ImagiPLAY Winner!

And the winner of the "3 Chicks" puzzle from ImagiPLAY is Charissa who said, "Suggested So Mommy to a LOT of my friends..."

Thanks for following my blog and suggesting me to your friends!

Don't forget to enter the Little Bug Market giveaway HERE!

Boogie Wipes Winner

And the Boogie Wipes winner is...KELLY, who said, "I like So Mommy on Facebook and made this post my status."

Congratulations! Thanks for reading my blog!

The Little Bug Market Review & Giveaway

My daughter LOVES to play in her little kitchen. She is only 1, so she doesn’t really understand what to do in the kitchen yet. She does, however, love to carry around her (plastic) play food and sometimes step on it. Some of the pieces have gotten bent so badly that they can’t be repaired. I have been searching for awhile to find some type of safe and durable replacement toy food for her little kitchen. I looked at the wooden food, but she likes to chew on wood (she IS teething, after all), and I always worry that she will get wood or paint in her mouth, and the wooden toys are nearly as pretty after your child chews on it!

Then I found the Little Bug Market. They have some of the CUTEST felt food items I have seen. They create the pieces out of wool felt and stuff them with fiberfill. They can be spot washed and hung to dry, which is great (if you’ve ever had sick kids, you know how great it is to have washable toys)! The owner of the Little Bug market is a stay at home, home-schooling mother of 2. She created this shop as a place to find safe, natural products for kids to explore their creativity through imagination play. They offer breakfast items (even pop tarts!), pasta items, cookies, and even reusable snack bags.

The Little Bug Market was kind enough to send Sydney a breakfast set, complete with bacon, a fried egg, and a strawberry. As soon as I opened the package, Sydney laughed and ran off with the strawberry! She really enjoyed playing with these items (she especially loved stuffing them inside Easter eggs). The strawberry even had to go to the doctor with us when she was sick! I took a few pictures of Sydney “frying” the egg and bacon. The strawberry is currently awaiting surgery so I don’t have a picture of it. (Not-so-funny story: Sydney “fed” the strawberry to our dog and I didn’t find it until after the dog had tried to eat it. It actually held up quite well – The leaves are the only damaged part which is amazing! This is our dog that chews up puzzle pieces, steals balls and various other stuffed items.)

We have been very pleased with our felt food! These items look so real, I think any child would love to have them to “cook” meals with! Don’t worry, you won’t break the bank with these either! The prices are amazing as well!

*GIVEAWAY*
The Little Bug Market is giving one reader their own bowtie pasta and veggies set (pictured below)! It comes with several pieces of bowtie pasta along with a couple of carrots and tomatoes. This is an adorable set for the little cook in your life!

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me your favorite felt food item from the Little Bug Market

3 EXTRA ENTRIES (Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry):
(1 entry)  Post about this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter
(1 entry)  Follow So Mommy’s Blog HERE
(1 entry)  Follow the Little Bug Market’s Blog HERE

*Giveaway ends Monday, May 3, at 5 p.m. CST. Winner will be drawn by a random number generator. If winner doesn’t respond within 48 hours another winner will be drawn.*

Little Bug Market supplied me with pieces to test in exchange for my honest review, which I assure you I have given. See full disclaimer for details.

Sleepy Moon Designs WINNER

And the Sleepy Moon Designs winner is....JustEllie, who wrote:

"My Mother, has been someone who I can count on, since the first day I took my first breath. She's a strong, respectable, caring, and loving woman, and I would be forever lost without her. She has always worried about taking care of us kids, and the family before herself, and I will always admire her for that.

My Mother is someone I can go to, when I need to talk about anything or nothing. We're so alike, it's exciting, to just spend a lot of time with her. She would give up anything for anybody, and expect nothing in return.

These are reasons why I honestly believe she deserves this necklace."


Congratulations, Ellie! Thanks for following my blog and I hope you and your mom love this necklace!!

Ouchies WINNER

And the Ouchies winner is...Amber, who said "I am a fan of Ouchies on Facebook."(sh.......ee@yahoo.com)

Congratulations, Amber! Thanks for following my blog!

ImagiPLAY Review and Giveaway

I recently received a unique 3 Chicks puzzle from ImagiPLAY. It is a 6 piece hand-crafted 3-D wooden puzzle. The pieces are chunky, so kids can hold onto them easily. They are double sided, so it is equivalent to a 12 piece puzzle. ImagiPLAY has a lot of different items to choose from, like wooden food, puzzles, bead mazes, lacing toys, and much more!

Sydney hasn’t quite figured out how to get the pieces back together (she’s only 1, these puzzles are recommended for ages 3 and up). She does LOVE taking the pieces apart and making mommy or daddy put them back together. She also loves just carrying the pieces around. The 3 Chicks puzzle is cute enough to leave out for kids to play with. We leave ours sitting on our coffee table so that Sydney can see it. Everyone comments on how cute it is. ImagiPLAY products are Earth friendly and child safe!

ImagiPLAY “learning center”
If you visit their "learning center" HERE, you can click on an animals name to learn about the animal and see real pictures, and you can also see what products ImagiPLAY has to go with the animal. This would be very helpful if you have a child that LOVES a specific animal.

GIVEAWAY
ImagiPLAY has generously offered to give one lucky reader their own “3 Chicks” puzzle set! (Prize will be shipped directly from ImagiPLAY).

How to Enter:
*Leave ONE comment per entry*Remember to leave your correct email address*

1 entry – Tell me what your favorite ImagiPLAY item is from their selection HERE
1 entry – Like So Mommy on Facebook HERE and post this giveaway as your status
1 entry – Suggest So Mommy to at least 3 friends

Giveaway will end Friday, April 30, 2010 at 5 p.m. CST. Winner will be drawn by a random number generator. If winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be drawn.

*I received the 3 Chicks puzzle free of charge for my review. All opinions are completely honest. See full disclaimer for details.*

Boogie Wipes Review and Giveaway

When I first heard of Boogie Wipes, I thought they were kind of silly. Who would buy these when you can use a baby wipe? Well, after reading about them and trying them for myself…I definitely would!

Boogie Wipes were created by mom's who were tired of chasing runny noses.  They come in re-sealable packs of 30 wipes. They are very convenient to toss in your bag or leave on a changing table. Boogie Wipes are alcohol-free and hypo-allergenic. They are made with natural saline, which helps dissolve boogies caused by the common cold and allergies. These wipes are super soft! I don’t feel so bad when I have to wipe my daughter’s nose if I have these. They come in Fresh Scent, Simply Unscented, Grape, and Magic Menthol.  I’ve found that the different smells helps keep my daughter from thinking about getting her nose wiped (which is VERY helpful for mom)! 

Boogie Wipes can me found in stores or online HERE.

GIVEAWAY
Boogie Wipes is offering one lucky winner TWO 30 count packs of Boogie Wipes along with coupons!

How to Enter:
*Leave ONE comment per entry*Remember to leave your correct email address*

1 entry – Like Boogie Wipes on Facebook HERE or Twitter HERE
1 entry – Like So Mommy on Facebook HERE and post this giveaway as your status
1 entry – Suggest So Mommy to at least 3 friends

Giveaway will end Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 5 p.m. CST. Winner will be drawn by a random number generator. If winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be drawn.

*I received Boogie Wipes free of charge for my review. All opinions are completely honest. See full disclaimer for details.*

**Mother's Day Giveaway** (CLOSED)

Anyone know how close Mother's Day is?  It's 2 weeks away!! Now, how many of you have already gotten your mother the perfect gift?  I wish I could say I already had that gift, but I haven't...I'm working on it.  I've been "working" on it for awhile now.  For some reason, I just can't find the perfect gift.  My mom isn't hard to buy for, I'm just not a very good shopper. 

But, I recently found an AMAZING store on Etsy called Sleepy Moon Designs.  Zoe, the store owner, has some of the most beautiful necklaces, earrings, and bracelets I've seen (don't worry-they are reasonably priced)...and I'm pretty sure almost any mom would LOVE any of her jewelry.  Also, as with most Etsy owners, she is willing to work with you to try to create custom pieces if you wish.  All you have to do is ask!

How the store came about:
From Zoe's Bio, "I started making jewelery at the end of 2008. At the time I was in a place in my my life where I was searching for a job and carrier. When I picked up my pliers and a couple of beads that I bought from a craft shop the jewelery business venture caught on right away! Sleepy Moon Design was launched right after in January 2009. The name Sleepy Moon design came to me from my love of the moon. It's almost like one big glowing gemstone in the sky."

**Make sure to get your Mother's day order in with Sleepy Moon Designs by Friday, April 30th so that it will arrive in time for Mother's day!**

Giveaway:
One lucky winner is going to receive the beautiful necklace pictured above and found HERE!  This would make a great gift for the special mom in your life.

How to Enter:
*Please leave one comment per entry.  Be sure to leave your email address.*

1 entry: "Like" Sleepy Moon Designs on Facebook HERE
1 entry: "Like" So Mommy on Facebook HERE and post this giveaway link as your status
1 entry: Tell me why your mom/wife deserves a necklace like this :)

This giveaway will end Wednesday, April 28th at 5 p.m. CST.  Winner will be contacted and will have 24 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Winner will be chosen by a random number generator.

A little retail therapy

Even with an adorable daughter (showing off her MissMatched leggings), mom’s need a little retail therapy every now and then, right? We’re all entitles to splurge a little sometimes…maybe even shop without our kids? Well, here is my little “splurge” shopping trip. Daddy kept Sydney while I did a little CVS shopping. I think I did pretty good. If you have any good shopping stories, feel free to share!

Transaction #1
4 Vitamin Water @ $1.00 each - 2 $1.00 coupons
1 Schick Quatro @ $8.99 - $4.00 coupon
1 Softsoap body wash @ $2.99 - $1.00 coupon
1 Softsoap body wash @ $2.99 - $0.75 coupon
1 Memo pad @ $1.19
Clairol natural instinct color @ $9.49 - $9.49 coupon

Used ECBs from last week (had $4 ECB left over)
Paid $3.27, got back 8 ECBs

Transaction #2
Pampers Cruisers Jumbo Pack @ $8.49 - $3.00 CVS coupon - $1.50 manufacturer’s coupon
2 Colgate Pro-clinical toothpaste @ $3.99 each – 2 $1.00 coupons

Used 8 ECBs from Transaction #1
Paid $3.18, Got back 5 ECB + 4 ECB left from Transaction #1

Sooo….
I paid $6.45 (with a MyPoints CVS giftcard!)
Got $46.12 in products
And I have 9 ECBs to use next week…Pretty good shopping trip if you ask me!

ReUsies WINNER!

And the winner of the ReUsies Sandwich and Snack bag is....Molly B, who said, "I have just subscribed to newsletter!!"

Congratulations! I will be contacting you soon! Don't forget to enter the Ouchies giveaway HERE.

No More Boring Band-Aids! Review and Giveaway!

Do you have an accident-prone child? A child that tends to get scrapes, cuts, bruises? A child that doesn’t really like boring beige band-aids? A child that just likes to show off their boo-boo band-aids? Well, Ouchies has the solution for you! Created by a parent, they have several different band-aid designs to fit your child’s style. Ouchies has a line for older kids, which has “4Girlz”, “4Boyz”, and even “make ur own” lines! They also have Ouchies Jr. Band-Aids featuring Olivia (the cute pig from books and t.v) and Joe Scieszka Trucktown (also from the book).

I sent the “Joe Scieszka Trucktown” bandage tin to my nephew (who is 1 ½ years old). Since he plays outside a lot, he has begun to get many, many (minor) cuts, scrapes, and bruises. These bandages are super cute (I mean, cool) and stick very well. I love that they come in a tin – I used to love our band-aid tins when I was younger. As a mom, I love them even more! They don’t get squashed and torn, and band-aids seem to stay in them and not dumped all over cabinets, drawers, and baskets (I hope I’m not the only one who has this problem LOL).

I think my favorite part about Ouchies is the unique “Directions” on their tin. I know, this has nothing to do with function. I’ve already told you how well they function and how cute (err, COOL) they are. So let me share with you their unique directions for use.

“Directions for use: Use bandages to cover real, or imaginary cuts, scrapes, or boo-boos. If you’re not pretending, wash cut thoroughly and place Ouchie over affected area. If you simply want to make a fashion statement, but still desire sympathy for being wounded, make a convincing yelp, grab an area that is “hurt,” and cover area with Ouchie as quickly as possible. Whether your wound is real, or make-believe, you will look darn cool covering it.”

Buy Ouchies now HERE

**GIVEAWAY**
Ouchies is giving one So Mommy reader a chance to win their choice of TWO ouchies tins!

How to Enter:
**Leave ONE comment for EACH entry to increase your chances of winning**

1 entry - Fan Ouchies on Facebook HERE
1 entry - Change your Facebook status to mention this giveaway (leave a link to this post)
1 entry - Grab my button to add to your blog/site – leave a link

**Contest will end Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 5 p.m. CST. Winner will be chosen by a random number generator. If winner doesn’t respond within 48 hours another winner will be drawn.**

I received these products free of charge for my honest review. See full Disclaimer for more details.

"Native Treasure" Book Review

“Native Treasure” is a dedication to the appaloosa horse written by Rita K. Nicholson. The appaloosa was thought to be introduced to the Americas as early as the 1500s by the Spanish explorers, and since then has seen many ups and downs. In 1877, the appaloosa horse was down to only a handful. In 1938, The Appaloosa Horse Club was founded and through their efforts, the breed has been restored.

“Native Treasures” includes many different pictures of appaloosas just being themselves. Quotes from sources such as the Bible, the Lewis and Clark Journals, and the author’s own writings fill the pages as well.

I think this is a good book for appaloosa lovers, or just horse lovers in general. My younger sister absolutely LOVED horses when she was growing up, and I know she would have loved this book. The pictures are great, and I enjoyed reading the quotes. My favorite was the story about the horse who swallowed a Wal-Mart bag (it didn’t really…a young child thought the amniotic sac was a Wal-Mart bag), but the pictures of the newborn foal were amazing. The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the dust cover. For a book that people are going to want to share with others, those get wrinkled and torn too easily. The price at $38 is also a little high for me, but overall I really enjoyed this book.

I received a complimentary copy of "Native Treasure" as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.  See disclaimer for more details.

Tooth Tissues Review

About Tooth Tissues:

Tooth tissues were made by dentists as an answer to a problem they had with their daughter. When babies fall asleep right after having a bottle or nursing, the milk can pool in their mouths and create plaque and decay. These wipes are so simple to use to clean teeth and gums. They are uniquely textured to aid in plaque removal, neutral flavored, fluoride-free, paraben-free and sugar-free, and 99% natural. They were designed as a safe and effective product. They can be used exclusively from birth until the back molars start to arrive. After that, they can be used even to adulthood between brushings to help remove plaque.

What I think:
I think these are very helpful! They come in a re-sealable package (that my daughter loves to hold). They are very easy to take with you anywhere or just leave them on your changing table for easy access. My daughter only has 6 front teeth, but we usually brush them and she tolerates it. Since I’ve been using these, my life (tooth-brushing life that is…) has been much easier! She doesn’t mind these at all. She actually finds it humorous sometimes! If she is a little impatient about it, I let her hold the package and she does fine. These would definitely be helpful with newborns. I know how often Sydney fell asleep after her milk, and it would have been great to have a way to clean her gums without waking her up!  They cost more than a toothbrush and toothpaste, but are still a great deal!

You can buy Tooth Tissues HERE now!

**I received Tooth Tissues in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are completely mine. See full disclaimer for details.**

ReUsies Review & Giveaway! (CLOSED)

ReUsies are made from 100% cotton and are lined with water-resistant 100% nylon (BPA, Lead, and Phthalate free). The closures are Velcro, so kids can easily get to their snacks AND close it themselves! They do not seal completely, so you can’t leave food in them long-term (it will get stale). The top portion does fold over to keep those small snacks inside. They come in MANY different fabrics to suit everyone in the family. Care for these reusable bags couldn’t get any easier. They can be washed in the dishwasher, machine washed and dried (turn inside out and secure Velcro first), or simply wiped clean with a soapy sponge and air dried.

ReUsies come in 2 sizes:

Snack – which holds a half sandwich or a small quantity or crackers, pretzels, apple slices, etc.

Sandwich – which holds a “normal” sized sandwich, full bagel, or larger quantities or snacks, etc.

I really enjoyed these reusable bags. They are easy to use and clean, which is a must if you have kids (and a million things to do already). People always think they are cute bags. They work great for sandwiches, small snacks, and even fruit slices. This is a great way to help your family start “going green” this year!

Buy it Now HERE!

GIVEAWAY
ReUsies is giving one reader a Sandwich & a Snack ReUsie!

How to Enter:
**Leave ONE comment for EACH entry to increase your chances of winning**

1 entry - Subscribe to the ReUsies Newsletter HERE
1 entry - Fan ReUsies on Facebook HERE
1 entry - Change your Facebook status to mention this giveaway (leave a link to this post)
1 entry - Grab my button to add to your blog/site – leave a link
1 entry – Tell me what your favorite prints are

**Contest will end Friday, April 23, 2010 at 5 p.m. CST. Winner will be chosen by a random number generator. If winner doesn’t respond within 48 hours another winner will be drawn.**

I received these products free of charge for my honest review. See full Disclaimer for more details.

PakNak Charms Review

What’s a PakNak?

A PakNak is a soft, rubbery 3-D decoration that can be used on backpack, lunchboxes, strollers, headbands….well, pretty much anything you want! PakNaks are attached to Velcro which attaches to YOUR favorite object or bag by using a strong adhesive. They are weather resistant and easily interchangeable! PakNaks are sold individually, and there are a LOT to collect! See them all HERE. You can even print coloring pages on the website HERE so your kids can color their own PakNaks!

What did my ((little)) tester think?

Well, these are recommended for ages 4 and up because they can present choking hazards to small children. If you attach these where younger kids can see them, be SURE to watch them closely. Sydney loves to touch “Mona” the flower. The 3-D texture definitely catches her attention. Each PakNak comes with a card that tells you about them. For example, “Mona” lives in Robert’s Garden and her best friend is “Bella Bee”. Older kids would definitely enjoy reading about their PakNaks. I think they are a great way to personalize your kids bags for school or daycare. It is an easy way to help your child learn to find their own bag. The adhesive works great, and I love that they use Velcro! As your child gets older or changes what he/she likes (as most kids do so often), a new PakNak can be easily put in place of the “old” one.


Play the PakNak Game HERE


Check out PakNak HERE


**I received PakNaks free of charge for my honest review. Myself or a close family member will always personally try out each product received. See my full disclaimer for more details.**

**WINNER**

And the winner of 3 pair of SmartKnitKIDS socks is....TT4BAMA who commented 2 days ago and "posted a link :)"


Congratulation! I will be emailing you soon!

Don't forget: If I reach 200 Facebook Fans by Monday I'll do THREE giveaways next week!
So start suggesting to friends HERE!

The Ergonomic UGLee Pen

Dr. Lee's Biography

Dr. Lee received his BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University and his MD from Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Lee has done his share of writing throughout his academic and professional life. All of the writing required by medical school and physician training took its toll. After trying just about every pen and failing to find a truly comfortable one, Dr. Lee was determined to create his own. Known to even fire his own clay pens, Dr. Lee has experimented with just about every combination of shape, texture, material, and ink mixtures in search of the optimum combination for the "Perfect Pen."

The Ergonomic UGLee Pen

The UGLee Pen gets it’s name “UG” for Ultimate Grip and “Lee” for the physician that spent eight years developing it’s design. The UGLee Pen weighs less than ½ ounce for a comfortable light-weight hold while writing. It has a full size grip, which makes this pen more comfortable than most pens I’ve ever used. The grip extends up to where the pen lies on your knuckle area which is pretty unique (and VERY comfortable). The grip is the part that my husband says he really likes about the pen. An added plus: since the grip is over most of the pen, it helps keep the pen in your pocket! I know a lot of guys that keep pens in their shirt pocket, and when they lean over the pens fall out…Not with this pen! My 14 month old daughter can’t even easily pull this one from my husbands pocket when he gets distracted. Another great part to the UGLee pen is the ink in this pen. It flows very smoothly.

My husband and I have both really liked using these pens. The best part of the pen for us was the grip! It just makes this pen so much more comfortable than pens I have used in the past! You don’t have to “try” to hold it a certain way. Since the grip is full size, you can hold it how you normally would and the grip does the rest!

The UGLee pens come in several colors (red, pink, white, yellow, green, blue, and gray). Right now you can buy a 3-pack for $19.99 +S & H. The ink refills are 10 for $15+S & H.

Check out the UGLee Pen Products HERE
Find UGLee Pen on Twitter HERE
Find UGLee Pen on Facebook HERE

**I received these pens free of charge for my honest review. Myself or a close family member will always personally try out each product received. See my full disclaimer for more details.**

No Seams to Bug Ya! **GIVEAWAY** (CLOSED)

I have a hard time finding socks for Sydney. No, she doesn’t have a problem with seams. She could care less (so far) if socks have seams. I have never really been able to find socks that fit her (since birth), and when she wears shoes her feet sweat. BAD. Socks definitely don’t help that.

Then I found SmartKnitKIDS. SmartKnitKIDS created Seamless Sensitivity Socks for kids that literally could not stand the seams in socks. My younger sister had a problem with seams and tags when she was younger. We ended up cutting tags out of clothes and turning her socks inside out for lack of a better option at the time. Seamless socks are knit the same way caterpillars spin their cocoons, from the toe to the ankle. These are also very form-fitting socks to keep lumps and bumps out.

Don’t get me wrong, Sydney and I both REALLY like everything about these socks, but I want to tell you my three VERY favorite things about these socks. They have a non-binding “Halo Top™” that fits comfortable, but still prevents the socks from slipping down the leg. In our experience, these socks haven’t left any marks on our feet (Yes, they were nice enough to send me an adult pair!). They are made with “high-tech fibers” which wick the moisture away from feet to keep the socks drier (and prevent stinky feet).

My absolute favorite part is that they have a “No heel” design. This helps keep kids from outgrowing their socks quickly, but it also means a more customized fit for each individual. The Kids socks come in small, medium, large, X-large, and XX-large. I got the Medium size for Sydney (she wears shoe size 4 toddler now). They are knee-high socks now, but will go to crew then ankle socks as her feet grow. This means she could wear these until she is a shoe size 8-12 toddler (if she doesn’t wear them out haha)!!

I don’t know about how they felt on Sydney’s feet (they were definitely drier feeling than other socks), but these socks were extremely comfortable on me. They are very thin, which is great in the summertime, but they still kept my feet warm inside (which is a miracle if you ask my hubby-my feet are always freezing).

The Kids socks come in white, black, pink, purple, and navy. Ankle, crew and knee-high styles are available up to a youth size 8. The BigKids socks come in white and black and are available in Women’s shoe sizes 5-11 and Men’s shoe sizes 5-10.

Since April is Autism Awareness Month, participating retailers (listed HERE) are giving 15% off of SmartKnitKIDS socks! PLUS, if you share your story, you will get a $5 off coupon to Therawear.com and be entered in the monthly contest (click HERE for details).

GIVEAWAY

SmartKnitKIDS is offering one winner THREE pairs of socks...Winner picks color/size!

How to Enter:

Leave a seperate comment for each entry along with your email address

(1 entry) Tell me your favorite thing about SmartKnitKIDS products

(1 entry) Become a Facebook fan of SmartKnitKIDS HERE and SoMommy HERE

(1 entry) Post the link to the giveaway in your status

**Open to US and Canada only.  Contest ends Friday, April 16, 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.**

**I received these products free of charge for my honest review.  See full disclaimer for more information.**

Temper Tantrum??

This is my sweet 14 1/2 month old baby girl, Sydney.  I love everything about her.  Mostly.  I love how she smiles so sweetly in the mornings, how she brushes her hair with her spoon, how she feeds herself with a fork (upside-down), how she tries hard to run with the "big" kids, how she pets (a little too hard sometimes) our dog (Hypnos), how she has her daddy wrapped around her finger, and everything else.  Mostly. 

Recently, she has discovered her attitude (possibly inherited from me according to my family, and I can't deny it).  She has learned to deliberately disobey and throw a tantrum when she gets in too much trouble.  I'll give you an example.  She points at something she's not supposed to have, I say "No-no Sydney, don't touch"...she "sneaks" closer and grabs it.  I say "No touching, put it back"...sometimes she does, but mostly I have to "help" her put it back.  She grabs it again, I hold her hand (so she has to look at me), say "Mommy said don't touch that"....She then throws her hands in the air, shakes them, and squeals (This part is hard for me to not laugh at---it looks so funny)!  Then proceed to cry and cry and cry.  This part makes it hard for me to not pick her up and console her.  It's even harder for daddy.  I had to tell him not to pick her up twice in a row last night.  But my mom said ignoring a tantrum is the best way to help get rid of them.

See how pitiful this part is?  Who wouldn't want to pick her up and hug her?  This is the new side of Sydney that hardly anyone (except mommy & daddy) get to see...Lucky for me, she hasn't really done any of this in public. Yet.

How do you all deal with tantrums?  Any funny kid stories you want to share?  I LOVE to hear stories about other peoples sweet children :)

WINNER of the ZAK! Products...

The winner is....AMBER
Who said...

Posted your button on my blog. Yay!!
www.ranewfam.blogspot.com

Congratulations!! I'll be contacting you soon!

BibleMan Powersource: Combating the Commandant of Confusion

Up until recently, I had heard of BibleMan, but never actually seen the show. I grew up watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers, so I was curious about how it would portray Christian views in a good guy / bad guy kids show. I got my chance to see for myself when I received “BibleMan Powersource: Combating the Commandant of Confusion” from Thomas Nelson Publishing to review.

This BibleMan adventure is a live recording in front of an audience. It is about 60 minutes long. It includes a fight sequence sword training and also teaches the actions to the “Word of God” song.

In this episode, the villain (known as the Commandant of Confusion) and his sidekick (Chaos) interrupt the Bible Adventure Training Academy to steal the secret weapon. The secret weapon is supposed to help the Bible Team put on the armor of God.

I thought the message was great! They very plainly state scriptures, and they also explain to kids that they never, ever fight other people, only Satan and his “sidekicks”. I think this is a very important message to get across to kids. Since the show was live, there were very little special effects, which most kids have grown to expect. Younger kids (maybe 5-8), would probably enjoy this show and parents won’t have to worry about what they are learning.

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

Zak! Products: Kid-Tested, Mommy-Approved (CLOSED)

Looking for unique (but still VERY functional) mealtime products for your toddlers or preschoolers? Well, be sure to check out Zak! Products! They offer Baby, Kidz, and Home product lines, and they have been featured on Oprah and the Today show! They also have nutritional tips and recipes for toddlers and preschoolers on their website, so be sure to check that out as well!

We were able to “test” their 8 ounce sippy cup and the nibble tray.

The 8 ounce sippy cup has a flo-control valve which allows you to choose how fast the flow is with a simple twist! It is short, round, and has 2 handles which makes it super easy for little hands to hold. Sydney loves to carry this cup around! It is labeled leak-proof and spill-proof. We only had trouble with it leaking once, and I realized it was a mommy-error—I didn’t have the lid on tight. I think this would make a good starter sippy cup. If you have it on fast flow, it is pretty easy to drink from (yes, I tried). For those wondering, it is dishwasher safe.

The nibble tray is very cute! It is shaped like a pineapple (great pick for summer picnics)! The “leafy” part is detachable for dipping sauce. It has 6 compartments to keep food separate if you have a picky eater. It is dishwasher safe (which is a must in my home)! I really like that it looks unique. I can send her snacks in this for church nursery and it doesn’t get confused with any of the other containers they have.

Guess what? Zak! Products has offered a couple of GREAT products for one lucky reader to try! They sent the 11 ounce smoothie sipper and the divided bowl with lid!

Here’s how to enter:
**Leave a separate comment for each entry and include your email address**

1 entry – Tell me what product YOU like from Zak! Products
1 entry - Become a Facebook Fan of So Mommy HERE
1 entry – Grab my blog button for your blog (Leave the link to your blog)

**Contest ends Friday, April 9th, 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.**

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