Piggy Toes Press Review

I was given the chance to review three children’s books from Piggy Toes Press. Sydney was so excited when I opened the box and there were books inside! Books have become her new favorite thing and these three were no exception. These books are very sturdy books that can take plenty of running around (my daughter literally runs around with them). Here is a little more about each book we received:

“What Makes a Rainbow?” by Betty Schwartz

This has to be one of the most unique books I have seen! Little Rabbit asks different animals in the forest what makes a rainbow, and each one tells him about a color in the rainbow. Every page you turn adds a (real) colored ribbon to finally make a completed rainbow. Sydney and I love to read this book. We have also seen several kids at the library enjoying this book with their parents. Buy it from Amazon HERE.

“Little Hands Love”

This is a great touch and feel book for little hands. It shows pictures of everyday items such as cardboard, rubber balls, and teddy bears, and on the opposite page it has something for little hands to feel. Sydney is 13 months and really into the touch and feel books. She really likes this one. It is a very short and simple book for her to understand. You can also go to movingpicturebooks.com to buy an animated DVD that goes along with the book. Buy it from Amazon HERE.

“Ten Little Ladybugs” by Melanie Gerth

This is a great counting book for kids. Sydney is always amazed when the lady bugs go away. She loves to hear daddy count the ladybugs while she points at them. The story is a simple, but fun rhyme about 10 little ladybugs. Kids can feel the ladybugs on each page and help you count them. Movingpicturebooks.com also has an animated DVD to go along with this book!  Buy this book from Amazon HERE.

Piggy Toes Press has some great and unique children’s books! These would make great gifts for any child. I love how sturdy they are and that they are so interactive. My daughter loves her books, and I think fun books like these will help her continue to love books for a long time.

Search Amazon.com for Piggy Toes Press Books

**I received these 3 books free of charge to do this review. All opinions are completely mine. See full disclaimer for details.**

The Busy Mom’s Bible

I received the Busy Mom’s Bible from Zondervan to review.  I know, I’ve already reviewed a Mom’s Bible, but trust me, this one is different! This one was created especially for the mom’s out there with busy schedules (all of us?). If you are a busy mom, searching for a way to do devotionals and maintain your relationship with God, you don’t want to miss this Bible!

First off, this is one of the cutest Bible’s I own! It is pink and brown, and small enough to carry easily (even if you’re carrying a baby, diaper bag, purse, etc. haha). It is written in the New International Version (NIV), which I have always personally preferred.

Inside the Bible are 52 brightly colored pages, which are the devotional pages. They cover many topics such as: Marriage, Raising Kids, Healthy Living, and many, many more. There are two one-minute “Thought Starters” on each brightly colored page, which are good for those times that you have no time. Next, there is a five-minute “Reflect and Pray” on the same page so that you can study a little deeper. If you have more time, there is a separate ten-minute “Study”. The “Study” will send you to a page in the “Study Index” where you will find more verses to look up.

With this Bible, it is completely up to you how far you go into the word each day. As a mom, our intentions are usually good, but we don’t always have the time to do a whole study at one time (sick kids, classes, grocery shopping, don’t-want-a-nap-today kids). Since this Bible breaks it up into smaller pieces, it’s easy for even the busiest mom to fit in a Bible Study!

**I received a Busy Mom's Bible free of charge to do this review. All opinions are completely mine. See full disclaimer for details.**

Kimochi Review

Emotions are hard to understand, and sometimes even harder to describe…especially if you are young and haven’t quite grasped all of the different kind of emotions. That’s where Kimochi products comes in!

Kimochi (KEY.MO.CHEE) means “feeling” in Japanese, and is a very fitting name for this company. You can purchase a Charater Box (Cloud, Cat, Hugtopus, Lovey Dove, Bug) HERE. The Characters are very cute and definitely lovable! With each Character, you get 3 Kimochis, which are small pillows with a feeling (such as happy, sad, silly, etc.) printed on one side and a matching facial expression on the other side. More Kimochis can be purchased separately. The Kimochis fit inside each Characters pouch.

We received the Cloud Character Box, and Sydney immediately wanted to carry Cloud around the house! Cloud is completely adorable and can have a happy or sad face depending on how your child is feeling! He came with a “Feel Guide” which has different ways to use the Kimochis (such as connecting, communicating, and even playing). It also describes a few personalities and several emotions.

This doll is definitely a helpful tool for teaching children about their emotions. It is great for parents to be able to help their children connect their feelings with words in such a fun way.

Shop for Kimochi HERE!

**I received a Kimochi Character box free of charge to do this review.  All opinions are completely mine.  See full disclaimer for details.**

Winner of Storytime Felts $25 giftcard

And the winner of the Storytime Felts $25 gift card is....Comment #2

Marsha who said:

"fan of fun felt on facebook"
March 19, 2010 8:16 PM

I will be contacting you soon!

Under the Big, Blue Sea by Aunt T

About The Author:

“Aunt T is a nickname given to me by my niece and nephew. I am a teacher who likes writing fun and educational books for children. I encourage all parents to make some quality time and read to your child. I hope to publish more books in the future. Enjoy!“

“Under the Big, Blue Sea”

This book is geared toward beginner readers (around ages 4-8). It asks “What is under the sea” and then gives a different answer each time. It introduces the animal, and then gives a short description of it. It includes pictures of real animals which helps kids learn to associate the animal with it’s name. This book would be great to prepare your child for a trip to the aquarium!

One thing I love about this book is that if you have a young child with a short attention span (like my 13 month old), you can read the question and short answer (leaving the description out). This makes the book shorter and fun for young kids as well.

I received a complimentary copy of “Under the Big, Blue Sea” by Aunt T from the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit the Dorrance bookstore HERE to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team (http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?dorrance+7XZRvv+index.html). See disclaimer.

Mayfair Lane

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love to make lists and organize…I know, I know, it’s weird. It’s what I do. I write things down and I organize. So when I received the chance to try products from a company that is helping list-makers everywhere, I was thrilled!

Mayfair Lane has many very stylish and unique products. The Happeez Notepads, Photo Frames, Clippers, and Whiteboards contain a unique material that will grip anywhere a magnet will (without using a magnet), as well as where magnets won’t like stainless steel, glass, mirror, and many other areas. Unlike a traditional magnet, Happeez products use an adhesive to stick to areas, but don’t worry-it’s not your usually sticky glue adhesive. It leaves no residue and can be removed and placed somewhere else very easily! If the product loses its grip, you can easily revive it by spraying a paper towel with water or a vinegar-based window cleaner and wiping the grip material (be sure to let it dry before using again).

The Happeez product line has many items (like notepads and picture frames) that are practical without compromising any style whatsoever. They also have new keychain light ups, which are little LED flashlights that clip to your keys, bag, etc. These would make wonderful gifts for friends! I was absolutely amazed at how many different designs they offer-I’m sure everyone can find something that fits their style!

I don’t have a stainless steel refrigerator, but I have always loved having pictures and notepads on my bathroom mirror. I see it everyday, so why not put reminders and pictures there? So when I received the bubblegum dot clipper and pink lemonade notepad, I immediately put them on my bathroom mirror! I really love how cute they look! It makes a big boring mirror a lot less boring! Their products are very reasonably priced, especially considering they are very durable and can be re-used...except obviously the notepads/list pads…you will eventually run out of paper :).

A complimentary product was provided for this review, but all opinions are completely mine. I was not compensated in any other way for this review.

CushytOOsh Cloth Diapers and More

Company Overview:
Cushy Toosh has a great team of Amish/Menonites that sew their cloth diapers! They are made right here is the U.S. which is great to know! They put a lot of work behind each and every diaper (along with other related products). The have one size pocket diapers and also special nitenite diapers made to last through the night. The owner, Susie, is a mother of 4 and created Cushy Toosh in order to make good quality and affordable cloth diapers so that more families could afford to start cloth diapering.

Our Thoughts:
I received a One Size Pocket cloth diaper from Cushy Toosh to try out on my daughter (Sydney). The first thing I noticed about this diaper was the bright yellow fabric that was used in mine! They have several bright color fabrics to choose from. It is a pretty thin diaper as well. It fits easily under my daughter’s normal clothing, including jeans. It is made with snaps (no Velcro at all), which makes washing easier since you don’t have to worry about diaper chaining. The diapers have a 6 month snap warranty. Just mail back the diaper (not insert) with defective snaps, and they will replace the snaps for you!

The diaper is a snug fitting diaper, but seems as though it will fit a wide variety of sizes (7-35 pounds). It has little gussetts on the legs for leak protection. While this does help, it bothers me that it leaves marks on Sydney’s skin. It fits pretty snug around her thighs, but it hasn’t seemed to bother her yet. The pocket style opening means you can add as many absorbent layers as you need! They send one of their inserts which has worked pretty well for us. They use 3 super heavy layers of cotton/sherpa instead of microfiber. We do have to add extra at naptime and bedtime to prevent leaks. The opening for the insert is rather small. My husband can’t stuff this diaper at all, and it takes me a little more effort to get the insert in flat as opposed to other pocket diapers.

Overall we really like the cuteness and absorbency of these diapers. I also recommend buying / making cloth wipes to go with your cloth diapers. It adds a little laundry, but you don’t have to have a separate trash can.

SPECIAL:  You can buy them for $14.95 each HERE, but as usual you pay less when you buy in bulk.  If you order 5 diapers you get a FREE Nite Nite diaper and 5 Free Cloth Diaper Wipes!

A complimentary product was provided for this review, but all opinions are completely mine. I was not compensated in any other way for this review.

Storytime Felts GIVEAWAY

So, most of you probably saw the Storytime Felts review I posted HERE...and well, I was supposed to be posting a giveaway to go with it (I guess Mommy Brain kicked in - yes, it is a real condition LOL).  If you haven't already, you should check out the post and the adorable pictures of my sweet baby enjoying her felt toggle book.  Now that I've fessed up about being forgetful...on to the giveaway :)

Karen, at Storytime Felts has agreed to give one lucky viewer a $25 gift certificate to Storytime Felts!  How great is that?

How to enter:
**Leave a seperate comment for each entry and include your email addres**

1 entry - Tell me your favorite thing about Storytime Felts products
1 entry - Become a Facebook Fan of Storytime Felts HERE
1 entry - Become a Facebook Fan of So Mommy HERE

**Contest ends Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 at 5 p.m. CST. If the winner doesn't respond in 48 hours, another winner will be picked. Winners will be chosen by a random number generator.**

Sophie Lynn WINNER

And the winner is....Kimberly who said, "I also like the bubble outfit that Sydney is in."  Congratulations!  I will be contacting you shortly!

StoryTime Felts - Funfelt.com

StoryTime Felts makes their own products here in the U.S.A. and sell them through Independent Consultants and their website.  If you are interested in becoming a consultant or hosting a party click HERE.  The artwork is dyed into the felt for long-lasting color and quality that will last through several generations of storytelling! The felt can be washed, and the pages are thick and tear resistant which is great for teaching little ones! They have MANY different products to choose from such as dress-up bears and dolls, calendars, activity books, and even sets to go along with favorite books like “Good Night Moon” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

Sydney and I were sent the Farm Toggle Book to review. When I opened it I was immediately impressed with the thickness of the book. The pages are very colorful and have several peek-a-boo flaps. The farm book came with SO MANY felt pieces to play with and make stories about that I was amazed! My husband and I sat and looked through all of the pieces (Sydney was asleep when it first came). I love this book! I don’t have to worry about Sydney accidentally pulling the flaps off or tearing the pages. It is also a very good “quiet” book for places such as church, waiting rooms, etc. It’s small enough and flexible enough to stick in a diaper bag to take along. It’s also nice that you can wash the book easily (in case your child is messy or has a cold). I almost forgot to mention, in the toggle book, the felt pieces store in pockets in the pages! Since they stick to the felt, they don’t fall out easily either! I like having things organized, so I love this part!

Sydney’s Review:
Ok, she’s only 13 months, so I’m only guessing her feelings on it…but I can tell you that when she sees the book she wants it! She’ll sit down and flip to the garden page so she can pull the vegetables from the garden. I’ll have to admit that I haven’t given her ALL of the felt pieces, but I did give her the larger (easy for me to find) pieces and I showed her that they can go on the pages. So she puts them on, closes the book, opens the book, takes them off, and does it all over again. I laugh because it seems so silly, but she’s learning what to do with the book. We’re working on matching the mommy animals to the baby animals since the book has several different ones to match.

This book definitely gets Sydney and Mommy’s seal of approval! I have actually been planning on making a felt board in her room for teaching purposes since before she was born, but I just haven’t gotten around to it. I am definitely planning on doing that soon since she has been enjoying her felt book so much! 

You can buy felt products now HERE.

A complimentary product was provided for this review, but all opinions are completely mine. I was not compensated in any other way for this review.

Crazy Dog T-shirts and NachoMama Tees

I received a t-shirt from Crazy Dog T-shirts and their other website NachoMama Tees. Both sites have a TON of shirts, including the two I chose which was the “Oh Gnome You Didn’t” and the “A Salt and Battery” t-shirt. I gave the "A Salt and Battery" shirt to my younger sister to wear and get opinions on. The color is very cute and it definitely made a lot of people laugh when she wore it!

They are made from 100% cotton which is very lightweight and give the shirt a more vintage look. The printing on these shirts doesn’t look cheap either. I gave away the Crazy Dog t-shirt, so I don’t know how it looked after washing, but the t-shirt from NachoMama has held up fine. The sizing chart is very helpful when picking a size, but the women’s shirts seem to run a little small. They are longer than the average t-shirt though so you can make sure you keep your tummy/backside covered!

I will warn you: It took me awhile to look through all of the shirts and decide which two I wanted…and I saw several more that I would give to people as gifts! You can shop by gender or by category. The categories they have include: 80’s, cool, junk food, novelty, retro, movie, video game, hilarious and more They do have some offensive shirts, but it has it’s own category so you can avoid it if you want. The majority of the shirts are just hilarious or vintage.

BUY IT
These t-shirts make great gifts and are very affordable! Check out Crazy Dog HERE or NachoMama HERE.

Gigi's Big Break - Guest Review

Thanks to Megan from iTeen Reviews for allowing me to share this review here!

Gigi's big break is about honesty and loving siblings. It has 2 stories in it (The White Lie and The Pink Suprise). You can find this DVD at Amazon for $14. It also has 5 special features such as a sing along song, a how-to-draw mini feature, and also dvd-rom extras with coloring pages. It is a little over an hour long. The stories are about 30 minutes each.


In the first episode, The White Lie, Gigi gets in trouble by telling a white lie. She learns that when we do wrong and try to cover it up, things usually end up worse, but that God loves us anyway. This story is based on John 1:8-9.


In the second episode, The Pink Suprise, Gigi learns that the world doesn't revolve around her. She has to learn that siblings are a blessing and a lifetime adventure, but that sometimes means that you are not first in everything. Gigi has to learn to love the new bundle of joy that God has given her family. This is based on Luke 10:21.


In this DVD children will learn to be honest and love thier siblings. I think this is a very cute DVD and can relate to a lot of things that young children face (best for kids 3 and up if you ask me). Although this DVD is meant for children, I think everyone can get something out of it. The stories are interesting enough that children will stay interested the whole time.

You can buy Gigi's Big Break on Amazon for $13.49 +S&H.


**Megan received this DVD free from Thomas Nelson Publishing for review.  She mostly reviews teen related products.  So if you have teens or if you are a teen, be sure to check out Megan's other reviews HERE.**

SophieLynn

One of my favorite things about having a daughter is the adorable clothes you can find, and recently I received one of the most adorable outfits I have EVER seen from Sophie Lynn on Etsy.

A little about the store:
Sara, the owner, is married with two young children. She has been sewing since she was a young girl and has decided to share her wonderful talents through her Etsy store. It definitely shows that she puts time and energy into her clothing. She makes the items after you place your order, so it may take around 2 weeks, but trust me — it is well worth the wait! Like most Etsy owners, she is willing to work with you to make sure you get what you want from her store. Her beautiful dresses and outfits range from around $18 to $38, which is a great price for the quality and cuteness. Most of the clothing is for sizes infant to 5T.

Word on the street:
We took Sydney to the park in this outfit (I was worried it would get dirty, but I wanted to take pictures). Everyone and I mean EVERYONE at the park, and later a restaurant, commented on how cute she was and how adorable the outfit was. I’m sure they were laughing that I brought my toddler to the park in it, but at least we got to hear opinions! The outfit is made from very sturdy material. The bright colors are wonderful for spring/summer pictures or a birthday outfit (wish I’d seen it 2 months ago)! I had no trouble with the colors bleeding when I washed the outfit. Sydney liked the bright colors of the outfit and was able to run around and play in it without any trouble (some cute-sy outfits are restrictive when playing).

Special and a Giveaway!
From now until April 30th Sophie Lynn Designs is offering FREE SHIPPING!

Sophie Lynn Design is also giving away a $15 e-gift card to their Etsy store HERE

How to Win:
- Visit Sophie Lynn Designs on Etsy HERE or Facebook HERE (become a fan while you're there if you want!) and tell me which dress / outfit is your favorite.

**Contest ends Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 5 p.m. CST.  Please include an email address so that I can contact you if you are the winner.  If the winner doesn't respond in 48 hours, another winner will be picked.  Winners will be chosen by a random number generator.**

WINNERS of the SafetyTat Sample Packs

SafetyTat is giving away 2 sample packs....and the winners are:

Comment #3 - who said..."I am already a fan of yours and I love the site!"
and

Comment #8 - who said..."I have Autism: Two lines of customization for my daughter who lives in a residential school. She sometimes get out of the house and they don't even notice. I think this would help the staff in case this happens. I am always afraid they will lose her."

I will be contacting the winners shortly!  Look for another giveaway (maybe even TWO) next week!!!

T-shirt WINNER

And the winner of the "Oh Gnome You Didn't" t-shirt is...Sarah!  You can check out her blog here! 

Thanks everyone for entering the contest and don't forget to enter the SafetyTat giveaway HERE by Saturday at noon!

Offspring – Quality cloth diapers made with love

How cute are these??

I was recently given a chance to review these cloth diapers from Offspring, and I was very excited! I love that I can buy my daughter quality hand-made items from other moms!  Offspring’s official Grand Opening was February 14, 2010. The owner, Rachel, states on her main page, “My goal is to make cloth diapering easy and fun so more people will give it a try. Maybe the pleasure in using cloth diapers will surprise you. I know it surprised me!” I have only been cloth diapering for the last 2 months (but have tried many brands of diapers), and I have been pleasantly surprised by how easy it is!

First things first…A little about the diapers!

Offspring’s pocket diapers have a Micro Chamois interior (which is SUPER soft-Sydney likes to hold these diapers after I’ve washed them lol). They also have a hidden waterproof PUL layer with a 100% cotton exterior. With these pocket diapers, you do not need a separate cover. There is a wide strip of Velcro, which will fit a variety of waist sizes without trouble. Offspring prefers to use Velcro for the wider range of fit and also because of the ease of use in the middle of the night. The diapers do not have topstitching on the leg openings. The microfleece “turns out” around the leg openings and helps keep the moisture inside without binding or grabbing at your baby’s legs.

The diapers come with one insert that is microfiber on one side and flannel on the other. Microfiber holds more fluid without being as bulky as other fibers. This inserts can be folded to give three layers absorbency in the pocket diaper OR you can even use them in a diaper cover with the flannel side touching your baby. The small sizes can be used as doublers in larger sizes. The diapers come in sizes from extra-small (0-8lbs) all the way to large (18-28 lbs). Care instructions are also included with each diaper order, which is great if you’re new to cloth!

2 folded inserts

What did I think?

I think that everyone should get one of these diapers and “try” cloth diapering! I have been surprised at how much I like cloth diapering (and it’s great to not have to buy disposables). The first thing I noticed about these diapers was how amazingly soft the inside was…surely something this soft can’t hold in leaks! But it did! It is recommended to wash the diapers/inserts 4-5 times to get the maximum absorbency from the microfleece. I couldn’t wait; I washed them once and put them on Sydney. We didn’t have any trouble with leaks! I did use a doubler insert at naptime and bedtime to help prevent leaks.

My favorite thing about these diapers is that they fit snugly around Sydney’s legs without binding or leaving marks. The microfleece “rolls out” so that she feels the soft part on her legs instead of rough elastic. These are a little more bulky than the “Flip” diapers we have (they are just an insert you lay in a cover), but these stay in place so much better that I don’t mind. We just moved up to the next size in jeans to fix that problem! Also, when washing I prefer the snaps, but I have grown to love Velcro over the last 2 weeks! Since Sydney has become more active and squirmy during diaper changes, it is MUCH easier to Velcro than snap!

Oh, one last thing…You can also buy cloth wipes from Offspring! If you are cloth diapering, these are great because you can throw them in the wash with the diapers and not have to worry about a separate trash can for them!

So, go check out Offspring’s store HERE and check out the absolutely adorable fabrics she has! These make for very cute diaper-only pictures! These are the cutest (and softest) cloth diapers Sydney has!

Miss Olivia, the Little Red Poodle: Her First Big Adventure

I received a complimentary copy of “Miss Olivia, the Little Red Poodle: Her First Big Adventure” by Tom Kaminski from the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team (http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?dorrance+7XZRvv+index.html).

When I first opened the book, I was a little disappointed in the illustrations. They aren’t very colorful, and a lot of the pictures are very similar. I started reading the story out loud to my husband and daughter. It is a very short and simple story about Miss Olivia (the poodle). She plays, gets dirty, needs a bath, and goes to play again. The story is short enough to keep a small child’s attention and simple enough for them to understand.

My main problem with the book is that Miss Olivia says “Oh darn” in the middle of the story. I know that doesn’t seem like a big deal to adults, but it’s not a statement I want my small child making at any point. I think the author could have used another more suitable statement than that one.

Safety that Sticks!

When I first read about the SafetyTat, I thought it was a brilliant idea. I loved the idea of my phone number tattooed (temporarily) on my child “just in case” she ever got lost. However, I was a little hesitant to try them because I remember how itchy the fake tattoos I got out of machines were (yes I realize those only cost a quarter haha) and how quickly they rubbed off. Well, recently I got my chance to try them! SafetyTat sent me samples to try on my daughter! But I want to tell you a little about their products before I tell you how I feel about them.

SafetyTat was invented by a Mom of 3 kids and is a colorful temporary tattoo that doubles as a safety ID. You can have it customized and pre-printed with your mobile phone number and apply it with a damp paper towel. The original SafetyTat lasts 1-5 days, but it is recommended to apply a new one each day. You can also buy the Quick Stick Write-on! SafetyTat and apply it more like a sticker and write in your mobile number (with the included pen). The Quick Stick Write-On! is waterproof and lasts up to 2 weeks! They also have special needs, medical, and allergy SafetyTats. These would be great if you have a child with special needs/allergies that is going to a new school or daycare to make sure their needs are met!

Sydney touching her new tattoo

Yes, I covered our phone numbers :)

So how did I like them? I loved them! I applied the Original SafetyTat to Sydney (my 13 month old) all by myself and it was super easy. She wanted to touch it at first, and I immediately wondered if it bothered her. She soon forgot about it and hasn’t touched it all day! It is still on her arm and looks almost like it did when I applied it! It’s about $20 for a pack of 24 Original SafetyTats, which is well worth the peace of mind if you ask me! I will definitely plan to use these on future vacations!

Discount Code and Giveaway!

SafetyTat has offered my readers 10% off a purchase of $15 or more now through March 22, 2010!
Simply enter the code “SoMommy” (it is case sensitive)!

They are also giving 2 lucky readers a Quick Stick Write-on! sample pack in their choice of girl, boy, or multi-pack.

How to enter:
Mandatory Entry: Tell me what you like about the SafetyTats.

Bonus Entries (Leave separate comments for each)
- Sign up for the SafetyTat e-news
- Become a Facebook fan of SoMommy or follow my blog

***Make sure to leave your email address in your comment. I will contact the winner shortly after the contest is over. If the winner doesn’t respond in 48 hours, another winner will be drawn. The contest will end Saturday, March, 13, 2010 at Noon (CST)***

100 Fans Giveaway!

We reached 100 fans....and as I promised...an adult giveaway!  I received this shirts from Crazy Dog Tshirts and it makes me laugh every time I see it! 

Want to win it?  Here's how:

- Follow SoMommy publicly

       or

- Become a facebook fan of SoMommy

      and

- Leave a comment telling me which you did and leave your email address so I can contact you!

- Be nice and share this one with your friends :)

Note:  It is a women's size medium (so probably a small for guys).  The contest will run until Thursday, March 12, 2010 at 5pm (CST).  Open to U.S. and Canada residents only.  Winner will be picked by a random number generator and contacted by email.  If winner doesn't respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

The Clouds Roll Away by Sibella Giorello

I was given a complimentary copy of “The Clouds Roll Away” by Sibella Giorella from Thomas Nelson Publishing to read and review. I have always enjoyed fiction books, especially those of mystery and suspense. Since this book was about an FBI agent, I was very interested to read it.

The book is about Raleigh Harmon, who is an FBI agent living in Virginia. She ends up on a case where there was a cross burning at a celebrity’s mansion, but she discovers much more about the victims and even more about herself and her faith. Raleigh believes, as her father told her, that when the clouds roll away everything will make sense. She holds to that and continues her investigation no matter how difficult the journey is.

The beginning of the book is a little slow and seems to skip around a lot. I felt like I was missing something, and then I discovered that there was a book before this one that probably would have helped with that. As I got further into the book, I got more interested. There are several twists and turns in the story to keep you reading.  It was still a little slow moving and not quite as exciting as I had hoped, but I did enjoy it.

Fandangling WINNER

And the winner is...irliteach who said...
"I'd like to win the safari one for a co-worker who is having a baby girl in July."
March 2, 2010 4:46 PM


Congratulations! I'll be contacting you shortly!

Fandangling Review & GIVEAWAY

I was sent a complimentary Fandangling for myself (and mostly Sydney) to review. We had picked the Safari set and it is super cute!  When I first opened the package, I thought they were small, but then I remembered they were going on the fan, and they are a great size for that!  Sydney approved of them quickly - she hugged them all.  

As soon as Daddy got home, we put him to work.  Ok, it wasn't hard work...setup takes less than 5 minutes (including distractions from Sydney).  These cute stuffed animals have a string and a square of velcro that attaches to another square of velcro you put on the fan (all velcro included).  The velcro goes on the top side of the fan blade, so when you take off the animals no one can see the velcro squares.  If you have an older child (Sydney is 1 year) you will be VERY glad that these animals velcro on...she always wants to hold one!

I think the idea of the Fandanglings is great and they have done a wonderful job making the setup super easy!  Not only are they cheaper than a lot of stationary crib mobiles, but I think babies will enjoy these more.  When Sydney was a baby all she wanted to do was watch fans.  I wish we had this then!  Also, having a fan in the room where your baby sleeps has been proven to reduce the risk of SIDS by more than 70%!! Check out this article on SIDS.

Fandangling is a great company.  They give 10% of their proceeds to charities such as: Animal Friends and Build.  They are also offering my readers 20% off of your order, just use code FANDANGLING10.  Also, they are giving away a free Fandangling for ONE lucky reader!!

Contest Rules:  One entry for each completed task (comment seperately).  Please include a working email so that I can contact you - If I don't hear back from the winner in 48 hours, a new winner will be picked.  Winning comment will be chosen by a random number generator on Thursday, March 4th at Noon (CST). 

To Enter (seperate comment for each of the 3 you do):
(1)  Check out the Fandangling website and tell me which one you'd like to win.
(2)  Follow my blog or become a fan of So Mommy on Facebook (or tell me if you have already).
(3)  Post a link to the giveaway in your Facebook status or tweet about it.