Comfort & Harmony™ mombo™ Deluxe Pillow ~ Review & Giveaway

by Carrie Wells, Ed.D.

The Comfort & Harmony™ mombo™ Deluxe Pillow is the first two-sided nursing pillow with a vibrating feature. The Firm2Soft™ two-sided construction is uniquely designed to offer distinct benefits on each side. The firm side offers enhanced back support during nursing and just the right elevation for baby. The soft side creates the perfect environment for baby to relax.

Breastfeeding Bryce (4 months) using the mombo

This nursing pillow is so much more versatile than other pillows on the market. It is thicker and firmer. The rounded, plush side is great for placing babies in a variety of positions. The smooth side sits flat on either a hard surface, piece of furniture (with close supervision), or mommy's lap while nursing. The vibrating feature is very relaxing/soothing for little ones to nap after being fed.

Bryce lounging in his mombo at 2 months

Bryce at 3 months cuddling on the mombo with his sister Lydia

Bryce doing tummy time in the mombo at 3 months

Bryce relaxing in the mombo at 4 months

My son Bryce really loves tummy time. I like to place a blanket on the floor, the mombo on top, and position him on his belly. It's a great way for him to strengthen all his neck muscles and work on his head control.

BUY IT! The Comfort & Harmony™ mombo™ Deluxe Pillow in the Taggies™ Fashion is sold exclusively at Babies R Us and retails for $49.99

WIN IT! This giveaway is for a Comfort & Harmony™ mombo™ Deluxe Pillow in the Taggies™ Fashion with colorful, silky tags in all the right places for little hands to touch and explore soothes and comforts baby.  Superior plush fabrics and unique detailed appliqués offer a sweet and cozy environment.

Natural Teething Necklace for Mom & Baby Review/Giveaway #2 ~ Ends 9/13

by Carrie Wells, Ed.D.

When Lydia was about 8 months old, I hosted a review/giveaway for a Creative Addiction natural stone teething necklace. Andrea of Creative Addiction has since created some great new designs and has asked me to host a new review/giveaway ~ Of course I said YES!

Natural stone teething necklace

The new style I am reviewing features small turquoise-like natural stones. Instead of one large stone, this necklace contains 13 small stones. Andrea at Creative Addiction said that she created this design because her 7-month old loves teething on the individual beads. Because it is made of natural stone, it is safe for babies (not a choking hazard). This is a great alternative to all of those store-bought plastic teethers. Because the beads are on a nylon-type cord, you can tie the top part tighter for a shorter necklace or leave it as is for a longer necklace to pair with all different types of outfits. Fashionable for mommy and functional for baby! Lydia enjoys wearing it to play dress up, but I definitely look forward to my son using it as a teething necklace when he is ready.

Lydia "modeling" the necklace with her Dora bracelet (and very goofy 'cheese' smile). 

BUY IT! You can purchase a teething necklace or many other beautiful jewelry pieces at Andrea's etsy shop, Creative Addiction. Followers of my blog receive 15% off their orders for the next week.

WIN IT! You can win your own natural stone teething necklace just like the one above.

Mandatory entry: VISIT the Creative Addiction etsy page and let me know one item you would love to have!

For additional entries - leave one comment per entry:
1. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.
2. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
3. Become a public follower of Momma Maven.
4. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.

(*If you are already a follower of my blog, twitter, or Facebook, leave a comment telling me that - one for each.)

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 9/13 at 10:00 pm. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck!

Congratulations to our winner, Tina!

* I received the aforementioned products for free to review. The opinions expressed are honest and provided without monetary compensation.

Barney Butter Almond Butter Review & Giveaway ~ Ends 8/3

I was fortunate enough to win TWO samples of Barney Butter: the first was at a Twitter Party about healthy snacking, and the second was on the Barney Butter Facebook wall for tagging a picture of their products at my local Whole Foods. Now, I was a bit skeptical at first because I have tried other almond butters and I was not thoroughly impressed. However, Barney Butter Almond Butter is exceptionally delicious! It's also a healthy alternative to peanut butter. It is an all natural, peanut-free, gluten-free product. Here are the facts when compared to peanut butter:

As soon as I opened my package, I tried it and immediately looked at their website to feel inspired to create my own almond butter cookie recipe. They also have recipes for entrees, snacks, and other desserts, including gluten-free and dairy-free options.

Here's what I came up with today based on one of the recipes on the website ~ They are so yummy!

Barney Butter Almond Butter & Raspberry Jam Cookies

Recipe makes about 20 small sandwich cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 stick of butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup Crunchy Barney Butter

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup raspberry jam

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Cream the butter, almond butter, and sugars together in an electric mixer until well-blended. Add the egg and vanilla until combined. Slowly mix the flour mixture in with the butter mixture. Divide the batter in half. Make 20 cookies that are one tablespoon each. Press all the cookies flat with your fingers so they are about 1/3 inch thick. Follow the same steps to make the second half of the cookies, only cut a small circle in the middle of each one. I used a cake-decorating tip to make the perfect-sized circles. Place all cookies in the oven and bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Allow to cool on a cooling rack. Spread about a 1/2 t of jam on the complete cookie and place a cookie with a hole on top (to make a window to see the jam). Enjoy!

BUY IT!  Use promo code Almond20 to receive 20% off your order of Barney Butter.

WIN IT! You can win a box of Barney Butter Almond Butter squeeze packs, great for lunchboxes and quick snacks on the go!

Mandatory entry: LIKE the Barney Butter Facebook page and post on the wall "I was sent by Huppie Mama to win some Barney Butter Almond Butter!" Leave a comment below letting me know you posted.

For additional entries - leave one comment per entry:

1. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.

2. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
3. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.

(*If you are already a follower of my blog, twitter, or Facebook, leave a comment telling me that - one for each)

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 8/3 at 10:00 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck! 

* I received the aforementioned products for free to review. The opinions expressed are honest and provided without monetary compensation.

Congratulations, Betsy, winner of my Barney Butter giveaway - random.org picked comment #3!

Nifty Knees Review and Giveaway ends 10/15

Nifty Knees contacted me to do a review and giveaway, and I quickly responded! With Fall approaching, I love to find cute new fashions for my little one to stay warm (we have a few cool days in Florida). We were sent one pair of leg warmers in bright pink and a cute floral print drool bandana. The leg warmers look great with a onesie for younger babies or with a cute dress or shorts for toddlers. The drool bandana would be perfect for a baby who is beginning to eat solids.

Nifty Knees has some great leg warmers in seasonal colors/patterns on sale for just $6. These would be awesome as part of a Halloween costume! They also carry mini leg warmers for newborns and infants, drool bandanas, custom tees, and fleece hats.

Lydia is beginning to take her first steps - Nifty Knees leg warmers are a great way to keep your baby's legs a little bit safer while he/she is learning to crawl or walk.

Funny story - The day our Nifty Knees leg warmers arrived in the mail I attended an 80s theme bachelorette party. Even mommies can wear these leg warmers as 80s accessories on their wrists or ankles!!

BUY IT! Visit Nifty Knees and use the promotional code hmreview to receive a  15% discount off your purchase. Offer is valid until December 1, 2010.

WIN IT! Win a $25 gift certificate to use online for any Nifty Knees items, including leg warmers, drool bandanas, custom tees, or fleece hats.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Nifty Knees and tell me what items you'd love to have for your little one!

For additional entries, you can do any of the following (one entry each):
1. Become a follower of my blog through Google Friend Connect.
2. Like Nifty Knees on Facebook.
3. Follow Nifty Knees on Twitter.
4. Like Abi's Place (the non-profit organization where I work) on Facebook.
5. Follow my sister blog Moms on a Mission.

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to contact you. This giveaway ends on 10/15 at 11:59 pm EST. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck!

*I received this product for free, and I was not compensated for writing this review.

$25 CSN Stores Gift Certificate Giveaway - Ends 8/8

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am hosting a CSN Stores $25 gift certificate giveaway. What is CSN Stores? It is one website that unites 200+ online retailers selling a broad range of products, including home decor, baby/children items, tools, pet supplies, office supplies, and so much more. The website is very easy to navigate. The website's search engine allows you to search by keyword or brand. All of the stores offer very competitive prices, often much lower than retail price.

I decided to put my $25 gift certificate toward a new car seat for Lydia. Everyone I know recommended Britax, so I searched all of the car seats and found several Britax car seats. As I had expected, the price was at least 20% lower than the leading baby department stores. The car seat I found was under $200 and was gender neutral, which was important to me. The site also offered free shipping, which was awesome.

One thing I would recommend - I searched the site several days in a row to really figure out what I wanted. Unfortunately, I initially picked out one car seat, but when I looked the next day to purchase it, it was already sold out. However, the car seat I picked out was just as nice and less expensive - Bonus! So, when shopping on CSN Stores, if you really like something, purchase it that day. If you are uncertain, search for a few days, as merchandise is constantly being updated.

Here's Lydia sleeping in her new Britax car seat. What's so great about this car seat? She'll be able to use it until she is ready for a booster seat. It is rear-facing for now, but converts to a forward-facing seat when she is ready. Definitely an eco-friendly choice for my family!

 

WIN IT! You can win a $25 gift certificate to CSN Stores, to be used at any of their 200+ retailers.

Mandatory entry: Visit CSN Stores and tell me what you think you'd put your $25 toward.

For additional entries - leave one comment per entry:

1. Follow CSN Stores on Facebook.

2. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.

3. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
4. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.
5. 'Like' Abi's Place (the non-profit where I work) on Facebook.
6. Vote for Zimmerman School House dba Abi's Place to win $500,000 in the KOHL'S Cares campaign by clicking the link to the right (just above the Facebook Badge). You get 5 votes.
7. Follow my new sister blog Moms on a Mission.
(*If you are already a follower of my blog, twitter, or Facebook, leave a comment telling me that - one for each)

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 8/8 at 10:00 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck!

Amy's Kitchen Review & Giveaway - Ends 8/1

Amy's Kitchen is the #1 natural frozen foods brand, specializing in vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free savory snacks/meals and sweet treats. They just released some awesome new products that I was lucky enough to review. I received a package in the mail containing the following:

• Broccoli and spinach white pizza
• Orange cake (vegan/dairy-free)
• Chocolate cake (vegan/dairy-free)
• California veggie burger (light in sodium)

I will begin by reviewing the cakes. While I preferred the chocolate cake, my husband preferred the orange cake. Unlike many vegan desserts that I have tried that tend to be bland or dry, these cakes were very flavorful and moist. You can purchase them in the freezer section at your grocery store, and all you have to do is thaw them in the fridge for a few hours and serve. Even after having them in the fridge for a few days, they still tasted fresh and maintained their moisture. The orange cake had a very intense orange flavor. The chocolate cake had a bittersweet flavor.. While I usually make my own desserts for dinner parties, I would proudly serve one of these cakes. They'd both be great as part of a trifle, layered with fruit/berries, pudding, and whipped cream (for those of us who eat dairy).

When I was a meat-eater, I was particular about burgers. After becoming a pescetarian 4 years ago, I became particular about the types of veggie burgers I would eat. Generally, I prefer black bean burgers, but I decided to give these a try. Turns out....they're delicious! I topped my burger with sharp cheddar cheese, grilled onions, and avocado, and I enjoyed it throughly. I even served them to my nieces, calling them "burgers," and they didn't even notice that they were made of veggies instead of beef. One bit of caution, these burgers do contain nuts, a common allergen.

The white pizza was the first think we tried. The picture on the cover looked delicious! Usually I add extra flavors (more cheese, garlic, herbs, etc.) to frozen pizzas. This pizza was very flavorful. Even my 10-month old daughter liked it. The crust was thin and crisp, and there was a good about of toppings. 

Overall, we loved our new Amy's products! We'll definitely purchase some of these items on future grocery shopping trips.

BUY IT! Visit Amy's Kitchen to learn more about where to purchase Amy's products, including online. The website also has dietary information, a link to their blog, FAQ's, and more!

WIN IT! You can win THREE FREE product coupons (you get to choose your favorites) and a reusable Amy's tote bag.

Mandatory entry: Visit Amy's Kitchen and tell me where you can find Amy's products in your neighborhood by going to the "store locator."

For additional entries - leave one comment per entry:

1. 'Like' Amy's on Facebook.

2. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.

3. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
4. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.
5. 'Like' Abi's Place (the non-profit where I work) on Facebook.
6. Vote for Zimmerman School House dba Abi's Place to win $500,000 in the KOHL'S Cares campaign by clicking the link to the right (just above the Facebook Badge). You get 5 votes.
7. Follow my new sister blog Moms on a Mission.
(*If you are already a follower of my blog, twitter, or Facebook, leave a comment telling me that - one for each)

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 8/1 at 10:00 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck! 

* I received the aforementioned products for free to review. The opinions expressed are honest and provided without monetary compensation.

GladRags Nursing Pads Review & Giveaway ends 7/20

I was approached by GladRags to review a pair of reusable organic cotton nursing pads. The organic cotton is very soft and is grown without the use of pesticides or any other chemicals. I have seen other pads that are organic/reusable, but they are usually much bulkier, which may be awkward when wearing a form-fitting shirt. These are thin, but absorbent. To clean the nursing pads, simply machine wash and dry. For increased absorbency, wash in hot water before using them for the first time.

The best feature about these pads is that they have a slit from the center outward so that you can shape them into a more natural-looking nursing pad (see image below). This also makes for good protection against leakage. The only time I leaked regularly was probably for the first 3 - 4 months, during the night. These would've been great inside a comfy night-time bra.

For those of us who use cloth diapers, we have already learned how easy it is to use eco-friendly, reusable products such as these. You don't ever have to worry about them "running out" as you would disposable nursing pads. I recently wrote about my period returning, so I definitely want to look into some of their reusable menstrual products as well (like cloth pads and pantiliners, cups and sponges).

There's also a great GladRags Blog that discusses important women's issues - with a focus on menstruating, going green, and healthy lifestyle choices.


BUY IT! GladRags makes so many other great products for new mommies, like nipple butter, bath herbs, and organic cotton hankies, as well as alternative products to tampons and disposable sanitary napkins.

WIN IT! You could win a pack of 3 pairs of nursing pads PLUS an Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter (RV over $35).

Mandatory entry: Visit Gladrags and comment with the product you are most interested in trying.

For additional entries - leave one comment per entry:

1. 'Like' GladRags on Facebook.

2. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.

3. Follow GladRags on Twitter.
4. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
5. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.
6. 'Like' Abi's Place (the non-profit where I work) on Facebook.
7. Vote for Zimmerman School House dba Abi's Place to win $500,000 in the KOHL'S Cares campaign by clicking the link to the right (just above the Facebook Badge).
(*If you are already a follower of my blog, twitter, or Facebook, leave a comment telling me that - one for each)
 

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 7/20 at 10:00 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck! 

* I received the aforementioned products for free to review. The opinions expressed are honest and provided without monetary compensation.

Congratulations to Stephanie! Thank you to all who participated in this giveaway.

YoBaby Yogurt Review & Giveaway ends 7/18

YoBaby yogurt is one branch of Stonyfield Organics. YoBaby is whole milk yogurt, suitable for babies 6 months and older. Their most recent product to hit the markets is the YoBaby 3-in-1 meal. Each 4 oz serving contains one veggie, one fruit, and yogurt. They come in three flavors:

• Apple & Sweet Potato
• Pear & Green Bean
• Peach & Squash

We tried the apple & sweet potato and the peach & squash. Lydia really liked both, but seemed to prefer the peach & squash. In addition to the fruits and veggies, these 3-in-1 meals also contain an exclusive blend of live active cultures.


Stonyfield Organics makes many other great products for you and your little ones. After trying the peach & squash 3-in-1 meals, we purchased the peach drinkable yogurt, which Lydia really likes. We're able to get two servings out of each 6 oz container.

Here are a few more reasons to purchase YoBaby for your baby:

Certified organic. Because YoBaby is organic, you know it’s made without the use of persistent pesticides. That’s especially important for babies, because their little bodies are more vulnerable to pesticide exposure. YoBaby is also made without the use of synthetic growth hormones or antibiotics.

Helps support brain development. We make YoBaby from whole milk, which helps support healthy brain development. Pediatricians recommend whole milk for babies and toddlers up to two years.

Helps support baby’s immune system. One serving of YoBaby provides 25% of your baby’s daily need for zinc, the mineral that helps support a healthy immune system.

Helps support growth. Each serving of YoBaby provides at least 25% of your baby’s daily needs for calcium, protein, and vitamin D, plus other nutrients essential for babies' growth.

BUY IT! Visit Stonyfield to learn more about where to purchase YoBaby products. I found the 3-in-1 meals at my local Super Target. The website has printable coupons if you register, recipes, and extensive information about healthy eating.

WIN IT! You can win coupons for TWO 4-packs of YoBaby 3-in-1 meals and an Eric Carle growth chart.

Mandatory entry: Visit Stonyfield and tell me where you can find Stonyfield products in your neighborhood!

For additional entries - leave one comment per entry:

1. 'Like' YoBaby on Facebook.

2. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.

3. Follow Stonyfield on Twitter.
4. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
5. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.
6. 'Like' Abi's Place (the non-profit where I work) on Facebook.
7. Vote for Zimmerman School House dba Abi's Place to win $500,000 in the KOHL'S Cares campaign by clicking the link to the right (just above the Facebook Badge).
(*If you are already a follower of my blog, twitter, or Facebook, leave a comment telling me that - one for each)
 

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 7/18 at 10:00 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck! 

* I received the aforementioned products for free to review. The opinions expressed are honest and provided without monetary compensation.

Congratulations to Charity! Thanks to all who participated in this giveaway.

Huge Bundle of HAPPYBABY Food - Review & Giveaway Ends 6/27

The HAPPYBABY Family makes so many great food products for infants, toddlers, and young children. I was fortunate enough to receive coupons to use at Whole Foods that would allow us to try all of the following products for free.

I'll go through each product so you know what you can try as well.

*2 HAPPYBELLIES Cereals. I chose oatmeal and multigrain. These cereals are enhanced with DHA and Probiotics. To jazz them up a bit, I made the following recipe:

3T Oatmeal cereal
2T apple, diced finely
sprinkle of cinnamon
enough water to cook

I just stirred it together and microwaved for about 15 seconds. Lydia LOVES it for breakfast.

*2 HAPPYBABY Organic frozen meals. These come in all kinds of flavors for the beginning eater (around 6 months) and infants who are a bit older (around 9 months).  There are both vegetarian and meat options, and each package comes with 12 individual cubes. I like to take two cubes and mix them with some cooked couscous or small pasta (like orzo). Lydia seems to enjoy food with a bit more texture, so this make it fun for her. Plus, then, she can do her favorite thing - fingerfeed herself.

*HAPPYPUFFS are the first organic puffed finger foods just for babies! They come in three different flavors: banana, apple, and greens. These are supplemented with vitamins and minerals, and perfect for the crawling baby to feed him/herself.

*HAPPYMELTS are organic yogurt snacks that melt in babies' mouths. These are my favorite - they are absolutely delicious! They come in three flavors: strawberry, mixed berry, and banana. These also contain pre and probiotics. I like mixing them with the puffs when we are on the go.

*HAPPYBITES are frozen fingerfoods that older infants/toddlers can feed themselves. Because Lydia is 9 months, I break them into little pieces for her to self-feed. We tried the salmon stix and veggie tots. Lydia enjoyed them both, but seemed to prefer the salmon stix. I liked them, too! I think we'll have to try the mac & cheese bites next.

All of these products are ORGANIC and enhanced with various vitamins/minerals/probiotics. I always tell people - I don't want to feed Lydia anything that I would not eat myself. I would snack on all of the HAPPYBABY products, which makes me feel good about feeding them to her. Plus, they are endorsed by Dr. Sears, famous for his attachment parenting style and baby care books. This is the only baby food company I know that works so closely with a well-known and respected pediatrician to create products for our little ones.

One satisfied customer feeding herself bits of the salmon stix!

BUY IT! You can purchase HAPPYBABY food at your local Whole Foods or the HAPPY BABY website.

WIN IT! You can win the following HAPPYBABY products (RV over $50!):
2 free trial coupons for each of the following:  HAPPYBABY, HAPPYBELLES, HAPPYBABYPUFFS, HAPPYMELTS, HAPPYBITES
1 FAQ on Probiotics & DHA
1 Nutrition Guide, co-authored by Dr. Sears
1 HAPPYFAMILY Recipes 

Mandatory entry: Visit HAPPYBABY foods > go to About Us > go to Our Promise and tell me something you learned about this great company!

For additional entries - leave one comment per entry:

1. 'Like' HAPPYFAMILY on Facebook.

2. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.

3. Follow HAPPYBABY Food on Twitter.
4. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
5. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.
6. 'Like' Abi's Place (the non-profit where I work) on Facebook.
(*If you are already a follower of my blog, twitter, or Facebook, leave a comment telling me that - one for each)
 

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 6/27 at 11:59 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck! 

* I received the aforementioned products for free to review. The opinions expressed are honest and provided without monetary compensation.

Congratulations to our winner - Anastasia!  Thanks to all who participated!!

Plum Organics Baby/Toddler Food Review & Giveaway Ends 6/13

EcoMom sent me a sampler pack of the Plum Organics Baby and Toddler food to review. Plum Organics makes several great products:

~ Spouted pouches of single pureed fruits and veggies for babies and toddlers
* Spouted pouches of fruit/veggie combinations for babies and toddlers
~ Fiddlesticks - crunchy fruit/veggie & grain snack sticks for toddlers
* Fingerfuls - bite-sized dried fruit and grain crunchies for toddlers (and for hungry mommies who also like fruit and cereal)

Our sampler pack included several spouted pouches and a box of carrot Fiddlesticks. The spouted pouches were in delicious flavor combinations, such as Baby Spinach, Peas & Pear and Sweet Potato, Corn, & Apples. These are really great to grab and throw in a diaper bag when you're on the go. We even experimented with a few of the flavors, mixing them with cooked brown rice and pasta now that Lydia is 9 months old. She loved them!

The ingredients in Plum Organics products are so simple: organic fruits, organic veggies, and lemon juice (as a preservative). It's as if you cooked fresh produce at home, made purees, and packaged the purees in convenient pouches.

EcoMom also carries another great line of food that can go from the high chair to the lunch box: Revolution Foods. I did not receive a sample to review, so when I spotted the Berry Mash at a local store, I had to try it. From firsthand experience, I can tell you that these are quite delicious as well! 


BUY IT! You can purchase Plum Organics food for toddlers and babies at EcoMom, along with other great organic clothing, bath & body products, toys, and so much more! Use discount code SBBL187 to receive 15% off your first order.
For even better savings, including a 15% discount + free shipping with every order, check out the EcoPass for just $99 annually.

WIN IT! Would you like to win a sampler of Plum Organics and Revolution Foods (RV $20)?  Mandatory entry: Visit EcoMom, and tell me which food items sound the tastiest for your little one - choose either a Plum Organics or Revolution Foods product!

For additional entries - leave one comment per entry:

1. 'Like' EcoMom on Facebook.

2. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.

3. Follow EcoMom on Twitter.
4. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
5. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.
6. 'Like' Abi's Place (the non-profit where I work) on Facebook.
(*If you are already a follower of my blog, twitter, or Facebook, leave a comment telling me that - one for each)
 

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 6/13 at 11:59 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck! 

* I received the aforementioned products for free to review. The opinions expressed are honest and provided without monetary compensation.

Green to Grow Glass Bottle (4-pack) Review & Giveaway

Because I breastfeed Lydia and for the first 8 months of her life I either worked from home or brought her to work with me, I rarely used bottles. In fact, I only had about 5 of them. She used bottles maybe a dozen or so times, always with pumped milk, so I didn't think too much about it. When Lydia was about 4 months old, every time I went to drink from a regular glass, she'd grab my glass to take a sip (and expressed very little interest in using a bottle). I'm a big water drinker, so no real harm in her trying some of my water, even if she spilled a bit.

HOWEVER, I recently (and temporarily) returned to work full-time, and I didn't want to pump milk only to have it spill everywhere in an open cup. So, I had to find some bottles to use. Luckily, during a trip to Whole Foods, I came across the Green to Grow glass bottles. I contacted the company, and they sent me 4 bottles to review: two 4 oz. bottles and two 8 oz. bottles (pictured below).

Here are a few facts about Green to Grow bottles:
1. The bottles are made in the U.S.A. Why is this important? This means that they wasted less fuel transporting these bottles from abroad, making them ecologically-friendly and economically-friendly.
2. They are BPA-free and phthalate-free.
3. The bottle-opening is a standard size, so the nipples can be used on other bottles.
4. The nipples are made of a medical grade silicone. They are slow flow nipples, which are recommended for young babies (esp. if you are breastfeeding).
5. The packaging itself is made from 100% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable. If your bottle accidentally breaks, it is also recyclable.

These bottles have been helpful to store pumped milk in the refrigerator and are safely transported using a small insulated cooler bag with an ice pack! I feel great knowing that my child is drinking from something that is safe when she is away from me. Besides, who wouldn't love those cool, funky designs on the bottle? Did I mention that green is my favorite color?

BUY IT! You can purchase Green to Grow bottles online or at your local Whole Foods Market. Green to Grow also sells reusable totes, cloths, and BPA-free plastic bottles.

WIN IT! Would you like to win four eco-friendly glass bottles for your little one (RV $31)?  Mandatory entry: Visit Green to Grow, click on the 'learn' link, and tell me something you learned!

For additional entries - leave one comment per entry:

1. 'Like' Green to Grow on Facebook.

2. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.

3. Follow Green to Grow on Twitter.
4. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
5. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.
6. 'Like' Abi's Place (the non-profit where I work) on Facebook.
(*If you are already a follower of my blog, twitter, or Facebook, leave a comment telling me that - one for each)
 

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 6/7 at 11:59 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck! 

**Congratulations to Rachel! Thank you to all who participated.

Django Mango Organic Rattle Review & Giveaway! Ends 5/23

This giveaway is for something really cool! I contacted the Django Mango etsy shop owner, and asked to do a review/giveaway of one of their products. I was redirected to the Django Mango website, and I was sent two super-cute 100% organic octopus rattles - one for Lydia and one for one of my readers. Lydia loves her octopus rattle! She likes to grab the arms and shake it a whole bunch. Because the eyes are made of felt, it's safe for babies/children of all ages.

Here's an overview of the Django Mango products:

• 
  
  
  There are 23 different rattle designs in a variety of colors
• 
  
  
  They are made with either 100% organic cotton or 100% fair trade organic cotton
• 
  
  
  They are filled with stuffing made from plastic bottles
• 
  
  
  They are packaged in a reusable fabric bag
• 
  
  
  The creator, Amanda Sharpe, makes all of her original designs by hand in her smoke-free, pet-free home in Ontario (and she's a redhead like me!)

In addition to rattles, Django Mango also carries handmade origami mobiles and reusable baby washcloths.

BUY IT! Visit Django Mango to purchase one of many beautiful handmade products.

WIN IT! Would you like to win a 100% organic octopus rattle for a special little one in your life? For the Mandatory Entry, visit Django Mango and tell me something else you would love to have.

For additional entries (leave one comment per entry):

1. 'Like' Django Mango on Facebook.

2. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.

3. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
4. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.
5. 'Like' Abi's Place (the non-profit where I work) on Facebook.
6. Give us an idea for another rattle that Django Mango could create - perhaps a favorite animal? Favorite food? Be creative!
 

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 5/23 at 11:59 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck! 

**Congratulations to Jessica! Thank you to all who participated. 

It's BLOGMANIA!! Enter 100+ Giveaways, starting with MINE :-)

WELCOME To BLOGMANIA !

My Blog is 79 of 123

You’ve arrived at exactly the right time to explore lots of new blogs, all of which ARE GIVING AWAY A VERY SPECIAL BLOGMANIA GIVEAWAY  (For One Day Only – April 30^th) .

We’ve done all the work for you. No hunting or surfing. Each blog will have a number and each new blog link will have a number. These numbers will allow you to keep track of which blogs you’ve visited and how many are left to visit. Why not take a moment to make a list of blog numbers  1-123 and check off the blogs as you go.

I know you’ll want to visit as many blogs today as you can. So, if you see something that interests you on any of our participating blogs, why not bookmark that site. Later, when you have more time, you can discover all its fabulous treasures.  

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! Here's my giveaway:

This giveaway includes a delicious snack sampler pack from Sahale Snacks, an oilcloth lunch bag from RickRack Queen's Etsy Shop, and a reusable snack bag from It's a Ten's Etsy Shop. 

Here's some information about each one:

The Sahale Snacks mission is based on three basic principles - snack better, work better, live better. The company was founded on a simple idea: Take all-natural ingredients, add a dash of culinary magic, and produce great-tasting snacks.Their all-natural snacks combine delicious nuts, healthy dried fruits, and gourmet seasonings to create delicious snacks! As a pescetarian, I rely on nuts for a great deal of my protein intake. These nuts were both sweet and savory, satisfying my salty and sweet-tooth cravings. I was sent several different flavors to try, and all of them were scrumptious. 

RickRack Queen's Etsy Shop features oilcloth lunch bags with vintage-style prints. These lunch bags can fit so many food items - see photos above. Clean up is easy with a little soap and water. You will win any basic lunch bag of your choice!

It's a Ten's Etsy Shop features reusable Sak Saver Baggies. These water-resistant nylon snack bags can replace all of those over-priced, wasteful zipper bags. Sak Saver Baggies are perfect for all kinds of snacks, like sandwiches, crackers, and nuts. They are machine washable, air dry. 

Entering to win my giveaway is very simple!

Follow me through Google Friend Connect AND visit any one of the following sites and tell me what you would love to have.

Sahale Snacks

RickRack Queen's Etsy Shop

It's A Ten's Etsy Shop

BLOGMANIA ends at midnight tonight! Check out all of my other giveaways also ending tonight.

Click on the following links to enter more giveaways!

Between The Pages

The Black Sheep Dances

Books, Books Everywhere

Truth Be Told

Publishing Without a Parachute 

Travel the Ages 

Luxury Reading

Simply Stacie

A Mom After God’s Own Heart

Jennifer Laurens 

Just Another New Blog

 

**The winner of this giveaway is Janet. Thank you to all who participated!**

Maternity Consignment Boutique $25 GC Giveaway - Ends 5/9

Here's what you can give the expectant mommy or new mommy for Mother's Day!

Jodi at Expecting You Consignment would like to offer one of my readers a $25 gift certificate to her maternity consignment boutique, located in sunny South Florida. She carries a broad range of new and gently used items for you and your little one, including:

• Maternity clothing by well-known designers/stores
• Baby/child clothing from well-known designers/stores
• Baby furniture
• Slings/baby carriers
• Breast pumps
• and so much more!

Consignment stores are a great way to pick up some of those higher-end items that you may not be able to afford otherwise. It's also very 'green' because it allows multiple families to get use out of the same item, instead of just tossing it out after a few uses.

Would you like to win a $25 gift certificate to Expecting You Consignment? If you live in the South Florida area, you can just redeem in the store. If you live outside the area, you would contact Jodi and let her know what you're interested in purchasing.


WIN IT! Mandatory Entry: Visit Expecting You Consignment, click on 'Join Our Family,' and let me know what gently used item you'd love to purchase with your $25 gift certificate.

Here are a few other ways to win (one entry per method):
1. 'Like' Expecting You Consignment on Facebook.
2. 'Like' Huppie Mama on Facebook.
3. Follow Huppie Mama on Twitter.
4. Become a public follower of Huppie Mama.
5. 'Like' Abi's Place (the non-profit where I work) on Facebook.

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on Mother's Day (5/9) at 11:59 pm. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck!

**Congratulations to Meghan! Thank you to all who participated. 

Natural Teething Necklace for Mom & Baby - ends 5/7

This giveaway is for a Creation Addiction stone teething necklace. They say a picture says a thousand words, so what does this one say?? It says that Lydia instantly LOVED her stone teething necklace (and that mommy needs to take more time to style her hair). 

This is a great teething necklace! It's fashionable, so it's great for mommies, and it's a natural way for your child to teethe. Lydia tries to chew on my other necklaces, so I am always afraid she'll break off a bead or charm. You don't have to worry about the BPAs in plastic or your child chewing something that can break, splinter, etc. with this teething necklace!

Creation Addiction carries a variety of teething necklaces, made of all different stones, shapes, and colors. You can win a turquoise teething necklace for you and your little one to enjoy!

Creation Addiction is offering the following promotional discounts to all of my readers if you would like to purchase something from her Etsy shop:

• 5% for following you
• 5% for following creationaddict on twitter
• 5% for hearting my shop
• 5% for becoming a fan of the Creation Addiction Facebook Fan Page
• 5% bonus for doing all four

That's a 25% discount!

Would you like to win a teething necklace?

There's only one way to enter this giveaway:

Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect AND visit the Creation Addiction Etsy Shop and tell me what other designs you like!

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on 5/7 at 11:59 pm EST. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck!

**Congratulations to Jennifer! Thank you to all who participated.  

Organic Cotton Cloth Wipes (set of 5) - Ends 5/7

This giveaway is for a set of 5 organic cotton reusable baby wipes from bee sew sew's Etsy shop. Here's some information about these wipes:

• They are made of 100% printed cotton flannel and 100% organic cotton sherpa
• They are machine washable, tumble dry
• They come in really cute prints, from traditional baby animals to rockin' skull/crossbones
• They are extremely soft - perfect for little babies' bottoms, faces, or anything else that needs to get wiped
• They measure about 6" x 6" 
• Imagine the money you could save using cloth wipes (which can be washed and used so many times over) instead of disposable wipes.

Here's one of the wipes I received. I hope you can tell how soft it is from this picture!

Bee sew sew also has some other great items, like cloth diaper inserts and handmade quilts.

Here's a great offer! If you are interested in purchasing any items from bee sew sew, enter "huppiemama" in the comments section during checkout to receive 10% off your entire purchase (good until May 26th, 2010).

There's only one way to enter this giveaway:

Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect AND visit the  bee sew sew Etsy Shop and tell me what wipe design you like the most!

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway ends on May 7th, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck!

**Congratulations to Tabathia! Thank you to all who participated. 

Ice Cream Cone Recycled Crayons - Ends 4/30

I took a break for one day, but I'm back with a great giveaway! (Okay, that rhyming was kinda corny, but totally unintentional.) This giveaway is for Gaddy Nipper recycled crayons. They come in five beautiful colors (violet, light blue, bright orange, yellow, and green). Each crayon is made of recycled Crayola crayons. They are about 3 inches in length and much thicker than regular crayons, which is especially great for little ones just learning how to grasp writing utensils. They color beautifully...and best of all, they are perfect for summer because they are shaped like ICE CREAM CONES!

These crayons would make awesome goodie bag gifts for young children (ages 3 - 7). They would also be great for children who do not enjoy writing. Who wouldn't want to write/color with these cool crayons? 

Gaddy Nipper Crayons come in so many awesome shapes and colors - perfect for children with all different interests.

There's only one way to enter this giveaway:

Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect AND visit the Gaddy Nipper Crayons Etsy Shop and tell me what other designs you like!

Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway and all my other Blogmania giveaways end on 4/30 at 11:59 pm EST. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck!

**The winner of this giveaway is Lynne. Thank you to all who participated!**

Matching Baby & Mommy Clothing Giveaway #2 - Ends 4/30

I wrote to The Earth Freak Shop on Etsy and asked them if I could do a review/giveaway of one of their organic cotton, tie-dyed baby onesies. They generously offered me and my readers a 3-piece set: onesie, matching baby socks, and matching mommy socks. Too cool!

Let me start by showing you the pictures.

Baby Onesie with Matching Socks (she's trying so hard to crawl!)

Mommy Socks

And a bonus matching baby hat

Each item is hand-dyed. The colors are beautiful - rich and bold! The organic cotton items are grown without the use of pesticides, making them safer against the skin. The socks are made of bamboo and are soooo soft! These would definitely be great at home on a cool day or under boots to keep your feet nice and snuggly. Unlike most baby socks, which tend to be short and come off easily, these socks are longer, so they can be worn folded or unfolded (and they actually stay on). And anytime mommy and baby can match - too cute!

Would you like some great clothing for you and your little one from The Earth Freak?

There's only one way to enter this giveaway:

Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect AND visit The Earth Freak Etsy shop or the Earth Freak website and tell me what colors you liked the most!


Be sure to include your email address with each entry so that I know how to find you. This giveaway and all my other Blogmania giveaways end on 4/30 at 11:59 pm EST. If you are the winner, you will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner. Good luck!

**The winner of this giveaway is Tina. Thank you to all who participated!**