Friday, April 30, 2010

Winners!!

We have our winners for Little Twig and Dwizzle Dee!!

Congratulations to #87 for winning Little Twig body wash and a bath mit!!

Congratulations to #'s 24 Anastasia and 17 Ginger Mommy for each winning a DVD copy of Dwizzle Dee!!

E-mails have been sent to the winners!! Winners have 48 hours to respond.

Thank you to everyone who entered!! We have lots of giveaways going on now and LOTS more to come!!

Celebrating Mommas Starts Tomorrow!!

I have a whole week of amazing giveaways planned for all my mommas!! This week long celebration has been such a hit that we will be having TWO giveaways every day!! I don't want to spoil any surprises, but I can tell you that we have a variety of items from jewelry to handmade items to beauty products. You won't want to miss a moment!!

So grab my event button and spread the word about this great event! I hope you are all excited!!!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Cate and Levi Handmade Puppet Review

I love puppets. I love to make them talk and watch my daughter giggle at my silly voices and the puppets moving mouth. I think it's one of the most entertaining imaginary play activities you can take part in with your children. It opens up a whole new world for you and your little one to explore.

The puppets offered by Cate and Levi are incredible. They are all handmade in Canada from all natural and reclaimed materials. And each one is one of a kind! How special is that?

These puppets are very well made. The reclaimed wool that is used is thick and creates a sturdy puppet that can withstand the loving grasp of a child. They are also incredibly unique. I have never seen anything quite like these puppets. They currently offer a selection of 10 different puppets. Each one is adorable and different.

They also offer pillow pals, stuffed animals, zoo cubes and wall art

Cate and Levi also gives back. They donate 10% of their profits to children in need. So not only are you getting an amazingly cute, unique, quality product you are also supporting a great company. I'm a fan!! Check out their puppets and find the perfect one for your child to love for life!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Slanket Review

Ok, I'm going to be completely honest when I tell you I don't know how I survived without a Slanket. This blanket with sleeves is incredibly soft and warm. The quality of the material used is great!

I LOVE to be wrapped up in a blanket, but it's so hard to function. A huge added bonus for me is that I can hold and feed my baby while still staying nice and toasty warm. But it really gives you so much freedom... change the channels, drink a cup of tea, read a book and so much more.

I'm going to tell you a little secret. He will deny it up and down, left and right. But my husband said, "oh man, why did they send it in pink? Why not camo?" Um, well darling... because it's for me. And yes, he has wrapped up in the wonderful pink Slanket! I forsee some future tug of war if we don't get another Slanket in this house! Perhaps we should consider the Slanket Siamese?

They even have Slankets for kids and for traveling. And while you're checking out the great selection of Slankets, take a look at the story behind it. I chuckled out loud at the idea of a college student cutting holes in his sleeping bag to change the channel!

Everyone in the family needs one of these!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

BeasGiftBaskets.Com


Mother's Day is quickly approaching! If you are still searching for the perfect gift for the special mom in your life you should check out BeasGiftBaskets.com. They offer a huge selection of Mother's Day gift baskets in a variety of themes.

You can find baskets filled with chocolate, baskets designed to help mom relax, baskets for the gardener or the coffee lover.  No matter the personality or interest you will find the perfect basket to make her feel special!! Also, baskets are available in nice range of prices. So you are sure to find the perfect gift that fits into your budget!

Each basket is filled with quality items for a great price. They also offer free shipping on orders over $50 (ground shipping within the continental US).
(In case anyone is looking for a Mother's Day gift for me...
this would be the one!)

Hurry on over to BeasGiftBaskets.com to get your order in time for Mother's Day!!

Beautiful Creatures Review and Giveaway - 3 Winners!!

Beautiful Creatures was formed in South Africa in November 2004 by Alan Glass, Ed Jordan and Paul Choritz who felt there was a need for "Parent Friendly" children’s music. Using the best session musicians, actors and singers in the country, Beautiful Creatures prides itself on being uniquely South African with a positive global message.

I was sent a copy of the first Beautiful Creatures CD through download! It was really neat to be able to click a few buttons and have the whole CD within a few minutes. I was able to play the CD through my computer to see how I liked it and how my daughter liked it. And it will be very easy to transfer to my iPod to play in the car.

I think this CD is beautiful. The culture behind the music is very present, but the messages are universal. It's the kind of music that makes you want to get up and dance, and we love that kind of music in this house!!

By listening to this CD you are not only enjoying great cultural music, but you are also exposing your children to important messages. Your children will learn about the beauty of different animals and how to respect them. The songs are very upbeat and even silly!

Beautiful Creatures also has a bunch of other CD's. You should take a look at their selection!

GIVEAWAY: THREE readers will receive their very own download-able copy of Beautiful Creatures!!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow my blog and then visit Beautiful Creatures and tell me another CD you would like to hear!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (1 entry) and Top Baby Blogs (1 entry) - the buttons are on the right hand side of my blog
2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave a status link)
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Momma Drama (leave Facebook name)
4, Enter another one of my giveaways (leave one comment for each one you enter - a list can be found top right)
5. Follow Beautiful Creatures on Twitter

This giveaway is open to US and Canada
This giveaway ends on May 11, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. Three winners will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Tag Along Tuesday

Tuesday Tag-Along
Special thanks to Twee Poppets for starting another fabulous blog hop!

Here's how it works:

  • Create a new Tuesday Tag-Along blog post. Include the Tuesday Tag-Along button by copying and pasting the code above.
  • Add your blog name and the URL of your TTA post to the MckLinky below.
  • Follow Twee Poppets, the hostess blog listed in the first slot. Leave a comment saying you've followed, and Twee Poppets will follow you back!
  • If you can, please follow the blogs in the three slots before you (e.g., if you're number 20, follow numbers 19, 18, and 17). This is not mandatory, but it will help ensure that everyone who signs up gets a few new followers!
  • Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! Be sure to tell them that you're following from Tuesday Tag-Along! You may also want to leave a link to your blog so they can return your follow more easily.
  • When you get a new follower through Tuesday Tag-Along, be sure to follow them back! Its just common courtesy. :)

Monday, April 26, 2010

PicPocket Books Review and Giveaway

PicPocket Books provides downloadable childrens books for the iPhone and iPod Touch. When PicPocket asked if I would be interested in a review and giveaway I knew that these books would be beneficial in a number of ways.

Have you ever been stuck in a waiting room with a bored child? Or stuck in traffic? Imagine being able to whip out your iPhone and provide a children's book instantly. PicPocket Books has a nice selection of books and some interactive Math apps. The download is simple and done through the Apple App store. The books are set up with options for them to be read outloud, highlighted as the text is read, and the option to have the pages turn automatically.
 The quality is very good. The graphics are bright and colorful and the illustrations look just like a book. The read aloud voice is clear and reads with emotion, really bringing the story to life.
As a teacher, I see a huge benefit to these books outside of the immediate entertainment factor. Exposing your children to books that provide text to speech and highlighted text is going to help improve their reading skills. They will be engaged in a story where these is fluent reading and the visual cues to increase word recognition. Also, hearing a story out loud will help with comprehension.

GIVEAWAY: One Reader will receive 3 PicPocket Book titles of their choice and 2 Math Fun Apps (remember you will need an iPhone or iPod Touch)
 
HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit PicPocket Books and tell me one book you would choose!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (1 entry) and Top Baby Blogs (1 entry)
2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave a status link)
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Momma Drama (leave Facebook name)
4, Enter another one of my giveaways (leave one comment for each one you enter - a list can be found top right)
5. Follow my blog

This giveaway is open to US only.
This giveaway ends on May 10, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Monday Madness!

Yay! Another blog hop! I love finding new and interesting blogs!! Hop on over to Tuckers Take Tennessee to learn all about Monday Madness!!
 The Tuckers Take Tennessee
So what do I do to participate?

It's really easy to participate with us!  Just follow the steps below and you'll be set!
  1. Follow the hostess blogs at Saving Obsession and The Tuckers Take Tennessee for some Madness Lovin'.
  2. Grab the McLinky code and make a post on your blog about Monday Madness, so more people can join in the fun! Also grab the Monday Madness button on the right.
  3. Add your blog name and link to the McLinky below.
  4. Check out some of the blogs on the list and follow ones you like. Leave a comment to let them know you're from Monday Madness.
  5. If someone follows your blog, follow them back to keep the Madness going.
That's it! Visit and follow as few or as many blogs as you'd like!


Sunday, April 25, 2010

BuyGreen.Com Review

BuyGreen.com is a fabulous website!! They offer a great selection of a variety of green products. You can find everything from Notebooks that are 100% recycled to organic toothpaste. They also offer a great selection of items for babies and kids. I had a hard time deciding what item I wanted to review because there were so many things of interest to me. They carry UV Natural Sunscreen for babies, organic cotton onesies and lots of toys. I went with a toy!

Summer is quickly approaching so this toy is quite fitting! I received the Sand Play Set, which is actually made from recycled plastic milk jugs. Everything about this toy set looks great on paper. It has been tested to the highest safety and environmental standards. But how is it as a toy?
It's fabulous! The plastic is sturdy and of much better quality then your typical pale. You can tell that this set was designed to last. I love that it also has a rope handle in place of the usual plastic. I am so excited for my little one to dig in the sand with this safe and high quality set.

You should definitely check out BuyGreen.com and see their great selection of green items at great prices!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Scandinavian Child lillebaby EveryWear Carrier Challenge

Earlier in April I entered a contest through Scandinavian Child to be chosen to try the EveryWear carrier. You had to submit an e-mail about why you feel you should be selected to try this carrier.

Well, as my faithful readers you may recall from previous blog posts and tweets for help.... I have been SEARCHING high and low for a carrier for my now 22 pound baby!

A little back story. When I was registering my husband felt we didn't need a carrier. That we wouldn't use a carrier. So we didn't register for one. BIG MISTAKE. Within the first month or so we had decided a carrier was a must. But lets be honest.... they are expensive. So my mom passed along hers.... from when I was a baby. SAFETY ALERT! I didn't know how I felt about putting my teeny tiny baby in something that was as old as I was... literally. But I had quit my job to be a stay at home mom... and the option seemed better than nothing. So we hesitantly and carefully tried out her carrier. I don't think I took my arms off of the baby the first few times I wore it. But... it worked. It did the job.
 So we were able to go out and about with our little bundle. Ok, fast forward through the dreads of winter where I didn't leave the house, thus did not use or need my carrier. Welcome Spring! I am not putting my 20 pound baby in this carrier. I have no instructions, so I don't know what the weight limit is. I asked my mom how long she carried us in it, "Oh... I don't know. Maybe a year or less. Maybe a little more." Ok, not good enough. Out with the old and in with the new!

My hunt for a carrier that would last for a while was on. Sadly, I wasn't having much luck. Most of the carriers people were recommending were for up to about 24 pounds. 24 pounds was right around the corner! I came across a couple that sounded like they might work, but the budget still wasn't there. And then.... Scandinavian Child came to the rescue!

I saw on Facebook that they were having this fabulous competition. The nervous mom in me immediately went to look at the facts about this product. How much could it carry (answer - up to 43 pounds!)? What position could it be worn in (answer - like every position! front, back, hip, sling)? Everything I read about the EveryWear carrier seemed to fit into what I was looking for. So I write my e-mail explaining why I should get one.

Then the day came... the wonderful, glorious day! I had been chosen! Whooohoo!! I didn't have to wait long before my carrier had arrived!

Today is the day we will take this baby out for a spin!! I am so excited to try it out and see how we do! Check back to see what I think of my new lillebaby EveryWear carrier!!!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Uncommonly Cute Winner!!

Congratulations to #5, Deborah! I hope you have a great time picking out an adorable onesie or tee from Uncommonly Cute!!

Thank you to everyone who entered! We had 75 fabulous entries!! Be sure to check out all the great giveaways we have going on now on the right hand side of this blog!

A Treat for Momma? A CSN Review is Coming Soon!

CSN offers such a great selection of items for all areas of the home. I already have my eye on some great toddler beds and some of their adorable chairs for when I do my daughter's "Big Girl Room." They have such a wide selection that you can get everything you need for your child's room in one stop shopping from your couch. Can you beat that?

And while you're comfy cozy on your couch browsing through CSN's great selection why not check out some items for your home decor? Or perhaps you need something for your kitchen? With CSN's 200+ stores you are sure to find everything you need in one spot!

We have made several purchases from CSN in the past. We've purchased things from DVD cabinets to a butterfly lamp and polka dot clock for my daughter's room. I have always been impressed with the quality of the products they carry and the service they provide. So I am super excited for what I have in store for you!!

While I am waiting to redo my daughter's room and purchase a fabulous toddler bed, I am going to treat myself! I found a gorgeous new comforter on CSN.com and have decided that it's high time I get something for myself... because that really just doesn't happen much anymore!

CSN has graciously offered a discount on my new comforter so that I can review it for all of you!! So keep your eyes peeled for this upcoming review. And in the meantime, shop around and pick something out for yourself! You deserve it!

Jenni's Bowtique Giveaway!

I have some exciting news! I recently reviewed Jenni's Bowtique and she has now offered to do a giveaway! Now one of my lucky readers has the chance to win $15 to her fabulous bowtique! You can view her selection on Etsy and Facebook.


GIVEAWAY: One Reader will win a $15 credit to Jenni's Bowtique!!
 
HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow my blog and then visit Jenni's Bowtique's Etsy or Facebook and tell me what bow you would pick!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (1 entry) and Top Baby Blogs (1 entry)
2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave a status link)
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Momma Drama (leave Facebook name)
4, Enter another one of my giveaways (leave one comment for each one you enter - a list can be found top right)
5. Become a Facebook Fan of Jenni's Bowtique
6. Become a follower of Jenni's Bowtique's Blog

This giveaway is open to US and Canada
This giveaway ends on May 7, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

FRIDAY!!

Welcome, Friday! Oh how I have waited for you!!
The Girl Creative
Jump on over to The Girl Creative to hook up with this great blog hop!

Friday Follow
And another fabulous blog hop is going on over at One 2 Try!

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday! 

*Don't forget - today is the last day to enter Uncommonly Cute
You could win a onesie or tee of your choice!!
Ends at 5:00 pm EST.

*Lots of other great giveaways going on! Check the right hand side of my blog!

*Momma Drama will be Celebrating Momma's the week before Mother's Day!
We will have TONS of great giveaways and reviews! Grab the event button for extra entries!!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Aminal Organic Dolls Review and Giveaway!!

Happy Earth Day! Lets celebrate with a great giveaway!!

There are two main things that I love about Aminal Dolls:

1. The Aminals are 100% organic.
              This company clearly has put a lot of effort into creating products that are 100% from the earth. They take a lot of pride in this and even tell you what to expect from your Aminal over time. They explain that because the Aminals are 100% organic, they will change over time (the stuffing inside will shift and the colors may fade). This makes the animals really unique and almost like a learning experience for kids. Nothing in nature stays exactly the same. Over time things change. They even tell you how you can send your Aminal back to nature through composting (after your Aminal has lived a long life in your child's loving arms). You can read all about it here.

2. The Aminals are inspired by kids.
               You really need to go and take a look at the great selection of Aminals. Each one is designed to reflect the way children portray animals in their drawings. How sweet is that? Your children will feel even more connected to these cuddly friends!

I was sent an adorable Aminal Doll for review. "Liun" was welcomed into my home and is already a favorite. My daughter loves to drag him around the room. I'm sure that "Liun"  will remain a faithful companion for years to come.
GIVEAWAY: One Reader will receive their very own Aminal Doll!
(company's choice from what is in stock)

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow my blog and then visit Aminal Dolls and tell me which one you think is the cutest!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (1 entry) and Top Baby Blogs (1 entry)
2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave a status link)
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Momma Drama (leave Facebook name)
4, Enter another one of my giveaways (leave one comment for each one you enter - a list can be found top right)

This giveaway is open to US only.
This giveaway ends on May 6, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Happy Earth Day!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Earth Day!! This year I have started to do a little more to help keep the Earth happy and healthy for my baby girl. It's sad that it took having a baby to open up my eyes to the simple things I could be doing. I have started to use "green" cleaning products, prefer purchasing organic or toys made of recycled materials, stopped drinking out of plastic water bottles, started using reusable/washable cloths in place of paper towels, use my own reusable bags at the food store and I'm paying a lot more attention to what should be recycled rather than thrown out.

I know I'm not doing as much as I could, and I haven't made any HUGE sacrifices that effect my daily lifestyle. But I'm proud of my small efforts and will continue to look for things I can do. With that said, any suggestions? Tell me what small things you're doing to make a big difference!!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Jenni's Bowtique Review

Jenni's Bowtique offers a beautiful selection of handmade bows. She makes headbands and clips, and even has a selection for special occasions like Valentine's Day! There is obviously a lot of time and love put into each piece that is created!
I haven't put any clips or headbands on my daughter because I really didn't think she would leave them alone or that they would stay in the little bit of hair that she has. But these clips and headband look so fabulous!

I was sent a Flower Power headband and two different types of clips for review. I was really impressed with the quality behind these handmade items. The headband has a soft elastic feel, but is sturdy and stays in place on my little ones head. And the clips are beautifully constructed and stay in her fine hair very well!
You should definitely check out the great selection listed on Etsy as well as her Facebook page. There are always coupon codes available... so become a fan today and take advantage of the great deals on beautiful hair bows! You can also visit Jenni's Bowtique's blog for updates on bows!

Zumba Anyone?

So I'm gonna be honest, I'm having a hard time sticking to Weight Watchers. When I did it a couple of years ago I had such amazing success and lost 35 pounds!! But I was going to the meetings and buying the food. I can't seem to get myself to commit like that. I don't have the budget to food shop the way I used to, and I don't have the time to drive to the closest meeting once a week (it's not around the corner by any means).

So I've been trying to do it on my own. Yikes. I love food. It's been rough. I think I have definitely improved with eating a little more healthy and not eating between meals. And if I do eat between meals it's something small and healthy. But the weight is just not falling off!

Time to take the next step... I joined a gym! Again, the time and money comes into play. It's hard to find time to go, but my husband has been super supportive and watches our little one a few times a week. It's literally around the corner.  And it's crazy reasonable in price! And they offer classes, which is what I need. I need to know that I have to be somewhere at a certain time and have a structured workout.

Last night I went for what I thought was a basic dance class. But they switched the schedule and it was Zumba. Has anyone ever taken Zumba? I've heard a lot about it and it seems to be really popular right now. But I had never seen or done it. But I thought, hey I'll give it a try.

WHOA! I thought I might collapse on the floor. It was fast paced and pretty much nonstop. INTENSE. But it was also a lot of fun! Today I can't really walk... haha! But I think I'll go back next week.

And don't forget to hop on over to Shannon's Custom Creations to get 50% off her fabulous wooden letters! Just use the code MOMMADRAMA.

Monday, April 19, 2010

MyBellaBaby Review and Giveaway!

We made it to 300 followers!! Thank you all so much!!!
To celebrate we will have this AWESOME giveaway from MyBellaBaby!!! 
Enjoy!!



I love Etsy. I love how you can find so many unique things that you just can't find in stores! And the talent of these sellers is just beyond anything I could ever imagine. They create beautiful handmade items! I am always impressed.

MyBellaBaby is certainly no exception to this! I really fell in love with the items in her Etsy shop. She uses the best fabrics that immediately caught my eye. She creates a variety of items from changing pads, to washies, to adorable little booties.

I contacted MyBellaBaby because I fell in love with a pair of zebra booties. They are trendy and adorable and I knew they would look amazing on my little girls tootsies! She didn't have them listed in my daughter's size, but she was happy to make them for me! Communication was great and I was so excited for my little booties to arrive!

I was not disappointed, in fact I was even more pleased. They are presented very professionally in a nice little baggie. The booties are truly fabulous. The hot pink button just adds to the style. I have gotten countless compliments on these shoes. I wish I had some business cards to hand out to all the mommas at the park!

I may not be able to give them to all the mommas at the park, but one lucky reader will get their very own pair!!

GIVEAWAY: One Reader will receive their very own pair of zebra booties!!
(sizes available -  0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18)

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow my blog and then visit MyBellaBaby and tell me another item you love!!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (1 entry) and Top Baby Blogs (1 entry)
2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave a status link)
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Momma Drama (leave Facebook name)
4, Enter another one of my giveaways (leave one comment for each one you enter - a list can be found top right)
5. Follow MyBellaBaby on Twitter

This giveaway is open to US and Canada
This giveaway ends on May 3, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Happy 101 Award!

 
Thank you so much to Nomie.Eco.Ware for giving me this fabulous award!! You should definitely go check out her blog! She has some great recipes and crafty ideas!

Here are the rules:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog (or hyperlink).
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.

10 Things that Make Me Happy 
(In no particular order)
1.  Being with the ones I love <3
2. Laying on the beach listening to the waves
3. Sleeping In
4.  Dancing
5.  Taking walks to the park 
(and the ice cream man is always a welcome bonus)
6.  Baby kisses!!
7. Getting mail or packages
8. BBQ's and Picnics
9. Vacations
10. Seeing old and new friends

Thanks again, Nomie!!

Shannon's Custom Creations Review

Shannon's Custom Creations is a family owned business located in Canada. They create personalized products that are hand painted! True high quality craftsmanship at affordable prices!

Wooden letters are a very popular room accessory right now. And you can find these letters at most craft stores, but they are expensive and then you have to figure out a way to paint or decorate them. Why do all that when you can get beautiful customized letters from Shannon's Custom Creations? They have an amazing selection of font styles, as well as a great selection of themes for your custom painting. You can have jungle animals, flowers, lady bugs and so much more!

I received my daughter's name from Shannon's Custom Creations. They are absolutley gorgeous. I told them the colors of her room and they matched it perfectly. The letters are of great quality and the painting is gorgeous. I really couldn't have imagined it any more perfectly. I am so happy with these letters!
And here is the BEST news! Shannon's Custom Creations is offering my readers 50% off their purchase of wall letters. You can't beat that! All you have to do is use the code MOMMADRAMA.

So hurry on over to Shannon's Custom Creations and create beautiful letters at a great price!!

You can also follow Shannon's Custom Creations on Twitter and Facebook for great deals and promotions!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Dwizzle Dee Review and Giveaway - 2 Winners!

Ok, so before I even start this review I have to tell you that while we were watching this my husband said, "I've never seen her try and get the characters out of the t.v." She was so enthralled with these characters that she was reaching for them! It was adorable!

Here is a little bit about this DVD:
Cinema Werx LLC is the company that produces Dwizzle Dee™, an award-winning DVD video series geared to entertain and educate preschool aged children. The series teaches fundamentals like colors, sizes, shapes with the help of it's unique characters, Lenny, Penny, Gifford & Ms. Ashley. The use of repetition, imagination, songs and fun problem solving help reinforce these fundamentals.

I love exposing my daughter to education things as often as possible. While I understand that this DVD is geared toward preschool age children, as a teacher I feel that it's never too early to expose her to fun and educational programming. This DVD is everything that I am looking for!
The characters are adorable and they kept my daughters attention. They speak so that children can understand them (slowly and with a limited vocabulary). The music is upbeat and a lot of the rhythms are familiar. I also love that they encourage imaginary play and keep the concepts simple.When your child is the appropriate age, they will find opportunities to interact along with the story (answering questions, pretending to be flowers, buzzing like bees).

This DVD is also a great way to start introducing the idea of school to your children. The story starts in a classroom and gives a good picture of what school will be like for the children. You could use this DVD to start getting your preschooler excited for school and all the new things they will learn with their teacher and classmates!
 

I will happily be putting this DVD on for my daughter in the hopes that she will begin to pick up on some of the great concepts! The relationships being made between colors (apples are red, so are firetrucks) and sizes (imagine being as small as a bee) are major skills being presented in a fun way. You should definitely check out this great DVD! You can also check out Dwizzle Dee on Facebook.

*If you have a child who loves music as much as mine, you will be happy to know that they have a sing along option on the DVD!

GIVEAWAY: TWO readers will receive their very own copy of Dwizzle Dee!!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow my blog and then visit Dwizzle Dee and tell me who you think is the cutest character!!
EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs (1 entry) and Top Baby Blogs (1 entry)
2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave a status link)
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Momma Drama (leave Facebook name)
4, Enter another one of my giveaways (leave one comment for each one you enter - a list can be found top right)
5. Follow Dwizzle Dee on twitter

This giveaway is open to US and Canada
This giveaway ends on April 30, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. Two winners will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Exciting News!!

Today my daughter took EIGHTEEN steps! Eighteen!! This is from the 3 or 4 she was taking yesterday!! I had to share this with all my wonderful followers because I am such a proud Momma!!

It always seemed like such a small thing when parents would talk about their kids first steps. But now that I'm a parent, the joy is just so overwhelming. I want to share it with everyone and anyone who will listen!

She is growing up so fast, I feel like I can't even blink or I will miss something. I can't believe that in another 6 weeks she will be a year old. It's so bittersweet. Thanks for listening!

Winners!

Congratulations to today's winners!!! Random.org has chosen the following winners:

Seventh Generation #21 Cheryl - The Lucky Lady Bug

Boogie Wipes #32 Amanda
I will be sending e-mails now!

Thank you to all who entered!! We had a great response! Don't forget to get your entries in for Little Twig and Uncommonly Cute!!

New giveaways will be posted soon!! Thanks again!

Happy Friday!!


Friday Follow

Happy Friday Follow!

Be sure to stop by One 2 Try for all the details about Friday Follow!!

AND

Happy New Friend Friday!!
The Girl Creative

Stop by The Girl Creative for more details and to make some new friends!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Alphabet Rockers Review

Alphabet Rockers is a great CD! The CD has a collection of 13 educational and fun songs. They cover things from counting to the days of the week to welcoming a new kid to school. The CD is geared toward school age children, but my 10 month old daughter loves the rhythm and beat. I am happy to put it on for her because whatever she picks up from it is great!

I looked at this CD from both a parents perspective as well as a teacher's perspective. I wish that I had this CD when I was teaching in the classrooms! They even have a song about the 100th day of school! We always had a celebration that day and this song would have been perfect! The music is very upbeat and not your typical traditional circle time songs. It encourages movement throughout and is much more modern.  With my current educational position I observe a lot of circle time activities and I think this would be a great addition to any young classroom (preschool through elementary)!

From a parents perspective I also love it for a lot of the same reasons. But it helps to carry important skills over in the home. By doing that with music you make it a fun learning experience. It's an easy thing to pop in the CD player in the car and sing and learn as you go about with your busy lives. It's also a great way to get your kids excited about school and encourage a positive outlook.
She obviously loved the music!

The CD has received numerous awards and I can see why! If you are interested in high energy, fun, educational music for your kids then you should definitely check out the Alphabet Rockers!!

I Accept This Award!

Yay! Today I received an award from The Daily Mom Diaries! How sweet! It made my day! You really should go check out her great blog!!!

The rules:
Click on the above image and paste onto your blog/website
Answer the below questions
Pass onto 10 bloggers that you Love, go to their blog and let them know they've been given the award.


1. Who is your style icon? Hmmm... I don't know that I have one! Is that bad?
2. What is your favorite socialite lit book?   Ok really, this isn't looking good for me... I don't have one!
3. Favorite party theme? I'm all about the Cupcake Theme right now... that's what my daughter's first birthday is going to be
4. Go to Halloween costume? I used to be a witch every year! Then I went into a cat phase. I would totally go all out for Halloween if I ever had anywhere to go or if my husband liked to dress up with me! I think this year I will dress up with my baby girl. We can be something cheesy like Salt and Pepper... ok, I'll think of something better than that!
5. Extravagance you cannot live without? Internet on my cell phone - I have to be able to check facebook and e-mail eight thousand times a day.
6. Living person you admire? I'm gonna be cheesy, but really... my mom. She's awesome. So patient and caring. Always there for me. And insanely in love with my daughter. I love to watch them together.
7. Greatest fear? Ever since I had my daughter I have been afraid of death. I don't want to miss a minute of her growing up. I want to be here for it all! Morbid, I know.
8. Trait you deplore in yourself? I have to do everything IMMEDIATELY. I can never just relax and get to it when I get to it.
9. Which talent would you most like to have? I would love to be able to sew. I see people make all kinds of cute things for their babies. I can't sew a button on!
10. Greatest Achievement? My daughter... yes, I achieved her! 16 hours of labor, 2 hours of pushing, and one c-section later I had my biggest achievement and greatest love in my arms!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Fandanglings Review

I was interested in Fandanglings for two reasons. The first.... ever since my daughter was born she has loved to look at a spinning fan. The second.... by the time I had moved my daughter to her nursery it was already time to take her mobile down.

Fandanglings are fantastic! You instantly transform a regular old fan into a giant mobile! They are so easy to attach. You simply put a piece of velcro tape on the top of the fan blade and then attach the Fandangling, which already has the other piece of velcro attached to it. And it comes with a couple extra pieces of tape in case you make a mistake... but you won't.

 I am a very nervous mother and I read somewhere that having a fan on while a baby is sleeping could help reduce the risk of SIDS. Well, we have had the fan on low every single night since my daughter has been born. So this is perfect for us! It even brightens up the room a little since it looks like another decoration.

Once you have them attached you can't put the fan on higher than low. But we had some really hot days and I simply took them down. It's easy and only takes a second.

My daughter loves them! She looks and points and smiles as the "Bugz" fly around the room. They have an adorable selection from bugs to safari animals to under the sea creatures. You should definitely check out their website and look around at their selection. You can also build your own kit with exactly which Fandanglings you love in it. And at only $19.95 you really can't go wrong!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Kidco Food Grinder - Review

When I went to my daughter's 9 month checkup the pediatrician said she can eat everything (except for the allergy foods). Ummm, whoa slow down! I was currently still on second foods. I hadn't even tried the baby finger foods yet. The fear of my baby choking was overwhelming and I was afraid to give her anything that she might not be ready for.

Well, the pediatrician talked me through it and explained the importance of getting her to start chewing and experience new flavors. So I struck up conversation with my fellow mommies and the idea of a food grinder came up. I did some research and found the one with the best reviews. I contacted Kidco and they sent me a grinder for review!


At first I had a really hard time with it. I tried to do carrots and it was hard to turn the blade and I didn't get much food through the holes because the carrots got stuck sideways. Then my husband made the comment "Um, wouldn't that work better if the carrots were cooked." DUH! Mommy brain strikes again! That night we were having corn for dinner, so I tried the COOKED corn. We had more success this time!

You need to put a lot of food in and it won't grind everything because of the space between the food and grinder. (*This space is necessary because the grinder is designed to keep seeds, bones and other icky bits out of your baby's nicely ground food) But it was really nice to use on small food that would take a while to cut up (like corn and mac and cheese). I think for bigger stuff, like meat and cheese, I would just cut or rip it to save time and effort. But I am glad that we have it for small stuff. And I love that it's small and has a carrying case. We can take it with us to restaurants and other people's houses where they don't have any baby food.

It's pretty easy to clean because the parts easily come apart, and there aren't that many pieces. The holes in the grinder are very small, so sometimes it's tough to get the food out when washing. But overall it's a nifty little device!

I Think I've Gone Over the Edge

I am embarrassed to say that last night I uttered the words "paper-cut" and "hospital" in the same sentence. Oh yes, I have gone over the edge. My daughter got her first "boo boo," which we discovered by seeing blood all over the sliding glass door. So immediately I thought the worst! But when I examined it closer it was only a paper cut. The concern came in after I washed and cleaned it, after I held a paper towel for pressure, and after I looked down and it was still gushing blood. Ok, gushing could be a little dramatic. But it was my daughters blood and it's supposed to stay in her body! So the thoughts that ran through my head were totally insane, including "what if she's a hemophiliac!" Yes, I know... I was being totally insane. Needless to say the bleeding did stop and she survived her first paper cut!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Baby Dickey is Hosting a Fundraiser and Giveaway for Cora

Please visit Baby Dickey's Blog for information about a very special and important Fundraiser and Giveaway event. There you can read about the event being held in honor of Cora. You can read Cora's story here. Please take a moment out of your day to visit Baby Dickey's Blog and learn more.

Little Twig Review and Giveaway!


I stumbled across Little Twig when I was researching all natural bath products. You know how they say don't judge a book by it's cover? Well, I am often guilty of judging a product by it's web page and often just skip over one's that don't appeal to me. Well this website is adorable. So is it's name! When you hear "Little Twig" don't you just think cute?

Little Twig is cute. They offer adorable products. Cute washcloths and bath mits, and they have the sweetest little critters on their product bottles.

But aside from how cute they are, they also provide great natural products that they believe in. They offer shampoo, body wash, diaper cream, sunscreen pretty much anything you would need for your baby's bath time and body care.

Little Twig was kind enough to send me a body wash and Bumble Bee bath mit. Here is some info about the body wash:
Nurture baby from head to toe! Extra mild botanical extracts combine with gentle conditioners for silky skin and downy soft hair. Our unscented blend of Aloe Vera, Jojoba and Vitamin E is ideal for babies with extra sensitive skin.
  • Made with Organic Ingredients
  • Pediatrician tested and Non irritating
  • Paraben Free
  • Sulfate Free
  • Nut, Soy and Wheat Free
  • Head-to-Toe
  • Hypoallergenic
  • No Synthetic Fragrances
  • No Artificial Colors
I really like the body wash. My daughter hasn't shown any signs of sensitive skin, but I have very sensitive skin so I'm careful about everything I put on her. I love knowing that this product has been tested by pediatricians and proven to be non irritating. This way I don't have to worry! The body wash I received is unscented (yay for natural baby smell!) but they also have calming lavender and happy tangerine scented body wash.


And the bumble bee was a huge hit!! My daughter was laughing as i rubbed her down with it. She then grabbed it from me and played in the water with it. It's adorable and made bath time even more fun!!


GIVEAWAY: One reader will get a body wash and bumble bee bath mit!!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Little Twig and tell me another product you would love to try!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Follow my blog
2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave a status link)
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Momma Drama (leave Facebook name)
4, Enter another one of my giveaways (leave one comment for each one you enter - a list can be found top right)
5. Follow Little Twig on twitter

This giveaway is open to US and Canada
This giveaway ends on April 30, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. A winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Who Does That?!?

I don't know about everyone else, but I almost never use my ATM card. I haven't used it in probably 2 years. But I have one anyway, and I keep it on me in case I need it. So the other night I went out with my girlfriends and I had specifically put some cash aside because it's always easier to pay cash when in a group.

Well, of course I wouldn't remember my cash. I haven't remembered anything since my daughter was born so why should this be different. So I run to the ATM. I can't for the life of me remember my pin. The line behind me is growing and I am pressing numbers left and right trying to get my money and stop embarrassing myself.

I finally have to step to the side and call my husband! "Help! I need you to tell me my pin number!" Darling husband, "why would I know your pin number, it's YOUR pin number." FABULOUS! Get back in line, try again. "You have exceeded your number of tries." The machine starts bugging out. It's throwing receipts out at me and beeping and flashing like I was trying to rob the thing!

Again, I am so embarrassed. A grown woman looking like a freak at the ATM machine. So I get out of line... again. I wait a couple minutes and finally I'm SURE I remembered my code. I get back on line, type in my code.... "Your account has been frozen." AWESOME.

At least the night got better from there! I charged my meal and had a wonderful night with the girls. My account is still frozen. Whoops :)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Celebrating Momma's - Giveaway Event

As you all know, this blog is pretty much devoted to babies and young children. Since having my first child last May, that's really all that is ever on my mind. But we are quickly approaching a very special day - Mother's Day. Since this will be my very first Mother's Day I want to share my joy with you! I feel that being a mother is one of the most blessed, fulfilling, tiring and magical callings in life. I am so happy to join this wonderful group of women we call "moms."

For a whole week, I will be doing reviews and giveaways for moms! Some will be baby related, but some will also be just for the woman in you! You won't want to miss this event! I have so many wonderful companies that want to be a part of this that there will be more than one giveaway on most days. It's going to be a great celebration! So grab my button and display it on your blog in order to receive extra entries on these fabulous giveaways!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Girls Day and Night!

I am super excited! This just goes to show how little of a social life I have, but I'm excited anyway! Today I am getting together with a bunch of my girlfriends from college! We are going to get pedicures and have dinner at The Melting Pot, really live it up!

Two years ago this would have been an average weekend, but now it's THE event. It requires 3 weeks of planning and e-mailing back and forth. Reservations and appointments made in advance. Babysitters (or husbands). And an "outfit."

Yes, life has changed drastically since our college days. And even since the few years after when we were all living on our own schedules. But now my weekends are spent food shopping, going to the playground and watching Nick Jr.. But I wouldn't change it for the world!

I love seeing my girls. And I know we are going to have the best time ever! But I also know that the baby will be on my kind the whole time. My husband will have instructions to text me pictures of her throughout the day and night. And I will want to be home by bedtime so I can do my special routine with her. I have my priorities now. Wow, I'm a grownup and a parent!!
Here is a picture of me and my girls from several years back. Some friendships are made to last a lifetime! Call or e-mail your favorite girlfriends today. You'll be happy you did!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Uncommonly Cute Review and Giveaway!!


Uncommonly Cute gave me the opportunity to review one of their products. This was fun! I got to go to their website and look through their selection of humorous yet adorable sayings. The sayings are unique and you get to find one that matches your child's personality!

You should know something about my daughter. She loves Sesame Street. So as soon as I saw one that said "Peace, Love and Cookies" in Cookie Monster blue I knew that this was the shirt for my little girl! I mean, don't get me wrong, Elmo IS my homeboy, but Cookie Monster just takes the cake..... or cookies. :)


They have a great selection that's not too overwhelming. Give a momma too many choices and things could get ugly. But they offer enough of a selection that you are bound to find a bunch that fit your little ones personality. And they offer their sayings on onesies or t-shirt's to accommodate a wide range of ages (up to size 6). They also have a "Build-a-Bootie" section where you can personalize and design little baby booties!

I love that my little girl can go out and people will right away know a little something about who she is and what she likes. It's like a little self expression for babies! And yes, it passed the mommy washing machine test without shrinking or pulling!

But wait... here is the best news....
All my readers can receive 10% purchases with this code: mommadrama (valid until May 31, 2010)

And.....

GIVEAWAY: One reader will get one tee or onesie of their choice plus free shipping (a $32 value!)


HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Uncommonly Cute and tell me which one you would pick!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Follow my blog
2. Become a Facebook Fan of Uncommonly Cute
3. Follow Uncommonly Cute on Twitter
4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave a status link)
5. Become a Facebook Fan of Momma Drama (leave Facebook name)

This giveaway is open to US only
This giveaway ends on April 23, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. A winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Happy Friday Follow!

Friday Follow


Happy Friday Follow! This week is sponsored by:

MckLinky Blog Hop

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Welcome to Facebook, Momma Drama!

Yes, that's right! Momma Drama is finally on Facebook! Become a fan and you will be able to stay up to date on reviews and giveaways! You don't want to miss out on this opportunity with the Mother's Day event coming up and some other amazing reviews and giveaways that I have up my sleeve! So become a FACEBOOK FAN today!

SKOY Review

So I have decided to do everything I can to go green. I have been researching some easy options, because lets face it... I still need to make my house run. But I am totally open to make some changes that won't totally throw off the organized chaos that I have obtained. (In other words, no I will not be giving up my air conditioning or do one load of laundry a week.)

In the midst of my research I came across SKOY and it looked like a simple enough product to try. It sounds great on paper....
  • 100% Biodegradable
  • Reusable and machine washable
  • Absorbs 15 times its own weight
Sounds good, right? No, not good.... AWESOME! I was so impressed! These things absorb so much water. And you ring them out and they are practically dry. I really was amazed.

SKOY sent me a 4 pack to trial. Each cloth is the equivalent of 15 rolls of paper towels.... 15! So I am already looking at a savings of 60 rolls of paper towels (a 4 pack of SKOY cloths costs $6.99).
I couldn't think of a way to photograph how well these work... so here is a picture just seconds after soaking the SKOY cloth and wringing it out. It didn't even leave a puddle on my counter!

So here is a product that is good for the earth and good for your budget... and it works!