Kidorable Ballerina Line: An Awesome Deal and a Giveaway!

This is Lil Diva…she’s all girl…she loves pink, frilly, sparkly things and she loves to dance.  Of course, Lil Diva can and will lay the smack down if needed, guess that’s just one of the perils of being the youngest of 5 brothers and sisters.





Lil Diva has begun to love ballet (due in part to one of her favorite Nickelodeon characters’ love of ballet) so she dances and twirls around the house pretending to be a ballerina…it’s quite a cute sight to see.  See the oh-so-adorable raincoat that Lil Diva is modeling well that’s from one of my absolute favorite online stores…Kidorable!

Not familiar with Kidorable?  Here’s the lowdown on this awesome company.  Kidorable creates fun, fashionable, and functional rain gear for kids.  I’ve worked with Kidorable before when I introduced all of you to their English Roses collection, but their new Ballerina collection just takes the cake! 

A little more about the Kidorable Ballerina line:

“The ballerina style comes in sweet pinks and purples with friendly ballerinas dancing across each piece.  Ruffles and sparkles were added to the umbrella.  On the backpack a beautiful ballerina dances across a 3-D stage that girls can play with.  Ribbons are raised from the boots just like real Pointe shoes.  On the raincoat a tutu hem in alternating pinks and a rose detail on the hood are also a special touch.”
Kidorable sent us a rain coat from the Ballerina collection to review.  As you can see from the picture above Lil Diva loves her rain coat and insists on wearing it all.day.every.day!  Aside from being absolutely adorable, the ballerina rain coat is functional as well, your little ballerina can wear it while splashing in the puddles this coming spring…it doesn’t get better than that!  I especially love the detail and the adorable faux skirt, it makes this rain coat fun, whimsical, and oh-so-very stylish!  Lil Diva will be the envy of all of her little friends this spring!

I also wanted to mention a fantastic deal that Kidorable has going on right now...for the week of January 16-23 only you can use the coupon code DANCE5 to receive a free ballerina umbrella with their order over $20…now that is a terrific deal!  Make sure you head over to Kidorable and check out all of the fun designs and adorable rain gear!

How would you like to win an umbrella from the Kidorable Ballerina Style Collection?  If you have your hand up it’s your lucky day!  One Misadventures in Baby Raising reader is going to win a ballerina umbrella from Kidorable!  Way cool!

Win it!

To enter this giveaway please head over to Kidorable’s Facebook Page and “Like” them.    This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are allowed!

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5 Extra Entries
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This giveaway ends on January 31, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his prize, failure to do so within 48 hour time-frame will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.



US Entries only please!

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My Pillow Pets {Review+Giveaway}

What’s fluffy, furry, and pulls double duty as a pillow and a cuddly adorable stuffed pet?   I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials on TV and run across an ad for them once or twice online, of course, I’m talking about the ever popular Pillow Pets the IT toy/pillow/awesome furry friend this holiday season!  Several times over the past few months both of the babies have begged for a Pillow Pet, and even though I’m pretty sure they don’t have a clue what a Pillow Pet even is, I have to admire their tenacity.  

In case you’ve been living under a rock (and I’ve said many times that I do not discriminate against those who do) allow me to clue you in on the world of Pillow Pets.  

All about the cute and cuddly Pillow Pets from their website:

“Since 2003 Pillow Pets have been bringing smiles to faces of all ages.  The concept for the snuggly companions was the brainchild of a San Diego-based mother of two, who had grown tired of picking up stuffed animals strewn about her children’s rooms. What began with a simple goal of transforming a traditional stuffed animal into a functional item for children has grown into an amazing jungle of popular products.

Made of high quality, super soft chenille, Pillow Pets plush folding stuffed animals make the most precious snuggle pal for you or your loved one.  An ideal naptime companion—not to mention a comforting partner on road trips or airplane rides—Pillow Pets plus folding stuffed animals are anything but just another stuffed animal.  Extremely versatile, these unique creations have a strap that closes underneath to transform them into friendly pets.  Simply open the strap and the pet becomes a pillow. “

Perky the Penguin as a pillow

Perky as a soft and cuddly penguin pet!

Pillow Pets are available in a variety of furry friends to fit every child’s preference; Ms Lady Bug, Magical Unicorn, Tardy Turtle, Snuggly Puppy and so many more.  We received Perky Penguin for our review, partly because my youngest Kinley loves penguins and partly because Mommy has a weakness for them!  Perky Penguin is everything you would expect of a child’s plus toy, soft, cuddly, and oh-so-very cute, but he is also functional and fun to play with.  I have to admit that while reviewing our Pillow Pet I had a blast (yes, moms can have fun too) Perky Penguin is just as adorable, soft, and snuggly in real life as he looks online and on TV.  I just know that Pillow Pets are going to be a huge hit this Christmas! Make sure you check out Pillow Pets in MIBR 2010 Holiday Gift Guide ! 

Buy it!

You can purchase Pillow Pets online at getpillowpets.com!

How would you like to get in on the act early?  Well, Pillow Pets is giving one MIBR reader their very own Pillow Pet!  Very cool…no?

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

To enter this giveaway please visit getpillowpets.com and have a look around, then come back to this post and leave a comment telling me which Pillow Pet you (or your little one) like best.  This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are counted!

Extra Entries!

Please leave separate comments for each additional entry…also make sure to include your email address in each comment or make sure that it is visible in your profile (I can’t let you know that you won if I can’t email you!)

1 Extra Entry Each

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If you’ve entered All of the current giveaways on MIBR (listed on the sidebar under Current Giveaways) then you may  have 5 extra entries into this giveaway (as well as the Hayneedle giveaway) just leave 5 separate comments saying, “I’ve entered all of MBIR giveaways!”.

This giveaway ends on November 30 , 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his prize, failure to do so within 48 hour time-frame will result in winner forfeiting his prize and mew choosing a new winner.

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Karmin G3 Flat Iron {Review}

I was born with good hair, not gorgeous hair, but good hair at least according to every hair stylist who has ever had the pleasure of working with it (kidding, kidding).  My oldest daughter has hair that can only be described as a mess, no matter what we do to it, no matter how we cut it, it’s just a mess.  Thankfully my daughter has recently began taking an interest in fixing her hair (insert the ***AAHH** and bright lights here).  Taylor does have a flat iron, but it is a very inexpensive model that is just not effective on her hair. 

I was very excited when I received the Karmin G3 flat iron to review.  In case  your not familiar with the Karmin name and products here’s a little more information about the G3 from their website:

Introducing the New Karmin G3 Salon Pro Hair Styling Iron, the Ultimate Hair Styling Tool.
Whether you choose to curl, flip, straighten or add volume and body, the G3 is the only styling iron you will ever need.

The Karmin Salon Pro is perfect for both the professional as well as home users with features such as flash quick heating, a tangle-free swivel cord and temperature settings for all hair types. Styling your hair is virtually effortless and results are smooth, silky, shiny hair.

The ceramic plates are infused with tourmaline which together work to produce more negative ions. Negative ions work to seal the hairs cuticle for smoother, frizz free results as well as lock in moisture, protect color and add shine to your hair.

Infrared heat works to heat the heat the hair from the inside out providing healthier styling, less damage and faster styling.

This ultra glossy and super sleek styling iron is available in 3 distinguishing and enticing shades, choose the one that reveals your personal style.

Features of the Karmin G3 flat iron:
*  1" Pure Tourmaline Ceramic Plates
*  Ionic Technology for shiny, healthy hair
*  Maximum temperature of 450° and a minimum temperature of 180°, perfect for all hair types
*  Flash Quick Heating
*  3 Year Manufacture Warranty

I love that you can curl, flip, straighten, and wave style your hair with the Karmin G3.  I have extremely straight hair, I’m talking stick straight—you know the kind of hair that perms come right out of, so curling is never really an option for me as regular hair curling irons cannot do the trick.  I decided to take a chance and see if the Karmin could curl my hair, so I adjusted the heat setting accordingly and waited.  As soon as the flat iron got hot (and it was hot very quickly) I followed the directions and tried it out…while I didn’t get curls (which was completely my fault because I know I was not doing it right) I did get waves which is almost curls! 



If you’re in the market for an awesome flat iron, I highly suggest the Karmin G3!  Make sure you check out Karmin and many more great holiday gift ideas in MIBR 2010 Holiday Gift Guide! 

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Yum Yum Dishes Review …Portion Control Made Fun!

When it comes to limiting snacks, whether it be my kids or myself, I am not very good at it.  I try to make sure my children eat healthy snacks, but sometimes they will grab a bag of chips or a pack of cookies before I know what happened.  Lately I have tried to tighten the reins when it comes to snacking.  Luckily I found a company who makes portion control as yummy as possible!



Yum Yum Dishes are small bowls designed to help you limit your snacking to an acceptable level.  Since my family seems to think portion control means whatever you can fit on your plate…I’d say we could definitely benefit from Yum Yum Dishes.  Here’s a little more about Yum Yum Dishes from their website:



After my second child was born I realized I was snacking too much. I'd drag a bag of chips off the shelf and head for the couch. Before I knew it, half the bag was gone.
The fact is, I didn't realize how much I was eating. I decided to do something about it.



I started using a small dish for snacking. As long as I didn't re-fill the bowl, I could never over-snack! In a short time, I was back to my original weight. I thought others might like to try out this simple method of portion control. The Yum Yum Dish was born, a 4 oz. dish that's fun and easy to understand.




The Yum Yum Dish is perfect for children, teens, and adults who want to enjoy all their favorite foods in moderation. Not concerned with portion control? Use these hand-painted dishes for sauces, dips, entertaining, and more.

A Yum Yum dish is a creative gift for the foodie in your life and a smart addition to any weight loss plan.
I have to admit it is a fabulous way to help you stay on track with your diet routine, and Yum Yum Dishes are also great for limiting your kids to the right amount of snacks!  I have to admit that late nights as I’m working on reviews or homework is the worst time for me because I want to snack constantly, that has caused some weight gain that I do not like.  Reluctantly I decided to try the Yum Yum Dish as a way to control my snack portions at night and I’ve found myself not only sticking to the amount of snack in the dish, but feeling much better about my snacking habits in the process.  Make sure you check out Yum Yum Dishes website and all of their killer snack ideas…Chocolate Yum Yum Pie anyone?  (Yummy)



If you’re looking for a gift for the health conscious on your holiday list…Yum Yum Dishes are sure to be a hit! 

Buy it!

You can purchase Yum Yum Dishes online at YumYumDish.com.  You can snag a set of 4 for $22 (and did I mention how cute they are?)

You can find Yum Yum Dishes and so many more great holiday gift ideas in our 2010 Holiday Gift Guide!

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Manhattan Toy Review {Great Holiday Gift Ideas!}

With Christmas right around the corner (8 weeks to be exact) I am feverishly compiling my list of must-haves for the family!  There are so many things to consider, but one thing I know for sure is that I will be shopping online a lot this Christmas.  I have found so many awesome places to shop online and one of my favorites is Manhattan Toy!

Here’s a little bit about Manhattan Toy from their website:

Manhattan Toy is a store that inspires imagination at play!  Founded in 1979 (good year) by Francis Goldwyn (grandson of motion picture studio owner Sam Goldwyn), Manhattan Toy pioneered the use of non-traditional fabrics in toy design and introduced delightful new body styles in soft toys. Although Goldwyn is no longer involved in the ownership of Manhattan Toy, we remain true to his vision of marching to the beat of a different (toy) drum.

Play is not only fun, it’s essential to a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social development. Our design process blends science and whimsy to produce toys that offer children a rich array of visual and tactile stimulation and unlimited opportunities for imaginative exploration.

Manhattan Toy is committed to bringing parents and kids quality toys that are not only fun, but educational and meant to inspire creativity.  Is your son or daughter an Automoblox fan (I know mine are) you can find all of the Automoblox toys at Manhattan Toy.  Maybe you have a daughter who loves Groovy Girls…well, you can find them at Manhattan Toy as well, along with many other fabulous brands!



We received a Baby Stella and an Automoblox mini set for our review.  First off I must say that the quality of these toys is top notch…I was beyond impressed with the toys straight away.  Baby Stella reminds me of a doll I used to have when was little, but much more modern and so much more well made.  Stella is so cuddly and soft that any little girl would be just fall in love with her instantly.  I also love that her paci is magnetized, and don’t even get me started on her cute little toes (that look so much like a babies it’s unreal).  The moment my Lil Diva saw Baby Stella she was instantly in love!

We also received an Automoblox mini set from Manhattan Toy.  Lil Man loves cars, as a matter of fact, he has already requested that we tell Santa to bring lots of cars and trucks.  Automoblox minis consist of “future-retro” styling that makes them unique and oh-so-very stylish!  “Boasting a universal connector system that enables the rapid interchange of parts, and conveniently sized for on-the-go car designers, Automoblox Minis put a unique spin on creative play. Automoblox has won numerous prestigious awards for this ingeniously designed line of cars.”  I have to say that I love the sleek designs and unique look of the Automoblox cars, my son was amazed at the car and had a blast pretending to be a race car driver. 
Manhattan Toy has amazing brands and fabulous toys, but what puts them head and shoulders above the rest is their commitment to inspiring creativity in children.  Within minutes of playing with the Baby Stella and the Automoblox car my son and daughter where imagining and pretending, for a mom, there’s nothing better than seeing your babies learn to be creative, and Manhattan Toy makes that happen!

Buy it!

You can purchase Baby Stella, Automoblox minis (and full-size Automoblox) and so much more online at ManhattanToy.com!

Both Baby Stella and the Automoblox made great holiday gifts, so make sure you head on over to Manhattan toy and check out the selection!  Don’t forget to have a look at our Holiday Gift Guide chock full of awesome holiday gift ideas!

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Miraclebody Jeans {Review+Giveaway}

Since having my youngest children back-to-back my body stubbornly refuses to go back to the way it was before  (what…yours too?…hmm must be a conspiracy).  Having to adjust to a new body has been one of the hardest parts of being a mother for me…I literally went from 100 pounds soaking wet to a post-pregnancy body that was not at all .  Needless to say, finding clothes that camouflage my problem areas is quite a challenge, finding jeans that fit AND look good, well that’s nearly impossible…or is it?

Back this past summer I was introduced to a company that has been one of my favorites ever since…Miraclebody!  Miraclebody is a collection of jeans, tops, and other control accessories from the makers of Miraclesuit (#1 brand of fashion control swimwear).  Miraclebody promises to help make you look “10 pounds lighter in 10 seconds”, but can such a claim be backed up…in a word…yes!  I must admit I was among the non-believers when I first discovered Miraclesuit, but literally within seconds of putting on the suit I was converted to one of the enlightened ones.  Needless to say, I was very happy when I found out that Miraclebody also made jeans…hello a pair of jeans that fit, look amazing, and make you look and feel slimmer…I was in heaven. 



Here’s a little more about the Miracle that is Miraclebody from their website:

Since 1937, the makers of Miraclesuit^®, the #1 brand designer of control swimwear, have made women look more beautiful and shapely. Miraclebody follows the heritage of Miraclesuit by providing women of all shapes and sizes with comfortable form-flattering fashion control apparel including jeans, tops, skirts, and leggings — all designed to make you look 10lbs lighter in 10 seconds.

At the heart of the Miraclebody brand, is our premium Lycra denim which slims the thighs and lifts the rear while giving you a comfortable fit. Our handcrafted front control panel features our unique miracle fabric, Miratex, to flatten and control the tummy.  Miraclebody signature logo rivets and buttons along with our embroidered signature waistband add the finishing touch. Our premium denim jeans are available in several washes, from faded blue for a casual look to sleek black for a dressier look. Our Miraclebody premium denim gives every women and every body a shapely flawless figure with comfort and style.
Generations of women have fallen in love with Miraclesuit for helping them look beautiful and feel confident about their bodies. And now women of all shapes and sizes are falling in love with Miraclebody.

When I started compiling my list of gift ideas for this holiday season I knew I wanted to incorporate Miraclebody as I feel they are the ultimate in fashion for women; they look fabulous (truly), fit amazingly, and make you feel good…it doesn't get better than that!  I was sent a pair of Skinnie Minnie jeans from Miraclebody for my review.  With skinny jeans everywhere I turn I figured I might as well join the ranks and don a pair myself.   Of course, traditional skinny jeans are a big no-no for me because they are made for super-skinny people and I am no longer a member of that team, but Miraclebody’s Skinnie Minnie jeans are perfect!  The Skinnie Minnie jeans are made of premium denim and made to “sculpt, mold, and conceal” and include a tummy control panel (made from luxury soft cotton mixed with a touch of spandex).  The Skinnie Minnie jean also gives a nice little lift to your bottom while at the same time slimming your thighs and making your legs appear longer.   Some of the features that make the Skinnie Minnie so fabulous are:

10” Mid-rise: sits on the hips to create curves, higher in the back for additional rear coverage

Skinny leg: slims the thighs and lifts the rear to make legs appear longer and leaner

Embroidered pockets: Classic style, designed to give the illusion of a slimmer backside

96% Cotton, 4% Spandex: comfortable fit with breath-easy stretch

32” Inseam: regular length

Machine washable: inside out, gentle cycle

Made in the USA of imported fabric 

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that I wear shapewear daily, I do it because it makes me feel better about the way I look and it makes the clothes I wear look better on, but with the Skinnie Minnie jeans I don’t have to wear my shapewear because the jeans do all the work.  The moment I slipped into these jeans I knew I had found my new favorite pair!  If you’re looking for a great pair of jeans that fit, feel, and look incredible I definitely recommend Miraclebody!  AND since Miraclebody is so confident in their jeans they are giving everyone FREE shipping and FREE returns…talk about risk free! 

Be sure to check out Miraclebody (and so many other great gift ideas) in MIBR 2010 Holiday Gift Guide! 

Buy It!

You can purchase Miraclebody jeans (and much more) online at Miraclebody.com.

So how would you like to have a pair of Miraclebody jeans?  Well the fabulous people at Miraclebody are giving one oh-so-very-lucky MIBR reader a pair of Miraclebody jeans of her own! 

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

To enter this giveaway please visit Miraclebody.com and look around, come back and leave a comment on this post telling me which Miraclebody jeans are your favorite!  That’s it…easy peasy, but mandatory!

Extra Entries

Please leave separate comments for each additional entry!

1 Extra Entry Each

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Enter any of the other fabulous giveaway on MIBR

2 Extra Entries Each

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Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (copy and paste tweet below…up to 3x per day per length of giveaway)

“Look 10 Pounds Lighter in 10 Seconds…WIN a pair of Miraclebody jeans at MIBR http://tiny.cc/kri8e @Allie_23”

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Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post

This giveaway ends on Wednesday November 2, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his prize, failure to do so within 48 hour timeframe will result in winner forfeiting his prize and mew choosing a new winner.

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Halls Cough Drops=Allergy Relief? (+Giveaway)

The weather outside is turning cool, fall is definitely upon us and that means the start of cold season.  Unfortunately colds run amuck in our house when the weather gets cold; that means runny noses, coughs, and the dreaded sore throat.  While colds are a pain for everyone involved, what’s even worse is the seasonal allergy outbreaks that take over when the weather gets cold. 

Seasonal allergies affect nearly everyone at my house, all of my children and myself suffer through season after season of sneezing, sore throats, runny eyes, and general misery!  While we have all always taken a prescription medicine for our allergy symptoms I never thought about the possibility that symptom relief was in my medicine cabinet in the form of Halls cough drops.   Wanna know how Halls Cough Drops can help ease your seasonal allergy symptoms?  Check it out…from the Halls website:

“When allergy season hits, we can often find that we are not feeling at our best. Most allergy sufferers take their preferred daily medication to provide long-lasting relief for their symptoms. While you’re waiting for your allergy medication to work, HALLS® steps in and helps out as a complement to your allergy regimen. HALLS® starts working within 10 seconds to soothe your allergy related cough and sore throat.
During allergy season, inhaled irritants like pollen, grass and trees can trigger irritating coughs and scratchy, sore throats. While your allergy medication provides the all-day relief you’re looking for, don’t forget to take your HALLS® too. Take HALLS® with Advanced Vapor Action® formula for fast, soothing relief of your cough and scratchy, sore throat. It starts working within 10 seconds! As a complement to your allergy medication, the fast-relief of HALLS® might just put a spring in your step when spring allergies hit.”




To be honest I never even thought of using Halls as a way to ease my seasonal allergy symptoms—now I know that I can pop one in at the onset of my symptoms and feel better almost instantly! What’s even better is that you can use Halls and your regular allergy medication together for double the relief!  Thanks to Family Review Network and Halls I’ll be all set when allergies hit…and that is a big relief!

Buy it!

You can purchase Halls Cough Drops at mass retailers and drug stores nationwide!

Now I have a treat for you!  Thanks to Halls and the Family Review Network I have some Halls cough drops to giveaway to 2 lucky MIBR readers!  2 winners will each receive 10 (yes 10) Halls Cough Drop Sticks! 

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

To enter this giveaway please leave a comment on this post telling me why you want to win…simple as that!  This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are allowed!

Extra Entries!

Please leave separate comments for each extra entry!  

2 Extra Entries Each

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“Like” Halls on Facebook

3 Extra Entries
Tweet this giveaway (copy and paste text below) 3x per day per length of giveaway

"Halls for allergy symptoms?  Check it out and win at MIBR http://tiny.cc/u1vpo!"

Share this giveaway on FB(copy and paste text below into status box)  3x a day per length of giveaway
"Halls Cough Drops to easy allergy symptoms?  Check it out and win at MIBR http://tiny.cc/u1vpo“

Enter the Pure Romance by Lori giveaway:  http://misadventuresinbabyraising.blogspot.com/2010/09/pure-romance-by-lori-sweetest-day.html
Vote in the Dean’s Dip Recipe Bowl:  http://misadventuresinbabyraising.blogspot.com/2010/10/deans-dip-recipe-bowlvote-for-your.html

5 Extra Entries

Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post

This giveaway ends on October 19 , 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize; failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.

US ONLY PLEASE!

"This post was written for Family Review Network & HALLS who provided the complimentary product for review and giveaway in exchange for my honest review"

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Space Bag {Review}

I have a confession, I am a closet perfectionist!  Messes make me anxious, dirtiness makes me cringe, and clutter makes me twitch—I just despise it all.  Unfortunately I have no choice but to live with clutter as our current house offers very little in the way of storage space.  I am forced to get creative with organization and it becomes a necessity to be clever when it comes to utilizing the storage space we do have.

I learned a few years ago one of the best tricks for utilizing storage space—Space Bag.  I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials on television and the products in stores, but have you ever tried them?  If not, you should.  Space Bags have been an invaluable tool for helping me tackle the clutter in my house and the uses for Space Bags don’t end at storing clothing!  While I do most certainly use my Space Bags to store off season clothing and bedding they have so many uses—some may even surprise you!  From storing craft and school supplies to organizing the garage and helping make packing simpler, Space Bag has a million different uses for around the house and travel!  The Space Saver community offers readers a wealth of information for using Space Bag products, packing tips, and organization tricks to help keep your home clutter free! 
Recently I was asked to do a review for Space Bag, and since I use them all of the time and love them so much it seemed like a no brainer to say yes!  I was sent an assortment of Space Bag products (from small bags—perfect for craft supplies) to the largest of the bags—perfect for just about anything) to review and I wasted no time getting things organized and cleaning up the clutter with them!  One of the biggest challenged I face around my house is finding somewhere to store the endless amounts of out of season clothing that I find myself accumulating—it is a nightmare of gigantic proportions!  Below you can see how easy it is to use the Space Bag products to store large amounts of stuff quickly and efficiently! 

2 large pillows and 1 large Space Bag.

 

Use your vacuum cleaner to expel the air out of the bag.

Viola! 

I also wanted to let you all know about a great contest that Space Bag is sponsoring right now called Clean that Closet Challenge!  You could win a $1000 gift certificate to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and a consultation with professional organizer Kathi Burns—how cool would that be?  So make sure you head on over and check out the contest!

Buy it:  You can purchase Space Bag products online and at several retailers nationwide!

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Green Golly Kids CD {Review and Giveaway}

 *Updated at Bottom With Winner!*

My children love music; from rock and pop to country and blues, they all have rather eclectic tastes when it comes to what they listen to.  There is one genre of music however, that they don’t seem too fond of—classical.  While I can certainly appreciate the beauty and history of classical music, my children prefer hard hitting drum beats and catchy pop lyrics.  That doesn’t mean I don’t try to encourage them to listen and appreciate classical music, it’s just a little more difficult to pull off than say Justin Beiber.
A few weeks ago I was approached to do a review for Green Golly & Her Golden Flute and I was more than happy to check it out—I just hoped my children would be as receptive as I was.  First let me start by telling you a little bit about Green Golly.  Green Golly & Her Golden Flute combines classical music, humor, and amazing storytelling in a children’s CD.  Green Golly (by Flute Sweet and Tickletoon also known as Barbara Siesel and Keith Torgan) introduces children to classical music in a way that my children have never experienced.  Green Golly takes the much loved tale of Rapunzel and gives it a new and refreshing twist. 

“Rapunzel may have suffered isolation and distress during her days trapped in that big old tower, but her alter ego, Green Golly, has a wonderful golden flute to express her deepest feelings and a large stack of music by the world’s greatest composers to explore.  A keen observer of all that whizzes by her window, Green Golly is inclined to rely on her musical abilities to help her unravel the mysteries of life in this funny, engaging tale of romance and rescue, interwoven with works of Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Gossec, Elgar, Bizet, Chopin, and Copland.

As produced by Randall Keith Horton – chosen by Duke Ellington as his composing and conducting assistant, succeeding Billy Strayhorn – the heart of Green Golly & Her Golden Flute is the gorgeous sound that world class flutist Barbara Siesel creates, making music by some of the greatest composers of the 19th and 20th centuries come alive with an impeccable sense of style and phrasing.  Add to that the frolicsome energy and fun of Keith Torgan’s storytelling and guitar playing, and you have an album that’s truly something extraordinary in children’s entertainment. Torgan fairly dances through the voices of the new characters he’s created to grace the beloved old tale, from Vlotek the Gypsy to Mousey Tongue. “

As I mentioned above my children are not too fond of classical music so I was very anxious to see how they would respond to Green Golly.  On a car ride to the grocery store I decided to pop in the Green Golly CD for my youngest children.  Honestly I expected them to ask me to turn on their music, but was amazed to look back a few minutes into the CD to see them completely engaged and enjoying the funny story and beautiful music!  I too found myself smiling and laughing at the humorous way the story was told, of course my favorite part was the music, and it was amazing.  I knew Green Golly was a hit when we arrived at the grocery store and my son told me—“No mom I not go in…I listen to this.” I can only assume that meant he liked it!
Buy it:  You can purchase the Green Golly CD online here.
One lucky Misadventures in Baby Raising reader won’t have to wait to purchase the CD because I have a copy to give away to one lucky winner!
Win it:  To be entered into this giveaway please tell me which piece of music from the CD you think your child(ren) would like best (track list can be found here.)  This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are counted.
Extra Entries:  Please leave separate comments for each extra entry option.
Follow MIBR via Google Friend Connect:  2 extra entries
Follow MIBR via Email:  2 extra entries
Follow MIBR via RSS Feed:  2 extra entries
Grab MIBR’s button (located on the sidebar near the bottom):  2 extra entries
Follow MIBR on Twitter:  2 extra entries
Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (please include @Allie_23 in your tweets and please leave the link to your tweet in the comments):  2 tweets per day per length of giveaway
Become a Fan of MIBR on Facebook:  2 extra entries
Share this giveaway on Facebook:  2 extra entries
Enter any of the other giveaways on MIBR:  1 extra entry per additional giveaway entry
Blog about this giveaway with links to this post:  5 extra entries
This giveaway ends on Thursday June 12 , 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post (winner will also be emailed).  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim his prize, failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.

And the Winner is?

May 29, 2010 3:50 PM 3

Romapr

Following MIBR via Google Friend Connect #2

Congrats!  You have 48 hours to contact me!

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2nd. Annual Fun in the Sun BLOG PARTY!

With all the spring flowers and gorgeous sunshine I think it’s the perfect time for a BLOG PARTY!  I couldn’t be more excited that summer is on it’s way and I want all of my AMAZING readers to be excited as well so Misadventures in Baby Raising is having it’s 2nd annual Fun in the Sun blog party!  Remember last year’s party?  You can check that out here!  This year I’ve added fun products for moms and dads too so make sure you check out all of the reviews…you might find something for you to have fun in the sun!

WHO:  Well me of course!

WHAT:  A super spectacular FUN IN THE SUN blog party extravaganza!

WHERE :  Right here on MIBR!

WHEN:  May 1-8 Mark your bloggy calendars so you don’t miss a minute of the fun, reviews, and awesome giveaways!

WHY:  Well that’s easy…because I LOVE all of my readers so much that I though y’all deserved a BIG Party!

RSVP:  Grab our FUN IN THE SUN button and put it on your blog!  If you grab the button before May 1st (the start of the party) then you automatically get 5 extra entries into ALL of the FITS giveaways! 

<center><a href="http://misadventuresinbabyraising.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/aproffitt79/FITSbutton3-1.jpg" /></a></center>

And here’s a sneak peak at some of the sponsors of the Fun in the Sun blog party! 

    

 
 If you grab the FITS button please leave a comment on this post letting me know you did!  Also if you blog about the upcoming blog party before May 1st I will give you 5 extra entries into the giveaway of your choice (remember the option to blog about a giveaway is included in each post so this will be 5 more on top of that on one giveaway).
I hope to see you all there on Saturday!

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Gummy Lump review

All of my children have extremely active imaginations; my oldest daughter love to play restaurant and pretend that they are school teachers teaching a room of imaginary students, and that creativity has started to rub off on the babies.

A couple of weeks ago my son walked up to me with an empty plate and a smile and said, “Mommy eat pizza!” He had made me a pretend plate of pizza and couldn’t have been more proud of himself, it was then I knew that I needed to get both a play kitchen and lots of play food for my babies to get creative with.

Around the same time I received something from Gummy Lump toys to review that my kids were very excited about; the Slice and Bake Cookie Play Food Set by Melissa and Doug. I always get pretty excited when I find new places to buy toys for my kids and when I find toys that are the quality of this one. The Slice and Bake Cookie play food set is not only adorable it’s also wooden which means that it will undoubtedly last my destructive little ones rough play. The wooden set comes with 12 cookies, 18 adorable toppings, knife, spatula, cookie sheet, and kitchen mitt; everything your future pastry chef needs to serve up some fun!

Of course the Slice and Bake Cookie Play Food set is not the only thing from Gummy Lump that I found and fell in love with…there was the Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand, and the Rock and Trot Plush Rocking Horse.

Buy it! You can purchase the Slice and Bake Cookie Play Food Set by Melissa and Doug on Gummy Lump’s website!

You can see this toy and many others in Misadventures in Baby Raising’s Holiday Gift Guide!

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Dean’s Dip Giveaway! CLOSED

While I love the holiday season, I find it very stressful. Gifts to buy and wrap, events to attend and enjoy, and parties…it’s the holiday parties that stress me the most. I love having the chance to catch up with family and friends that I haven’t seen in a while but I detest worrying over what I’m going to bring to each holiday party we attend.

I’ve been a fan of Dean’s Dips for quite some time, given my aversion to cooking, premade dips are right up my alley. It seems that no matter what party I go to I always end up getting roped into doing a veggie tray (maybe they’ve all figured out that I can’t cook) and I always make sure to include a cool, creamy container of Dean’s Dip in the middle. When I was given the chance to do a review for Dean’s Dip I was more than willing considering I’ll be spending a small fortune on Dean’s in the next couple of weeks.

Dean’s Dip comes in a variety of flavors including French Onion ( a favorite at our house), Ranch, Creamy Taco, Guacamole, Skinny Dips (a lighter more figure-friendly version of the originals), and even Pretzel Dips. We chose to review the French Onion Dip for a couple of reasons; (1) we love French Onion so it seemed like an obvious choice and (2) our WalMart had only one variety of Dean’s Dip (really WalMart?). I think besides the taste (which rocks) I really appreciate the fact that it’s super affordable and very creamy.

You can also click on the banner below and enter the Dean’s Dipstakes Sweepstakes to win all kinds of cool prizes including the Grand Prize…the Ultimate Home Entertainment Center!

The Dean’s Dip website also have some really yummy recipes that would be a great addition to your holiday party! I think the Fire Cracker Chipotle Spread is definitely on my list!

Fire Cracker Chipotle Spread

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• ½ cup Dean’s Ranch Dip
• 2 teaspoons finely minced canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, or to taste
• 4 ounces (1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 thinly-sliced green onion
• Assorted crackers for serving

Directions:

Combine Dean’s Ranch Dip and chipotle pepper; mix well. Mix in cheese. Garnish with sliced green onion. Serve with crackers for spreading.

Dean’s Dip Tip: For an extra, extra spicy dip, use shredded Pepper Jack Cheese.

And just in time for the holidays Dean’s is giving one (1) lucky Misadventures in Baby Raising reader a Dean’s Prize Pack to help you kick up your holiday party! One winner will receive 3 vouchers for FREE Dean’s dip, a stadium blanket, and a Dip tray.

Win it! To be entered in this giveaway please leave a comment on this post telling me which dip you would like to try most. This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are eligible!

Extra Entries: All extra entry methods are worth 3 extra entries…make sure to leave separate comments for each!

• Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising on Blogger.
• Subscribe to Misadventures in Baby Raising by Email
• Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising on Twitter (please leave your Twitter ID in your comment so I can follow back).
• Tweet this giveaway (be sure to include @Allie_23 in your tweet)…please limit your tweets to twice per day.
• Become a Fan of Misadventures in Baby Raising on Facebook.
• Post about this giveaway on Facebook (you can do this quickly and easily with the FB Share button in the right top corner of this post).
• Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising on Networked Blogs.
• Become a Fan of Dean’s on Facebook.
• Enter any of my other giveaways.
• Comment on any non-giveaway post.
• Stumble this post (the post not the site).
• Favorite this post to Technorati.
• Blog about this giveaway with links to Dean’s Facebook page and this post…10 extra entries!

This giveaway ends on Monday December 21, 2009 @ 11:59 PM EDT. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in this post! Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize, failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting their prize and me choosing a new winner.

US Residents Only please!

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Eat Your Sweets and Keep Your Teeth Too…Giveaway!

**Updated at Bottom With Winner**

Thanks to all who entered!

With the holiday season in full swing it’s only a matter of time before we’re attending holiday parties and overindulging on cakes and candies. I know that no matter how hard I try I cannot seem to turn down all the heavenly sweets that await me at the holiday parties I attend…hey it’s Christmas we’re supposed to overindulge…right? Of course, I do worry when all is said and done about how negatively those sugary sweets have affected my teeth, but I’ve got a secret weapon on my side…Listerine.

Just in time for the holidays Listerine wants to help you “Eat Your Sweets and Keep Your Teeth Too” sounds good to me. This season Listerine is rolling out a collection of festively packaged products that make the perfect stocking stuffers. The people at Listerine want to help you get in the holiday spirit by spending some time together as a family, and what better way to do that than by making a gingerbread house?



The Williams Sonoma No-Bake gingerbread house kit is a great way for the whole family to have some fun and make some yummy memories. The family-friendly kit includes a building tray for the foundation, sturdy precut gingerbread walls and colorful (and yummy) candy decorations. The gingerbread house is easily assembled and is sure to create lasting holiday memories you and your loved ones will cherish.

Of course, after all that fun and lots of candy Listerine has a few great products to make sure your smile is still picture perfect for holiday photos!

Brush away gingerbread crumbs with the new exclusive brushes from Reach. You’ll have no problem getting your little one to brush with the festive patterns on these brushes; I have a feeling mom and dad may think brushing with these tooth brushes is a little more fun as well. And with these new and improved brushes that are designed to clean and remove more plaque in hard to reach places, your smile will thank you!

A perfect stocking stuffer and the perfect quick fix for a burst of fresh breath; Listerine PocketPacks are perfect for every occasion.

Take care of your sweet tooth with Listerine Antiseptic and Listerine Total Care. Now I have to say that I LOVE the Listerine Total Care…it is by far WAY up at the top of my Top 5 favorite products of 2009! I have seen a huge difference in the health of my teeth since I started using the Listerine Total Care so this product is a must have! And the travel sized bottles make this another great stocking stuffer!

Help make cavity prevention fun and festive for the kiddo(s) in your life with these cute holiday themed Listerine Smart Rinse bottles. Listerine Smart Rinse is a fluoride mouth rinse especially designed for kids to help protect against cavities.

Need a little help getting your pearly whites sparkling in time for holiday photos? With Rembrandt’s Intense Stain Toothpaste it’s a breeze.

Since I know how much my readers love hearing about all of these great products, and since the people at Listerine are so generous they are giving one Misadventures in Baby Raising reader all of the products listed above! Yes you read it correctly 1 of my lovely readers is going to win all of the afore mentioned goodies from Listerine, a $50 Value!

Win it! To be entered into this giveaway please leave me a comment on this post telling me what your favorite Listerine product is and why. This is mandatory and must be completed before you are eligible for any extra entries.

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

• Subscribe to Misadventures in Baby Raising via Email…2 extra entries!





• Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising via Google Friend Connect…2 extra entries!





• Follow Misadventures in Baby Raising on Twitter…2 extra entries!





• Become a Fan of Misadventures in Baby Raising on Twitter…2 extra entries!





• Grab one (or all) of my buttons…2 extra entries each!





• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this:





• Enter and of my other giveaways…2 extra entries each!





• Blog about this giveaway…5 extra entries!

This giveaway ends on Friday December 18, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in this post. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me and claim their prize. Failure to contact me in the given amount of time will result in the winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing another winner via a Live giveaway.

US Entries Only Please!

Winning number is:

Winning comment is:

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