FUJIFILM SeeHere has teamed up with The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways to offer my readers a very special giveaway of your own personalized photo mousepad. SeeHere is where you can personalize great gifts of all kinds – for any topic, interest, or brand! You can also use SeeHere to create a customized web album for photo sharing with friends and family!
I was given the opportunity to personalize my own mousepad with photos, text, backgrounds, and decorative effects. Of course, I customized mine with photos of my toddler son, Chase. :-) These fun mousepads enable you to keep your favorite photo of a family member, friend, or favorite pet right at your finger tips! I am so excited as I wait for its arrival - so cute!
The generous folks at SeeHere are giving one lucky reader of The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways her own personalized mousepad (regular or tiled).
To Enter:
Visit SeeHere and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item!
Extra Entries:
Follow me via Google Friends Connect.
Leave FB status update about this giveaway, making sure to @The Prissy Mommy Life
Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site.
I was really excited when my friends at MomSelect invited me to participate in a review program of a fun new product perfect for expecting and new mommies. The Lulla-Bear MP3 Music Player Stuffed Animal is a a gorgeous, soft plush teddy bear that plays music! My 19-month-old toddler and newborn (on the way) will be sharing a nursery, and this will be the perfect addition to their room. With its gentle, soothing musical play-list, I think our new Lulla-Bear will be a great companion for the boys during play-time and sleep!
♥About Lulla-Bear:
Soothe your child to sleep with the sound of music! Lulla-Bear is an infant MP3 player pre-loaded with 90 minutes of childhood classics, including lullabies, happy songs, and nature sounds. It's ready to play right out of the box! You can also easily load Lulla-Bear with your own stories and songs without any additional software.
Lulla-Bear has a built in USB port for attachment to your computer and gives you 512 MB (eight hours) of storage. "Feel Soft" activation buttons on the paws make it easy to choose your song bank, scroll, adjust volume and turn the power on and off. An automatic shut off feature at the end of each song bank encourages a smooth transition to sleep without sudden changes in song type.
♥My Review:
Our baby is due in a week's time exactly so I was excited to receive my Lulla-Bear a few days early so that I could play with it and get familiar with how it works. My first impression is that it's incredibly soft, cute, and cuddly to hold and hug. It comes in an attractive cinnamon color, with a vibrant red and green bow, which I think makes it ideal for both boys and girls.
I was of course eager to try out the MP3 feature, as the item description notes that it has build-in surround sound. My husband and I began to play some of the classic lullabies preloaded into the bear. I was impressed by the crisp, clear sound. The musical selections were nostalgic and really made me think of my own childhood. It was super easy to download more music into the bear. We simply connected the Lulla-Bear to our computer with a USB cord and my husband, a jazz lover, of course downloaded a few of his favorite slow jazz tunes into the bear for our boys to enjoy. We definitely believe in diversifying their musical tastes! :-)
I really like that you can add or delete any song as well as re-arrange the default order of songs - it's completely customizable! The automatic shut-off feature is neat, as I won't have to worry about the bear playing music all night long, keeping the boys awake and also quickly draining the battery.
I am so excited for my two boys to meet their adorable new Lulla-Bear. Although this product is marketed primarily to infants, I know my toddler, Chase, will love it just as much (or more!) In fact, I have decided to wait to introduce it to both at the same time, as I fear Chase would become attached and overly possessive of this cool new bear were I to give it to him now :-).
Now on to the really fun part! :-) One lucky reader of The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways will receive her own Lulla-Bear, valued at $49.99.
To Enter:
Leave a comment telling me why you'd like to win the Lulla-Bear! :-)
Extra Entries:
Follow me via Google Friends Connect.
Leave FB status update about this giveaway, making sure to @The Prissy Mommy Life
Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site.
So let me tell you about my latest beauty obsesh! *looking at my fingernails and smiling* When a representative from Nailene contacted me to review their newest artificial nails I jumped at the opportunity! In case you aren't in the know, Nailene is one of the leading nail treatment brands in the country and sold in over 40,000 retail stores! Nailene was even mentioned at this year’s Oscar Red Carpet event by Celebrity Stylist, Philip Bloch! How cool is that!
If you've learned nothing else about me via this blog I'm sure you know by now how strongly I feel about pampering yourself. Oh, it's very necessary - as moms, as wives, as working girls, as ladies! However, I don't believe in breaking the bank to do so! No ma'am! See, I'm the penny pinching princess... the queen of frugality.... and I pride myself on this (just ask my DH - hehe)! Well these nails are awesome not only because they're pretty and totally natural looking - they also won't break your bank.
The nails are uber simple to apply, yet appear as though you've just left the salon! To apply:
♥ Lightly buff natural nails and remove any polish ♥ Find nails that fit your nail beds (file if necessary) ♥ Apply glue over natural nail and inside of artificial nail ♥ Press nail firmly for 20 seconds so no air bubbles form ♥ Gorgeous nails in five minutes!
The length is medium, so if you're into the super-long diva nails these may not be the ones for you. *smile* However, I found them perfect for me with having a boisterous toddler at home and one more on the way - long nails are way hot but just aren't practical for my lifestyle. These nails are efficient and functional... but still wanton, if you know what I mean. *wink* I actually ended up filing the nails after application to make them even shorter. Funny thing, I have a feeling I won't be be stepping foot in a nail salon any time soon. Aside from the fact that - between family life, work, and the blog I just don't have the time - I realize I can achieve the very same look at home for a fraction of the cost! Cute and cost-efficient - right up my alley!
The good folks over at Nailene very generously sent me an array of Nailene products to try out - they included various assorted manicure and pedicure kits, along with other fun goodies for me to play with! Of all the nails I received my favorite are the French Manicure - a clean, sophisticated look that goes beautifully with any outfit you choose. The Couture set were quite stylish, but a little "sexy" for me at work. ;-)
So here's the best part! *smile* Only because I love and appreciate you all sooo much for supporting my blog, I'm giving away four manicure kits!
There will be FOUR (4) winners who will have her choice of:
ONE (1) French Manicure kit
ONE (1) Couture Manicure kit
ONE (1) Mauve Manicure kit
ONE (1) French Pedicure kit
To Enter:
Leave a comment introducing yourself and telling me how you found The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways! I’d love to see who reads my little blog... so all you lurkers come out and play!
Extra Entries:
Follow me via Google Friends Connect.
Leave a brief review of my blog on Amazon for Kindle using this link. Write "review" in the comments
Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site. "blogged about it"
Washington Family Magazine is one of my favorite publications because it's such a wealth of great information. I have fun reading the fun, light-hearted articles such as the top places to take your kids to hang out this summer. However, they're also not afraid to touch on more serious issues that are just as important to our family and kids.
I was particularly struck by a piece in the current July issue titled 10 Tips for Parents of an ADD Child. While I don't personally have experience with living with a child with ADHD, as a psychologist I've worked extensively with children who do struggle with attention deficits as well as the marked hyperactivity characteristic of the disorder. If not properly understood, ADHD can be confusing and frustrating for all involved - parents, teachers, peers, and of course the child himself.
In the article Washington Family Magazine strongly encourages parents just discovering their child has this diagnosis to educate themselves first and foremost, as this will begin to reduce some of the scariness of the unknown. They also encourage you to examine your own feelings about the disorder - what biases do/did you already have? What stigmas do you associate with it? How do you feel about parenting or teaching a child with ADHD? Once you understand your own feelings this emotionally frees you to offer the support your child really needs. The article then goes on to discuss ways to enhance your child's self-esteem as well as autonomy.
I appreciated this piece because I felt it was one of the more comprehensive articles I've read about ADHD. It normalizes this experience and reminds us that children with learning disabilities, ADHD, and other special needs aren't "wrong" or "bad," they just have different ways of learning, understanding the world, and doing things. I hope others find this article as useful as I did, and I especially hope it provides comfort for parents dealing with their own feelings about loving and living with an ADHD child.
Did you know that Sesame Street is working toward the launch of their 41st season - coming up this fall? It's a very exciting time for all friends and fans of Sesame Street, and there will be lots more to share as the big day arrives! You can "Like" Sesame Street on Facebook to stay updated on Sesame Street announcements, events, and news.
Did you also know that many Sesame Street characters have their own Facebook fan pages as well? You can find them via this link. Elmo's even recorded a custom greeting for his Facebook friends! Sesame Street will be doing some really cool things on those pages over the upcoming months, so be sure to check them out.
In related news, this week is Kyle Massey Week on The Electric Company. All five episodes this week feature him! Watch each episode on PBS, then go to the special Kyle Massey Week homepage on the TEC website for a trivia quiz about each episode, with prizes on Friday! You can also fan The Electric Company on Facebook and follow exciting news and updates there as well.
For many moms, the weeks leading up to the back-to-school season are the most chaotic of the summer as we scramble to run errands and pick up supplies. This week I was invited to a fun, interactive in-store event at Staples, featuring games and giveaways, in which NYC area moms had the opportunity to see what’s new at Staples for the 2010 school year. The event was held in honor of the official First Day of the 2010 Back-to-School Shopping Season, which kicked off July 14.
Our friends at Staples and MomSelect want to make sure parents are spending their summer days in the sun, not combing store aisles for the lowest prices and hard-to-find items. That’s why Staples is committed to making back to school shopping easy, by providing the best deals on everything your family needs for a successful school year. At the event we got an exclusive sneak peek into Staples' fantastic back to school offerings! Store managers along with PR discussed the hottest products and trends for the 2010 back-to-school season. These items are all showcased in their in-store circular flier that highlights penny sales, 25 cents deals, 2 for 1's and other super money-saving deals.
My favorite of their new products is totally the Glam Rocks Collection, which features an adorable, sparkly Glam Rocks Stapler ($4.99), blinged out in crystals and perfect for the "girly girl" student in your life! The Glam Rocks collection also includes Glam Rocks Pens ($4.99) and Glam Rocks Calculators ($4.99). Designs are available in purple floral, pink color fade, royal blue and crystal clear. There were many other cool and (most importantly!) affordable products that you and your kids are sure to love!
Staples and The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways want to give you a head start on your school supplies shopping too! Enter my giveaway and win your own Staples "Back-to-School" Fun Pack, which includes:
Eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner.
The deadline for entries is August 13, 2010.
Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment or it will not count.
Valid for US addresses only; 18 years and above
You can visit your nearest Staples or check out Staples.com for all your back to school needs! To see more photos from the event you can visit my Facebook Page.
Disclaimer: I received a Back-to-School pack and gift cards from Staples and MomSelect to attend this event. No other compensation was provided.
With our expanding family I'm always on the look out for good deals and ways to save money. We certainly don't want to sacrifice the things that we enjoy, such as traveling and going out to eat. Yet, in an ever-changing economy, who doesn't want to keep more money in their pocket? So I'm always happy to learn new money-saving tips and even more eager to pass those tips on to my readers.
Well today my Maryland, DC, and Virginia-area readers are in luck! Washington Family Magazine is now featuring a list of restaurants where your little ones can eat free. Oh yes, you heard me! :-) We're all too familiar with how expensive going out to eat with the entire family can be. Yet, in this sweltering summer heat sometimes we're just not up to spending hours over a hot stove, right moms?
So Washington Family magazine has compiled a list of fun places to take your family to eat that feature a Kids Eat Free menu. Just click here to see what restaurants meet your fancy and begin enjoying this wonderful deal!
You can visit Washington Family Magazine for other great resources and articles about camp and summer fun, family life, baby and toddler care, and health and beauty guides for mom!
Online Poster Printing is once again partnering with The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways to offer you a really neat giveaway of a 24x36 Vinyl Banner with Grommets! Online Poster Printing is an online printing company where you can personalize a wide variety of products with photos, graphics, logos, pictures and personal messages. They specialize in discount banner printing.
There are so many ways to use a vinyl banner but, as an avid blogger, what comes to my mind first is being able to share your brand in a BIG way at various events! There really is no better way to complete your table than by having a thick, vibrant banner sporting your brand! Vinyl banners are perfect not only in our personal lives, but in business settings as well. If you're in a school setting you can have a banner made for your classroom wall or to support the school's sports team. The possibilities are fun and endless!
The generous folks at Online Poster Printing are giving away 1 (ONE) 24x36 Vinyl Banner w/ Grommets to a lucky reader of The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways.
I was quite pleased when I was contacted by Susan Brown's Baby to review her absolutely delectable skin care line for mom and babies. As mom to a toddler I'm always on the look out for natural products to use on his highly sensitive skin. I'm also in my third trimester of pregnancy with my second son, and have been eager to find gentle and soothing skin care products to pamper myself with as well.
After taking a look at all of the wonderful products on the site I decided to enjoy the Dead Sea Salt Foot Soak. I thought this would be a nice way to treat myself in these remaining weeks before baby arrives. To my surprise, my feet have become uncomfortably dry and somewhat swollen over the last couple weeks - something I did not experience with my first son. I just love the idea of a relaxing foot soak in natural mint and tea tree oils to relieve stress while my feet are cooled, soothed, and moisturized. This foot soak sounded like just what I needed. I also really like the ingredients, which include natural essential oil aromatherapy, with Dermatologist tested First Skin™ Emollient Complex.
♥
About Susan Brown's Baby
The pure and gentle luxury products found at Susan Brown's Baby are the result of years of research by her family. Ms. Brown's father, a chemist of over 30 years, produced naturally hydrating cosmetic ingredients for some of the best-known skin care companies in the world, including Estée Lauder®, Chanel®, Clinique®, L’Oreal®, and Neutrogena®. When she was a baby, he would bring home his wonderful oils for her mother to use in the nursery and over the years she has continued to use them to keep her skin soft and smooth. Because they were so effective, Ms. Brown and her mother would give them to friends and family to enjoy. And now she is graciously sharing them with us! The oils and lotions her father had been bringing home since she was a child were the perfect beginning to what has become a gentle skin care line for babies and moms.
For additional information about Susan Brown's Baby visit the Facebook Page.
***Use coupon code PRISSY through the end of August to get 20% off.***
Bambino Balls has teamed up with The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways to offer two of my readers a really fun giveaway of an adorable sports-themed onesie! Bambino Balls is an online shop that specializes in sports clothing for babies and toddlers! It's a great way to dress up your kids in your favorite sports theme while also sharing your love of the game.
As mom to two boys and wife of one major sports fanatic I was excited to come across Bambino Balls. The onesie designs are bright and vibrant, and look just like your favorite sports ball. Truthfully, I think my husband was more excited than me to put our sons in these totally cool sports outfits. :-)
Bambino Balls outfits come in sizes Newborn, Small, Medium and Large, which makes them a perfect fit for my 18-month old son as well as my newborn due in August! My husband and I plan to dress the boys up in their sports onesies at our next game-viewing party!
About Bambino Balls
Founder Clint Greenleaf is a sports fanatic who came up with the idea for Bambino Balls while holding his daughter in the "football" position. "The pink outfit she was wearing just didn’t seem to fit," he notes. He looked for a brown onesie to make her look like a football but couldn’t find one! As an entrepreneur, Clint decided to start a company that made sports themed baby clothes... and Bambino Balls came to fruition!
***Use Discount Code PRISSY for 10.00% off all items***
This week there will be 2 (TWO) winners. The generous folks at Bambino Balls have agreed to give away the sports-themed onesie of your choice
MyDFWMommyin collaboration with Pampersis throwing a Twitter "Viewing" Party in celebration of Pampers' new series "Welcome to Parenthood." The Viewing Party will take place Tuesday, July 13 at 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT.
This exciting NEW series premiered on Pampers.com on July 5, with all new episodes posting each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. "Welcome to Parenthood" captures the experiences and emotions behind three couples' journeys through various stages of parenthood. The series can also be viewed on the official Pampers Facebook page.
Make sure to watch the first 3 episodes by July 13, as there will be trivia questions asked and awesome prizes (ranging from $50-$100 gift cards!) given away throughout the hour. Follow the party hosts @PampersVillage and @mydfwmommy. We will be partying under hashtag: #PampersParenthood.
I hope to see you there! :-)
Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a prize in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place.
CocoaBabies has introduced an adorable NEW collection of kids' placemats that are sure to make mealtime fun. These placemats come in a variety of fun, colorful themes and styles that can be personalized at no additional charge. They feature an easy to clean surface and are also great to fit in the diaper bag for use on the go!
CocoaBabies is an online clothing boutique that specializes in customized apparel and accessories for kids and adults. I'm currently running a contest and giving away three CocoaBabies onesies, so don't miss out on your chance to enter to win!
***This week only use coupon code "shipfb" for FREE shipping on all orders.***
BSM Media and Parigi Fashion hosted a focus group for children's fashion at the Parigi showroom in NYC. I was invited to take part in this intimate group of mom bloggers, where we sat with fashion designers, consultants, marketers and buyers to discuss what we like and don't like in children's clothing, with regards to both functionality and fashion. At the event marketers showcased Parigi Fashion's many popular brands including: DKNY Girls, Baby Phat Girls, Apple Bottom Girls, Puma Girls/Boys, LRG Boys and Akademiks Boys.
After the focus group I was given the opportunity to review a 3-piece infant outfit that is simply adorable. The ruffled skirt is so sweet and girly, and the striped tee with 3/4 length sleeve hoodie perfect for the summer time (as every shop and restaurant has their AC blasting, and of course babies/tots do get chilly faster). You can check out my 1-year-old niece modeling her new Apple Bottoms outfit below!
What I love about Parigi Fashion is that they bring together a perfect blend of style and comfort, and that's important to me as a mom of two boys, and auntie to a niece and nephew.
To learn more about Parigi Fashion visit their Facebook Page! You can also follow Parigi Fashion on Twitter!
The Giveaway!!!
Parigi Fashion would like to give 1 (ONE) reader of The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveawaysthe opportunity to experience a Parigi Fashion for herself!
Item Description: (pictured above) The 3 Piece Set Hoodie, Striped Tee, Skooter by Apple Bottoms features a 3/4 sleeve hoodie with full zipper closure, embroidered detail on chest, 2 hand pockets with lurex script logo on left side, ribbed knit trim on sleeves and hem, large stitching of apple on back Tee: All-over striped design, embroidered detail on collar, lurex apple on chest, capped sleeves with elastic casing, slight ruching on shoulders Skooter: 3-pockets, button/ zipper fly closure, lurex apple near hem, designer initials embroidered on back right side, pieced lace ruffle trim on hem, elastic waistband, and interior bloomers.
♥ Follow me via Google Friends Connect ♥ Leave a brief review of my blog on Amazon for Kindle ♥ Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site ♥ Tweet this giveaway and make sure to @ThePrissyMommy ♥ Subscribe to my updates.
Rules:
♥ Eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner.
♥
The deadline for entries is July 19, 2010. ♥ Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment or it will not count. ♥ Valid for US addresses only.
Good luck!
Disclaimer:I received a $100 Macy's gift card to attend this focus group and one Apple Bottoms infant outfit to review this product. No other compensation was provided.
School is out and the kids are so excited that summer is here, but it won't be long until you hear the infamous, "I'm bored" from your little ones. Primrose Schools, the leader in educational child care, recommends encouraging imaginative play and having a plan in place to keep children's minds engaged during the summer months. Studies show that, without stimulation, children can lose up to 60 percent of what they learned during the school year.
That's why Dr. Mary Zurn, VP of Education for Primrose, has come up with a list of fun and affordable ideas as a starting point for summer activities that offer a balance between the freedom of child-initiated play time and more structured activities.
1. Boredom Buster Jar: At the beginning of the summer, sit down with your family and brainstorm a list of activities that can be done alone or that you can enjoy doing together. Encourage your children to share their own ideas and help you decorate and label a simple jar as the family "Boredom Buster Jar." They'll feel more involved in the project and more likely to think this is a "neat" idea, if they participate in the creation and idea generation. Next, write everyone's ideas down on slips of paper and as a group decide which ones should go in the jar. Anyone in the family can pull any idea out of the jar to fight the summertime boredom blues.
2. Stories Alive: It sounds too simple, but reading is one of the most important waysto keep young minds engaged during the summer.Make reading even more fun by finding ways to bring the stories to life. For example, in the book Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, children create a make-believe town in the desert out of rocks, boxes, and their imaginations. Read the book with your children and then challenge them to create their own town with materials they find in the backyard.
3. Art Start Box: You'll need to gather basic art supplies-child safe scissors, glue, markers, tape and construction paper. Put them in a special box along with empty oatmeal boxes and paper towel rolls, colorful magazines and bits of aluminum foil. Occasionally add a special surprise like chalk, stickers, or stamp pads so there's always something new for the children to find. Even if you normally have these supplies around the house, it's fun for children to know that the Art Start Box is just for them. They'll probably have some good ideas of other household items that can be recycled to fuel their creative energies.
4. Family Performances: Break out old clothes or costumes and encourage children to make up characters and create a play to act out. They are the directors, actors, and producers. They can also make musical instruments out of pots/pans, wooden spoons, empty canisters and have a parade; or everyone can play along to your family's favorite songs. Record or video the performances, and enjoy the replay. You'll also be capturing a bit of family history everyone will enjoy for years to come.
5. Family Dance Party: Crank up the music and encourage your entire family to boogie down. Dancing gives children a great outlet for self-expression through their own motion and helps build self-esteem. It also enhances motor and coordination development by incorporating skills like jumping, landing and leaping. Dancing is a great activity that can involve the whole family and doesn't take very much preparation.
6. Fort Building: Children love to build all kinds of structures--from small towns to large towers. Constructing forts or tents is an activity that can keep children focused and problem solving for hours. All the items you need can be found around the house- some chairs, cushions, blankets, and of course adult supervision.
7. Cookbook Fun: Have you ever shared your favorite cookbook with your children? Take it out and ask your children to choose a recipe to try. Measuring can be a fun and easy way to keep math skills fresh.
8. Summer Scrapbook: All you need for this project is a spiral notebook. Encourage everyone in the family to draw pictures of favorite activities and collect mementos from special events throughout the summer. Children love to go back through scrapbooks and albums and tell about what happened at each occasion. They will also be building their storytelling skills at the same time.
9. Listening Game: Lie down in the backyard, in the den or at the park and listen. What do you hear? Do you hear what I hear? Can you imitate the sound? This is similar to watching the clouds and naming the shapes, and it encourages everyone to slow down and focus on listening.
10. Camping Out: Pretend to campout in the backyard. Plan a meal, pack a backpack and set up a campsite. You might even decide to spend the night!
11. Scavenger Hunt: Make a list or picture cards of common household items and have your children find the items on the list. Invite friends or neighbors to join in the fun to make it a competition.
To find these and other great tips for parents, check out Dr. Zurn's blog at DrZandme.com. And don't forget to grab Dr. Z's Widget while you're there!
CSN Stores has once again given me the opportunity to review an item from one of their over 200 online stores. After I was invited to participate in this review I began to browse through CSN Stores and discovered everything from toys to curtains,sofas to designer shoes, and so much more!
It was difficult to choose an item from a store that really seems to have it "all," but I thought carefully about what I needed. Well my son recently turned 18 months and one tangible sign that he is leaving babyhood behind is that he's beginning to alert us when he feels the urge to go to the bathroom, or just after he's had a bowel movement. All the literature suggests that now is a good time to start keeping a potty seat around so he can gradually get used to the idea of using it. We don't intend to push him, however - we've decided to let him continue showing us signs that he's ready to take this big boy step! But meanwhile, I decided that the item I would review would be a potty.
There were many pages of potties to choose from on the CSN Stores website, with varying price ranges. After poring through each page and reading descriptions I selected the Primo 4-In-1 Soft Seat Toilet Trainer and Step Stool, which is a graduated four stage toilet training system. Out of all the potties available I think it looks most similar to an actual toilet seat, and I also like the 4-stage system:
Stage One: Use as stand-alone potty with extra large easy to clean pot Stage Two: Use Soft Seat toilet reducer and step stool on adult toilet Stage Three: Use step stool at bathroom sink Stage Four: Travel with Soft Seat toilet reducer
I did have a few questions about the potty that hadn't been answered via the item description, so I called the fully staffed 800 number and spoke with a CSN Stores associate. I was extremely impressed with how friendly, knowledgeable, and warm she was. When she didn't have a particular answer, she placed me on hold for under 2 minutes and then came back with additional information.
I also informed the sales associate that I had found the Primo Potty on another site for a slightly lesser price. I was quickly informed that CSN Stores is always willing to price match your product. She directed me to the online Price Matching form, which I filled out with the information I had found, including a link. A new offer was sent to me within one day! Bargain shopper that I am I was quite pleased by this. :-) I also appreciate that CSN Stores has a 30 day return policy for most items (excluding the potty I ordered, which is perfectly understandable!) and free shipping on most items. To my surprise, the potty for my son arrived within two days of placing the order! We just received it on Friday and I am eager to begin experimenting with potty-training.
I am now a loyal fan of CSN Stores, as my experiences have been nothing but positive thus far. If you're looking for stellar customer service, first-quality products, and a huge variety to choose from, I urge you to take your shopping needs to CSN Stores as well.
CocoaBabies has teamed up with The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways to offer my readers a very special giveaway of an adorable CocoaBabies onesie! CocoaBabies is an online boutique that specializes in providing customers with creative and stylish clothing with messages that are positive and inspiring!
I was delighted to discover CocoaBabies as my husband and I are always searching for children's apparel that will enhance and promote positive self-esteem in our little one. I remember, at my baby shower, receiving a onesie that said "My daddy is an a**hole," and another that depicted a baby drinking beer. I was aghast at those gifts, which I'm sure were meant to be humorous, but completely undermined all that my husband and I are trying to instill in our children. CocoaBabies' clothing and accessories promote self-pride, going to college, public service-based sororities and fraternities, black love, and so much more. I love CocoaBabies not only because their clothing is attractive, trendy, and first-quality, but because I whole-heartedly believe in the mission of founder, Nia Tillet.
♥
About the Brand
CocoaBabies was birthed from the creative efforts of Nia Tillett, a native of Buffalo, NY,
who was inspired to create clothing that projected positive messages as an alternative
to the inappropriate messages we see all too often on our children of color. In 2005,
Cornbread Fed and Pretty Little Brown Girl were the first designs launched. The
response was outstanding and led to the rapid expansion into a full line of clothing for
both adults and children. CocoaBabies understands the importance of introducing positive images to today’s young people and strives to do
just that with their unique and creative designs.
This week there will be 3 (THREE) winners. The generous folks at
♥ Follow me via Google Friends Connect ♥ Leave a brief review of my blog on Amazon for Kindle ♥ Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site ♥ Tweet this giveaway and make sure to @ThePrissyMommy ♥ Subscribe to my updates.
Rules:
♥ Eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner.
♥ The deadline for entries is July 19, 2010.
♥ Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment or it will not count. ♥ Valid for US addresses only.
Good luck!
Disclaimer: I received two infant onesies and an adult tee so that I could review this product. No other compensation was provided.
A short while ago BSM Media and Parigi Fashion hosted a focus group for children's fashion at the Parigi showroom in NYC. I was invited to be a part of this intimate group of mom bloggers, where we sat with fashion designers, consultants, marketers and buyers to discuss what we like and don't like in children's clothing, with regards to both functionality and fashion. It was an exciting time and I felt like I really had a hand in helping them cultivate the next generation of designs for their consumers.
Maria Bailey, BSM Media, showing infant fashions by Puma
You're no doubt familiar with Parigi Fashion, as they have multiple brands including: DKNY Girls, Baby Phat Girls, AppleBottom Girls, Puma Girls/Boys, LRG Boys and Akademiks Boys. What I really like about Parigi Fashion is that they bring together a perfect blend of "coolness" and "comfort," and that's important to me as a mom of (soon-to-be) two boys, and auntie to a niece and nephew. I know all too well how rough and tumble kids can be when they play (especially toddler boys!) so I tend to look for clothes that are durable but also fun and attractive to wear. I also appreciate it when kids "look their age," if you know what I mean? I think Parigi Fashions does a fine job of creating quality, stylish, and age-appropriate looks for kids.
I had the opportunity to review some of the kids' clothing from the Parigi Fashion line, and I chose to have a special outfit sent to my little niece to try out. The outfit they sent her was adorable, and she wore it for her 1st birthday celebration a couple weeks back. The ruffled skirt was so sweet and girly, and the top with 3/4 length sleeve hoodie just perfect for the summer time, as every shop and restaurant has their AC up way high! My sister and her husband enjoyed this fun, AppleBottom toddler outfit very much and send thanks to BSM Media and Parigi Fashions for partnering with The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways!
To learn more about Parigi Fashion visit their Facebook Page! You can also follow Parigi Fashion on Twitter!
I was honored to be invited by TLC Book Tours to take part in a virtual book tour for an African American author, Thomas Chatterton Williams, who's written a book entitled Losing My Cool: How a Father's Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-hop Culture. I immediately felt this book was a good fit for my blog, as I discuss parenting to a little boy living in NYC, where the glorification of a hip-hop lifestyle is rampant among young people. Although my son is just a toddler now, I know that he'll soon be old enough to begin recognizing hip-hop icons. It's certainly important to my husband and I that he gain an appreciation for the culture, but in moderation, as there are so many other positive cultures we'd like him to take from as well.
The book sounded really interesting to me and I was intrigued. I wish I personally had the time to read it but, unfortunately, I wasn't able to commit to that. However, I shared the invitation with my husband, Derek, who is a voracious reader! He's often stated that, were he not a corporate lawyer, his ideal job would be to own a small, used bookstore where (between customers) he could sit amongst his books and just read all day. Well Derek's interest was peaked by the synopsis and he was eager for the opportunity to read and review it. So we joined forces and worked together on this review.
About the Book
Like many young men in America, Thomas Chatterton Williams grew up in awe of Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, and the parade of bling-bedecked rap stars he saw on Black Entertainment Television and MTV. Williams emulated their lifestyle—sporting chains, diamonds, and expensive designer clothes purchased for him by his girlfriends, who were themselves little more than accessories for Williams. In public, Williams lived the street life exalted in his favorite rap anthems, yet at the end of the day he returned to a home literally crammed with thousands of books, each carefully studied and underlined by his father “Pappy,” who revered learning and critical thinking above all else.
In Losing My Cool: How a Father’s Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-hop Culture, Williams recounts how he juggled these two disparate lifestyles—“keeping it real” in his friends’ eyes while honing an appreciation for literature and learning under his father’s strict tutelage. Pappy grew up in the segregated South, where he hid in closets so he could read Aesop and Plato. He encouraged his son to read and think deeply, and to embrace the opportunities that had not been available to his own generation.
In Williams’ teen years, the stakes of the hip-hop lifestyle escalated and the gap between street life and home life became ever-wider. He was accepted to Georgetown University and as his old friends remained entrenched in the value system of hip-hop—which exalted money, hoes, and clothes—Williams looked beyond it for the first time. His college classmates introduced him to new things, like wine, jazz, baguettes, and wanting to be the smartest person in the room. And Williams realized he had more to gain from being open to these things, things that his friends from home wouldn’t consider “real,” than all the money his friends dreamed of earning as rap superstars.
Derek's Review
Losing My Cool is an insightful, candid and very personal memoir by Thomas Chatterton Williams that relates how the music, style and, dare I say, culture of hip-hop informed the world-view, behavior and self-perceptions of he and his peers growing up in a New Jersey suburb during the 1990's. As anyone who has ever listened to hip hop (either willingly or unwillingly) can attest, much of the commercially viable hip hop, particularly that which contains graphic sexual and violent content, normalizes what is commonly considered aberrant, anti-social and, oftentimes, criminal behavior. Williams deftly and effortlessly shifts voices between the impressionable acolyte, bowing before the altar of hip-hop as he dutifully internalizes its laws and mores, and the astute, reflective and even self-admonishing observer who is keenly aware of the deleterious effect that hip-hop is having on himself and all who co-opt its behavioral imperatives. Fortunately, Williams is able to counterbalance the ubiquitous hip-hop music and imagery that saturates his environment with antithetical points of reference introduced to him and reinforced by his father. He is consequently able to view the genre from a perspective that is, in large part, inaccessible to his less reflective peers.
Losing My Cool is a valuable read for any parent raising a child with functioning eyes and ears or who happens to live in a home that has either a television or a radio. Williams shares anecdotes from his life that are at times comical, at times eyebrow-raising, but always entertaining and instructive. This is a fast-paced, smart book that is well worth reading.
Losing My Cool is available on Amazon and you can connect with the author through the following channels:
A couple months back my family and I attended Wild, Wild World: Awake at Night at the American Museum of Natural History, a really neat event that featured live animals! It was a fun and affordable family event, and my toddler son had an amazing time. The AMNH often has great children's programs, and your kids' summer vacay is the perfect time to take advantage of these cool, educational adventures! The next Wild Wild World show will feature penguins!
WHAT: Wild, Wild World: Live Penguins
Find out everything you ever wanted to know about penguins at the July 10 Wild, Wild World program, where you’ll be able to see and interact with a live Black-Footed Penguin. Jarod Miller, host of nationally syndicated television series “Animal Exploration with Jarod Miller” will discuss the habitats and behaviors of these “extreme climate” animals, including surprising facts about where they live and what kind of parents they make. Come with questions and be prepared to march away experts!
WHEN: Saturday, July 10, 11 am–noon and 1–2 pm
WHERE: Linder Theater, first floor American Museum of Natural History
You may remember in January when I blogged about Build-A-Bear Workshop's search for a Huggable Hero. Each year for the past seven years Build-A-Bear Workshop, through its Huggable Heroes program, has searched for young leaders who make positive contributions in their communities or around the world. Today, more than ever, young people are stepping up to make a difference in communities near and far, and it's been Build-A-Bear's mission to recognize the efforts of these special children.
This year more than 1,000 nominations were received for the 2010 program. After narrowing the field down to 75 semifinalists and 25 finalists, Build-A-Bear Workshop is excited to announce the 10 Huggable Heroes for 2010.
This year’s class of Huggable Heroes is tackling a variety of issues from illiteracy, poverty and feeding the hungry, to inspiring youth to volunteer, raising funds to help cure diseases, supplying items for military troops and toys for children in need. Collectively, they have spent 650 hours a month volunteering and raised funds and gathered items valued at more than $22.5 million.
Each Huggable Hero receives $10,000 ($7,500 educational scholarship and $2,500 to donate to charity). In addition, these amazing and very deserving kids get to visit St. Louis, home of the Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters, to be honored for their awesome deeds!
You can click here to read more about the 2010 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes and their causes. Also, be sure to keep your eyes open for details about next year’s search for Huggable Heroes. Any youth community service leader between the ages of 8-18 is eligible to be the next Huggable Hero - and it may just be your son or daughter!
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