A Favorite Family Photo

Every year around this time, I try to get a picture of the kids to use for our holiday cards.  I usually have already picked out our card design on Shutterfly since I like Shutterfly's selection for our Christmas cards and I am if not anything else, a creature of habit (or as I like to say a person who just likes traditions).  On my side of the family, someone usually gets some kind of photo gifts also and Shutterfly has a large selection of items that would appeal to any grandparent or aunt or uncle.  One year I got a photo jigsaw puzzle for my grandfather and magnets for other family members.

This is usually the best I can do:

After trying for a few days (never in a row since I would go crazier than I already am),  I usually admit defeat and we find ourselves sitting in some studio somewhere waiting amid other families in their holiday best to get their family portraits done.  My attempts in recent years to just get the girls' pictures turns into a family portrait by then.


This summer after finding out that an acquaintance who I got to know through our local mom's group (before her family moved to Florida) was coming up and doing mini photo sessions, I immediately booked a mini session.  She is immensely talented and her photos are stunning.  She is the owner of Maria Felton Photography.  I was hoping and praying that Ryan would have arrived by then (it was about two weeks before I was due) but alas he didn't arrive until almost a week after he was due (of course). 

 (I need a new frame that doesn't cut off so much of my husband's head!)

One thing I learned on this day was that the best picture isn't always the one where everyone is looking at the camera and sitting perfectly still.  This picture totally captured Maddie's personality and Emmy's silly smile which is why we fell in love with it and why it is now on our mantel. Madison has a thing for monkeys which isn't a surprise to anyone who sees this photo since she is practically upside down. 

This photo session was also fun since it was about capturing our family naturally outside.  We were in the alley behind the Crayola Factory (one of the girls' favorite places) in Easton where The Purple Cow Creamery is located.  Music was playing from the School of Rock on the corner and amazingly, there were no tears for once.  It seems someone always has a meltdown when we get our pictures done in a studio.  Emily also loved that Maria had her singing and being silly (which she is quite good at)! They were also able to move around instead of being cooped up inside.  It probably didn't hurt that we bribed the kids with ice cream from the Creamery afterwards either.  

What is your favorite family photo?

This month Shutterfly is planning "Family Photo Days" to help families capture the perfect holiday picture to use in creating their holiday cards.  It is also to help make consumers aware of Shutterfly's line of holiday cards.  Some of the activities they have planned include helping people host Family Photo Days, a downloadable toolkit with lots of creative tips on capturing the perfect holiday picture, and you can even enter their Holiday Photo Contest and receive 5 free cards just for entering (if you win you get a year's worth of free cards).

This week I am going to try again using some of the tips Shutterfly provided in their toolbox to try to get a holiday card worthy picture all on my own.  I even bought Santa hats for all three kids and I am going to try to take a pinwheel shot with all three kids lying down and looking up outside since it is so warm out this week.  Hopefully, I'll be able to have the patience to try to get the perfect shot.

Have you started your holiday cards yet?  If not, what are you waiting for?

I was compensated with 50 cards from Shutterfly for participating in their "Family Photo Days" promotion.  All opinions are my own.

Betty Crocker Review & Giveaway

Need something to go with a warm glass of cocoa?   What about a way to use up some of that extra Halloween candy?

With busy schedules, we can't always bake from scratch and for those of us not baking extraordinaires and maybe somewhat cooking challenged, we rely on box mixes.  New Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie Mix from Betty Crocker© can help you whip up a treat in no time at all.

I made these brownies last weekend just in time for the snowstorm that buried the east coast in snow. My family loves to make "loaded" brownies with whatever I have on hand.  I added peanut butter and semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter with a pretzel crust.  The kids (and adults) loved them.  With all the Halloween chocolate that we now have in the pantry I can put some of my children's favorite chocolate bars in the food processor, chop them up, and then add them to my next batch of brownie mix.

For some original recipe ideas using a boxed brownie mix, check out the Betty Crocker website.

To help you whip up some chocolatey goodess in your kitchen, Betty Crocker and MyBlogSpark have teamed up and one lucky TPMG reader will win a Betty Crocker Prize Pack containing a brownie pan, a mixing spoon, a Betty Crocker apron, and a box of Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie Mix.

Enter to win a Betty Crocker Prize Pack (a brownie pan, a mixing spoon, a Betty Crocker apron, and a box of Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie Mix)

Mandatory Entry (Must be completed for all other entries to be valid): For whom do you plan on baking Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownies?

To receive additional entries:

*Become a follower of TPMG (if you already follow just leave a comment that you do) (1 entry)

*Become a fan of Betty Crocker and/or TPMG on Facebook and leave a comment here that you have done so (1 entry each)

 *Follow Betty Crocker and/or TPMG on twitter and leave a comment here that you have done so (1 entry each)

*Tweet (maximum of once daily) about this giveaway and don't forget to leave your twitter name

Copy and paste: Win a Betty Crocker Prize Pack Giveaway at #TPMG (ends 11/20) http://bit.ly/vzuBAC (1 entry per tweet)

*Add The Practical Mom Guide to your blogroll or display the blog button (5 entries)

*Post about this giveaway on your blog (5 entries)

This giveaway will end on Sunday, November 20, 2011. I will announce the winner on November 21st here at The Practical Mom Guide. All winners are chosen randomly. If I am unable to contact the winner or they do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Contest only open to U.S. residents.

Good luck and thank you for participating!

*Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark provided TPMG with a prize pack to review and a prize pack to use in the giveaway.  All opinions are my own.

CafePress Review & $60 CafePress GC Giveaway

Spring is right around the corner and now that I am finally back from vacation what better way to end the week than with a review and giveaway!

Do you like to express yourself through personalized products that you can design yourself?  CafePress is the online source for funny t-shirts, cool aprons and millions of other personalized gifts!

Recently I had the chance to review several items from CafePress.

I liked the vintage look of the "Street Sign" Large Thermos Bottle.  It isn't something my husband would be embarrassed to be seen toting around either.  Best of all you can put hot or cold beverages inside to keep them hot or cold for 24 hours which is nice.  Most of our stainless steel bottles are only for cold beverages.

Does your refrigerator look like mine with the kids' art everywhere?  I love whimsical magnets to hang the girls' art.  How could I resist this colorful fantasy Mermaid and Catfish No. 1 Magnet?

I also love anything practical such as this Dirty/Clean Dishwasher Magnet for the door of the dishwasher.  Unfortunately, my dishwasher door is not magnetic so I improvised and keep it in my laundry room so I know if the baskets on top of the washing machine are full of dirty or clean laundry.

When I was in school I always had buttons on my jean jacket or backpack.  These colorful buttons made me smile.  They were called the Happy Owl Mini Button and the Japanese Ume Mini Button. I put them on my backpack that I use when I travel. Of course, as soon as Emily saw them she wanted them for herself.

CafePress also has fun t-shirts. Below are some of my favorites.  The first one is a March Madness t-shirt and since the only time I follow basketball is when my husband brings home that sheet with brackets for me to fill out I couldn't help but find this shirt fitting.  Whenever I see leprechauns or shamrocks I always think of those Lucky Charms commericals and I just love sock monkeys which is why I included that last one. 

Pics of tee's courtesy of CafePress site

When I visited their site I literally spent about two hours just browsing. The have products for every occasion and to suit everyone that you need to buy a gift for. Seriously, if you are stumped about what to buy a friend, family member, or colleague for a present, you'll get some fabulous ideas here.

CafePress is offering one lucky TPMG reader a $60 GC to their online store.

Enter to win a $60 CafePress GC

Mandatory Entry (Must be completed for all other entries to be valid): Visit CafePress and leave a comment here with an item that you would like to buy.

To receive additional entries:

*Become a follower or a subscriber of The Practical Mom Guide and if you already do so just leave a comment stating that you already follow (1 entry)

*Enter another giveaway here at TPMG and leave a comment with the giveaway you entered (2 entries/giveaway)

*Become a fan of TPMG and/or CafePress on Facebook (1 entry each)

 *Follow TPMG and/or CafePress on twitter (1 entry each)

*Tweet (maximum of once daily) about this giveaway and don't forget to leave your twitter name

Copy and paste: $60 CafePress GC #giveaway at #TPMG http://bit.ly/gLXJat (Ends 3/18). (1 entry per tweet)

*Add The Practical Mom Guide to your blogroll or display our button (5 entries)

*Post about this giveaway on your blog (5 entries)

This giveaway will end on Friday, March 18, 2011. I will announce the winner on March 19th here at The Practical Mom Guide. All winners are chosen randomly. If I am unable to contact the winner or they do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Contest only open to U.S. residents.

Good luck and thank you for participating!

*I was provided with $60 in CafePress products by CafePress to review and they have graciously offered a $60 GC to one lucky TPMG reader.

Purex Insider Purex Complete Crystals Softener Review & Giveaway (3 winners)

I recently became a Purex Insider so I have the opportunity to bring you news on Purex products.  They recently launched a new product called Purex Complete Crystals Softener™ that is just going on sale in stores starting this month.

 

  Facts about this new product:

• 92% natural and not oil-based like other fabric softeners
• Safe for use in Standard and High Efficiency (HE) washing machines
• No oily residue which means no interfering with your towels ability to absorb water, safe to use on children's sleepwear since it does not hinder the fabric's flame retardant ability, and it does not affect the ability of wicking fabrics like those in sportswear to do their job
• Easy to use (just throw in with your clothing at the start of the wash cycle)
• Will keep your whites from yellowing or graying
• Available in three new scents: Fresh Spring waters™ , Lavender Blossom™ , and Tropical Splash™
• Priced around $3.99-$5.99 and available nationwide at food, drug, and mass retailers 

I had been sent a sample of the Purex Complete Crystals Softener in the Fresh Spring Water scent.  I was a little worried about sprinkling the crystals in with my laundry because I feared I would have stains on my clothes where they came into contact with the fabric.  When I took my laundry out, my laundry not only looked clean but it smelled fresh.  The scent while the clothing was wet was a little strong but after a cycle in the dryer it came out smelling lightly scented.  Since I am sensitive to smells, I liked that it wasn't a cloying or overwhelming scent.  

I also liked that the fabric softener is primarily natural and that it doesn't impede the ability of fabrics to do their job.  As a mom concerned with taking care of the items we buy and trying to make them last as long as possible, I like products that help me with this goal.

Not being a fan of dryer sheets (which I have a tendency to not pull out when I get the clothing out of the dryer and which I find days later inside clothes), I prefer using fabric softener to help keep our clothes static free.  The crystals are very easy to use and I liked being able to just throw them in at the beginning of the wash cycle and then go about doing other things. 

Want to try them for yourself?

Purex Complete Crystals Softener Giveaway (3 winners)

Three winners will recieve a coupon for a free 28 oz. bottle of Purex Complete Crystals Softener.

Mandatory entry (if you do not complete this entry all others will be void):  Share your favorite laundry tip or share your favorite thing about doing laundry!  

To receive additional entries:

*Become a follower or a subscriber of The Practical Mom Guide and if you already do so just leave a comment stating that you already follow (1 entry)

*Follow TPMG and/or Purex on twitter (1 entry each)

*Become a fan of TPMG and/or Purex on Facebook (1 entry each)

*Tweet (maximum of once daily) about this giveaway and don't forget to leave your twitter name

Copy and paste:  Purex Complete Crystals Softener Giveaway at #TPMG. 3 winners http://bit.ly/hYSPis  (1 entry per tweet)

*Add The Practical Mom Guide to your blogroll or display our button (5 entries)

*Post about this giveaway on your blog (5 entries)

This giveaway will end on Sunday, January 30, 2010. I will announce the winner on January 31st here at The Practical Mom Guide. If I am unable to contact the winner or they do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Contest only open to U.S. residents.

Good luck and thanks for participating! 

I am a Purex Insider and was provided with a sample of the Purex Complete Crystals Softener and coupons to give away to my readers courtesy of Purex.

Chex Party Mix Prize Pack Giveaway

If your like me, you entertain a lot during the holidays.  I like to have a few favorite things in my pantry and cupboards to whip up some easy recipes whenever we have guests. 

Chex makes it easy with lots of Chex Party Mix recipes to choose from based on what I have in my pantry.  Their recipes are divided into categories that make it easy to find something for everyone including salty, sweet, 15 minute recipes, gluten free, and even tasty desserts.

Some of my favorites:

• The Original Chex Party Mix
• Chili & Garlic Chex Mix
• Buttery Trail Mix (this one is under the sweet category and who can go wrong with a recipe that has M&Ms)
• Chex Cookie Pizza

Next time you are at your local Wal-mart check for free recipes cards for Chex Apple Pie Snack Mix, Tex Chex Party Mix, and Chex Lemon Buddies.

Want to make Chex Party Mix yourself?  TPMG is giving away a Chex Party Mix Prize Pack that includes a stylish tote bag, a set of measuring cups, and one box of rice Chex.

Mandatory entry (if you do not complete this entry all others will be void): Leave a comment about your favorite Chex Party Mix. (1 entry)

To receive additional entries:

*Become a follower or a subscriber of The Practical Mom Guide and if you already do so just leave a comment stating that you already follow (1 entry)

*Follow TPMG on twitter (1 entry each)

*Become a fan of TPMG on Facebook (1 entry each)

*Tweet (maximum of once daily) about this giveaway and don't forget to leave your twitter name

Copy and paste: Win a Chex Party Mix Prize Pack at #TPMG. Ends 12/31. http://bit.ly/eEMIBf  (1 entry per tweet)

*Add The Practical Mom Guide to your blogroll or display our button (5 entries)

*Post about this giveaway on your blog (5 entries)

This giveaway will end on Friday, December 31, 2010. I will announce the winner on January 1st here at The Practical Mom Guide. If I am unable to contact the winner or they do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Contest only open to U.S. residents.

Good luck and thanks for participating! 

  

*This giveaway was provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.  I also was provided a Chex Party Mix Prize Pack in order to faciliate this review/giveaway.

The Hunt for Holiday Cards Begins Now

I had friends send us baby announcements earlier this year.  I remember oohing and awwing over how stinkin' adorable they were.  I don't even remember who I went through to get ours.  It turned out she had did them through Shutterfly.  In the past, I had only ever used Shutterfly to make photo books. 

It turns out they have a huge selection of cards-including holiday cards.  Are you like me and already starting to think about those holiday cards and what pictures you're going to use or maybe where you are going to go to get them done?

I usually try to have all of my cards printed, in envelopes, addressed, and ready to mail by Thanksgiving.  I've already started scoping out the designs and looking through pictures.  This year I am even printing the address labels to so I don't have to write out the addresses year after year. No more writing cramp! Not to mention that my handwriting gets sloppier every year.

The best thing about holiday photo cards is you get to personalize each card with a message and your family's name.  You pick the pictures.  You pick the design and customize the card how you like.  That means no having to write a message inside each and every card or having to sign your cards.   Lots of time saved. But it is still personal.  It just seems like the perfect compromise for our family. 

My Favorites!

As I was browsing through their site, I looked at the invitations for the holidays and they actually had Thanksgiving invitations.  I loved the idea of sending everyone a fun invite with all the information because we always spend time calling around (or my mother-in-law does).  This would also make it a little more festive. My favorite was the Happy Turkey invite. I could just picture a cute pic of the girls playing in the leaves on the card.  Best of all they are only about $.32 per card.

Tell me this isn't the cutest!

Each year we (including my sister-in-law's family) get my father-in-law a calendar with all the birthdays and special events written inside.  Shutterfly allows you to personalize the photo calendars with not only photos but also special dates so no more having to handwrite them. 

Shutterfly is constantly offering deals so it pays to constantly check out their site if you have something in mind that you want to purchase. Right now they have 20% off  calendars, cards, address labels, mugs, stationary gifts, ornaments, and select gifts.  They also have up to 30% off photo books and free shipping on orders over $30 with the code SHIP30.

*Disclosure: I will be receiving 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly.

Bounce Dryer Bar Review

I love the smell of dryer sheets.  I am not a fan of doing laundry but I can honestly say if I had a favorite part, it would be pulling the clothes out of the dryer and inhaling their clean scent.  Of course, I am kind of bad about remembering to put in the dryer sheets.

I recently reviewed the Bounce Dryer Bar and was a little leery of the fact that I was going to be placing what looked like a heavily scented bar of soap into my dryer (with my clothes). 

It was easy to install.  All I had to do was clean an area in the dryer between the dryer fins, peel off the backing from the bar, and press the side with the adhesive strip onto the drum of the dryer. 

The big question I'm sure your wondering was how did it work?  It worked just like a dryer sheet.  The scent that lingered on the clothes wasn't that overwhelming like I had worried it would be.  None of the clothes were stained or damaged in any way and I left one load in overnight and some of the clothes laid directly on top of the bar.  The clothes were also free of static just like with a dryer sheet. 

The advantage of the bar is that I don't need to remember to put a dryer sheet in with my wet laundry.  The bar should last about 2 months (obviously, how often you use your dryer and the settings you use will affect how long it lasts). When it is time to replace the bar, a replacement indicator will appear. The holder does not need to be replaced-only the bar. 

Would I recommend the Bounce Dryer Bar?  Yes, I would since it does eliminate the need for moms to remember putting in a dryer sheet and then having to search for the dryer sheet when sorting and folding the clean laundry. And just as importantly, it works just as well as a traditional dryer sheet. 

Fresh Produce Review

Imagine enjoying bright colors and the feel and relaxed vibe of the beach all year round.  Fresh Produce women's clothing embodies the spirit of beach living for women and children to enjoy all year long.

The Vernons, owners of Fresh Produce have come a long way since selling t-shirts and jewelry in a parking lot across from where the '84 Summer Olympics were being held in Los Angeles. Today their clothing can be found in Nordstrom's, boutiques, resorts (including Disney), and they also have company-owned stores and factory outlets.

Their clothing is largely made in the United States and they create looks for girls and for women.  Their women's sizes range from XS-3X.

They have some beautiful fall fashion looks.Here are a few of my favorite pieces for the fall:

 

Perfect Day Jacket

 

Pacific Coast Roll-Up Pant

(I would still wear these in the winter with a pair of knee high boots)

 

Villa Thermal Tunic

(I love the color of this top)

Some of my other favorites:

     Baby Rib Island Top

  ME's Crystal Cove Cardigan

(I love the color and the flirty ruffles)

 

Tiered Jersey Skirt

(This would be a great skirt to travel in)

Fresh Produce also sells women's dresses. 

This is me in the Bombay Blooms Party Dress.  The dress appealed to my girly side with the tropical inspired flowered print and the ruffles on the hem and sleeves.  At the same time, it was comfortable and easy to walk in.  After putting it on, there was no tugging or readjusting which is usually what happens when I put a dress on.

The ankle length dress had slits on the sides up to the knee and it fit comfortably.  I threw a sweater on over the dress and wore my favorite brown leather flats (which would definitely be replaced by sandals in the summertime) since it was a cool day. This is the kind of dress I could easily wear all day without any worries. 

Fresh Produce creates the type of clothing that will make you feel good when you wear them.  Their clothes are clothes you can go out in or sit around in relaxing.  Above all, these are clothes you can be yourself in. 


I was sent the Bombay Blooms Party Dress by Fresh Produce in order to faciliate this review.  All opinions are my own. No other compensation has been or will be recieved.

Lisa Leonard Designs Jewelry Review and Giveaway

Want to start the week on a great note?  How about with some beautiful jewelry?

I had received a gift certificate for Lisa Leonard Designs a few months ago.  Lisa Leonard is a talented jewelry designer and mom of two boys from CA.  When browsing the beautiful jewelry on her site, I fell in love with her beautiful sterling silver hand-stamped jewelry.  I loved the idea of carrying something with me to remind me of my family during the day. 

Here are a few of my favorite custom pieces from her site:

 

Family Crest Necklace

Family Tree Necklace

She also has an inspired line.

  Illuminate Necklace

 Fly Free Necklace

Hope Is The Thing Necklace

She also carries bracelets (including a chic leather cuff), items for men, and other goodies.  The pewter heart wall hanging she sells would make a beautiful wedding or anniversary gift. 

With so many options to choose from, choosing just one item was hard.  

I choose the Whoo Do You Love? necklace. 

It came beautifully wrapped.  I felt like I was unwrapping a birthday gift and it wasn't even my birthday.  I could barely contain my excitement as I opened it.  Who doesn't love unwrapping a present in the middle of the day?

The necklace was beautiful and feminine.  It had a small freshwater pearl charm strung on the chain along with the disc featuring an owl sitting on a branch, stars, and the names of my husband and daughters.  I have received compliments on it every time I have worn it.

Like what you see?  You can visit Lisa's online store or you can learn more about Lisa by checking out her blog. She takes gorgeous pics and has an adorable family.

"Whoo" wouldn't love to win a $40 gift certificate to be used to purchase their own Lisa Leonard creation? Lisa Leonard Designs has graciously offered a $40 gift certificate to one lucky TPMG reader. 

Enter to Win a $40 Gift Certificate for Lisa Leonard Designs

MANDATORY ENTRY (If you do not complete this entry all other entries will be void): Visit Lisa Leonard Designs and leave a comment on what you would purchase with your gift certificate.  (1 entry)

To receive additional entries:
Don't forget to leave a separate comment for each entry.

*Become a follower or a subscriber of TPMG and if you already do so just leave a comment stating that you already follow (1 entry)

*Follow Lisa Leonard and/or TPMG on twitter (1 entry each)

*Become a fan of TPMG on Facebook (1 entry each)

*Enter another giveaway here at TPMG (1 entry for each giveaway you enter)

*Tweet (maximum of once daily) about this giveaway

Copy and paste:  $40 GC for Lisa Leonard Designs #giveaway @ #TPMG. http://bit.ly/cHlqp7 Please RT.  
(1 entry per tweet)

*Add The Practical Mom Guide to your blogroll or display our button (5 entries)

*Post about this giveaway on your blog (5 entries)

This giveaway will end on Monday, October 25, 2010. Winners are chosen using random.org.  I will announce the winner on October 26th here at The Practical Mom Guide. If I am unable to contact the winner or they do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is open only to US and Canada residents.

 

*I did receive a $50 gc courtesy of Lisa Leonard Designs and through MOM Magazine (and their relationship with Maria Bailey and BSM Media).  All opinions are my own.

Libman Freedom Mop Review and Giveaway

Do you have little ones crawling all over your floor? Are you a cleaning fanatic?

With Madison still loving to crawl on the floor (since it is faster than her little toddling steps) and Em loving to play there, I struggle with keeping the floors clean.  I mop at least once a day (usually more) since we do have two kids and a cat in the house. Hauling out a bucket and mop for quick cleanups just isn't practical so I have been using a spray mop with disposable pads. 

This week I put the Libman Freedom Spray Mop to the test.

What did I like about it?

• The pads (which are microfiber and have 3 scratch-free cleaning strips) are washable (up to 50 times) so this is a greener cleaning solution (and cheaper).
• You can refill the 18 oz. detachable cleaning solution bottle with whatever cleaner you like (I used vinegar and water to clean my kitchen floor since Em wanted to help clean.)
• It doesn't need batteries. (There is nothing worse than having the batteries start to die on you and you need to borrow some from your child's toys.  Yes, I have done that.)
• It is very lightweight and more maneuverable than my other spray mop.

My only complaint was that I needed to change the pad about 2/3 of the way through my cleaning.  I used it in the kitchen (the largest room in our house) and the hallway to the garage and the laundry room.  This wasn't a big deal since I had another pad to put on the mop.

Since I only use a spray mop for quick cleanups or if I am in a hurry, I definitely plan to replace my other spray mop with the Libman Freedom Spray Mop.  Anything that makes my life a little easier usually will get a thumbs up from me.

Want your own mop?  Enter to win a Libman Freedom Spray Mop here at TPMG.

Can't wait and want to buy one now?  Check out the Libman website for a $5 off Libman Freedom Spray Mop rebate coupon (it expires 4/30/11).  You can also enter their Good Clean Sense Sweepstakes for a trip for 2 to NYC, a VIP experience at the Martha Stewart Show, and a Libman prize package. 

Enter to win a Libman Freedom Spray Mop

MANDATORY ENTRY (If you do not complete this entry all other entries will be void): Leave a comment on either what your favorite chore is (I know you have one!) or your favorite Libman product (besides the Libman Freedom Spray Mop).  (1 entry)

To receive additional entries:
Don't forget to leave a separate comment for each entry.

*Become a follower or a subscriber of TPMG and if you already do so just leave a comment stating that you already follow (1 entry)

*Follow TPMG on twitter (1 entry each)

*Become a fan of TPMG &/or Libman on Facebook (1 entry each)

*Tweet (maximum of once daily) about this giveaway

Copy and paste:  Libman Freedom Spray Mop # Giveaway @ #TPMG. http://bit.ly/b8Lsa9 Please RT.  (1 entry per tweet)

*Add The Practical Mom Guide to your blogroll or display our button (5 entries)

*Post about this giveaway on your blog (5 entries)

This giveaway will end on Friday, October 15, 2010. I will announce the winner on October 16th here at The Practical Mom Guide. If I am unable to contact the winner or they do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

*I received a Libman Freedom Spray Mop in order to facilitate this review.  This opportunity was made available through my membership with the Mom Bloggers Club.  All opinions are my own.

SmartKnitKIDS Seamless Sock Review

Do your children have a hard time putting on their socks?  Do they complain about the seams or that they bunch up when they try to put their shoes on making the whole getting dressed process a hassle?

Recently I was introduced to SmartKnitKIDS.  They offer patented seamless socks for little feet.  The socks came about because a mom like us was tired of the hassle she had trying to get her child (who hated the seams) to wear socks.

I let Emily try a pair on along with her sister.  The socks are snugger than regular socks and they don't fall down her little legs.  Of course since she is used to them bunching she ended up pulling them down when she got dressed even though I explained to her that her socks really are not supposed to do that. 

If your little one likes to put their socks on with the bottom (where the heel is) on top as my daughter does and refuses to let you turn them around, then the no heel design makes them handy to have in their drawer.  The no heel design also means they can get more wear out of them as they grow.

The SmartKnit KIDS socks also do not have elastic at the top but rather what they call a non-binding Halo Top to keep little legs from getting red from tight elastic that pinches.   The  material also wicks moisture away from your little one's feet to keep their feet drier and stink-free. 

Most importantly, Emily seems comfortable in them.  If Emily can keep her socks on, then that is a good sign since she usually prefers to run barefoot. 

You can read more about SmartKnits at their website.   The children's socks come in five colors: white, black, navy, pink, and purple.  I do wish they had more colors.  There are also three styles: ankle, crew, and knee-high. They also have crew socks for older kids (yes, mom that includes you) which come in black and white.

SmartKnit can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.  Right now they have a special.  If you place an order through Therawear (one of their online retailers), you can save an extra 20% on the socks.  If you buy them and you and your little ones like them, send SmartKnitKIDS your story.  You will recieve a $5 coupon for Therawear.com and then be entered into a monthly drawing to win $50 and an ant farm.

I did recieve three pairs of the SmartKnitKIDS socks in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are my own.  No other compensation was or will be recieved.

K'nex Review

When I received the K'nex Big Building Tub to review, my daughter couldn't wait to get started constructing.  She loves to build things.

The tub contains 50 building pieces and also a sheet with sample creations kids can make.  Emmy wanted to make the bird.  We set to work after her sister (who is a little to young to play with the little pieces) went down for her nap.

 Emmy's bird

Since she just turned three, Emmy had some difficulty handling the pieces but it will become easier for her as she gets a little older and as she plays with them more.

At first, I hated how large the tub was since the pieces only take up about half of the container.  But now I am glad after realizing that when my daughter makes creations she can store them in the tub without dismantling them.  This makes for easier clean-up in our house.

Overall, I envision Emmy having a lot of fun with her new building materials!  She has already asked to play with them after Madison goes down for another nap.

I received a product sample from K'nex through SheBlogs to complete this review, but did not receive any financial compensation for my post. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Glue Dots: Summertime Bonding with TPMG

Glue and my then 18 month old just didn't mix when it came to crafts.  My daughter used to try to eat the glue.  I needed another alternative.  As a scrapbooker, I pulled out my glue dots for toddler-friendly craft projects and never looked back.    Now Em is almost 3 and still loves to do crafts.

Since I became a member of our local moms club, I often use Oriental Trading crafts at playgroups.  The benefits of using glue dots are that they are not messy and they are easy for the kids to use.  A lot of the other moms use them to.  Don't you feel validated when other moms do things similar to how you do them?  Or is that just me?

The glue dots also bond instantly to most surfaces (except in my experience not so well with felt).  Hallelujah, no having to wait for projects to dry.  I hated how Emily would be running around with her wet gluey sticky projects.  Meany mommy would have to explain to her that they needed to dry before she could show them off or play with them. 

I also like that the glue dots are acid free which means they will not damage the product they are adhered to (such as change the color of the paper) so you can put your child's art project away for years to come (or just until they forget about it and you throw it away).  You know you do it to!  It is okay to admit it.  Honestly, we all do it.

Glue Dots and Twittermoms joined together recently for a Glue Dots Summer Bonding Project contest.

Here are two of my favorite projects that I did recently with glue dots:

High chair banner for Madison's first birthday party

Em got involved since she a) loves crafts and b) she loves birthday parties. She put the stickers and the Glue Dots on and pressed the card stock onto the Glue Dots.

As you can tell one of the little triangles fell off.  It kept getting knocked into as people walked by her high chair and Em kept tugging at it. 

Emily's Rewards Chart

You can see the before (my layout shot) and my after shot of Emily's chart project.  We are trying to get her to do certain things on a daily basis.  I am going to add some specific things under each category (like under potty it would include going potty but also flushing and washing her hands) and she will get stickers for those she does well each day.  We want to reinforce what she is doing well.  For every so many stickers she will get a small reward.  One of the moms in our moms club did this with her son and I thought it was a great idea.

For both projects I used Mini and Craft Glue Dots and also the Removable Glue Dots to hang the projects.

Want to get more ideas and stay up-to-date on news about Glue Dots?  Visit Glue Dots fan page on Facebook.

Want to try Glue Dots for yourself?

To enter TPMG Glue Dot's Giveaway:

Just leave a comment about what project you would use your glue dots for.  If the chosen entrant does not comply with this requirement and their name is chosen, another name will be selected.

One winner will be randomly chosen to receive 3 Glue Dots Dot n Go Adhesive Dispensers (1 mini, 1 craft, and 1 removable).  Remember to have your email listed in your Blogger profile or to include your email address in your comment.

The contest will end on July 20, 2010.  The winner will be notified on July 21, 2010 and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Contest open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

Good luck!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Glue Dots blogging contest to be eligible to receive a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.