of course, I just had to try it out!

Bright Starts sent me the Sunnyside Safari, Plug In Sway & Swing AND the matching Sunnyside Safari, Bouncer (watch for the review coming soon!) and we were so excited to receive them! The Sunnyside Safari Collection is available exclusively at Walmart retail stores and Walmart.com. It also includes a travel swing, chair top highchair, playard, and activity saucer. Maggie loves all of the colorful animals! I know she'll be excited to "help" care for her baby brother with these items!

Here's a description of the swing:

Some swings go back and forth. Some go side to side. This one does both—and does it with music, toys, and delightful jungle style. With a seat designed for 180° rotation, allowing three swing directions, the Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Plug in Sway & Swing™ uses our unique TrueSpeed™ technology to sense baby's weight and adjust for consistent speed—so it grows along with baby. The swing also boasts a volume-adjustable 20 minutes of melodies and nature sounds, an overhead mobile—even an AC adaptor to save on battery expense. And it features the fun and engaging characters of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

· Seat rotates 180° for 3 swing directions

· TrueSpeed™ technology maintains 6 speeds as baby grows

· Mobiles with 2 playtime toys easily pivots out of the way

· 20 minutes of melodies and nature sounds with volume control and auto shut-off

· AC adaptor saves money on batteries

Additional Features:

· Swing time with 3 settings: 30, 45 and 60 minutes

· Whisper Quiet™ operation

· 5 point harness

· Machine washable seat pad

· Non-slip feet

· Product Dimensions: 37”w x 28”d x 40.5”h

· Packaging Dimensions: 18”w x 9.5”d x 25.5”h

I decided to set up the swing on a night when my husband wasn't home. I wasn't sure how that would go, but I was determined to do it! I know I have some readers who are single moms, so sometimes I like to be able to say that I, as a women (who is not very handy,) set it up all by myself! I pulled all the pieces out of the box and had it all set up in about 20 minutes (and this was WITH the "help" of my daughter!) The only tool that you'll need is a screwdriver! If I can set it up almost 30 weeks pregnant, you can set it up too!

My daughter weighs 22 1/2 pounds and this swing says that it will work for babies up to 25 pounds. After helping me set the swing up, she was eager to try it out and I figured, why not?! I'll put it to the real test and see just how well it would work for a heavy baby. I've been eating so much this pregnancy, I'm not so certain I'll have a petite little thing again!

I got her in the swing, strapped her in, and turned the swing on. Was it able to swing her weight?? You bet! Now, of course she was excited, sitting forward, and moving around so it wasn't the smoothest ride, but that is to be expected. Next we strapped in her baby doll to watch her swing and it was a nice, calm, smooth ride!

The swing works very quietly, unless of course you want to put on the music and nature sounds this swing plays, which are lovely! You will notice a very slight increase in sound from the swing motor when you adjust the speed. Once the swing settles in to the correct speed (which is just a few seconds) the sound is VERY minimal. I actually found the slight sound of the motor to be soothing and calming myself. Unless you are standing directly next to the swing though, you shouldn't notice any sound coming from it if you have the music/nature sounds turned off. If you do however decide to turn the music/nature sounds on, there is also a volume adjust button so you can get that just right.

Like I said, one of my favorite features of this swing is that it comes with an AC adapter. It does however give you the option of putting batteries in as well, if that is your preference. The cord is really thin and hardly noticeable!

This swing also pivots so you can have your child swing forwards and backwards or side to side. The cute animal mobile easily pushes out of the way when you need to take your child out of the swing.

I love this swing! I couldn't ask for more and I can't wait to use it with our son! Not only does it have all of the features I'm looking for, but it also is priced at under $100, which I certainly appreciate! I'm actually really glad that I have it set up and ready to go a few weeks early too. I'm going to keep it in our living room so that Maggie and I can practice with her baby dolls on letting the baby sleep in the swing. Hopefully by the time the real baby comes along, she'll have it down!

Bright Starts has generously offered to give one of my readers their own swing! This is an amazing prize and I'm so happy to be able to share it with one of you! If you'd like a chance to win it, just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form. Good luck!

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Barney: Clean Up, Clean Up DVD Review and Giveaway

2012-02-28T14:41:00.001-05:00

Get Swept Up In All-New Barney^™ Fun!

BARNEY: CLEAN UP, CLEAN UP

Available On DVD, Digital Download And

On Demand March 6, 2012

From Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Who says being tidy can’t be fun? Let preschool favorite Barney™ show cleaning up is enjoyable when everybody works together in Barney: Clean Up, Clean Up, arriving on DVD, Digital Download and On Demand March 6, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. This release is accompanied by 19 fun songs including everyone’s favorite “Clean Up, Clean Up” song and an all-new game, ”Clean Up Time,” found only on DVD! Barney and his friends prove that kids can have a great time being cleaning machines!

Trusted by moms and adored by children, Barney displays sharing, caring, imagining, dancing and learning on television and online and through 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^®.

SYNOPSIS

Barney™ shows how to make cleaning fun; from painting the caboose, to washing windows, to putting away toys! See Riff™ learn new tricks when his litterbot leaves him in a heap of a mess. All the friends help BJ out of a big spill, and they work together to host a fancy tea party. Everything’s better with friends, and when teamwork helps with clean-work, the world sparkles and shines!

Episodes include:

“Litterbot”
“All Aboard!”
“The Nature of Things”

DVD BONUS FEATURES

“Clean Up Time” Game
“Clean Up, Do Our Share” Music Video
“Clean Up, Clean Up” Karaoke Song

VOD AND DIGITAL BONUS FEATURE

“Glad To Be Me” Bonus Episode

What We Thought:

This DVD arrived at the perfect time! I have just started teaching Maggie about cleaning up her toys after she's finished playing. We've been singing the Barney "Clean Up" song and now she has a movie to watch that shows her just how much fun cleaning can be! Barney is one of her absolute favorite characters so if cleaning up is fun for Barney and the gang, than it must be fun for her too! She loves this DVD and has already watched it a few times! If you are teaching your child about cleaning, or if you have a child who loves Barney, you must check out this DVD!

One of my readers is also going to win a copy of this brand new DVD! Just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form. Good luck!

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Angelina Ballerina: Ballerina Princess DVD Review and Giveaway

2012-02-27T14:22:00.001-05:00

Let Your Inner Princess Shine In This All-New Release

ANGELINA BALLERINA^™:

BALLERINA PRINCESS

On DVD, Digital Download and On Demand

March 6, 2012

From Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Once upon a time there was a graceful mouseling ballerina who loved to dance, and put on magical performances with her friends. Her royal mouse-ness is back doing what she does best – charming and entertaining aspiring young dancers – in Angelina Ballerina™: Ballerina Princess, a new, five-episode collection on DVD, Digital Download and On Demand March 6, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Leap into the fun as everyone’s favorite dancing mouseling tracks a mysterious tutu, learns that every role is important, uses creativity and dance to tell a story and more!

SYNOPSIS

Join Angelina Ballerina and her friends for enchanting adventures filled with princesses, princes, kings and queens. Dancing their way through Chipping Cheddar, Angelina encounters a bad fairy, uncovers a Cinderella-like mystery, treats the king and queen to a regal performance and brings an epic tale to life on stage! With secrets, spells, dance and celebrations, it’s a royally good time for all!

Episodes:

“Angelina’s Big Part”
“Angelina and Polly’s Two Hour Show”
“Angelina’s Fancy Tutu”
“Angelina and the Carnival”
“Angelina’s Indian Lunchtime”

DVD BONUS FEATURES

Angelina’s Stupendous Dress Up Game

What We Thought:

I have to admit, Angelina Ballerina is not Maggie FAVORITE Hit Show (that position is held as a tie between Barney and Shaun the Sheep) but she still enjoys watching this cute little ballerina perform! In fact, it has just been within the past 2 weeks that Maggie has really gotten into dancing (and it's so cute to watch her!) so I think as her love for dancing grows, Angelina Ballerina may very well take the #1 spot!

Maggie had an exciting day yesterday, so we decided to pop in this new DVD to help her unwind before bed. She sat in her little pink bean bag chair and really seemed to like watching this DVD. I can't wait for a few more months when she can really tell me with words how much she likes these movies, so I can share that with you! I was cleaning around the house while she watched, but the clips I caught were really very cute! Angelina Ballerina always puts a smile on my face! Don't forget to look for this new DVD available starting March 6th!

One of my lucky readers will also win this DVD! Just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form. Good luck!

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Nature's Sleep Twitter Party

2012-02-27T13:13:00.000-05:00

If you like Twitter parties, I've got details on the Nature's Sleep Twitter Party that is coming up! Here they are:

PRIZES:

One Pair of Nature’s Sleep Memory Foam Slippers
Nature’s Sleep Memory Foam Pillow – Winner’s Choice
Nature’s Sleep Memory Foam Pillow – Winner’s Choice
Nature’s Sleep Memory Foam Pillow – Winner’s Choice
Nature’s Sleep Memory Foam Queen Size Mattress Topper
Nature’s Sleep Memory Foam Queen Size Mattress Topper
Nature’s Sleep Memory Foam Mattress – Winner’s Choice

DATE: March 6, 2012 at 8 pm EST

You can RSVP here: http://makobiscribe.com/2012/02/join-us-for-a-natures-sleep-twitter-party.html

They would love for you to tweet : Sign up for the #memoryfoam twitter party on 3/6 8pm ET to win @natures_sleep mattress http://wp.me/p1vKv2-4YY

ALSO - They would love for you to sign up to win a mattress of your own by pushing the purple button on their home page http://naturessleep.com

Chalooby Winner!

2012-02-26T18:42:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Erin Lawrence! You are the winner of this giveaway! I've sent you an email on details for claiming your prize. Enjoy!

Dr. Deepak Chopra & Tara Stiles Yoga Transformation DVDs Review

2012-02-25T17:28:00.000-05:00

Dr. Deepak Chopra & Tara Stiles

Yoga Transformation: Weight Loss & Balance

and

Yoga Transformation: Strength & Energy

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

World-renowned spiritual leader and authority in mind-body healing Dr. Deepak Chopra, and Tara Stiles, founder of Strala yoga studio in NYC and author of Slim Calm Sexy and Yoga Cures (releasing in April) bring their mind, body and spirit philosophy to home audiences as Lionsgate releases two all-new fitness DVDs – Yoga Transformation: Strength & Energy and Yoga Transformation: Weight Loss & Balance. Dr. Chopra – international speaker and bestselling author of more than 55 books with more than 30 million copies sold – teams with personal yoga instructor, Tara Stiles, to introduce a combination of yoga and meditation to rejuvenate and transform the mind and body in tandem. Released on December 6th, each DVD includes the full workout and meditation, along with a series of special features highlighting the benefits of yoga and meditation.

DEEPAK CHOPRA & TARA STILES - YOGA TRANSFORMATION: WEIGHT LOSS & BALANCE

In Weight Loss & Balance, Stiles leads a challenging yoga, designed to deeply stretch and strengthen key muscle groups for total body toning while burning fat. Continue the mind-body transformation with Chopra as he leads the meditation to promote balance in everyday life. The program includes:

Weight Loss Yoga Workout (50-Minutes): Move with your breath as you flow through strong poses and burn fat in a yoga program led by Tara Stiles
Meditation Practice (15-Minutes): Take a moment to focus and clear your mind while you put Deepak’s meditation into practice

DVD Special Features:

Introduction to Meditation (8-Minutes): Open your mind to Deepak’s teachings as he explains the practice of meditation and its advantages
Mindfulness of Food (6-Minutes): Learn the real meaning of hunger and how to enjoy its nutrients, become aware of your body’s needs and eat consciously
The Balance of Yoga (12-Minutes): Deepak introduces viewers to the real meaning of yoga and getting in touch with the deepest part of yourself
Transformation Through Yoga (7-Minutes): Deepak speaks about the importance of inner transformation and taking control of your life through self-awareness
The Breath of Yoga (5-Minutes): Deepak and Tara demonstrate the importance of the breath and consciousness during physical yoga
The Flow of Yoga (4-Minutes): Deepak and Tara expand on the meaning of flow in physical yoga and everyday life by connecting your body, mind and spirit

DEEPAK CHOPRA & TARA STILES - YOGA TRANSFORMATION: STRENGTH & ENERGY

Intended to sculpt and strengthen key muscles through power pose yoga, Strength & Energy features a 50-minute yoga workout led by Stiles. The DVD also includes meditation exercises from Chopra that will enlighten and encourage personal commitment, while bringing energy to the forefront. The program includes:

Power Pose Yoga Workout (50-Minutes): Stretch and strengthen key muscle groups with powerful yoga poses designed to tone the entire body
Meditation Practice (15-Minutes): Take a moment to focus and clear your mind while you put Deepak’s meditation to practice

DVD Special Features:

Introduction to Meditation (8-Minutes): Open your mind to Deepak’s teachings as he explains the practice of meditation and its advantages
Transformation Through Yoga (7-Minutes): Deepak speaks about the importance of inner transformation and taking control of your life through self-awareness
The Breath of Yoga (5-Minutes): Deepak and Tara demonstrate the importance of the breath and consciousness during physical yoga
The Flow of Yoga (4-Minutes): Deepak and Tara expand on the meaning of flow in physical yoga and everyday life by connecting your body, mind and spirit
Strength, Power & Flexibility (1-Minute): Deepak and Tara discuss the true meaning of these words and how they relate to physical and spiritual yoga

What I Thought:

Well, I have to admit that I don't practice meditation, at least not Dr. Chopra's form of meditation. I don't consider him a spiritual leader in my Christian faith. Therefore, I did not do any of the meditation exercises on these DVDs. I can however say that the yoga on these DVDs is great! It is easy enough for a beginner like myself to do and they've both been exercise DVDs that I've really enjoyed. I find that Tara is very easy to follow along with and very encouraging throughout the DVDs. I love to alter my workout routine and I've loved throwing these in the mix!

You can buy these DVDs online at Amazon.com and I've also noticed them for sale at my local Walmart, so I'm sure you can find them at many retailers!

Initials, Inc Review and Giveaway

2012-02-25T16:01:00.004-05:00

Do you love personalized products? Maybe you love bags of all shapes and sizes. Well, today I'm going to introduce you to a home party company that specializes in that! It's called Initials, Inc. I hadn't heard of Initials, Inc until a few weeks ago when I was contacted by them. Maybe you've been to one of their parties, or maybe you're just learning about them too. Here's what they have to say about their company:

What started out as a personal journey for these two women has today turned into a multi-million dollar, nationwide, life altering company for families all across America. In 2005 these dynamic sisters quickly found themselves at the common crossroads of work and family. Shortly after the birth of their first children, they knew that their professional journey was about to take an exciting and unknown detour. Armed with a strong entrepreneurial background of creating their own path, this was an exciting time for both sisters.

Setting down their briefcases and picking up a burp cloth was the first step. Literally, starting something from nothing was the second. As new mothers, they found themselves wanting to be there for their families, but still having a desire to find something that would stir their souls creativity, fill their well socially and allow them to contribute to their homes financially. With numerous conversations, brainstorming sessions and prayer…they found it. Beginning hundreds of miles apart (in Georgia and Texas) both Britney and Ivy each found a niche in their communities for personalized products and gifts that celebrated the individual. Jumping into this new endeavor with one simple embroidery machine each and an incredible drive to create success on their own terms, these sisters started their personal home based businesses. A few months, and many extremely excited women later, Initials, Inc. was founded.

Launched officially as a Direct Selling Association party plan company in early 2005, Initials, Inc. is now represented by thousands of Independent Creative Partners throughout the United States. The Georgia based Initials, Inc. is a premier personalized handbag and accessories company in the Direct Selling Industry and is consistently experiencing phenomenal growth in both sales and recruiting. The core company message of ‘There’s only one you!’ is celebrated through amazing personalized products, top in category career path and an abundance of opportunity for all that seek more for themselves and their families!

Initials, Inc sent me my own personalized Resort Tote to review. I decided on the Black Diamond Resort Tote with the traditional monogram in Candy Green color (what can I say--I love green!) I didn't really study the dimensions on this bag closely before it was sent to me and I was honestly surprised at how big it was when I pulled it out of its shipping box! The dimensions are 24"W x 18"H x 10"D. I can fit SO much in this bag! This bag is going to be perfect for trips to the pool, park, or beach this summer. I'm sure I could fit at least 4 beach towels, plus snacks, drinks and more into this bag! I've also found that I can use it to hold my laptop, purse, diaper bag, with room for lots more when I plan on being gone all day. The bag is also very durable and I'm sure will last me for years! It's wonderful!

The only drawback to the bag is that it is spot-clean only. With kids, it seems like everything gets dirty in this house and I'm worried about how I'll keep this bag looking new. To be honest with you, if the bag gets dirty enough, I will probably try to wash it in the bathtub and hang it up to dry--I'll update you on how that goes when the time comes!

There are all kinds of great products you can get from Initials, Inc like blankets, bins, flip flops, and of course all kinds of bags that you can personalize to make uniquely your own! Check out all they have to offer by visiting their website at http://www.initials-inc.com . You can also find info on hosting your own party or becoming your own independent sales consultant on their website! If you're looking for a way to earn some extra income, this may be just what you're looking for!

One of my lucky readers will also win a $50 Gift Card to use at Initials, Inc! Please note, they are unable to ship outside of the United States. The gift card can be applied to order totals which includes order and shipping and, as always, personalization is FREE! If you'd like to win, just use the easy Rafflecopter entry form below. Good luck!

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

Foxy Originals Necklace Winner!

2012-02-25T14:21:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Markerink--you are the winner of this giveaway! Congratulations! You should be receiving the necklace soon. I'm sure you'll love this prize!

A Soldier's Tale CD Winner!

2012-02-25T08:47:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Lydia Powell! You are the winner of this giveaway! You should receive your CD soon.

Coming Soon From Bright Starts!

2012-02-24T09:38:00.000-05:00

Look at what we just recently received to review AND give away!

Yes, my daughter is very excited about these new products for her baby brother!! I am working on setting them up, and getting the review written. It should be up in a few days. Are there are questions/concerns that you'd like to see me address?

Earthy Crunchy Mama Winner!

2012-02-23T16:19:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Hannah Horne! You are the winner of this giveaway! You should be receiving an email soon with details on claiming your prize. Enjoy it!!

Cheap Boutique Winners!

2012-02-23T16:12:00.001-05:00

There were 2 winners for this giveaway! They are:

Sarah Holtzclaw Boudreaux
Sandy Schade VanHoey

Congrats ladies! You should receive an email soon with details on claiming your prize.

New Toys from the Baby Einstein Company!

2012-02-23T16:00:00.001-05:00

Calling all parents of children ages 0-2 (and grandparents, aunts, uncles, caregivers, etc.)! In celebration of 15 years of making babies happy, The Baby Einstein Company announces the launch of new toys and gear which captures the serenity, sights and sounds of the sea.

Known for their award-winning infant products, this new Baby Einstein line includes Sweet Sea Dreams Mobile, Sea Dreams Soother, Baby Neptune Activity Saucer, Music & Discovery Travel Mirror, Peek-A-Scene and Count & Discover Treasure Chest.

Babies will love and be entranced by these new developmental toys and gear with soft lights, big shapes, bright colors and sweet melodies designed for self-discovery and the natural curiosity of early learners.

These new toys and gear are eligible for The Baby Einstein Rewards Program, a customer loyalty program created just for families and powered by Disney Movie Rewards.

Check out the redesigned www.babyeinstein.com today!

New Baby Coming - Nursery Room Decorating

2012-02-23T15:37:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm pleased to bring you a guest post from Megan Gates on Nursery Room Decorating--something we're getting ready to do again in our house!

Megan Gates is an active blogger who provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to NYC Rentals, Hamptons Homes, home improvement and the latest architecture, design, fashion and travel. Follow her on twitter @MEGatesDesign.

A new baby is coming into your home, what an exciting time! Decorating the nursery for this new baby is also an exciting and important task that some new parents may find a little daunting. There are several easy ways to approach this interior design project that will make this a fun and relaxing time.

Start by picking a theme for the nursery. Use your favorite cartoon character, animal, flowers, or nature scenes. Be artistic and creative by painting a mural. Choose your favorite color paints and pick out some stencils to help you create the exact image you want on the wall(s). You can be very creative by making this space a warm soothing, serene sanctuary for your child. You can also use a quicker technique if painting isn’t your best skill by using wall decals. Nursery wall decals and wall stickers are affordable and a fast way to replicate the look of a hand-painted mural. Also, try to think ahead will this nursery have to change color and theme in the next few years? If so, try using more neutral paint colors and fewer wall decals for easier transitions.

Next decide where you want the baby’s furniture to be placed. The baby’s crib is the most important part of the nursery’s design. The best location would be to center the crib against the wall. If you have a smaller room, consider angling the crib to give you more space. Try not to place the crib near any windows to avoid drafts. Place the changing table closest to the crib for easy access to change those wet diapers. Look into purchasing a rocker or rocker recliner for more relaxed comfortable feedings. Walk around the room and try to envision yourself changing a diaper and handling a feeding. Does this layout and flow of the room work best for you?

Now it’s time to add accessories to make the nursery feel warm and comfortable. Decorate with soft lighting, shelving, and curtains to compliment the theme you chose. Always keeping in mind the baby’s safety by hanging shelving at appropriate heights and using safety brackets in the wall. Never hang shelving or other wall décor over the crib. Use soft lighting, it will be easier on you and the baby’s eyes for nighttime feedings and diaper changes. Use stuffed animals that compliment your bedding colors. Frame pictures of family members and or pieces of art that you love. Accent colors by adding the child’s name in block letters on the wall or shelving. Start a library for your child and add a painted bookshelf to the room. The nursery bedding you select should complement the color scheme chosen for the walls and flooring. Bedding is usually sold in sets and can include a comforter, bumper, dust ruffle, and sheet.

Use these tips above and your creative imagination to create a warm, peaceful nursery that will welcome your infant home.

~Thanks Megan!

Step2 My Clubhouse Bonus Entries!

2012-02-23T14:52:00.002-05:00

You may have seen the post on my Facebook page a few days ago that we are reviewing AND giving away Step2's brand new My Clubhouse! This clubhouse retails for $199.99 and is available exclusively through ToysRUs. I'm still working on taking pictures, video, and typing up the review but it will be available soon! I can't wait to share it with you!!

In the meantime, because I'm so excited about having the opportunity to give one of these away to one of you, I have a "bonus entries" opportunity for you!

I want to show Step2 how much I and my fans appreciate this fun giveaway AND their awesome products. We have a handful of products from Step2 and they are all terrific! They have all held up really well no matter what my daughter throws (sometimes literally!) at them!

So, here is your chance to get EXTRA entries into the Clubhosue giveaway. You have two options. They are:

Take a picture of your child(ren) playing with one of their Step2 Toys. If you do not own a Step2 toy, you can also take a picture of them/you at the store standing next to a Step2 toy that you'd love to own. Pictures submitted will be put into a short video that will be uploaded to YouTube, therefore, please only send pictures you took yourself and you are willing to share with my fans. 1 Picture entry per family. You CAN however send me more than 1 picture to be included in the video, but you may only claim the 5 extra entries once.
Submit a quote that can be used in the video about why you love Step2, your favorite Step2 product, ect. You're first name, your last name initial and City/State will be included in the video when the quote goes up. You are limited to 1 quote per family.

Depending on how many people submit pictures/quotes they may not all be used. All entries WILL be verified. Please make sure you are sending emails to thriftyniftymommy@yahoo.com with your picture and/or quote. Any person(s) found to be cheating will be disqualified from this and all future giveaways.

*SORRY, BONUS ENTRIES FOR THIS GIVEAWAY ARE NOW CLOSED*

Not Finding Out!

2012-02-23T13:41:00.001-05:00

If you've been a reader of this blog for a little while now, you probably remember that when we first found out we were pregnant with baby #2, we decided we were going to wait to find out the sex of our baby until he/she was born. Well, around week 24 we caved and just couldn't wait anymore. We found out that we're having a BOY!

One of the big reasons we decided to find out was because I had a VERY big gut feeling that we were having a boy and we have plenty of items for a girl, but nothing for a little boy. I decided that if we knew the sex of our baby, I would be able to purchase items for him/her and anyone who wanted to purchase gifts for our little one would be able to do the same. I think all moms get to that nesting period where they just have such a need to feel prepared--and that's how I've been feeling!

Of course, it was just a few weeks after we caved in that I found out about this awesome website that would have solved my "problem." The website is called Not Finding Out. Here's a summary of how the service works:

I’d like to introduce Not Finding Out (www.notfindingout.com), the only online baby registry and shopping website that caters to expecting parents who are not finding out whether they’re having a girl or boy. The goal of Not Finding Out is to help to preserve what was once the most magical line ever uttered by a doctor; either, “It’s a girl!” or “It’s a boy!”

How does Not Finding Out, or “NFO” do it? Basically, www.notfindingout.com operates like any other baby registry but with a pretty brilliant (patent-pending) twist. NFO pairs almost all of their inventory into complementary girl and boy versions. So, you register for that super soft snuggly blanket you want, you just don’t know whether you’re going to need the pink or blue one.

How do people shop for you? When an NFO item is ordered for a Not Finding Out mom, a beautifully wrapped Preview Card is mailed to her or can be taken to a baby shower so that Mom knows what item was purchased and receives the “gift” before the baby is born. The actual girl or boy version of that gift is shipped straight to her as soon as she has her baby. Shoppers can also still shop online like a normal baby store and buy any product and check out like normal.

So how does Not Finding Out know whether they’re sending girl or boy items to their registrants? Very easy. NFO registrants get a Shhh! Card in their Registry Welcome package that they take to their healthcare provider to complete and send back directly to NFO so there’s zero chance that the registrant ever sees it. NFO gets all the right gifts lined up so when Mom has her baby and someone from the family lets Not Finding Out know, they ship the box and the new baby is equipped with all those precious girl or boy items.

The result? Not Finding Out handles the problems of expecting parents who want to preserve the surprise of their baby’s sex! And the range of goods carried by Not Finding Out covers everything from clothing, bath, potty, gifts, essentials, sets, to even bedding! What a fun way to have your baby’s nursery delivered to you in the gender-specific version you want! Very fun.

Not Finding Out even has a whole “Shower Kit” that they’ll send to registrants or shower hostesses so that they can plan a fun Not Finding Out shower since there’s a little more guessing involved than there are with other showers! Not Finding Out has done a great job of supporting those Not Finding Out parents in their decision to preserve the surprise of whether they’re having a precious baby girl or boy.

I LOVE this idea and plan to take advantage of it when baby #3 comes along! I wish I had known about it sooner! You can connect with Not Finding Out on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

*This is a paid posting. I only share paid posts for companies I can happily endorse and believe my readers would like to hear about.*