Review and Giveaway: Nowali CLOSED

When we bought our house a couple years ago, we decided to rip out all the carpet and replace it with hardwood floors. This was mostly because Wyatt battles with allergies. The only problem that I have found with this is that the boys' feet tend to get cold after bath, and socks can be slippery, especially for Blake who is just starting to pull up on everything. So, when I was heard that Nowali made baby moccasins, I knew I had to try some out for Blake.
Nowali has been making traditional moccasins in Sweden for over 50 years. The company is proud of its heritage and continues to produce these high quality moccasins, where the stitching is still sewn by hand. Their design is a comfy sock in a soft shoe that kids will keep on and they come in a bunch of cute designs. Nowali moccasins are available in sizes for babies, toddlers, big kids, and adults.

Nowali was nice enough to send me a pair of moccasins in their new Cars design for Blake. And, here he is playing in them.

They are well made and he was happy to leave them on while he played. I think they will be the perfect slipper for his this fall!

Nowali was has offered one lucky reader a pair of moccasins of their choice. To enter, just follow the rules below. They have also offered all my readers the following coupon code: HAPPYFEET, which gives 10% off + free shipping for orders over $40. This code is good thru 12/31/09.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Nowali and tell me which moccasins you would choose.

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

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 6th. 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.

Review and Giveaway: B Nature CLOSED

Comfort is a big must for me! Therefore, I always try to find comfy clothes for my boys. That is what I find great about B Nature . They offer a variety of bodysuits, rompers, gowns and more in all 100% organic cotton. No zippers, buttons, or snaps to irritate baby, which makes their clothes super easy for mom and extra comfy for little ones!

The benefit of organic cotton is that it avoids insecticides and pesticides and promotes balance with nature by using materials and methods that minimize environmental impact. So, baby is comfortable and staying away from unnecessary chemical exposure.

I was sent a tee to try for Blake and the cotton is soft and the shirt is well made. It arrived in a 100% recycled paper box that was super cute. Their clothes would make a great gift for an eco-friendly mama!

I have an ivory top with pocket in a size 3-6 months to give to one lucky reader. It is the shirt pictured above, with the adorable bee on the pocket. For your chance to win, just follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit B Nature and tell me something else from their store that you like.

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

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 4th. 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.

Review and Giveaway: Kid Cards CLOSED

If you are anything like me, you are always trying to show how creative your child is! This is especially true when it comes to the grandparents. I always like to give them presents that have a little bit of my children in them. When the holidays come around I am always in search of the cards that my son can color or personalize in some way.

Well my search has ended, because some smart mommy out there created Kid Cards. These cards come as an activity book where each card stock page can be removed and folded into a greeting card. It offers children an outline for making fun and original cards. This idea was so great that Kid Cards just won a 2009 iParenting Media Excellent Products Award in the Books Category!

They have a different volumes according to age. Each volume comes with a variety of cards, including Birthday, Get Well, and Thank You. Kid Cards were nice enough to send over Volume 2 for Wyatt to try. Here he is with his Thank You card that he created for his Pappy and Nana.
Wyatt really enjoyed making his card and immediately started planning who the next one would be for. I think this is a great way to allow your child to share their talents with others.

Thanks to Kid Cards, one lucky winner can receive either Volume 1, 2, or the Christmas Edition by following the rules below! They have also offered my readers a great coupon code. When you visit Kid Cards, click on Buy Online, then enter the Penny Promotion Code "Blogger Bonus" in the box when purchasing 2 or more books, and you will get the crayon set AND watercolor paint set for 1 Penny.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Kid Cards and tell me something about their creator.

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

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 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.

Big and Awesome Blog Roll!!

The gals over at MomDot put together a Blog Link-A-Thon and here is the huge list that has been compiled. Don't be overwhelmed, just check out like ten a day and you may be done by the end of next month.LOL There are some really good blogs on this list so make sure to check the out!

1. http://www.notalwayscharming.com/

2. Fairy Blog Mother

3. Crazy Adventures in Parenting

4. Engineer a Debt Free Life

5. Sweet ‘n’ Sassy Girls

6. Good Golly Miss Blondie

7. SavvySuzie

8. For The Love of Baby!

9. http://lovemy2dogs.blogspot.com/

10. Blessings Abound

11. Coupons, Deals and More

12. Hairstyles For Girls

13. http://www.thedivinemissmommy.com/

14. A latte in the morning

15. KiddiesCorner Deals

16. 3 Kids and Us Mom Blog

17. The Ohana Mama

18. Coupon Queens of Laurel Run

19. Today’s Journey

20. http://confessionsofahousewife.com/

21. My Charmed Life

22. http://www.doublebugs.com/

23. http://3boys1girlandadog.blogspot.com/

24. New Sue Review

25. Suzanne Calling

26. Just For Me…and You

27. Time Slides By

28. Babes and Kids

29. Declutter a Little Each Day

30. Grocery Savings for Real Families

31. Life Starring Ellie and Eve

32. So Cute Crafts

33. Brea’s Mommy

34. Are Muffins Just Ugly Cupcakes

35. It’s A Beauty Filled Life

36. The crazy suburban mom

37. Donna’s World

38. Momma’s Gone Over the Wall

39. Mommy’s Quiet Time

40. Joyce (Saving My Cents)

41. My Trendy Tykes

42. The Not-So-Blog

43. Confessions From HouseholdSix

44. SiPPyCuPSand FiNGerPriNTS

45. http://www.couponmommie.com/

46. http://www.crackersandchaos.blogspot.com/

47. Giftfully Simple

48. Just For Fun

49. Digital Mommy

50. Me And Craig

51. Parenting Princesses

52. http://mylastshredsofsanity.blogspot.com/

53. Inside My Head

54. Petit

55. My Love Lucy

56. FreckleBox personalized gift

57. Baby Lulu Dress

58. Blog 4 Mom

59. 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

60. Jolly Mom

61. My Life My Journey

62. Maman And Gourmand

63. http://jessmalexander.blogspot.com/

64. The POSHpreneur

65. A Blog of Goodies

66. Christy aka The Write Gal

67. LookWhatMomFound

68. Peanut Butter & Smelly’s Dad

69. Lucy

70. Angry Julie Monday

71. The Mogul Mom Blog

72. Angela

73. Deal-ectible Mommies

74. Christy’s Creations

75. Lisa

76. http://www.booksnboys.blogspot.com/

77. Wannabe Supermom

78. Thre Craft Momma

79. Internet Toddler

80. http://lifeisasandcastle.blogspot/

81. Kristen of La Dolce Vita

82. Cranberry Fries

83. http://www.mud-bug.com/

84. The Mom Buzz

85. http://nightowlmama.blogspot.com/

86. Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls

87. Mommy Cracked

88. EclecticBird

89. Mama Mentor

90. Moomettesgram’s Musings

91. Moomette’s Magnificents Reviews

92. Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes

93. Diaries of a Domestic Goddess

94. Go Graham Go!

95. NerdFamily Things

96. NerdFamily Blog

97. Making Money Keeping Money

98. NerdFamily Food

99. Flying Giggles & Lollipops

100. http://themorrisbunchblog.com/

101. http://www.simplybeingmommy.com/

102. A Kindred Spirit’s Thoughts

103. Two Of A Kind, Working On A Full House

104. D-Lo’s Lounge

105. Free Sample Freak

106. What Mommies Need

107. Mom of 2 Boys, Wife of 1

108. icefairy’s Treasure Chest

109. Cheaper Than Therapy

110. Therapeutic Reviews & Giveaways

111. Lily Bean Designs

112. Dirty Diaper Laundry

113. Dance Momma

114. JamericanSpice

115. Mombalance

116. A Pocket Full Of Buttons

117. Ordinary and Awesome

118. Reviews and Giveaways

119. Subjective Beauty

120. Tales From A Shopaholic Mommy

121. Mommiemayhem

122. IE Mommy

123. http://blasianbabynotes.blogspot.com/

124. Amber Woodward

125. Grammy Janet’s Place

126. Outnumbered 3 to 1

127. ShimmerMeBlue

128. Dev’s Favorite Giveaways

129. Joyful Money Saving

130. 1stopmom

131. A Modern Mama

132. PourSomeSugarOnMe

133. Fancast

134. Lollipop Baby

135. Lola & Ben

136. idoby2celebrants

137. Sue Jackson

138. Cackleberry Kids

139. Gifts By The Stars

140. Jemma

141. Handmade Kids

142. Ollie Rose

143. Babasfarmlife

144. Banquet Manager

145. Monkey’s Momma

146. This Mom Can Shop

147. EcoLabel Fundraising

148. Divine Chaos

149. baby kakes ink alphabet onesie

150. tee from recycle me

151. http://lizzie-q-homemaker.blogspot.com/

152. marla mandell bread (5/17)

153. ozone socks 5/15

154. Belly Bumps to Baby Hugs

155. Hip T

156. ThenComes Baby

157. Homemade Gourmet

158. Fresh Pure and Simple

159. MomDot Mom Blogs

160. MomDot Mom Reviews

161. Bloggers Give Charity

162. Organic Baby Resource

163. Potamus Prefers

164. The Army Wife

165. Through Hazel Eyes

166. Frugal Rhode Island Mama

167. Just Jingle

168. And Twins make 5!

169. Frugal Plus

170. Christie

171. What Happened To My House?

172. Miracles on Mama Street

173. Heck Of A Bunch

174. Blog Designs by Susan

175. mommy23monkeys

176. Hanna

177. Got Kids Need Valium

178. Womb At The INNSANE

179. Katie & Kimble Blog

180. http://adventuresofastayathomemom.com/

181. The Frugalicious Mommy

182. Penny Pinching Diva

183. Another day. Another thought or two

184. Beauty4Moms

185. http://www.evilflu.com/

186. Little Miss Julia

187. Mrs Zeee

188. Cheryl

189. Frazzle Dazzle SuperMom

190. Florida Mealtime Savers

191. Inspiration Station

192. Mommy’s Kitchen

193. Saving with MamaNordy

194. Saving SAHM Sanity

195. A Little Piece Of Perfect

196. Nodin’s Nest

197. Lil Miss Eco

198. Laryn Strickland

199. HeatherMama

200. The Gerber Babies Blog

201. WhateverSuccess

202. Women Who Win

203. http://theburbblog.com/

204. Happy Healthy Families

205. Sweeps4Bloggers

206. dramaqueensmum

207. The Mom Trap

208. Multitasking Mama

209. Mama Michies Musings

210. Little People Wealth

211. Belly Beyond

212. Kim Kihega

213. Mom Fuse

214. Juanita

215. Adopt a Do

216. On the Refriderator Door

217. Christine

218. Little Diva

219. My Household Junk

220. I’m Here….Really

221. http://greer5intexas.blogspot.com/

222. mary

223. http://www.nicolesnickels.net/

224. Lori Newman

225. http://kris-jay-caity-izzie.blogspot.com/

226. Debb

227. Shawn Ann’s World

228. Peke Moe -NZ made baby sleep sacks

229. A Simple Kinda LIfe

230. Sweet Serendipity

231. Bouncing Off The Walls

232. Jane Loedding

233. Msbuildingupdabenjamins

234. Msbuildingupdabenjamins

235. Msbuildingupdabenjamins

236. Musings from Me

237. Veronnica

238. The Adventures of Miss V

239. Mudd Kids

240. Mom Most Traveled family travel

241. Relishing the Dirt

242. Good, True and Beautiful

243. http://frugallivingandhavingfun.blogspot.com/

244. The Last Blog on Earth

245. A Wrestling Addicted Mommy

246. Rae

247. http://www.thesidelinesoflife.blogspot.com/

248. Dore’s Diaries

249. Blog by Donna

250. Lisette

251. Pillaging With Buffie

252. Mom of Faith

253. GODSOWN

254. flutterbyechronicles

255. shelley

256. Life In A House Of Blue

257. kristen

258. Alex the Fey Thriller Series

259. MamaCheaps!

260. Donalacasa

261. A Jewish Journey

262. http://learningtogetherhandinhand.blogspot.com/

263. BethinNC

264. Stuttering Shell

265. Don’t Blink

266. Life is Sweet

267. Lisa

268. http://www.sahmsue.com/

269. m.e (cathie)

270. Run DMT

271. Princess Ratbag

272. Michelle G

273. http://www.nathansfight.com/

274. Moody Mama Says

275. Laurie Ann

276. Cooking During Stolen Moments

277. A Simple Walk

278. Vanessa

279. middleagedmom

280. Ramblings Of A Wannabe Writer

281. Oh My Baby

282. Fordcast Sunny

283. Lisa Miller

284. http://www.thedivinemissmommy.com/

285. Bibs & Cribs {very cute stuff}

286. My Lil’ Budget Book

287. Misadventures in Baby Raising

288. My Mommy Said

289. Milk & Honey Mommy

290. Milk and Honey Mommy

291. Amy O’Neal

292. Parenting Children

293. A Girl And Her Life

294. MarieLynn Boutique Blog

295. Born Fabulous Boutique Blog

296. The Pitter Patter Boutique

297. Stephanie Deese

298. Brea’s Baby Boutique Blog

299. digiscrapping.net - Heather Manning

300. Kids Activities Blog

301. Two Little Whales Cloth Diapers & More

302. 3 boys & a dog

303. Karen ~Georgia Angel

304. http://mynotsohurriedlife.blogspot.com/

305. Shannon Blogs Here

306. A Virtuous Woman

307. Secrets of a Southern Kitchen

308. Dreamer

309. Lollipop Book Club

310. Mommie Daze Virtual Baby Shower

311. Heck Of A Bunch

312. MomSaves4U

313. Barely Domestic Mama

314. http://www.babylovingmama.com/

315. Professional Family Manager

316. Kathleen

317. Coaching The Family

318. Frugal Creativity

319. Easy Being Green

320. Dandelion Bubbles

321. Shelly aka The Attic Girl

322. Foxtoybox-Discovery Toys

323. http://beauty4moms.blogspot.com/

324. Colleen - Mommy Always Wins

325. Playground for Parents

326. World of Discovery

327. http://andbabymakesfourperrine.blogspot.com/

329. A Little Bit Nutty

330. Mahayla’s Mommy

332. If I Could Escape . . .

333. The Shopping Mama

Gear Up for Summer: Last Day

It is with such sorrow that our block party ends today, but before we go, we have two more great blogs left to host the party. For today's fun, head on over to AK Blessings Abound and 3Kids and Us.

AK Blessings Abound has 3 prizes up for grabs, starting with Butterfly Beach Sandbox & Wading Pool from Little Tikes, next is an apron from Carolyn's Kitchen and her final prize is a $25 gift card to Layers Clothing.

3Kids and Us has a $20 gift card for Piggy Paint. This would make some little girl very happy!

Remember that for every other block party giveaway you enter, you can take an extra entry into the Vado here. That is a total of nine extra entries!!

Here is the list of all the blogs that participated: The Ohana Mama, The Not So Blog, 3 Garnets and 2 Sapphires, Potamus Prefers, Cool Baby Kid, Mommy Goggles, and Life Starring Ellie and Eve.

Thanks to all our great sponsors and blogs that made this giveaway series such a huge success!

Review and Giveaway: Slim Perfect Swimwear CLOSED

I have always been a curvy girl, and after having 2 babies, those curves have seemed to grow. Living in the south I spend lots of time in the pool, but I have always been very self conscious of how I look and what others are thinking. I have tried every type of bathing suit imaginable, from tankinis, skirts, one pieces, and two pieces, and nothing has every made me feel covered enough, until now!

I totally heart my Slim Perfect swimsuit. They were nice enough to let me try one and I chose to go with the tankini top and capri bottoms. This way I could feel like my trouble spots are completely hidden. And, while I still don't look like a runway model, I no longer feel exposed. Here is me at a hotel pool a couple of weekends ago.
Yes, I wore a bathing suit in public!!! I was able to play with Wyatt in the pool and walk around without feeling like I needed to wrap a towel around myself or throw on a t-shirt.

Thank you Slim Perfect for helping give me the confidence to wear a swimsuit in public! (and even share the picture on the internet LOL)

Slim Perfect offers a variety of styles to choose from including a slim dress, skorts, and skirts. They make slimming swimwear and activewear for women sizes 8-18. So stop hiding behind a t-shirt and start swimming without worrying how you look.

The great news is that Slim Perfect has generously offered one lucky reader a $100 gift card to their site. For your chance to win, just follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Slim Perfect and tell me which swim suit you would buy.

Additional Entries: (please leave a separate entry for each)
2) Follow Slim Perfect on twitter (SlimPerfect)
3) Become a fan of Slim Perfect on Facebook (SlimPerfect Swimwear & Activewear)
4) Subscribe to my blog.
5) Favorite me in technorati.
6) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) and tweet about this giveaway.
7) Blog about this giveaway and link back here to http://www.whatmommiesneed.com/
8) Put my button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 31st. 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

Winners

Congrats to the following winners!

Debi Derryberry CD

Justice CW

Here are your random numbers:

6
Timestamp: 2009-05-21 03:01:15 UTC

Build-A-Bear Giftcard

cdziuba

Here are your random numbers:

20
Timestamp: 2009-05-21 03:06:35 UTC

Maybelline Pulse Perfection

charity

quelleheure4

Here are your random numbers:

83
112
Timestamp: 2009-05-21 03:09:23 UTC

Please claim your prize within the next 72 hours.

Gear Up for Summer: Day 4

Today the party can be found at Mommy Goggles and Life Starring Ellie and Eve, both of which have great outdoor toys for you!

Mommy Goggles has a Sun Smarties Pop Up Pool from One Step Ahead and Life Starring Ellie and Eve has a sand and water table from Step2. How much fun would your little ones have in one of these two fabulous prizes?

Don't forget to claim an extra entry into the Vado here for every other block party giveaway you enter. Our other participants, up to today, are The Ohana Mama, The Not So Blog, 3 Garnets and 2 Sapphires, Potamus Prefers, and Cool Baby Kid.

Gear Up for Summer Day 3

It is Day 3 and the Block Party is still going strong!! Yes, we are some serious partiers. LOL

To join into today's fun, just visit Potamus Prefers and Cool Baby Kid! They both have some great gear for you. Potamus Prefers has a Slim Perfect Swimsuit up for grabs and Cool Baby Kid has a pair of Jublo Sunglasses and a gift card to Kids Swimwear for your little one.

Go ahead and enter away, the party will continue on tomorrow, so be sure to come back and find out where!!

Wordless Wednesday: School's Out

Wyatt was quite excited for his end of the year program to start! I can't believe how fast his first year of "big boy" school went.

Gear Up for Summer Continues

The fun rolls on as we continue to gear you up for summer.

To take place in the party today head on over to The Not So Blog where she has two great prizes for you! First is a Ju-Ju-Be BeMine Bag from Lets Go Strolling and second is a Playdoh Spaghetti Factory .

Today's second party host is 3 Garnets and 2 Sapphires who also has two prizes up for grabs. She is giving away a $15 gift card to Etsy shop RoxStar Designs and a kids CD by Tracey Singer.

Make sure to enter at both sites so that you will be totally ready for summer!

Gear Up for Summer with a Vado CLOSED

It's time to prepare for summer and here at What Mommies Need, I am going to help you "Gear Up for Summer Travel". One of the hardest things about vacation, for me, is lugging around the video camera, but thanks to Creative Labs and their awesome Vado, that is no longer and issue.
The Vado is a pocket sized video camera that is big on technology. The camera is light weight and can record 60 minutes of excellent quality video. The battery lasts for around130 minutes and the video uploads easily to your computer through a built in usb.

Here is the video I did on my Vado for you:

Creative Labs was nice enough to send me one of my very own to try and I LOVE IT!!! It is so small that it fits easily in my purse and it is super easy to use with only a couple of buttons. You have got to check this camera out!

I am so excited to be able to offer one lucky reader a Vado in their choice of pink or silver. Just follow the entry rules below. And, make sure to stop by The Ohana Mama as she helps gear you up for summer with a chance to win a Skitter Toy!

How to Enter:
1) Visit Creative Labs and tell me another product of theirs you would love to have.

Additional Entries: (please leave a separate entry for each)
2) Subscribe to my blog.
3) Favorite me in technorati.
4) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) and tweet about this giveaway.
5) Blog about this giveaway and link back here to http://www.whatmommiesneed.com/
6) Put the Gear Up for Summer button on your sidebar.
7) For every giveaway you enter in “Gear up for Summer” Block Party you can receive an extra entry(9 extra entries total).

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 31st. 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

Review and Giveaway: Become Beauty CLOSED

I am fortunate enough to have a nice complexion, and I rarely ever have to deal with acne, therefore I tend to get lazy with my skin care regiment. I know that as I age this has got to change, or it will start to show.

So when asked to do a review for Become Beauty, I thought, well the time to change is now. They offer a wide variety of products for skin care, sun care, and even weight management.

From their web-site: Become’s luxurious, professional-grade products deliver incredible benefits because they work at a cellular level to slow down the aging process. At become, we combine the power of science with the purity of nature to deliver the most technologically advanced line of cosmeceutical products, ensuring visible results and beautifully balanced skin. Our groundbreaking formulations feature nano-, bio- and peptide technology along with rare herbal and gemstone extracts, and aroma / color therapy to provide maximum benefits for your skin.

They were nice enough to send me the Foaming Cleanser to try. This gentle cleanser dissolves impurities while leaving the skin cleansed and refreshed. It is sulphate-free, which is non-irritating and does not dry out the skin.

I have been very pleased with my cleanser. It removes all make-up and dirt and leaves my face feeling clean. There is no soapy residue and it doesn't dry out my skin. This cleanser has a nice mild scent, I can't stand anything overpowering. I would definitely replace my old cleanser for this one, especially the bar soap.LOL

The great news is that Become Beauty has offered one lucky reader a cleanser of their own. You will get a choice between the Foaming Cleanser or the Creamy Cleanser, if you follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Become Beauty and tell me another product of theirs you would like to try.

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

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 23rd. 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.

Pregnant with a Baby Boy

I was not the type of little girl that sat around dreaming of her prince charming with the nice house picket fence and 2.4 children playing in the yard. I always envisioned myself a business woman who would travel the world handling business deal after business deal, or I was going to be an actress. Turns out, I am neither, and I am actually happy with that. Because I never dreamt of a family or even having roots, I never gave any thought to children or what I would be like as a mother, or even a wife. Well that all changed after the day I found I was pregnant.

Mind you I wasn’t traveling the world as a high powered business professional or an actress, but I was well on my way to establishing a career that would take me to where I wanted to be in life. I don’t remember the day I found out that other than I had a nagging feeling that I was pregnant and I bought a pregnancy test that had three tests in it. I definitely wanted to be sure either way. Sure enough test one, two, and three all came back with a plus sign. I can’t say that I was overwhelmed with emotion either way, but I can say that from the very moment that I found out I was pregnant, I knew I was going to have a baby boy. From that point forward, I become completely consumed with learning about my pregnancy and what to expect.

Knowing that I had a living being growing inside of me completely changed my focus in life. I learned everything there was to know about pregnancy, child birth, and of course raising a child. I wasn’t able to get at ultra sound with a 3d image of my child but parentsconnect.com supplied me with a week by week 3d image of what my baby looked like and what stage of growth that he was in. The best part is that my husband was able to read along with me and learn what I was going through and he was able to see how his son was developing. I think this helped to develop his bond with his child. We both learned a quite a bit were able to take away information that was helpful.

By Guest Author: Tegan Dawn

Review: dive Olly dive DVD

After a full day of school, my son loves to curl up in the chair, and watch TV. I, of course, want him to watch something non-violent and educational, but that is not always his first priority. He wants to be entertained. So, I am always on the lookout for a compromise, which is how I found dive Olly dive.

The website description says:
Dive Olly Dive follows the adventures of Olly, a young submarine-in-training, and Beth, his best friend and fellow sub-in-training. Stationed at the Special Underwater Research Facility (S.U.R.F.) under the guidance of Diver Doug, the young subs explore their spectacular underwater world. Along with many other colorful characters. Whether carrying out a research assignment for Diver Doug, playing in spectacular Lava Rock Park, or evading the dangers found in Dark Trench, there's never a dull moment in Olly's world.

Dive Olly Dive is geared for children ages 4-7. The episodes are filled with adventures, problems, and dilemmas that teach preschoolers that sometimes it's okay to be wrong on the way to discovering what is right. The United Nations Scientific Cultural Organization is using this program to teach children about caring for our oceans.

Dive Olly Dive can currently be seen daily on PBS Kids, Sprout, and weekends on Animania HD. If you can't catch it on these stations, don't worry, NCircle Entertainment has just released the first DVD in the Dive Olly Dive series, The Adventure Begins in the Sea. It is currently available for $14.99. This DVD includes five adventures and runs approximately 55 minutes.NCircle Entertainment was nice enough to send us a copy to review.

So, was it a good compromise? Yes!! It held Wyatt's attention. He even requested to watch it for next three days. His favorite characters are Olly and the octopus. His description of the show is: "Its just cool!".

If you are looking for something new and educational for you kids, check out dive Olly dive.

Wordless Wednesday: COOKIE

This is what a cookie looks like when you let a 4 year old decorate it!!

Review and Giveaway: Maybelline CLOSED

Maybelline will be releasing a new mascara in July. Define-A-Lash Pulse Perfection Mascara is a battery-operated vibrating mascara, which is designed to deliver 7,000 vibrations per minute with each battery to last for a minimum of 130 days.


I am a little bit of a make-up junkie, so I was pretty excited to try this. While it worked well, I still felt like I needed to use a lash brush to separate the lashes after applying. It covered nicely and needed only two applications for full coverage. I did feel like it made application to the lower lashes easier. The vibrating was noticeable, but not so much that it annoyed me.

The good news is that two lucky readers will get to try Maybelline's Pulse Perfection before it is even launched. If you would like a chance, just follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Tell me what make-up product you can't live without.

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

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May19th. 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.

Build-A-Bear Teams Up With Good Housekeeping CLOSED

Try to find me a child that does not love to go to Build-A-Bear. I didn't think you could!

My 4 year old, Wyatt, thinks that Build-A-Bear is the best place ever. He is not so much into the clothes, but loves to make the animals. He has a nice little collection started, including a Turkey and a Dinosaur.

Well, now the place that the kids love to go is offering a special little treat for mom! They have a Mini Good Housekeeping Seal that comes with a 1 year subscription to Good Housekeeping for free. This seal sells for only $8.00 and every seal sold supports the WWF by donating 50¢ to protect endangered animals and their habitats. What a great way to treat you little one to something special, get something for yourself, and help out endangered animals all with one purchase.

Wyatt got a seal of his very own, whose name is now "SnowBall". Here he is with SnowBall, whom he has slept with every night since his arrival.

To celebrate the Mini Good Housekeeping Seal's arrival, Build-A-Bear has offered one lucky reader a $25 gift card to their store! To win, all you have to do is follow the rules below.

How to Enter:

1) Visit Build-A-Bear and tell me what your little one would want.

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

2) Subscribe to my blog.

3) Favorite me in technorati.

4) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) and tweet about this giveaway.

5) Blog about this giveaway and link back here to http://www.whatmommiesneed.com/ .

6) Put my button on your sidebar.

7) Follow Build-A-Bear on twitter.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May18th. 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.

Kids Coats Has Launched Kids Swimwear

The design team behind KidsCoats.com has ventured into Kids Swimwear and I am so jealous that I don't have a girl!! They have some of the cutest styles around.

And even though I don't have a girl, they were nice enough to share some of their other great products with me!! Here is the box of goodies that I received: Yeah, I was pretty excited when I opened this box!! Both boys got a matching jean short and button down shirt set, and they each got a winter coat. Here are my boys in their new coats:

KidsCoats also has a variety of kids raincoats to choose from.

And now is the time to stock up, because they are having a Warehouse Penny Sale on eBay, for Corky's Kids Sportswear. They have a variety of dresses, hats, halter tops, and sets on sale. This awesome dress is one of their sale items:

Here is the link to the sale: Warehouse Penny Sale. Many of these items are perfect for summer, and you won't find a better price, but you must hurry! Sale ends May 12th.

Its ALL about YOU: WINNERS

Congratulations to all the winners!!

Birth Designs: Helen -I love the Custom Thick Sterling Men's Dog Tag Adoption Necklace.
May 4, 2009 9:28 PM
Here are your random numbers:
130
Timestamp: 2009-05-11 01:50:18 UTC

Scentual Soundtracks: kathy pease said... i love the Spice Cookie Sugar Scrub - 4.5 ounces
May 5, 2009 12:40 PM
Here are your random numbers:
118
Timestamp: 2009-05-11 01:54:06 UTC

Misikko: Sara and Alex said... subscriber
April 30, 2009 10:40 AM
Here are your random numbers:
10
Timestamp: 2009-05-11 02:07:03 UTC

Motorola: Just For Me And You-Megan&Erica said... I love that it speaks street names. justformeandyou2 at gmail dot com
May 1, 2009 11:44 AM
Here are your random numbers:
40
Timestamp: 2009-05-11 02:10:26 UTC

Please claim your prize within 72 hours or it will be forfeited!

Feeling Sentimental

Tonight I went with my mother and my two boys to visit The Vietman Traveling Memorial Wall.

Here is some information about the wall from their website: "Our Wall is a 3/5 scale of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC, it stands six feet tall at the center and covers almost 300 feet from end to end. This Traveling Memorial stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It was made for the purpose of helping heal and rekindle friendships and to allow people the opportunity to visit loved ones in their home town who otherwise may not be able to make the trip to Washington. "

I was born towards the end of this war, so for me it seems like such a long time ago, but for those who lost their loved ones the wound is still there. My mom's first husband died in the war at the age of 21. She went today to the dedication ceremony and back tonight to find his name on the wall. I hope one day to take her to Arlington to see the real wall.

I was touched by the amount of people at the wall on a Thursday night at 7:00pm. I guess that this is the one way they know to honor their lost.

Thank you to all who fight for our freedom!!

ALL 3X Teams Up with Celebrity Apprentice

ALL has come out with a new 3X concentrated laundry detergent. That means you get 32 loads of laundry out of a little bitty bottle. You get one load washed with only an ounce of liquid detergent. Great news for all you moms who are tired of hauling those big jugs of detergent around. And the best part is, it cuts down on packaging waste, which is great for Mother Earth.

The 32oz bottle is available in the following variants:
Stainlifter
Wild & Fresh®
Essence of Snuggle®
Relax & Refresh
Fresh Rain®

I got to try a bottle, and I went for the stainlifter, you have seen the pics of my two boys right? I found that it suds up well in the washer and my clothes smelled great when I got them out of the dryer. ALL has a Time Released Freshness, which provides a lasting fresh scent all day as you are wearing your clothes. I found my clothes did hold their fresh scent all day.

ALL teamed up with Celebrity Apprentice in episode six this season. The task was for the teams to create a :60 digital viral video about ‘all’ small & mighty, a 3x concentrated laundry detergent, that the ‘all’ target consumer wants to pass along to her family and friends. Well, the episode ended with no one winning and therefore no money was raised for charity.

To benefit their charities, Joan and Melissa Rivers, along with all® produced fabulous video encores which can now be seen at all-laundry.com. Not only will you help impact the donation amount to either Joan’s Guide Dogs for the Blind or Melissa’s The Lili Claire Foundation, by simply forwarding the hilarious videos to your friends and family (each time you forward the videos to a friend, all® will donate 50 cents to the River’s Charities), but you will also have a chance to enter the all® small & mighty® Celebrity Apprentice Sweepstakes: grand prize 2 tickets and an expense paid trip to the Celebrity Apprentice Finale! 50 runner ups will receive a 1 year supply of all® small & mighty®.

So to recap:

-Go to all and check out Melissa and Joan's videos, not only will you get a good laugh, but you will also be helping out some great charities.

-If you check out the video, you are entered for a chance to win 2 tickets and an expense paid trip to the Celebrity Apprentice Finale.

- A digital $1.00 coupon you can download for all® small & mighty will be there.

This is a great cause and you get to benefit from it also, so what are you waiting for, head on over to all!!