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Friday, October 30, 2009

Mott's Halloween Costume Contest Entry


If you are on Facebook, you can vote for my entry “Wiggle Bug” for the best costume on Mott’s Halloween Costume Contest.


Grand Prize
$500 Target gift card and $50 worth of Mott’s products!
2nd Prize
$200 Target gift card and $20 worth of Mott’s products!
3rd Prize
Mott’s coupons totaling $30
Contest Starts
October 22, 2009 @ 12:00 am (PDT)
Contest Ends
November 06, 2009 @ 11:59 pm (PST)

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Halloween Recall Allert: Halloween Flashlights Sold Exclusively at Target Recalled Due to Burn Hazard


The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Halloween Flashlights
Units: About 610,000
Importer: Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Manufacturer: DGI LLC, of Warren, N.J. and Tien Hsing, of Wanchai, Hong Kong
Hazard: The flashlights can overheat and melt, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received eight reports of flashlights overheating and melting, including one report of burns to the hand.
Description: This recall involves two types of Halloween-themed flashlights: the mini flashlights and flashlights sold with stencils.

Mini Flashlights - The mini flashlights have a key ring extending from the bottom and were sold in a pack of three colors: orange, green and black. The orange and purple packaging has “Mini Flashlights (3 Pack)” printed on the front and “DGI”, “Made in China” and “DPCI# 234-02-1813” printed on the back.



Standard Size Flashlights - Also included in the recall are standard sized flashlights with a black handle and an orange top. The flashlights were sold with six stencils in various colors and images: a pumpkin, ghost, spider, cat, witch and skull & cross-bones. “Flashlight with Stencil” is printed on the front and “Tien Hsing,” “Made in China” and ”234 02 1838” is printed on the back of the packaging.

Sold exclusively at: Target stores nationwide from August 2009 through September 2009 for $1 for the mini flashlights and $2.50 for the flashlights with stencils.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumer should immediately stop using the flashlights and return the product to any Target store for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.target.com

Product Warning: CPSC Urges Parents and Caregivers to Stop Using “My Baby Soother” Pacifiers Due to Choking Hazard


CPSC is issuing this warning because T & L Trading has refused to recall these pacifiers.
 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to immediately stop providing “My Baby Soother” pacifiers to their children. The pacifiers were distributed by T & L Trading Corp., of Brooklyn, N.Y. The pacifiers failed to meet federal safety standards because the nipples can separate from the base easily, posing a choking hazard to infants and toddlers.



 About 16,500 “My Baby Soother” pacifiers were sold at grocery stores, delis, and discount stores in Bronx, Brooklyn, Broadway, and Coney Island of New York from August 2007 through July 2009 for about $1.
The “My Baby Soother” pacifier has a ring-shaped handle and a blue, pink, red, white or yellow heart-shaped mouth guard with two ventilation holes. The nipple is made of either silicon or latex. The pacifier package has the words “My Baby Soother” printed on the top and a picture of an infant on the background.
Distributors and retailers who purchased the “My Baby Soother” pacifiers from T & L Trading should immediately stop distributing the pacifier and call CPSC. Consumers should immediately take the recalled pacifiers away from infants and toddlers and discard them.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Our First Halloween!


I am so excited for Wiggle Bean's first Halloween, even though we will not be going out Trick-or-Treating.

I shopped for weeks for the perfect costume.  What should she be? A fairy, a princess, maybe a bunny or a lion.  After much deliberation I decided on a ladybug.  Then I started looking at  the many different ladybug costumes.  Who knew there were so many ladybug costumes.  So now the search for the cutest ladybug costume begins.  I finally picked the super adorable Ladybug tutu costume from The Children's Place.  It is so cute with a little booty tutu, antennas and little tights with heart spots.

I finally found and ordered the one I want Saturday and it arrived in the mail today and I could not wait to try it on her.  We raced to the back and changed into it so that we could show Daddy how cute it was (since he had no input in to the costume selection).

Here it is, what do you think?


 
 


She sure makes a cute Wiggle Bug!

Hot Lunch Dates Review and Giveaway CLOSED




Since having Wiggle Bean in January, my husband and I have had only one "date". A while ago I wrote about wondering how to balance all my roles as a wife, mother and individual.  My sister was kind enough to offer to watch Wiggle for an evening and we planned our first date night.  Things did not work out as we planned and date night turned into a group gathering.  We still had a great time but wanted time for just the two of us.   

We are always so busy with Wiggle Bean and do not want to bother family and friends with babysitting her while we go out.  So I planned a stay at home date for after she went to bed Friday night.

Other than the basic grocery shopping, I find it difficult to get out and do any shopping. I did not want to have to go out and buy all the date night supplies, that is where Hot Lunch Dates came in.



After browsing their date box selections, I decided that  the Night At The Drive-in kit would be the most fun (and feasible)  for my husband and I.  I received my kit in the mail and it included the following items:



















It was so much fun unpacking it and seeing everything in there.  In the spirit of it being a "date", I took the invitation to work and mailed it to my husband.  I took the Blockbuster card and stopped at the rental store on my way home.  We rented then new Transformers movie, not romantic but still something we wanted to see.  The trivia cards were fun and we had a blast writing and performing our funny acceptance speeches.  

As for the snacks, YUM!!! The Funky Chunky popcorn might be the best popcorn I have ever had.  My husband had to fight me for some.  The candy was perfect, we received some Bunch-A-Crunch and Twizzler bites.  This worked great for us since I am a huge choc-o-holic and hubby like the chewy fruit type candies.

We did not use the camera during the date because we were camped out in the living room in our PJ's for the movie and we do not need pictures of that!  I will put the camera to good use later.

The kit suggests taking your TV to the garage and watching in the car for a more authentic Drive in experience but that was not an option for use since it took hubby two days to get the TV mounted to the wall above the fireplace and all wired up so that the wires were invisable.  Just remember, if you do watch from the car, do not turn the car on, get a blanket to stay warm (and safe!) and watch out for the mid movie "Yawn and stretch trick from hubby!!!

I loved the lunch box that the kit came in, it is a nice metal old school style lunch box and my daughter loves playing with it.  I am sure it will get a lot of future use hauling her toys around.

Where to Purchase


Hot Lunch Date Boxes can be  purchased directly from the Hot Lunch Site.



WIN IT!!!


Hot Lunch has  generously offered one lucky Over Thirty Mommy reader their choice of Lunch Date Box.


Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and fail to include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.




How to Enter


Mandatory entry: Please visit Hot Lunch Dates, come back and leave a comment with the date box that you would select if you won and why it is your favorite.  Both parts must be completed for your entry to count.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries

-   Suggest a new Date Box idea and list 3 items you would include.
-   Follow Hot Lunch Dates blog publicly.
-   Follow Over Thirty Mommy publicly (join followers on right-hand sidebar)
-   Subscribe to Over Thirty Mommy via Reader or email.
-   Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a comment telling me you did so and under what username.  Add to Technorati Favorites

- Grab my Blog Button, add it to your blog and let me know in your comment where I can find it.

- Post a blog about the giveaway on your site and link back to Over Thirty Mommy and Hot Lunch Dates (leave a link to your post in comment) (3 entries!!!)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Please leave a valid email address for winning notification purposes or make sure your blogger profile is public. Good luck!


Winner will be chosen via Random Drawing.  Winners that I am unable to contact or who does not claim their prize within 72 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize.


Giveaway ends midnight PST on 11/20.


**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.  I did receive a Hot lunch date Drive in box  to keep for my testing purposes. This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.**


100 Followers!!!!!


I was so excited this evening when I logged in and saw that I had reached 100 followers.  I had heard of blogging but never really put much thought in to is.   After I had my baby in January, I started reading mommy blogs for advise and parenting tips and tricks.  I had so much fun reading blogs while I was on maternity leave that I decided I wanted to start my own blog.  In May I told my husband that I thought it would be fun and a great way for me to have an outlet for my thoughts.

He kind of laughed and did not say much about it.  I was not really sure how to go about starting a bolg or how to get others to notice my blog since there are so many out there.  I did some research and in July started my own blog. 

My first follower was my sister (thank you for being my first follower) She was there cheering me on every time I made a post and gained another follower.   We were excited together when I gained my second follower, we were giddy when I hit 10 and celebrated when I reached 25, 50 and 75.  It has been great having someone so excited for me.   She will soon be joining me at Over Thirty Mommy (even though she is not over 30, Yet!).  She will be assisting with reviews that are geared towards newborns and boys.  She has 2 boys and another on the way.

I want to thank all my followers for sticking with me, I know I do not post on a regular schedule and I am working on getting better at that. 

Stay tuned, I am going to put together a special giveaway for all my loyal followers to celebrate reaching 100+ followers.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Bath Luve Review and Giveaway CLOSED




Wiggle Bean has loved taking baths from day one (yes, even in the hospital, she loved the bath).  She loves to splash and play in the tub, she would stay in there for hours if I let her.

Personally I am not a fan of cold water (or even warm water for that matter), I love my baths and showers scorching, the hotter the better.  I know that is not good for her sensitive skin, so we are careful to follow the suggested 95-100°F water temperature.  I have always been concerned about her body getting cold while I wash her or while she plays.  This worry has only gotten worse now that she sits up in the tub and only her lower body is covered by water. 


Recently I was introduced to the Bath Luve and all my worries (well at least the ones about her getting cold in the tub) have subsided.  





About the Company
When Amy Seckinger was a new mother, she realized how stressful infant bath time was for both her and her son. Safely bathing in only a few inches of water, the baby was cold, and his crying made for a difficult experience. Seckinger began to look for a solution.


LUVÄ’, LLC launched its first national product in 2008 – the Patent Pending Bath LuvÄ“, an innovative solution which provides warmth and comfort during infant bath time. 


Additional Products Available
The Bath LuvÄ“ Buddy: Introduced as a companion to the Bath LuvÄ“, offers a way for parents to continue to add warm bath water to the Bath LuvÄ“. The Bath LuvÄ“ Buddy is easily held in one hand by parents to dip and squeeze warm water onto the Bath LuvÄ“. The soft fabric sponge is also perfect for washing baby and becomes a bath toy as baby grows. 

Also new from Bath LuvÄ“ are super-soft hooded terry towels and matching washcloths.   

How to Use the Bath Luve 
Lay your favorite Bath Luve across your baby's shoulders, draping around neck.  Body of Luve will cover baby's chest, stomach and private area while allowing the arms and legs to move unobstructed.  You can then fold the Bath Luve back to expose areas to be washed, leaving the rest of your baby's body covered and warm.

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts
Amy from Bath Luve was generous enough to send me the Duck Bath Luve and coordinating Bath Buddy for Wiggle Bean to try out.  Being that the Bath Luve was originally designed for babies, I thought that it might be a little small for Wiggle Bean since she is 9 months old.  This was not a problem at all, the Duck Luve is a generous 14"x10".  Bean is more active in the bath now and does not lay down to where we could cover her chest with the Bath Luve.  I could barley get her to sit still enough to take a picture of her in the Luve.  Wiggle Bean liked wearing her Luve as cape.  This worked well to keep her back warm while she was playing in the tub and she loved playing with the Bath Buddy.




Overall, I think the Bath Luve and Buddy are adorable, and such a great idea.  A warm baby is a happy baby! We love our Duck Luve but also think the new Pink Fish Luve is really cute.


Where to Purchase

The Bath Luve and matching Bath Buddy can be purchased from the Bath Luve online store. 



WIN IT!!!


Amy Seckinger at Bath Luve has generously offered one lucky Over Thirty Mommy reader their choice of Bath Luve and Matching Buddy. 



Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and fail to include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.



How to Enter

Mandatory entry: Please visit Bath Luve, come back and leave a comment with the Bath Luve that you would select if you won (don't forget about the new pink fish Luve, it is not yet available at the store but is available to the winner).

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (1 each)


-   Follow the Bath Luve blog via Google Friend Connect .
-   Follow Over Thirty Mommy publicly (join followers on right-hand sidebar)
-   Subscribe to Over Thirty Mommy via Reader or email.
- Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a comment telling me you did so and under what username.  Add to Technorati Favorites

- Grab my Blog Button, add it to your blog and let me know in your comment where I can find it.

- Post a blog about the giveaway on your site and link back to Over Thirty Mommy and Bath Luve (leave a link to your post in comment)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Please leave a valid email address for winning notification purposes or make sure your blogger profile is public. Good luck!




Winner will be chosen via Random Drawing.  Winners that I am unable to contact or who does not claim their prize within 72 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize.




Giveaway ends midnight PST on 11/14.


**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.  I did receive a Bath Luve and coordinating Buddy to keep for my testing purposes. This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.**



Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Five for Fighting “Slice” CD Review


 

Thanks to One2One Network, I was recently able to preview the new Five For Fighting album, Slice, featuring the song "Chances", available October 13th.  Singer/songwriter John Ondrasik has spent the past decade writing deeply personal songs that include social messages, invoke the human spirit and make an emotional connection.  Five For Fighting’s breakthrough came in 2001 with the Grammy Nominated song “Superman”.  On the 2004 release, “The Battle For Everything”, the song “100 Years” followed in the footsteps of “Superman” as yet another inspiring reflective song.

I really enjoyed listening to this album,  it contains pop songs, ballads and songs that make a statement.  My personal favorite is "Note to the Unknown Soldier".  I like the variety on this album.  Overall, I thought it was a great compilation of songs.  

As if the album is not good enough, Five For Fighting will be coming to Portland Oregon on November 6th.  I can't think of a better first post baby concert, prefect for a date night with hubby!

_________________________________________________________________
 

Did you know…
  • In Feb 2007 John launched a charity driven websitewhatkindofworlddoyouwant.com that raises money for various charities when users view video clips provided by visitors to the site.  Current views are over 3 million with approx. $300,000 donated!
  • John is a dedicated supporter of US Troops, performing for US Forces at Guantanamo Bay, Hawaii, Guam & Japan on USO tours
  • John created & produced “For the Troops”, a CD compilation of superstar recordings that is available for free to every active service person in US Armed Forces
  • Along with numerous television licenses, John’s composed songs for “August Rush”, “The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants”, “We Were Soldiers”, “Chicken Little” & “Everyone’s Hero"
  • John loves sports and writing (and not just great songs)! He penned a regular hockey column for SportsIllustrated.com from 2005-2007, and freelances for various publications.
SIGN UP to review the new Five For Fighting album on your blog


Album Tracklisting:
1. Slice           
2. Note To The Unknown Soldier           
3. Tuesday           
4. Chances           
5. This Dance           
6. Above The Timberline
7. Transfer           
8. Hope           
9. Story Of Your Life           
10. Love Can't Change The Weather           
11. Augie Nieto

TV Appearances:
CBS Saturday Morning 10/10
The View 10/14
The Today Show 10/16

Tour Dates:

John will be hitting the road in October with An Acoustic Evening with Five For Fighting.  The songs are great on record, even better live!  Definitely a show worth seeing! To find out about how to get tickets in a market near you, go to his site.

18-Oct            Toronto, ON                                           El Mocambo             
20-Oct            New York, NY                                         City Winery            
22-Oct            Bay Shore, NY (Long Island)                    YMCA Boulton Center            
23-Oct            Uncasville, CT                                        The Wolf Den            
24-Oct            Washington, DC                                      Jammin Java            
26-Oct            Boston, MA                                            The Paradise            
27-Oct            Philadelphia, PA                                     World Café Live (downstairs)            
29-Oct            Nashville, TN                                         The Belcourt            
30-Oct            Chicago, IL                                            Lakeshore            
3-Nov             Salt Lake City, UT                                   The State Room             
5-Nov             Seattle, WA                                           Crocodile            
6-Nov             Portland, OR                                         Aladdin Theater            
10-Nov           San Francisco, CA                                  Swedish American Hall            
11-Nov           Los Angeles, CA                                     Largo at the Coronet  



**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. One2One Network provided me a free download of the album for the purpose of this review This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.**

Wordless Wednesday: Reporter





This is Wiggle Bean reporting from the floor, Now back to you Mom.

For more Wordless Wednesday visit 5 Minutes For Mom or  http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Toys R Us baby food recall


Plum Organics Voluntarily Recalls Select Batch of
Apple & Carrot Portable Pouches Due to Potential Health Risk

Plum Organics ™ announced today that it is taking the precautionary measure of voluntarily recalling one particular batch of its 4.22oz. Apple & Carrot Portable Pouch baby food with the best by date May 21, 2010 and marked with the following universal product code (UPC) #890180001221 located on the bottom of the package. These pouches are sold individually at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us locations nationally.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with this product and no other Plum Organics products are affected. As a further precaution, samples from every Plum Organics product manufactured before and after this batch were tested and found to be within quality standards.
The recall was undertaken as a precaution due to the risk of potential contamination with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a serious and sometimes lifethreatening condition. Consumers should not use these products, even if they appear to be normal, because of the possible health risk. Symptoms of botulism poisoning in humans include general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
"The product did not meet the FDA guidelines for proper acidity level," said Dr. Paul Gerhardt, a Food Science Ph.D. and member of the Plum Organics action team. "Though the risk of illness from this one batch is minimal, Plum Organics is taking the extraordinary step of recalling all Apple & Carrot Baby Food Pouches with best by date May 21, 2010."
"As a mother, the safety and satisfaction of our customers and their children is my highest concern," said Plum Organics Founder Gigi Lee Chang. Due to a mixing error during production, one batch of this product was improperly blended. As a result, it did not meet our company’s standard for quality. We are taking the extra step of recalling all Apple & Carrot Portable Pouches with this date to eliminate any question in the minds of consumers about the safety of our products. Plum Organics was founded on the vision of superior quality and nutritious baby food; we are committed to these values and our consumers."
Consumers who have purchased the Plum Organics Apple & Carrot pouch-based baby food with a best by date May 21, 2010 and with the UPC # 890180001221 can return the product for a full refund at any Toys-R-Us or Babies-R-Us store.
The recall is being undertaken with the knowledge of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Consumers with any questions are asked to call 888-974-3555 between the hours of 8 am – 5 pm PST, or email info@plumorganics.com.

Plum Organics is the leading premium organic baby food brand in the nation.

 

Friday, October 16, 2009

Review and Giveaway: Shaklee Basic H2 Organic Cleaner CLOSED





I never really thought about the nasty chemicals in household cleaners until I became pregnant.  I became ultra sensitive to what I was using and what was in the products I used.  I try not to even think about the dollar amount, of cleaning products, that I threw away (while nesting of course) because I no longer felt they were safe to have around the house.

During my pregnancy, I also became more aware of the smell of the chemicals in the cleaning agents and began to wonder if they smell that bad, how good are they for your to touch, breath, or be around.  So I did a little digging.  Did you know that, according to the EPA, ethylene-based glycol, used commonly as a water-soluble solvent in cleaning agents is classified as a hazardous air pollutant?  or that Diethylene glycol found in window cleaners depresses the nervous system.  What about: Butyl cellosolve, common in all-purpose, window and other types of cleaners, damages bone marrow, the nervous system, kidneys and the liver.

If you answered no to any or all of the above questions, don't feel too bad, neither did I.

How can this be, you ask.  It is because even though cleaners are the only household product regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission under the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act, their sellers aren’t required to reveal these products’ ingredients because they are considered "trade secrets".  There is no law requiring manufacturers of cleaning products to list ingredients on their labels or to test their products for safety.

Who is looking out for the consumer?


In my search for a more natural cleaning product I came across Shaklee.    The Shaklee Corporation develops and sells environmentally friendly products ranging from vitamins and diet aids, to cleaning products, and they even have a line for children.   For Earth Day 2007, Oprah featured Shaklee's Get Clean Kit as one of her "going green" products and the Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit  made the her 2007 Favorite Things List.
The Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate can be mixed at varying strengths to make cleaners for multiple household needs from Windows, to Counters, even floors, and barbecues.  According to the Shaklee site, the 16 ounces bottle makes up to 48 gallons of super powerful cleaner when mixed with water.  Shaklee claims that the Basic H2 Cleaner can cut through the most stubborn grease and grime leaving no smeary residue and that it can remove dirt, grease and grime from any washable surface inside and out.

To get the most use out of your Super concentrate, you should pair it with the Get Clean Spray Bottles.  These bottles come labeled with instructions for mixing Basic H2 for All Purpose Cleaning, Glass Cleaning, and Degreasing.

If you are like me, you are also concerned about the chemicals in baby products.  Did you know that a baby's skin is five times thinner than that of an adult,  this allows chemicals to be more easily absorbed.  Babies also have a greater ratio of skin surface to body weight and as a result have a harder time flushing chemicals out of their systems.

How safe is the soap you are using on your baby's sensitive skin?  What hazard rating does the product you currently use receive from the Cosmetics Safety Database ?

Shaklee's Baby Gentle Wash  received a low hazard rating of 1.  Compare that to the 7 that  Johnson and Johnson's Cucumber Melon Baby Wash received.  Shaklee Baby Gentle wash is 99% natural and contains 87% organic ingredients.  It is tested by pediatricians and is hypoallergenic.

Which would you rather use on your precious baby?

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts:

Shaklee Baby Gentle Wash: Loved the baby wash, it smelled fantastic.  Everyone loves that "baby" smell and I received more comments on how great Wiggle Bean Smelled after using the Shaklee Baby Gentle Wash than ever before.  I didn't notice that it cleaned her better but I felt more at ease that it is made from natural/organic ingredients and received a low hazard rating on the Cosmetics Safety Database.

Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate:  I found this to be easy to mix, the pre-labeled bottles were very helpful.  I used it on the hardwood floors in the kitchen and it worked well on all the sticky spots.  I also tried it on the over the range microwave and refrigerator.  Both are black and I had no issues with streaking.  I used the Window cleaner strength on the fridge and the degreaser on the microwave.  The window strength worked well on the bathroom mirror, leaving no spots or streaks.  What I liked most was the smell, or lack there of!  The "chemical" cleaner smell was non-existent.  I noticed no odors at all. 

Where to Purchase

Shaklee products are sold through independent distributors.  The distributor that I work with is Brandy over at www.livin-healthy.com. 

 


WIN IT!!!


Brandy has generously offered one lucky Over Thirty Mommy reader a 16ounce bottle of the Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate and a set of the Get Clean Spray Bottles.



Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and fail to include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.



How to Enter

Mandatory entry: Please visit Shaklee, come back and leave a comment about which product you would most like to try.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (1 each)

-   Follow Over Thirty Mommy publicly (join followers on right-hand sidebar)
-   Subscribe to Over Thirty Mommy via Reader or email.

-   Follow Over Thirty Mommy on Twitter
-  Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a comment telling me you did so and under what username.  Add to Technorati Favorites
-  Grab my Blog Button and add it to your blog (let me know in your comment where I can find it)

-  Post a blog about the giveaway on your site and link back to Over Thirty Mommy. (leave a link to your post in comment)
10 bonus entries!!!!!  Make any purchase from Shaklee (this distributor only). (orders will be checked.)


Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Please leave a valid email address for winning notification purposes or make sure your blogger profile is public. Good luck!


Winner will be chosen via Random Drawing.  Winners that I am unable to contact or who does not claim their prize within 72 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize.

Giveaway ends midnight PST on 11/2.


**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.  I did receive product listed above to keep for my testing purposes. This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.**










Thursday, October 15, 2009

Review & Giveaway: SmartZip Sleeper CLOSED





WINNER #55 Jannai

Have you ever wondered how to change a diaper in the night without having to fully undress and wake up a sleeping baby?



Hate it when sleep gowns bunch up around your baby's waist and leave their legs exposed?


Tired of fumbling with a million tiny snaps in the dark?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, than I have the product for you!  






Usually Wiggle Bean is a diaper only sleeper but with fall here and winter fast approaching, I decided that she needs to start wearing pajamas.  We have tried traditional sleepers and I hated that you basically have to strip them all the way down to change a diaper.  Gowns do not work for her because she wiggles (hence the nickname!) around so much in her sleep that they always ended up bunched around her waist or higher.  We have used two piece outfits but it is difficult to get pants on and off without fully waking her up and don't even get me started on those teeny tiny snaps.  I think those were designed to make parents feel stupid.  Seriously, those things are so small! 


At first glance, the SmartZip Sleeper looks like your standard baby sleeper but if you look at it a little longer, you will quickly see that it is so much more.   First, the SmartZip Sleeper is adorable!  It comes in two colors, Made Me Blush for girls and Blue Me Away for boys (or girls!).  The SmartZip Sleeper is available in five sizes from Newborn to 9-12 months.  It is made from 100% cotton and is designed to hug the body for a perfect fit.




The SmartZip Sleeper features a two-way zipper.  Ingenious!  It not only zips like a standard sleeper but it zips from the bottom up so that you can access the diaper area without fully unzipping the sleeper and exposing your baby's body to the cold night air.  


The SmartZip Sleeper also features non-skid feet and a fantastic band at the ankle that keeps their feet in place.  Not sure about your baby but my Wiggle Bean is Houdini when it comes to getting her feet out of pajamas and pants.



Over Thirty Mommy's thoughts
The folks at Hello World Clothing were kind enough to send me the Made Me Blush sleeper in a 9-12 month size.  I loved the SmartZip Sleeper from the minute it arrived on my door step. It arrived beautifully gift boxed.  We washed it right up and put it on Wiggle Bean that night.  


Wiggle Bean is totally adorable in her SmartZip Sleeper. She will be 9 months next week and the 9-12 month sleeper fit snugly.  Not much growing room left but should last through this winter.  It should be noted that we have this problem with most of her clothes.  She is long and thin so we have a difficult time finding clothes that are long enough while still fitting in the waist.  One other problem we usually have is that the feet in most sleepers are too small and Wiggle's feet are scrunched up.  This was not the case with the SmartZip Sleeper, she actually has growing room in the foot area. Nighttime diaper changes were a breeze, just unzip from the bottom up, take legs out, change diaper, put legs back in and ZIP, DONE!  



I would love to see the sleeper available in more colors or patterns and larger sizes. I also think that it would be great to make a summer version that is short sleeved and made shorts length.


All in all, we love our SmartZip Sleeper. 

Where to Purchase
The SmartZip Sleeper can be purchased directly from the Hello World Clothing Company site.  Even better, $1.00 from each SmartZip™ Sleeper sold is donated to the Amani Children's Foundation.

WIN IT!!!

Hello World Clothing Company has generously offered one lucky Over Thirty Mommy reader a SmartZip Sleeper in their choice of color and size.


Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and fail to include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.


How to Enter
Mandatory entry: Please visit Hello World Clothing, come back and leave a comment about which SmartZip Sleeper feature is your favorite.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries (1 each)

-   Follow Hello World Clothing on Facebook: & comment that you do.
-   Follow Over Thirty Mommy publicly (join followers on right-hand sidebar)
-   Subscribe to Over Thirty Mommy via Reader or email.
- Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a comment telling me you did so and under what username.  Add to Technorati Favorites

- Grab my Blog Button and add it to your blog (let me know in your comment where I can find it) 
- Post a blog about the giveaway on your site and link back to Over Thirty Mommy and Hello World Clothing Company. (leave a link to your post in comment)


Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Please leave a valid email address for winning notification purposes or make sure your blogger profile is public. Good luck!




Winner will be chosen via Random Drawing.  Winners that I am unable to contact or who does not claim their prize within 72 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize.



Giveaway ends midnight PST on 10/31.


**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.  I did receive a SmartZip Sleeper to keep for my testing purposes. This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.**






Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Wordless Wednesday - Sunday Paper



Wiggle Bean was "helping" me read the Sunday paper.

Silly Kids Photo Contest


I have posted this one before as a Wordless Wednesday but I felt it deserved another post and an entry into the Silly Kids contest at 5 Minutes For Mom.


Friday, October 9, 2009

Accepting the FTC Disclosure Guidelines with a Smile


The recent ruling from the FTC about disclosing our relationships with companies who have paid us to endorse or review products is a hot topic in the blog world.

Like most bloggers, I have a main disclosure on my website and I have recently begun adding a short, more specific, disclosure to the end of review/giveaway posts.

Some bloggers are mad about the new guidelines and some do not concern themselves with the new guidelines because they already disclose.

One blog that is definitely making the most of the new rules is Daddy Forever.  I have been reading his blog for a little while now. I was instantly hooked on his blog just by reading his "about me". It reads:

"Dad Blogger: Dad blog by a geek dad with 4 geeky kids. This dad blog features reviews, giveaways, and parenting advice that will ruin your kid's life."

His posts are interesting, funny, and sometimes very touching.  So I was not surprised today when I read his latest post about Daddy Scrubs.  What really got me today was the disclosure at the end of the post.

"Disclosure: I was wearing black and orange underwear when I wrote this review. However, I did not receive black and orange underwear or a set of DaddyScrubs as part of this review. I was also not compensated for wearing black and orange underwear or for writing this review of DaddyScrubs. And no, we're not planning on having another baby."

 Thanks for bringing a little humor to all the crazieness of these new FTC guidelines.

If you have room for one more blog on your reading list, please check out Daddy Forever.  If nothing else, his funny posts will give you a little boost on a down day!



**Disclosure: I was in no way compensated for writing this!   I have never met or talked to the Daddy from Daddy Forever.  I simple thought his post was hilarious (my own opinion, results might vary). **




Thursday, October 8, 2009

Giveaway & Review: Annee Matthew Criss Cross Pajama Set CLOSED


WINNER #88 Meet The Browns

One day while searching blogs for breastfeeding tips and advice, I came across Mommy News and Views.  This blog is part of A Mother's Boutique, a fantastic online store that focuses on helping new mothers breastfeed by providing all of the tools that they need in one convenient location. A Mother’s Boutique carries nursing clothing, bras and accessories from a wide variety of quality and fashionable designers.

One of those designers is Annee Matthew.  Annee Matthew is a popular brand with mothers in Australia, Singapore and the U.K. Her original designs make for stylish and comfortable clothes that provide a dual function: maternity pieces adapt after birth to allow for discrete nursing later.  A Mother's Boutique is the exclusive US distributor Annee Matthew.

As a nursing mother, I have found it difficult to find comfortable and functional clothing for nursing or pumping at the office.   The first challenge was in finding tops that I did not need to expose my post baby belly every time I nursed or pumped.  Even at home, having my belly hanging out there made me self conscious.  My daughter is currently 8 1/2 months and still gets up at least twice during the night for feedings.  This led me to my second dilemma, finding comfortable pajamas that I could wear during the night feeding while staying warm.


Judy, the founder/owner of A Mother's Boutique offered to send me the Criss Cross pajama set from Annee Matthew's new fall line to review (Don't they look absolutely fabulous!).  They are just as comfortable as they look.  The top has a criss cross design that makes breastfeeding easy.  To breastfeed your baby you simply pulling aside the criss-cross layers.  They are even great for expectant mothers.  The elastic waistband has plenty of "belly" room.



I was a little confused about the top at first.  I am sure that was a result of my sleep deprived state but I quickly got the hang of how to easily separate the criss cross design and nurse my baby in the dark.   Since the pants are designed to work for both expectant mothers and post pregnancy, they are a little baggy on me.   The top fit perfectly.  It would be great if they sold them as separates so that you could mix and match sizes to fit your individual needs.  My only other suggestion would be to make the pants drawstring rather than elastic.  Other than that, I found these to be one of the most comfortable pair of pajamas I have owned.  They held up great in the wash and I did not notice any fading of colors.

October is Blogiversary month over at Mommy News Blog.  Be sure to visit every day for great giveaways and guest posters.

Buy it: You can purchase the Criss Cross nursing pajamas at A Mother's Boutique for $69.00

Discount: A Mother's Boutique is generously offering readers of Over Thirty Mommy a discount of $5.00 off any $50 purchase.  Use code Over30

WIN IT!!!:  One lucky Over Thirty Mommy reader will win their very own pair of Annee Matthew Criss Cross pajamas (winner's choice of color and size!)

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How To Enter
Mandatory entry: Please visit A Mother's Boutique, come back and leave a comment about which item is your favorite

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

Extra Entries

1 entry -   Go to Mommy News Blog, grab the Blogiversary button and post it on your site (put link in 
comment) 

1 entry - Enter any of the Blogiversary contests. (One bonus entry for each contest entered, up to 3). Leave 

comment with which contest entered.

1 entry -   Follow Over Thirty Mommy publicly (join followers on right-hand sidebar)

1 entry -   Subscribe to Over Thirty Mommy via Reader or email.



1 entry - For non-bloggers: email 5 friends about the review and giveaway (cc me over30mommy@gmail.com)


1 entry - Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a comment telling me you did so and under what username.  Add to Technorati Favorites
 
2 entries - Grab my Blog Button and add it to your blog (let me know in your comment where I can find it)

2 entries - Post a blog about the giveaway on your site and link back to A Mother's Boutique and Over Thirty Mommy. (leave a link to your post in comment)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Please leave a valid email address for winning notification purposes or make sure your blogger profile is public. Good luck!



Winner will be chosen via Random Drawing.  Winners that I am unable to contact or who does not claim their prize within 72 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize.


Giveaway ends midnight PST on 10/31.



**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.  I did receive product or services to keep for my testing purposes. This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.**

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