Aveeno Mom's Must-Haves Giveaway Package

Mom's all over the world have one thing in common: there are products they must-have to get through each day! I know there are some I could never live without and that are great ways to pamper myself. Aveeno has several products that fit the bill, including their Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo, one of our Holiday Gift Guide ideas. I absolutely love the dry shampoo and it is especially great for on-the-go moms. On days my hair looks particularly flat or that I did not get to wash my hair, I spray some in and it immediately gives more volume and makes my hair look like I've actually styled it.

Two other Aveeno products I love are:

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes

 

Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

I love these products and think they are must-haves for all moms! That's why I am so excited to host this giveaway.

Thanks to Aveeno, One Lucky Children Teaching Mama Reader Will Receive All Three Of These Awesome Products!

(1) Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo

(1) Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

(1)  Aveeno Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes

Wanting The Best For Our Dogs : Cesar Meaty Selects

Our little dogs, Jack and Lucy, came to us as small puppies and, several years later, they are a very important part of our family. I had honestly never owned a dog before. My mom always had cats, so this has been a very new experience for me. Jack and Lucy have become our other children and like brother and sister to Josiah and Liam. I love that the boys take time to play with them and even help feed, walk and care for them.

Lucy licking her lips after eating dinner! Isn't she cute?

I was so excited when Cesar sent us some of their delicious Cesar Meaty Selects products for Jack and Lucy to try out. We love other Cesar dog foods, so I had a feeling they would be very excited about trying these! The new Cesar Meaty Selects actually come in resealable 10-ounce cans. Cesar is great food for small dogs, so this is perfect for Jack and Lucy. If we don't use all of the food, we can easily seal it up and save for the next meal. This way I won't smell dog food in the kitchen and it won't get spoiled, too. No more dealing with plastic wrap and other ways to seal up cans that are always messy.

Cesar recommended gradually switching foods so Jack and Lucy's sensitive tummies would not get upset, so for the first 2-3 days we mixed 75% of their dry food with 25% of the new Cesar Meaty Selects. They absolutely loved the new food and ate their dinner like it was the best dog food in the world, wanting more afterwards. From about the 3rd day, we moved to 50-50% of each dog food and about the 6th day, we were at 75% new food and 25% of the old food. We are now completely on Cesar dog food and the pups are very happy about this change, so I know it was the right thing to do for our babies.

Jack after eating his Cesar Meaty Selects for dinner. Look at his smile!

We only want the best for our family, which includes Jack and Lucy! Food for dogs is a very important part of Jack and Lucy's lives and can effect their health and energy. Jack and Lucy are such happy, healthy and playful dogs, so I feel like we definitely made the right choice switching completely over to Cesar!
 Be sure to "Like" Cesar on Facebook by clicking here.

 I wrote this review while participating in an ambassador program by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Cesar and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Holiday Gift Guide: Learning Resources Jumbo Safari Counters Review & Giveaway

I’ve said it many times but when it comes to toys for my girls I look for things that are educational and require them to use their imagination when they play. I’m not fond of anything that they push a button and then just watch it do something. So if you are like me then a great website to check out for Christmas gifts this year is Learning Resources - a leading global manufacturer of innovative, hands-on educational products trusted by teachers and parents and loved by children. Plus they have 1,100+ high quality products to choose from.

The girls received the Jumbo Safari Counters to try out.

The Jumbo Safari Counters come in a reusable tub which made this momma super happy. So many times toys come in flimsy cardboard boxes that end up in the garbage and I’m left to find a new storage solution which drives me crazy. Inside the tub you will find thirty figures – 5 different animals including rhino, elephant, giraffe, monkey, and lion in 6 vibrant colors including red, yellow, orange, blue, green and purple. They are recommended for ages two to five so both Alleigh and Kaelyn had a blast playing with them.

We spent quite a while sorting and counting them by either animal or color and turned it into a bit of a game. I would give the girls each a color or an animal and they had to find that amongst the pile of chunky figures. Alleigh would toss all of hers into a pile quickly while Kaelyn had to stand hers in a nice straight line and tell me each animal and color as she did it. Such a smart little cookie, hehe.

I would also ask the girls to find certain amounts for example: 3 lions or 2 green animals. Alleigh loved this and Kaelyn did amazingly well for only being two years old. Of course the whole time we were also making funny animal sounds and pretending to be those animals as well, hehe.

Kaelyn also quickly figured out that the animals were hollowed out so they could be used as finger puppets. That led to a funny impromptu puppet show courtesy of both girls. They definitely are my little comedians.

And the best part was the entire time they were learning, but since it was fun they simply thought we were playing. That’s the great thing about Learning Resources – Learning for the fun of it!

As I mentioned earlier there are over 1,100 awesome products on the Learning Resources website to check out, but before you head over to do that enter below to win your very own set of Jumbo Safari Counters.

I’m sure your kiddos will love them just as much as mine do. Good luck!

Holiday Gift Guide: Little Bee Co. Cloth Diaper Review & Bitty Bee Newborn Cloth Diaper Giveaway

One of the things I was most excited about when Willow was born was to cloth diaper a newborn since I didn’t start cloth diapering Kaelyn until she was four months old. I loved stocking up on a bunch of tiny little diapers while we waited for her to join our family. And I’m sure you’re wondering why the Holiday Gift Guide banner is up there when I’m talking cloth diapers…. well, maybe you’re not…. because if you are a fluff addict then you know that any reason to buy a new diaper is a good one, hehe. Let’s face it – grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends are sure to spoil your little one with toys so why not stuff their stocking with a practical and adorable gift like a diaper from The Little Bee Co.?

When our package from The Little Bee Co. arrived I couldn’t get over how cute and little the newborn diapers were. We received two Bitty Bee Changed Newborn Diapers - one with natural bamboo lining and one with Ultra Lining – to try out.

The Bitty Bee Changed Newborn Diapers have some great features that make them perfect for the tiniest of babies. They are recommended to fit preemie up to twelve pounds and are still fitting Willow great at a little over eleven pounds. I love that they are an All In One diaper which means no need to stuff or unstuff and the waterproof PUL outer layer keeps babies clothing dry. There are lots of snaps on the front to get a perfect fit plus the umbilical cord snap down. My favorite feature has to be the newborn leg gussets which have successfully contained runny breastmilk poo over and over and over again for us. And they washed up great – no fuzziness – and they looked brand new every time I took them out of the wash. Check out the great fit on Willow…

And a few more shots from four weeks of age…

I love everything about these diapers from features to colors/prints, but as much as I love the diaper I think I may love the company even more. Their mission statement is "bee changed and change the world" which they take very seriously. For each diaper purchased (even the diapers they donated for our review) The Little Bee Co. donates the same high quality diaper to an orphan in need. Did you know that in many cases orphans, especially those in 3rd world countries, do not have proper diapering available? A large number of orphanages use split pants, rags or often times no diaper at all. These precious babies find themselves in unhealthy and unsanitary conditions that cause an already bad situation to be far worse. The diapers donated by The Little Bee Co. enable each orphan to have a healthier diapering system and a comfort they may otherwise never receive. And so once enough diapers are collected for each baby of one entire orphanage, a "Diaper Drop" is organized to deliver the diapers and to help in assisting the orphanage workers with their transition to modern cloth. They are currently working with orphanages in Africa, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, & Cambodia to organize future Diaper Drops. Take a few minutes and watch the video below to get a full understanding of their mission in action – you might want to grab a tissue or two before you click play.

Not only are they providing diapers to babies all over the world, but also working to bring an awareness to the orphan crisis consuming the world today. Such an awesome company! I truly can’t say enough positive things. And guess what? One lucky reader is going to win their very own Bitty Bee Changed Newborn diaper! To enter fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

$399 Mohawk Rug Holiday Giveaway Event

Welcome to the $399 Mohawk Rug Holiday Giveaway Event! Children Teaching Mama and Happenings of the Harper Household have paired up with Mohawk Home to offer this amazing giveaway.

Giveaway Prize: Any 8x10 Mohawk Rug equal to or less than $399! (Winner's choice!)

This giveaway begins on Tuesday, November 13th at 12:01am and ends on Wednesday, December 5th at 11:59pm.

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter! This giveaway is open to US residents, 18+ years of age and older. Have fun and Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Webkinz: A New & Exciting Way For Kids To Play With Stuffed Animals

Josiah, my five year old, is very curious about the world around him and absorbs everything he sees and hears. His cousin, Michael, enjoys playing computer games and the older Josiah gets, the more he likes them, too. Being a mom who grew up in the 80s, they are so many new and awesome toys on the market these days, unlike anything we could ever even imagine back then. For example, have your children every played with Webkinz?

Michael has several Webkinz, but I never knew exactly what they were until recently, when we received two of the cutest little stuffed animals! We received the Rooster Webkinz and the Rockin' Bunny Webkinz. Not only are the Webkinz stuffed animals, but each of them contain a special code just for you to use via Webkinz World! Enter the code and interact with not only your animal, but others.

I made an account for the boys then we began the adoption process for their rabbit. I love how easy this was for the kids to understand and Josiah could do most of it by himself as the Goose told him what to do. If he could read, he could do it completely by himself, but I enjoyed being able to participate, too, and was curious. The boys were both huddled around the computer watching every second of it and Liam was especially excited about the Goose talking to him through each step. It was so cute!

 Liam decided on the name of our "Rocker Rabbit" and, so his name is now officially Petit (prounounced Pet-It) since he thought it was soft and like to pet it. Such a silly boy! After we named the bunny, we could read his biography.

Then came the final step! We officially adopted Petit! Liam and Josiah both love stuffed animals, so this is such a great way for them to interact with them via the computer.

Once these steps were finished, we could login to Webkinz World for the fun to really begin! This is when you can interact with your own pet, decorate, dress it up and much more. You can also meet other kids playing the game (or you can turn this feature off if you prefer).

Liam loves the rooster, which he named Doodle!

Josiah got to work on his own page first, which can be designed just the way he wants. The more you play on the Webkinz World website, the more you can learn about the games and things you can do. You can earn badges, too. I'm sure there is much more that we will find over the next few months because Josiah did not want to get off of the computer each time we played on the website! I can't blame him. It is really a fun way to play with stuffed animals and something I can do with the kids, too.

Josiah's page so far!

Not only can you play with Webkinz on the Webkinz World website, but you can also play via Facebook and now there is also an awesome new Webkinz Friends iPad App, so you can play on the go, too!

We've had a great time playing with our Webkinz so far and I know there is more fun to come... probably tomorrow morning since Josiah has asked every single day for play time with his Webkinz. He's never played with a toy like this before, so this is very new to him and he's very curious to learn more. Webkinz would make an awesome holiday gift for children 5+ and a great way to introduce them to the world of computer games and the fun they can have!

Have your children adopted a Webkinz yet? If so, tell me what they think! If not, this is definitely an item to consider this holiday season!

Be sure to check out these other great Webkinz links:

• Webkinz Twitter: https://twitter.com/webkinz
• Store Locator link:  http://bit.ly/WebkinzLocator
• Holiday Gift Guide Link:  http://bit.ly/HolidayWebkinz 

 
I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Webkinz. I received a product sample and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Providing the Best For Your Child: Hospital for Special Surgery

 I love my children and only want the best for them in all things life has to offer. My son Liam has needed specialized medical care from the day he was born and finding the right doctor's for him has been my number one goal since then. Liam was a preemie and struggled to breath on his own for several days, having to be intubated and monitored closely in the NICU. After being released, we found he had several other issues: allergies, eczema, digestion, etc. These are just some more usual issues for children, but then we found out he had Neurofibromatosis. This disorder is become more familiar with doctors, as more children are diagnosed with NF. For this reason, Liam has a series of doctors we visit: his neurologists, oncologists, surgeons, pediatric ophthalmologists, and more. He has seen his share of specialized care and we are so grateful for everything they have helped us through over the past 2 years.

My son is currently going through chemotherapy and the doctors and nurses are absolutely amazing. They have dedicated their lives to helping others and seem especially caring when children are the patients. It's so important to find the best doctors when your child is going through such difficult challenges. Picking the right doctor really does make a difference for your child and your own piece of mind.

Before one of Liam's surgeries last month. He was having a great time, thanks to the doctors and nurses spoiling him!

As a mom who continues to run the gambit of testing with my son, I have only two pieces of advice.
1. Educate yourself on your child's condition. Be prepared when going to visit your specialist and have questions ready.

2. Breath! As I sit here talking about chemo and hospital visits, I feel my muscles tensing. It's so important as a parent to take some time out for yourself, even if only for a quite bath. Breath and think positive thoughts. Don't forget yourself. I know how easy it is to put children before myself (I think we do it most of the time), so do something for you occasionally.
Speaking of wanting the best for your children, Hospital for Special Surgery is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. Located in New York City, HSS recently opened the CA Technologies Rehabilitation Center at the Children's Pavilion providing comprehensive, individualized rehab for both inpatients and outpatients from birth to 21 years. It's multidisciplinary staff includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists!

I am amazed at how my the Hospital for Special Surgery does for the pediatric field, treating approximately 20,000 children in 2011! Finding a place dedicated to children, with doctors who do their best each and every day to help others, just warms my heart. Be sure to watch the video
above to learn more about the Hospital for Special Surgery.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Hospital for Special Surgery. A small donation to a charity of my choice was made in my name as a thank you for participating. You should consult with your physician or other health care provider before beginning any rehabilitation/therapy, sports training, or exercise program.

Get Your Home Ready For Guests With Arm & Hammer Baking Soda This Holiday Season

Since becoming a mom, I've been much more careful about the types of cleaners I use around the house. I don't like having toxic liquids and products in our cabinets because, as we all know, kids are very curious, and I don't want them getting their little hands on them. That's why I started using natural products to help clean our home!

I remember my mom using Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to keep our refrigerator fresh smelling, but had no idea until a few years ago that there were many other uses for which we could use it! Using Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is an inexpensive way to spruce up your home and clean it wonderfully!

What are some great ways to use  Arm & Hammer Baking Soda? Here are some tips!

1. Clean your food area and cooking utensils! Sprinkling a bit of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a wet sponge or cloth and wiping the area is an easy and perfect way to clean the area and make sure it is safe to cook and/or eat food!
2. Freshen up your furniture. Just sprinkle some Arm & Hammer Baking Soda onto the upholstery, wait about 15 minutes and vacuum! This is a great way to get rid of odors.
3.  Brush your teeth! This is a great way to clean teeth, whiten teeth and it's also very inexpensive. I've tried this before and it works great. Just put some Arm & Hammer Baking Soda in your palm, dip your toothbrush into it and then brush those pearly whites. Simple!

We will be entertaining guests this holiday season, so I have been slowly getting things ready for the family to arrive. Arm & Hammer Baking Soda has been an amazing help with cleaning. Until just recently, we were hosting a cat family (a mama cat and her 4 babies). Unfortunately, accidents did occasionally occur on our porch, so we had to deodorize the area somehow. At first I tried other ways to deodorize, but NOTHING worked to get the smell out like Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. It was amazing because after trying several other products, all I did was sprinkle on the baking soda, let it sit and then scrub it up with some water. The smell was instantly removed! If you have any indoor pets or those prone to accidents on your porch, you definitely need to keep some Arm & Hammer Baking Soda stocked.

One of our favorite holiday guests came to visit this weekend!

Another way I often use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is for washing Liam's stinky cloth diapers. Phew! Some of his All-In-One diapers started getting smelly and I was close to throwing them away. Nothing seemed to work to completely remove the smell. Then I read about using Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, so I decided to give it a try since we had some in the pantry. I just added Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to some hot water in my washing machine, let the diapers soak for about 15-30 minutes and then I completed the wash. This is the perfect way to freshen up stinking diapers AND to get them looking white again. I was completely amazed!

After washing a stinky diaper with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda!!

Have you tried Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to help clean your home? How do you use it?  It's such an inexpensive way to clean, so if you are on a budget like we are, this is the way to clean! Give it a try and let me know what you think! I'd love to hear what you have to say.

I wrote this review while participating in an Blog Tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Arm & Hammer and received product samples to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Make Sure You Don't Have an Exploding Toilet?

More than 300 Flushmate assisted toilets have exploded in the United States, causing a recall on millions of toilets. These bathroom necessities equipped with the Flushmate pressure-assist flushing system have been mainly sold in home improvement department stores and has been included by many major toilet manufacturers. Check out the following illustration for additional information:

Spartan Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning has been providing supreme service in the DC area since 1964. Click Here for more.

2012 Holiday Cards: $50 Tiny Prints Gift Card Giveaway

We just wrote about the new Tiny Prints Holiday Cards for 2012 last month and we absolutely love them. In fact, I decided to buy two different prints to send out to friends and family because I just cannot decide on one. It's too difficult! I am going to send out one that allows several pictures and our year in review. I just made our cards today and ordered them. The one below is my favorite print,

As HUGE Tiny Prints fans, we are so excited to giveaway away a $50 gift code to use on your holiday purchases!