Budgeting Tips for New Parents

Budgeting Tips for New Parents

Becoming a parent is possibly the biggest change that will ever affect your life. It is understandable to let anxiety over being the perfect parent influence your purchases and lifestyle, but if you really want what's best for your baby you should also take care of your budget. Remember that while no parent is perfect, good parenting means making responsible choices and providing security for your child.  There are several important things you should consider, in order to keep your budget under control at this time.

Too much baby gear

Manufacturers of baby products are very aware of new parents' desires to provide the best of everything for their babies. Consequently, there are a plethora of over-hyped and unnecessary baby products on the market. While a few of these products may provide fun entertainment for your baby or make life easier for you, too many of them are just going to take up space in your home and suck the money right out of your wallet. Watch out for very pricey, oversized toys; limit yourself to just one, and let Baby play with simple toys like stacking rings and nesting blocks instead. These provide just as much learning experience for a fraction of the cost. In fact, some of babies' favorite toys are often ordinary household items you may already own, such as plastic food storage containers or measuring cups.

Over-educated babies

Parents used to prepare their children for college by getting them into a well-respected high school. Nowadays parents prepare their children for expensive preschools by enrolling them in classes for babies. Some even believe reading or playing music to fetuses will educate them before they're born. While a solid education is an admirable goal, at some point all of this indulgence became more of a competition between parents than a benefit for children. Reading and playing music with young children is a great activity for them, but the pressure to become trilingual and play the violin by age four is going overboard. Focus more on providing emotional attachment and bonding experiences at this age, and save that money for college instead.

Designer baby clothes

It can certainly be fun to dress up your adorable baby and take memorable portraits that will be cherished forever. For times like this you may want to invest in a special outfit. For your baby's everyday wardrobe, however, there is no need to go overboard with fancy designer clothes. Remember that your baby is unaware of fashion at this point, and is only going to grow out of those clothes as fast as he permanently stains them. You will have plenty of time to indulge a trend-conscious teenager later; for now, pay down other debts and invest in your financial security so that you can enjoy treating your child to stylish threads when she will really appreciate them.

Prepare for later

Eighteen years is a long time to indulge your child and show him your love. While your child is still a baby and unaware of peer pressure and material things, simply enjoy bonding with him or her. Make smart financial choices now and save for the future, so that later you can provide the things that matter when it truly counts.

Albert is a term life insurance expert. In addition to no medical exam life insurance, he provides great insight for people looking to get the most out of their life insurance policies.

Top Toys for an Educational Head start

Top Toys for an Educational Head start

Every child will have toys that may or may not help him get a head start on his education. The parent will look for ways to give his child a head start. The parent probably started looking for ways long before the child was born. The mother and father may even do things that will help the child develop in the womb. A good parent wants his children to be more than his successors and wants his children to surpass him in ability.  Parents expect the next generation to do better than the generation that preceded them. The best educational toys depend on the age of a child and what his strengths and weaknesses are.

3-4 Year-Old Child
 Books are a great choice for a 3 to 4 year old child. They may not have much need for a laptop, but can do well with the talking books that will have them read along.  These books can help them develop language and reading skills, some children even teach themselves to learn to read. The Tag Reading System works with books made especially for this pen and helps with learning to read at a young age. A parent can read to the child to have the same effect. He is not yet old enough to deal with the Leapfrog tablets, but he may also benefit from the Sesame street games for the Wii. The Sesame Street games allow the child to learn and have fun. The controls are designed to let the children use them easily. The Mobigo by Vtech lets them learn math, letters and problem solving plus can download online.

5-7 Year Old Child
A 5-7 year old child can develop language skills, learning skills and    basic math. There are Wii games that can help him learn, and the Wii seems to be the only system that has been adapted by developers for this purpose.

 The Leap Frog Portable systems works well for children of this age. The child's parents can pick out modules that will let the child learn various subjects. He can also hold the child's attentions by using the child's favorite characters. The favorite characters frequently change from time to time.
 The Vetch laptop will help a child learn basic computer skills. Its keyboard will teach the child the skills he needs to learn to get along in the modern world. The laptop can connect to the internet to download new programs.  The user will learn how to operate the mouse and has games already loaded.

7-9 Year Old Child
Board games like checkers or chess can help the child learn basic tactics. These are games that keep the mind engaged. Other games, such as Reversi, Othello or Memory can help a child develop mental acuity. Trivia games also great fun. The parent should not overlook toys that allow the child to engage in physical activities either.

 Science labs and chemistry sets for children this age who are starting to become interested in the details of how the world works. They may want to know more about how their favorite topics. They will explore what their talents are. A crystal radio kit or even a Myth buster can help a child discover his interests.

 A musical instrument can help a child develop a sense of rhythm and improve his basic math skills. It also may give him an appreciation of many different types of music. A parent might want a sound proof room in their house. Watching a child learn and develop skills is a very rewarding part of parenthood.

Author Todd Singleton is a career counselor and suggests if you have a love for teaching, you may want to check out the best masters in education administration at the site BestMastersInEducation.com.

Playground Safety

 Playground Safety

A playground is meant to be a safe haven, a place where kids can run free, secure in the knowledge that they are in a safe and friendly environment. Sadly, this is not always the case, as there are more than 200,000 playground-related injuries admitted by the ER ever year. Parents must take the necessary precautions to ensure that the areas where their children play are truly safe.

Playground Surface
 Kids fall, trip, and tumble, and there’s nothing we can do to prevent that. What we can do is ensure that the surface they fall on will absorb the impact from the fall, and reduce their injuries. Playgrounds of old were all floored with concrete, grass, and the like. These are not acceptable. Rubber mulch is the preferred flooring for optimum playground safety. Made from recycled rubber, the mulch has an extra measure of shock absorbency, helping to cushion falls from any height. Playsafer rubber mulch can be obtained in the form of rubber mulch chips or rubber bond, a solid surface. A good accessory is rubber wearmats, to be placed in areas of high impact.

It goes without saying that a playground surface should not be littered, with special care taken that there are no dangerous materials about, such as glass, metal, and the like. The cushioned surface of the playground should extend an average of six feet past the playground equipment, to safeguard against jumps. It is also important that if the surface is a loose material, there is adequate depth to the cushioning.

Design and Layout
In large playgrounds, equipment designed for different aged children should be separated so that younger children don’t play on objects that are too advanced for them, and may become dangerous. Swings, seesaws, and other equipment with moving parts should have plenty of space to walk around them, and should be placed in separate areas. They should also be checked that they don’t have small crevices where little fingers could easily get crushed. Tot swings with full buckets should be hung separately from regular swings.


Adult Supervision
Kids should always be accompanied by a responsible adult at the playground. It is easy for adults to get distracted while chatting with one another, or by another child. It is important to stay focused on your child, because accidents can happen in an instant. Older kids like to test their limits on the playground. They can be given a measure of freedom, but it is important to keep them in close view.

Even with many safety precautions in place, injuries happen. It’s important to keep cool in a time of emergency, and administer first aid. It is also vital that another adult keep track of the other children while one is being treated, so that the situation does not get out of hand. With the knowledge that a play area is truly safe, adults can have peace of mind while their children have fun.

Bio:
Rita Mann is a mother and educator who has seen enough playground injuries to understand that they must be prevented. She recommends rubber mulch as a number one pick in flooring for optimum playground safety.

Bond with Your Children Through Laser Tag

Bond with Your Children Through Laser Tag

Laser tag provides people with many opportunities to have fun. This game is not only for teenagers. This can also be played by young kids and adults. Laser tag makes for a great family bonding experience. Yes. You can bond with your children through laser tag.

Laser tag is a sport that can be played individually or with a team. In the game, players try to tag their target with the use of an infrared-emitting gun. Infrared vests are worn by each player within the area where the game is held. Once you get hit you get deactivated for about 3 seconds. During this time you wont be able to tag another player until you get reactivated again.

Fostering team spirit is an important aspect of any sport. In order to succeed in life this is something that should be inculcated in your kids while they are young. Laser tag is a sport that can do that. Since it is a team sport it provides you with an avenue to enhance your child’s team building skills. In order to win, team members must cooperate with each other and work together.

This game requires you to move around a lot. You’d have to run and duck and be very mobile while playing the game to avoid getting tagged. It’s a great way for the entire family to work up a sweat. It can be played both indoors and outdoors. If you want to run around in the summer sun, you can do so while playing laser tag. If the weather is not appropriate then you can move indoors. Even during the cold of winter or summer, this game is fun to play.

It’s a painless way to have some fun. Some games like paintball can be dangerous for young kids. Laser tag, on the other hand, is a no contact sport. So you won’t have to worry about anybody getting hurt while playing.

In laser tag there is no limit to the players who can join. Whether you are 5 or 50, you can join in the game. Another thing that makes this game challenging is that it requires a bit of strategic planning to win. With laser tag, you can have fun with friends or use it as a way to bond with your kids.

“Amy C. is an interior decoration aficionado and online marketer. Aside from being an avid reader, she also likes testing and trying new home and office decorating themes. In addition to being an interior decoration hobbyist, she enjoys designing accent tables and candle lanterns”

Cooking for Christmas with Children

Cooking for Christmas with Children

Christmas can be a wonderful way to involve the whole family. Scenes from favourite movies can come alive in your own kitchen as you play carols on the radio and have little faces covered with flour and chocolate.

The key to cooking with children at Christmas is to relax. By accepting that children’s cooking will be original and inviting, but not picture perfect, you’ll be able to create magical wondrous delights that no one will be able to match.

Tree Decorations
The most popular recipes to use at Christmas with the children are ones that can show off their artistic talent. The Family Christmas Tree is a great backdrop for a multitude of art work made from larder staple ingredients.

Gingerbread decoration are a firm favourite, and any shape can be made, from stars to musical notes, with a hole in the top when baking, children can place ribbon through before icing and hanging on the tree.

Home-made popcorn also looks wonderful on string hung around a Christmas tree. This is best made just a few days before Christmas so it doesn’t have a chance to go off and produce stale smells.

Baking for Teachers
Children will love baking for teachers at the end of term, or even for family members that come to visit. Peppermint ices take no cooking, meaning they can make these all on their own. Mix peppermint essence with icing sugar and double cream and let the children mould them into discs. With writing icing pens they can create their own personalised messages to give to the ones they love.

Baking for Santa
This year let the children leave biscuits or mince pies for Santa, by making a batch of pastry or cookie dough and arming them with a box full of cookie cutters they will enjoy giving something back to the jolly bearded man who delivers them their favourite gifts. They can fill the pastry cases with mincemeat or jam, and be creative with the lids.
Decorating the Christmas cake
Once the marzipan and icing covers the cake, let the children decorate it. You may not have a cake that would adorn the cover of Good housekeeping magazine, but it will be completely original. You’ll be amazed at the creations children can make with some fondant icing and food colouring. Most children know exactly how to make a snowman from years of practicing with plasticine or play dough and this is really no different.

Let them Choose Dessert
A lot of Christmas desserts are too rich for children’s taste buds, Christmas pudding, stolen, and sherry trifles are not on their foodie wish list. Let them make their own desserts with a Christmas twist, such as cranberry jelly and toffee ice cream, sometimes the old classics are the best.

Above all have fun, make a mess and relax. So many of us put ourselves under so much pressure to create the perfect Christmas dinner, however by relinquishing a little control and letting the children put their creativity to good use, you’ll not only produce the most wonderful festive feast you’ll also secure some great memories too.

This is a guest post by Martina Mercer. Martina is a big fan of cooking from the garden and often uses a variety of herb plants and seeds in her dishes.

Being a realtor

Being a realtor

Posted by Arden Wallace

I’m a realtor and it’s tough being in this business right now. There aren’t a ton of people out buying and for some reason the homeowners in my area just don’t seem to get that people aren’t paying like they used to for houses – they need to realize that they can’t charge as much as they would have for a great house…it’s just not that kind of market! I find that a lot of my clients nowadays are younger and with more disposable income, usually just married or about to have kids or something like that. I help them figure out which neighborhood they like and also what type of home security Tennessee and trash service they need – I’m basically aiming to become the best full service realtor in town. I don’t want to just sell you a house, I want to help you live in it for years to come. There’s nothing easy about buying your first place by my goal is to make the whole process less stressful for all of my clients.

iCaughtSanta.com

Imagine the look of wonder and surprise when a child receives a photo of Santa caught in the act in his or her very own home. iCaughtSanta.com is a unique website that helps visitors create those memorable keepsake photos. 

In three simple steps anyone can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus and print it as proof… or share it via Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can purchase Gift Cards and eGift Certificates for loved ones with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don't have kids yourself.

DISCOUNT CODE: Enter code SANTA50 for 50% off your entire order!

 Merry Christmas!

Holiday Gift Guide: Flat Iron Experts

Holiday Gift Guide: Flat Iron Experts

I have crazy hair!  That is the best way that I can describe it.  It is not straight, not curly and very unmanageable.  I can't stand dealing with it so much that I pull it back into a pony tail every day. 

Why me?

I have two sisters, one has hair that is straight as a board and the other has super curly hair.  It is so curly that you can wind it around your finger and it will stay in a perfect spiral.  How did I end up with spastic hair? 

Not sure but last year a friend of mine from work introduced me to a flat iron.  The first time I ironed my hair was during my lunch break.  My friend brought in her old flat iron since she had recently received a new on from her significant other.  It was an older model that tended to snag and pull my hair but it did what it needed to do.   I have thick hair and a ton of it so it took some time but I was amazed at how straight my hair turned out.  When I straighten my hair it is 2-3 inches longer than normal.  I received so many compliments on my hair that day it was fantastic.  I vowed to someday get my own flat iron and use it more frequently. 

That day finally came when I teamed up with Flat Iron Experts.  I began my search for my first new flat iron.  I wanted something that was good quality but not outrageously expensive since I often do not have the time to spend on my hair in the mornings.  I selected the H&R Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron and have been using it for a little over a month.  The HR Tourmaline Flat Iron was rated the best budget (under $100) flat iron and it has not let me down.  I get multiple comments every time that I have a chance to use it.  I could not be happier with the HR flat iron.  It does a fantastic job and does not pull my hair.  I love it!

About the HR Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron: 
H&R Flat Iron has all the newest technology that will help you straighten, curl or flip your hair with ease. With the latest Tourmaline and Ceramic Technology this flat iron guarantee smooth and shiny results that will last. H&R Flat iron features a "New Patented Suspended Plate Technology" that prevents pulling of your hair, meaning comfortable and painless styling. 

H&R Straightener's Tourmaline / Ceramic plates are able to distribute heat across the entire surface evenly, retains heat more efficiently, and eliminates damaging hot spots. Tourmaline and Ceramic plates emits a natural source of negative ions and far infrared heat that helps your hair:
1. Preserve more moisture within the hair shaft
2. Eliminates frizz and close the cuticle to create smooth and shiny hair
3. Causes less damage to the hair cuticle during styling.

*Disclaimer: I was not paid any form of cash for this posting.   I received free product for the purpose of this posting..  This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the products.**   

5 Cool Door Knobs Perfect for a Kids Room

5 cool door knobs perfect for a kids room

Decorating a child’s room can be one of the most interesting DIY jobs you ever do. So often your interior decorating choices are constrained by fashion or what your dinner party guest might think. When you decorate your kids room; all of this goes out of the window and your main focus is fun and their enjoyment.
These days there are so many options when it comes to decorating your child’s room. From cabinetry to paint to lighting, a huge market has evolved specializing in all things children. This makes designing and decorating the perfect play/bedroom a little easier, but for any of you who have done it there are always a couple of features for which you seemingly still have little to no options.
One of these is the door knob. Although you do have a vast array of choices when it comes to the ‘grown up’ varieties; ones which might appeal to kids are few and far between. For this reason we have decided to show you five of our favorites; hopefully inspiring you to install a fun knob in your child’s door and maybe even your own!

The handshake OK this one may at first sight look a bit creepy, but if you think your child will see past this and realise how unbelievable cool the design is you will have a real conversation starter. We think oozes Harry Potter, all you need now is a face shaped doorknocker and you have the start of many a classic fantasy film.	*
The blow horn I know what you are thinking “why would you install something so noisy in a kids room?” and you do have a valid point. However we are talking about kids and ways to make their rooms more fun. What better way is there to do this than by adding a honking door knob to their bedroom door!	*
The lightbulb Most children, whether they decide to talk about it or not don’t like the dark. Some prefer the door cracked a little whilst others prefer a nightlight on their bedside table. However I guarantee that 99% of children if asked would prefer a glowing lightbulb door knob. Saying that, I bet 99% of adults would too.	*
Wooly cover Not so much a door knob itself, but a fun way of disguising your original ones. If you can’t find a design that you like why not search the web for pre-made covers like the images shown. Alternatively if you have the time and are handy with yarn why not try to make your own.	*
Glass designs Glass and children is normally a combination strictly avoided. However glass door knobs are made from solid chunks of glass, sandblasted and heat treated. This makes them practically indestructible and definitely safe for use on your kid’s door. There are literally hundreds of different designs allowing you to match the handle with the room’s design or your child’s personality/interests.	*

These 5 children’s door knob ideas were brought to you by Yale composite doors UK. Yale front doors meet the strict new door U value standards, with every door scoring between 1.0 and 1.8 W/(m2.K).

Pics & Flicks: Make 'em Last

Pics & Flicks: Make 'em Last

The way we take, store and send pictures and images has changed, but the basic concept of photos and video remains the same. You want those precious memories in life that you captured to last. Unfortunately, somewhere between the cute photo you took of little Jimmy cuddling with the dog underneath the tree, and the moment you are stuffing that pic into a Christmas card for Aunt Gretchen, the photo acquired a smudge in the corner. Worse yet, you just cannot remember where you put the rest of your Christmas photos and little Jimmy is using your new camcorder as a drum, so forget about those video clips.

Let's say you go digital. Problem solved, right? Not exactly. You take a bunch of pictures. You save them to your digital camera or phone and plan to deal with them later. You get a call from Aunt Gretchen, the one who got the card with the smudge in the corner. She is waiting by her computer for you to email her those cute Christmas pictures. You upload the pics from your phone or camera and attach them to an email for Aunt Gretchen. Three hours later, you are just about halfway through. See the problem now?

What about that hilarious clip of Uncle Joe kissing Aunt Fran under the mistletoe and humming Deck the Halls? You just have to pass that on, right? Sending a video file through email can take even longer than sending those pictures to Aunt Gretchen. If you have a long list of people to send to, you are going to be logging more hours than Santa on Christmas Eve. Then there is that other digital disaster just waiting to happen. How many times have you accidentally deleted something? These days, a delete is just the press of a button away.

You are not even safe by saving videos and photos to your computer or phone. One day, just days before Christmas, my dog ventured out into the snow to chase the neighbor's cat. I had the whole adorable, YouTube ready moment saved on my phone. I uploaded the video to my computer and cleared my phone. My computer crashed the next day and I lost everything. My dog just stared at me with a perplexed look on his face as I frantically told him to get back outside and chase Turbo again. If you lose a moment you captured, the chance of getting it back is very slim.

Saving your photos and videos to DVD is the solution. A DVD-R typically has a storage capacity of 4.71 GB, meaning you can get a lot of stuff on there. It doesn't take that much time to add all your photos and video clips to a single DVD. If you have the right software (some programs can be downloaded right to your computer for a small fee), you can easily make multiple copies of the same collection of photos and videos to send to Aunt Gretchen and everybody else on your list. All Aunt Gretchen has to do is pop the DVD in her computer or DVD player and sit back and enjoy. Just keep an extra copy for yourself or save it to your hard drive and you're all set. At least until next year.

Skylar Tate, a mother of two precious little angels, uses CD replication services to send their pictures to family. Understanding the value of her children's favorite movies, she also relies on a blu ray duplication company to create copies. They will never be without their favorite videos again.

Bring Holiday Joy To Pets With Some of This Year'sBest Products

PetMate gifts for you and your furry friends

Pets are family members too so don't forget them on your Christmas shopping lists this year!  

I am a dog lover myself but I have owned cats, lizards and hamsters in the past.  Until recently, I had two wonderful dogs but now that I am down to one dog, I am pampering her and got a couple of the below gifts for her this year for Christmas.

Six Petmate® Products Chosen as Best Products of 2011 by Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, Dog World and Pet Product News. 

About PetMate:

Petmate, with its family of brands, is the trusted authority in smart pet care solutions. As the first to provide a safe and comfortable alternative to wooden travel crates, Petmate has gone on to introduce smart solutions for every stage in a pet’s life. At Petmate, we believe in what we do, because we have pets too! Check out all of the other great brands and products in the Petmate family: Bamboo, Fat Cat, Booda, Petmate and Aspen Pet.

A few of PetMate's Top Products:

Winner of the Editors’ Choice Award for both Cat Fancy and Pet Product News, the Petmate® Curvations™ Luxury Pet Carrier offers safe and reliable transport in a modern design that will comfortably accommodate small pets with holiday travel plans! Covered with a soft, cushioned, fashion-forward fabric, Curvations provides comfort and style, including a washable plush bed, safety door clasp for added security and molded feet for stability. The 360-degree mesh ventilation panels enable the pet to see what’s going on at all times while enjoying continuous air flow. Available at pet specialty stores nationwide, Curvations retails for $99.99.

It’s the challenge all dog owners share: how to clean up their pup’s “business” as easily and quickly as possible. A Dog World Editors’ Choice pick, the Clean Response™ Swivel Bin & Rake is a canine waste pick-up system that turns this unpleasant chore into mess-free, stress-free disposal. Simply swivel the high-capacity bin down to the ground, scoop the waste using the rake and lift the handle. The bin swivels up, acting as a storage device for the waste until emptied. The rake is designed to work well on both grass and hard surfaces. Pet parents can use ordinary plastic grocery bags that hook on in seconds and keep the bin clean. It can also be used without bags—simply hose off the bin after use. The long ergonomic handle eliminates back and leg fatigue, while the soft comfort grip makes it easy on the hands. The Clean Response snaps together as one unit for compact storage, and can be hung on the wall. It can be found at pet specialty stores nationwide for $34.99.

 Feeding your pet has never been so easy than with Petmate’s LeBistro® Programmable Feeder. Not only does this automatic feeder reliably deliver portion-controlled meals while you are away, it also eliminates the daily chore of scooping and measuring. The stylishly designed feeder features a large LCD screen and built-in meal counter and holds 5 or 10 pounds of food. With three simple buttons, you can easily program your feeder to dispense the right amount of food for your pet at the right times throughout the day. The food hopper is conveniently transparent for monitoring food levels at a glance and has a handy twist-lock lid to keep food fresh and secure. The bowl is removable for easy cleaning and is top-shelf dishwasher safe. Available in 2 sizes and colors.

 Where to Purchase:

Petmate does not sell directly to the public but their products can be found at many local retailers. They encourage you to print out your "wish list" of products, visit your local pet store and ask for Petmate by name!

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts

I love my dogs very much, I had them LONG before we had our daughter.  It was a very sad day when I was notified that my beloved Malamute passed away while I was on vacation.  We had him for over 10 years and our other dog right about 10 years so they were mates for a long time.  Our female dog has been very sad since her mate passed away, so we are giving her extra love and attention to help her with the grieving process.  

Before his passing, both of our dogs were outside dogs (by their choice) but now that she is alone, she seems to want to spend more time inside with her people.  For this reason we needed to get her set up with feeding dishes inside.  The Le Bistro automatic feeder was perfect for us because we are always in a hurry to get out the door for work in the morning and this feeder helps us by not adding another task to our already busy mornings. 

The Clean Response™ Swivel Bin & Rake has been great.  I used to use a shovel and bucket but this is so much simpler.  I did find that the twist together sections easily untwist while scooping but I remedied that with some tape on the sections and have had no troubles since then.  It is great, it uses grocery sacks and it is easy to tie it up and toss it.

*Disclaimer: I was not paid any form of cash for this posting.   I received free product for the purpose of this posting..  This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the products.**   

Holiday Gift Guide: SodaStream Fountain Jet Starter Set

SodaStream Fountain Jet Starter Set

We have had a Sodastream soda maker for almost a year now and it is fantastic.  At first I thought that we would lose interest after a few months and it would just take up space on the counter but that is just not the case.  We have over 2 dozen different flavors and love trying out new combinations all the time.

We started with a starter kit and loved it so much that we went out and got more syrups, extra soda bottles and spare CO2 cartridges so that we would never run out.  I love that the bottles are only one liter, it allows us to try new flavors more regularly.

The Sodastream soda makers are so much fun that for my daughter's family birthday party we had a Soda Shoppe party.  We were blending all sort of flavors and everyone kept coming back to see what the next concoction would be.  It was a blast and everyone had a ton of fun

About Sodastream

SodaStream is the world's largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of Home Carbonation Systems. Our brands are sold in over 50,000 retail stores in 42 countries. 

Our long standing and deep heritage dates back to 1903, when we introduced innovative solutions to the beverage market. We continue to grow as market leaders in both technological advancements and the quality of our products.

The SodaStream system enables consumers to carbonate water and to flavor carbonated beverages at home as an alternative to purchasing pre-packed bottles or cans. This has many important benefits to the consumer including cost savings and no hassle with bottles.

 

The advantages of SodaStream's Home Carbonation System include:

• Convenience: No need to carry heavy bottles from the store. The SodaStream system is simple to use and requires no batteries or electricity.
• Environmentally-Friendly: SodaStream is an "Active Green" solution that minimizes the huge eco-footprint caused by the manufacture, transport and waste of plastic bottles.
• Variety: SodaStream offers over 100 flavors to suit everyone’s taste. Regular, diet, natural, fruity flavors, ice tea, energy drinks, sport drinks, tonic and many more.
• Space Saver: No need to store bottles of beverages or empty bottles for recycling in your home.
• Personalization: Make drinks just the way you love them… more bubbles, less bubbles, sweeter or lighter, even create your own flavor!
• Family Fun: The system is quick and easy to use. It's fun for everyone and kids just love it!
• Value for Money: Great savings compared to pre-packed carbonated water and beverages.
• Satisfaction Guaranteed: SodaStream drinks makers are of extremely high quality and include a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

Sodastream Fountain Jet Starter Kit

This package includes everything you need to make great tasting soda in your own home.
This package includes:

• Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker
• 1 60 liter Carbonator
• 1 Carbonating Bottle
• 3 SodaMix flavors (your choice) - each bottle makes 12 liters of soda
• Sodamix Variety 6 pack

*Disclaimer: I was not paid any form of cash for this posting.   I received free product for the purpose of this posting..  This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the products.**   

Gourmet Gift Baskets.com Christmas (giveaway!)

Gourmet Gift Baskets.com Christmas (giveaway!)

About GourmetGiftBaskets.com
GourmetGiftBaskets.com strives to achieve the highest quality customer service through our in-house customer service team.  Every gift basket experience is backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and be assured that anytime you reach out to us  our friendly and knowledgeable staff is ready to assist you. We want your shopping experience to be as hassle free as possible  and we encourage you to contact us with any questions, concerns, or if you need help placing your order.  The quality of our products and the experience our customers have with us are our founding family values and top priorities.

About the Classic Christmas Basket:
One of our most popular Christmas designs, the Christmas Gift Basket Classic is an excellent choice for the home or office. Why? Each Christmas Basket contains a variety of award-winning gourmet snacks that appeal to a wide variety of tastes. With gourmet snacks including a chocolate covered cherries, dark chocolate bar, chocolate chip cookies, almond clustered popcorn, raspberry honey mustard pretzel dip along with pretzels and so much more! So, if you want to send a gift that everyone will love, send one of these delicious Christmas Gift Baskets!

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts:
I LOVE gift baskets.  I love giving them and getting them. I think that gift baskets make great gifts for family members that live far away and also excellent gifts for bosses or co-workers.  I also find gift baskets to be great group gift since they contain something for everyone.  The classic Christmas basket included yummy items for everyone in the house, I loved the Signature Dark Chocolate Bar by Lake Champlain and the Chocolate Covered Cherries by Marich.  Wiggle Bean liked the Metropolitan Trail Mix and hubby liked the Buttered Peanut Crunch.

Kidorable Apparel and Accessories (Giveaway!)

Kidorable Apparel and Accessories

Kidorable rain wear is absolutely adorable!  My daughter received her first pair of Kidorable ladybug rain boots well over a year ago and while they were too big for her at the time (that did not stop her from wearing them) they are now on the too small side (still not stopping her from wearing them).  This year we have a new pair that will be waiting for her under the Christmas tree come Christmas morning.  

Wiggle Bean has loved ladybugs since she was one, her first birthday was ladybug themed and she has many ladybug toys.  

To go along with her new shiny red kidorable ladybug boots, Kidorable generously provided me with an adorable ladybug rain coat and matching umbrella.

About Kidorable

In 1997, Kidorable sprung from the minds, hearts and efficiency apartment of Liping and Jonathan Domsky. They proclaimed, "The world needs someone to create children's apparel and accessories that are both functional and fun. We can do that." 

In its first three years, Kidorable grew from a hopeful startup to a thriving business with $2 million in sales. Ever since, Kidorable has continued to blossom, evolving into a flourishing global enterprise, contributing to the success of dozens of sales professionals and thousands of retailers, with sales projected to exceed $15 million by 2015.  

Throughout its first decade, the key to Kidorable's success has been growth. But not growth simply in the financial sense. For the ultimate Kidorable customers - kids - it's all about growing imaginations. For Kidorable's employees, it's all about nurturing personal and professional growth. And for everyone touched by Kidorable, it's about growing smiles. For Kidorable, growing larger is a natural and happy consequence of growing better, individual by individual.

Today Kidorable is a striking presence, not just in stores, but across the vast landscape of the children's apparel and accessories industry. By encouraging personal and professional growth in the service of imagination and smiles, Kidorable's own growth projections continue to soar.

APRA International Fragrance Company

APRA International Fragrance Company

Perfumes and fragrances are one of those products that can be found on wish lists every Christmas.  I have a mother, sister, sister-in-law and a teenage niece that all have fragrances on their wish lists. 

These new APRA fragrances will make great gifts and wonderful stocking stuffers for the girls/women on your shopping list.

About APRA:

Apra International LLC. is a leading fragrance company known for creating high-quality, affordably priced celebrity/designer fragrances. By introducing up and coming celebrity fragrances at affordable prices, Apra plans to carve out a piece of mass market fragrance sales by giving its consumer base something that the other leading market fragrance companies cannot offer due to their competitor’s inefficient cost structure.

  Just launched at Target stores for the affordable price of $5.99 each, these 5 high quality body sprays are inspired by the cult of self-expressive body art and spun into a modern collection that celebrates individuality and personal style

Targeted to a young, hip, trendy audience, lightly fragranced body sprays have become a popular everyday beauty/grooming essential for both sexes. Used after showering or as a pick-me-up during the day, these body sprays refresh and revive the senses, with just the right amount of scent. The Tattooed by Inky collection offers 5 distinctive scents---two men’s, two women’s, and one unisex. The women’s scents are subtle and evocative; the men’s are appropriately brisk and masculine; and the freshness of the unisex version appeals to both genders.

·         MONKEY BUSINESS (male) - for the smart, funny, no-nonsense guy with a lovable bad boy streak. Has a bold blend of leather, lavender, pepper and sandalwood.

·         DRAKO (male) - for the strong, enigmatic and fiery guy with an elemental blend of spices, musk and precious woods.

·         A MI AMOR (female) - vividly captures all your loving feelings of passion and romance with a complex blend of white florals, vanilla and amber.

·         SUDDEN FREEDOM (female) – for the confident, vibrant and independent woman who reaches for the stars and inspires others to do the same. A fresh and feminine bouquet of aquatic florals, pink jasmine and warm rosewood, this scent innately captures your charismatic spirit and style.

·         KOI (unisex) – for the easy going, colorful personality and affectionate nature who also has a resilient strength and courage of convictions. An intricate blend of radiant citrus, ginger and the warmth of patchouli, Koi shows off your many sides.

Jordin Sparks’ First Ever Fragrance

“Because of You”

This October, Grammy nominated platinum recording artist and Broadway star, Jordin Sparks, is unveiling her first ever fragrance line with the fruity floriental scent titled, “Because of You”- thoughtfully named by Sparks to pay tribute to her fans that have helped her to achieve her dreams. Scents have always inspired memories and captured adventures for Jordin and she hopes to create new experiences for her fans through her new attainable, yet sumptuous scent. With her fans at the forefront of her mind, Jordin will release this high quality fragrance at an affordable price that is available for sale across the United States. Jordin has always been an avid fan of fragrances and was highly involved in the creation of her new, signature scent with award winning Perfumers, to ensure that it would be unique and represent her young and vibrant personality and embrace her creative force.

Fragrance Assortment and Suggested Retail Prices:

•      2.5 fl oz Eau de Parfum Spray - $17.95

•      On the Go Mini Gift Set - $6.95

o    .2 fl oz Eau de Parfum Spray

o    1.65 oz Moisturizing Body Lotion

•      Fragrance Luxuries Gift Set - $19.95

o    2.5 fl oz Eau de Parfum Spray

o    3.4 oz Moisturizing Body Lotion

o    .21 fl oz Eau de Parfum Spray

Availability: Kmart, Walmart, Sears stores, Dots stores, Rainbow stores and www.jordinsparksbeauty.com

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts

I have a collection of fragrances that I rarely wear any more since my husband is sensitive to them. So I am always on the look out for fragrances and body sprays that have a lighter scent to them.  The new Tattooed fragrance sprays are light and not too overbearing like some that I have smelled (whew, if you have ever walked into a department store perfume department, you know exactly what I mean!).  Not to mention that awesome designs of the spray bottles. How awesome are they!  I want to purchase these just for the cool bottles.  It is also great that they have scents designed for men. 

When it comes to scents, I prefer a fruit based scent over a flowery scent.  I am just not a flowery kind of gal but I know many people that are.  This makes the Jordin Sparks perfume perfect since it is both fruit and flower based.  I also think it is fantastic that it is affordable, it is hard to find celebrity lines of anything that come at reasonable prices.

STAY TUNED, I MIGHT BE ADDING A GIVEAWAY TO THIS POST SOON!!!

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