Holiday Gift Idea #1: Coffee Bean Direct

I am always on the lookout for a nice gift for my pediatrician's office, considering the amount of times I call, they deserve it.LOL I always end up getting them sweet treats, which is why I was so excited about finding Coffee Bean Direct and their awesome selection of gift baskets.


Coffee Bean Direct is a dedicated gourmet coffee roaster. They are different, because they price their coffee and tea products at wholesale price levels by default, regardless of quantity or destination. Their roasting facility is in central New Jersey, which is where they roast/pack all their products immediately prior to shipment.

They offer a huge selection of coffees, teas, and great gift baskets. These hand-crafted gift baskets come stuffed with a choice of coffee, tea, or both and other assorted goodies! Coffee Bean Direct gift baskets start at only $29.95!Coffee Bean Direct was nice enough to send me a sample of their coffee to try. I chose the Caffienated Breakfast Blend for my mom, who can't move in the morning till she gets her coffee. She said thought coffee was very good, because it was very smooth and tasted great. She then wanted to know where I got it, so that she could replace her quickly shrinking sample.LOL

With such a great selection, Coffee Bean Direct has something for everyone. I will be looking to them for some great gifts this year. I think that their gift baskets are such a great find that I listed them on the Double Duty Diva Holiday Gift Guide.

Coffee Bean Direct has offered one lucky reader a Medium Coffee Lover's Gift Basket(pictured above), which retails for $49.95. This basket includes: Three 1lb Bags of Fresh Ground Coffee, a 12oz Package of Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans, one Package of Cookies, Six Assorted Biscotti, and Two Coffee Bean Direct Coffee Mugs. All you have to do to win is follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Coffee Bean Direct and tell which of their products you would love 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 October 15th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You must leave a valid email to win(or have one in your profile)!

Wordless Wednesday: And He's OFF!

Blake is officially up and running! I haven't decided if this is a good thing or not, yet.LOL

Noteworthy News

Here are some happenings that I thought you all might be interested in.

- CitiBlocs, which recently won an Oppenheim Gold Award, was featured on the Today Show by Stephanie Oppenheim of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. CitiBlocs are eco-friendly wooden building blocks and every block is a precision-cut piece that is exactly the same shape and size. They are also very lightweight. They are sold in kits priced from $14.99 for a starter set
to $229.99 for 1000 pieces, and are ideal for children ages 3 and up. CitiBlocs are available online at CitiBlocsStore.com, specialty toy etailers, Toys R Us and other national chains

-Emmy Award winning show "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee" will explore the lives of children who live with life threatening allergies. This special titled I'm Allergic to My World will premiere on September 27th on Nickelodeon and will feature Dr. Robert Wood, Director of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at John’s Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, MD, explains the strange ways of allergies. They will also have interviews with kids and teenagers who suffer from allergies and explain what life is like for them.


-Just in time for the holidays, 20th Century Fox has just announced that "Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" will be arriving on DVD and Blu-ray December 1st! It will be available in three different options:

Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack: The Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack includes a high definition version of the film with over one hour of laugh-out-loud special features – including an interactive museum scavenger hunt game, gag reel, 12 deleted scenes with an alternate ending, features including “Cherub Bootcamp,” “Phinding Pharaoh With Hank Azaria” – a Digital Copy and a standard DVD. The pack is available for the gift-giving price of $39.99 U.S. / $49.99 Canada.

Monkey Mischief The limited edition “Monkey Mischief” double DVD boasts a second disc including over 30 minutes of entertainment complimenting the bonus materials featured on the first disc, including cast and crew commentary, six deleted scenes with an alternate ending, a gag reel, and more. The holiday two-pack DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $34.98 U.S. / $45.98 Canada.

Single Disc The Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian single disc DVD has one hour of special feature laughs from favorite stars including commentary by cast and crew, features, six deleted scenes with an alternate ending, and a gag reel for the suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S. / $43.48 Canada.

Hope some of this news was helpful to you.

Fall Into Fall Giveaway #4: Wubzy Goes Boo

We are huge Halloween and movie fans at my house! Therefore, we spend the month of October watching fun Halloween movies, and are always on the lookout for some new ones. When they contain some of the boys favorite characters, it is like hitting the jackpot.LOL

The Nick Jr. hit TV series, Wow Wow Wubbzy, is now starring in a family friendly Halloween DVD! From Netflix:

"Join Wubbzy and his Wuzzleburg pals for a "woo woo"-worthy celebration of autumn and Halloween. The fun begins as Wubbzy, Widget, and Walden try to pick up every leaf of autumn and choose the best pumpkin for their jack-o'-lantern. Of course, there's plenty of singing and dancing along the way as Wubbzy and pals search for the scariest costume, go trick-or-treating, and even use Moo Moo's magic wand to get themselves out of a jam."

Bridgette from The Not-So-Blog go the opportunity to review this video out, and here is what she thought. Both of my daughters (ages 4 and 18 months) loved this program! The story is engaging, the songs made them get up and dance, and the colors kept Aubrie's attention just about the whole time. If your kids love Wow! Wow! Wubbzy, you should head over to Nick Jr. and print out a Trick-or-Treat iron on or even a Halloween decal!

Got you curious about the movie? Check out the Wubbzy Goes Boo trailer!

Would you like to give the Wubbzy Goes Boo DVD to your little one this Halloween? The Not-So-Blog has FIVE copies to giveaway! Yes, FIVE! All you have to do is follow the rules below, and then visit The Not-So-Blog and enter over there. That's right we are giving you double the chances to win! Entries will be combined before winner is pulled.

How to Enter:
1) Tell me which TV show is your child's favorite!

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) Enter this giveaway at The Not-So-Blog.

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

Giveaway: Naked Brothers Band Prize Pack

If you have a child over the age of seven in your house, then you don't need me to tell you about "The Naked Brothers Band", but just incase you are out of the loop I will fill you in.

Alex and Nat Wolff have a hit show on Nickelodeon titled "The Naked Brothers Band", which is about a world-famous rock group that has documentary cameras following them, filming their adolescent exploits. Nat is the lead singer of the band and Alex, the younger brother, is the rebel drummer. Trust me, if you need more information, just ask your kids.LOL

Naked Brothers Band merchandise is now available online, and you can find anything from shirts, posters, and bags to stickers for your kids. These items are super cute and all "rocked" out! Tees start at around $15 and they have over 10 designs to choose from. Remember, now is a great time to stock up, with the holidays just around the corner.

I have an awesome prize pack to giveaway to one lucky reader. This pack includes a tee and sticker pack from their new shop, which is pictured below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit The Naked Brothers Band's Store and tell me what your kid 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 my button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 12th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to United States residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Winners!!!

Congrats to all the winners!!

Michael Buble CD/DVD

leslie

colengal

sarah

lilbabypug

zesty wonderland

Here are your random numbers:

21
46

62
52

68
Timestamp: 2009-09-28 13:16:57 UTC

Ponds Towelettes

Staci

Here are your random numbers:

18
Timestamp: 2009-09-28 13:31:37 UTC

Peak Fresh Bags

These Happy Days

Here are your random numbers:

1
Timestamp: 2009-09-28 13:33:12 UTC

Douglas Plush Toys

tutugirl

Here are your random numbers:

57
Timestamp: 2009-09-28 13:35:01 UTC

Zula Patrol DVDs

grand prize: flower child

Here are your random numbers:

37
Timestamp: 2009-09-28 13:37:05 UTC

runner ups:

heather

erma

pixie13

cherdon

belinda m

andria

carol el

tracey

gianna

Here are your random numbers:

11
30
29
40
14

31

35

8

43
Timestamp: 2009-09-29 14:12:07 UTC

Halo Sleep Sack

Egare1

Here are your random numbers:

50
Timestamp: 2009-09-28 13:38:34 UTC

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

Falling Into Fall Giveaway #3: Listerine for Kids

The next item in our giveaway is just what you need for your little ones after they eat all of their Halloween candy. Listerine Agent Cool Blue and Listerine Smart Rinse will help keep your kids teeth clean, healthy and smelling fresh.

Here are some facts about these Listerine products from there press release:

LISTERINE® SMART RINSE™ is a post-brush mouthrinse especially designed for kids to help protect teeth against cavities and clean the mouth beyond brushing alone. It works like a magnet to attract the particles that brushing may leave behind and tints the particles –leaving proof in the sink of a cleaner mouth.


LISTERINE® AGENT COOL BLUE® is a pre-brush tinting rinse that can help kids brush better for a cleaner, brighter smile. It temporarily tints teeth blue, so kids know where to pay more attention when cleaning their teeth.

Listerine was nice enough to send us these products to try and I have been very pleased with them. I like that I can trust Wyatt to brush his own teeth when he uses the Agent Cool Blue. Here he is showing you his blue teeth.


He knows his teeth are clean when the blue is all gone. Wyatt really enjoys using this product and it makes the mornings easier on me. We also received a bottle of Smart Rinse to try in their mint shield flavor. This rinse leaves Wyatt with fresh breath and contains fluoride which helps prevent cavities.

Both of these products are designed to help kids learn healthy brushing habits and they have definitely helped in my house. Listerine Smart Rinse and Agent Cool Blue are sold at food, drug, and mass merchandise outlets.

Want to try these products with your kids, Listerine has offered one lucky reader a bottle of each to try. All you have to do is follow the rules below, and then visit The Not-So-Blog and enter over there. That's right we are giving you double the chances to win! Entries will be combined before winner is pulled.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Listerine and let me know which flavor of Cool Agent Blue your kids would 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.
7) Enter this giveaway at The Not-So-Blog.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 11th. 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.

Fall Into Fall Giveaway #2: Spunky Monkeys

Back in July, The Not-So-Blog had the pleasure of hosting a review and giveaway from Spunky Monkeys. Their products were so we wanted to invite them to take part in our Falling into Fall giveaway series!

Spunky Monkeys creates some of the most fun and impressive custom and appliqued clothing for both girls and boys. Jennifer absolutely loved the quality of the swimsuit coverup she reviewed at the beginning of Summer, so we thought you would want to learn more about this fabulous find!

From the website:

"Here at Spunky Monkeys it's all about the love of making custom children's clothing. We established our business in Jackson, AL in March of 2007 and moved to Leroy, Al in August of that year. If you're ever in the area stop by for a visit (located 65 miles north of Mobile, AL). We design and make each piece of clothing here in our shop. We employ local ladies to help with the sewing, and are currently teaching a new generation of seamstresses. We do all of our own monogramming and appliques here as well. We offer a wide variety of monogrammed gifts as well. We build great relationships with our customers and with each other. We have over 100 years of combined sewing experience. We pay special attention to details and each garment is inspected before shipment. All of our children's clothing designs contain covered cording around the neck and arm holes. While most other clothing designers do not include this, we feel it gives the outfit that extra special touch. We use only the best materials from designers like Fabric Finders, Michael Miller, Robert Kaufman, Nashville Cottens, etc."

Head over to Spunky Monkeys and check out the adorable clothes, diaper wipes cases, and baby gifts available for purchase (how cute are these minky dot pillowcases?). After you have bought your candy for Halloween, your little one needs to be festively dressed!

Spunky Monkeys has generously donated one appliqued Halloween tee (sizes 2T to 5/6) or one appliqued Halloween onesie (sizes newborn to 12 months) to a lucky reader! All you have to do is follow the rules below, and then visit The Not-So-Blog and enter over there. That's right we are giving you double the chances to win! Entries will be combined before winner is pulled.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Spunky Monkeys and let me know another product you would love to own!

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) Enter this giveaway at The Not-So-Blog.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 9th. 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.

Fall into Fall Giveaway 1: Hersheys Candy

Since we have officially entered fall, although with the heat down here in the south you would never know it, Bridgette from The Not-So-Blog and I have lined up a great giveaway series for our readers. This series will consist of fun and necessary fall items and we are kicking it off right now!


Nothing for me says fall like Halloween, and nothing sells Halloween like some Hershey's Candy. I love Hershey's Candy, especially peanut butter cups, YUMMY!!! I am totally guilty of digging through Wyatt's bag and stealing all of the good candy.LOL



This year Hershey has some new options for me to pilfer from my son. Including, peanut butter pumpkins (I so will be taking these), and fun Halloween packaging on their miniatures and the variety Hershey pack.


Hershey's was nice enough to send me some Halloween candy to try and I am having trouble saving some for Halloween. The mixed bag contains peanut butter pumpkins, Hersheys' Cookies and Cream, and Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars in creepy skeleton wrappers.


The great news is that Hershey's has offered one lucky reader the chance to win some Halloween candy! All you have to do is follow the rules below, and then visit The Not-So-Blog and enter over there. That's right we are giving you double the chances to win!


How to Enter:
1) Visit Hershey's and tell me which of their candies is your must 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 my button on your sidebar.
7) Enter this giveaway at The Not-So-Blog.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 9th. 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.

Planning a Ski Vacation

Living here in the south, snow is something of a rare occasion. I have only been skiing once, and I must admit that it was not a pretty site. I think even the instructor was at a loss for words and my husband was a little embarrassed to say the least.LOL

But, as the kids get older, I would love to be able to take them on a ski holiday. It would be so much fun just to watch them play in the snow, you know the kind that lasts more than five minutes. And, I think it would be a great way to spend some quality family time together. Think about sitting in front of a fire with your family while the snow is falling outside, just like in the movies. Yes, I really have no experience with snow.LOL But, since Blake has just turned one, I think we will have to wait a few more years before I try this out, but it is definitely on our list to do!

With so many different locations available for ski holidays, you could pick anywhere in the world to go and see. I would love to check out some ski sites in Europe, since I have never been there. Where would you like to go skiing?

Review and Giveaway: Avon Fall Fashions CLOSED

Have you been searching for some fun new accessories? Then check out what Avon has in store for you this season. From stand out rings and stunning totes to sassy scarves, they have something for everyone, and at Avon's great prices.

Avon was nice enough to send me a few of their fall must haves to try out. I received an awesome tote, that is large enough to fit my laptop! A beautiful scarf and two rings. Here is a picture of my items.

The bag is my favorite of the bunch. I love the color and stud detail! It also has two separate inside compartments, and a couple of zipper compartments, plus a couple of pockets to stash your goodies. There is so much space in this bag that it could probably due double duty as a purse and diaper bag.

The scarf is soft and stylish, and the colors are beautiful blend of reds, pinks, purples, and grays. I would recommend it more as an accessory rather than being used for warmth. All the edges have been nicely ended to prevent frays.

The two rings that I got are great fall colors. One is tiger eye in a brass setting and the other is a bright turquoise disco ring. While both are larger than what I usually wear, I am hoping for a night out soon to put them to use.

Be sure to check out all of Avon's Fall Fashions while stocking up your closet for this season.

Now for the best part, Avon has offered one lucky reader some fall fashions of their own. For your chance to win, just follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Avon and tell me which item is your fall fashion must 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 my button on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 7th. 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: Finally a BlogHer Picture

I am finally getting around to posting a BlogHer picture. Here is me with Mrs.Potato Head.


Doesn't she look great for her age?LOL

Looking for a New Printing Service

With the holidays around the corner, all of us are looking for the best and easiest way to print our cards and gifts. Well, look no further than PsPrint for all of your printing services.

PsPrint has everything you need for your personal and business needs, and at great prices. They even offer you a sample kit of their paper stocks, so that you can make an informed decision before ordering. They have a great selection of cards, calendars, and invitations.

PsPrint has been around since 1990, where they started out in Oakland, CA, as a one room press shop. They have since developed into a cutting-edge Internet company, who focus on delivering quality, affordability, and speed. PsPrint will win you over with their simplified online ordering system and desire for to provide customers with a way to print, create and mail faster. They are even eco-friendly, by recycling all of their paper waste and using soy based inks.

With such a great online service available, there is no longer a need to leave the house for your printing needs, just visit PsPrint.com. And, with their lighting fast turn around time and a 99.7% accuracy on delivery time, you are sure to get you order almost a quickly as if you had went to your local printing shop, without the headache of driving in traffic and waiting in line.

Review and Giveaway: Hasbro Family Game CLOSED

Be sure to mark your calendars for Hasbro's First Official Family Game Night!! It will be taking place on Wednesday September 23rd and offers you a great chance to spend some quality time with your family.


In hopes of bringing families together through laughter and games, Hasbro wants to encourage everyone to take a break from their hectic lives to reconnect. And, for families on a budget, National Family Game Night provides an opportunity to share an affordable night in.


There is a game available for every age. Personally, I love Trivial Pursuit! Wyatt's favorite is Candy Land. Hasbro has even released special edition family night games, so be on the lookout for them.


Hasbro was nice enough to send my family Sweet Celebration Candy Land and Spongebob Squarepants Operation for our Family Game Night fun! Wyatt was so excited when the box came in the mail that he was ready to play that night.


We decided to start with Candy Land, since Operation needed batteries. Wyatt really liked this new Sweet Celebration version, especially since he could design the board. I would suggest popping all the pieces out the night before, because it took around 40 minutes for my husband to assemble the game. Also, we were not exactly sure of all the rules, but that did not take any of the fun away.


Spongebob Operation is a new twist on an old classic. I remember loving this game as a child and Wyatt thinks it is super fun. The fact that he loves Spongebob didn't hurt either.LOL


In case you need a reason for a Family Game Night, check out Wyatt when he played Spongebob Operation for the first time. The jump is so priceless.LOL

So, take a break from your duties, and just sit down with your family and have some fun!! Play your favorite classic or let your kids pick out a new edition, either way you are sure to build some great memories.


To help you get your game night started, Hasbro has offered to give two lucky readers a game. The winners will receive either Sweet Celebration Candy Land or Spongebob Operation. For your chance to win, just follow the rules below.


How to Enter:
1) Visit Hasbro and tell me which game your family would love to play. Also, please leave a preference, if you have one, of either Sweet Celebration Candy Land or Spongebob Operation.


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 October 5th. 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.

Giveaway: What's Your Forte? CLOSED

Kia's newest addition to hit the streets is the Forte. To celebrate the Forte's arrival, Kia has teamed up with The Food Network to determine, "What's Your Forte?".

The grand prize winner will receive over $10,000 in a KitchenAid Kitchen makeover, and there are also runner up and daily prizes! To enter this promotion visit The Food Network of for more details, click here. This contest will end on October 19, 2009, so there is plenty of time left to enter.

Want to know more about the Kia Forte, here is some information from their press release:

“There have been many firsts throughout time. Like the invention of the engine, the first vehicle to be incredibly safe, the first vehicle to be incredibly powerful. There have been many designers that mastered their craft. There have been plenty of technological innovations such as satellite radio, MP3 devices and Bluetooth. As an automotive company, we weren’t the first at any of these. But when it comes to putting all of this into a compact car, we are pioneers. The Forte. The first of its kind.”

For all up to date info about the Kia Forte, be sure to become their fan on Facebook.

And, just incase you don't win the big Food Network giveaway, I have a $30 gift card to Crate and Barrel for one lucky reader. All you have to do is follow the rules below.

How to Enter:

1) Visit Kia and tell me your favorite color available for the Forte.

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 October 5th. 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: Arnold Sandwich Thins

I have told you all before how much I like the texture and flavor of Arnold Bread. That is why I was so happy to hear that they were adding a new product to their line. Well, not just a new product, but a 100 Calorie product!

Arnold's new Sandwich Thins are a great way to enjoy artisan flavors without the calories. They are available in multi-grain and whole wheat varieties. And, they contain no high fructose corn syrup and are cholesterol free.


When something is this good for you, my first thought is always, well how does it taste. Arnold was nice enough to send me both varieties of sandwich thins to try and I must admit they are delicious!


The size is just right for a sandwich, not an itty bitty thing, but similar to the size of a small hamburger bun. The flavor was great and the texture was good. My husband even liked them, and he loves his sandwiches. These are the perfect solution for anyone who is trying to cut back on their calories, without sacrificing taste.


The best part for me is that a whole thin is only 1 Weight Watcher point!!


Arnold Sandwich Thins can be found in the bread aisle and are sold in packs of either 8 or 16 thins. Be on the lookout for these the next time you head to the store!

Review and Giveaway: Stride Rite CLOSED

Wyatt wore nothing by Stride Rite when he was growing up and Blake is now on his second pair. The quality and selection of their shoes is why I am a repeat customer, not to mention that Stride Rite is one of the only brands that makes shoes in an extra wide width. For both of my boys, Stride Rite shoes were the only shoes that I could get on their chunky little feet.



The newest addition is Stride Rite's Sensory Response Technology (SRT) Shoes, which were developed after extensive research for babies up to age 2. They have been proven to reduce the number of stumbles and falls while promoting healthy walking patterns. The SRT shoes accomplish all this by having a greater feel of terrain, more natural support, and a freedom of movement.


Stride Rite was nice enough to send Blake a pair of SRT shoes in their Julian style. Here he is showing off his balance in them.



Blake and I both love his new shoes! Not only are they super cute, they are also super for his feet. I find that he walks really well in these shoes, and seems to have great balance with them. My favorite feature is that the laces slide extremely well, which makes tightening and tying his shoes a breeze.

The new SRT shoes can be purchased at any Stride Rite Store or online at Stride Rite.com and I would definately recommend these shoes to any mom whose baby is just starting to walk.

Thanks to Stride Rite, one lucky reader will receive a pair of SRT shoes for their little ones. The shoes will be in the correct size and gender, but the winner will not get to choose their shoes. For your chance to win, just follow the rules below.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Stride Rite and tell me which SRT shoes you 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.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on October 1st. 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: Fun Kids Music

Since we spend over an hour a day in the car, I am always looking for new music for the boys to enjoy. So, imagine how excited I was when I received 4 new cds to review. They are listed in the order of the number of times my son requests to listen to them.

1) Putumayo Kids- Picnic Playground: This new release features artists from around the world singing about their favorite dishes. Songs are in a variety of languages and allows kids to experience the music of different cultures. Wyatt's favorite song from this album is "Ice Cream" by Asheba. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this cd will be donated to Vitamin Angels, which provides essential nutritional supplements to children around the world. You can purchase this cd at Putumayo Kids.com

2) Asheba- In the Kid Zone: This cd take families on a musical journey with a blend of calypso, reggae, and world beat. The songs are fun and easy to sing along with. This cd is a great way to get moving in the morning. Wyatt's favorite song off this cd was no surprise, it is the Ice Cream song that was featured on Picnic Playground. LOL Click Here to purchase Asheba's newest cd.

3) Peter Himmelman- My Trampoline: This grammy nominated artist's newest cd offers kids some funny songs put to a pop tune. With song topics ranging from a leopard tortoise to a picky eater, this creative cd is fun for the whole family. Wyatt's favorite song from this dics is the title track "My Trampoline". To purchase this cd, Click Here.

4) Laura Freeman- Somersault Season: With this new release, you can sing your way through the year, while teaching your little ones about all the seasons. Laura's music will get your kids moving and singing along in no time. The cd also offers kids a chance to learn a few new words in a variety of languages, including Portuguese and German. Wyatt's favorite tracks on this disc were "My Brother's a Monster" and "Frankenstein". This cd can be purchased at CDBaby.com

If your kids love to sing and dance as much as mine, check out some of the above links to give these new songs a listen.

Wordless Wednesday: Blake's 1st Carousel Ride

Here are all my boys at the zoo over Labor Day Weekend. This was Blake's first time riding the carousel. I think he really enjoyed it!

Review and Giveaway: Edwards Singles CLOSED

Looking for a way to treat yourself, without blowing the budget? Check out the tasty offerings that Edwards Singles has available. In a time where moms are foregoing their own treats to save a few bucks, Edwards is giving them a way to still have their pie and eat it too.



Edwards Singles just added a new line of A La Mode Flavors to their selection, which include Hot Apple Crisp, Hot Fudge Brownie, and Hot Turtle Brownie all with creamy ice cream. The hardest part is deciding which flavor to try, but with these desserts costing less that $3.00 a pack, you can try all three!

My family was lucky enough to be able to try a pack of Edward Singles. I let my husband choose and he went straight for the Georgia Pecan Pie. He said that it was very good and definately was the perfect snack. The portion was a right size, without being too much. These desserts can be defrosted in the microwave and ready in less than a minute. His only suggestion was that he would have prefered to let it thaw out over time, rather than doing so in the microwave.

To help kick off their new A La Mode Desserts, Edwards is hosting a Simple Indulgences Spa Sweepstakes. Here are the details from the press release: “To encourage women to share their tips on simple indulgences and how they prefer to unwind and rejuvenate, the makers of Edwards® frozen desserts are hosting the “Simple Indulgences Spa Sweepstakes” on EdwardsBaking.com from now through October 9, 2009. Participants can sign-up to receive a coupon for $1.00 off one package of delicious and indulgent Edwards® Singles Á La Modes desserts and enter for a chance to win one of 10 $500 SpaFinder.com gift cards to treat themselves to a relaxing spa experience.”

Want to treat yourself to a delicious dessert. I have one coupon for a free package of Edwards Singles to give to one lucky reader. For your chance to win, just follow the rules below.


How to Enter:
1) Visit Edwards and tell me which dessert you would want to splurge on.

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 September 28th. 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.