Wordless Wednesday: To the Fly Boat!

Somebody was having fun in his new toy!!

Review and Giveaway: YoBaby Yogurt CLOSED

Both my boys LOVE yogurt! Wyatt has eaten it since he was little and baby Blake has followed in his footsteps. YoBaby Yogurt by Stonyfield Farms is Blake's daily afternoon snack. I first discovered the YoBaby brand when Wyatt was young and loved the fact that they had no added sugar, are made with whole milk, and organic.

Here are some facts about YoBaby from their website:

It is the only yogurt specially created for babies and can be introduced starting as early as 6 months. YoBaby is Organic & 100% natural, which means that it is made without the use of antibiotics, synthetic growth hormones, and toxic, persistent pesticides.

YoBaby yogurt helps develop and support:
Brain – Whole milk which pediatricians recommend for children up to age 2 for healthy brain development
Immune System – 25%DV of Zinc to support a healthy immune system
Growth – 25%+DV of Vitamin D, Calcium and Protein, plus other essential nutrients to support strong growth
Our exclusive blend of 6 Live Active Cultures including L. Rhamnosus enhances digestion.

I started feeding Blake YoBaby at 6 months, because he was on antibiotics, and I wanted to settle his stomach. He has been hooked ever since. Here he is getting his daily supply.


Can you tell he loves it?LOL YoBaby also offers a variety of options, including YoBaby Simply Plain, YoBaby Original Yogurt, YoBaby Plus Fruit & Cereal, YoBaby Drinkable Yogurt . All but the drinkable yogurts are sold in a 6-pack with two flavors. Blake has yet to turn his nose up at any flavor, and I think we have tried them all. They even offer a soy option for those who can't have dairy.

Want to try some YoBaby with your little one? Well then, today is your lucky day, because YoBaby has offered one lucky reader the chance to win a prize pack containing: a YoBaby bowl with lid, an organic YoBaby bib, and a bundle of 5 Free YoBaby coupons. Here is a picture of what you will recieve.

How to Enter:
1) Visit YoBaby and tell me which flavor your little one 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 July 14th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to North American residents only.

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

A Little Bit About Me

I always want to write personal posts and then when I turn on my computer I start doing everything else and then run out of time. I realized that my readers haven't really gotten a chance to know me, so here are a few facts.

- I have been married for eight years to my best friend.

- I have two very handsome little boys. Wyatt, 4, and Blake, 10 months.

- I have a bachelors degree in Microbiology and work full time in a research lab. (Yes, I am a nerd)

- I love to read and listening to music. I will admit that I am a Rock and Roll girl, I grew up on hair band metal.

- The last thing I do each night before I go to bed is to check on my boys, tuck them in, and give them another good night kiss. I can never get enough kisses in.

- I am NOT a morning person!!! Getting two kids out the door each morning by myself, hubby goes to work before we get up, takes every bit of patience and energy that I have.

- I am a middle child and feel for all other middle children.LOL

- I am one lucky momma!! I count my blessings each day for the fact that I have a life so full of love.

Giveaway: Suzie's Confections CLOSED

Do you have an incurable sweet tooth? Join the club, I always crave a sweet treat after lunch, that is definately my weak time. So, when I was offered the opportunity to do a giveaway for Suzie's Confections, I figured that you all would be thrilled. I mean who wouldn't be?

I looked at her website and I think I actually drooled a little.LOL Everything she has looks so YUMMY!! Suzie's Confections has whatever you could dream up with chocolate, including chocolate dipped potato chips, chocolate dipped pretzels, and these super tasty looking chocolate covered rice crispy treats.



And, that is just the tip of the iceberg! Your choices at Suzie's Confections are endless. They even have organic and sugar free choices. You can definately find something for everyone in your house. The trick is to not eat it all the same day that it arrives.LOL


Now for the part you all have been waiting for, especially after looking at those rice crispy treats. Suzie's Confections has offered one lucky reader a chance to win a $15 gift card to their store. Just follow the rules below for your shot at some sweet treats.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Suzie's Confections and tell me what you would love to try.

Additional Entries: (please leave a separate entry for each)
2) Add Suzie's button to your page.
3) Blog about this giveaway linking back to Suzie's Confections and What Mommies Need.
4) Subscribing to my Suzie's blog (via RSS or follow).
5) Following Suzie on Twitter AND Tweeting about the giveaway.
6) Becoming a fan on FaceBook AND writing a note about Suzie's Confections or posting a link about the giveaway.
7) Completing a purchase (payment required) from Suzie's Confections and linking to it as a comment.
8) Subscribe to What Mommies Need.
9) Favorite me in technorati.
10) Follow me on twitter (whatmommiesneed) and tweet about this giveaway.
11) Put my button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on July 11th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to North American residents only.

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

Giveaway: The Cheesecake Factory CLOSED

How many of you have been to The Cheesecake Factory? I have been multiple times, and there isn't even one in my state. LOL I tend to search them out when I am on vacation, because their food is great, I have always had a pleasant experience, and they have tons of CHEESECAKE!!! That's right, cheesecake, YUM!!! As you can tell, I really like cheesecake.LOL




That is why I was so excited to tell you about this great contest that The Cheesecake Factory has going on right now. They are currently running a Share Your Celebration contest. All you have to do to enter is send a picture of your celebration and tell how The Cheesecake Factory was a part of it. Entering gives you a chance at one the following awesome prizes:

-Trip for 4 to Florida – Airfare, Hotel, Disney Resort Passes and $1,000

-Chance to win a $25 gift card, $500 in gift cards

-Cheesecake for ONE YEAR!!

How cool is that? Be Sure to go and enter now, because this contest ends on June 30, 2009. So click here to enter their Share Your Celebration.




The other great news is that The Cheesecake Factory is also giving one lucky What Mommies Need's reader a $25 gift card to their restaurant! All you have to do is follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit The Cheesecake Factory and tell me which flavor cheesecake you would order.

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 July 3rd. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to North American residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Review: Kota and Pals

Dinosaurs are scattered all over my house. With two boys, we have dinosaurs of all sizes and colors. Now everybody understands my header a little more.LOL Well with the dinosaur obsession that Wyatt harbors it is no surprise that last Christmas he was fascinated with Kota the Triceratops. You remember Kota, the big ol' dino, that your kid could ride. Yeah, that one.

Needless to say Kota did not make it onto Santa's list, but none the less, Wyatt still mentions him. So imagine my excitement when I was asked to review the new Kota and Pal's Hatchlings. I knew Wyatt would love his new Kota, and he did not disappointed. Here he is showing Kota off, or as he has named him "little guy".

Looks soft and cuddly, huh? Don't be fooled, Kota comes to life! He roars like a real dino hatchling and his head and mouth really move! It was so cool to watch Wyatt the first time he touched Kota and he roared, he was so not expecting that.LOL We have both enjoyed Kota and his features.

Kota has a few pals along with him, including Pterodactyl, T-Rex, and Stegosaurus. They retail for $18.99 and would make the perfect gift for any little boy. I think it is one of those toys that is great birthday present for classmates. Just don't expect your little one to sleep with his pal, they are soft on the outside, but the inside is solid. You could always say that he is not tame enough for bed.LOL

If your little one was drooling over Kota last year, be sure to check out these new hatchlings.

Review and Giveaway: Chic Buds CLOSED

Music is an addiction for me. I love all kinds and have since I was young. Listening to music at work always makes the day go by faster for me, which is a nice plus. So, when my husband gave me my pretty pink iPod a couple of years ago for Christmas, I was elated. I would wear them at work all the time, but the cord from my ear buds kept getting in my way.

That is why I was so excited when offered the opportunity to review a pair of Chic Buds. I was lucky enough to get a pair of their Limited Edition Breast Cancer Buds. I love the retractable feature of these ear buds, it allows me to wear them and not become a tangled mess. Here is a picture of me rockin' out my new Chic Buds.

Aren't they so super cute and girly. These would make a great bridesmaid's gift! And, guys you should not feel left out, because just for you they have Rock Buds. Trust me with all the styles available you can find something for everyone.

Chic Buds offers a iPod cases, Wireless headsets, and more. These perfect products combine functionality with style. What a great way to show a little personality. Check out Chic Buds and find which style best describe you.

I have a pair of Rock Buds in their Rock Band style, the ones pictured below, available for one lucky reader. Trust me, the man in your life will love them!

How to Enter:
1) Visit Chic Buds and tell me which buds you love.

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 July 8th. 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: Yummy!!

Here is a picture of Wyatt from a couples of years ago. I've been realizing how quickly he has grown up in the last couple of years. He was about 1.5 years in this picture.

Review: Boojee Beads

Being a girly-girl and doing lab work sometimes makes for an odd combination. I am always looking for ways to "pretty up" my lab, including working in a pink lab coat.LOL


I am required to wear my ID badges whenever I am in the building and have never found a fashionable way to do so, until I found Boojee Beads. They have a huge selection of lanyards, badge reels, badge clips, and much more.


Boojee Beads was nice enough to send me a retractable lanyard in their pink lily design. Here I am at work showing it off!
My lanyard is comfortable to wear for a full day and I love the retractable feature, which makes scanning in and out the building with full hands much easier. Be sure to keep Boojee Beads in mind if you are trying to find a way to add a little flair to your everyday work attire.

Review and Giveaway: Peter Rabbit Organics CLOSED

I am one of those really lucky moms, who was blessed with a great eater. Wyatt eats a lot of fruits and vegetables and will try almost anything. The hardest part is finding a variety of these things that are easy to pack in his lunchbox. Thanks to Peter Rabbit Organics, my search is over, since they now offer a 100% Pure Fruit Snack in a pouch.


Peter Rabbit Organics Fruit Pouches are 100% organic, 100% fruit, and have no sugar added. The pouches are easy to use with no spoon required and a no-choke cap, which is great for toddlers, an on the go snack, or school lunches.

Peter Rabbit Organics Pouches keep fruit from being bruised or squished while still offering an all natural healthy snack. The pouches come in three tasty flavors: 1) Apple and Grape, 2) Strawberry and Banana, 3) Mango, Banana and Orange.

Peter Rabbit Organics was nice enough to send Wyatt a Mango, Banana, and Orange pouch to try. I was not sure of this flavor, because we don't usually eat mango, but he said that his snack was YUMMY!! He ate it up so fast that I wasn't even able to get a picture of him eating it.LOL

I would definitely purchase these for my boys. I love the fact that it is pure fruit with no extra sugar. I am looking forward to trying the other two flavors and having a healthy option to send him to school with.

These pouches are 3.5 oz. and are available at select Whole Foods Markets and independent natural food stores in a number of regions across the country this summer for an SRP of $1.79 each, and by the 10-pouch case on Amazon.com at www.peterrabbitorganics.com/usa/buy-our-pouches.

Now for the exciting part, Peter Rabbit Organics has offered one lucky reader a 10 pouch case of mixed flavors. Want to try a healthy alternative for your little one, just follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Peter Rabbit Organics and tell me another product of theirs you would like to try.

Additional Entries: (please leave a separate entry for each)
2) Follow Peter Rabbit Organics on Twitter at PR_Organics
3) Become a fan of Peter Rabbit Organics on Facebook.
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 July 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: Crane Air Purifier

As I have mentioned before, my 4 year old, Wyatt battles allergies. We have no carpet in the house, but we do have a dog, and I worry about what he is breathing in while he sleeps. I know air purifiers do a great job, but none of them were "cool" enough to be in his room. That was until we found Crane.

Their purifiers are not only adorable, but also totally functional, they are AHAM certified!! Crane Air Purifiers come in two styles, Shark and Penguin. Here are some of the features that their air purifiers offer:

-A 5 Level Filtration Helps Remove Airborne Allergens, Bacteria, Viruses and Germs.

-The Germicidal UV Light kills Viruses and Bacteria to deliver germ free fresh air.

-A true HEPA Filter captures up to 99.97% of airborne dust and pollen as small as 0.3 microns from air passing through the filter. This filter also helps reduce smoke, mold spores and pet dander.

-An active carbon filter takes care if the large particles as well as common household odors caused from tobacco, pet, garbage and cooking.

-A photocatalyst filter in conjunction with the internal UV light creates advanced oxidation that eliminates airborne odors and neutralizes odors and harmful fumes.

- Washable Particle FilterFoam filter helps capture larger particles and extends the life of the HEPA-Filter

- A 3 Speed Control with low noise setting for continuous quiet operation

-Really easy to change filters.

-A tip over switch with auto-shut off function turns of the purifier if it is tipped.

Wyatt loves his new Shark Purifier that Crane was nice enough to let us try. Here is a picture of his shark in his room. Doesn't it just make you smile?LOL

I find that he is sleeping better at night and waking up less congested. I do find that the purifier is loud, even on the lowest setting, but that actually works well for us because he doesn't hear the baby at night. It is super easy to set up right out of the box and also really easy to use on a daily basis. Wyatt actually reminds us to turn it on if we forget before he goes to bed.

Crane also carries a full line of humidifiers, including Sports and Spongebob. If your child needs a purifier of humidifier, be sure to look into Crane. Their products are fun for kids to look at and a great quality product for mom and dad. You can find Crane products at mass retailers including Target and Babies R Us.

Winners!!

Congratulations to all the winners!!

JBanz

Susan
Here are your random numbers:

6
Timestamp: 2009-06-22 01:07:26 UTC

Kena Kai

Carolpie

Here are your random numbers:

88
Timestamp: 2009-06-22 01:15:43 UTC

Please claim your prize within 72 hours!
Thanks to all who entered.

Dreaming of a Getaway!

I have been nicely hinting, okay hounding, my husband the last few weeks about wanting to schedule a vacation. We have not gone anywhere, as a family, since August 2008, and I don't consider evacuating with a 4 day old a vacation.LOL

With the daily rat race and the kid's extra-curricular activities I am burnt out and would love to go anywhere at this point. But, with having little vacation time and a strapped budget, I am not sure when this will happen. Who is with me?

Well, if you totally understand needing that break this summer, check out the Save Our Summer Vacation campaign going on at HomeAway Vacation Rentals. HomeAway is petitioning Congress to proclaim August 7 as a “National Vacation Day.”

HomeAway recognizes that with today's economy taking that summer vacation can be a challenge. Therefore, HomeAway is going to stand up for your rights to:
-Take a break from stress
-Recharge and reconnect with family and friends
-Have enough space to truly relax
-Travel in style without breaking your budget

HomeAway Vacation Rentals is the world's leading vacation rentals marketplace. They have over 176,000 vacation rental homes, condos, guesthouses, cottages, and cabins in 118 countries. That is a whole lot of places to choose from and travelers can search vacation rental listings for free and find accommodations by the night, week or month

If you participate in their petition efforts, you can be entered to win a $10,000 vacation getaway!! How cool would that be? Personally for me, it would be a toss up between going to Ireland or Greece, but like I said anywhere but here would work!! Where would you go? Just visit Save Our Summer Vacation to register for your chance at a dream come true!

Oh, and if you win, can I come along? LOL

Review: Graco Suite Solutions Pack 'n Play

I will start out by saying that I do not have a good record when it comes to using a Pack 'n Play. The one that I had for Wyatt was a hand me down that was heavy and hard to set up. Needless to say I was not super sad when Katrina swept it away. So, when Blake was born I decided that I didn't need one. Well, that lasted for about 4 days, until we evacuated for Gustav. I had to borrow one at the last minute to use for him. This one was okay, but nothing that made me want to run out and buy one. I told you my luck wasn't so great.LOL

Well, my sister and I planned a vacation with the kids, and I had to have somewhere for Blake to sleep, so I went shopping for a Pack 'n Play. This is where I found the Graco Suite Solutions Pack 'n Play Playard, which had so many features that I was just amazed. This playard comes with a bassinet, baby organizer, changing table, electronic mobile entertainment, night light, and more! I also was pleased with the available patterns.

Graco was nice enough to send me a playard to try and I must say that I was super impressed! Blake slept in his playard really well even though we were not at home. This playard was extremely easy to set up and take down. Here is a video of me demonstrating how quickly you can set this playard up:

I was able to set it up in less that a minute! Even though the pack 'n play weighs over 30 lbs., I found it was still easy to handle. I also loved the music feature, because it helped soothe him when he was going to sleep. It also has a carrying handle when packed, which helps out tremendously when traveling.

Graco's Suite Solutions playard can be purchased at Babies R Us for $199.99 or many other mass retailers. It is an investment worth making. I'm glad to be prepared for this vacation and hurricane season.

I would definitely recommend this pack 'n play to new moms. I was not able to try out the bassinet or changing table, because my little chunky monkey was over the weight limit, but if they are anything like the rest of this system, you will be impressed.

Southwest Airlines Suck!!

I always fly Southwest when I can. I am usually very pleased with their service and prices, but not today my friends!!

I am currently trying to book my flight to BlogHer in Chicago and am not happy with Southwest. Over the last 3 weeks, the flight I need has gone up over $100 in price!!! So, I started pricing into other airports and looking for ways to make this all work. I checked flying into Indianapolis, which would actually be cheaper, but the best part of this is, that the flight to Indianapolis actually has a layover in Chicago. It is the exact flights that I would take in and out of Midway, but actually has connections to and from Indianapolis.

So, to recap, it is cheaper to get off the plane and board another plane to a different destination than it is to just get off the plane altogether!!!! I call Southwest Airlines to see if they have any explanation and I get the run around of:

-maybe they are running a special for that city right now
-maybe the plane is almost full heading to Chicago, but the one to Indianapolis is not (by the way, I had them check this and there is plenty availability for the flight to Chicago)
-you could always check back and see if they are running a special later

There is my rant for today. American Airlines has a direct flight into O'hare for $130 cheaper!! Guess we know who I will be flying with from now on.

Wordless Wednesday: CRACK!!!

Giveaway: McGraw-Hill Education CLOSED

I feel that one of my greatest accomplishments as a parent, so far, is Wyatt's love of books. He has such an appreciation for them and understands that they can offer him entertainment, information, and much more. We started reading to him at an early age as part of his bedtime routine and still do so. We also take him on frequent trips to the library, which he looks forward to doing. Whenever we get home from the library, he sits with his books and just looks through them.


The summer is a great time to spend those hot afternoons inside with a good book. The folks over at McGraw-Hill Education had one of their authors, Charlene Cobb, Ed.D., give some great reading tips. Here they are:

-Create a summer escape in your home perfect for reading. Make sure there is good light and comfortable seating to entice your kids to spend time there.

-Even if your children can read by themselves, take turns reading to each other. This helps build their skills as they listen to your tone and inflection throughout the story or article. Before, during and after you read, talk about the material. Ask you child questions and encourage you child to ask you questions.

-Whether you are reading to your children or they are reading themselves, plan an event or activity that ties to the reading material. For instance, book reading can lead to picnics, museum and zoo visits, ballgames, or even family vacations.

-Look for opportunities for your child to read. If you have a manual for a new DVD player, ask your child to read you the directions. Grocery lists and “to do” lists are also good items to help kids practice reading in “real life.”

-Share the reading experience with your child by reading the same book or material they are reading so you can discuss it.

-Even if you are not reading the same books as your children, talk to them about what they are reading. Ask them questions such as what happened in the story or what might happen next, who is their favorite character, or who is the villain. This builds summarization and recall skills, and your interest can help increase their interest.

-If your children’s school program provides materials for home activities, absolutely use them.

-Suggest your child read a popular series that has been turned into movies like the Harry Potter or Chronicles of Narnia books. When your child finishes reading the book, rent or go see the movie and discuss how each differed from the other and whether the book or movie was more enjoyable.

-Look for materials beyond fiction. Kids often prefer to read about facts, including books and articles about the environment, animals, current events, sports, and other factual topics. Talk to them about what they like and help them find reading materials that match those interests.

-Try to set aside at least one TV/video-game-free night per week for family reading. Make your family’s favorite snacks, get new books at the library and make it fun!


One of my tips is to always let your child pick out what catches their attention. What may not seem like a good book to you might be perfect for them.


McGraw-Hill Education has offered one lucky reader a series of 3 readers for their age group. All you have to do is enter below.


How to Enter:
1) Tell me your tip for getting your child interested in reading.


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 26th. 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: Pediped

Blake, my 9 month old, has now started to pull up on everything. He is even starting to push things and walk, yeah!! So, I knew it was time to get him some shoes to protect his precious and chunky little feet. I wanted to make sure that the shoes I got would not only protect his feet, but also benefit him. Pedipeds not only did all of these things, but they are also super cute.

Pedipeds are designed to be the next best thing to bare feet. Their new line of flex shoes are designed for children ages 2 to 5 years. These shoes offer super soft flexible uppers and soles. The flexibility is what promotes healthy foot development. Pediped Flex also has shock absorbing cushions on each heel to protect against impact and distribute pressure throughout the foot. And, my favorite feature of the Flex line is the additional insole, that comes with each pair, for fit customization. These shoes have a lot of features for such a small package!!

Pediped was nice enough to send Blake a pair of Jakes for us to try. Here is a picture of him showing them off. (Yes, his cheecks are orange, because he just ate dinner.LOL)

Blake totally loves his Pediped shoes, so much that he even has tried to eat them a few times.LOL He keeps them on his feet and they fit him well. I love these shoes, too! I am impressed with the quality of the shoe and the flexibility. I think they are adorable and they have so many cute styles, for boys, to choose from. I see Blake wearing Pediped for many years to come.

Pediped has a special sale going on right now with 30-50% off select styles. So go stock up and help the Make A Wish Foundation in to process, because through June 26th, 50% of all sales will be donated to them. What a great way to get new shoes and help out such a great cause.

Review and Giveaway: JBanz CLOSED

Living in Southern Louisiana I always have to take extra care to protect my babies from the sun. We spend lots of time outside since that is my boys' favorite past time. The only problem with this is they are not big fans of all the sun protection gear, including the sunscreen, sun hats, and kids sunglasses. That was until I found JBanz.

JBanz have some of the coolest sunglasses for kids around. Wyatt now considers himself a "rock star" when he wears his new urban grey camo sunglasses that JBanz was nice enough to send us to try. Here he is rockin' them out!LOL

JBanz are not only cool, but they help keep eyes safe by having lenses that offer 100% UVA/ UVB protection and category 3 polarized lenses offer high sun glare reduction and good UV protection. They are made using a durable polycarbonate ophthalmic quality which is capable of being replaced with prescription lenses. Their frame is made of shatter-resistant polycarbonate. That is a lot to offer in a small pair of sunglasses!

I was very impressed with the quality of JBanz. These sunglasses survived our last vacation with flying colors. I love the coordinating strap that helps the glasses stay where they belong on the matching case to store the glasses in. Best part is Wyatt feels very grown up when he wears them, so he keeps them on!

JBanz offers sunglasses for all ages, including baby. They also carry sun hats and UV swimwear. Be sure to check them out for all you sun protection needs.

Want to get a pair of JBanz for you little one? JBanz has offered one lucky winner a pair of sunglasses up to $19.99 in value. All you have to do to win is follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit JBanz and tell me which sunglasses your little one would love to have.

Additional Entries: (please leave a separate entry for each)
2) Follow BabyBanz on Twitter.
3) Subscribe to the BabyBanz newsletter.
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 June 20th. 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: Purex 3-in-1

We all know that there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. Therefore, anything that makes my housework easier and less time consuming, I am all for!!

When I first heard about the new Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets visions of the laundry practically doing itself went through my head. Seriously, this took all the work out of my laundry regimen. And, the best part is, there are no more streaks of liquid detergent down the front of my dryer to clean.

Here is a little bit about these new sheets from Purex's site: Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets are the simplest way to do laundry. Each powerful sheet contains a load’s worth of super-concentrated detergent, softener and anti-static all in one product. The sheets are the trouble-free alternative to using multiple laundry products, like traditional liquids and powders.

To use these sheets, you simply drop a sheet in the washer, where the blue detergent portion of the sheet is released during the wash cycle. After the wash is done, transfer the laundry sheet with clothes to dryer. The color stripe is heat activated by the dryer to soften clothes and remove static.

Purex sent me some of their 3-in-1 sheets to try and I was highly impressed. My clothes came out of the washer clean and smelling great and out of the dryer fresh, soft, and static free. I would definatley purchase this product, because it works great and saves time!

Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets are available at Mass, Grocery, and Drug retailers nationwide with a suggested retail pricing for both the 20 sheet Starter Kit (includes convenient Dispenser) and 24 sheet Refill Pack is $5.99-$7.49. The Laundry Sheets are available in three unique fragrances: Spring Oasis, Tropical Escape and Pure & Clean.

These laundry sheets would be perfect for college students, vacations, and hurrications. (For those of you who don't leave in the south, a hurrication is a hurricane evacuation LOL). Think about it, no more worring about packing the detergent and dryer sheets, its an all in one compact sheet, which takes up much less space.

Getting Engaged

My husband and I just had our eighth wedding anniversary a few months ago, but it seems like just yesterday that we got engaged. Even after all these years, two kids, and our hectic lifestyle, that day is still such a strong emotional memory. I remember what he said, where we were, and how I felt so special when he gave me my ring.

We had shopped together for my setting, but that was as far as my involvement went, the rest was a big surprise. I had always gone ga-ga over Tacori Jewelry. Their style is so elegant and classic.

All Tacori jewelry is handcrafted at their headquarters in California. Each piece of jewelry is refined by the skills of many specialists before they consider it ready for their customers. Tacori is known for elevating craftsmanship to an art and fuses old world elegance with modern glamour and style.

There were not many Tacori dealers in our area, but I have since found that JR Dunn carries a large variety of Tacori Jewelry. JR Dunn even has a selection of Tacori wedding and bridal accessories. You could get all your wedding day needs at one place.

If you "accidentally" lose your ring and are "forced" to upgrade or are just lucky and get to pick out something pretty for yourself be sure you give the Tacori Jewelry over at JR Dunn a look.

Winners

Congratulations to all the winners!!

Kid Cards

Donna

Here are your random numbers:

37
Timestamp: 2009-06-10 02:34:34 UTC

B Nature Organics

Lizzie

Here are your random numbers:

7
Timestamp: 2009-06-10 02:43:33 UTC

Nowali

mverno

Here are your random numbers:

13
Timestamp: 2009-06-10 02:46:36 UTC

Please claim your prize within 72 hours!

Thanks to all who entered.

Wordless Wednesday: Meet Russell

Russell is the newest member of our family. He is a box turtle that was found under a Coke machine at my son's school. He is now Wyatt's first pet.

Review and Giveaway: Kena Kai CLOSED

Every year I ask my husband "What do want for Father's Day?", and usually I get some silly answer. This year he actually gave suggestions! I was thrilled, number 1 on his list was a new wallet. He is simple in his style and likes a basic design. So, I went on search for a quality leather wallet for him, which is where I found Kena Kai.

They have beautifully designed leather wallets are not only pretty to look at, but are also DataSafe, which is perfect for your tech savvy husband.

Here is what it means to be DataSafe, from there website: "Kena Kai's DataSafe® Wallets use our exclusive DataSafe Technology. This technology has been approved as "Electromagnetically Opaque Sleeves" for contactless Smart Cards approved by the Government Services Administration (GSA) through our Government partner Secure Network Systems (SNS). We use the same multi-layer RFID shielding technology in all of our wallets. It is this same technology that was approved through SNS. This designation makes these RFID blocking wallets the best protection against identity theft and tracking. The DataSafe wallets are marketed to the Government by our distribution partner Secure Network Systems"

Kena Kai was nice enough to send my husband their DataSafe Italian Leather Bi-Fold Wallet in Black. It came well packaged in box, and was nicely wrapped within the box to protect the leather. You could smell the quality of the leather, what you never smelled your new leather purse.LOL The look was awesome! The leather was smooth and this wallet was very well constructed. But, the test was would the hubby approve.


He loves his new wallet!! His favorite feature is the slimness of the wallet, which still has ample storage spots for all his stuff. I love the stylish look to it. Kena Kai was definately a hit for this father!

Kena Kai also has DataSafe ID Badge Holders, iPod Cases, and Notebook Computer Sleeves. If you are still shopping for that wonderful father in you life, be sure to check out Kena Kai!

Now for the exciting news!!! Kena Kai has offered one lucky reader an $80 gift card to their site. To enter, just follow the easy rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Kena Kai and tell me what you would get with your gift card.

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 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.