Getting Ready For The Holidays Event Info

Hi, everyone! Earlier this month I made an announcement about my next event, Getting Ready For the Holidays. It is from November 7th to the 14th and will be taking place across 4 blogs, including mine so, you will have a lot of great items to choose between.
Your Hosts For the Event are:

The Freebie Junkie

Rockindeals4you

Children Teaching Mama

Tatum's Family Review

From now until the event, all of the posts that have "Getting Ready for The Holidays Event" in the title will be reviews and early entry options for items included in the event. So, check back over the next week and get those extra entries in. 4 Lucky entrants will win a great prize package full of gifts for the entire family (one on each blog) PLUS there will be a huge Grand Prize Giveaway! So, you will have 5 chances to win!

Also, I'm offering 5 extra entries to everyone who posts the event button on their blog for all of my giveaways in November! Note, this is only for the giveaways on my blog. The other blogs are doing their own thing. So, delete my October event button and put this one in its place! Then, come back and comment here or on the original post to let me know it's on your blog.

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The first reviews and early giveaway entries will be posted up today so, get ready! This will be a fun event so, invite your friends and get ready to win.

Dave & Buster's Book A Party Early Promotion

The holidays are quickly approaching and you know what that means!! Parties, parties, and more parties! My husband's boss always throws at least 2 parties during the holidays and some of them have turned out to be quite boring. We are all crammed into a small room, given mediocre pre-prepared food, and left to socialize for 3 hours. Enough with the monotony! I say it's time to throw a party everyone would enjoy!

The Dave & Buster's slogan, "Eat. Drink. Play.", really sums up the whole definition of the establishment. You can bring the kids for a fun-filled day, bring a date for a fun, romantic evening, or host your event, be it for a birthday, corporation, or holiday gathering! With rooms and rooms of entertainment, Dave & Buster's is sure to please everyone. First, have a delicious dinner from huge selection of dishes. Have a nice drink or glass of wine. Then, set off to play games the rest of the night!

Right now Dave & Buster's is offering a great deal when you book your holiday party early! There are two added incentives to the already fun evening being planned! Book your party early to receive a Free Room Rental OR 50% More Game Play! This offer is only valid through October 31st so, hurry and make your reservations today!

Contact a Party Planner today at 877-475-0615 or through the website! Dave & Buster's locations can be found all over the US and are designed to meet the needs of any type of gathering, big or small, holiday or birthday! Party rooms range from a giant Showroom to smaller rooms or you can even rent out the entire place! Can you even imagine how much fun that would be? Party planners help you plan out everything to make your party unforgettable.

Ready to Book Your Party?

** Check back next month for a Dave & Buster's Giveaway!!**

This post was written for Dave & Buster's. No Compensation was given for this post. All opinions included in the informational post are 100% mine.

Studioahimsa Handmade Prints & Stationary Review & Giveaway

If you are like me, you love sending out letters through snail mail. There's just nothing like getting an actual letter from someone who took the time to write everything out. Emails are so impersonal, but a handwritten note just brightens my day! I was so excited to meet Tazim, the co-owner of Studioahimsa, during Blogmania earlier this year. I took a look around her Etsy shop and was immediately impressed with not only the items listed, but the fact that all items are eco-friendly.

You can be sure each card was created with time and love. The illustrations and imprints are made from hand-carved lino and only vegetable-based, non-toxic inks are used! The paper used is 100% post-consumer recycled and sourced locally.

With backgrounds in art and design, Tazim and her partner, Greg, not only know what they are doing, but their passion for their work is obvious and shines through their amazing prints. It's not only impressive, but inspirational.

More Thoughts

I received a set of greeting cards to review, which were all packaged in recycled goods (an old book cover). The cards show a white lily looking beautiful and bright against the brown recycled paper. The inside of the card is blank, though you can let them know if you'd like something special written in them. What I really love about the cards I received is that they are not only made of a high quality paper, but they can be sent for any occasion. Send them as a Thank You card or just a note to someone; it doesn't matter!

I loved all my recycled thank you notes included with the order!

With the holidays nearing, Studioahimsa offers seasonal prints, such as the holly berries "Holly-Day" cards. Do you find yourself extremely busy and unable to find time to send out Christmas cards this year? That's quite alright. Just pick out your print, pick out a special message you'd like written on the inside of the card, and send along the recipient's address. Poof! They will be magically sent out without any work or worries. Now that's what I call customer service!

Be sure to check the store often because they will be adding tons of new prints and cards over the next few weeks! Plus, if you love their prints and cards, check out their awesome handcrafted jewelry shop, Two Bears One Heart!

Buy It

So, are you ready to make your first Studioahimsa purchase? Cards start at only $4.25!

Win It

Thanks to Studioahimsa, One Lucky Reader Will Win A Set of 5 Autumn Acorn Thank You Cards! A $15.25 value!

How To Enter

• Visit Studioahimsa and Comment On Which Item(s) You Like The Most!

**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" Tazim's Blog, Being Tazim, on Facebook and leave a message that Children Teaching Mama sent you (I will be checking!)!
• Follow Being Tazim on Twitter!

•Follow Being Tazim via Google Friend Connect

•Make a Purchase from Studioahimsa during this giveaway (5 entries!)

•Heart Studioahimsa on Etsy 

•Heart Tazim's Other Etsy Shop, Two Bears One Heart (beautiful handmade jewelry!!) 

•Follow Children Teaching Mama via Google Friend Connect
•Register for the Children Teaching Mama Newsletter (on left sidebar)

•'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 October Spotlight On Mama Businesses Event Button (If added before Oct. 5th, add 5 Extra Entries; If added after Oct. 5th, Add 2 Entries)

•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 Studioahimsa Handmade Autumn Thank You Cards @ChildrenTeach & @beingtazim http://tinyurl.com/2dkj4hq #giveaways Ends 11/12 pls RT

•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 and Canada Residents and Ends November 12th 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!

Yo Gabba Gabba There's A Party In Atlanta Review

Saturday afternoon we loaded up my 3 year old son, Josiah, and his cousin, Rylee, for a trip to Atlanta! They loving going to the big city and were super excited as to why we were going! We were off to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live! I had no idea what to expect before arriving, but I was sure we'd have a great time. The show was at the Fox Theater, a beautiful venue in the heart of Atlanta. I've been there several times, but never to see a kid's themed show so, this was definitely a first.

 



Waiting for the show to begin!

The theater was full of energy from the get go. While waiting, I bought the kids (and myself) cotton candy. By the time the show began, we were pumped and full of sugar!! DJ Lance took the stage and the show began. Really, it was a nonstop feast for the eyes. When Josiah and Rylee weren't up and dancing, they were on the edges of their chairs, watching intently. I have to admit, I was, too. Even if you don't watch the show religiously or know the words to the songs, it's entertaining and, it's not all just for the kids.



The Intro! There's Muno! Hi!!

 Halfway through the show, there was a pause for a potty break, thank goodness. I took Josiah, who was amazed at the ornate bathroom with sofas and chairs. It was so funny. We had to stop by one of the vendor booths to get these cool Yo Gabba Gabba light-up sticks. Of course, all of the items are a little expensive, but the light-up sticks work with batteries so, they will last a very long time. I'm all for getting my money's worth, of course! They had other cute items starting at around $10, too, like Foofa Flower headbands.

Dancing!

When the show started back, one of my all-time favorite rap superstars took the stage, Biz Markie. He's most memorable to me for working with the Beastie Boys back in the 90s. I was a huge fan! He actually took the time to sit with the kids on the stage and teach them to beatbox for about 5 minutes. The kids were hilarious and absolutely loved him. There were also several guests on Saturday, including two actors from 30 Rock and The Drive-By Truckers, a much loved band from my hometown of Athens, Georgia!

There's a party in my tummy song and dancing, our favorite!

I was actually sad when the show was over almost 2 hours later. We all had such a wonderful time and would absolutely love to see them again sometime. Oh, in addition to the awesome show, we all received balloons that dropped from the ceiling for everyone and DJ Lance glasses (the Hubs is wearing them in the picture) so, everyone left with some momentos!

Brobee being carried away by balloons right before thousands fell from the ceiling!

There are still many Yo Gabba Gabba Live events going on around the US so, click HERE to see if there is one near you! I want to thank Michelle Sisco PR for her wonderful job advertising the events and for providing us with tickets in exchange for my review and write-ups!



Planning For the Future - Thinking About Health Insurance

When I was in college, I didn't have health insurance. The university provided a free clinic for students so, anytime I was sick, I just went there. One day, I had a sharp pain in my side, went to the hospital, and ended up having appendicitis. No health insurance and a major operation means a lot of money out of pocket. I thought it would be $3,000 or so, but it was over $12,000 when all of the bills came in. I was floored.

Now that I have a family, I realize how important it really is to learn about health insurance and to not only be prepared, but to choose wisely. Here are 5 tools to better assess your families needs for health insurance in an hour or less!

5. Consider Your Children - What are their needs? What are likely situations in which you can find yourself (the doctor, hospital, other health issues)? Do any of them have any special needs? They are, above all, the most important... and, in our family, the most expensive! Without insurance, we'd probably owe over $100,000 in bills with all of Liam's health issues.

4. Be Smart About Your Choice - Remember that you have many choices. Find the right plan for you and you family that covers what you may need. Write down what is most important to you in an insurance plan.

3. Figure Out Your Budget - Take out some paper and write down your salary. Balance out money needs to see what amount you can afford. You may want the most expensive plan, but can you afford it? Is there a way to shift around your budget to make it happen?

2. Compare and Contrast on Paper - If you are like me, you think you can remember everything, but then 2 hours later, you have completely forgotten... or, honestly, 30 minutes later is more like it! Be sure to write everything out so you have it for future reference.

1. Sit Down With Your Partner - This is the most important rule of thumb! Sit down and finalize the decisions together. That way you can figure out what to do and you both play a part in it. After all, two heads are better than one!

You definitely don't want to pick the wrong plan for your family. That's why it's important to pick a company and plan that fits your specific needs. Use the Aetna online resource to assess which plan is appropriate for you! Make decisions wisely and you'll be very happy that you spent some time to figure out what was right.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Aetna blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 Target gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Pillsbury Grands Mini Biscuits Review & Prize Pack Giveaway

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so, why not start out with a delicious, hot out of the oven Pillsbury Grands biscuit? Growing up in the south, my Mama and Grandma always made biscuits from scratch. We'd have them with breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. I love biscuits, but definitely don't have time to make them from scratch. We eat Pillsbury Grands Frozen Biscuits, which taste just like homemade biscuits and take much less time to bake!


Pillsbury Grands Biscuits come in a variety of flavors, from Buttermilk and Butter Tastin' to Cheddar Garlic and Southern Style! Pillsbury Grands Frozen Mini Biscuits are the newest addition, bursting with flavor and ready to be eaten within minutes of baking in the oven. They are perfect for kids, mini-sandwiches, and appetizers! Check out all of the wonderful recipe ideas on the Grands website!

My Creations 

I was so excited to receive my Prize Pack full of goodies! . I was sent a biscuit basket with a free coupon for my choice of Grands Frozen Biscuits, a butter dish and spreader, and a $15 gift card to purchase any additional needs. My goal? To create a new delicious biscuit recipe using Grands Frozen Biscuits.

My immediate thought was to make a new type of Ham & Cheese Biscuit, a favorite in the south. I chose a smoked cheddar cheese and summer sausage. Just cut into slices and add to the biscuit. It's a delicious and filling breakfast or brunch. It's very similar to a ham and cheese biscuit, but tastier! I added a little butter, too, which is always a must in the south.

Yummy!

Grands Biscuits are so delicious and actually remind me of the ones my Mom makes from scratch. They are, by far, the best frozen biscuits I've tried. My kids love them, too, and we've already had to purchase another bag so, you know they have to be good!

Buy It

Purchase Grands Frozen Mini Biscuits at your Local Grocer! Be sure to click here so you can save $1.00 on the purchase of any Frozen Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits.

Win It

Thanks to MyBlogSpark.com and Pillsbury, One Lucky Reader will Receive:

VIP coupon good for a free package of biscuits, 

a $15 gift card to purchase your recipe creation/experimentation needs,

a biscuit basket, a butter dish and spreader! 

How to Enter:

Leave a Comment telling Me What You Like to Put on Your Biscuits!

**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" Pillsbury on Facebook and leave a message telling them I sent you!
• 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 Pillsbury Grands Prize Pack w/ $15 Gift Card @ChildrenTeach http://tinyurl.com/minibiscuits #giveaways #myblogspark
• Plenty of opportunities to increase your chance of winning! This Giveaway is open to US Residents and Ends November 6th 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!

  This Review was written for MyBlogSpark.com and Pillsbury. No Compensation was given for the writing of this review. All opinions written are completely and 100% mine and only mine!

Bialetti Aeternum Saute Pans Review

In Italy, Bialetti is the number one cookware and coffee maker brand. They are launching a brand new line of cooking products called Aeternum, combining a modern design with eco-friendly cooking technology. The Aeternum cookware line is free of PFOA, free of PTFE and Cadmium.

The interior features "nano-ceramic", a water-based coating containing titanium and suspended silcate micro-particles (the main component of glass). These materials are some of the purest, most ecological materials found in nature. In addition to being eco-friendly, this material easily resists scratches and abrasions. The surface is so smooth and compact that it is very easy to clean.

The base guarantees complete heat distribution, which results in less energy to reach the desired cooking temperature and to maintain that temperature. 

This 3-piece saute pan set includes:

- 8" (20cm) Saute Pan
- 9.5" (24cm) Saute Pan
- 11" (28cm) Saute Pan

My Thoughts

I received the 3-piece saute pan set to review and was absolutely thrilled, but not as thrilled as my husband. He loves to cook so, these were right up his alley. As soon as he opened them we were both amazed at the smooth white surface of the pans. They are also somewhat light-weight. We have several different kinds of cookware with our most recent purchase being a line of Martha Stewart Stainless-Steel, with which we were not at all impressed. The Bialetti Aeternum Saute Pans really couldn't have arrived at a better time!

We put them to use immediately, first to make a sauted chicken breast and, the next day, to make sausage. I noticed how quickly the pans heat. The faster the better when you have hungry kids waiting for dinner! I'm not sure if this is meant to be a feature of the pans, but they really draw out the grease and oils from meat when cooking. Each time I've used my pans, they separate much more of the fat from the meat than any of our other pans. See the progression below of the meat cooking and grease coming out?

Then, look at how much grease was pulled out! It makes me feel like we are eating healthier just by using these pans.

 I'm extremely pleased with out Aeternum saute pans and I want the entire collection now. In addition to the saute pans, Bialetti create an Aeternum Deep Saute Pan with lid and a 2 quart Sauce pan. I'm so happy Christmas is nearing! I highly recommend these pans and, to my surprise, they really won't break the bank. The set I received goes for only $79.99. If that's a bit much for you, purchase them separately for pricing starting at only $19.95. Give the Aeternum cookware a try and I promise you will not only be satisfied, you will be hooked! These are the only pans we've used since receiving them.

This review was written for Bialetti and The Family Review Network. No compensation was provided for this review. All opinions are completely and 100% mine.

Sound Beginnings Review

Being pregnant is a wonderful and amazing experience full of the unexpected and unknown. There is no way to even describe the joy you feel with the first kick and the first time you see your baby on the ultrasound moving around or sucking her thumb. We've always read, sung, and played music for the babies when they were in the womb. One of my most favorite things the Hubs did was kiss my belly every night and every morning before going to work. Why did we do this? Because it just felt right, because we loved those little boys before we even met them, and because we've always read to do so for the baby.

Scientists have proven that, by 8 months, the fetus is, indeed able to hear your muffled voice and other noises! The auditory system, along with memory processes, at 30 weeks are very well developed and this becomes a time when baby gets familiar with Mama and Daddy's voices! It's amazing to think something so small is already so intelligent. Sound Beginnings by Creative Baby was developed with these exact facts in mind.

Do you have an iPod and often listen to music with earphones? Why not allow your baby to listen, too? Sound Beginnings was developed in 2009 to help "facilitate the bonding process between parents, family members and baby-to-be". It's designed to allow baby to listen to music, along with you, but at a safe, comfortable level for them. A very special feature designed just for Sound Beginnings gives you the ability to record messages for baby, save them as MP3 files, and play them for baby.

My Thoughts

Sound Beginnings is such a wonderful idea and I wish I'd known about this when I was pregnant with the boys! We had a device which allowed us to hear the baby's heartbeat and we could hear him moving around, but this invention is amazing! I'm constantly listening to my iPod, to the radio, or music on the tv and have always been a big fan. I've always wanted my children to hear and know a wide variety of music, which is why I always played so much during my pregnancies. Sound Beginnings would have been absolutely perfect for us.

The stretchy white belly band (made of lycra and nylon) included fits very snug (you choose your size) and comfortably around the tummy and has a little pocket that holds the ipod (it also works with other MP3 devices).  The picture above is what it looks like before putting it on. Although the band I received is white, they also come in black and nude. I was a little skeptical about the device and it's ability to provide a minimal level of sound to the baby while playing my usual loud music through my earphones, but, true to the instructions, you cannot even hear the music transmitted to the womb. You just attach the splitter (pictured to the right) to the headphones and Sound Beginnings is hooked up and ready to go.

My favorite part of this awesome product is something called Sound Delivery, a program provided on the Sound Beginnings website. Sound Delivery allows you to dial up a 1-800 number to record your own messages for the baby! The messages are saved to your account and can be downloaded onto your MP3 player to let the baby hear. How cool! If you aren't very technologically inclined, don't worry! The website has every possible instruction, making the entire process very simple. It seriously only takes a few minutes!

I highly recommend Sound Beginnings for any parents-to-be. I absolutely believe the baby can hear the music and that they also respond accordingly. Just as we listen to music to sooth us, surely the baby is affected as well! Hearing Mama's voice is equally important, in my opinion so, why not do something fun that allows you to already bond with your baby? It doesn't take a lot of work, just attach and you are ready! Plus, a 1-year warranty is included with purchase!

Buy It

Are you ready to try Sound Beginnings or purchase one for a Mama-to-be? Purchase one today on Amazon.com for $49.99! (Available in size B (pre-pregnancy pant size of 4,6,8) or size C (pre-pregnancy pant size of 10, 12, 14).

This review was received as part of a review campaign from The Family Review Network and Creative Baby. No compensation was given for the writing of this review. All opinions are completely and 100% mine.

Diaper Juction Kissaluvs Marvel AIO Review & $25 Credit Giveaway

What a title this review has! Earlier this month I wrote a Spotlight post about Bryana, the owner of Diaper Junction. What is Diaper Junction? If you are asking this question, head over to the Diaper Junction website and check out the wonderful selection of green, eco-friendly items for babies and Mamas.

I fell in love with this store for several reasons. I absolutely love the variety of cloth diapers offered, from prefolds and covers to pocket diapers and AIOs, Diaper Junction has them all! There are even some diapers I'd never heard of, such as Tweedle Bugs, that I never would have tried, but at the great prices offered, I've had a chance to try many of them.

I recommend following Diaper Junction on Facebook and Twitter because you never know when Bryana will sponsor a giveaway or announce a sale. When she has a sale, hurry and get your order in, because she has many loyal customers, including me!

More Thoughts

For this review I was sent a Kissaluvs Marvels One-Size All-In-One diaper! I was so excited because I used Kissaluvs fitteds for Liam when he was a newborn and they were so super-soft. I wondered if the Marvels diaper was just as soft. Plus, I love the different colors! Lagoon Blue is so pretty and bright, though I chose Chocolate since I had no brown diapers. The diaper reminds me of a chocolate covered banana because the inside layer of fleece is yellow and, yes, the fleece is amazingly soft!

This diaper stands out to me because it has a really cool feature called "toss-and-turn"! Do you hate touching smelly diapers? Well, this is the diaper for you. The absorbent insert is actually attached to the diaper, but the Kissaluvs Marvels AIO is designed to turn itself inside out while in the washing machine. You just toss it in and let the machine and diaper do all the dirty work! How great is that?

I found the Kissaluvs Marvel to work exactly as described and fell in love with it! First, it's better than a pocket diaper because you don't have to worry about mixing and matching up inserts after the wash is over! That is always a pain to me! Also, I'm always complaining about how AIOs take more washes to get smells and stains out thoroughly when compared to pocket diapers. Well, you get the functioning of an AIO with the Marvels diaper, but with only the amount of washing cycles needed to clean a pocket diaper! This saves me at least a wash or two each time. These two features make this diaper totally worth a purchase! Believe me, you will love it.

Buy It

Buy a Kissaluvs Marvels AIO today and fall in love for only $22.95! Don't forget to earn your Stash Cash!

Win It
Diaper Junction is offering one Lucky Reader a $25 Gift Credit!

How to Enter:

• Visit Diaper Junction and Comment On What You'd Like to Buy 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" Diaper Junction on Facebook and leave a message that Children Teaching Mama sent you (I will be checking!)!
• Follow Diaper Junction on Twitter!
•Make a Purchase from Diaper Junction during this giveaway (5 entries!)

Become a Diaper Junction Affiliate (5 entries)
•Follow Children Teaching Mama via Google Friend Connect
•Register for the Children Teaching Mama Newsletter (on left sidebar)

•'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 October Spotlight On Mama Businesses Event Button (If added before Oct. 5th, add 5 Extra Entries; If added after Oct. 5th, Add 2 Entries)

•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 @DiaperJunction $25 Gift Credit @ChildrenTeach http://tinyurl.com/diaperjunction  #giveaways #clothdiapers Ends 11/16 pls RT

•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 November 20th 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!

No Compensation was given for the writing of this review. Only the cloth diaper was received for the purpose of reviewing. All opinions written are completely and 100% mine and only mine!

Tis the Season... for Holiday Cards!

As the holidays are quickly approaching, I've been looking around the internet for Christmas cards. There are so many places online to purchase cards, but many are extremely expensive, costing upwards of $50 for only 25! This past June was Josiah's 3rd birthday and I actually purchased his birthday party invitations at Shutterfly. I wanted cards that allowed us to include a photo and Shutterfly has an amazing amount of options! We ended up chosing the "Rockets Away Blue" birthday invitation and it was perfect... and only about $1.12 each. Not bad at all!

We'll definitely be purchasing cards from Shutterfly in the future, as we've also purchased many other items in the past, including their photo books, which make great Christmas presents. Anyways, I was looking through their Christmas cards and Holiday photo cards when I realized how difficult it was going to be to narrow down my selection to just one card. Then, I thought, I don't have to! Why not choose two cards and change things up a little?

Seasonal Chic 2010

I knew I wanted folded cards with at least 3 photos so, I narrowed down my search to 48 cards before the real search began. I love reds and blues for the holiday season so, the first that caught my eye was the Seasonal Chic Christmas 2010 card with a dark red, blue, and brown. Then, as I scrolled down, I noticed cards that allowed many pictures. I love pictures, especially when I get to show off my boys so, the more the better. My second pick became the Tree of Hope American Lung Association Holiday card, with 5 pictures and a cute Christmas tree in the middle. Plus, 10% of the purchase will go to the American Lung Association.

Shutterfly also offers a variety of other holiday products, such as Christmas party invitations and gift tags, too. Take a look at their awesome selection and purchase your cards from them. They always have some sort of sale going on so you are sure to get some kind of discount!

Are you a blogger? Here's your chance to receive 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly! Just click HERE to find out more info!

SuperUndies! Training Pants Review & Giveaway

Josiah is now 3 and, this summer I went looking for training pants. We were using disposable pull-ups for some reason, which was a very bad idea. FYI, since disposables are super absorbent, many toddlers will just continue to wet themselves because it's more convenient and still comfortable. I figured it was time to go cloth! One of the very first cloth training pants we tried was SuperUndies!

According to a survey on BabyCenter.com, 65% of parents said they had more luck potty training with cloth than disposables. It was definitely time to kick the disposables and go cloth! SuperUndies are made to feel comfortable and more like real underwear so toddlers feel more grown up and excited about wearing them.

SuperUndies come in pocket training pant, pull-on style, and a nighttime option. Starbunz Step-up inserts are also available for more absorbency and made of two-layered microfiber terry. The daytime training pants are waterproof and have side-snaps for quick, easy access. They fit tightly around the legs to keep moisture in, but still fit comfortably. The SuperUndies Pull-On Undies are just as they sound, allowing children to pull them up easily, with stretchable elastic and 3-4 layers of absorption. The Nighttime Pants are for ages 2-7 and have 6 extra layers (for a total of 9) for heavy bed wetting. They are also lined with super-soft fleece.

My Thoughts

I received a pair of SuperUndies Pocket Training pants to review, along with a Starbunz Step-Up insert. My first thought was how well-made they were. Just by looking at them you can tell how much time and effort was put into making them. Josiah immediately loved the style and look of the diaper, wanting to put it on. I love that these pants are waterproof and have back snaps. Even though they aren't the pull-on style, Josiah has been easily able to pull them up and down on his own without even using the snaps. The elastic is a bit stretchy, which allows the moisture to stay in and easy access when pulling them off!

back-snaps

One thing I've come to notice with toddlers and training pants is that sometimes the pee smell is overwhelming and take several washes. I love that SuperUndies has a pocket training pant because they are so much easier to wash clean than AIOs. You just pull out the insert before washing and let the machine get to work. With SuperUndies in the washer, it always takes one less wash, which is a super timesaver with two boys in cloth!

These training pants have proved to work extremely well and I love the cool look with multiple colors and snaps. The only negative thing I can find is the poofy factor. They actually don't look very poofy when on, but try pulling on a pair of jeans... I don't have trouble with elastic band pants, but for more form-fitting clothes, you'll need to get a size larger to fit the heiny and diaper inside comfortably. It's a problem easily solved, though- use a smaller insert or don't use one at all! The insert is a bit big, but also means it is super absorbent!

This is a great diaper and I recommend them for potty training! I guarantee your kids will love them, too.

Buy It!

Purchase a pair of SuperUndies Pocket Trainers for only $19.95!

Win It!

One Lucky Reader will Win a SuperUndies Training Pant of their Choice!

How to Enter:

• Visit SuperUndies and Comment On Which Item You'd Love to Have!

**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

• Join the SuperUndies group on Facebook and leave a message that Children Teaching Mama sent you (I will be checking)!
• Follow SuperUndies on Twitter!
•Make a Purchase from SuperUndies during this giveaway (5 entries!)
•Follow Children Teaching Mama via Google Friend Connect
•Register for the Children Teaching Mama Newsletter (on left sidebar)

•'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 October Spotlight On Mama Businesses Event Button (If added before Oct. 5th, add 5 Extra Entries; If added after Oct. 5th, Add 2 Entries)

•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 @SuperUndies Cloth Training Pants @ChildrenTeach http://tinyurl.com/superundies
  #giveaways #clothdiapers Ends 11/16

•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 November 16th 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!

No Compensation was given for the writing of this review. Only the cloth diaper cover was received for the purpose of reviewing. All opinions written are completely and 100% mine and only mine!

Facebook Follow $20 Amazon.com Giveaway

I'm not sure if you know this, but I'm part of the Double Duty Divas blog, too. Double Duty Divas do a variety of things, from blog and advertising campaigns to gift guides and twitter parties! This week we are all doing a Facebook follow so others can get to know the DDD gals via facebook. The giveaway is very, very simple and you can win a $20 gift credit to Amazon.com!

Here's How to Enter to win the $20 Amazon.com Credit:

• "Like" Me, Children Teaching Mama, On Facebook

**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!

Additional Entries

• "Like" Katie's Nesting Spot On Facebook and Tell Her I Sent You!
• "Like" Ladybug Soup On Facebook and Tell Her I Sent You!
• "Like" Being Allison On Facebook and Tell Her I Sent You!
• "Like" Biz Mommy On Facebook and Tell Her I Sent You!
• "Like" The Coupon Sista On Facebook and Tell Her I Sent You!
• "Like" Sassy Moms In The City On Facebook and Tell Her I Sent You!
• "Like" Upstate Ramblings On Facebook and Tell Her I Sent You!
• "Like" Upstate Ramblings On Facebook and Tell Her I Sent You!
• "Like" Mama's Money Savers On Facebook and Tell Her I Sent You!

That gives you 10 Entries to Win! While you are over on my Facebook page, take a look at my other Facebook Giveaway! Once Children Teaching Mama's Facebook Fans hit 600, I'm giving away a Mitchell Grace Designs Wet Bag!!
This Giveaway is open to US Residents and Ends November 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.

Spotlight #3 April @ Wee Little Changes

Two days ago I posted a review of Wee Little Changes, another of my very favorite online cloth diapering shops! The first time I looked at the website, I absolutely loved it and was hooked. Plus, Wee Little Changes offers free standard shipping on all orders! Exchanging emails with the owner, April, I learned that her business was not only a job to her, but a passion. She works very hard to find the best products for her customers and endorses only items she has tried and loves!

After her 3^rd child was born, April turned to cloth diapers when her son was diagnosed with eczema. She started trying different types of cloth diapers and, like so many of us, she was hooked! With her love of cloth diapers and encouraging others to give them a try, Wee Little Changes developed.

As a Mama of three living in coastal North Carolina, one of my most favorite places, April has her hands full, but says life is good! Her business is doing well and, more importantly, she loves meeting new Mamas and networking.

Q & A with April

1. What's the hardest part about starting up your own business?

Having Guts! It's one thing to dream it, but another to actually get the courage up to go for it. I wish I had waited until all of my children were in school before I started this adventure, though, because it really takes away a lot of time from our family at this point.

2. What do you wish you had known when you first started your business?

I thought I'd like fill a couple orders a day and that would be it, but, the reality is that I spent minutes on this task daily and spend hours corresponding with people. The social networking is great for small businesses with a very modest advertising budget, but it is very time consuming!

3. Do you have any advice for Mamas wanting to enter the business world?

Think it all through and really evaluate how much free time you actually have. Do you need one more thing that you have to do? If you answered yes, go for it!

April offers some great words of wisdom. It's amazing how much time simple tasks take each day and adding one more item to the list can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when you have children! I often wish there were a few more hours in a day just so I could finish...or get close to finishing everything!!

I addition to everything this Mama does each day, she also strives to be green. Not only does she sell and use cloth diapers, but she also sells reusable snack bags, organic skincare, mama cloth, and more! Wee Little Changes also reuses all of their packaging materials and plan to soon email customer receipts to reduce the amount of paper used!

Thanks, April, for all of your hard work and dedication to the cloth diapering community!