Pure Matters

Mamasource by Mamapedia recently gave me the opportunity to review some products from Pure Matters.  First up was the Kids Sugar-Free Multi-vitamin Gummies.  Sugar free, gluten free and vegetarian these little nuggets come in six fruity flavors including strawberry, lemon, orange, grape, cherry and grapefruit.  They're a bit sticky - I occasionally have to knock the jar around a bit to shake some loose.  But they have been a big hit with my first grader.  I like the no added sugar, and it's an extra step I can take to ensure that my (ahem) picky eater is getting key vitamins he needs for healthy growth and development.

I also received the Complete Biotic.  I was intrigued by this, as ever since my first pregnancy (and even after my subsequent gallbladder operation), I have struggled with digestive issues.  Not only is the Pure Matters product shelf stable, it combines both Pre and Probiotics.  The difference is subtle so far, but I do believe I feel less bloated...  And a happy tummy can certainly affect your outlook on your day!

If you're looking for health and wellness products full of quality ingredients, I'd give Pure Matters a try.

Disclosure:  I was sent products free of charge for review.  All opinions about said products are my own.

Don't you love getting real mail?

Tiny Prints

It's that time of year - Christmas Card Season.  I love opening up the mailbox and actually getting mail that doesn't consist of bills, circulars, or other random items that are just "business."  Maybe it's a side effect of having moved around a bit, but my heart just feels open wide to hear from friends in far away places.  I'm especially tickled to get photos of families - another opportunity to see how everyone has grown.

Crafting our own card can start pretty early.  As two of the most-photographed kids around, Daniel and Ethan are in stacks of pictures that I need to wade through.  Luckily we have companies like Tiny Prints that can make the design phase easy.  I prefer bold colors...  and I can never seem to pick just one photo.

Has anyone come up with ingenious ways to display the cards you receive for the holiday season?  Living in a condo, our space is at a premium.  Last year I resorted to attaching them to the spare door in our living room that we never use.  We enjoyed the expanding display so much that we left it up well into the New Year.  I may do the same this year as long as I can keep everything high enough to keep toddler paws in check.

I'm off to shuffle through our reams of kid photos.  If you too are on the lookout for a creative company to help you make your holiday cards this year, I recommend checking out Tiny Prints.

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern, and unique stationery from Christmas cards, New Years cards, party invitations, and address labels to thank you cards. Once the holidays have come and gone, Tiny Prints will still be there to fill your stationary needs with their exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers. All year round, you’ll find business cards, birth announcements and even custom wedding invitations. Come try the easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality for yourself. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch!

Pizza Anyone?

Hey Y'all! So I was at a playgroup the other day and a Mom commented on how I must be loving having Daniel in full-day school/first grade. The idea, I suppose, being that I would have all this time. Huh. Truth is that stuff just expands to fill that available time. There's Cub Scouts and karate, church, and all the homework. Who would have thought that Fall could get this busy? Meals can get to be a scramble too, and one of the standbys that I can always count on my kids being willing to eat is pizza.

I was recently contacted by Freschetta, and as a part of the Fresh Connection Community they offered me a coupon to try their pizza. Crispy crust, yummy cheese... It was quite tasty! Even my picky eater proclaimed it good!

Through the end of this month Freschetta is presenting their Proud to Support Pink Program. When you purchase specially marked packages of Freschetta pizzas and Artisan Pizza Crusts you will be helping them reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Each package is printed with a code that you can enter at http://www.proudtosupportpink.com/. Each entry represents a $1 donation to this center to support breast cancer research (up to $50,000). There are places on the site to share your stories and provide (and find!) inspiration as well.

Win It!
Win a kit containing a coupon for a Freschetta pizza, and two pairs of Freschetta Proud to Support Pink earphones - one to keep, and one to give away.

Entry to this contest is fast and easy. Simply comment on this post. Deadline is Sunday, October 30th.

Good Luck!
*****************
Freschetta pizza contacted me and provided products for me to review. My (and my family's) love of pizza is strictly my/our own.

Pretty and a Giveaway

I love to read and I've finally reached a point where I can carve out tiny niches of time to actually do so again! When the folks at Global Influence asked if I'd like to read and review Jillian Lauren's debut novel titled Pretty, I jumped at the chance.

I'm not sure that Pretty is a title I would consider for a book that is anything but... It's the saga of Bebe Baker, a former stripper, former drug addict, former many things. A car accident has killed her boyfriend, leaving her scarred and adrift. We meet her while she is serving time in a halfway house and ticking down the hours to finish cosmetology school. I usually need a hook of some kind to get me interested in a book - compelling characters, compelling storytelling. The favorite books that stay with me have a character or characters that I can identify with, empathize with, feel for... and I found myself struggling to find that link with Bebe. She's lived and is living a hard and harsh existence. If she were a friend I'd want to shake her for some of the choices she's made!

And yet... her plain-spoken, in your face story began to draw me in. Bebe is surrounded by some fascinating characters. I wanted to see where their story would lead. This is a book that I might not have picked up on my own, but I am glad that I got a chance to read.

Win a copy!
I have the chance to give away a copy to one lucky reader. To enter: Tweet or Facebook post about this giveaway, including a link to the book Pretty. Example: Check out @jillylauren's new book, Pretty - http://amzn.to/prettybook

All entries should include the hashtag #PRETTYBOOK. Please leave a comment on this post with a link to your tweet or FB post. You may enter daily. Giveaway closes on 9/15/11.

Can't wait to read the book? The first 250 people to order Pretty on 9/7 from Amazon who email the receipt to pretty.the.book@gmail.com will receive a Limited Edition run of the "Pretty" necklace made by FairyTale Jewels.com.

******************************
I received a copy of this book for the purposes of reviewing and hosting a giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Join the Little Miracle Mission

Have you seen the commercials? The Pampers "Every Little Miracle" commercial never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

In 2005 I was a busy executive secretary. A Type-A personality and planner to the max, my hard work and attention to detail helped multiple division presidents of a b2b publishing company get the job done. And in the summer of 2005 all my research and ability to plan and be in control went out the window with the birth of my first son. While I loved (and love!) him dearly my world went upside down in an instant in ways none of the books could have prepared me for. I left the job that had consumed my time for 9.5 years of my life, and so very many of the day to day relationships that I had had went with it. Sleepless nights, feedings, teething... anyone who is a parent is familiar with what my routine became. And despite my beautiful baby boy and loving family I was feeling lost. And I struggled. I was so very lucky that someone pointed me in the direction of the local family network. There I found playgroups and activities that forced my tired self out of the house. And I found advice, a shoulder to lean on and friends that are still around to this day.

Why do I digress with my little story? Pampers has generously provided me with a $50 gift card as part of their Little Miracle Mission. It's a chance to pay it forward, and I have chosen to donate it to my area family network that provided me with so much support during my early days of motherhood. They have changed much in the last 5 - 6 years, in part due to the budget struggles that so many of these organizations have faced. (And I've changed myself, adding another son to my growing family!)

Join the Mission!
I have been offered a gift card for one of my lucky readers to give away as well. Simply reply to this post and let me know how you would pay it forward, should you win the $50 gift card.

This is going to be a fast one, as the deadline is set for Noon EST on Wednesday, May 25th. Reply ASAP.

Everyone can easily participate in a small way by "liking" Pampers Facebook page (facebook.com/pampers) and then going to the Miracle Missions tab and committing to Mission 1 by clicking "I want to pledge". You are automatically entered to win a years supply of diapers and wipes, which could help you or someone you know in a big way.

Hope to hear from you all soon!

Spring?

Hey Everyone! Been away from this blogging thing for too long. Spring seems to finally be here, and I'm taking a deep, refreshing breath.

We held our last giveaway, and I notified the winner. And it occurs to me that I needed to announce it here, and never did. Apologies and much-belated congratulations to Shelley!

Wising you all a fun, sun-filled day!

A Cook I Am Not, But...

I think it was my brother who (half) jokingly asked if H knew what he was getting into when he proposed. I love good food, and I love to eat. I even skim the cooking shows and recipes and cookbooks from time to time. My patience for the whole process of meal preparation, though, is not very great.

Not long ago MyBlogSpark and Old El Paso reintroduced me to an old and easy favorite of mine. taco night! I remember loving the "taco bar" in college. We love tacos, and I plan to get Mexican fare back into my rotation of easy-peasy menu items. The Old El Paso lineup of products includes chiles, dinner kits, dips and sides, enchilada sauce, refried beans, seasoning mixes, shells, taco sauce and salsa. There are endless recipe variations you can play with, like easy fish tacos. Everyone can decorate their meal with fixin's to their liking.

Win a Prize Pack like mine! Old El Paso and MyBlogSpark were gracious enough to send me a prize package that includes a packet of Old El Paso taco seasoning, a Cactus Chip & Dip serving dish, a set of three Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes and a $10 gift card to purchase your taco fixings.

To enter: Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite Mexican fare. Or how you plan to make taco night special. Which night of the week will it be?

Bonus entry: Follow this blog, and leave a comment telling me that you do, or have done so.

Deadline: This will be a quick one. Winner to be picked on Monday, January 31st at Noon EST.

A Winner, and oh those best laid plans...

Somehow I knew that as soon as I started up the reviews and giveaways portion of my blogging again, that would be my baby's cue to make his arrival a little bit early.

Congratulations to Hannah C, who won the copy of Heroes for My Son.

We are home from the hospital, and adjusting to our new family life as a foursome. More fun stuff to come, as baby Ethan's schedule permits!

heroes for my son - a book giveaway

Who are your heroes? Who do Americans consider to be their real heroes? Author Brad Meltzer began pondering this question with the birth of his first son, and the telling of these stories has resulted in his first nonfiction book.

Fifty-two men and women, both familiar and unknown, are illustrated through black and white pictures and a page of narrative distilling their heroic story. From politicians to performers, activists to athletes to ordinary citizens - these are inspiring snippits. Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson are side by side with Jonas Salk and Jim Henson. Personal heroes such as Teri Meltzer (Brad's Mom) join Clara Hale, Anne Sullivan and Harper Lee. The list goes on...

As a Mom to one active little boy, and with another on the way any time now, I found much to think about in this little book. And it is certainly appropriate for girls as well as boys!

Win It!
I have an additional hardcover copy of this book for one lucky winner. To enter:

Main entry - Mention in the comments section why you would like to win a copy of this book. I'd be interested in hearing about one of your heroes too...

Extra entries - each of these counts as an extra entry, but you must leave a comment for each one.

- Subscribe to Relishing the Dirt.

- Follow us on Twitter under @Smittens05.

- Tweet about this giveaway.

- Grab our button for your sidebar.

- Mention this giveaway on your blog, with a link back here and to Heroes for My Son.

Deadline is Midnight EST on July 12th. Winner will be chosen by random.org, and will be contacted via email. Contest is open to US residents.

This post was written for Harper Books, who provided the item for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

Where in the world have I been?

It was so not my intention to have this part of my blogging life be on such a hiatus. But then, well... there was this. And this. And on to this. And finally we're in the home stretch of this whole pregnancy thing, but ugh.

And even though I feel kinda horrible, there are actually a few giveaways lining up in the near future. I will be certainly following the rules that I set down in each of the giveaway posts. But at this point I reserve the right to have some minor delays in getting prizes out to the winners... My due date may be July 24th, but as with most kids who knows how this will all play out? Stay tuned!

Secret Santa

It's no secret that people are feeling the pinch of the economy this season. One organization has dedicated itself to providing toys for children at Christmas since 1947 - the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation.

1-800 Flowers.com is supporting this worthy cause by donating 10% of the net proceeds from product orders from its Toys for Tots Holiday Collection to the foundation. In addition, they have developed a Secret Santa free application accessible on their Facebook page. Send a warm fuzzy gift to a friend (they find out who it came from on Reveal Day, December 21st). You and the recipient will receive a 15% off discount code for sending or opening your gifts as well.

1-800 Flowers.com will donate $5,000 to Toys for Tots if the warm fuzzy Secret Santa gift is sent 10,000 times.

Lets get the word out, send some warm fuzzies and help this very worthy cause!

Out and About - with Kids

Getting where you need to go with your kids can have all kinds of challenges - even just the car seat itself! We let the installation of our car seat go a little too long, and my hubby was faced with getting it properly in the car himself after Daniel was born. With half our extended family some 1,200 miles away we have busied ourselves with long car trips, as well as getting around town to our busy preschooler's many activities.

With the holiday season moving into full swing, families across the country are in the car and on the go. Whether you're driving across the country to visit family or across town to holiday shop, it is important that your child passengers are riding safely and that child safety seats are used correctly.

AAA estimates that 30 million people travelled this Thanksgiving holiday alone, and for many this is just the beginning of the holiday hustle and bustle. Now is the time to utilize the Child Car Safety tools provided by the US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council to learn more about proper car seat use and installation. You will find informative resources that include instructional videos.

Have child passenger safety questions that you need answered before you travel over the river and through the woods to Grandma's? NHTSA is always available to answer your questions online through Facebook and Twitter. I wish I had found these resources years ago!

Ack! Where did my weekend go?

I try not to make it so, but the close of the year has seemed to turn into a triathlon of sorts: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. It has seemed especially pronounced this year when the Christmas stuff started appearing in stores nearly as soon as the Halloween stuff went on discount...

Random.org proclaimed haydensmommy05 the winner of our Nature Valley Granola Prize Pack. Congratulations!

In the meantime, I'm slowing down and giving thanks. Wishing you all many turkey cupcakes!

Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters - Win a Prize Pack!

Hoo Boy! So first there was the email hacking, then various family illnesses including my (hacking) cough that tends to keep me up nights and rob me of sleep. We're finally straightening up some (thank you Daylight Savings, I did not need the help losing sleep courtesy of the preschooler's wonky schedule...). Onward!

The folks at MyBlogSpark and Nature Valley recently sent me a prize pack with a cool backpack, flashlight, binoculars and water bottle. This also included an assortment of the new Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters to sample. Yummy! My family can be real grazers when it comes to finding something to eat. H works long hours, and Daniel is an active and picky preschooler. Me, I expend tons of energy just to keep up with him! I quickly went through the Roasted Almond flavor (my particular favorite), and the rest of the family helped me polish off the others. Sweet/salty and crunchy, these granola bites come in a resealable pouch and make a delicious snack! MyBlogSpark has graciously offered one prize pack for a lucky Relishing the Dirt reader!

To Win:
1. Reply to this post and share some of your favorite elements of nature. I'm especially looking for this myself as the seasons change, and I'm trying very hard not to hibernate!

Extra Entries:
2. Follow this blog and post a reply letting me know that you have done so.

3. Follow me on Twitter at @Smittens05 and let me know that you are a follower. Extra entries for a tweet, but please let me know that you have done this as well by posting a link.

Contest ends Friday, November 20th - winner to be announced November 21st.

Trio - We have a winner!

Congratulations to Amanda, winner of the Trio building set giveaway. She enjoys legos around her house - I'm sure Trio will be a nice addition!

My apologies if things around here are a bit wonky or slow. I've been hacked. Not the website, thank goodness but the usual email address I use for everything sent out a random email to my entire address book awhile ago - one which most decidedly was not from me! It's quite aggravating, and embarrassing and Yahoo is being decidedly unhelpful at resolving anything. I am in the process of moving all my communications to a different email address but it is time consuming. Urgh! Something I certainly did not need to have on my to-do list.

Stay tuned for another give-away coming up soon!

Try a Trio

Fisher Price has come out with a new building set called Trio. We got a chance recently to test drive a "starter set." Comprised of clickable bricks, sticks and panels the starter set also comes with a car, a little person, a tree shape, some triangle roof shapes and so on. Quite handy is the storage bin with a lid that can double as a building base. I'll be honest - any Mom's feet would be grateful to not be tripping over the bits of a building set. Yay storage bin!

I love toys that encourage creating and imagining and Daniel has returned to the Trio set countless times. I can see a whole "city" he built on the lid sitting over in the corner as I type this. The starter set is listed as being for 3-5 year olds. One thing I would encourage is strategically planning your Trio playtime. The click action building does take some getting used to and I encourage Daniel to play with the Trio set when he is fresh. Once he starts getting tired, his frustration level can build.

The folks at Fisher Price and MomSelect have graciously agreed to offer a Trio Starter Set to one lucky Relishing the Dirt reader.

To Enter: Comment on this post and tell me your favorite "creative plaything" that you do with your kids.

Extra Entries: Follow or subscribe to this blog and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so. Follow me on Twitter at @Smittens05 and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so. Additional credit for tweeting about this giveaway (please comment with a link).

Deadline: October 9th at Midnight EST.

*******************************************

Note: We received this product free of charge as part of participating in the MomSelect review program.

Zhu Zhu Zhoom!

Congrats to Natalie A. who won the Zhu Zhu pet giveaway here on Relishing the Dirt. A new furry friend is headed her way. And a new giveaway is coming up, straightaway!

Zhu Zhu Pets - Parties, A Review, A Giveaway

As a family who lives in a condo, we're entirely cramped for space when it comes to having a pet. No dogs are allowed, and some days even a cat would feel like one live beast too many around here! When the good folks at MomSelect offered us a chance to explore and play with some Zhu Zhu Pets (and share with some friends) I said yes, please!

Our planned "hamster party" turned into hamster playdates again, due to lack of space issues. I couldn't see stuffing a slew of 4-year-olds into our house all at once - and each of them chasing their new furry friend. Each of the kids at our first playdate seemed quite entertained by the little critters. Daniel's buddy Murphy immediately put his down to watch it scamper off in the other direction. This is the best kind of pet (especially for us Moms) - one that doesn't make a mess, and no worries about feeding it! During one of my last phone calls with Marisa's Mom I had gotten the report that she was still playing with her Zhu Zhu pet quite often. And Murphy's Mom laughed that she had left the house with the Zhu Zhu pet chattering away in her purse.

There are assorted playsets like a hamster wheel and tunnel, a funhouse, an adventure ball and more. Build and rearrange these pieces and the Zhu Zhus have their own habitat to explore.

I would have liked to see some of the habitat pieces built a little more securely. The lid and doors to the hamstermobile and garage come off fairly easily, for example, which can lead to some kid frustration. The hamsters themselves don't really have an "off" switch - they do go into a "sleep" mode after a bit, but this can be a bit of a battery drain.

All in all the kids seem tickled with their new pets. We're planning a few more hamster playdates, and we'd like to have a virtual playdate with you!

The Giveaway: One hamster, and one habitat piece.

To enter: Stop by Zhu Zhu Pets online and tell me your favorite - your favorite hamster, habitrail piece, activity or game from the site - you get to pick.

Extra entries: Subscribe or follow this blog, and leave a comment telling me you have done so. Follow me on Twitter and again, leave a comment that you have done so.

Deadline: Contest closes Tuesday, September 22nd at midnight EST. Winner to be announced September 23rd.

And the Winner is...

Congrats to debbielynne, the winner of the $10 Stop & Shop gift certificate! She says she aims to save 50% when she shops.

Stay tuned for more fun reviews and a giveaway or two!

Save at Stop & Shop - Quick Giveaway!

For the first time I am preparing to send my kid to school! Eek! General Mills and Stop & Shop are teaming up this week to give families a great way to stock up and save, as they gear up for back to school. You should be shopping at Stop & Shop this week because:

There are some great sale prices on the participating General Mills brands: Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Reeses Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cookie Crisp Sprinkles, Cookie Crisp, Fruit Snacks, Old El Paso Dinner Kits, Pillsbury Strudel, Pillsbury Scrambles, Green Giant Boxed Vegetables, Yoplait Yo-plus Multi-pack, Fiber One Yogurt Multi-pack, Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookies, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Pillsbury Sweet Rolls and Yoplait Delights.

Additional savings for your or your school, depending on which Stop & Shop location you shop.

If your Stop & Shop store sells gas: Buy four (4) participating General Mills items and you'll automatically earn 100 points on your Stop & Shop card. For every 100 points earned you'll save 10 cents per gallon of gas. (Please note total discount cannot exceed price per gallon.) Just swipe your Stop & Shop card at the pump to redeem your gas rewards.

If your Stop & Shop doesn't sell gas - Don't worry! You're not left out of the savings. If you buy five (5) participating General Mills products you will receive 20 Bonus Box Tops for your school.

The wonderful people at General Mills and My Blog Spark sent me a $10 Stop & Shop gift card so that I can jump into some of these back to school savings. They also want to give one lucky Relishing the Dirt reader a $10 Stop & Shop gift card too!

To Enter: Leave a comment telling me how much you think you can save on your next shopping trip.

Deadline: Monday, September 7th at Midnight. This giveaway will only last a few days so that hopefully you will receive your gift card in time to use at the sale.