tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36467284172567532682024-03-13T08:23:17.872-05:00Shaky MommyParenting with Parkinson's diseaseShaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-9155743227339191432015-05-22T17:56:00.001-05:002015-05-23T11:21:07.978-05:00Birmingham Children's Museum- Itty Bitty Magic City<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Birmingham finally has a children's museum! Itty Bitty Magic City, designed for ages kindergarten and younger, opened on May 16. Itty Bitty Magic City is located on the second floor inside the McWane Science Center, located in downtown Birmingham at the corner of 2nd Ave North and 19th St North. I have visited several children's museums over the years and have always wanted one in Birmingham. I'm so happy this opened in time for Jaxon to get to enjoy for a couple of years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Built to resemble a classic Main Street, Itty Bitty Magic City contains a diner, a market, a vet clinic, a market, a farm, a post office, a house, a fire station, and a mechanic's garage. Each area is designed to facilitate creative play and has room for multiple children to play at the same time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the diner, there is plenty of play food and space for several chefs to prepare and serve food. Jaxon had a great time taking my order and assembling pizzas and sandwiches for me. At the farm, kids can plant and harvest vegetables or "milk" a cow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jaxon's favorite place was the fire station. He dressed in a fireman's jacket and had fun running the lights and sirens and pretending to drive the truck. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the mechanic's shop, Jaxon replaced a "bad" battery and added fluids to the car. The battery buzzed when inserted incorrectly and lit up green when placed correctly.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is also an elevated climbing/playground area (built so that parents can easily enter as well), a water play area, a building area with giant soft blocks and a conveyor belt, and a large train table. There are so many things to do that each visit can be a unique experience.</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: start;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playground and climbing structure at Itty Bitty Magic City</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Play Area at Itty Bitty Magic City<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">For its youngest patrons, Itty bitty Magic City offers a tot spot. The tot spot features foam blocks and soft surfaces for climbing and crawling. The area is only for ages 2 and younger. There is a low wall separating it from the rest of itty bitty magic city, making it easy for moms of multiple children to supervise preschoolers while baby explores the tot spot.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tot Spot at Itty Bitty Magic City</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train table at Itty Bitty Magic City</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Itty Bitty Magic City also features classroom space. While we were there, two programs on "pets" took place. Jaxon was too excited about the fire truck to attend the program but I'm looking forward to seeing what other fun things are offered in Itty Bitty Magic City in the future.<br /><br />The entrance to Itty Bitty Magic City is manned by a McWane center employee, which helps keep children over kindergarten age out, though siblings of young children are welcome with their parents. There is stroller parking at the front and ample seating for parents throughout the play space. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A day pass to McWane (which includes admission to Itty Bitty Magic City) is $13 for adults and $9 for children aged 2 and older. Parking in the deck is $5 per vehicle. A family membership to McWane is a great value at $110 per year and includes free parking in the deck with each visit as well as discounts on iMax passes and the cafe. For more information, visit <a href="http://mcwane.org/">McWane.org</a>. You may also check out my previous review of McWane Center <a href="http://shakymommy.blogspot.com/2011/11/mcwane-science-center-birmingham-al-our.html">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are my own.</i></span></div>
Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-84455183334281914742013-04-03T08:04:00.000-05:002013-04-12T07:09:39.456-05:00Publix Breakfast Savings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've posted several times about <a href="http://shakymommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/publix-running-out-run-in-event-and.html">how much I love Publix</a>. It's still my favorite place to shop for groceries. With clean and wide aisles, the freshest produce around, and helpful employees, what's not to love? But how did I forget to mention the savings? That's right, you can actually spend less by shopping at Publix. They are always looking out for your family's budget. From weekly sale ads to special coupon booklets for savings on specific household items, Publix has you covered. Right now, Publix is offering great savings on your family's favorite breakfast items from General Mills. Save on your favorites like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cheerios!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Publix has made it easy - great in-store savings, as well as a <a href="http://www.everydaysaver.com/publix">coupon site</a> with extra savings where you can select and print the coupons you want. You can find it at <a href="http://www.everydaysaver.com/publix">http://www.everydaysaver.com/publix</a>. Be sure and bookmark that site while you are there - each month, they change out the specials and coupons!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if the coupons aren't enough for you, can also win a Publix gift card for $25! Just leave a comment below telling me why you love Publix! </span><br />
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Contest ends April 19th. Winner will be chosen by random.org. U.S. residents only.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>"The information, products and General Mills gift pack were provided by General Mills and Publix® through MyBlogSpark."</i></span>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-65171555647808715242013-03-17T00:00:00.000-05:002013-03-17T14:05:32.362-05:00Big G & Dreamworks (with giveaway!)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">If your kids are like mine, they love movies, and they also love getting new movies to watch. The new promotion from Big G cereals and Dreamworks is a win for all of us. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Right now when your purchase specially marked boxes of General Mills c</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">ereal such as Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Cookie Crisp, Trix, or Reese's Puffs you will receive a DVD sampler from Dreamworks. Each DVD features new content featuring beloved Dreamworks characters from favorite movies like Kung Fu Panda and Shrek. We really loved the movie "How To Train Your Dragon" when we saw it at the theater so we watched that sampler DVD first. The sampler DVD contains previews of Dreamworks new Dragons show on Cartoon network, a music video, behind the scenes footage and more!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Dreamworks new movie "The Croods" comes to theaters on March 22. Each DVD sampler includes a first look at this new movie. My kids are really excited about it and can't wait to see it! Alex was even more excited after she read a book about The Croods that was included in our package.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Want to see all 4 sampler DVDs? Enter below to win a gift pack that includes all 4 sampler DVDs, a croods book, and a movie reel tin filled with fun movie theater treats!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">But just in case you dont win, head to the store and pick up a few boxes of your favorite Big G cereal today!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Disclosure: The information, products and General Mills gift packs were provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.</span><br />
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<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-38569668247221472762012-12-09T09:29:00.000-06:002012-12-10T10:49:53.325-06:00Jaxon at 21 months<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been a slacker when it comes to my blog over the past 3 months and have only managed to post those reviews & giveaways I had committed to before I lost the time for blogging. Since August, we've had a lot of life changes and to say I've been overwhelmed is an understatement. I'll have to try to update more on that later but for now, I want to talk about my sweet baby boy and document some of his achievements.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At 21 months, Jaxon is talking...a lot. His vocabulary is definitely larger than any of our other kids had at this age. He also speaks very clearly so even strangers can understand him (this can be a good and bad thing!). At this point he says so many words I couldn't begin to list them all. He also has a great memory and rarely needs to be told the correct word for something more than once. He loves Elmo, but doesn't have patience for a whole episode on TV - the theme song is enough for him!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His favorite phrase is "me too!" and he says it often in response to most of the things his siblings say. It's adorable...and a little frustrating sometimes since he can't always be involved in everything they do since they are so much older. He really thinks he is older than he actually is. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently put out our Fisher-Price manger scene for him to play with. I showed him each piece and told him it's name: Jesus, Mary, lamb, shepherd. Later, I heard him singing "Jesus, Jesus" while rocking the baby Jesus in his hands. <sweetness></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I find Jaxon to be a very picky eater, but he loves spaghetti, salad, fruit (especially kiwi and watermelon), eggs and pizza. He's a cheese snob and prefers gourmet varieties from Whole Foods to standard Kraft. He doesn't like meat, and especially seems to turn his nose up at chicken. I think <a href="http://shakymommy.blogspot.com/2012/04/backyard-chickens-all-cool-kids-have.html">keeping chickens</a> caused him to decide chickens were for chasing, not eating. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some other things he can do:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-point to all his body parts as I call him out, including things like his forehead, back and tongue. The only thing he has trouble with are knees- he always points to teeth when I say knees!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-retrieve items from other rooms for me or put things away where they belong.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-understand consequences. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-makes connections. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-count to 3</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-recognize landmarks and stores. When we pull up to Wal-Mart he says "Mal-Mart" and says "football" when we pass the football field. When we get to the end of the road that leads to our church/his school, he says "Yay!" in anticipation of our arrival (and on days we don't turn in to the church/school, he cries and tells us to turn around!). He also knows which restaurants have his favorite foods and calls them out as we pass by or turn in.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He's a great little singer, as shown by this cute video - he had just watched the older kids sing "Joy, Joy, Joy" in a Christmas program and this was his own little version: </span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_BgCEeRftYE" width="420"></iframe>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jaxon does two things that help remind us he's still a little bit of a baby:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first is he is still breastfeeding, though typically it's only at night. I'd love to wean him, but I don't know how. He's very uninterested in weaning and I'm having a hard time taking a firm stance against it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second baby like thing he does is wake during the night, often. He is not a good sleeper. At all. On most nights, he has difficulty settling down and when he finally does, I'm lucky if he sleeps for 3 hours before waking. Once he wakes the first time, he's often up every 1-2 hours after that. I keep hoping his sleep patterns will magically change, but so far, no luck on that. </span>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-33593629764215547192012-11-15T21:50:00.000-06:002012-11-15T21:50:33.257-06:00Dog Trots Globe Book Review<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPdd11b35d598892ae5e302f819fa81058" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/main/pixel.png" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oqgwFSLoK2M/UKWGTXX1tuI/AAAAAAAACLE/e2kC6ZkC6Cc/s1600/Dog+Trots+Globe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oqgwFSLoK2M/UKWGTXX1tuI/AAAAAAAACLE/e2kC6ZkC6Cc/s320/Dog+Trots+Globe.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I heard about Dog Trots Globe, I thought it was a children's book. The book is written from the point of view as the dog describes her travels through France. I just made an assumption that this was written for kids. I thought my daughter, who adores dogs and is interested in other countries, would find it interesting. However, when it came, it was clearly an adult book, and even contained a little grown up language on the first page. As info, there's only the little bit of language on the first page and one word on the last page. Not a big deal, but it made it unsuitable for a 9 year old. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The book is written from the point of view of a dog who traveled with her owners for an extended vacation to France. The book is what I would call a coffee table book - light on reading, heavy on pictures. It's a visual tour with narration through Paris and a small village in France. After reading it, you will be ready to hop on a plane and visit the small village of St. Remy de Provence. The pictures of the bakeries, cafes, and open air food shops will have you hungry within minutes! </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf5dJo2-BEY/UKWGo5y8eFI/AAAAAAAACLM/j38QwSGvTlY/s1600/Dog+Trots+Globe+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf5dJo2-BEY/UKWGo5y8eFI/AAAAAAAACLM/j38QwSGvTlY/s320/Dog+Trots+Globe+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though this book was not what I expected, I still enjoyed it, especially the beautiful photographs. As a bonus for dog owners, there's a section in the back of the book that gives information on traveling with a pet overseas. There is great general information on flying with pets, as well as specific information on bringing a dog into France.</span><br />
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<i>
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMdd11b35d598892ae5e302f819fa81058" rel="nofollow">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.</i>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-25819930346382361042012-10-18T08:39:00.000-05:002012-10-18T09:15:27.864-05:00How's Your Driving? #TrySnapshot<script src="http://on.socialchorus.com/javascripts/AssetEmbedder.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last month, I had the opportunity to try out the new Snapshot device by Progressive. Snapshot is a small device that plugs into your vehicle and monitors your driving habits. Using Snapshot is easy. It's quick to plug in (just a minute or two), and then you have a portal where you can check your progress (and hopefully, your savings!) Most drivers save, on average, $150 a year!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Progressive's new Snapshot program measures three things: hard brakes, how quickly you accelerate, and how much you drive. If you score well in these three areas, Progressive might be able to save you money on your car insurance. We ended up scoring well on rate of acceleration and okay on hard brakes, but not enough to overcome the amount of miles we drive. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would not have thought we spent a lot of time on the road but we were in a month of transition while we were using Snapshot. My husband started a new job that was 45 minutes from our house, the kids went back to school, and then we had our normal daily driving to the drug store, Wal-Mart, Publix, and various restaurants. Our life has been a flurry of activity over the last 2 months! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Want to take Snapshot for a trial of your own? Visit <a href="http://www.progressive.com/auto/snapshot.aspx">progressive.com</a> to find out how you can enjoy a 30 day Snapshot trial -be sure and let me know if you end up saving money! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interested in the science behind the program and why Progressive can offer such great savings? Here's more information:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Progressive.</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #14353d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;"><em>I received a 30 day trial and gift card for being a part of the Progressive Snapshot Blogger Program.</em></span></span></div>
Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-83537184250957290762012-10-11T12:16:00.000-05:002012-10-11T12:22:37.836-05:00 Show Your School Spirit With Crayola<div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Fiet8kXw4U/UG5FuaD0hXI/AAAAAAAACJU/en3Wsh4ullI/s1600/Crayola_BTS_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Fiet8kXw4U/UG5FuaD0hXI/AAAAAAAACJU/en3Wsh4ullI/s1600/Crayola_BTS_logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crayola has, once again, come out with some great new products and I'm thrilled to get to share them with you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We received some fabric markers, perfect for decorating jeans, backpacks, and tshirts. These markers are designed so that the colors really pop when used on dark fabrics. We tried them first on Britain's black backpack. It's plain and we though it could use something to make it personalized and fun. Now I admit, writing on black is obviously iffy, but the box showed the markers working on black fabrics. I went over and over again on the line I was drawing before it (barely) showed up. Britain lost interest and decided he didn't want to decorate his backpack after all. I'm going to try again with some of the girls jeans and see how that does. I would love to also get the girls a pair of cheap, plain shoes from Wal-Mart and let them decorate some shoes. I think they would love that!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nktHeD6tqQg/UG5JYnGu1uI/AAAAAAAACKQ/9ukkbOw9zLw/s1600/Crayola+BTS+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nktHeD6tqQg/UG5JYnGu1uI/AAAAAAAACKQ/9ukkbOw9zLw/s320/Crayola+BTS+3.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the new Wild Notes products. The Wild Notes products use a special pen. Instead of writing with a boring black or blue pen, this pen writes a rainbow of colors. I think I was probably supposed to give them to the kids, but I really didn't want to. So instead, I used them to write some notes and place them in the kids backpacks. The fun colors make even mundane tasks, like grocery lists, more enjoyable. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfmftrIpvAg/UG5InAXl68I/AAAAAAAACKI/tvn39KcTZ3w/s1600/Crayola+BTS+Wild+Notes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfmftrIpvAg/UG5InAXl68I/AAAAAAAACKI/tvn39KcTZ3w/s320/Crayola+BTS+Wild+Notes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also received the Wild Notes Sticky Notes and Wild Notes Index Cards. The index cards and notebook are both spiral bound and the pages/cards are perforated for easy removal. Even Jaxon, at 19 months of age, is able to remove the pages without ripping them! He loves this notebook and pen, by the way and constantly steals it from me. He has a bad habit of writing on himself when he has a pen - I love that this pen does not allow him to do that. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also received the Dual-Sided Dry-Erase Board. It's about the size of an iPad, so it travels well. One side is black, the other side is white. The included dry erase crayons write in bright colors, so they work well on both sides of the board. There's a (machine washable) cloth for cleaning the board and a crayon sharpener. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9CzC9OSLDWI/UG5D5_XP7SI/AAAAAAAACJE/tcSLvryxh-w/s1600/Crayola+BTS+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9CzC9OSLDWI/UG5D5_XP7SI/AAAAAAAACJE/tcSLvryxh-w/s320/Crayola+BTS+5.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, we received the Crystal Effects Window Markers and the Window Mega Markers. My kids adore window markers. We just use ours for fun drawing on windows & mirrors, but these would be great for decorating the minivan for a football game! Great way to show your school spirit! For all you homeschoolers out there, my kids have always loved practicing writing and math facts with these markers. Writing practice is more fun when you get to write on the windows! The Crystal Effects markers are very cool - the effect does not transfer well to a picture, but as we drew on the windows, the colors "crystallized" before our eyes. Very neat!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4Yc03uXYHs/UG5FMMYhTUI/AAAAAAAACJM/w6V9_xaew14/s1600/Crayola+BTS+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4Yc03uXYHs/UG5FMMYhTUI/AAAAAAAACJM/w6V9_xaew14/s320/Crayola+BTS+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to the generosity of Crayola, one lucky reader will get a prize pack containing 6 Crayola products!</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d8661d30/" id="rc-d8661d30" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>Disclosure: The information, products and additional Crayola Back-to-School gift pack was provided by Crayola® through MyBlogSpark.</i></span></div>
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Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-69301815211209083102012-10-01T21:31:00.001-05:002012-10-01T21:47:44.570-05:00Packaways -The Best Way To Move, Organize, And Store Your Stuff!<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPf6bd82f88ff7159e8ed2b7a45129881b" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/main/pixel.png" /></a>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Sometimes I get to review a product that I know I'll be using for many years to come. This is one of those times. Originally, I wasn't sure what to expect when I found out <a href="http://www.packaways.com/" target="_blank">Packaways</a> was sending me their new storage boxes. I had read that the boxes came folded flat. I didn't think they could possibly be very sturdy since they had to be put together. But I was wrong! These boxes are made from durable corrugated plastic and they are truly great. They are super easy to put together - no extra pieces or packing tape required. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DBDchAyZ5A/UGpRjN9eBTI/AAAAAAAACHU/waND5iKXCx4/s1600/Packaways+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DBDchAyZ5A/UGpRjN9eBTI/AAAAAAAACHU/waND5iKXCx4/s320/Packaways+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">They ship to you flat. When you're ready to use them, just press the opposing corners and the bottom folds into place and locks. Just reverse the process to make them flat (and easy to store) again. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i9eTfio-L_4/UGpVxkE2fMI/AAAAAAAACIQ/Jv63L5esfLo/s1600/Packaways+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i9eTfio-L_4/UGpVxkE2fMI/AAAAAAAACIQ/Jv63L5esfLo/s320/Packaways+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">We just moved, and these boxes were extremely handy. We made multiple trips when moving and I took these boxes back and forth several times. I loaded them up with everything from bedding to toys to picture frames. They worked very well and were extremely easy to use. The carry handles on the ends make them easier to carry than standard moving boxes. They have panels for labeling, and if you use China Dry Erase Markers, you can wipe the panels clean and relabel them as you change the contents of the boxes. They stack neatly and for those of you who don't unpack quickly (like me), they look a whole lot better sitting in a corner of the room than the cardboard boxes do. They are also not prone to breakdown like cardboard is since they are immune from the effects of moisture and humidity. In fact, the first thing I put in them were our toiletry items. I knew if shampoo or lotion spilled in the bottom I could just wipe it clean once we arrived.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Now that we're getting settled in, I plan to use Packaways to store toys. I don't like for my kids to have access to all of their toys at once- it's much better for them and for me if we rotate some toys in and out of their playroom. It keeps things fresh and it keeps them from having too many things to get out at one time. I love that these boxes will be easy for me to move in and out of the garage or a closet. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Packaways come in 5 different sizes and 4 colors and are made in the USA. Prices start at 8.75 per box, and bulk pricing is offered for orders over 25 pieces. Visit <a href="http://Packaways.com/">Packaways.com</a> for more information or like them on Facebook at <a href="http://facebook.com/PackAways">facebook.com/PackAways</a>. </span></span><br />
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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMf6bd82f88ff7159e8ed2b7a45129881b" rel="nofollow">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
</i>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-81379742498322937202012-09-19T23:20:00.000-05:002012-09-24T19:36:35.666-05:00Publix Running Out? Run In. event and a giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ayie3sXPfVs/UFqaIP_iS7I/AAAAAAAACFk/BRKaqDY4dL4/s1600/Publix_RORI_giftpack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ayie3sXPfVs/UFqaIP_iS7I/AAAAAAAACFk/BRKaqDY4dL4/s1600/Publix_RORI_giftpack.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've written about my love for Publix several times before. I'm so happy that we have moved (more on that later!) and are now close enough to Publix to do all of our shopping there. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the many great things about Publix are their "Running Out? Run In." events. During these events, you can take advantage of great savings on your favorite General Mills and Procter & Gamble, such as Cheerios, Charmin, and Crest. We are always running out of toilet paper, so I'm sure we'll be picking up some Charmin while we're at Publix this week. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During this Running Out? Run In event, you will get a free gallon of milk when you purchase</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> any 6 of the participating items like Tide Pods, Yoplait Yogurt Kids, or Trix!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to the good people at General Mills one of my readers will win a $25 Publix gift card. Enter using the super easy Rafflecopter form below!</span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d8661d28/" id="rc-d8661d28" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> </span></span><br />
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<i>Disclosure: The Publix gift card, information, and additional gift pack has been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.</i></span></span>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-2209550327046131962012-09-08T22:41:00.000-05:002012-09-10T22:45:17.146-05:00Hearts For Hearts Girls <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--43SyGDpyzo/UE6w39Hj-2I/AAAAAAAACEk/XkAlnD7b9DM/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="67" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--43SyGDpyzo/UE6w39Hj-2I/AAAAAAAACEk/XkAlnD7b9DM/s320/logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We first discovered <a href="http://www.hearts4heartsgirls.com/" target="_blank">Hearts For Hearts Girls</a> a little more than a year ago. Alex really wanted a new doll for her birthday, but didn't want the new doll to be her only birthday present. We went looking for some affordable, quality options for "big girl" dolls, and stumbled across the Hearts for Hearts Girls. At $28-$30, the dolls are reasonably priced. When I saw that they donate a portion of proceeds to <a href="http://www.worldvision.org/" target="_blank">World Vision</a>, a ministry that we've supported for many years, I was hooked. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Hearts for Hearts girls each come with a mini storybook that tells their story. Alex chose Consuelo, who is from Mexico. Her parents run a bakery and Consuelo comes up with the idea for how they can help feed the hungry kids in her neighborhood. We love that the Hearts for Hearts Girls are such great role models and help to inspire girls to change the world around them. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Hearts for Hearts girls contacted us about having a party to share our love for these dolls, we were super excited! We were sent a doll for Alex & Emily to enjoy and another doll to give away at our party. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The girls quickly fell in love with Nahji, who is from India. We decided to give away Lauryce, who is one of the newest Hearts For Hearts Girls.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Lauryce, from New Orleans</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At our party, we served beignets & Cafe Du Monde coffee (just for the mommies!) in honor of Lauryce's hometown of New Orleans. We also had Indian Mac & Cheese bites. Speaking of the moms, they all loved the message behind the Hearts For Hearts Girls. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-eNP63mUPo/UE6yTseEF-I/AAAAAAAACEs/-nd5I8pIXqY/s1600/H4HG+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-eNP63mUPo/UE6yTseEF-I/AAAAAAAACEs/-nd5I8pIXqY/s320/H4HG+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were sent some "passports" for each girl to decorate and put stickers in. The passports showed how to say hello in each language that the Hearts For Hearts Girls speak. But mostly, the party was filled with lots of playing! The girls all loved the Hearts For Hearts Girls dolls. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlike some other dolls geared towards girls this age, Hearts For Hearts girls come with several accessories and have many small touches to make them unique and fun. For example, Nahji wears a choker and earrings, as well as a pearl headband. She also has strappy sandals, gold bangle bracelets, and a nose piercing. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w9OIbTH4T7M/UE6kRuGU6yI/AAAAAAAACDg/_ysvtDxbO1s/s1600/H4HG6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w9OIbTH4T7M/UE6kRuGU6yI/AAAAAAAACDg/_ysvtDxbO1s/s320/H4HG6.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Nahji's nose piercing</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She even has a henna tattoo on her hand! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Nahji's henna tattoo</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We were sent two bracelets for each girl at the party, so they could each keep one and take the other home to share with a friend. Each girl also received a coupon to get a discount off of the purchase of her very own Hearts For Hearts Girl doll. All of the girls were talking about which doll they wanted!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dell & Nahji ready to hand out bracelets to our guests</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We really love our <a href="http://www.hearts4heartsgirls.com/" target="_blank">Hearts For Hearts Girls</a> and highly recommend them. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I was selected to be a MommyParties host as part of a promotional program with MomSelect. All opinions are my own.</i></span></div>
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Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-24987483877516323882012-09-06T19:31:00.001-05:002012-09-06T19:31:43.464-05:00Oliver's Labels {Review}<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOP173729ac2419aeb4c9c11bdbdc081d45" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/main/pixel.png" /></a>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like labeling things, especially things that might get lost. I quickly found that Sharpies may be permanent on clothing, but will quickly fade on a sippy cup or bottle. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.oliverslabels.com/" target="_blank">Oliver's Labels</a> are the most unique labels I have found! I love their bright and fun designs for kids. They offer photo labels that you can customize with your child's picture. They also offer <a href="http://www.oliverslabels.com/products/product.aspx?ProductID=7" target="_blank">allergy labels</a>, something I wish I had found several years ago when my daughter had multiple severe food allergies. They even offer designs that are perfect for labeling items that belong to teenagers and adults. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We received a sample pack of labels in the Sea Life design that included original labels, mini labels, Stick-eez clothing labels, and shoe labels. I love the vibrant colors and adorable little sea creatures. These labels are microwave and dishwasher safe and look great even after repeated washings. The colors are just as vibrant as the day we first received them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't think we would use the shoe labels. I had seen shoe labels before and wondered what kinds of kids needed labels in their shoes to keep from losing them. Apparently, kids like Jaxon! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is awful about taking his shoes off -he is especially prone to removing (and losing) the right shoe! I'm glad to know that if he loses one at church, someone will know who it belongs to and will return it to us. The labels are cute, and he loves them! He points at them and says "neem" (name).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The clothing labels are neat in that you don't have to iron or sew them on. They stick securely to the tag of the garment. Perfect for daycare or school. The great thing is when you're done and ready to pass on or sell the item, you can just remove the label. For someone like me who likes to <a href="http://shakymommy.blogspot.com/2012/03/consigning-your-childrens-clothes.html" target="_blank">consign clothing</a>, that's a great feature!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oliver's Labels also offer a very unique (and free) service called "Found It." If you choose, they will add a found it code to each of your labels. If an item is found by someone else, they can visit Oliver's Labels website and enter the code on the labels. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_mhlhx6z670/UEkoqi1E4wI/AAAAAAAACCc/Ch9JcFl6ZQc/s1600/Found-it_SampleLabel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_mhlhx6z670/UEkoqi1E4wI/AAAAAAAACCc/Ch9JcFl6ZQc/s320/Found-it_SampleLabel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oliver's Labels will then notify you that the item has been found and will even act as an intermediary between you and the person who found the item so you do not have to share your personal information. I didn't add this to our labels, since I'm using the labels for things like sippy cups, but this would be a nice addition to things that older kids lose often at school that are not as easily replaced. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only thing I didn't like about these labels is that they are difficult to peel away from the paper backing. They are extremely thin, which makes them look very nice on your possessions and less "sticker like", but that makes them harder (at least compared to other labels I have used) to peel. Keep in mind that I am Shaky Mommy, lol, and fine motor skills are not something I excel at, so you may not have this same issue. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right now Oliver's Labels is offering free shipping on orders over $30! </span><br />
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<i>I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM173729ac2419aeb4c9c11bdbdc081d45" rel="nofollow">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.</i>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-5800588890211103702012-08-25T23:04:00.000-05:002012-08-25T23:24:28.162-05:00Creativity for Kids Craft Kits Review & Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PcA5QuKjO7U/UDmbKEJ6k4I/AAAAAAAACAo/rhBf96Xj9Fo/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PcA5QuKjO7U/UDmbKEJ6k4I/AAAAAAAACAo/rhBf96Xj9Fo/s320/IMG_3838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My kids love doing crafts. Me, not so much. I am not creative and have trouble coming up with creative crafts that we actually have the supplies for. So I was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">very excited to receive the <a href="http://www.fabercastell.com/creativity-for-kids" target="_blank">Creativity for Kids</a> craft kits. We received the Tile Art Necklaces, Deluxe Glitter Art, and Mossy Meadows Gnome Garden.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first thing I loved about these kits was that everything you need is in the box. Creativity for Kids has made sure that everything you need is in the box, including detailed directions. The Tile Art Necklaces even included a pair of scissors for trimming the ribbon. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We don't often have time to do crafts without Jaxon getting into everything. So when he naps, we need to use that time to actually create, not gather supplies from different rooms of the house.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sj1W7wid_zI/UDg6v5bhXFI/AAAAAAAAB_g/pdHjTvdQf_M/s1600/IMG_3843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sj1W7wid_zI/UDg6v5bhXFI/AAAAAAAAB_g/pdHjTvdQf_M/s320/IMG_3843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This kit is labeled ages 8-98. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the girls (ages 9 & almost 8) needed lots of help from me to make these. It was pretty involved. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AJdWVvBhIvU/UDmdjYx7s9I/AAAAAAAACA4/wr5xG4I0P90/s1600/Tile+Art+Necklaces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AJdWVvBhIvU/UDmdjYx7s9I/AAAAAAAACA4/wr5xG4I0P90/s320/Tile+Art+Necklaces.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For slightly older girls, this would be a great party activity since the kit includes enough supplies to make 8 necklaces. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just make sure you let the necklaces dry overnight before wearing them. The girls really wanted to wear their necklaces just a few hours after we made them and the clasp came apart from the tile because the glue was not fully dry. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3T9B4oOVNs4/UDg7M08LxGI/AAAAAAAAB_4/589j6ZF13Dw/s1600/IMG_3851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3T9B4oOVNs4/UDg7M08LxGI/AAAAAAAAB_4/589j6ZF13Dw/s320/IMG_3851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While they worked </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on their necklaces, I put Britain to work on the Mossy Meadows Gnome Garden (he said that glitter art and necklace making was too girly). He started by painting the base that the grass would grow in. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KjL5bTIFrYo/UDg43C6Rr1I/AAAAAAAAB_M/OxZkpN7Ftw4/s1600/IMG_3844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KjL5bTIFrYo/UDg43C6Rr1I/AAAAAAAAB_M/OxZkpN7Ftw4/s320/IMG_3844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, he painted the rocks and little house and once he was done painting, we had to let everything dry. The next day, we came back and added the soil, planted the grass seed, and set up the little Gnome Garden, complete with tiny ladybugs. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6sPt7VE7wL0/UDg521jG7BI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/5pm-3miVins/s1600/IMG_3852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6sPt7VE7wL0/UDg521jG7BI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/5pm-3miVins/s320/IMG_3852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been 14 days and now look what we have! How cool is that? We have loved watching the garden grow. I'd buy another one of these -the kids have really enjoyed watching the grass grow and playing with the little gnomes. I know they'd love to each plant their own garden next time. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-umoy1ybYtqA/UDmeXkdH2OI/AAAAAAAACBk/y6PPb6VgA-Q/s1600/Gnome+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-umoy1ybYtqA/UDmeXkdH2OI/AAAAAAAACBk/y6PPb6VgA-Q/s320/Gnome+Garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Deluxe Glitter Art Kit is full of everything you need to decorate trinket boxes, gift tags, greeting cards, and envelopes. There's glitter glue, glitter stickers, glitter paper, and more. If you like sparkly things, this is the kit for you! This kit has a lot in it and there's plenty for more than one crafting session. You'll have the chance to win this kit below!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Connect with Creativity for Kids on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CreativityforKids" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/creativity4kids" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="http://pinterest.com/Creativity4Kids" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One lucky reader will win two craft kits: the Deluxe Glitter Art Kit and the Beach Buddies Shells Craft Kit. Enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below!</span><br />
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<i>I received free products to test as part of a promotional program with MomSelect and Faber-Castell. All opinions are my own.</i>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-43067009624995427312012-08-14T22:17:00.001-05:002012-08-14T22:17:10.583-05:00Bees, Teeth, and Mommy Instincts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've always known I'd do anything to help my kids, without hesitation, even if it meant putting myself in harm's way. That's just part of being a mom, right? I've never really had a chance to put it to the test, though, until this past Sunday.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Britain and Emily were playing outside in the backyard. I was in the kitchen and heard Britain start screaming hysterically. He and Emily were running around and appeared to be playing tag or chasing each other. But, as Britain turned, I saw a look of sheer terror on his face. I immediately ran outside to help him, thinking he had stepped in an ant bed. But as I got closer to him, I saw he was being attacked by bees! Emily was 30-40 feet away and appeared to be fine. I immediately began grabbing the bees off of Britain and crushing them between my fingers and hands. There were so many that swatting them away wasn't helping at all - they were just coming right back. Killing them was the only way to stop them from stinging. Jason had also come outside to see what was going on and he was getting attacked as well. Britain and Jason are both very allergic to bees, so I was terrified for them.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We began to try to get back to the house. Jason went inside and got the Benadryl out. The bees were all in Britain's clothes, so I was trying to get his clothes off of him while shepherding him to the back door. I managed to get his shirt off and kill a few more bees, but then Britain started to fall. I caught him, and managed to keep him from falling, but the momentum I used to keep him up caused me to fall. I fell flat on my face, hitting the sidewalk. I heard my tooth crack as I hit the sidewalk.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It all happened so fast, and yet, it felt like it took forever to get inside. Alex helped me get Benadryl into Britain (who was still hysterical). Emily had been stung twice so I gave her Benadryl as well. I put Britain in the shower to make sure all the bees were off of him, then went back to the kitchen. We had come in the sliding door and we let a lot of bees in with us. I killed at least 40 bees within minutes of being inside. I went to check on Jason. He had run back to the bedroom, since he had already been stung dozens of times and couldn't risk being stung anymore. When I opened the door, Jason yelled that I was letting bees in. They were all over me. I had been so busy killing them on the counter, in the air, and on the windows that I never even noticed they were all in my hair and inside my clothes. Jason rescued Jaxon (who had been sleeping) from the room and I began killing more bees. I have never seen so many bees before. I killed another 30 bees and finally got them out of my hair and clothes. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Britain was still hysterical, and so after getting him out of the shower, I examined him to see if he needed to go to the emergency room. A quick check revealed only 4 stings, which was nothing short of a miracle considering how many bees were all over him when I reached him. I still don't know how he managed to avoid being stung more than that. A quick call to the doctor confirmed that Benadryl was enough for him & Emily. They were both okay the next morning. Jason has large red welts where he received multiple stings close together in some areas. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn't until later that we realized these were yellowjackets. Apparently, Jason and Britain are not allergic to yellowjackets like they are to honeybees. This is what saved Jason, since the number of stings he received would have landed him in the hospital had they been honeybees.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reflecting back on this, I've realized how my mommy instincts kicked in for this situation. I don't like to go outside without shoes on. We have chickens in the backyard who poop everywhere. But I flew out the door without even thinking about putting on shoes. I don't like to kill bugs. I usually call Jason to handle that. I definitely don't kill bugs with my hands! Ever. But I killed scores of yellowjackets with my bare hands, not even thinking that they might sting me. I was just in the mode of "Must Save Britain" and completely unfocused on saving myself (as evidenced by the fact that I was still being stung even after everyone else was safe and dosed with Benadryl). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ended up with dozens of stings. I have stings on the ends of almost all of my fingers, all over my hands, my chest, my hips, back, and legs. I broke my tooth and busted my chin, lip, and knee when I fell. I look like I've been in a fight...and lost. My tooth...well, my tooth is bad. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zbrVBaBTEhA/UCsRhDWEaHI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/C_zLUvJC6EI/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zbrVBaBTEhA/UCsRhDWEaHI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/C_zLUvJC6EI/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All banged up</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I saw the dentist today and he said my tooth had been crushed to the bone. It will have to be removed later this week. I'll get a temporary tooth, and later, a permanent fake tooth as a replacement. For now, the dentist was able to remove the nerve so I'm not in pain anymore. He also fashioned a temporary fix to make my tooth look more normal until I can get to the oral surgeon for the extraction. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not looking forward to this process :(</span></div>
Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-27308868788315103992012-08-14T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-14T00:00:06.723-05:00Mrs. Tuesday's Departure Book Blast - $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway<b>Mrs. Tuesday's Departure Book Blast - $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway </b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AEQupE8Dlc4/T0vGE5t5PLI/AAAAAAAAKEc/Oqd6TiH21kY/s1600/suzanne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AEQupE8Dlc4/T0vGE5t5PLI/AAAAAAAAKEc/Oqd6TiH21kY/s320/suzanne.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Meet Author Suzanne Anderson</b><br />
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I was born in Fort Lauderdale, attended the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship for swimming and then worked on Wall Street. I left the bright lights of the big city fifteen years ago and traveled the world. I now live in the mountains of Colorado, where I pursue my dream of writing novels.</blockquote>
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<b>LINKS:</b><br />
Website: <a href="http://www.suzanneanderson.net/">http://www.suzanneanderson.net/</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Anderson-Author-Page/201662786512944">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Anderson-Author-Page/201662786512944</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/seakiev">https://twitter.com/seakiev</a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j91LuUL4uCA/T0vFuGl4HsI/AAAAAAAAKEQ/SgN0WGWuaYQ/s1600/mrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j91LuUL4uCA/T0vFuGl4HsI/AAAAAAAAKEQ/SgN0WGWuaYQ/s320/mrs.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b>Mrs. Tuesday's Departure</b><br />
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Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…<br />
Hungary's fragile alliance with Germany kept Natalie, a renowned children’s book author, and her family out of harm's way for most of the war. Now as the Führer's desperation grows during the waning years of the conflict, so does its threat. Natalie's younger sister, Ilona, married a Jewish man, putting both her and her young daughter, Mila, in peril; Natalie's twin sister, Anna, is losing her already tenuous hold on reality. As the streets of Budapest thrum with the pounding boots of Nazi soldiers, danger creeps to the doorstep where Natalie shields them all.<br />
Ilona and her husband take the last two tickets to safety for themselves, abandoning Natalie to protect Anna and Mila from the encroaching danger. Anna's paranoid explosion at a university where she was once a professor, sparked by delusions over an imagined love triangle, threatens their only other chance for escape. Ultimately, Natalie is presented with a choice no one should ever have to make; which of her family will she save?<br />
An inspirational story of faith and family, strength and weakness, and the ultimate triumph of love over hate. Mrs. Tuesday’s Departure demonstrates the power of faith to light even the most harrowing darkness.<br />
... faith is the evidence of things not seen.</blockquote>
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I love reading historical fiction set during World War II, so I'm really looking forward to reading Mrs. Tuesday's Departure. Does this look like a book you'd be interested in? Enter to win the $100 Amazon code below and you'll be able to purchase this book and many more! </div>
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<b>Giveaway Details:</b><br />
$100 Amazon Gift Code<br />
Ends 8/21/12<br />
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Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-83841879086595272382012-08-13T02:29:00.001-05:002012-08-13T02:29:15.313-05:00AstroBrights Back to School Crafts + Sweepstakes
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<p>This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of <a rel='nofollow' href='http://app.socialspark.com/disclosure_clicks?oid=8337961'>Astrobrights Papers by Neenah Paper</a> for <a rel='nofollow' href='http://izea.in/r16kw'>SocialSpark</a>. All opinions are 100% mine.</p>
<p> It's back to school time! I love shopping for school supplies and have been having so much fun this year picking out the things our kids need. While it is not on the official school supply list, one thing that is on my personal school supply list is AstroBrights Paper! Why AstroBrights Paper? It comes in 23 brilliant colors so anything you create with it is sure to stand out and get noticed. In fact, I was at Office Max today and the AstroBrights Paper display grabbed my attention immediately! This paper is perfect for all sorts of things, from sending a note to the teacher (the bright yellow is sure to grab her attention) to birthday party invitations to flyers to announcements. The bold colors also make it easy to organize forms, schedules, and reports.</p>
<p> To help personalize school supplies, let your kids pick their favorite color AstroBright Paper and decorate it with stickers and markers (be sure and add their name somewhere). Then, simply slide the paper under the front clear cover of their three-ring binder. In a couple of months, when they are ready for a design change, they can easily change the paper to another color! AstroBrights Papers can be found at Staples, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, Office Depot, and Office Max. </p>
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<p> You can also check out the family friendly "Make Something AstroBright" design challenges by visiting <a rel='nofollow' href='http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=23135&oid=8337961'>Astrobrights on Facebook</a>. Share your projects with video and pictures for the chance to win Astrobrights paper and other prizes.</p>
<p> My kids love to create things and lately, using paper seems to be their favorite way to create. Lately, they have been creating a lot of doll clothes using paper (perhaps I should introduce them to paper dolls?) They typically color white paper and then cut it to the shape they want it to be. I know they could come up with some unique and festive clothes for their dolls using the AstroBrights papers. What would your kids create using AstroBrights Paper?</p>
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Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-64281051580502607422012-08-10T21:53:00.000-05:002012-08-10T21:53:07.957-05:00Dyson DC24 Vacuum Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://mompoweredmedia.com/" target="_blank">Mom Powered Media</a> proudly presents the </h3>
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Dyson DC24 Giveaway</h3>
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Impress yourself with your beautiful floors when you use the <strong>Dyson DC24 All-Floors Lightweight Upright Vacuum. </strong>Ultra lightweight and compact makes vacuuming with this machine effortless. The Dyson "Ball" technology turns the vacuum on a dime with no loss of suction, combined with the patented Root Cyclone technology makes this one extreme powerhouse of clean.<br />
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<em>Dyson "The Ball" DC24 All-Floors Lightweight Upright Vacuum Includes:</em><br />
<ul>
<li>Bristle brush</li>
<li>Product manual</li>
</ul>
<em>Product Features: </em><br />
<ul>
<li>Clear hygienic dust collection bin - empty the bin with a push of a button</li>
<li>Lifetime washable HEPA filter - requires no maintenance and lasts for the life of the vacuum</li>
<li>Fingertip brush control - turn brushbar on and off at the touch of a button</li>
<li>Motorized brushbar - powerful bristles remove dirt and pet hair from carpets</li>
<li>On-board tool storage - brush, stair and crevice tools store right on your vacuum so they're always on hand</li>
<li>Reversible wand - for dual usage</li>
<li>On-board tool storage - brush, stair and crevice tools store right on your vacuum so they're always on hand</li>
<li>Certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://momtobedby8.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/dyson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="wp-image-13909 alignnone" height="98" src="http://momtobedby8.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/dyson.jpg" title="dyson" width="185" /></a></div>
<strong>ABOUT DYSON</strong><br />
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Many vacuums use filters to trap dirt, which can cause clogs and suction problems. But Dyson, maker of the world's first cyclonic bagless vacuum, features technology that uses centrifugal force to separate dirt out of the airflow, so the vacuum doesn't clog. Dyson proves no loss of suction using the IEC 60312 Cl 2.9 test standard. As the only vacuum to be certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and featuring Clean Exhaust Air, it's easy to see why Dyson is an excellent choice for all your floor surfaces. Dyson vacuum cleaners are amazing! I own the <a href="http://shakymommy.blogspot.com/2010/12/dyson-dc-25-all-floors-vacuum-cleaner.html" target="_blank">Dyson DC-25 Vacuum</a> and it's very similar to the DC-24 and works wonderfully for my floors!</div>
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13910" height="298" src="http://momtobedby8.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Dyson-DC24.jpg" title="Dyson DC24" width="430" /></div>
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One lucky winner will receive a <strong>Dyson DC24 All-Floors Lightweight Upright Vacuum</strong><strong>. </strong></h3>
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Giveaway ends August 31st at 11:59pm, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!</div>
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Thank you to Mom Powered Media owners: <a href="http://www.momtobedby8.com/" target="_blank">Mom to Bed by 8</a>, <a href="http://www.powered-by-mom.com/giveaways/current-giveaways/" target="_blank" title="Current Giveaways">Powered By Mom</a> and <a href="http://www.realmomreviews.net/tag/vehicle-review/" target="_blank" title="vehicle reviews">Real Mom Reviews</a> for organizing this event.</div>
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Make sure to visit our fantastic co-hosting blogs <a href="http://thismamaknows.com/" target="_blank">This Mama Knows</a>, <a href="http://www.to-sew-with-love.com/" target="_blank">To Sew With Love</a> and <a href="http://www.lifewithlevi.com/" target="_blank">Life With Levi</a>.</div>
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Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Shaky Mommy is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-41560592883164102372012-08-08T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-08T00:00:01.258-05:00NEW! Fiber One Nutty Clusters & Almonds Cereal Review & Giveaway!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVUQCX-HFqM/UB7LANUE64I/AAAAAAAAB5g/OBpxVr-Ri88/s1600/Fiber+One+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVUQCX-HFqM/UB7LANUE64I/AAAAAAAAB5g/OBpxVr-Ri88/s1600/Fiber+One+.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m a big fan of Fiber One products. I enjoy their bars and I like the Fiber One brownies for a sweet treat I don't have to feel guilty eating. The kids (especially Jaxon) like the <a href="http://shakymommy.blogspot.com/2012/05/fiber-one-chewy-bars-review-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Fiber One Chewy bars</a>, which we reviewed a few months ago. So I was excited
to try their cereal, even though I’m not much of a cereal eater. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love breakfast – it’s definitely my favorite meal of the
day. But breakfast for me is usually anything but cereal. There’s a couple of
reasons for this: I don’t like milk, and I am picky about cereal. I don’t like
super sugary artificially colored cereals, but I don’t like boring flakes that
lack flavor and get soggy either. I recently tried almond milk and love
it. I found it to be a great milk replacement for me, but I had yet to find a
cereal I really liked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But then Fiber One sent me their new Nutty Clusters &
Almonds cereal to try. I love almonds, so I was intrigued. The flakes were
promising, with lots of texture. They also tasted good dry – this is a cereal
that would be good to munch on straight from the box. Each 1 cup serving is 180
calories and contains 11 g of fiber! That’s almost half of your daily fiber
needs. It contains both whole grain wheat and whole grain oats, so it’s very
filling. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After I added almond milk, I let the cereal sit for
a few minutes first, to taste the flakes ability to hold up to the milk. They
were not soggy at all and retained their crunchiness. In addition to the textured flakes, the cereal has oat and
nut clusters to give it extra crunch. There are also almond slices in
the cereal, which is awesome!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rt-lN44DuyE/UCHTkrzR0GI/AAAAAAAAB7w/YFtyFEWVOnY/s1600/Fiber+One+Nutty+Clusters+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rt-lN44DuyE/UCHTkrzR0GI/AAAAAAAAB7w/YFtyFEWVOnY/s320/Fiber+One+Nutty+Clusters+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cereal was sweet, but not syrupy sweet. I was concerned about where the sweetness was coming from, and was
pleased when I checked the ingredients list and find out that sugar,
honey, molasses, corn syrup, and brown sugar syrup used instead of
something artificial. There are 12 g of sugars per serving. That sounded like a
lot to me, so I compared it to other cereal boxes that we had on hand and found
that most of our cereals contained between 9-11 g of sugar, while one contained
19g (yikes!). I’d love to see
Fiber One bring the sugar content down just a little bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Jaxon loves it! </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNA_Lq7mdyE/UCHT_JiG8pI/AAAAAAAAB8A/uUwakN98OCM/s1600/Fiber+One+Nutty+Clusters+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNA_Lq7mdyE/UCHT_JiG8pI/AAAAAAAAB8A/uUwakN98OCM/s400/Fiber+One+Nutty+Clusters+4.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really like it, too! I love that it is filling and tastes great! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86xPJTr_fg8/UB7OmA8JA7I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/YT2fz9Dd9PM/s1600/Fiber+One+Nutty+Clusters+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86xPJTr_fg8/UB7OmA8JA7I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/YT2fz9Dd9PM/s400/Fiber+One+Nutty+Clusters+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Want to try some yourself? You can print a coupon for $1.25 off of one box by <a href="http://bit.ly/Fiber1NCAcoupon" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. One lucky reader will win a Fiber
One Nutty Clusters & Almonds gift package containing 2 boxes of cereal, spoon, and a Fiber One wooden bowl. Enter using the super easy
Rafflecopter form below!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #412050; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><strong><i>Disclosure: The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.<a href="http://bit.ly/Fiber1NCAcoupon" target="_blank">clicking here</a></i></strong></span>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-3775501693782636462012-08-07T22:09:00.002-05:002012-08-19T17:13:23.662-05:00Costume Discounters Offers Great Halloween Costumes for Boys!<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOP81ee794d9a662b31dffb85f8f939d233"><img src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/main/pixel.png" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know it's still hot outside so it's really hard to think about Halloween, but it's right around the corner. Last year, we ended up looking for <a href="http://english.glendale.edu/halloween1.html" target="_blank">Halloween</a> costumes for a couple of weeks before Halloween. We had the hardest time finding costumes the kids would like. Though we found quite a few options, none of them were cute, all of them were expensive, and most were cheaply made. This year, we're going to be better prepared, thanks to Costume Discounters. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were sent a zombie ninja costume for Britain to review. He was thrilled when it arrived and immediately went to put it on, even though the air conditioning was not working that day and it was like 90 degrees <i>inside</i> our house. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6TOb_iBBM7s/UB7cZ4-JsoI/AAAAAAAAB7A/PFqHUzFBN3Q/s1600/Britain+zombie+ninja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6TOb_iBBM7s/UB7cZ4-JsoI/AAAAAAAAB7A/PFqHUzFBN3Q/s1600/Britain+zombie+ninja.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see the costume is pretty detailed. It includes several pieces: pants, a tunic, an "apron" that goes over the tunic and has an attached hood, a belt tie, and a mask with attached bloody ninja star. My kids love details on their costumes and most of the costumes at Costume Discounters have those extra little touches that make the costume special and fun.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It does not include the socks or the sword seen in the next picture. However, the kid who was modeling it online had a sword and was wearing black socks so Britain insisted on duplicating the look! </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_a00XZMCoUo/UCHU0cQTRrI/AAAAAAAAB8I/xP9_M2ZqGFQ/s1600/Britain+zombie+ninja+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_a00XZMCoUo/UCHU0cQTRrI/AAAAAAAAB8I/xP9_M2ZqGFQ/s1600/Britain+zombie+ninja+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're looking for <a href="http://www.costumediscounters.com/boys-costumes.html" target="_blank">discounted costumes for boys</a> this year, Costume Discounters is the place to go. They have a huge selection! Whether your son wants to be a pirate or a cowboy or Spiderman, they have you covered. They also offer the lowest prices guaranteed - if you find the costume priced better somewhere else, they'll match the price and take off an additional 20%. They also offer free exchanges! Right now, their current promotion is 20% off of costumes priced $20 or more. With the wide selection of costumes, you're sure to find something that your child will love.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM81ee794d9a662b31dffb85f8f939d233">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-4510741948933999702012-08-03T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-05T14:50:03.377-05:00Little One Books Review & Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5hfK8PbXAA/UBcQsz6ISGI/AAAAAAAAB4A/n6m9jI1h990/s1600/Little+One+Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5hfK8PbXAA/UBcQsz6ISGI/AAAAAAAAB4A/n6m9jI1h990/s1600/Little+One+Books.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little One Books is a online retailer of children's books, music, and videos. They are not your typical retailer of children's products - you won't find every book that has ever been written for a child on this site. Instead, each book, DVD, or audio CD is carefully reviewed before being chosen. As you shop the site, you'll find a detailed synopsis of why the product was selected along with what child reviewers thought of that product. It makes it so easy to choose something that your child will love. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They also make age recommendations for each product on their site.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As a parent, I appreciated this feature, but I also think this is a wonderful site to recommend to grandparents or other relatives who may have trouble shopping for children's books and media. Little One Books has made it easy to choose a gift that the child in your life is sure to enjoy!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were sent the Baby Genius Favorite Sing-A-Longs video. This video contains both original songs as well as classics like Old McDonald's Farm and the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Jaxon doesn't watch much television yet, but lately he has begun liking things like the theme song to Elmo or Dora the Explorer. I thought that a video that contained nothing but music and cartoon animals would be perfect for him. The video was recommended for ages 2+, but I thought Jaxon could grow into it, if necessary. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8x51w9FrXfM/UBr68TOoEMI/AAAAAAAAB4w/-yzlhfD3uKo/s1600/bg_dvd_fav_singalong_thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8x51w9FrXfM/UBr68TOoEMI/AAAAAAAAB4w/-yzlhfD3uKo/s1600/bg_dvd_fav_singalong_thumbnail.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The video starts with songs about the characters that illustrate the video. Jaxon was not interested in that part at all. However, he enjoyed several of the other songs on the video, like "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" and "Old McDonald Had a Farm". I think that as he gets a little bit older, he'll be more interested. For now, we just skip ahead to his favorite songs. I really liked that the DVD also came with an audio CD containing each of the songs. It makes it easy to enjoy Jaxon's favorite songs in the car. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Currently, when you place an order of $35 or more from <a href="http://www.LittleOneBooks.com/" target="_blank">Little One Books</a>, you will receive a free tote bag <i>and</i> free shipping! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little One Books has generously offered to give one of my readers a Baby Genius Favorite Children's Songs DVD! Enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Connect with Little One Books on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest to stay updated on current promotions and great gift ideas! </span><br />
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<i>I was provided a DVD for review. All opinions are my own. </i>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-8499468591789732052012-08-02T00:37:00.003-05:002012-08-02T00:37:35.262-05:00I did it.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally did it. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I left my baby boy with someone other than my husband.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And guess what? We BOTH came out of the experience unscathed. Well, there was a lot of separation anxiety that we had to overcome, but that was all on my end- Jaxon seemed to be perfectly okay.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few months back, I posted about how I was leaving Jaxon with my mother-in-law so we could <a href="http://shakymommy.blogspot.com/2012/05/flats-handwashing-challenge-day-6-going.html" target="_blank">go out for our anniversary.</a> Well, in the end, I just couldn't leave him. I chickened out. I didn't blog about it because, well, I felt like a wimp. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But tonight, we had a couple of things going on where we both felt like Jaxon would be better off staying with Jason's mom at her house than going with us. We had to drop the big kids off at her house anyway, so we decided to try it and see what Jaxon would do when we tried to leave. He surprised me by giving us both "goodbye" kisses and then going to play, barely looking up as we walked out the door. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I checked on him via text throughout the evening, thinking I'd need to go pick him up. We weren't too far away, so I knew I could go get him and be back to where I needed to be within 20 minutes if anything went wrong. He had missed his nap today, so I expected him to be extra fussy and wanting to nurse a lot. But he did just fine without me, even falling asleep without his customary bedtime nursing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He did wake up before we got there and was very glad to see us when we arrived to pick up the kids. He didn't seem to have any lasting resentment towards me, lol, though he did nurse for about 20 minutes!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn't nearly as traumatic as I thought it would be. Jaxon seemed to have enjoyed himself. I was a little bit lonesome without my baby sidekick. It was definitely weird not having him with me. That's the longest period of time I've ever been away from him.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My baby is getting so big! So tell me, am I weird to feel this way about leaving him when he's 17 1/2 months old? How old was your baby when you left them for the first time?</span><br />Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-63632856445969549372012-07-27T18:33:00.000-05:002012-07-29T18:39:00.779-05:00Project Naptime: Week 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jaxon has never taken regular naps. For most of his life, it has been nearly impossible to lay him down in a bed after he'd fall asleep nursing. He prefers to nap in my arms. We've made do with this, and he often took several shorter naps throughout the day. Some days he might be a little fussy from lack of sleep, but it was manageable.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once he turned a year old, though, a lack of naptime started to become more of a problem. Fussiness turned into tantrums. We felt like we were hitting the "terrible twos" way early. But on the days when he did take a good nap in the early afternoon, we noticed that he was easier to get to sleep that night. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So last week, I decided that it was time to get serious about his nap schedule (I know, I know, finally, right?). The first thing I did was tell him he could not nurse during the day unless he was going to sleep. Amazingly, he caught onto this really quickly. On day 1, by 12 noon, he was begging to nurse and nodding his head "yes" when I asked if he was going to sleep. He nursed for 15 minutes, then fell asleep and slept for 2 hours. Success!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On day 2, we had similar results, though he didn't start his nap until around 1. Day 3, I was feeling a little lazy. I gave in and let him nurse during the mid-morning. He didn't take a nap until later that afternoon (3ish, I think). On Day 4, I went back to making him wait to nurse. I also pulled him off before he fell asleep and instead of letting him nurse himself to sleep, I patted his back until he fell asleep.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Day 5, he nursed but pulled off before he was asleep and then fell asleep on his own! I had to stay with him, but I thought it was awesome that he was able to fall asleep on his own.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Day 6, he nursed to sleep. Some days, it seems he is okay with being pulled off before falling asleep and some days it seems he is completely against it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Day 7 was church. We also combined some family visiting with our Sunday and turned it into a very long day. Surprisingly, Jaxon still managed to take 2 shorter naps. He also didn't nurse all day until we got home around 5:30. That's the longest he's ever gone without nursing. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been really great having him nap each day. It really helps his mood and makes our afternoons easier. A regular naptime has also brought the unexpected benefit of a regular bedtime. As the week went on, Jaxon started asking to nurse to sleep at 8. He's typically been a night owl, preferring to stay up at least an hour after the other kids go to bed at 8. Sometimes it's 11:00 and he's still awake. For him, 8:00 is early. We're also noticing that he's waking fewer times during the night. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really hope we continue to get good results with his naptime and I also hope that his nighttime sleep habits continue to improve. I still can't say he's slept through the night, but at least I am starting to feel like it's an attainable goal at some point in the future!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How old was your little one when they first slept through the night? Do you have any sleep tips for me?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-90439302518165919972012-07-26T15:17:00.000-05:002012-07-26T15:17:23.232-05:00Charlie Banana One Size Diaper Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6mvweuZmr7g/UBGfU0bbA1I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/iUBfk8egPyM/s1600/Charlie+Banana+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6mvweuZmr7g/UBGfU0bbA1I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/iUBfk8egPyM/s400/Charlie+Banana+3.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charlie Banana OS cloth diaper in Robot Boy</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.charliebanana.com/">Charlie Banana</a> is a 2 in 1 cloth diapering system that can be used with disposable or reusable inserts. Charlie Banana diapers come in sizes (X-Small, Small, Medium, and Large) or one sized diapers. They have a front pocket opening that I love! The diapers come with 2 washable inserts. One is a small/newborn insert and the other is a medium/large insert. Both inserts can be used together for maximum absorbency. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwdWkS5ttTs/T-YoRKKJCxI/AAAAAAAABwE/MCuDMY_VVIM/s1600/IMG_3002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwdWkS5ttTs/T-YoRKKJCxI/AAAAAAAABwE/MCuDMY_VVIM/s320/IMG_3002.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Charlie Banana inserts</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5VaGRQ96A5A/T-YrLVzjd2I/AAAAAAAABwY/Pl-soM3_a_g/s1600/IMG_3004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5VaGRQ96A5A/T-YrLVzjd2I/AAAAAAAABwY/Pl-soM3_a_g/s320/IMG_3004.JPG" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The inserts are conveniently labeled</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The inserts are slim, which eliminates bulk between the legs. This is definitely a trim fitting diaper!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_NfSbHbUBgE/T-YtSb-Xu8I/AAAAAAAABxc/Yw6GQDExF4M/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_NfSbHbUBgE/T-YtSb-Xu8I/AAAAAAAABxc/Yw6GQDExF4M/s320/IMG_1896.JPG" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Front pocket flap</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This diaper can also be used with disposable inserts that are held in place by placing them under the front pocket flap. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven't used the hybrid option of this diaper yet, so I can't speak to its effectiveness. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXlSVXUL2BA/T-YtM_4jDeI/AAAAAAAABxA/lOh-aJ6DViA/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXlSVXUL2BA/T-YtM_4jDeI/AAAAAAAABxA/lOh-aJ6DViA/s320/IMG_1893.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Aqua Charlie Banana</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The inside is made of a super soft fleece. When asked to pick a diaper to wear, Jaxon almost always reaches for this one, so I know he loves it!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2Uaof9D-Dw/T-YlZ7AI3UI/AAAAAAAABvY/DJ5gQyi78ds/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2Uaof9D-Dw/T-YlZ7AI3UI/AAAAAAAABvY/DJ5gQyi78ds/s320/IMG_3006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Inside of Charlie Banana OS diaper</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to admit - I was initially scared of diapers that had leg adjustment systems. They seemed complicated to me and it seemed like they would be more difficult to get a good fit than with a rise adjustment system you can see. When we received this diaper, Jaxon was 4 months old. The elastic was set to a medium setting and I did not have to adjust the elastic until Jaxon was almost 1. I haven't adjusted it again since. While it is definitely more involved than rise snaps, if you are worried about constantly adjusting the leg elastic, don't be. You will only have to do it a few times to get the fit right the first time and then maybe once every few months as your baby grows. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4W-tH0z4gEM/T-YtGgFTL-I/AAAAAAAABwo/rWQ4E-B1ugM/s1600/IMG_1890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4W-tH0z4gEM/T-YtGgFTL-I/AAAAAAAABwo/rWQ4E-B1ugM/s320/IMG_1890.JPG" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The old style Charlie Bananas adjusts using a elastic and button system, as seen in the picture above. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new style of Charlie Bananas use a slider system (like a bra strap) to adjust. They are also marked with sizes. I definitely prefer the new system (shown in the picture below).</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLt7xdDLmS4/T-YlKBXIN9I/AAAAAAAABvM/4hl5ASmae8Y/s1600/IMG_3005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLt7xdDLmS4/T-YlKBXIN9I/AAAAAAAABvM/4hl5ASmae8Y/s320/IMG_3005.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Charlie Banana diapers do run small for a one-size diaper. This makes it a great choice for smaller babies and for use straight from birth. It is also a good choice for babies with skinny legs. Look how tiny it gets on the smallest settings. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghNnRH2CGms/T-YnJve0_VI/AAAAAAAABvs/oDGTwuNVMEY/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghNnRH2CGms/T-YnJve0_VI/AAAAAAAABvs/oDGTwuNVMEY/s320/IMG_2997.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Smallest setting of Charlie Banana, <br />as compared to the smallest setting of a BumGenius 4.0</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PIUYYVb2uY/T-YnuihInbI/AAAAAAAABv8/xDkH_VSZrss/s1600/IMG_2999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PIUYYVb2uY/T-YnuihInbI/AAAAAAAABv8/xDkH_VSZrss/s320/IMG_2999.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Look how tiny the leg holes get! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2GIPdD9N4OU/T-YnMJKiWBI/AAAAAAAABv0/-hiXHYaFCQs/s1600/IMG_3001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2GIPdD9N4OU/T-YnMJKiWBI/AAAAAAAABv0/-hiXHYaFCQs/s320/IMG_3001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Largest setting of the Charlie Banana, <br />as compared to the largest setting of a BumGenius 4.0</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUJ7iASupEc/UBGitameTbI/AAAAAAAAB3w/B4VST4coIUg/s1600/Charlie+Banana+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUJ7iASupEc/UBGitameTbI/AAAAAAAAB3w/B4VST4coIUg/s320/Charlie+Banana+1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The best thing about diapers with leg elastic adjustments is how pleasing they are to look at. Instead of rows and rows of snaps, you just have a clean diaper front. It gives the great look of a sized diaper, with the value of a one size diaper. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3rZCEvP2IkY/UBGe3X-TF5I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/AcOT22e2vjA/s1600/Charlie+Banana+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3rZCEvP2IkY/UBGe3X-TF5I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/AcOT22e2vjA/s320/Charlie+Banana+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_gHj2z6O4r4/UBGgAi18koI/AAAAAAAAB3g/n2hQ2LrXzG0/s1600/Charlie+Banana+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_gHj2z6O4r4/UBGgAi18koI/AAAAAAAAB3g/n2hQ2LrXzG0/s320/Charlie+Banana+5.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to purchasing from cloth diaper retailers, you can also buy them at Target! I find it very exciting to see some form of cloth diapers in a mainstream store like Target, where more consumers can be exposed to them. A one-size Charlie Banana retails for $20.99 and a 6 pack retails for $109.99. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Connect with Charlie Banana on Twitter & Facebook!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I won a Charlie Banana diaper but was under no obligation to review it. All opinions are my own!</i></span></div>
</div>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-15810294755772983292012-07-18T12:33:00.000-05:002012-07-18T12:33:42.594-05:00BumGenius Freetime AIO One-Size Cloth Diaper Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wi4Q_RetF-M/UAXC9WYhmcI/AAAAAAAAB1E/iO2FfIrdxxc/s1600/Freetime+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wi4Q_RetF-M/UAXC9WYhmcI/AAAAAAAAB1E/iO2FfIrdxxc/s1600/Freetime+5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BumGenius Freetime in Albert</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Freetime is an all-in-one (AIO), one-size cloth diaper from BumGenius. This diaper, designed to fit babies 8-35 pounds, makes cloth diapering about as easy as it's ever going to be. It's all one piece, and there are no pockets to stuff or unstuff and no cover or extra inserts needed. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The soakers are attached at each end, which allows this diaper to dry extremely quickly for an AIO. Inside, mine will dry overnight. On a warm day outside, it will dry in about 3-4 hours. I find that these do dry a little quicker than the BumGenius Elemental, because of the way the diaper is able to lay completely open when drying.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The flaps are made of two layers of microfiber topped with suedecloth, so there is a stay dry layer next to baby's skin. For added absorbency, there is an extra layer of microfiber inside the shell of the diaper, which is also topped with suedecloth. When both flaps are folded over, you're left with five layers of absorbency. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With both flaps folded inward</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The soakers fold over into the diaper -there is no wrong way to do this, so it's easy for Grandma or the babysitter to figure out. Just lay them in and it's ready to be put on the baby. I had some concerns at first that Jaxon would knock the flaps around while I was trying to change him (diaper changing time often turns into a mommy/baby wrestling match). However, the flaps stay in place and aren't easily moved. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_H64N3mMz7I/UAba2J1Ui0I/AAAAAAAAB28/zpuh1m86oDY/s1600/Freetime+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_H64N3mMz7I/UAba2J1Ui0I/AAAAAAAAB28/zpuh1m86oDY/s400/Freetime+6.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can also fold the flaps like this to add extra absorbency in front for little boys!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like it's other BumGenius counterparts, this diaper features two rows of snaps for a great fit, and the standard BumGenius snap down sizing options. I do find the fit to be slightly trimmer between the legs than a BumGenius 4.0. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rs6HqV4jkRo/UAXCcG9E4pI/AAAAAAAAB08/CCnESgvuCaI/s1600/Freetime+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rs6HqV4jkRo/UAXCcG9E4pI/AAAAAAAAB08/CCnESgvuCaI/s400/Freetime+3.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BumGenius Freetime in Albert</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see in the picture below, the Freetime is just a tad narrower than my 4.0, but is a little thicker. For us, that means a better fit between the legs and a slightly fluffier butt than we would have if we used our Elemental or 4.0.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This diaper fits perfectly and we have had no leaks. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_H64N3mMz7I/UAba2J1Ui0I/AAAAAAAAB28/zpuh1m86oDY/s1600/Freetime+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V-5l46yhMT4/UAXA9pkb58I/AAAAAAAAB0s/lCQHnPgn_8k/s1600/Freetime+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V-5l46yhMT4/UAXA9pkb58I/AAAAAAAAB0s/lCQHnPgn_8k/s400/Freetime+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BumGenius FreeTime on top, BumGenius 4.0 on bottom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8DN5aQGfxJA/UAXGXejgs3I/AAAAAAAAB1k/xUVS5MtnyTM/s1600/Freetime+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8DN5aQGfxJA/UAXGXejgs3I/AAAAAAAAB1k/xUVS5MtnyTM/s400/Freetime+4.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect fit on the stomach, eliminating front leaks!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is definitely my favorite BumGenius diaper for daytime use. I love how easy it is to use. I love not having to stuff it. I still like the Elemental for its organic material, but even after sunning, mine has several stains. I was pleased to see that stains on the Freetime sun out easily. I know that's not a big deal to some people, but I really like for my diapers to smell <i>and</i> look clean.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The BumGenius Freetime retails for $19.95 and can be purchased at <a href="http://www.kellyscloset.com/?AffId=590" target="_blank">Kelly's Closet.</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you tried the Freetime? What did you think?</span></div>
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<i>My sweet husband bought this diaper for me, but he didn't require me to review it (lol) and I didn't receive any other compensation for this review. All opinions are my own. My affiliate links are present in this review.</i></div>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-34428206210876425672012-07-17T23:27:00.002-05:002012-07-17T23:27:40.698-05:00Bloggers Wanted: Dyson DC24 Giveaway Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zYN5fsf4N5s/UAY5i6VQhAI/AAAAAAAAB2s/lvyNXXDjkuE/s1600/DC24Button-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zYN5fsf4N5s/UAY5i6VQhAI/AAAAAAAAB2s/lvyNXXDjkuE/s1600/DC24Button-300x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;">The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.H181674.desc.Dyson-DC24-All-Floors-Vacuum" style="color: #b11f22; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Dyson DC24</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"> Cleaner Home</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><strong> Giveaway Event</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"> hosted by Mom Powered Media: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://iowa-mom.com/" style="color: #b11f22; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Iowa-Mom</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.powered-by-mom.com/" style="color: #b11f22; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Powered by Mom</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.realmomreviews.net/" style="color: #b11f22; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Real Mom Reviews</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;"> is now open to bloggers!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;">The event is open worldwide and runs August 3-24. Sign ups are free! To sign up or for more details, <a href="http://www.realmomreviews.net/2012/06/bloggers-wanted-dyson-dc24-giveaway-event-0803/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">If you're a reader, be watching for this exciting giveaway! You can also check out my <a href="http://shakymommy.blogspot.com/2010/12/dyson-dc-25-all-floors-vacuum-cleaner.html" target="_blank">Dyson DC-25 review</a> if you're not familiar with the awesomeness that is Dyson. </span></span>Shaky Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579450868144667500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646728417256753268.post-42003794458312781272012-07-17T23:13:00.002-05:002012-07-17T23:13:34.473-05:00July 17 = 17months<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oXawEjhKsUc/UAYs0z9-jAI/AAAAAAAAB2E/YwO7U5DAO8I/s1600/Jaxon+baby+shower+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oXawEjhKsUc/UAYs0z9-jAI/AAAAAAAAB2E/YwO7U5DAO8I/s400/Jaxon+baby+shower+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Brooke Sims</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My baby boy is growing so quickly. He now has 11 teeth! </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WSf2KudMFU/UAYx39VGJiI/AAAAAAAAB2c/BMjXisKZ9vY/s1600/Jaxon+coloring+16+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WSf2KudMFU/UAYx39VGJiI/AAAAAAAAB2c/BMjXisKZ9vY/s400/Jaxon+coloring+16+months.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look at him - he doesn't think he's a baby. I took the picture above yesterday. I started doing school with the kids this week. We were sitting at the table reading science and going over vocabulary words. Jaxon had to be right in the middle of it with his crayons and paper. He sat there coloring and writing the entire time we were working. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9l3iF1Z9d8/UAXQLy0ieOI/AAAAAAAAB10/NjNf0TbmD8o/s1600/Jaxon+coloring+-+16+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9l3iF1Z9d8/UAXQLy0ieOI/AAAAAAAAB10/NjNf0TbmD8o/s400/Jaxon+coloring+-+16+months.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Between <a href="http://shakymommy.blogspot.com/2012/06/jaxon-at-16-months.html" target="_blank">16 months</a> and 17 months, Jaxon has had an explosion in his vocabulary. He has developed a love of Youtube videos - specifically the Barney I Love You song, the Elmo's World theme song, Dora, and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "hot dog" song. So he now says Elmo, "lala" for Elmo's theme song, I love you, Dora, Hola, backpack, map, and hot dog. He says please, strawberry, book, and diaper. He is also repeating everything. We've been in the habit of saying to him things like "There's the cat. Say cat" without really expecting him to say anything. Well, over the last couple of weeks, he's started repeating words back to us. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides the surge in his language, the only other "milestone" this month is that he is becoming a little less fearful of new people and places. At my sister's baby shower this past weekend, there were a lot of people that Jaxon didn't know. It was also held at my brother's new home, a place Jaxon had never been. A situation like this would normally have Jaxon clinging to me. He's been known to burst into tears when strangers speak to him. However, he did great! He was friendly and happy and really enjoyed himself!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He's a lot of fun, but he's also a lot of work. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is into everything! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JI-hupJlJzY/UAYs1WQhJQI/AAAAAAAAB2M/LxY9MzwXrDs/s1600/Jaxon+baby+shower+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JI-hupJlJzY/UAYs1WQhJQI/AAAAAAAAB2M/LxY9MzwXrDs/s400/Jaxon+baby+shower+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Look at that face! This kid is a MESS! </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic;">Photo credit: Brooke Sims</span></td></tr>
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