Review and Giveaway: Surf Sweets CLOSED

My son is the biggest gummy candy monster around!

Seriously, he loves gummy bears, gummy worms, fruit snacks and anything else that comes close to being gummy like. So, when I came across all natural gummy bears from Surf Sweets, I knew that I must share with all you other moms. He doesn't even know that these are better for him, because they taste so good.

They were nice enough to send my family a sampler pack, and as you can tell by the above picture, my son was really enjoying this review! My family's favorite were the gummy swirls.

The candies over at Surf Sweets are:
-made with organic fruit juices and sweeteners
-free of artificial colors and flavors
-100% of your daily Vitamin C
-are free of gluten and casein
-made in a facility which is free of the eight most common allergens
-the only candies made without corn syrup

I know, now you can let your little one fulfill his sweet tooth and not feel so guilty, and just in time to fill up those Easter baskets!! You can purchase Surf Sweets at Toys R Us, Whole Foods, and other natural food retailers.

Want some candy? Surf Sweets was nice enough to offer one lucky reader a prize package that includes some Surf Sweets and a $20 gift card to the Natural Candy Store. So follow the rules below so that you can have some sweets for you and your family!

How to Enter:
1) Visit Surf Sweets and tell me which product your family would love to try.

Additional Entries: (please leave a separate entry for each)
2) Subscribe to my blog.
3) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) and/or tweet about this giveaway.
4) Favorite me in technorati.
5) Blog about this giveaway(http://www.whatmommiesneed.com/) and leave the link.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on April 2nd. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Winner: Natural Family Botanicals

Congratulations to:

Creative Mom

Here are your random numbers:

23
Timestamp: 2009-03-27 03:36:34 UTC

Please claim your prize within the next 72 hours.

How does he do it?

My six month old manages to remove his pajama pants almost nightly while sleeping. I go in his room to check on him and he is in nothing but his pajama top and diaper.
Tonight he still had one leg in, but this can't be comfortable, and I worry about him getting too cold. Of course, he also takes off his socks.
Well I am off in search of all in one pjs without feet.
If you have any suggestions, I am all ears.

Wordless Wednesday: When I grow up...

I want to be a veterinarian!!!





Just keep in mind that this changes weekly. LOL Last week it was a McDonald's cook so that when people order a cheeseburger with no onions, he can cook it with no onions.

Review and Giveaway: Built CLOSED

I was in search of a diaper clutch that would fit nicely into my purse, stash easily in my car, could hold diapers, wipes, and creams, and clean with ease. And, although that sounds like a tall order to fill, I got exactly what I needed when I found the Cushy-Tushy Changing Pad from Built!

The Cushy Tushy Changing Pad is constructed of soft neoprene, which protects baby from hard surfaces. It has an interior pocket to carry diapers and wipes. And, this pad comes in a variety of colors, ski patrol red, black, dots, and stripes. Above is my little one on the ski patrol red.

The best part is that this pad is stain resistant and machine washable.
When opened it is approximately 20"X 2o" and when closed 11.9" X 7.25".


My son is tall for his 6 months and fit on this pad with room to spare. The neoprene material is sturdy and gives a nice amount of cushion. At a selling price of $20, this is an investment that will last forever, and would make a great gift for new parents.

Built also sells lunch bags, oven mitts, diaper bags, and many other items. The neoprene material insulates and protects for up to 4 hours. They sell totes for bottles and kid's lunchboxes that open into place mats!

Want a Cushy Tushy Pad for your very own? Well Built has offered to give one to a lucky reader, so just follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Built and tell me which product you absolutely love.

Additional Entries: (please leave a separate entry for each)

2) Subscribe to my blog.

3) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.

4) Favorite me in technorati.

5) Blog about this giveaway(http://www.whatmommiesneed.com/) and leave the link.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on March 30th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Winner: Safety Caps

Congratulations to:

Esther

Here are your random numbers:

57
Timestamp: 2009-03-23 03:42:08 UTC

Please contact me within 72 hours to claim your prize.

Review and Giveaway: Natural Family Botanicals CLOSED

Are you are in search of some good all natural skin care products for the whole family?

Well look no further, I have the found what you need. The folks over at Natural Family Botanicals have everything you could want and more, from facial clays to Natural Baby Calendula Soap!

They were nice enough to send me some samples to try, and I was more than impressed. I received the evening primrose cream, the baby balm, and the lavender silk swirl soap.

The evening primrose cream is awesome. It is thick, goes on super smooth, but does not leave the skin oily. This cream moisturizes really well and you don't need much of it to go around. I was a little worried about this cream, because I am not fond of heavy scents, but there is no strong fragrance at all. This cream contains pure evening primrose oil and borage oil which rejuvenate the skin and have wrinkle reducing qualities.

The baby balm was just as impressive. It can be used for any skin condition, such as diaper rash, cuts, scrapes, bug bites, etc. It contains shea butter and emu oil. I liked how it goes on clear and really covers well. It is a little thick in the container, but once you work with it it goes on really well.

The silk soap was heavenly. It lathered up so well and left my skin feeling completely hydrated. The scent was nice and not too strong. My small sample size soap lasted about 4 showers, so I know that the regular bar must last forever. I will definitely be buying some soap from them.

Here is a little about Natural Family Botanicals Products:

They use 100% natural safe ingredients, with no parabens, phthalates, or petrochemicals .
They are extremely moisturizing, and contain soothing botanical oils.
They use organically-grown, skin healing herbs and non-comedogenic oils, which won't clog pores. Their products are never tested on animals and are environmentally friendly.

Now for the exciting news! Natural Family Botanicals has offered to give one lucky reader a box of Baby Bum Drops, which is a convenient, natural diaper wipes solution for your baby.

They are chemical free; no propylene glycol; no sodium laureth sulfate and no allergy-causing synthetic fragrances. Convenient, easy to make & use with cloth baby wipes. Made with organic calendula blossoms and aloe vera to help soothe the skin and clear skin irritations. A natural glycerin soap base creates a mild cleansing action, and pure essential oils of lavender and mandarin help to create an aromatic calming atmosphere. Also contains anti-bacterial tea tree essential oil to keep your baby wipes fresh and germ-free.
To use, just pour one cup of very hot water over one Baby Bum Drop to dissolve. Then add this solution to your diaper wipes or a spritzer bottle for quick, convenient cleansing of baby's bum.
A three-ounce box makes approximately 50 cups of wipes solution. This is not only great for baby, but also for the environment!!

Ready to try this great product on your baby, just follow the rules below.

How to Enter:

1) Visit Natural Family Botanicals and tell me which product you would love to try.

Additional Entries: (please leave a separate entry for each)
2) Subscribe to my blog.
3) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
4) Favorite me in technorati.
5) Blog about this giveaway and leave the link.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on March 25th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Wordless Wednesday: I Totally Forgot...

today was Wednesday!! Therefore in honor of my craziness, here is a picture of my brain on two kids, a dog, and a full time job. LOL

Money Savvy Monday: Buying in Bulk

So to save some dollars there are a few things that I will buy in bulk. One of my favorite items to buy from Sam's Club is laundry detergent. I use Cheer liquid detergent.

At Sam's, I get 110 loads for $19.02, which is 17 cents a load.
At Drugstore.com they have a 32 load bottle for $12.99, which is 41 cents a load.

I wash around 10 loads a week, so this saves me approximately $115.00 a year!!

Let me know what you do to cut costs.

Winner: Just a Way to Say Thanks

Congrats to:

lisalmg

She won the triple strand necklace!

Thanks to all my subscribers. You all help to make my blog successful!

Here are your random numbers:

63
Timestamp: 2009-03-16 03:55:45 UTC

Please contact me within 72 hours to claim your prize.

Winner Finn Fancies

Congratulations to:

Karen

She won the purse organizer from Finn Fancies.

Here are your random numbers:

26
Timestamp: 2009-03-14 19:25:04 UTC

You have 72 hours to claim your prize.

What Is It With Boys?!

Seriously, do they have some kind of class in the womb that teaches them all the silly boy things?

I got my 4 year old up from nap yesterday and after he was awake he decided he wanted to put on his Superman costume. No big deal, so I said sure. So he take off his shorts to get in costume and then he precedes to pull his SOCKS out of his UNDERWEAR.

And I am completely baffled and really have no idea what to say, so I ask "Wyatt, why are your socks in your underwear?"

And his answer was "I was just hiding them there."

Sometimes, I guess it is better just not to ask.LOL

Wordless Wednesday: How Time Flies

How come the seem to grow so fast those first 6 months! Here are pictures of my youngest at 2 days old and last week at 6 months.

Review and Giveaway: Safety Caps CLOSED

We all safety proof our houses as best as we can when we have children. I know it took me weeks to figure out how to open my cabinets after my first son was born. But, what would you do if you found out that what you were doing to protect you little ones could actually do you harm?

Well, this is what happened to the founder of Safety Caps. His daughter choked on an outlet plug cover. Yes, it is probably the ones you have all over your house. I had them in all my electrical outlets, and didn't even realize that they were a hazard.


The old outlet covers are small enough that they can be swallowed. So over at Safety Caps, they have been redesigned to a larger size and they have air holes based on the US pacifier regulations.

This picture shows the Safety Cap on top with the old cover on the bottom. Not only are the Safety Caps safer, but they blend better with the electrical outlet.



Need to make your home a safer place? Safety Caps has offered to give one lucky reader a 24 pack of caps, but if you order before this giveaway is over, you will recieve 96 free!!

How to Enter:
1) Visit Safety Caps and tell me how long their caps are.

Additional Entries: (please leave a separate entry for each)
2) Subscribe to my blog.
3) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
4) Favorite me in technorati.
5) Email Ellen about why you like safety caps (5 extra entries).
6) Email Oprah about why you like safety caps (5 extra entries).
7) Blog about this giveaway and leave the link.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on March 16th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Money Savvy Monday: Check Your Receipts

I always check my receipt before leaving the store, especially if I have purchased sale items. We went to the mall a few weekends ago, and of course I was drawn to the sale items.
Upon checking my receipts, we had to go back into two different stores to have money returned to us.
The first, was on a pair of shoes for my son, that were supposed to be an additional 25% off, and they forgot to deduct the additional amount. This was around an $8.00 error, in our favor.
The second, was a shampoo that I bought that was on sale for $1.00, and I was charged $5.00.
While neither of these were huge mistakes, but the errors were almost enough to buy us lunch at the mall.
Why spend more money than you have to! Always check your receipts, the sales reps will not!!
You should have an idea what your total is, ask question if it is not.

You Know You Love Your Husband....

When you finally get to go to the movies together, first time in almost a year, and you let him pick the movie!! We ended up seeing "FANBOYS". This movie is about a group of guys that go on a road trip to the Skywalker Ranch, yes the entire movie is based on Star Wars.
Why am I not surprised by this Star Wars theme? Probably because everything else in my house seems to revolve around this galaxy that is far, far away!!
This is a picture of my husband and two boys, with star wars guys, at my oldest's birthday party this year.

Winner: Rubber Stamp Press

Congrats to Staci!!

Here are your random numbers:

78
Timestamp: 2009-03-08 04:18:19 UTC

I will be emailing you shortly. Please contact me back within 72 hours to claim your prize.

Just a Way to Say THANKS!!! CLOSED

To all of you who have helped me grow so much over the last few months. I would like to reward my subscribers. So I have this lovely necklace for one of you.

It is a triple stranded necklace, made using pink seed beads and three mother of pearl pink rectangles. The shortest strand measures approximately 16 inches and the longest around 18. It closed with a sterling silver lobster clasp.

You may enter as long as you are a subscriber to my blog.

How to enter:
1) Leave a comment telling me who would get the necklace. (Please note if you are not a subscriber, you can do so now and your entry will still count)

Additional Entries: (Please leave a separate comment for each)
1) Place my button on your side bar.
2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Favorite me in technorati.
4) Blog about this giveaway.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on March 14th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Looking for a New Laptop Bag?

Well Bridgette over at The Not So Blog has got you covered. She has an awesome laptop bag from Kolobags to give away. Just click here to find out more:

http://www.thenotsoblog.com/2009/03/giveaway-kolobags.html

Operation Organization: Finn Fancies CLOSED

Who out there does not have a purse addiction? Seriously, it is one of those items that I know I have enough of, but will still buy more. You need a purse for each season, and then at least one for special occasions.

My closet looks like a purse store has exploded on the shelves. I was beginning to have trouble finding what I was looking for, which is how I found my next item for operation organization.

The etsy store Finn Fancies has come to rescue all those handbag filled closets. She has designed a purse organizer that not only creates more space, which means you can buy more bags, but they are all visible while being neater.
This organizer will hold at least 14 purses. There are seven flaps, and each flap can hold at least 2 bags, maybe more if they are small. It is 40 inches long and 4 1/4 inches wide.
Each closet organizer is made with a very heavy peltex interfacing, so it is very sturdy. All the flaps are interfaced as well. Just slip the organizer over any metal or plastic hanger, snap in your purses and wahlah! It also folds up easily for storage when not in use.

Do you need this to help organize your closet? Well Finn Fancies is giving one away to a lucky winner!! Just follow the rules below.

How to Win:
1) Visit Finn Fancies and tell me which item from her store is your favorite.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Post my button on your side bar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on March 12th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo Winners

Okay the Mardi Gras Mambo has officially ended. Here are the last two winners.

Krewe of Rex-Tiff Nifty Thrifty hair bow- Heather

Grand Prize- Baba

Congrats to all the winners! You should receive an email shortly! Please claim your prize within

72 hours.

Wordless Wednesday: Food Fun

Can you guess what his first food was?

Money Savvy Monday: Keep the Communication Lines Open

Be sure to discuss the budget and where you stand with your spouse. It is very important that you are both on the same page.
Let each other know what you will need to spend, and calculate the budget accordingly.
If your car needs and oil change and the spouse needs a hair cut, they will need to be both worked in.
Don't be afraid to say NO. If you can't afford to spend the money, then say no. Decide together what is most important for the month.
If you work together, the budget is more likely to balance out.