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Monday, November 30, 2009

Cyber Monday Deals

Published on: 10:49 AM by Unknown - Leave a Comment

I know many of you forgo Black Friday and wait it out for Cyber Monday and this is just for you!  I’ve found some great deals just in time for the holidays…so in no particular order here are a few you may be interested in!

Blastoff Members

Not a Blastoff Member?  Sign up here:http://ppl.blastoffnetwork.com/allisonproffitt

  • There are TONS of deals in the Blastoff Mall (cash back and special offers from major retailers like Target, Kohls, Barnes and Nobel, Macys, and many, many more)! 

Mabel’s Labels

  • Remember my review for the Mabel’s Labels Holiday Gift Tags?  If not you can check it out here.  30% off Holiday Gift Tags and Return Address Labels, Regular Price: $18.50, sale price $12.95.

  • 40% off Selected Write-On! Stationery, in choice of Bzzz or Cowpoke designs, Regular Price $34, sale price $20.40.

Amazon.com

Toys and Video Games

Electronics

I also wanted to add that Glamma Toys (I recently did a review for them and have a great giveaway going on from them as well) has a great 3 hour Cyber Monday Sale going on from now until 3pm EST you can get 15% off and Free Shipping on orders over $75 when you use the code:  CYBERMONDAYDAY09 (yes that is DAY twice)

Friday, November 27, 2009

Holiday Gift Guide…EarBudeez and HeadShox…2 Holiday Must Haves!

Published on: 6:11 PM by Unknown - 2 comments

Having three tweens in the house means lots of media devices; Ipods, digital cameras, cell phones you name it one of them owns it. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges (besides the never ending supply of batteries they all require) is keeping their ear buds in working order. That seems like an easy enough task for a few ten and 11 year olds but the truth is that it is not and I end up spending more money on replacement ear buds than I did on the actual device…and that is just sad!

The number one issue I have had with the ear buds I have purchased it that they are, well cheap made and last a couple of weeks before I need to buy another pair. Now I know you’re probably wondering what on earth my children do to those things that they disintegrate in that short amount of time and the truth is that they are hard on them but probably no harder than any other child of the same age.

A few weeks ago I was asked to do a review for two different kinds of ear buds from Audiovox; EarBudeez and HeadShox. Now let me first say that product testing in my house is like product testing in a crash dummy lab. If you want to know if your product can withstand the elements (i.e. a few tweens, an overactive seven year old, and two itty bitties) then I am your mom. When we review a product it is put through the wringer quite a few times and if it passes then you’ll hear me singing its praises for a long time to come…such is the case with the EarBudeez and HeadShox.41v6TCa7phL._SL500_AA280_

Honestly I had no expectations for these products; my bad experiences with similar products had me rethinking the whole ear bud movement, but when all was said and done I was more than pleased by their performance. EarBudeez are unique because of their playful packaging, their amazing durability (I actually don’t think this is even a claim made by the company but it is VERY true), and the price (which is shockingly no more than most ear buds).

The EarBudeez we received to review were in the most adorable packaging I have ever seen, it almost makes you not want to take them out of their package…almost. My tweens thought the packaging was “So Rockin” (their exact words by the way) and I have to admit that it was very charming. Quite honestly if I saw two sets of ear buds at the store that were competitively priced I would choose the cutesy packaging of the Ear Budeez 10 out of 10 times! Fun packaging aside EarBudeez are awesome: I swear to you mine have been chewed on by a teething one year old, pulled in as many different directions as I’m constantly going and they still work like new…I’m not sure how but they do and I would recommend them to everyone! FYI EarBudeez are also available in very festive holiday packaging and make the perfect addition to any stocking!

Worried that your kiddo may be too old for the cutesy EarBudeez? Not to worry AudioVox has a great line of ear buds called HeadShox for your“too cool” tweens and teens! Where the EarBudeez are cute HeadShox are just “awesomely cool” another direct quote from our oldest tween. Designed to resemble the very popular energy drink cans HeadShox were a big hit in our house, my fiancé even asked if he could take then to “try out for a bit”. Headshox are also competively priced come in an array of cool teen-friendly colors, and are just as tou51BoX66pD-L._SL500_AA280_gh as EarBudeez!

Buy it! The folliwng are a couple of links to both EarBudeez and HeadShox available for great prices just in time for the holidays…this is a must have in every tween and teens stocking! EarBudeez are also available at Toys R’ Us!

Audiovox JHB565 Headshox Earbuds (Metal Pink) Audiovox JHB561 Headshox Earbuds (Metal Black) Audiovox JHB505 earBudeez Jet Earbuds (Green)

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Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Published on: 3:54 PM by Unknown - 5 comments

It has been quite a while since I posted something personal, I’ve been caught up in reviews and giveaways and have let ME slip further and further away from my blog. While the post you are about to read was inspired by an actual person and event I prefer not to mention either. I do however wish that EVERYONE reading this will take a moment and think about what I am proposing!

I have been a blogger for a little over a year now and in that time I have experienced so many different emotions from my fellow bloggers; love, hate, confusion, understanding, friendliness, helpfulness, compassion…I could go on and on but you notice that of all of those emotions only 1 was negative. For the most part I think the blogosphere is a friendly, compassionate, amazing place where we all have a place! There are however a handful of people who make it their sole mission in life to be jealous, conniving, hateful, deceitful, and down right horrible to other people, I can not for the life on me understand how those people sleep at night.

I try my hardest to stay out of the drama that goes on in this blogosphere simply because I believe that anyone who insists on behaving like a child isn’t capable of rational thought and therefore isn’t worthy of my time. It is so sad to see the very place that I spend most of my time online become such a cliquish, high school-like, miserable place to be. Not only do all of you drama queens make yourself look bad but you also give everyone else a bad name and it is very unfortunate!

So what do I propose? I propose that we GROW UP, STOP fighting with each other, QUIT talking about each other and BEHAVE like the professionals that we are!

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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Great Options for Small Business Owners.

Published on: 7:06 PM by Unknown - Leave a Comment

Last year when I started my blog I never thought it would grow beyond family, friends, and a few new virtual friends, boy what a difference a year makes! As my blog continues to grow the opportunity to network with people presents itself more and more. Whether it’s via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter or in person at blogging events the opportunities are there and smart mommy bloggers seize them!

I’m not sure how other bloggers feel about what they do, but to me my blog is a small business and it is necessary to grow that business at every opportunity! A few weeks ago I attended a school function with many people I haven’t seen in quite some time. It became apparent to me rather quickly that I was right in the middle of a prime networking opportunity, but I was unprepared. Would anyone even know what a Mommy Blogger was? How would I make sure that they remembered the name of my blog when I walked away? That is when I realized that I needed to prepare myself for opportunities like that one and I knew that one of the best ways to do that was to have business cards with my name, my blogs name, and my email address on them.

Over the next few days I scoured the print shop ads; Kinkos, Standard Quick Print (a local print shop) and was very quickly discouraged by the high prices and limited options. Not long after that I took to the internet in search of a cheaper alternative and I found PsPrint. PsPrint is a leader in online printing offering it’s customers plenty of options and styles. From brochures to business and greet cards PsPrint has it all.

I can’t explain to you how happy I was that I had found an alternative to the pricey print shops and limited options that I had in my town. I know now that I can easily create business cards and brochures for my blog from the comfort of my home. It looks like this blogger will be growing her blog by leaps and bounds in the months to come, with a little help and beautifully printed business cards. And the next time the opportunity to network in person presents itself I will not be left feeling unprepared.




Glamma Toys: Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaway CLOSED

Published on: 2:05 AM by Unknown - 113 comments

**Updated with winner at the bottom**

glammatoys



I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I appreciate toy companies that get it right! It is not always easy to find toys that are educational and fun, but I suppose that makes it so rewarding when you find a company whose dedication is to making

sure that their toys are both !

As a review blogger I’ve had the chance to check out many toy companies, and honestly I have found something that I like about each of them; Gl

amma Toys is no exception. From wooden toys to adorable and unique plush toys Glamma Toys has a little something for every child. One of the things I love about this company is that their toys are very unique, American made, creative and fun toys that your child(ren) will adore. Each toy in Glamma’s vast collection is hand selected by the Glamma team to make sure that your child will have a wonderful experience full of cr

eativity, imagination, and fun! In an age where children’s toys all seem to play for your child it is a welcome change to see my children actually playing, imagining, and being creative with a toy.

I had the chance recently to do a review for Glamma Toys, since I was allowed to choose the toy I wanted to review (and trust me that was not an easy decision,as all of the toys on their site are fabulous) I choose something that reminded me of

my childhood. The Superstructs Pinklets Fairy Garden is the toy I chose to review and I have to say that it is one of the cutest I’ve seen so far (think Tinker Toys for girls…so cute). Here is a great description of the Superstructs Pinklets Fairy Garden from the Glamma website:

Creativity Goes Exquisitely "Pink" with The Fairy Garden
Superstructs pinklets are designed for girls and th

e way girls play and build. pinklets embrace the themes young girl builders want with easy to assemble components and just enough structure. Children create charming environments for nearly endless role play and storytelling fun. The magical world of pinklets opens in a beautiful garden that young builders create themselves. The

illustrated Guide helps channel their imagination. The Fair Garden theme comes with 110 pieces that include rods, connectors, wheels, decorative flowers, leaves, fairies and wings. Built on the award-winning Superstructs building system, pinklets can be used in conjunction with other Superstructs pieces and sets and allows for endless play possibilities. “Easy” Difficulty
Rating. For ages 4 years +
Makes: Trellis, Swingset, Teeter-totter, Tea Party Set, Flowers and Fairies.

  • Includes plans to build five enchanting enviro nments for creative play
  • Includes two fun fairies; Megan and Sophia
  • Designed for girls the way they build and play!
  • Packaged in a 6.5"x6.5"x13.25" (LxWxH) Canister - perfect to store all the pieces!
    Combine this set with others to build even bigger creations!

    • image

    image

    The toys are not the only thing great about Glamma see for yourself how much this company values its customers!

    Buy it! You can purchase the Superstructs Pinkle

    ts Fairy Garden and so many more awesome toys on Glamma’s website!

    How would you like to win a Superstructs Pinkl

    ets Fairy Garden for that special girl in your life? Well since the people at Glamma Toys are wicked awesome they are giving one of my readers just that…a Superstructs Pinklets Fairy Garden of their own! Very cool!

    Win it! To be entered in this giveaway please go visit GlammaToys.com and have a look around, come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me what other toys from the Glamma website you like! This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are counted!

    Extra Entries! Please leave separate comments for each extra entry!

    • Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising via Email, RSS Feed, or on Blogger…2 extra entries each!
    • Grab one of my buttons…2 extra entries each!
    • Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway…1 Tweet Per Day = 1 Extra Entry Per Day!
    • Blog about this giveaway with links to this post as well as
    • Comment on any non-giveaway post…1 extra entry per comment!
    • Enter any of my other giveaways…1 extra entry per additional entry!

    This giveaway ends on Thursday December 10

    , 2009 at 11:59 PM EDT. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced on this post. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim the prize; failure to do so will result in the winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing another winner!

    US Residents Only Please!

    disclosurebutton2





    Winning number is:














    Winning commenter:
    GabbyLowe on November 30, 2009 6:45 AM said... 28

    timmiedeluca@comcast.net

    feed subscriber #1

    Congrats! You have 48 hours to contact me and claim your prize!

    Wednesday, November 25, 2009

    Winners, Winners, Winners!

    Published on: 7:57 PM by Unknown - 3 comments

    I apologize for the delay in choosing a winner for some of my giveaways that ended on Tuesday; Blogger was having some issues with the comments and I wanted to make sure everything was alright and that everyone who entered those giveaways got their entries in!

    FYI: Some of the winning comment numbers may not match up with the number on the actual comment, this is because my comment counter stops at 200 and starts over again as 1…if you scroll through the comments you will understand what I mean.

    Phoenix Trading Giveaway Winner

    Winning number:

    Random Integer Generator

    Here are your random numbers:

    23


    Timestamp: 2009-11-25 22:22:04 UTC



    Winning commenter:



    idahomom on November 14, 2009 2:49 PM said... 23



    My son wants a dinosaur birthday party, so I like the dinosaur invitations.






    ValueRays Pink Warm Mouse III



    Winning number:



    Random Integer Generator



    Here are your random numbers:



    65


    Timestamp: 2009-11-25 22:29:17 UTC





    Winning commenter:



    Alicia on November 14, 2009 10:31 PM said... 65



    ValueRays® Mouse Hand Warmer

    Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<


    bloggyig at gmail dot com






    VIVA Paper Towels Giveaway



    Winning number:



    Random Integer Generator



    Here are your random numbers:



    310


    Timestamp: 2009-11-26 00:39:59 UTC



    Winning commenter:



    elkaye on November 22, 2009 1:56 PM said... 110



    New tweet: http://twitter.com/Elkaye/status/5942902913

    elkaye[at]gmail[dot]com




    Congrats to ALL of you! You each have 48 hours to contact me and claim your prize!

    Zhu Zhu Pets…Great Deals and Lots of Giveaways for Zhu Zhu Pets!

    Published on: 1:31 PM by Unknown - 6 comments
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    A few months ago when FedEx showed up at my door with a rather large package I did what I do with every other item they deliver, I sat it in my Products To Review corner, and forgot about it. A week later when I finally decided to open the box I never would have guessed that those shiny new boxes filled with battery-operated hamsters, hamster balls, slides, and cars would months later be causing a frenzy! I remember when Tickle Me Elmo was THE toy for the holiday season…I remember having to damn near take down another mom to nab one for my daughter; umm I’m pretty sure that these darn hamsters are even more in demand than Elmo was, and that is scary!

    I opened the boxes, had I realized that these would be selling for HUNDREDS of dollars this holiday season on Ebay I would have kept a few aside for a rainy day, don’t even act like you wouldn’t have done the same thing. I let my kids review them (thanks to Mom Central) and they thought I was just the coolest mom on earth because I got produced the Zhu Zhu Pets, hey what they don’t know won’t hurt them. You can read my review here by the way.

    Fast forward a couple of months and there isn’t a child in the land who doesn’t have Zhu Zhu Pets near the top of their Christmas list. Of course there aren’t many stores in the land that have the goods either. You can find them online; if you’re willing to sell a couple body parts and several pints of blood then they should only run you a couple hundred dollars…lol. Seriously though there are places online where you can find Zhu Zhu Pets and their accessories and I’m here to help you find them! Below is a list of various places I’ve found both the hamsters and their habitats reasonably priced! All items are available online so no standing in line for hours waiting for a hamster! Good Luck in your search and don’t forget to leave me a comment…I love those!

    Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters

    All IN STOCK and available from around $40.00 (a great price considering they are SOLD OUT everywhere!

    Zhu Zhu Pet Habitats

    There are also a few giveaways floating around the Blogosphere for Zhu Zhu Pets and I’ve scoured the internet to find them for you!

    Zhu Zhu Pet Giveaways around the Blogosphere!

    Happy Hamster Hunting!

    Glade Sense & Spray

    Published on: 10:55 AM by Unknown - Leave a Comment
    glade_logo

    I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned before that I’m a self-confessed scent snob when it comes to my laundry detergent, well since I’m telling the truth I suppose I must confess that I’m a scent snob when it comes to keeping my house smelling great as well. In addition to being very picky about the fragrances I allow in my house I am also very sensitive to most air fresheners because of their strength (I have never had this problem with any of the Glade scents and that is probably one of the biggest reasons I love Glade so much). I have been a Glade user (and only a Glade user) since I moved out on my own quite a few years ago. I’m not sure if it’s the amazing scents that Glade has to offer or the myriad of ways to use those scents that I like best, but I do know for certain that Glade stands head and shoulders above its competitors in my book. From their many scents to the numerous products they offer Glade remains a force to be reckoned with in the ever growing, hugely popular world of air fresheners. Glade offers its customers a long list of fragrance products so it is not at all hard to find one (or 10) that you love. From fabric fresheners to Flameless candles (love the Wisp as well) there truly is a product and a scent for everyone!

    Imagine my excitement when I found out recently that I would be doing a review for Glade Sense & Spray Automatic Air Freshener, alright the truth is that I was probably more excited about this review than almost any other review I have done this year…yes I know I have problems, but I LOVE Glade! Glade Sense & Spray allows you to get a burst of fragrance whenever you need it thanks to its motion sensor. The innovative Sense & Spray unit automatically detects movement and releases a burst of fragrance. And perhaps one of the best features of the unit is it’s unique lock out mode which prevents fragrance from being released again until 30 minutes after the last burst. Another great feature of the Sense & Spary is that you can customize your fragrance levels by pushing the Boost Button for a little extra freshness even when the unit is in lock out mode.

    When I received my Glade Sense & Spray I immediately took it out of the package and placed it in my living room on top of the mantel (since it is in a central location in the room), then I forgot about it, until I walked into my living room from outside and was greeted with a wisp of fragrance. I have to tell you that I have received more compliments on this Glade product than any other I have owned, perhaps it is because the wisps of air are unexpected making them undeniably pleasant. Aside from the great scent (I have Hawaiian Breeze in mine at the moment) I really and truly do love that the scents are not overpowering, I have a tendency to get major headaches and sometimes very strong scents can trigger those, making it nearly impossible for me to use air fresheners in my house. I’m not quite sure why the Glade products do not bother me, but I completely appreciate that I can use them and not suffer a migraine as a result! product_lg_unit_23_0

    To check out Glade Sense & Spray and a ton of other great products from Glade you can go to Glade's website which is full of fragrant goodies! You can also pick up a Glade Sense & Spray for yourself (which I recommend ) at mass retailers nationwide!

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    Wordless Wednesday…Trimming the Tree

    Published on: 1:08 AM by Unknown - 13 comments

    Yes I do realize that it’s not even Thanksgiving yet and I already have my Christmas Tree up, but in my defense I LOVE Christmas and it’s never too early to enjoy some Christmas magic!

    This year I let the kids completely decorate the tree, it was shall we say interesting? The following pictures are of my two littlest ones helping trim the tree for the first time! Happy Wordless Wednesday!

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    Tuesday, November 24, 2009

    Mabel’s Labels review and giveaway CLOSED

    Published on: 10:36 AM by Unknown - 24 comments

    **Updated at Bottom With Winner**

    Thanks to all who entered!


    mabels2

    Without a doubt one of my favorite things about the holidays is wrapping gifts. I have to admit I have somewhat of an obsession when it comes to gift wrapping, I insist on perfection; from the perfect paper to the most pristine gift tags. My obsession usually means that I end up spending hours wrapping just a few gifts, but nothing is better than looking at my imperfect Christmas tree (courtesy of my children) and seeing such beautifully wrapped packages underneath!

    As a review blogger I see many different products, from many different companies each week, but there is one company I have always secretly longed to review…Mabel’s Labels. Maybe it’s my obsession with order, or maybe it’s just my obsession with knowing what belongs where and to whom, but I love this company and what they do! For those of you that don’t know about Mabel’s Labels yet let me introduce you; here’s a little more about Mabel’s Labels from their website:

    We are moms who were frustrated by the amount of stuff that left our houses, never to return. After lots of research and testing we created the perfect fun, durable labels for the stuff kids lose!

    Our sticky labels and clothing labels, which are dishwasher, microwave and laundry safe, are not only practical, but also designed to be very special to each child. The labels are customized with a child’s name, favorite mix of colors and an icon (animal, symbol, etc.). We have also expanded our product line to include personalized stationery products, ID wristbands and household labels.

    We strive to continuously design innovative labels for babies, kids and grown-ups alike. You’ll be amazed at what you can label!

    When I found out that I had the chance to do a review for Mabel’s Labels I was beyond excited, and when I found out that the items I was going to review were Mabel’s new Holiday Gift Tags I was over the moon. Mabel’s Holiday Gift Tags are round, can be personalized (YES that was my favorite part too) and are available in four unique and festive holiday designs: Festive Forest, Winter Wonderland, Holly Jolly, and Twinkle Twinkle. The holiday tags are available from October 13th- December 31st. And just in case you’re curious Mabel’s Labels has much more than just holiday gift tags; stationary products, kid safety products, all-time classic labels, and clothing labels to name a few.

    Now I have to admit that my experience trying to personalize the labels on the website wasn’t the best, though I will say that once I got the hang of it, it was truly a breeze. I do think that a little more instruction is needed for people like me who are a little technologically challenged. Once I got the hang of personalizing the labels it was smooth sailing, and the fact that the holiday tags are 100% customizable was awesome. You choose one of the four holiday designs (each of the four designs includes three different styles of tags) and up to 24 different personalized messages, personalize your tags, and you’re done…easy as 1,2,3! When I received my personalized Holiday Gift Tags I was beyond excited (it just so happened that the Twinkle Twinkle tags matched my holiday wrapping paper perfectly) and they were even more adorable and perfect in person than they were online! I am very pleased with my gift tags, they will be the perfect addition to my beautifully wrapped holiday gifts! Here’s a look at a couple of the Holiday Gift Tags I received!

    mabels

    Buy it! The Holiday Gift Tags shown above are available online at Mabel.ca!

    Now I have a treat for all of my fabulous readers! The great ladies at Mabel’s Labels are giving one of my readers a set of 24 Personalized Holiday Gift Tags (your choice of the four available designs)! How cool is that?!?

    Win it! To be entered into this giveaway please visit the Mabel’s Labels website and take a look around (try not to get lost in all of the fabulousness there), come back here and leave me a comment on this post telling me what other item(s) you like from the website! This is mandatory and must be completed before you are eligible for extra entries!

    Extra Entries! Please leave separate comments for each extra entry. Also make sure that your email is visible on your blog or your profile…if it’s not visible then please leave it in your comment!

    • Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising via my Rss Feed, Email, on Blogger, or on Networked Blogs…2 extra entries each!
    • Grab one of my buttons (please make sure to grab the code for the new MIBR button)…2 extra entries each!
    • Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway…2 extra entries for following me on Twitter and 1 Tweet Per Day = 1 Extra Entry Per Day!
    • Join the Blastoff Network and SAVE MONEY on your Holiday shopping http://ppl.blastoffnetwork.com/allisonproffitt…4 extra entries!
    • Blog about this giveaway with links to this post and Mabel’s Labels…5 extra entries!
    • Enter any of my other giveaways…1 extra entry per additional giveaway entry!
    • Comment on any non-giveaway post…1 extra entry per comment!
    • Tell me which of the four holiday gift tag designs (mentioned above) you like best and why…2 extra entries!

    This giveaway ends on Tuesday December 8, 2009 at 11:59 PM EDT. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and accounced on this post! Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize; failure to do so will result in the winner forfeiting the prize and me choosing another winner!

    US and Canadian entrants only please!

    GOOD LUCK!

    disclosurebutton2

    Winning Comment:

    Random Integer Generator

    Here are your random numbers:

    18

    Timestamp: 2009-12-09 16:47:49 UTC

    Winning commenter:

    Kimberly on December 7, 2009 1:14 PM said... 18

    google follower #1

    Congrats! You have 48 hours to contact me and claim your prize!

    Monday, November 23, 2009

    Black Friday…BS? And a great place to find all of the best Black Friday Deals!

    Published on: 2:45 PM by Unknown - 3 comments
    bf

    If you’re like me you cannot resist a deal, and in this economy you almost have to justify every big purchase you make so finding great deals becomes even more important. 

    I have never been big on the whole Black Friday thing for a couple of reasons, (1) I LOVE to sleep and to me getting a Barbie for $3 or a pair of shoes for $10 is not worth the extra hours of sleep I would lose and (2) The times I have drug myself out of  bed at 3 am to go deal hunting on BF it seems like all of the best deals are not available.

    Yesterday I read an interesting article today basically talking about how companies advertise all of these BIG TICKET items in their BF ads only to disappoint you when you rush to that particular store and there are none of those items to be found…in my book that’s not right.  I do completely understand companies wanting to entice you to come to their store on BF as opposed to their competitors that’s just good marketing, but when that marketing comes at the expense of your customers it is not ok!  How could you justify advertising a LCD TV or a very attractively priced washer/dryer combo and then in tiny tiny print say…Limited quantities, only 5 per store, no rain checks?  Um hello why advertise those items at all?  I think it just pisses people off, I know it does me and that is why I will never drag my ass outta bed at 3 am on BF ever again, unless of course those big name companies want to do the right thing and STOP advertising items for great prices that most of us will likely never be able to purchase on BF! 

    The moral of this post?  If you insist on doing Black Friday read the fine print…it may save you from major disappointment! 

    And if after reading the Fine Print you insist on still going we’ll here’s a great place to check out a TON of Black Friday Deals!

    Holiday Gift Guide: Fraggle Rock!

    Published on: 1:27 AM by Unknown - 1 comment

    When my sister and I were little we loved Fraggle Rock, remember that show? Dance your cares away…down at Fraggle Rock! Those were the days!

    Since no Christmas is complete without a couple of great DVD’s I thought I would tell you guys a little about the Fraggle Rock DVD’s that I received recently! Maybe you can include them in your little one’s stocking this year…they do make great stocking stuffers you know!

    image

    The first DVD is perfect for watching with the kiddos in front of a warm fire with lots of hot chocolate (with marshmallows of course). A Merry Fraggle Holiday is a brand new DVD (released this month) that will have your little ones dancing their cares away while they have fun with the Fraggles.

    Music, fun, and holiday adventures with the Fraggles! Come along with Gobo, Red, Boober, and the whole Fraggle gang for three wintery adventures bursting with wonder, laughter, and rockin music! Whether it’s celebrating the annual Festival of the Bells or learning the value of generosity, the Fraggles discover that although the meaning of the season is different for everyone, it’s the power of friendship that truly makes the holidays special. A Merry Fraggle Holiday includes three episodes and lots of special features.

    I personally think I saved the best for last, now you can own the entire Fraggle Rock series on DVD! Fraggle Rock The Complete Series and Fraggle Rock The Complete Final Season are both available in DVD box sets for your viewing pleasure…my sister would LOVE this!

    image

    For more on the Fraggle Rock DVD Box Sets or more on A Merry Fraggle Holiday you can visit JimHenson.com!

    You can check out these and lots of other great gift ideas in Misadventures in Baby Raising’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009!

    Friday, November 20, 2009

    Freebie Friday

    Published on: 4:44 PM by Unknown - Leave a Comment

    I want to apologize again for the lack of posts this week, I promise to be back to normal on Monday with reviews and giveaways galore.

    I have decided to do something new for my blog readers that I think all of you will really like.  From now on every Friday will be Freebie Friday, I am in the process of making a button for everyone to display on their blogs.  Here’s the basic run-down of how Freebie Friday will go:

    • Every Friday I will post all of the great freebies I found for that week and share with all of you.
    • I also plan to use either McLinky or Mr. Linky so that anyone else who does Freebie Friday, or freebies in general, can link to their freebie posts or blog as well.
    • If you have a freebie to share that isn’t on your blog then you can also send me an email (you can click on the Contact Me link in my About Me section…please use Freebie in the subject line) and I’ll list your Freebie on my Friday posts (with a link to your blog or website).

    And without further ado here are some great Freebies I’ve found this week!

    I know that is not a ton of freebies but there are several.  I signed up for all of them as well so I know the links work!   promise more next week!  Make sure to add your Freebie Links below!

    Thursday, November 19, 2009

    Upcoming Review and An Answer to My Kids Clutter!

    Published on: 10:54 AM by Unknown - 4 comments

    My living room has been taken over! By what you may ask? Well by my children and their “stuff”. I have always lived in a house that had a playroom, because well I demand order and my children are not orderly. When we moved to our current house I was very upset to learn that there was no bonus room, which meant no playroom, which meant my children's “stuff” would end up scattered throughout the house…fun times!

    In an effort to transform my living room back to something that resembled MY living room I decided to go on the hunt for something to aid in that transformation. What I found made me smile (and I like to smile), but you’re going to have to wait and see what I found until next time. Until then I will give you a sneak peak of some nursery decor (the item I found is within the link…how’s that for cryptic) that is so amazing and functional I’m actually considering redoing the nursery now! One step at a time mom, one step at a time!

    The reason for my absence!

    Published on: 10:39 AM by Unknown - 3 comments

    **This was written last night (Wednesday November 18th) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. We are home now and trying to get better.**

    Things have been crazy around my house for the past couple of weeks. Last week my daughter Savanna was sick ALL WEEK with a virus that was diagnosed as maybe being the flu…fun stuff. I spent all week nursing fevers and trying to keep the babies away from her. This Monday little Kinley woke up barking, yes barking, so we headed to the doctor…again. After her examination is was confirmed that she had a yucky case of the croup but no medicine was given as the doctor believed Kinley could fight it off herself…um not so much. So here I sit three days later at Children’s Hospital Cincinnati with my baby hooked up to monitors waiting…very fun stuff. The doctor here (who is awesome) confirmed that it was indeed just a bad case of croup and decided to pump her full of meds and wait it out. I am spent and Kinley is even more so. I swear if I never see another doctor or nurse it will be too soon.

    On top of all of that I hurt my back (again) on Tuesday trying to pick up my son so after spending Tuesday morning at the hospital getting x-rays for Kinley (to make sure that her bark was not pneumonia) I spent all of Tuesday evening at the ER for my back.

    And so that my dear readers is the reason for my absence. I have so much to tell you guys about and lots of great reviews and giveaways for y’all as well. But that will all have to wait until mommy and baby feel better, my mountain of homework is reduced to a hill, and I’m not loopy on pain meds.

    I hope everyone is well…and I will see you soon!

    Tuesday, November 17, 2009

    My Friendship Bracelet Maker Review and Giveaway!

    Published on: 11:21 AM by Unknown - 83 comments

    **Updated at the bottom of the post with winner**

    Thanks to all who entered!

    When I was a little girl one of my favorite things to do was make friendship bracelets to give to my friends. I remember turning that love of making those bracelets into a business venture at school during recess and it being quite lucrative, seriously I made enough to get an ice cream once…lol. Now that I’m older and have girls of my own I find it quite nostalgic to see my little ones making friendship bracelets of their own…some things never go out of style and friendship is one of them!

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    Both of my oldest daughters have always loved creating, one of their favorite things to make are jewelry for themselves and their friends. I recently had the chance to do a review for a product that makes friendship bracelet making a breeze! My Friendship Bracelet Maker (FBM) makes crafting friendship bracelets fun and super easy! The perfect gift idea for crafty tweens, FBM is easy to use and you can take it pretty much anywhere, it even comes with 56 precut threads to get you started and on your way to making beautiful friendship bracelets. MyFBM.com offers a wealth of information on how to make the bracelets, including instructional videos and step by step visual instructions. Here’s a little more about M Friendship Bracelet Maker from the website:

    Parents…if your Tween loves to make crafts or if you are looking for an innovative toy that encourages friendship and quality play…the Friendship Bracelet is just what you need. The Friendship Bracelet Maker makes the perfect gift for Girls ages 6+. Be the hit with your next Birthday present, Back to School or Christmas gift!

    Buy it! You can purchase My Friendship Bracelet Maker for $24.95 online here! Check out the great offer below!

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    Now I have a treat for all you parents of tweens…the awesome people at My Friendship Bracelet Maker are giving one of my fabulous readers a Friendship Bracelet Maker of their own!

    Win it! To be entered into this giveaway please visit My Friendship Bracelet Maker’s website and look around, come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me something you learned about the bracelet maker. This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are counted!

    Extra Entries! Please leave separate comments for each extra entry!

    • Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising via my RSS feed, email, or on blogger…2 extra entries each!
    • Grab one of my buttons…2 extra entries each!
    • Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway…2 extra entries for following on Twitter…1 Tweet Per Day = 1 Extra Entry Per Day!
    • Blog about this giveaway with links to MFB and this post…5 extra entries!
    • Enter any of my other giveaways…1 extra entry per additional entry!
    • Comment on any non-giveaway post…1 extra entry per comment!

    This giveaway ends on Tuesday December 1, 2009 @ 11:59 PM EDT. One winner will be chosen via Random.org, winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize! Failure to contact me within the given time frame will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.

    US Entrants only please!

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    GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

    Winning number is:

    Random Integer Generator

    Here are your random numbers:

    35

    Timestamp: 2009-12-02 18:33:06 UTC

    Winning commenter is:

    GabbyLowe on November 23, 2009 12:44 PM said... 35

    timmiedeluca@comcast.net

    follow blog #2

    Congrats! You have 48 hours to contact me and claim your prize!

    Yo Gabba Gabba Tour, CD, and New Shows…oh my!

    Published on: 11:20 AM by Unknown - Leave a Comment

    As I’ve mentioned many times before my son loves Yo Gabba Gabba, unfortunately for me my youngest daughter now loves this show.  What does that mean for me?  Well since you asked, it means that my television is tuned to Nick Jr. and Yo Gabba Gabba all day, every day!  Fun stuff!  Now since I know I’m not the only mommy who has this problem, I’m going to make it worse (sorry…but you’re kids will thank me) and tell y’all about all kinds of good Yo Gabba Gabba stuff that’s going on!

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    I mentioned the Yo Gabba Gabba Tour, There’s a Party in My City a few weeks ago, if you want to check out that review you can do that here.  But the initial ticket sales were great and they added more shows to their tour.  You can get all the information you need about the Yo Gabba Gabba Live Tour here!

    New York, NY

    Beacon Theatre Saturday, November 21, 2009 11AM and 2PM

    Dallas, TX

    Dr. Pepper Arena Saturday, November 28, 2009 11 AM and 3 PM

    Chicago, IL

    Rosemont Theatre Saturday, December 5, 2009 11AM and 3PM

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    Now on to the most exciting part of this post…the Yo Gabba Gabba CD, Music is Awesome which will be in stores nationwide this Friday October 20, 2009 so make sure you go pick up a copy for your Yo Gabba Gabba fan!  Here’s a little more about the CD:

    Yo Gabba Gabba! fans have another reason to “get the sillies out” and “go crazy” in living rooms nationwide with the first Yo Gabba Gabba! CD release. YO GABBA GABBA! MUSIC IS AWESOME! hits shelves nationwide on October 20, 2009.   A deluxe edition featuring bonus songs from the hit series will also be available on iTunes. The CD release hits shelves on the heels of the YGG! LIVE tour announcement for YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE:  THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY playing in Los Angeles (11/14), New York (11/21) and Chicago (12/5). Tickets will be available beginning October 9 at 10AM and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com and YoGabbaGabbaLive.com.

    Yo Gabba Gabba! produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN, is an award-winning, two time Emmy-nominated show on Nickelodeon.  The series currently ranks as one of the most popular series on television with broad appeal among preschoolers, parents, teens and adults.  Today’s most popular names in movies, television, music and sports flock to guest star on the groundbreaking show, including Jack Black, Rachel Dratch, Melora Hardin, Tony Hawk, Biz Markie, Jack McBrayer, MGMT, Mark Mothersbaugh, The Roots, Andy Samberg, Amy Sedaris, The Shins, Amare Stoudemire, The Ting Tings, Jimmy Eat World and Elijah Wood, among others.  YO GABBA GABBA! infuses retro-style and beat-driven music to teach simple life lessons through music.  The series stars DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson) and a cast of colorful characters, including: Brobee, the little green one; Foofa, the pink flower bubble; Muno, the red Cyclops; Toodee, the blue cat-dragon; and Plex, the yellow robot.

    YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME! features the Yo Gabba Gabba! signature mix of eclectic musical genres that will keep parents, preschoolers and fans on their feet throughout the generous 21-song set.
    YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME! Track listing:
    1.  YO GABBA GABBA! Theme
    2.  YO GABBA GABBA! - Party In My Tummy
    3.  THE SHINS - It’s Okay, Try Again
    4.  YO GABBA GABBA! - I Like To Dance
    5.  MONEY MARK - Robo Dancing
    6.  YO GABBA GABBA!  - Get The Sillies Out
    7.  BIZ MARKIE - Biz’s Beat Of The Day #1
    8.  CHROMEO - Nice ‘N’ Clean
    9.  YO GABBA GABBA! - Try It, You’ll Like It
    10. THE ROOTS - Lovely, Love My Family
    11. YO GABBA GABBA! - Don’t Be Afraid
    12. I’M FROM BARCELONA - Just Because It’s Different Doesn’t Mean Scary
    13. YO GABBA GABBA! - Bubbles
    14. OF MONTREAL - Brush Brush Brush
    15. YO GABBA GABBA! - Nice & Easy
    16. THE LITTLE ONES - Hey, Won’t Somebody Come And Play
    17. WEIRD SCIENCE - Go Crazy Remix
    18. YO DAZZLERS - You Can’t Always Get What You Want
    19. MARK KOZELEK - Bedtime Lullaby
    20. YO GABBA GABBA! - Goodbye Song
    21. YO GABBA GABBA! Closing THEME

    MUSIC IS AWESOME! will be available on CD at Target, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and independent music retailers nationwide and you can pre-order on Amazon.com!

    We had the chance to check out the Music is Awesome CD and I have to admit that my kids went crazy!  As I’ve told you before my kids love music and dancing and reviewing this CD was the perfect opportunity for them to do just that!  They LOVED it! 

    Be sure to check out this CD and many more great holiday gift ideas in Misadventures in Baby Raising’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009! 

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    Saturday, November 14, 2009

    More winners!

    Published on: 12:20 PM by Unknown - Leave a Comment

    Wow I have no idea how I forgot to post the winner to the Daysteps Personal Lifestyle Planner giveaway but I did. Shame on me!

    I want to thank everyone who entered this giveaway! And without further ado the winning number is:

    Random Integer Generator

    Here are your random numbers:

    73


    Timestamp: 2009-11-14 17:11:26 UTC





    And our winner is:




    Mama Hill on November 8, 2009 10:29 PM said... 73

    subscribe via email #1






    Our second giveaway that has ended is the Little Music Lovers CD…and the winning number is:



    Random Integer Generator



    Here are your random numbers:



    50


    Timestamp: 2009-11-14 17:14:46 UTC





    Which makes the winner:




    FDP 4 Life on November 13, 2009 4:34 PM said... 50

    follower #1






    Congrats to both of the winners! You both have 48 hours to contact me and claim your prize(s)! Again thanks to all who entered! And be sure to check out Misadventures in Baby Raising’s Holiday Gift Guide for the hottest gifts this holiday season!

    Friday, November 13, 2009

    Room it Up Review {Love this}

    Published on: 4:47 PM by Unknown - 21 comments
    riu_turq_logo

    As my oldest daughter gets older I am constantly looking for new and exciting products for her, the task is not always easy, but that makes finding something special even more exciting.roomitup4

    I discovered Room it Up several months ago when I entered a giveaway on another blog and I instantly fell in love with their patterns and inspiring and creative products! Fast forward a few months and here I am introducing Room it Up to all of my readers. If you’ve never heard of Room it Up let me give you the lowdown on the company in their own words:

    As we look back now, it is clear to see that it was the lap desk that started it all! It was only a few years ago, that we launched our exclusive patented lap desk design allowing you to have the ultimate work space wherever you are. It was this space saver idea that helped launch the Room It Up™ brand. Let's just say, it was the right idea at the right time. Not only was the function of the item well received, but no one could get enough of our great prints. The requests for more merchandise in our up-to-date, trend right style was, and still is, overwhelming. So as the story goes, you asked and we delivered! The designing began and functional items, inspired by the latest trends, created our coordinated Room It Up™ lifestyle collection! Everything from totes and cases, towel sets, organization, and even umbrellas are now available. All coordinated and all made to be monogrammed. Go ahead, personalize your space™.

    Room it Up offers a variety of products perfect for the tween or teen in your life (and great for mom too); from their lap desks to their adorable media cases, you will find something you like! Room it Up’s product line includes items to help you gear up for school, organize your room, or just enjoy some relaxing music while snuggled up with one of their cozy fleece blankets. I love that Room it Up offers so many pattern options for each of their products, it makes choosing one a little harder, but finding something you love so easy! Some of my favorite items from Room it Up are their travel cosmetic roomitup2cases (which are so handy and very chic), and the lap desks.

    We received the Fun Flower Media Case to review and let me tell you it is just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. My daughter, like most kids her age, has several media devices that require protection; her MP3 player is one of them and the Fun Flower Media Case was perfect for doing just that. One of my favorite features of the media case is the side grommet for easy access to your ear buds. I also love that it has a handle strap making it a breeze to attach to my daughter’s overnight bag. Overall I loved the design and durability of the media case and my daughter loved the very cute, very girly pattern…a total win…win!

    Buy it! You can purchase the media case and lots of other great products online at RoomitUp.com!

    You can find this and many other great gift ideas in Misadventures in Baby Raising’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009!

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