Commuting with Contigo {Review}

You may not know this about me, but I’m a commuter.  On an average day, I drive just shy of 90 miles (roundtrip) for work, and that doesn’t include dropping off and picking up the girls from daycare.  Oh no, that’s extra.  It’s okay if you think I’m crazy, lots of people do.  But for the most part commuting isn’t all that bad – I listen listen to music, catch up on some news, and get a little quiet time.  Of course, there are other days like this that are not so fun.

No worries on taking pictures while driving, I was actually in park.  No one was moving.  Ugh.  These are the days when I hate being a commuter.

But you know what makes it better?  Caffeine!  Lots and lots of it!  I may not be a coffee drinker, but I do love my caffeine.  And soda is my beverage of choice on any given morning – it perks me right up and gives me the patience to deal with the not-so-awesome South Florida drivers that clog the highways I depend on.  My favorite cup to transport that oh-so-important nectar is made by Contigo.

What makes that cup so special you ask?  Well, besides being purple, it’s an AUTOSEAL® West Loop Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Mug.  It’s special double wall design keeps cold beverages (like mine) cold for up to 12 hours.  That will not only get me through my hour long commute to work, but it will get me through the work day and my commute home…although my soda rarely lasts quite that long.  And if you like hot beverages, it will keep them hot for up to 4 hours, which should be more than enough to get you through the morning.

Besides it’s uncanny ability to keep beverages at their desired temperature, it’s dishwasher safe, fits in my car’s cup holder perfectly, and has a one handed design that doesn’t include caps or spouts.   But best of all, the AUTOSEAL® lid makes this cup is completely spill proof.  Simply fill the mug, screw the lid on, and you are good to go!  When you go to take a sip from the mug and press down on the AUTOSEAL® button, you’ll actually hear the vacuum seal working.  It’s really neat.  And it means that I can throw the mug into the bottom of my purse when I’m done with it and not worry about it leaking – it’s sealed!

My mug is a 16 oz size, which is perfect for me (especially considering my small bladder during pregnancy – anything bigger than that would be downright dangerous), but the cup also comes in a 20 oz size.  The 20 oz mug will keep drinks warm for 6 full hours, which makes it perfect for my husband’s coffee addiction.

You can find both these mugs by visiting the Go Contigo website.  And while you’re there, use the coupon code COMMUTERPROMO to save 20% on your order!

Want to win some of these mugs?  Make sure to check out my Contigo giveaway going on right now!

Disclosure: I received the items pictured above for the purposes of this review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Win a Contigo Prize Pack in the Keeping Cool in the Sun Giveaway Hop! {Giveaway!}

Summer is HERE!  I’m parternering with the Blogging Mamas
Network
on their latest Event to help you Keep Cool in the Sun!

We’ve come together with a great group of bloggers who have a ton of prizes to help
celebrate the Summer season and give you the chance to win!

For my giveaway, I’m giving one lucky reader a Go Contigo Prize Pack valued at over $75!  That’s 5 travel mugs and cups to bring with you on your summer travels – 2 West Loop Insulated Autoseal mugs and 3 Autospout Kid’s Striker Water Bottles!  You can find my review of the Autoseal mug here.  Review of the Kid’s Striker Water Bottle coming soon…

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After you’ve entered my giveaway, don’t forget to hop around to all the others in the linky below.  Be sure to enter to win the GRAND PRIZES for this Event too!  You have a chance to win…

 

 keepcoolkidsgp

 

In the KIDS package you could win:  a pair of Julbo USA looping sunglasses for baby, a trio of TruKids products including Sunny Days sunscreen and Hero Stick, a Hearthsong Camping Tent {chair not included}, a Swim Diaper from Red Barn Cloth Diapers, and a reusable snack tube SqueeZurts Starter Kit!

 

AND

 

A second prize package including a $100 Gift Certificate to Claudia Alan Eyewear and Winner’s Choice of any item from UV Skinz – makers of protective sunwear!

 

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Enter the GRAND PRIZES HERE!



According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Keeping Cool in the Sun participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Rejuvenate Your Skin with Mia Mariu {Review & Giveaway!}

Late last year, I learned about a company called Mia Mariu.  They’re an independent, consultant based cosmetics company based in Dallas.  Simply put – I loved their products.  So when I received the opportunity to try their Anti-Aging Pack, naturally, I jumped at the chance.
 
What’s an Anti-Aging Pack, you ask?  Good question!  It’s a three step system to keep your skin looking brighter and younger than ever before.  It contains a Refreshing Foaming Gel Cleanser, an Anti-Aging Brightening Serum, and an Anti-Aging Eye Treatment.  To start the process, clean your skin using warm water and the Refreshing Foaming Gel Cleanser.  It contains Sea Kelp and Aloe, which makes it safe and refreshing for all skin types.  Once your skin is clean and dry, you apply the Anti-Aging Brightening Serum by using circular motions starting at your neck and moving upward towards your forehead (or at least, that’s how I do it), making sure that all skin gets moisturized.  As you apply it, the serum will target sunspots and pigmentation, while applying anti-aging peptides, skin brightening botanicals, Aloe, and vitamin B5 Complex to problem skin.  Finally, apply the Anti-Aging Eye Treatment around the eye area.  The Japanese Green Tea, Aloe, and Vitamins B5 & E in this soothing eye formula will reduce puffiness and dark circles, and instantly awake tired eyes.   When used daily, this system designed to protect your skin from irritants that can prematurely age your skin.

I’ve been using this system for a little over 10 days now and I’m loving the results.  Unlike so many other skin care products I’ve tried, the Foaming Gel Cleanser leaves my skin feeling clean.  There’s no slick, slimy residue left behind.  The Brightening Serum is light and soaks into my skin quickly.  Honestly, I’m not wild about the smell of the Brightening Serum, but once applied it soaks into your skin and you don’t even notice it anymore.  My favorite, though, is the Eye Treatment.  Trust me, this mom has some tired eyes.  Very tired eyes.  Between the late nights, early mornings, and all the late night wake up calls, I often don dark circles around my eyes.  Sure, I cover them anyway I can, but I love that there’s something I can put under my concealer to fight the puffiness and dark circles – it’s not just covering them, it’s fighting them.  And when I put it on, I can actually feel my skin tightening a little around my eyes, so I know it works.

But the very best part is that you don’t need to use a lot of the product for it to work.  For example, it only takes a dime or penny size amount of the Foaming Gel Cleanser to clean your face – if that.  In fact, I’m pretty sure you could get away with less.  That means that the 4 oz. bottle you get will last a long time.  Same with the Brightening Serum and Eye Cream…a little goes a very long way.  I don’t mind investing in my skin care products, but I do want them to last, and these will definitely last a long time.

Want to win some Mia Mariu of your very own?  One lucky winner will receive an Anti-Aging  Pack of their very own!  All you have to do is enter using the rafflecopter form below and it could be yours!  Good luck everyone!
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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
 
And now for the hop…

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Summer Splash Event hosted by Life With Two Boys and With Our Best!

A bunch of great blogs have come together to bring you some amazing prizes to help you kick off your summer… with a SPLASH! Each blog is giving away at least $25 worth of prizes, plus we have an awesome grand prize for one very lucky winner. Be sure to hop along to each of the participating blogs because the more giveaways you enter, the more chances you have at winning the Grand Prize! So what’s this Grand Prize we’re talking about? Thanks to Trex Outdoor Furniture, one very lucky winner is going to win a Yacht Club 3-Piece Rocker Setvalued at $1,317! Made in the USA and constructed of durable HDPE recycled lumber, this Rocker Set is sure to help you slow down and relax this Summer and for many years to come!




Disclaimer: Please note that the Summer Splash hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prize. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation that they will fulfill their prize in a timely manner. While we are not responsible, we will make every effort to assist the winner in obtaining their prize.

Introducing PLAY-DOH Board Books {Review & Giveaway!}

This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I received PLAY-DOH books for the purpose of this review.

I started reading to Greenleigh each night when she was about 6 months old.  She’s now just over 4 years old and reading is still very much a part of our nighttime routine, a routine that her baby sister likes to be a part of too.  But I don’t need to be there reading to her for Greenleigh to pick up a book.  While she might not be able to read on her own (yet!), she will often go over to their book case, pick up a book, and start to recite the story as I’ve read it to her in the past…improvising a little along the way.  She has a fantastic memory and an even better imagination.  Her teachers at school often tell me how much she loves books and, as a parent, I love hearing it.

In order to foster this love of reading, try to keep our bookcase full of new and interesting books, which is why I was excited to see that PLAY-DOH, together with Silver Dolphin Books, released a new line of books intended for kids 3 years old and up.

Titles of these books include Rainbow Butterflies, Mama’s Little Ducklings, Making Shapes with Monkey, Counting Bunnies, and My First Words, with each book focusing on a different area of early learning – numbers, colors, shapes, etc.  These books are specially designed to be hands on learning tools, involving the child as each page is turned.

The very first thing that I noticed about these books was how colorful they were.  Each and every page is filled with brillant hues of every color imaginable.  These books quickly grabbed my attention, and my kids were even quicker to notice them.The next thing that I noticed was how durable these books are.  Greenleigh has learned to take care of her books, but Hazeline hasn’t.  She doesn’t rip the pages on purpose, she just gets a little aggressive when moving on to the next page.  It’s a work in progress, but until we have that down, these books are perfect.  Even the flaps that lift on Mama’s Little Ducklings, are really thick which would make them nearly impossible to tear.  I love that I don’t have to worry about the books getting destroyed.

I also love the educational message that’s contained in each book.  These books make my kids excited to learn because the material is presented in such a creative way.  And each book is different, so if they don’t feel like practicing their numbers one day, they can always move on to shapes or colors or whatever else they may want to learn about.  These books provide lots of choices.

But perhaps most important of all is how much my girls love these books.  No sooner did I take them out of the package, Greenleigh grabbed 2 of them and planted herself on the couch to “read”.And of course, following her big sister’s lead, Hazeline did the same.Both of my girls sitting on the couch reading?  At the same time?  No fighting.  No screeching.  No demanding snacks.  This mom is in heaven!  These PLAY-DOH board books are keepers!

But you want to know the best part?  One lucky reader is going to win a set of these five PLAY-DOH board books!  Just enter using the rafflecopter form below and it could be you!  Good luck everyone!
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Disclosure: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I received PLAY-DOH books for the purpose of this review.

Celebrate Mom with Alexa’s Angels {Review & Giveaway}


Mother’s Day is a pretty important day for me.  Don’t get me wrong, my kids are little and don’t really get the whole Mother’s Day thing just yet.  And that’s okay.  But for me, Mother’s Day is important because it reminds me to take a day to thank my mom for all she’s done for me.  My mom was a single mom who had to work really hard to support our family, and no matter what, she always put her kids first.  And that didn’t stop when we turned 18 and left the house.  No, not at all.  Instead, she put me through law school and my sister through a masters program.  All while she scrimped and saved to make ends meet and get a Ph.D herself.  I never went without anything that I needed – food or books or spending money.  And even now when she comes to visit, she’s always trying to keep my house clean and leave my freezer full of meals because she knows that cooking isn’t exactly my strong suit.  I try to say thank you often, but there are times when I forget or get so busy she might not feel appreciated, so I’m glad that we have Mother’s Day.  A day on the calendar to appreciate my mom and all that she’s done for me and my family.

To celebrate mothers and all that they do, Alexa’s Angels has come out with a beautiful “Mom” circle word necklace.  The necklace is crafted of rhodium and comes with a 16″ ball chain with lobster claw closure and 2″ extender.  And like all jewelry from Alexa’s Angels, it came beautifully and brightly wrapped in their signature pink color.But of course, the true beauty is revealed when the wrapping is removed.When I first saw this necklace on the website, I expected it to lay flat against the neckline, but I was pleasantly surprised when I received the necklace and found that the word “MOM” is actually raised, more like a dome shape.  Because it’s raised, it catches the light perfectly, drawing a good bit of attention to a simple, elegant accessory.  And while I normally prefer a different type of chain, the length of the ball chain is exactly right for this particular necklace.

But the thing that I liked the most about this necklace is that it’s from Alexa’s Angels, a company that I just found out about a year ago.  Based in Colorado, Alexa’s Angels makes all sorts of jewelry, accessories, and even a few t-shirts, each carrying with it a positive message.  Their message is one of hope for women everywhere.  Of inspiration.  Of love.  That’s something that I can really get behind.  Not to mention, they have a long list of non-profit organizations that they are committed to helping.  And the mother’s necklace pictured above is just one of their inspirational pieces perfect for moms on Mother’s Day.  Like this bracelet:

This necklace:

And so, so many more.  Make sure to check out the Alexa’s Angels website for the very latest inventory and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for inspiration and specials.

Want to win one of these “Mom” circle word necklaces for yourself, your mom, or a special mom that you know who should be celebrated?  Enter using the rafflecopter form below and it could be yours!  Good luck everyone!
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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Spring Cleaning is Easy with affresh {Review & Giveaway!}

It’s no secret that I hate to clean.  I know, I know, you shouldn’t “hate” anything, but I genuinely despise cleaning.  It takes so much time (time I would rather be spending with my family doing something fun) and 5 minutes after my kids enter the room I just cleaned it’s destroyed all over again – toys everywhere, finger prints on my appliances, and clutter all over my clean countertops.  But unfortunately, it must be done…mainly out of fear that we’ll end up like one of those houses on Hoarders.  I’ve written before about how I fear my cleaning lady is going to leave us, so I won’t lie and pretend that I suck it up and clean my entire house every week, but I do have to keep it tidy between her visits, which is why I was thrilled to get the chance to review the affresh product line.

As a part of my review, I received affresh Washer cleaner, Cooktop Cleaner (and pad), Kitchen & Appliance Cleaner, Stainless Steel Cleaner, and Dishwasher Cleaner.     These products when used consistently as part of a cleaning routine are designed to prevent build-up of stains and residue, along with extending the life of your appliances.

So first things first – My favorites.  I absolutely love the Washer Cleaner.  I’ve never thought about my washer getting germ-y, but with that many dirty clothes going in every week, how could it not get stinky?  No doubt there’s residue left behind.  The Washer Cleaner is easy to use – just drop it in on the clean cycle – and gives me the peace of mind that I need to know that our washer is in fact, clean.  Which makes me feel a ton better about putting our clothes in there!  Same thing for the Dishwasher Cleaner – just drop it in, turn it on, and you’re done!  It’s that easy.  That’s my kind of cleaning, folks.  Plus, I’ve always felt that no matter how good the dishwasher is there are food particles left behind.  Gross.  Using the Dishwasher Clean alleviates that concern…completely!

Which brings me to the the affresh Kitchen and Appliance cleaner.  This is my new general cleaner.  It cleans finger prints off my refrigerator with ease.  It will remove any stain from the inside of my refrigerator, big or small.  And it can tidy up my toaster or coffee pot with ease when we have company coming to stay with us (because there’s not many other reasons I’d be scrubbing my toaster or have a coffee pot out at our house).  There’s nothing that this cleaner can’t handle.  I just wish that they made it in a wipe form, like they make for the affresh Stainless Steal Cleaner.   Speaking of the Stainless Steel Cleaner, it’s working wonders on that new convection oven that we got.  I still may not understand exactly what a convection oven is, but affresh can clean it like a champ!

Which brings me to the Cooktop Cleaner.  Here’s the thing – I’m not wild about cleaning my cooktop.  It will never be a fun activity for me.  But affresh makes it easy to clean it, and I think we can all agree that my cooktop has never looked better.

By the way, the Cooktop Cleaner is safe to use ceramic, glass, and porcelain stove tops, no matter what is baked on.

Have some spring cleaning to do?  Want to win some affresh cleaning products?  Great, because today you can enter to win an affresh prize pack complete with Washer cleaner, Cooktop Cleaner (and pad), Kitchen & Appliance Cleaner, Stainless Steel Cleaner, and Dishwasher Cleaner!  Enter to win using the rafflecopter form below.  Good Luck and Happy Spring Cleaning!
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Tiny Prints: Personalized Gifts for Moms, Dads & Grads {Giveaway!}

Mother’s Day is right around the corner…okay, technically it’s a little under a month away, but that gives me just enough time to find the perfect gift and have it shipped to my mom.  Plus, my mother has everything, so I know that I’m going to need to get something special.  Something just for her.  Something that fits her style.  Something personalized.  This year, I plan to use Tiny Prints to get this task accomplished.  With a long list of items perfects for Moms, Dads, and Grads, Tiny Prints has the perfect, personalized gift for whoever is on your list.  Like these personalized notecards or thank you cards:

They also have personalized notebooks which can be customized with patterns or pictures – your choice:

There’s always the traditional coffee mug route…I mean, what mom doesn’t need coffee?Or how about an art easel to show off their pride and joy:Tiny Prints has so many options it shouldn’t take you long to find the perfect gift.  The hardest part will be selecting just one!  If you want to see more of the oh-so-many options that Tiny Prints has to offer for Moms, Dads, and Grads this celebratory season, make sure to follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest!

Now for the fabulous giveaway – one lucky reader is going to get 30 Personalized Notecards or Thank You Cards and 1 Personalized Notebook from Tiny Prints!  And of course, all items are shipped to you for free!  Want to win?  Great!  Just enter using the rafflecopter form below and they could be yours.  Good luck!
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Disclosure: I received promotional items as compensation for sharing this information and conducting a giveaway.  All opinions are my own.

The Great Taste of the Grove 2013: Eat, Drink, Rock & Stroll!

I don’t know about where you live, but spring is definitely here in South Florida.  And with it comes the great festivals and outdoor events that are perfect for a little family fun.  This weekend the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce is hosting The Great Taste of the Grove at Peacock Park.  Offering everything from upscale crab cakes and gazpacho to street food like gyros and arepas, local restaurants are sure to have something to tempt your taste buds.

My good friend Amanda and her family headed out to this event this afternoon.  The pictures she sent me are truly drool-worthy:  And check out that kid zone – it’s huge!
Her boys are just adorable.  Greenleigh would have loved to do something like this!This was just one of the 8 concerts to take place over the course of the weekend:

The Great Taste of the Grove will be going on tomorrow, Sunday, April 14, 2013, at Peacock Park in Coconut Grove from 12-7.  Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for kids (3-12 years), and kids under 3 are free.  Plates from local restaurants range in price and beer and wine is offered, but remember to bring plenty of cash with you as that’s what all the vendors take and you’ll want to avoid those pricey ATM fees.

It’s going to be a beautiful and delicious day!

Maya Organic Toys: Fun for All Little Ones {Review & Giveaway!}


My girls are 23 months apart – we’re actually in that one month period between their birthdays where I can say that I have a 2 year old and a 3 year old and people think that maybe we got to work on having another baby just a little too soon.  But I love that they are so close together.  They have a bond that’s so strong, I can hardly believe it half the time.  It also helps because they like most of the same things – tv shows, characters, colors, clothes, toys, etc.  But even with their interests being so similar, when I got the opportunity to review one of the toys from Dandelion Baby and Maya Organics, I was pretty sure this was going to be a review geared towards Hazeline.

In case you haven’t heard of them before, Maya Organic toys are simple, wooden toys made by individual artisans and artisan groups in India.  But Maya Organic doesn’t just buy their toys from the artists, they go further.  They work with artisans and worker co-ops to develop and market high quality toys.  They provide skill development for artists.  Artists and their families are ensured access to health facilities.  It’s their goal to contribute to the growth and betterment of these workers, not just have a successful transaction.  Now a division of Dandelion Baby, a company that’s been online since 2005, Maya Organic’s toys are a purchase that you can feel good about.  And it helps that they have tons of toys to chose from!

This Go Go stacking and pull toy is made using a sustainable wood source.  The rich colors on the various pieces come from natural dies.  The wheels are real, working wheels and will actually roll along when pushed or pulled.  Intended for babies 18 months and up, this toy’s three stackable pieces (which are the perfect size for little hands, I might add) are designed to facilitate the development of hand-eye coordination.  And because it’s a push and pull toy, it can accompany your child through their crawling and walking stages.   

Since my girls share such common interests, I shouldn’t have been surprised when Greenleigh reached for the Go Go toy as I took it out of the packaging.  But I was.  To me this was so clearly a toy geared towards Hazeline.  But there was no doubt that it had peaked Greenleigh’s interest – it beat out the iPad and all her princess toys.  She wanted to know how it worked.  She wanted to  know how to pull it.  She wanted to take it apart and put it back together.  So after I took the pictures above (she’s actually standing just to the right of the picture and I had to re-shoot them several times because her hands kept ending up in the pictures) I gave it to her.  I expected it to be a quick glace and then for her to hand it to her baby sister.

But that wasn’t the case at all.Hazeline thought it was funny to hid the pieces behind her back.  Greenleigh was not amused.But once that was resolved, they went back to playing together.  It was pretty fun to watch.And don’t worry, Hazeline finally got a chance to play with “her” toy.

It’s obvious that my girls love this toy – sometimes the simple toys really are their favorites!

Right now, Dandelion Baby is having big sale…no wait, that’s not the proper way to describe it…they are having a HUGE sale and offering clearance items up to 50% off.  If you’d like to pick up a few Maya Organic toys of your very own, use the code diarymom40 for 40% off.  That’s a crazy amount of savings, people!

Want to win one of these Maya Organic Go Go Stacker Pull Toys?  Great, because the generous folks at Dandelion Baby and Maya Organic are offering one to a very lucky reader!  Just use the rafflecopter form below and it could be yours!
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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Comforts for Baby Infant Formula {Giveaway!}

Having formula fed both of my kids for the greater part of their first year, I will be the first to tell you that the cost of formula is tough to swallow.  It’s an absolutely necessary expense, but it can really kill your budget.  And then you wander through the store aisles wondering, “which one is best?”.  Because regardless of whether your breastfeed or formula feed, that’s what you want for your newborn baby – the very best.  So how do you pick one?

Luckily, there’s now an affordable, premium infant formula that’s made with nutrients found naturally in mother’s milk that help support baby’s immune system, as well as brain and eye development.  Have I peaked your interest?  Well, if I have then you should be on the look out for Comforts for Baby Premium Infant Formula the next time you’re at the store.  And because no two babies are alike, Comforts for Baby makes Gentle, Sensitive, Soy, and Organic formulas, along with a toddler formula for older babies.

Wondering how Comforts for Baby compares to some of those big name (much more expensive) formulas?  I thought so.  And for that reason, the great people at Comforts for Baby have come up with this helpful chart:    

As you can see from above, Comforts for Baby meets or exceeds the FDA requirements, and is virtually identical in nutritional values to the other big name formulas.  I wish had had seen this chart back when I was formula feeding my two girls – it could have saved me a ton of money!

Comforts for Baby can be found at Kroger, Ralphs, and tons of other grocery stores nationwide!  Want to win a full sized sample (23.4 oz) of Comforts for Baby Premium Formula plus a coupon for $5 off your next Comforts for Baby formula purchase?  Enter using the rafflecopter form below!  Good luck!

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