As They Grow Up

YoBaby Organic Yogurt from Stonyfield Farms #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:59:00 +0000

I confess I'm not a fan of yogurt. However all of my kids simply love it. While I don't eat it I really am thrilled that they do! It is such an easy food to keep on hand and feed them. It is packed with ingredients and nutrients that I feel good about giving to them! We recently had the opportunity to try YoBaby Yogurt from Stonyfield . This yogurt is located in your grocery's cold section in a convenient 4 pack. Jace really loved the blueberry flavor and repeatedly said, "Mmmm". It was creamy and cold so I know that is why he enjoyed it! I really like that it is organic. It is really important to me to give him foods that are as natural as possible.

Additional product information:

Certified organic. Because YoBaby is certified organic, you know it’s made without the use of persistent pesticides. That’s especially important for babies, because their little bodies are more vulnerable to pesticide exposure. YoBaby is also made without the use of synthetic growth hormones or antibiotics.

Helps support brain development. We make YoBaby from whole milk, which helps support healthy brain development. Pediatricians recommend whole milk for babies and toddlers up to two years.

Helps support baby’s immune system. One serving of YoBaby provides 25% of your baby’s daily need for zinc, the mineral that helps support a healthy immune system.

Helps support growth. Each serving of YoBaby provides at least 25% of your baby’s daily needs for calcium, protein, and vitamin D, plus other nutrients essential for babies’ growth.

Six live active cultures. Like all our yogurts, YoBaby contains our exclusive blend of six cultures, including the probiotic L. rhamnosus.

Flavors:

Simply Plain
Banana
Vanilla
Peach
Blueberry

YoBaby is available at most major grocery stores and I found it also at Target. You can use their store locator to find a local store near you.

WIN,WIN,WIN

One lucky reader will win a Gift Pack from StonyField which includes an Eric Carle Growth Chart and coupons for YoBaby Yogurts!!

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One winner will be chosen ! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Feb 26 , 2011. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.The winner will be emailed.

~ Lisa

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Stonyfield for providing a product to test.

Savings from Leading Lady!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:36:00 +0000

LEADING LADY wants women everywhere to slip into “sexy” with a new bra and the perfect fit to enhance their curves!

New fans can “Like” them on Facebook for an introductory 10% discount code. All of their fans can Tweet "I LOVE @LeadingLadyBras” TODAY and on VALENTINE’S DAY and receive a 10% discount code. The codes can be used at our e-boutique during the entire month of February. If you are needing a new nursing bra or just a normal bra you don't want to miss out on these savings! Be sure to check out the Free Shipping on orders over $50!

Dollar General Black History Month #Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:36:00 +0000

In celebration of black history month, Coca-Cola is offering Dollar General customers a chance to win a family trip for up to 10 people to the 2012 Essence Music Festival. The Essence Music Festival – which takes place July 6 through 8 – is the country’s largest annual African-American music and empowerment event.

The Honor Heritage Sweepstakes is part of Dollar General’s Black History Month celebration, the first of several Dollar General initiatives honoring “Every Day Heroes.” The year-long program will honor community heroes – from the firemen and veterans to teachers and caregivers.

This is an awesome sweepstakes and I encourage all my readers to enter! Along with the trip to New Orleans, anyone who purchase qualifying products may also be eligible to win instant prizes, including $50 and $25 in Live Nation Concert Cash. For a chance to win, Dollar General shoppers can check their receipt for a special code upon purchasing qualifying products. You can find out more details and enter by visiting them at http://www.dollargeneral.com. This ends on February 26th, so go enter now!!

WIN,WIN,WIN

Dollar General Price Pack that includes:

Olay® Firming Night of Olay Cream, CoverGirl® LashBlast 24 Hour Mascara, Febreze® Auto in Linen & Sky scent, a Dollar General calculator and a key chain.

MANDATORY ENTRY:

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Why would you like to win this giveaway?

EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

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Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

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Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 28, 2012. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be emailed.

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Dollar General for providing a product to test.

Dora The Explorer: Dora's Easter Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:21:00 +0000

This Easter preschoolers can help Dora and Boots save the Hip-Hop Bunny’s basket of eggs in Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Easter Adventure. This perfect Easter gift features an exciting collection of adventures all new-to-DVD, and includes tons of DVD exclusive special features, including five Karaoke music videos and an interactive play mode game. And for a limited-time only, you can receive a $3-off coupon for the DVD when you visit NickelodeonDVDCoupon.com.

Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Easter Adventure Episode Synopses:

Dora’s Easter Adventure

Dora and Boots are waiting for their friend, the Hip-Hop Bunny, to bring his basket filled with eggs and treats for their big egg hunt. Just as the Bunny arrives at the forest, Swiper swipes the basket and throws it far into the Rainbow Garden – where it’s headed for a waterfall! It’s Dora and Boots to the rescue as they join the Bunny on an Easter Day Adventure singing the Hip-Hop Bunny’s Easter song, going past the scratchy flowers at the Garden and racing down the Rainbow River on a giant rubber ducky to save the basket.

Plus Two Bonus Episodes!
The Grumpy Old Troll Gets Married
Dora in Troll Land

Special Features:
Dora’s Easter Adventure: Interactive Play Mode
Karaoke Music Videos
“Busca Los Cascarones”
“Row Row Row”
“On Our Way to Troll Land”
“The Grumpy Old Troll Getting Married”
“We Did It!”

Dora The Explorer: Dora's Easter Adventure is the perfect DVD to help get your little one ready for Easter! This DVD will be released on February 14 with a suggested retail price of $16.99. My four year old loved it and I'm sure your little one will too!

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Nickelodeon and Paramount for providing a product to test.

Great American FreshOver Giveaway from Ziploc

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:08:00 +0000

Ziploc Brand has a new promotion going on called The Great American FreshOver Project. They are also giving one of my readers a prize pack that includes assorted Ziploc products, cooking utensils,and Rachel Ray’ Look + Cook cookbook. The prize is worth $100!

The giveaway info, including how to enter is near the bottom of this post. First, here’s how you can get started on The Great American FreshOver Project:

“Like” the Ziploc Brand Facebook page, which offers FreshOver tips, along with suggestions on how a variety of Ziploc Brand Containers and Bags can make it easy for you and your readers to makeover their meals and incorporate more fresh and nutritious foods into their daily diets.

Download the free, customizable FreshOver Recipe Guide at Facebook.com/Ziploc, which is full of Rachael Ray’s quick, nutritious and simple solutions to eating fresh.

Track your FreshOver™ Project on Facebook, watch exclusive videos and tips from Rachael Ray, and enjoy prizes, ZiplocBrand coupons and more.

Test your food-prepping skills against Rachael Ray in the Cooking Chops game, with $250 worth of instant prizes given out daily as levels are completed; fans that complete all five levels will be entered for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize.

Best of all, by participating in this program, you can help others! As a part of the FreshOver mission, Ziploc Brand will be donating to Rachael Ray’s non-profit organization – Yum-O! Fans can support the cause by “pledging” to start their families FreshOver project and download Rachael’s exclusive FreshOver Recipe Guide on Facebook.com/Ziploc.

WIN,WIN,WIN

As I mentioned above, one lucky As They Grow Up Reader will read a FreshOver Giveaway prize pack which includes the tools to start your FreshOver and an assortment of Ziploc products.

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A VALID Email Address)

What was the last thing you used a Ziploc Bag for?

EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry

Follow Ziploc on Facebook

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

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Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

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Become a fan of As They Grow Up on Facebook

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Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 18, 2012. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be emailed.

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Ziplock for providing a prize pack to giveaway.

Summers Closet Aprons #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:11:00 +0000

Summers Closet is a great little online store that sells handmade designer clothing for women and children. We recently had the opportunity to test out their Aprons. We received a Grillmaster, Grillmaster Jr and one for Mr. Bear as well! I have to say these are beautifully made! They feature high quality fabric and pocket detail. We choose ours to say, "Kiss the Cook." My boys were so excited that I didn't even get to wear it yet! Austin my oldest took the adult sized and Xander wore the junior size and we made a batch of brownies. Cooking with children is so much fun and it is a great life lesson for them to learn for sure! I'm sure that we will get many years of use out of them as well because it won't be long before my big boys will be out of the house but I'll still have Jace who is growing up fast!

As you can see we had a great time making brownies together. Of course the best part was eating them!

Summers Closet has a variety of Aprons as well as robes, Mommy & Me and many other styles. They also are participating in something called Mommy's Hope. They are providing Mommy & Me Aprons to family's with Moms that are fighting breast cancer. You can donate a set or purchase selected merchandise that have proceeds going towards a set of Aprons. I love this because I lost my own Mom to her battle with Breast Cancer when I was 17. She had been sick for many years before and I think this is a great pick me up for families.

You can purchase aprons like these directly from Summers Closet as well as other beautiful clothing.

WIN,WIN,WIN

One lucky reader will win a set of Aprons from Summers Closet!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)
Visit Summers Closet and come back here and tell me what other product you are interested in.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry:

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Like Summers Closet on Facebook!

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Add As They Grow Up Button to your blog and leave a link so that I can find it

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Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Summers Closet for providing a product to test.

Stonz Wear Children's Booties: Not Just Limited to Winter #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:39:00 +0000

When it comes to shoes I wouldn't really consider myself a shoe fanatic. However, when it comes to boots I love them! I have rain boots, snow boots, cowgirl boots and every type of boot in between. Caroline on the other hand absolutely loves all types of shoes at a mere fifteen months old! A room full of toys can't quite do what a little pile of shoes can do for her. She will sit and analyze each shoe and try to put them on her feet one at a time. Thanks to Stonz she officially has a new pair of Booties to add to her collection.

Stonz is Canadian based company that is commonly known for their multifunctional Booties. Stonz Booties can be layered up or down so that they can be worn in the spring, fall or winter. Each pair of Booties comes with two adjustable toggles that help keep the booties on. The outer shell is a water and wind-resistant coated nylon and the inside is nicely lined with warm fleece. All Stonz Booties styles are available in sizes S, M, L for newborn to 2.5 years. Select styles are also available in size XL which is for 2-3 years. There are styles specifically for girls and boys and they even offer Booties that can be unisex.

We received the Light Pink Daisy Booties in a size large. These are currently too big for Caroline but I am certain she will get plenty of wear out of them in the coming months. They are extremely lightweight and easy to take on and off which is wonderful for little ones who are impatient getting socks and shoes on. The soles on these Booties are skid-resistant which is recommended for developing feet. I also love the fact that Stonz Booties can simply be thrown in the washing machine without worrying about ruining any of the material. Stonz Booties retail for $44.99 and can be purchased directly on www.stonzwear.com. In my opinion, these booties are well worth the money considering they are not limited to a particular season.

Although Stonz is known for their Booties, they also offer a nice selection of reasonably priced hats and mittens for ages 0-5+. If you are looking for a versatile, high-quality pair of boots for your child or a nice warm hat or pair of mittens, I highly recommend visiting Stonz.

WIN, WIN, WIN

Stonz is giving one lucky reader a pair of Booties

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A VALID Email Address)

Visit Stonz and come back here and tell me which pair of Booties catch your eye

EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter

Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)

Become a fan of As They Grow Up on Facebook

Subscribe to As They Grow Up Via Email (Be sure to VERIFY your subscription)

Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 25 , 2012. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be emailed.

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Stonz for providing a product to test.

For What It's Worth ... Love, Dad Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:31:00 +0000

I was excited to dive into For What It's Worth... Love, Dad : Things I always meant to tell you, if only we'd had the time by Bruce Smith. This book was amazing. It is a Father's Love Letter to his grown children. This book made me smile as I could relate as a parent and it even brought a tear to my eyes (Chapter: Bedtime.) I even laughed out loud as I read the chapter titled Richard and Dad Go Fishing (And Richard learns some new words.)

Many times we see the Mom's point of view. Mom's are supposed to love their little ones and they often seem to have the main focus. This book shows how Bruce Smith put the time in with his children and how much he truly enjoyed his role as a Father. It is a collection of life stories about his family and experiences with his children as well as some little quotes. The quotes are priceless.

I plan sharing this book with my kids as they get older. I really think they will see the value in the stories. It is one of those things you could give to your child that is moving out for the first time. Perhaps I'll include a letter of my own with some of our personal stories and life lessons in my words.

Additional information:

"For What it’s Worth…Love, Dad: Things I always wanted to tell you, if only we’d had the time” (ISBN 1466499176), a collection of essays by Bruce Smith, is the author’s expression of love to his children in the form of short, touching memoirs and pithy life lessons.

Smith says that the most satisfying job he ever held is being a good father to his children – and that parenting doesn’t stop when our children leave home. In this often humorous and sometimes touching book he offers a tribute to the memories he shares with them and powerful examples of what it means to be a family. Addressing a broad range of themes including the fear felt when a family member is in danger, how to recognize and make right choices and the importance of trust, the book is full of anecdotes and common sense that any family can relate to.

“I began writing the book because I didn’t want my children to ever think we had left anything unsaid,” says Smith. “And ended up celebrating the life we’ve shared, giving them something to carry forward in life.”
The idea for the book came about when Smith’s grown daughter emailed him seeking marital advice. He wrote her back, offering what he hoped was sage advice and signed the email “For What it’s Worth, Love Dad,” which led him to think of many other trials his children might yet face and the tools they would need to deal with that adversity. The result is this collection. Written to engage, entertain and inspire, the book is aimed at children and parents of all backgrounds. - PR NEWS CHANNEL

I hope you will take the time to read this book for yourself. You can purchase your own copy on Amazon.com.

~ Lisa

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Bruce Smith for providing a product to test.

It's Cake. It's Candy. It's Cakedy. Minnesota's Candy Bar #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:59:00 +0000

One of my biggest weaknesses is sweets. I love just about anything that has to do with chocolate or cake. However, if I am going to take in the extra calories I want my sweets to be good and not just o.k. I want to actually taste the flavor and enjoy it. For those of you who are like me and who enjoy a sweet treat now and again, wouldn't it be neat to have cake and a candy bar all rolled into one? Thanks to Cakedy, there is!

Cakedy is dubbed as Minnesoa's Candy Bar and currently comes in three different flavors; Peanutter, RedHead and Choco Chocatus. Here is further details on each:
Peanutter: peanut butter cake nougat mixed with butterscotch chips and covered in a chocolate shell
RedHead: strawberry cake nougat mixed with strawberry chips and covered in a vanilla shell
Choco Chocatus: chocolate cake nougat mixed with chocolate mint chips and covered in a chocolate shell

I received a Peanutter and a RedHead Cakedy and let me just say....yum! I really enjoyed the butterscotch chips in the Peanutter and I liked the fact that the RedHead offered something other than a milk chocolate. The insides were moist and each bar comes individually wrapped and is nicely proportioned. The best part about it was the fact that I didn't have to share being that my husband hates sweets and the kids were sleeping. Of course, I am sure I am paying for it with slightly tighter jeans!

Cakedy's are sold by the 3 pack and retail for $4.99. They can be purchased directly from cakedy.com . If you are looking for a unique gift, a treat for the classroom or office, or even just for yourself I highly recommend Cakedy!

WIN, WIN, WIN

Cakedy is giving one lucky reader a 2 pack of Cakedy's

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A VALID Email Address)

Which Cakedy would you like to try the most?

EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter

Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)

Become a fan of As They Grow Up on Facebook

Subscribe to As They Grow Up Via Email (Be sure to VERIFY your subscription)

Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 24 , 2012. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be emailed.

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Cakedy for providing a product to test.

Jenuinely Pure Bar Soaps #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:20:00 +0000

For Christmas this year my In-laws gave me a basket with some home made soaps in it. I thought it was an odd gift at the time but boy was I wrong. I quickly became hooked! I thought about making my own soaps but after looking into the process I saw that it is very complicated and not something I have the time to devote to right now. My Inlaws had gotten my gift at a craft show so I thought I wonder what is available online because ordering online is so easy.

Well I stumbled onto Jenuinely Pure and WOW! Handmade soaps are not like commercial bar soaps. They don't come in uniformed little bars, each is beautiful with it's ingredients and colors. No two bars look alike! They also smell so much better! That alone is enough for me but the true benefit and why I'm hooked is what happened with my skin. It felt better! I noticed I wasn't as dry as I was after showering. It helped with my patches of psoriasis too ( of course individual results may vary). I think it made bath time something to look forward to because I love lathering up with something that smells so good. Ok and this was the last shocker... John, my husband he liked them too! I thought he would complain because he is usually pretty particular about his shower stuff. We had the opportunity to try all 4 scents Jenuinely Pure offers and our favorites were Cinnamon Oatmeal and Vanilla Bean.

Ingredients:

Cinnamon Oatmeal: Distilled water, saponified oils of olea europaea (olive), organic cocos nucifera (coconut) and organic elaeis guineensis (palm fruit), organic oats, organic ground cinnamon, cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon leaf) essential oil.
Pink Grapefruit: Distilled water, saponified oils of olea europaea (olive), organic cocos nucifera (coconut) and organic elaeis guineensis (palm fruit),confectioner’s sugar, ground paprika, citrus paradise (grapefruit) essential oil
Orange Clove: Distilled water, saponified oils of olea europaea (olive), organic cocos nucifera (coconut) and organic elaeis guineensis (palm fruit),organic orange peel, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) essential oil, eugenia caryophyllus (clove) leaf essential oil
Vanilla Bean: Distilled water, saponified oils of olea europaea (olive), organic cocos nucifera (coconut) and organic elaeis guineensis(palm fruit), vanilla planifolia (vanilla bean) powder, natural vanilla oil

Approx. 4 oz (net wt)

The bars are $4.95 each or 4 bars for $16.96 ($4.24 ea) and can be ordered at JenuinelyPure.com. They also sell additional products for the Body, Face and Baby. Jenuinely Pure is offering our readers and exclusive discount code for 15 % off your order! Just use "ATGU15" when checking out!

WIN,WIN,WIN

One lucky reader will win a set of Homemade soaps from Jenuinely Pure!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)
Visit Jenuinely Pure and come back here and tell me which other product you'd like to try!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry:

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Like Jenuinely Pure on Facebook

Follow Jenuinely Pure on Twitter

Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter

Add As They Grow Up Button to your blog and leave a link so that I can find it

Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)

Follow My Blog (See sidebar)

Become a fan of As They Grow Up on Facebook

Subscribe to As They Grow Up Via Email (Be sure to VERIFY your subscription)

Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen ! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 16 , 2011. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be emailed.

~ Lisa

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Jenuinely Pure for providing a product to test.

Silikids Siliskin 6oz Glass Review and Giveaway #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:53:00 +0000

At four months old my little girl slowly begun using a sippy cup. I remember how unsure of it she was and once she finally got the hang of it she would get the biggest smile like she was quite the pro at it. At almost fifteen months old she still uses a sippy cup but shows a great deal of interest in our cups. She is continuously pointing to our cups and really gets a kick out of using a straw. I eventually got her a sippy with a straw and just as soon as I did that her interest turned to water bottles and regular open top cups.

We recently got the opportunity to try out an awesome cup from Silikids. Silikids was founded in 2006 by two friends who were also mothers naturally concerened about toxic materials in children's products. Silikids is a children's accessory company that is dedicated to making safe, clean and hygienic products out of silicone. Although there are several companies that make silicone products for children, Silikids is the first company to introduce silicone sleeves for glass bottles. Silikids also offers silicone knee pads for crawling little ones as well as glass sleeves for baby food jars and adult glasses.

We received the Siliskin Glass 6oz in lime green. As the name suggests, this cup is glass with a BPA free silicone cover. Glass is known as the cleanest option for drinking and is a great alternative to plastic drink-ware. This cup is small enough for toddlers to easily hold and the Siliskin makes it easy to grip as well as provide protection to the glass itself. The Siliskin Glass 6oz comes in a four pack and can be purchased at www.silikids.com for $25.95.

I will be honest, I was a little reluctant to put this glass in the hands of my fourteen month old. I sat her in the highchair with the cup barely filled with some milk. I stood closely just waiting for a disaster to happen since flinging her cups off the side of the highchair is not an uncommon occurrence. The first couple of sips I guided her and "helped" but was truly amazed at how well she did thereafter. Here is a little video of her drinking out of her big girl cup! We will still use her sippy cup while we are out and about but while we are at home the Siliskin Glass is going to be our go to cup. Here is a short video of her using the Siliskin Glass.

WIN,WIN,WIN

One luck winner will win a Siliskin Glass 6oz cup

MANDATORY ENTRY:
(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)
Visit Silikids and come back here and tell me which product(s) you like best

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry:

Like Silikids on Facebook for news and updates
Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter

Add As They Grow Up Button to your blog and leave a link so that I can find it

Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)

Become a fan of As They Grow Up on Facebook

Subscribe to As They Grow Up Via Email (Be sure to VERIFY your subscription)

Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen ! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 23 , 2011. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be emailed.

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Silikids for providing a product to test.

Ball Claw #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:52:00 +0000

I have three little boys. Two of them are not so little anymore though. At 9 & 11 we are starting to really accumulate some stuff around our house. I feel like I buy containers for all their junk and I'm still over run with toys and games. Now forget balls! They are some of the hardest things because shape wise they take up so much room if you put them into a container. With the two boys we have balls for every sport! Ball Claw is a great solution because you can hang them on the wall. They are great to hang in your children's room or even a garage if you don't want that in your kid's bedroom.

Additional information:
The Ball Claw holder is a quick and easy way to organize sport balls in any garage, basement, or child's bedroom. Preserve the life of basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, and footballs while displaying them in an organized fashion. Inside, outside, and in any kind of weather, the Ball Claw is THE way to display, organize, and preserve your sport ball collection.

My thoughts:

I really liked Ball Claw. The kids and I put all their different balls into each size to see how well they fit and it was great. They are easy for children to put their balls in and out which is a big plus. I have yet to hang mine up because we are waiting for the weather to get better. They will be going on the side of our shed so the kids can get to them easily while playing outside. I really think they are a great solution for storage.

You can purchase your own set of Ball Claws on their site or at Amazon.com.

WIN,WIN,WIN

One lucky reader will win a set of 3 Ball Claws ( (1-Basketball Ball Claw, 1-Soccer/Volleyball Ball Claw, 1-Football Ball Claw)

MANDATORY ENTRY:
(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)
Visit Ball Claw and tell me which Ball Claw is right for you.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry:

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter

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Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)

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Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Ball Claw for providing a product to test.

Ready or Not, Here Comes Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:29:00 +0000

It is almost that time of year again when the flowers begin to bloom and days seem a bit longer and sweeter. It’s finally time to break out the garden planters, mini greenhouses and complimentary trellises. Spring is right around the corner making its primary debut on March 20th. This time of year greatly anticipated by nature lovers and gardening enthusiast is a time to get outside, explore and watch as everything bursts back to life.

It’s still a bit frigid in some parts of the states, but that’s alright. This is the perfect time to begin weeding and pruning in preparation for that beautiful garden most have been dreaming about for the last several months while being cooped up with cabin fever. Well, guess what - this can very easily become a reality for anyone. Even with limited space, there are endless possibilities.

Container gardening is ideal for small spaces and introduces various colors and style options to areas. These beautiful and practical planters can infuse any area with new life. Container gardens generally require frequent watering. Self watering planters include a reservoir system that ensures plants get the water they need so watering can occur less often. Garden planters are offered in frost proof as well to hold up against freezing temperatures and protect plants in colder climates so getting an early start on planting is an option.

Creating a personal garden gives a great sense of accomplishment. It’s all about the beauty and the tranquility that it brings. And it’s not just about bringing beauty to surroundings; it also is a reminder to stay close with the earth and be good stewards of the environment.

Window boxes, another form of container gardening, are a nice addition to any home. They add classic touches of elegance to windows, decks or railings. They also add instant style and glamour to an otherwise bland and often overlooked area. These boxes can easily become conversational pieces at spring socials and barbecues as they showcase bold and beautiful blooming annuals or perennials.

Choosing just the right mix of plants and flowers for a personal garden can bring a bit of spring to a home early in the season and be enjoyed throughout the season.

A Minute For Me Book Review #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:11:00 +0000

A Minute For Me : Learning to Savor Sixty Seconds by Megan McDonough is unlike any other book I've read. It is designed like a devotional but the focus is on taking time to learn more about yourself rather than learning about religion. There is a little personal story for each section than a short section that helps you to apply the thought to your life. With our busy schedules often times we don't take the time to focus on ourselves. I know I don't have an hour to devote to 'me time' that would indulgent but it is never going to happen with 3 kids and a husband to tend to. I can however take a few minutes to read a few pages and so that is what made this book work for me! I really enjoyed that I could pick it up when I had a few minutes to spare but then I could think on the Minute for Me section through out my day.

Additional information:

The high price for trying to get everything done is letting yourself become undone. A busy life is an easy place to lose you. Even in a busy life, the greatest gift you can give yourself is the gift of your own attention, discovering from within what is true and authentic. For this self-discovery, exotic travel is optional. Inquiry is mandatory. A Minute for Me gives you the tools that encourage inquiry, including:

Personal short stories to motivate your own exploration and inquiry
Simple 60-second exercises to build your “self-awareness” muscle
Ideas for generating new perspectives that can easily fit into your day without changing your schedule or adding another item on your to-do list

You can think about the past, plan for the future, but the only time you experience life is right here, right now-in this very moment. A Minute for Me helps you live this moment to its fullest.
Maybe that is the ultimate exotic travel-the exploration of your own heart.

You can purchase A Minute For Me on Amazon.com. Also be sure to visit the Author Megan McDonough's website for additional information!

WIN,WIN,WIN

One lucky reader will win a copy of A Minute For Me!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)
Leave me a comment telling me what you would do if you had 30 extra minutes in your day just for you!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry:

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter

Add As They Grow Up Button to your blog and leave a link so that I can find it

Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)

Follow My Blog (See sidebar)

Become a fan of As They Grow Up on Facebook

Subscribe to As They Grow Up Via Email (Be sure to VERIFY your subscription)

Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to A Minute For Me for providing a product to test.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY in Theatres 2/17

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:02:00 +0000

Disney's The Secret World of Arrietty is in theaters 2/17!

About:

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all. From the legendary Studio Ghibli ("Spirited Away," "Ponyo") comes "The Secret World of Arrietty," an animated adventure based on Mary Norton's acclaimed children's book series "The Borrowers."

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to "borrow" scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty's family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of "The Secret World of Arrietty" was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom. The film hits theaters Feb. 17, 2012.

~ Lisa

Halo's SleepSack In Hospital Program!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Did you know that Halo has a great program to replace your hospital blanket with a Halo SleepSack Swaddle. Halo's SleepSacks and Swaddles are some of the most inventive products I've seen. 11 years ago when I had Austin I struggled with swaddling him in a blanket. Now it is so much easier when you can just plop them in and fasten the velcro.

Program Details:

HALO Innovations has been working with hospitals to provide SleepSack Swaddles through its HALO® Safer Way to Sleep Initiative. Today, over 800 hospitals nationwide are taking part in the program and modeling safe sleep practices for new parents right from their child’s first day of life. Leading health organizations agree that modeling proper baby care in the hospital is the single biggest influencer on how parents will care for their baby in home.

• Specially designed HALO® SleepSack® wearable blankets for In-Hospital use, made of durable fabric with easy access to monitor leads.
• FREE safe sleep education materials for parents and staff training.

You can find out more information on Halo's site here and here. If you are interested in purchasing your own Halo SleepSacks you can find them on Amazon.com.

~Lisa

Tassi The Best Way to Keep Your Hair Off Your Face! #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:22:00 +0000

I have longish hair. It comes past my shoulders. One of the biggest problems I have is washing my face and getting my hair all stuck and wet. Last week I went an had a haircut and decided on the crazy idea of bangs. (Not one of my better decisions apparently. I hate them) So now on top of the ends falling forward I have all those little wispy pieces on top getting in the way! Well thankfully I don't have to worry anymore!! I received a Tassi to try and I just love it! It is so easy to put on. The thing I like best is it isn't stiff like a traditional headband so your hairstyle doesn't suffer one bit! Tassi is basically a big stretchable band that you can tuck your hair into. It comes in a variety of colors so there really is a choice for everyone!

Here is a video showing how to use Tassi:

Play. Watch. AAHA! from RZN8 Media on Vimeo.

My thoughts:

I really liked how easy to use Tassi is. It is also compact enough that you can toss it in your make up bag or draw without it taking up a lot of space. Truly the best part though is that it isn't going to mess up your hair and it saves it from getting all wet. It really is the best way to keep your hair off your face when washing or applying makeup. I've even wore it in the shower to help keep my hair dry and off my face!

You can purchase Tassi on their website at Tassicompany.com or on Amazon.com.

WIN,WIN,WIN

Five (5) lucky readers will each win their own Tassi!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)
Visit Tassicompany.com and tell me which color you like best!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry:

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

Follow Tassi on Twitter

"Like" Tassi on Facebook

Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter

Add As They Grow Up Button to your blog and leave a link so that I can find it

Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)

Follow My Blog (See sidebar)

Become a fan of As They Grow Up on Facebook

Subscribe to As They Grow Up Via Email (Be sure to VERIFY your subscription)

Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen ! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 20 , 2011. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.The winner will be emailed.

~ Lisa

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Tassi for providing a product to test.

Get little feet ready for Spring with Umi Shoes! #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:10:00 +0000

When my four year old hears me mention Umi Shoes his little face lights up. Umi shoes are his absolute favorite brand of shoes and one that has yet to fail me. These shoes are awesome for every day wear and have always held up fantastic!!

As most of you know over this past year Umi Shoes has added Umi Baby and recently added Umi Sport. Now the Umi Sport excited my four year old beyond belief, but I know I will still be added the traditional Umi style to his collection as well. Since he is now old enough to pick out the ones he wants, he chose the Umi Sport Shane. They are very easy for him to get on and if you ask him, he says they make him run really fast!

The Umi Sport Shane has the sleek styling of a European athletic shoe but is made to withstand every thing that little feet can put them through! They are very light weight and are apparently very comfortable. These have to be comfortable since my four year old never wants to take them off! They also offer a removable, machine washable anti-bacterial footbed that helps to keep little feet fresh!

Close up of the Umi Sport Shane

Now let's talk about Umi Baby. These came out before my one year old started walking, so I opted to not give them a try for the last review. When I do a review I want to be able to test out the entire product and since he wasn't walking at the time i knew I wouldn't be able to test out every thing. Can I now say I am kicking myself? These shoes are awesome!

Little Luke has fat little feet and in the past I have had to search high and low to find a shoe wide enough and comfortable enough to fit his foot. I wasn't sure how Umi Shoes would fit him since in the past they have always fit my four year old with a slim foot perfect, but I had no reason to worry.

We picked out the Umi Baby Weelie shoe for Luke in a size 22 and they fit great. His other shoes were size 6 and his toe was slowly getting to the end so I really feel that these Umi Baby shoes offer a true to size fit! They are very easy to get on and I love the flexibility.

Here is Luke wearing his Umi Baby shoes around the house as a house slipper. This tells me that they are comfortable on his little feet since he wants to wear them ALL the time! The minute I take them off, he brings them to me to put them back on. I will admit that I am guilty of hiding them from him from time to time. That's how much he loves them.

Being a ham showing off his Umi Baby Shoes

I tried to get an action shot but that was pretty much impossible. The kid runs like crazy in these shoes and every shot I tried to get ended up blurry. I did manage to snap a quick one looking down as he was waiting for a snack to give you all an idea of how they look with pants.

This is an awesome style and can easily go with his causal every day clothes and even his dress clothes. All in all I would highly recommend these shoes for any little one out there.

If you are currently looking to add new Spring shoes for your little ones, do check out Umi! They have such a wide selection and I personally highly recommend them.

WIN,WIN,WIN

$60 Umi Gift Card

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A VALID Email Address)

Visit Umi and take a look around, then come back here and tell me what shoe you would get if you won the giveaway

EXTRA ENTRIES:

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Follow Umi on Facebook

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Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

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Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

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Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 27, 2012. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be emailed.

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Umi Shoes for providing a product to test.

Blogger Call-in Conference with Commissioner Bruno & Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:53:00 +0000

On Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Commissioner of the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and OEM's Deputy Commissioner for External Affairs Christina Farrell held a blogger call in session. The focus of this session was spreading the word on being Prepared. "Be your family's first responder," said Bruno in his opening statements.

Here is a recap of the tips:

1) Make a Plan / Write an emergency plan that includes:

· The names and contact information for important people in your support network.

· An out-of-state contact (out-of-state telephone exchanges can usually be reached even when emergencies overwhelm local phone lines).

· Important health information such as allergies, special medical conditions, medications, blood type, doctors names and phone numbers and health insurance information.

· Emergency transportation and communication plans.

· Evacuation and sheltering plans and emergency meeting places.

2) Gather Supplies / Gather emergency supplies for your homes and also put together a Go Bag with a personalized collection of things you would need if you were forced to leave their home in a hurry. Examples of suggested supplies include:

· A first aid kit

· Flashlight with extra batteries

· Water and food

· Battery operated AM/FM radio

· List of medications

· Extra set of keys

· Cash

· Copies of important documents such as passports, drivers licenses and credit cards

3) Get Informed / Have contact information for a number of government, private, and non-profit service providers who can assist during emergencies. Also include contact information for personal resource providers. Resources in the OEM guide include:

· OEM

· Department for the Aging

· Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities

· Hurricane Zone Finder

· Notify NYC

· American Red Cross

Question & Answers from Call-in:

1. What can the city offer to those not fluent in English during an emergency?

The Office of Emergency Management offers various preparedness guides that are currently developed in up to 23 languages. These can all be downloaded at www.nyc.gov/readyny . Further, OEM has the ability to communicate in 170 languages if needed and language assistance is available on 3-1-1.

2. What can residents look to OEM for help with in preparing for the new threats each season brings?

It’s necessary to be prepared all year round, but because different seasons often bring different types of emergencies OEM has developed specific information for these variables. Checking back to the OEM website www.nyc.gov/oem each season will offer critical tools, tips and guides to help residents prepare for extreme heat or frigid temperatures, hurricane and storm evacuation plans and special tips for pets, children and elderly.

3. Does OEM communicate directly to public schools when emergencies are present (so parents can always assume that schools are aware of situations by the time they have found out)?

OEM is in constant communication with the Department of Education, as well as all emergency agencies. However, the best way for parents to be informed as situations develop is through NOTIFY NYC (found at www.nyc.gov/notifynyc). NOTIFY NYC offers people the ability to select the types of updates you want based upon topics and regions of the city most important to you.

4. How does OEM recommend communicating plans and steps to younger children?

OEM has many tools and tips available but responsibility ultimately lies with parents to teach and instruct their children at the earliest ages. Parents should frequently practice these situations with their children and find ways to make it fun for the whole family to get prepared. Specific materials and tools to help are also available through OEM. For example, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Sesame Street teamed up to create a guide to help communicate emergency preparedness to parents and young children. The guide communicates the importance of families planning together for emergencies through activities and games that are fun for children. Another tool for older children is “Ready New York for Kids” which is also used to teach emergency preparedness in schools. All of these can be requested through 3-1-1.

5. What steps has OEM/NYC taken or updates made over last 10 years & last year?

Because of events such as 9-11, massive power outages and extraordinary storms New York City experienced over this time, OEM created a citywide incident management system which allows OEM and all City agencies to respond to all emergency situations similarly. OEM also engages in exercises to simulate all types of emergencies and continually tests response plans that have been put in place. Additional resources have been put on the ground, including CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) members who are trained to work in areas during emergencies and to educate individuals through workshops and events in the city.

For any further information or requests for guides and materials, please visit www.nyc.gov/oem or dial 3-1-1 from within the New York City area.

Keep Your Prescription Drugs Safe and Out of Reach with LockMed #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:36:00 +0000

We all know the importance of placing prescription and non-prescription drugs out of reach when there are children in the home or who visit often. Child safety features such as child proof caps are helpful but not 100% effective. Placing medicine up high on a shelf or in a medicine cabinet is a technique many use but still it is not 100% effective for those who have climbers. Children are fast and in a split second all good intentions of keeping medicine out of reach can be lost.

Another serious issue is the rise of prescription drug abuse. Did you know that an estimated 20 percent of people take prescription drugs without a doctors orders? Perhaps this is because prescription drug availability is much more common. According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there are over 3 million U.S. teens who abuse prescription drugs. Everyday, 3,300 more children begin experimenting with prescription drugs ("A Day in the Life of American Adolescents: Substance Use Facts," 2007a).

Over the past year I have had several surgeries. Each one of them resulted in me taking a prescription drug home. All of them are up high, out of reach and have a child proof lock. However, as I previously mentioned these are all steps in the right direction but not always completely effective. I do not have many people coming and going in my home but I prefer to error on the side of caution and safeguard against them possibly ending up in the wrong hands. I was recently approached by LOCKMED to review a LOCKBAG with key lock. This bag will serve as another way of safeguarding the medicine in our home. It is also designed to fit nicely inside a purse so it will be used when we travel.

Features

Secure LOCKBAG to store your medications with a key lock that is portable and easy to take during travel.
Security Level: Class 1-2
Size Approximately 7.5” (L) x 5” (H); small enough to fit inside a purse.
Can hold approximately up to 7 prescription bottles.
Stylish White Laminated Nylon bag with a strong key lock.
Lightweight and easily fits into purses, carrying cases, or luggage to take on road trips, school, work, vacations, hospital visits, or to the Doctor's office.
Provides security and safety of medications, especially important for Narcotic Pain Medications, Insulin syringes, Sleeping pills, Rheumatoid & Cancer treatment medications, Anxiety pills, Anti-depressants, etc.
Locking up medications keeps your medical history and the medications you take very private.
Restricting access to prescription medications helps to reduce diversion and abuse of prescription drugs, especially if kids/teens are in the house.

The LOCKMED LOCKBAG retails for $19.99. LOCKMED also sells several other types of combination lock boxes as well as a BioBox Portable Fingerprint Medication Safe. In my opinion, the prices of LOCKMED's products are minute compared to a potentially harmful situation.

WIN, WIN, WIN

LOCKMED is giving one lucky reader a LOCKBAG with key lock

MANDATORY ENTRY:
(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)
How do you currently safeguard the medications in your home?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry:

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter

Add As They Grow Up Button to your blog and leave a link so that I can find it

Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)

Become a fan of As They Grow Up on Facebook

Subscribe to As They Grow Up Via Email (Be sure to VERIFY your subscription)

Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen ! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 19 , 2011. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.The winner will be emailed.

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to LockMed for providing a product to test.

~Erica~

Bootie Pies: Pedicure Boots for Posh Toes #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:57:00 +0000

It is not to often that I get an opportunity to enjoy some 100% "me time". When I do get the opportunity I almost always opt to get a pedicure. A pedicure guarantees me a good hour of relaxation, a nice massage if I choose from the massage chair and usually some peace and quiet. However, I don't want to stay in the nail salon all day and I absolutely hate waiting for the polish to dry. I have been guilty of leaving long before I should have on several occasions. In the summer leaving before fully dry is o.k., I just slip on my flip flops and I am on my way. Trying to put socks and shoes on in the winter is a tad more difficult so I am forced to wait until they are fully dry.. Thanks to Bootie Pies I have found a way to solve this problem!

Bootie Pies are warm and cozy boots that let you enjoy a pedicure in the winter as well as help cut drying time. They currently offer two types of boots, a low boot and a high boot. Both are made of suede with a faux sheepskin lining and a patent leather toe. The low boot is currently priced at $68 and the high boot is priced at $88. Before you make any judgements based on the price let me share with you how exactly they work and why I feel they are well worth the money!

How They Work:

My Thoughts: When I first received these boots I was immediately impressed. I received a pair of the Blackberry High Boots for review and was honestly surprised by how much of a casual winter boot they looked like. If I didn't know better, I would have never known their full potential of being a pedicure boot. Bootie Pies currently offers these boots in whole sizes from a 5-11. Although they recommend ordering down a size if you wear a half size I personally recommend ordering up a size. I ordered down a size and the first time I put them on they were snug fitting, I even had a bit of a hard time getting the toe to go down because of them being snug. Of course, I was trying to do it all with a sock on so this could have been part of the problem. When it was time for me to actually get a pedicure I tried them with no socks and it seemed much better, the patent toe went down much smoother as well.

Not much was said about the boots until which time I put the toe down for drying. The look on the nail techs face was priceless as she had never seen such a thing! Her as well as other customers were filled with questions and kept staring at them in awe. I think it is also important to note that it was raining when I went to get my pedicure and these boots still looked nice after trampling around in the rain. They are supposed to hold up in all weather conditions but it is highly recommended to waterproof them like you would any other type of suede shoe.

If you are looking for a versatile boot that you can wear around town before and after a pedicure, keeps your feet warm and cozy and allows you to significantly cut drying time after a pedicure, I highly recommend Bootie Pies!

WIN, WIN, WIN

Bootie Pies is giving one lucky reader a pair of pedicure boots!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)
Do you enjoy getting a pedicure by yourself, with a close friend/realative or with a group of girls?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry:

Share this contest on your Facebook page and post the link here. This can be done once daily.

Tweet about the giveaway (can be done daily)

Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter

Add As They Grow Up Button to your blog and leave a link so that I can find it

Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)

Become a fan of As They Grow Up on Facebook

Subscribe to As They Grow Up Via Email (Be sure to VERIFY your subscription)

Comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which one(s)

One winner will be chosen ! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 18 , 2011. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.The winner will be emailed.

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to Bootie Pies for providing a product to test.

~Erica~

Mirror Mirror In Theaters March 30

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:29:00 +0000

This spectacular reimagining of the classic fairy tale stars Oscar® winner Julia Roberts as the Queen, Lily Collins (The Blind Side) as Snow White, Armie Hammer (The Social Network) as Prince Alcott, Sean Bean (“Game of Thrones”) as the King and Nathan Lane (The Birdcage) as the Queen's hapless and bungling servant, Brighton. When an evil queen steals control of Snow White’s kingdom, the exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright. Mirror Mirror is a spirited adventure comedy filled with jealousy, romance and betrayal that will capture the imagination of audiences the world over.

Visionary director Tarsem Singh (Immortals) rewrites fairy tale history as a wicked enchantress (Roberts) schemes and scrambles for control of a spirited orphan’s (Collins) throne and the attention of a charming prince (Hammer). When Snow White’s beauty wins the heart of the prince that she desperately pursues, the Queen banishes her to the forest, where a ravening man-eating beast hungrily awaits.

Rescued by a band of diminutive highway robbers, Snow White grows into an indomitable young woman determined to take back her realm from the treacherous Queen. With the support of her subjects, she roars into action in an epic battle that blends spectacle, magic and contemporary humor in Singh’s signature, jaw-dropping visual style.

Stay tuned for more coverage and a chance to win Fandango Tickets!!

Discover Your Winter Cocktail #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:05:00 +0000

In celebration of the winter season, Robb Report presents the Discover Your Winter Cocktail. Everyone has their favorite cocktail, but have you wondered what winter cocktail fits you best? Take the Discover Your Winter Cocktail quiz and you can find out by answering a few simple questions!

Of course I couldn't resist and I took the test as well to see what my Winter Cocktail was and it came out being a Gin Winter Rose. No complaints from me since I do enjoy Gin.

WIN,WIN,WIN

Hendrick’s Gin Golf Umbrella and an amazing $20.00 Crate & Barrel Gift Card

MANDATORY ENTRY:
(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)
Take the above quiz and tell me what your Winter Cocktail is.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

■Follow As They Grow Up on Twitter
■Tweet about the giveaway (tweets must be at least an hour apart...be sure to leave the tweet link)
■Add As They Grow Up Button to your blog and leave a link so that I can find it
■Add As They Grow Up to your Blogroll (2 entries)
■Follow My Blog (See sidebar)
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One winner will be chosen ! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 20, 2012. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. only.The winner will be announced in this post(and emailed)

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to PartnersHub for providing a product to giveaway

Buttery Soft Pretzels

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:49:00 +0000

My husband bought me the bread maker that I had been wanting for Christmas and since then I have been trying out different recipes. Yesterday I decided to try my hand at making pretzels. I had never tried it before but figured it couldn't be too hard. I searched around until I found a recipe and then just modified it so that I could do the dough in the bread machine.

Buttery Soft Pretzels

4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/2 cup baking soda
4 cups hot water
1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping

Directions:
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water ( I did have to add about 2 tablespoons additional water for the bread machine). Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.

When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt (optional: you can also brush melted butter on the pretzel before baking)

Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned.

**As I mentioned I did modify it for my bread machine. I added the top 7 ingredients (even the oil) into the bread maker in the order that is suggested (this may be different depending on the bread maker) and just put it on dough setting and let it do it's thing. After 45 minutes, I was ready to start rolling out pretzels.

Now I just couldn't make myself leave these little guys plain. I melted some butter and mixed cinnamon and sugar together. The minute I removed the pretzels from the oven, I dipped them in butter and then in the cinnamon/sugar mixture. I did leave some without the mixture and simply dipped the tops of those in the melted butter.

These melt in your mouth and are absolutely fantastic! I am sure I will be making these again. Everyone in the family loved them and they were so easy to make!

Keep Your Children Warm and Dry This Winter with WinterKids #WIN

noreply@blogger.com (Erica) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:21:00 +0000

On days like today, it seems like winter is nonexistent. Here in Western North Carolina, we have seen our fair share of rain,loads of sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures this winter. After the winter we had last year, it is being embraced by many around here. However, I know that our nice weather can turn on a dime. After all, it is only February and it is still the WINTER season. Both of our kids are stocked up on snow boots, ski bibs, gloves and warm hats just in case a true winter decides to make an appearance. I personally love snow and lots of it! I am secretly hoping we get a big one sooner than later.

Did you know that there is a website dedicated to outfitting children and teens in the winter? WinterKids is the #1 kids ski, snowboard and winter shop. It is a fun website that offers ski and snowboard clothing and accessories for children sizes 0-16. They truly offer everything you can imagine and then some. In addition to jackets, fleece and hoodies, WinterKids offers snow boots, hats and scarfs and hand and feet warmers.

Planning to take the kids skiing this year? WinterKids also offers goggles, helmets and ski training aids to help keep keep your little ones safe. Personally I like the fact that WinterKids offers quality items from brands we all know and trust such as The North Face, Patagonia, Columbia, Burton, Obermeyer and Kamik just to name a few. Not only do they offer some great brands but there is a lot to choose from. There is far more than just one or two pieces to choose from per category like you sometimes find elsewhere. I also feel that their prices are very reasonable compared to other winter outfitters.

For this review we received a Boys Burton Bonded Hoodie. It has a nice fleece lining that is warm but not unbearably hot. It is still a little big for Jaydon but he didn't let that stop him from wearing it. He kept commenting on how cool the bright yellow was, maybe we will have him wear this the next time we venture into a large crowd :)! I washed this hoodie to see how well it held up and it did beautifully!

WinterKids currently has many items on sale and FREE shipping on orders $75 or more. WinterKids prides themselves on fast shipping. Merchandise is shipped within hours of an order being placed during normal business hours. If you are in need of a particular winter item for your child or you want to begin shopping for next winter, I highly recommend checking out WinterKids first.

WIN, WIN, WIN

WinterKids is giving one lucky reader the Burton Bonded Hoodie in yellow. Winner will get to pick either a big kid L or XL

MANDATORY ENTRY:
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One winner will be chosen ! I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on February 17 , 2011. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.The winner will be emailed.

This is solely the opinion of As They Grow Up. Other people may have different experiences with the product.Thank you to WinterKids for providing a product to test.

~Erica~