Wholesale Costume Club Review

 Wholesale Costume Club allows you to purchase costumes year-round with affordable discount prices with or without a membership. For an annual fee of only $5, members are given the lowest possible price on all costumes available. Your $5 are immediately earned back when you make your first purchase because, with one costume at member prices, you save around $5 and, in some instances, even more!

Wholesale Costume Club offers a wide variety of costumes for every occasion and each family member. Is this your infant's first Halloween? Take a look at the adorable infant costumes! Do you have a little boy or girl who just can't wait for Halloween? Even plus sizes, couples costumes, and pet costumes are available. Any type of costume and/or accessory you need can be found at Wholesale Costume Club... and at wholesale prices, how you can resist? 

My Thoughts

Looking around the Wholesale Costume Club website, I was immediately amazed at not only the selection, but the prices. In a family with two or more children, the cost of Halloween costumes each year adds up tremendously. Purchasing a $5 membership is completely worth the money. At a store, a costume can cost around $25-35 for your little ones, but at Wholesale Costume Club, you can find the same costumes for much less! Why purchase a Spiderman costume at a store for $30 when you can get it for $18.96?

Look how happy he is with his new costume!!

For our review, I picked out a costume for Mr. Liam, whose 1st birthday is today! Happy Birthday, little man! I chose the adorable Sock Monkey Costume (12-18 months), available for members at only $17.46! Liam mostly wears 9-12 month clothes, but the costume was only a little big for him. That's perfect since it will shrink a little after being washed and I can actually get a few wears out of it.

A problem we've had in the past, and recently, is that costumes can be very itchy and uncomfortable. The Sock Monkey costume was neither. It's very soft and will be perfect for those cold October nights. It's perfect for trick-or-treating! I've mentioned in the past that Liam also has an unusually large head due to some developmental issues so, I thought there was no way the hat would fit, but, as you can see in the picture, it also fit perfectly! I really couldn't believe it! My 3-yr old has also worn it around, and still thinks it's his. He wants to be a Sock Monkey, too, according to his most recent request.

I'm extremely happy with Liam's costume and with Wholesale Costume Club. The only negative thing I can say about it is that it has a million snaps along the legs. It makes for a great access when changing diapers, but it sure is hard to keep a 1 year old still long enough to get the entire thing buttoned. It sure is cute once you get it on, though!

Little Monkey Kisses

I highly recommend Wholesale Costume Club to my readers. We'll definitely be purchasing more from them in the future. Oh, and did I mention the super-fast shipping? I can't stand when I order something and it arrives over a week later. Wholesale Costume Club mails out orders received before 3pm Monday-Friday and includes tracking. Only a few days after ordering our costume, it was at our doorstep! There's no doubt you will be very happy with the prices, customer service, and with shipping!

Buy It

Right now, Wholesale Costume Club is offering a free 1-year membership! Register today to receive member prices without a fee!

Happy Halloween!!!
This review was written for Wholesale Costume Club. No compensation was given other than the costume sent for the writing of this review. All opinions are completely and 100% mine and only mine!

Tuesday Top 10 List

My best friend, Holly, is having her baby shower next month and even though I’m not involved with the planning, I’ve realized how many ideas I have and how badly I really want to plan one!! Apparently, many other women feel the same way since there are already 4 people planning hers (the reason I couldn’t help)!

Here are my top 10 ideas for a Green Scene Baby Shower:

10. Pick out some adorable invitations from Tiny Prints! They have some fun and creative invites for boys, girls, and neutral for those who don't know the sex of the baby! My personal favorites are the Safari Animals and the Modern Timeline with pictures of Mama and belly throughout the pregnancy!

9. Create Decorations from past baby showers! The more people planning the party, the better. If the others are anything like me, they have many gift bags, cards, and decorations from past baby showers. Use them as is OR create new decorations by cutting, pasting, and/or add sparkle.

8. Add a Little Nature. We can only take so much of the usual pastel colors that take over baby showers. Why not liven up the place a bit with some wildflowers? Do you have a garden? Pick some of your own or go to a local nursery and buy potted plants. That way they will look beautiful and can be taken home and planted afterward! 

7. Put Together a Journal or Scrapbook for Guests to Complete. Each guest has their own page (or two) to write their own helpful hints about parenting, things they didn't know before, and anything else they deem appropriate... plus pictures, of course! This makes a great keepsake and all the guests will enjoy this fun pre-shower activity.

6. Listen to The Pregnant Lady!! Each and every person helping plan the shower will have their own ideas, but please don't forget to ask the Mom-To-Be if she has any requests. In know for a fact, with hormones surging, you don't want to feel left out. Plus, there may be certain foods or scents that really upset her tummy, she may want it to be a couples shower, and what if she *gasp* doesn't like party games?!

5. Something Old and Something Borrowed "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue"- We all know the old saying, but have we ever applied it to a baby shower? As shower gifts I always, always give practical items along with some of the things they registered for. You know, the items you don't really think about like diaper cream and gas medicine, that you will inevitably turn to. Encourage each shower guest to bring their must-have item and go around the room as each tells their own story and presents the item to the Mama-To-Be!

4. Something New  Of course we all register for something new, whether practical or not, so be sure to get them something they wanted, too! I know we should all be grateful for the things we receive, but it's always frustrating to receive 5 packs of size newborn diapers and a million white gerber onesies. :) Just saying!

3. Edible Party Favors  You can personalize just about anything these days so, why not the food? In addition to invitations and other stationary, Tiny Prints offers a wide variety of party favors, including these adorable personalized baby shower cookies!

2. An Affair to Remember! I always love surprising my guests with little presents so they can remember the occasion. Again, Tiny Prints has some cute and creative parting gifts, including personalized hand sanitizer and lip balm. Why not get your guests something they will actually put to use!?

1. Celebrating the Birth! To commemorate the birth of a newborn, the Bucket of Love from Botanical Paperworks is the perfect idea! At the end of the shower, set the bucket of favors, flower shaped paper with instructions, by the door for each guest to grab on their way out. The little pieces of paper are actually plantable! Ask guests to hold on to their paper and follow the planting instructions the day the new baby arrives to celebrate the beginning of life! I absolutely loves these (and all of their other plantable stationary as well).

Have you helped plan a baby shower before? What creative idea did you add to the mix? 

 

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tiny Prints blogging program, making me eligible to get a Tiny Prints gift code worth $50, plus 25 FREE Tiny Prints greeting cards—a total gift value of $149.75! For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Want to Be Part of A Review Team?

Hi, everyone! I recently became a Mom Ambassador at Moms Meet and have been encouraged to expand my blog a bit more. As a Mom Ambassador, I will learn more about green living and use my resources to educate others and encourage them to go green. Part of the program involves starting a group of like-minded Moms who are eco-conscious or would like to become more eco-conscious. In addition to learning more about green living, the group will be provided organic, natural, and eco-friendly products to review.

This is where my readers come in!! I am putting together a group of 5-8 Moms who would like to participate in reviews, learn more about green living, and help spread the word about green products!

What are the qualifications?

1. You are a Mom!
2. You are Interested in Green Living!
3. You are a blogger and have been blogging at least 6 months!
4. You would like to sample and review green products!

Does this sound like something you would like to do?

Then fill out an application by clicking HERE!

** I will close the application on Monday, October 4th!**

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at childrenteachingmama@gmail.com

October Event Sponsors!

The Spotlight on Mama-Owned Businesses October event will begin on only a few days! I'm so excited!  In addition to the usual reviews and giveaways, Spotlight posts will go live every few days so you can learn more about some of our favorite business owners! Here are the confirmed sponsors for our event with some of the spill-overs from last month!

Are you excited? Come back on Oct. 1st for the beginning of the event!

The Winner's Corner!

Here is a list of recent giveaway winners! Each winner was emailed and all but one has confirmed! I will keep you posted if they do not respond within 48 hours!
Sorry for those of you who didn't win, but the big Spotlight On Mama-Owned Businesses Event will begin October 1st so, you will have 25 chances to win again!

Without further ado, here's the list of winner!

Juppy Walker
#37 : Jen J.

My Purple Toes Book
Khrys D.

Two Cute Boutique (unconfirmed)

#171: MaryB

Bummis Swimmi
#215: April

Yo Gabba Gabba CD and Book
#39:Stephanie-jean Life:SemiCrunchy

Peter Rabbit Organics
#103: Louis H.

Mother-ease Diaper and Cover
#28: Knocked Up and Nursing (Sarah)

Congrats Winners!

Santa Cruz Organic Review

 About Santa Cruz Organic

Are you looking for lunch box items?  Santa Cruz Organic announced new products this summer for the ultimate, organic lunch box solution:

• Organic Fruit Spreads – just launched in four flavors: Strawberry, Apricot, Seedless Red Raspberry and Blackberry Pomegranate; fruit is the first ingredient in each jar for a rich, home-style texture. 
• Organic Fruit Sauces – new flavors are Apple Peach and Apple Tropical; 4-ounce cups are ideal with 100 percent daily vitamin C.
• Organic Peanut Butter – not new, but the perfect complement to the new fruit spreads.  PB&J will never be the same again.  PB is available in both dark and light roast, creamy and crunchy. 

All of Santa Cruz Organic’s products are certified organic, do not contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial ingredients or preservatives and are manufactured entirely with renewable energy from a variety of sources, including on-site solar energy and renewable energy certificate purchases.

My Thoughts

We received a huge box of goodies to review from Santa Cruz Organic. First of all, I was very impressed with the packaging. Considering most of the containers are glass, they did a wonderful job of properly securing them and packing them so nothing would break during shipping. Not to mention, they were shipped via FedEx so, shipping was very fast, too. 

I was so excited, though didn’t know where to begin so, we tried several within the first two days! The first thing I tried was the peanut butter. We all love peanut butter and, when I was pregnant, I lived on it so, this was the biggest test. We received a creamy blend, my favorite, and crunchy, which will be perfect for making peanut butter cookies! I usually just buy the store brand peanut butter because fresh peanut butter I’ve tried in the past just didn’t taste good to me. Well, I’ve been converted to Santa Cruz Organic Peanut Butter! It’s absolutely delicious! It does taste different than the processed, preservative- packed store brand peanut butter, but in a definite good way! It has so much more flavor and is very filling. I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and both Josiah and I were full after eating only half of the sandwich!!

The next day we had a breakfast picnic in the living room with bread and jam. Josiah and I tried all of the spreads, each one with a distinct flavor, all tasting fresh and each approved by the little man! My favorite is the apricot spread. I love apricot jam, but it’s very hard to find a decent one here in the US. This is, by far, the best I’ve found since I lived in Germany. The Hubs loves the Raspberry and Josiah seemed to enjoy the Blackberry Pomegranate the most, though Strawberry is always a favorite, too!

We were also sent the newest Santa Cruz Organic Sauce Cups, Tropical Fruit Sauce and Apple Peach Sauce Cups. Again, they were a hit with the entire family. The kiddos and I ate them with lunches and the Hubs took them to work with his lunch. They were delicious and tasted very fresh. I loved the Apple Peach Sauce so much. It was just the right blend of apples and peaches, making it not too sour and not too sweet. These would be perfect to pack in lunchboxes as a healthy, nutritious part of each lunch.

This was the first time I've tried Santa Cruz Organic products and, needless to say, we were all very impressed with the quality. I also love that the containers are glass, which makes them perfect for reuse! We will definitely purchase more in the future and I highly recommend Santa Cruz Organics to others, especially the Organic Peanut Butter!

StudyX Review

 Does your child need some help with studying? Or do you need to refresh your knowledge of a certain subject? Well, this product is for you!

About Study X

Studying can be tedious and time consuming for anyone. StudyX changes that. Kids learn facts faster, retain them longer, earn better grades, and have more fun studying with this versatile computer software. Unlike a simple flash card program, StudyX offers versatile study options including six fun study games, practice tests (multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching), autopilot studying, study sheets and digital or paper flash cards.

Kids enter study material in a question/answer format. Or, StudyX already includes some question/answer sets in basic history, math, science, social studies and 1000 vocabulary words each in 48 languages, which is useful for both English-speaking students, and students learning English as a second language (ESL).

The software tracks students’ progress while they study on screen, tallying correctly-answered questions and focusing on questions needing the most studying. Or, if students prefer paper, they can print flash cards, study sheets or practice tests.

The StudyX developer, Jeff Computers, just launched a major upgrade (version 5.0) featuring enhanced study games and study options, a more robust user interface, and a new multiplayer game.


My Thoughts 

I was sent StudyX to review and, just like when I was in school, I procrastinated! I knew it would take some time to get to know and I'd actually have to.. *gasp* study! Once I downloaded the program onto the computer, which only took a few minutes, StudyX automatically prompted me with a tutorial so I could learn my way around, which was great! Most products just expect you to figure out things on your own, which is sometimes very difficult. 


I was impressed with all of the features StudyX offers. Whether you are in elementary school or college, it can help you prepare for a test. StudyX already has several subjects pre-programmed and ready to teach students, though, if you can't find what you need, you can make your own study guide, flash cards, and practice tests or upload more study options from the StudyX website! You can also print out the flash cards, study sheets, and tests provided by StudyX or you can just use them on the computer and save some paper. 

Remembering back to when I was in school, I never enjoyed studying. Who does, really? StudyX would have been perfect for me because it also provides  fun, educational games as well! You can play while learning at the same time. I wish more video games offered this! If you are doing something else on the computer, you can even program StudyX to pop up every few minutes with a new question so you can multi-task!


To brush up on my German skills, I practiced with flash cards, multiple choice questions, and the practice test. There are really a wide variety of vocabulary words and you really feel like it refreshes your skills very quickly. My only complaint was that special characters, such as the double s and umlaut, commonly found in German, did not show up at all, only displaying a question mark in their place. I don't know if it was my computer or StudyX, but that could be confusing to someone who doesn't know the language as well. 

Overall, I think StudyX is a great product, especially for school-aged children and teachers. If you struggle to get your children to study, this may definitely help out! StudyX delivers creative ways to tempt children to learn, with autopilot mode and games, that studying from a book just can't do.

Buy It

StudyX is available for $39.99 and works on Windows XP/Vista/7 and newer.

Win It 

One Lucky Reader Will Win Their Own StudyX program!!!

How to Enter:

• Visit the Testimonial Page of the StudyX website and Provide the Age of the Person with the First posted Testimonial!

**Remember to include your email address if it is NOT visible in your profile so I will know how to contact you!The initial entry is mandatory! 

 Be sure to answer that question before earning extra entries listed below! Each bullet is worth one extra entry unless specified. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you earn and include your email address is at least one entry.

Additional Entries

• "Like" StudyX on Facebook and Tell Them Children Teaching Mama Sent You!
• Follow Children Teaching Mama via Google Friend Connect
• Sign up for the Children Teaching Mama Newsletter
• 'Like' Children Teaching Mama on Facebook
• Follow Children Teaching Mama on Twitter 
• Grab the Children Teaching Mama Button & Place on Your Blog (3 entries)- leave url
• Grab The New October Event Button & Place On Your Blog (5 Entries Into All Oct. Giveaways & 1 Entry Now) 
• Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogger by clicking the picture below! (1 entry per day!)

Plenty of opportunities to increase your chance of winning! This Giveaway is open to US Residents and Ends October 19th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org. An announcement will be made on the blog and the winner will also be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. 

Good Luck!
I received the StudyX program in exchange for my honest opinion and review as part of a campaign from The Family Review Network. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are 100% mine and only mine!!

Bagshot Row Organic Bamboo Cloth Diapers

 I saw a review of Bagshot Row Bamboo a few months ago and knew I had to have one. I knew it was a longshot when I emailed Joyce, the owner and creator of Bagshot Row, but she said she'd love to participate in my 1st Birthday Event! I couldn't wait to receive my diaper!

For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to check out Bagshot Row Bamboo, the online shop is full of trend-setting cloth diapers for your little one. Each one is uniquely created and never exactly the same as another. Joyce restocks the store on Fridays at 4pm and 6pm central time so, you definitely want to get there in time to snag a new creation before they are all gone! They disappear very quickly.

My Thoughts

As soon as I received the cloth diaper, Josiah claimed it for himself. The diaper was made with Thomas the Train fabric, which just happens to be his favorite show! Joyce offers fitted and hybrid All-In-Ones in One Size or Itty Bitty for newborns. We chose the hybrid AIO One-Size. The inner layers are made of absorbent fleece and the soaker is made of fleece and bamboo.

What immediately sets Bagshot Row cloth diapers apart from other cloth diapers was the use of fleece, rather than the usual waterproof PUL material. Using a breathable diaper allows the temperature inside the diaper to stay at a comfortable level, which is great in the summer. Not only does the fleece make the diaper more comfortable, but it also reduces the risk of diaper rash issues! Another difference in Bagshot Row diapers  is that they are adjustable by using pins or Snappis. Never used snappis before? That's okay. They now offer snaps for those who don't wish to stray from the usual AIOs. I was very curious about using a Snappi on the hybrid AIO. Would it stay put or fall off?

Before using the diaper, we had to wash the snap-in doubler 3 times (to increase absorbency) and I handwashed the outer shell and put it outside to dry. It took a little longer to dry, but Joyce suggests air drying to avoid piling and we definitely didn't want to ruin our new diaper! Finally, we were able to test out the cloth diaper and, sure enough, the cloth diaper stayed on and it fit wonderfully. Using a Snappi allows you to custom fit the diaper even better than with snaps. Plus, the outer fabric holds the clamps in very well. Josiah is very jealous of his little brother and, to make it up to him, I had to find some Thomas training pants.

Reviewing the Bagshot Row diaper in the summer was the perfect time because I was able to see what a difference using a breathable material really makes. Liam definitely didn't get as hot with the fleece and didn't sweat like he sometimes does with PUL material. I love this diaper! I feel like we have a little piece of cloth diaper artwork.

Buy It

Ready to purchase a Bagshot Row Bamboo cloth diaper for your little one? They start at only $20 to have one custom made and you can add snaps for only $4! Click HERE to shop! Remember, she restocks the store every Friday!

Win It

One Lucky Reader Will Win Their Own Custom Made Bagshot Row Bamboo Cloth Diaper! Yay!!

How to Enter:

• Visit Bagshot Row Bamboo and Comment On Your Favorite Fabric Print!

**Remember to include your email address if it is NOT visible in your profile so I will know how to contact you!The initial entry is mandatory! 

 Be sure to answer that question before earning extra entries listed below! Each bullet is worth one extra entry unless specified. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you earn and include your email address is at least one entry.

  Additional Entries

• Add Bagshot Row Bamboo as a Friend on Facebook
• Follow Children Teaching Mama via Google Friend Connect
• 'Like' Children Teaching Mama on Facebook
• Follow Children Teaching Mama on Twitter 
• Sign Up for the Children Teaching Mama Newsletter
• Grab the Children Teaching Mama Button & Place on Your Blog (3 entries)- leave url
• Grab The New October Event Button & Place On Your Blog (5 Entries Into All Oct. Giveaways & 1 Entry Now)
• Tweet (up to 2x a day 1 hr apart) By clicking the "Tweet" Button At the Top Of this Post OR Use this Tweet:

#Win Your Own Custom-Made Bagshot Row Bamboo Cloth Diaper #clothdiapers  @childrenteach http://tinyurl.com/bagshotrow #giveaways 

• Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogger by clicking the picture below! (1 entry per day!)

Plenty of opportunities to increase your chance of winning! This Giveaway is open to US Residents and Ends October 19th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org. An announcement will be made on the blog and the winner will also be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. 

Good Luck!
I received a cloth diaper in exchange for my honest opinion and review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are 100% mine and only mine!!

October Event Announcement!

This summer I went to the beach without the Hubs and, for the first time, I realized how hard it really is to take care of the boys all by myself and try to work on my blog. It's hard work and I think it's high time more Mamas are recognized for it! So, October's theme is...



<br /> <a href="http://stinkermama.blogspot.com/"><img src=" http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/jacquiblogger/button150x150childrenteachingmama.jpg" /></a>

This event will feature only businesses owned or run by Mamas! There were so many wonderful Mama-owned businesses out there that we have over 20 reviews and giveaways planned! I will be listing at least 1 giveaway a day!! Also, to give the Mamas all the credit they deserve, several will get their own spotlight post. It's a great way to learn more about them, their passions, inspirations, and how they balance work with family life.

Please let your friends know about this event and spread the word! I want everyone to know about all these wonderful businesses. ** Add the button to your blog for 5 Extra Entries Into ALL the October Giveaways!** Once you add the button, just Fill Out This Form so I know you added it AND so I can check out/follow your blog, too! The button must be placed on your blog BEFORE October 5th to receive the 5 entries!

I'd like to give a special thanks to Jacqui from Wacky Jacqui's Designs for creating yet another wonderful button! Check out her website if you need any website designs.

Anytime Costumes Review & Giveaway

 Anytime Costumes is a family-owned costume website available year-round. Stocked with thousands of costumes, props, accessories, and even holiday decorations, Anytime Costume is your one-stop costume shop.

With over 30 years in the business, Anytime Costumes knows a thing or two about customer service. Even if you can't find something you are looking for, just contact them and they will do their best to find it for you! Need help making your party everything you want it to be? Anytime Costume loves to work with party planners and for corporate events!

My Thoughts


I was extremely impressed with the shipping service at Anytime Costumes. Shipped out the day after I ordered, I received it very quickly! Anytime Costumes allowed me to pick out a costume and, since Josiah loves Halloween, he picked out the Toddler Race Car Driver Costume.

We chose the 3-4T size, due to the measurements. I was scared the costume would not fit properly since he is so skinny. He still wears some 24 month clothes! I was happy that the size chart was completely accurate and the costume fit him perfectly!! He was so excited, he had to put it on immediately! Who says you have to wait until Halloween to dress up?

Isn't he adorable? Okay, I'm a little biased! The costume is a great quality! Usually I like him to wait until Halloween to wear his new costumes, but the material is very sturdy and I know it will hold up to the tough toddler wear and tear! Plus, he would be extremely upset if I didn't let him wear it. He's already put it on about 3 times, pretending to race around the house. He even got out his Halloween bucket and, in the last picture, he was saying, "Trick Or Treat, Mama!!"

I am very impressed with the service and the product quality. Also, if you order over $50 of costumes, which is easy to do if you have more than one child, you get free shipping! That, alone, can save you about $10! So, are you ready to make your costume purchases at Anytime Costume?

Buy It

Purchase the Toddler Race Car Driver Costume for only $29.99 Or Find Another Costume Here!

Win It

Anytime Costumes is giving one reader a costume of your choice up to $50!!

How To Enter:

• Visit Anytime Costumes and tell me which costume you would pick if you won. 

**Remember to include your email address if it is NOT visible in your profile so I will know how to contact you!The initial entry is mandatory! 

 Be sure to answer that question before earning extra entries listed below! Each bullet is worth one extra entry unless specified. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you earn and include your email address is at least one entry.

  

Additional Entries

• "Like" Anytime Costumes on Facebook and Leave a Message Telling Them I sent You!
• Follow Anytime Costumes on Twitter!
• Join the Anytime Costumes Newsletter (at the bottom of the page)! 
• Follow Children Teaching Mama via Google Friend Connect
• 'Like' Children Teaching Mama on Facebook
• Follow Children Teaching Mama on Twitter 
• Grab the Children Teaching Mama Button & Place on Your Blog (3 entries)- leave url
• Tweet (up to 2x a day 1 hr apart) By clicking the "Tweet" Button At the Top Of this Post OR Use this Tweet:

#Win #Costume of Choice From Anytime Costumes @childrenteach @anytimecostumes http://tinyurl.com/anytimecostumes #giveaways #halloween 10/05

• Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogger by clicking the picture below! (1 entry per day!)

Plenty of opportunities to increase your chance of winning! This Giveaway is open to US Residents and Ends October 5th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org. An announcement will be made on the blog and the winner will also be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. 

Good Luck!

Blogmania Winner Announcement!

Hi, everyone! I didn't want to keep you waiting because you all want to know who won, right? :)

 Congrats, Ally!!! 

  She is the proud winner of our All-Natural Baby Party Prize Pack!

Thanks, everyone, for making Blogmania such a huge success! I hope you had as much fun as we did!!

Come back next month for our Spotlight on Mama & Female Business Owners Event!

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 2482    Result: 877

 Ry and Ally said...
I signed up for the kushies newsletter! 3
September 15, 2010 2:56 PM
ally.cauffman@gmail.com

New Features Make It Easier To Enter Giveaways & Comment!

Hi, everyone! It has recently been brought to my attention that commenting and entering giveaways on the blog was a little difficult since it brings up a totally different window and requires a verification code! Well, those days are gone! From this point, when you hit to post a comment, a window will pop up AND there will be no verification code!
Hopefully that will be easier for everyone... and encourage you to register for more giveaways! :)

Also, a few more reviews and giveaways will be posted for the 1st Birthday Celebration, some of which are my biggest giveaways yet! Don't forget BLOGMANIA coming up next Wednesday, September 15th! Click here to read about the sponsors AND for a chance to earn 5 extra entries! Come join my All-Natural Baby Party with a great gift package worth over $100! Then we'll start getting ready for October, an even bigger event with some great sponsors... and lots of cloth diapers for everyone! I'll comment more on that later!

Have a wonderful weekend!! If anyone has any other request and/or comments about my blogs and improvements that should be made, please don't hesitate to tell me. :) I welcome all comments!

Sweet Knee Organics Review & Giveaway

 Every summer our family travels to Myrtle Beach for vacation and this year was no exception! While there, I decided to scope the area for local cloth diaper shops, organics, and baby goods! Little did I know, Sweet Knee all-natural baby products are created there! I've seen Sweet Knee products on EcoMom  before and have always wanted to try them!

About Sweet Knee

Sweet Knee is a family-owned business that was created when Mama and Papa Platt's newest arrival had very sensitive skin that could not be cured by any other creams, lotions, medications, or remedies. Mama Platt got to work and created what is now known as Bun Glaze, a non-medicated, zinc-free alternative to diaper ointments! Bun Glaze is actually multi-purpose and can be used for sunburns, bug bites, burns, and more! Since then, Sweet Knee product have grown to include many other wonderful baby items, such as Rubbit Oil, and Oatmeal Cookie Bath, made with the best items Mama and Papa Platt can find.

Sweet Knee products do not contain any nasty chemicals or synthetics, are certified organic, and are never tested on animals. The company strives to remain green, never using packing peanuts to ship and by researching all ingredients thoroughly! In addition, they are big supporters of community and donate a portion of sales each time a gift bag is sold!

My Thoughts

We received the Petite Baby Bag, which includes a 1.8 oz bubbly soap, 1.6oz. bun glaze, 1.6 rubbit oil, and two .5 oz. oatmeal cookie baths, all in a cute zipper tote! It looked adorable, all made up with a little bow on top and would be a perfect gift, especially for a baby shower.

I couldn't wait to use all the great baby items on Liam! Josiah even wanted to participate. The bun glaze was, indeed, great as a diaper ointment. Sometimes Liam breaks out or has some redness and the bun glaze seems to take care of that. Josiah is also prone to diaper rashes so, we've used this several times on his heiny, too! We have a ton of mosquitoes here right now that don't seem to be deterred by any amount of bug spray so, we've been using the bun glaze on bug bites, too. It really seems to cut down on the redness and itchiness!

Next, we tried out the Oatmeal Cookie Bath! Josiah was extra excited about using this at bath time. He knows all about oatmeal baths since he often has such bad rashes so, he loved that it smelled much better than the usual plain oatmeal. He also loved the little baggie you put it in. The first time he accidentally dumped the oatmeal out of the baggie, into the water. Big mistake!! It made a huge mess! The second time, we followed the instructions and actually kept the oatmeal INSIDE the baggie so, the oatmeal goodness could seep out of the bag into the water.That was so wonderful and made a nice, soothing bath for the boys, without the usual messy clean-up!

While we were taking a bath, we also used the bubbly soap, which comes out bubbly (from the foam pump). Josiah loves having his own bubbles and likes using it at each bathtime. The bubbly soap is very lightly scented and great for sensitive skin. Unlike other baby shampoos and bath soaps, bubbly soap causes very minimal drying, if any at all. Liam's head is always very, very dry, and I've definitely noticed a change since I've used bubbly soap and the rubbit oil!

Rubbit oil is, by far, my absolute favorite new product! I am in love with it. Made with calendula oil, rubbit oil is great for babies and parents alike. Liam is a preemie and I have, since he was born, practiced infant massage on him. I've tried several oils and had pretty much decided all of them would leave us greasy, but then I tried rubbit oil. As soon as I squirted a bit in my hand, I could tell the consistency was much different than other oils I'd used. Calendula oil rubs easily into the skin and it is perfect, and I mean perfect in every way, for massaging. I can massage Liam's legs and arms without needing to reapply over and over. So, a little goes a very long way. Plus, when I'm done, I don't feel all greasy and icky. In fact, the rubbit oil smells so yummy, that I often rub it on my skin just to smell it and moisturize my skin. I will be buying much, much more of this item!!!

So, are you ready to purchase some Sweet Knee products?

Buy It!

Purchase the Petite Baby Bag for only $24.95! You can also buy the items separately OR in a bigger gift bag!
Also, for 15% off your purchase, use the code:  CTMlovesSK until 9/30!

Win It!

One Lucky Reader Will Win A $15 Gift Credit to Sweet Knee!!!

How to Enter:

• Visit Sweet Knee and Comment on What You'd Like to Try if You Win!

**Remember to include your email address if it is NOT visible in your profile so I will know how to contact you!The initial entry is mandatory! 

 Be sure to answer that question before earning extra entries listed below! Each bullet is worth one extra entry unless specified. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you earn and include your email address is at least one entry.

Additional Entries

• "Like" Sweet Knee on Facebook and leave a message that Children Teaching Mama sent you!
• Follow Sweet Knee on Twitter! 
• Make a Purchase from Sweet Knee during this giveaway (5 entries!)
• Follow Children Teaching Mama via Google Friend Connect
• 'Like' Children Teaching Mama on Facebook
• Follow Children Teaching Mama on Twitter 
• Grab the Children Teaching Mama Button & Place on Your Blog (3 entries)- leave url
• Grab My Blogmania "All-Natural Baby Party Button" (5 entries)- leave URL 
• Grab My 1st Birthday Celebration Button (5 entries)- pls leave URL
• Enter My Other Giveaways (1 Entry Per Giveaway Entered) 
• Tweet (up to 2x a day 1 hr apart) By clicking the "Tweet" Button At the Top Of this Post OR Use this Tweet:

#Win a $15 Credit to Sweet Knee Organics #Baby Products @childrenteach @sweetknee 
http://tinyurl.com/sweetknee #giveaways PLS RT Ends 9/30

• Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogger by clicking the picture below! (1 entry per day!)

Plenty of opportunities to increase your chance of winning! This Giveaway is open to US Residents and Ends September 30th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org. An announcement will be made on the blog and the winner will also be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. 

Good Luck!

I received no compensation other than the Petite Baby Bag used to review Sweet Knee products! All opinions are 100% mine.

Rounded Corner Business Card Giveaway

Alright! We are taking a short break from the 1st Birthday celebration to offer you parents a great opportunity! UPrinting, a wonderful online printing company with a first class reputation, is offering one lucky reader 250 Rounded Corner Business Cards!

About UPrinting

For over 25 years, UPrinting has provided customers with a variety of services to ensure customer satisfaction, including a complimentary proofing service before payment is required. In addition to being extremely fast to complete and ship orders, UPrinting works hard to offer the lowest possible prices for their customers. This is why their customers come again and again!

UPrinting Business Cards

UPrinting offers a wide variety of business cards! You can choose from different sizes and shapes, from the standard rectangular business cards to unique rounded and leaf shaped cards! Also, you can design your business cards from scratch, using your own files and pictures or you can use the templates provided by UPrinting. Whether you need business cards for your shop, company, or even your blog, UPrinting can serve you with speed and wonderful customer service.

Buy It

You can purchase Business Cards at UPrinting starting at only $16!

Win It 

One Lucky Reader Will Win:

250 Die Cut Business Cards for One (1) Winner

2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)

Die cutting options available: Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded One-Corner, Half-Circle Side, Circle

Paper Type: 14pt Cardstock Gloss, Matte, or High Gloss; 13pt Cardstock Uncoated       

Color: 4Color Front, Blank Back; 4Color Front, Black Back; 4Color Both Sides

How To Enter

• Comment On Why You Would Like To Win!

**Remember to include your email address if it is NOT visible in your profile so I will know how to contact you!The initial entry is mandatory! 
 Be sure to answer that question before earning extra entries listed below! Each bullet is worth one extra entry unless specified. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you earn and include your email address is at least one entry.

Additional Entries

• 'Like' UPrinting on Facebook
• Follow UPrinting on Twitter
• Follow Children Teaching Mama via Google Friend Connect
• 'Like' Children Teaching Mama on Facebook
• Follow Children Teaching Mama on Twitter 
• Grab the Children Teaching Mama Button & Place on Your Blog (3 entries)- leave url
• Tweet (ONCE a day) About This Giveaway On Twitter Using this Tweet:

#Win 250 Business Cards @UPrinting & @ChildrenTeach #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/2d3osog Ends 9/21

Plenty of opportunities to increase your chance of winning! This Giveaway is open to US Residents and Ends September 21st at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org. An announcement will be made on the blog and the winner will also be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. The Giveaway is for US Residents, 18 Years of Age and Older!

Good Luck!

I will receive 250 Business Cards in the Future for the writing of this review. All opinions expressed are 100% mine!

Winners Galore!

Sorry for the delay in posting winners, but I've had a few people not confirm their email addresses!  Remember, everyone, that once you receive an email that you've won, you MUST respond within 48 hours to receive the prize! I'm sorry to anyone who missed out. Rest assure I contact winners as soon as the giveaway is closed, but feel free to email me if I procrastinate again. I'll try to be better about posting winners earlier!

Here are the winners:  

Simply Organica Giveaway Winner... Khrys (Mom of 3 Dolls)

CSN Stores Giveaway Winner... Vickie B

 

Little Beetle Winner... rasmith0506Rebecca

Mary's Soft Dough Winners (2).... Chany & Judy

Sinus Buster Winner: Chany

I am about to redraw for the winners of the Attune Chocolate Bars & The Large Poster Giveaways so, check your inbox this afternoon!

GLOB Natural Paints Review & Discount Code

 We love art-time at our house and struggle to find natural alternatives to make our art projects fun. Even the so-called non-toxic paints found at most stores aren't completely non-toxic.  They can cause irritations and reactions. Did you know that art & craft paints are exempt from consumer paint lead laws? They can contain any number of outrageous chemicals, from lead to formaldehyde. Eck! Looking for an alternative , natural paint online, I came across the GLOB Natural Paints website.

Created with the idea of sustainability, GLOB all-natural paints are biodegradable, non-toxic, and completely environmentally friendly. A friend inspired the founder, Ashley, to create GLOB paints when he brought over a paint made of cactus nectar. What other fruits, vegetables, and flowers would also create beautiful, natural colors? Ashley would soon find out! 

Each of the six paint colors are named after their actual ingredients. What fruit would create the color orange? A tangerine, of course! How about blue? Blueberries! Talk about art imitating life! Kids and adults will get a kick out of art-time with these paints, which come in powder form. All you do is add water to the powder to create instant fun!

My Thoughts

Josiah couldn't wait to try out the paints, so we got to work. I read on the paint packets that, if all of the paint was not used, it could be stored in the fridge so, I looked  in the pantry and found the perfect containers. I have several  2-oz. reusable puree freezer cubes with attached lids that are the perfect size. Plus, it comes with a tray to hold the cubes into place, which is great when little ones are using paintbrushes! Anyway, I added the paint powders and water, closed the lids, and Josiah and I jumped around the kitchen laughing, shaking and mixing up the paints!

I was amazed at how the dull colored powder immediately turned into vibrant colors when water was added. Pomegranate, with it's deep red color, looked and smelled just like a pomegranate. All of the paints smelled faintly of their natural ingredients! When mixing, I just added water until the mixture was the consistency that I liked.


Josiah absolutely loved the GLOB paints and made several different colorful paintings. I painted, too, while Liam sat close by, watching intently. I even let Liam paint since I knew the ingredients were non-toxic! 

'Siah the Silly Painting Away!

The next time we mixed some GLOB paint, we found another use- fingerpainting! We love making messes during art-time, so this was a big hit for the boys. I also found that, since the ingredients are natural, clean up was very easy. Even when it got on our floors and dried, I just sprayed it with some castile soap and it immediately wiped up.

Josiah & Mama's Masterpiece!

Josiah gives GLOB Natural Paints two berry blue paint-covered thumbs up! We'll definitely be purchasing these again for ourselves and as presents! Any child would love painting with GLOB and, since they are natural, Josiah enjoyed being able to paint without getting Mama's permission. He just got his art supplies out, along with the paints in the fridge, and got to work painting another masterpiece! Mr. Independent really liked that aspect.


Buy It!
Are you ready to purchase some Glob Natural Paints for your little ones? All the paints and kits are very reasonably priced, starting at only $12 for a pack of 6 paints! We've painted 3 times so far and still have some left so, you will definitely get your money's worth! Plus, Children Teaching Mama readers will receive a 10% discount on their first purchase with code: GLOBLOG !