Bella Mama Natural Skincare Review and Giveaway

I totally believe in making sure you keep your belly bump moisturized with natural products to prevent stretch marks! I really don't think it is at all optional. That itching sensation reminds me on a regular basis to rub something soothing on it. I had heard about a bunch of celebrity moms (Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie, Gywneth Paltrow, and more) using Bella Mama so I was curious to see what they had to offer.

All Bella Mama products are created with the highest quality natural ingredients, chosen for safety and effectiveness and blended with subtlety and care by a master herbalist, aroma therapist and natural skin-care specialist. Each product offers unique ingredients such as oat extract for itchy bellies; cucumber and witch hazel for swollen feet; shea butter to comfort during nursing; and green tea and rose bud to refresh the skin. We also wanted to make sure that we made our luxurious product a pampering one.

Sounds good, right? So I gave it Bella Mama a try and I am glad I did. I was fortunate enough to try the Bella Mamma Holiday Small Gift Box. This is a little pamper spa in a box and let me tell you that you might want to discreetly send this link to your hubby so that you get one of these beautiful boxes under the tree! The small gift box comes with 2 oz. Belly Butter, 1 oz. Belly Oil, 1 oz. Foot Salts, 1 oz. Face & Body Spray plus a travel package of belly butter and belly oil. My daughter was really impressed with the packaging and wanted to play with the box and I am really impressed with the great products inside!

Bella Mama Belly Butter- "This rich and luxurious butter was made to soothe skin, reduce itchiness and minimize stretch marks. Delicately scented with high-quality pure essential oils of lavender, sweet orange and mandarin. The wonderful belly butter nurtures skin before and after childbirth." I really like the soft fragrance of this and it great to use anytime because it sinks right in.

Bella Mama Belly Oil- "This comforting Belly Oil was made to soothe skin, reduce itchiness and minimize stretch marks. Mildly scented with high-quality pure essential oils of lavender and neroli. The luxurious belly oil leaves skin feeling healthy and satiny-smooth before and after childbirth." Now, I really love the Bella Mamma Belly Oil. The smell is really wonderful and it comforting is actually a really good description of the fragrance- it makes me feel really good. It is also very moisturizing and sinks in fairly quickly. I use the oil before bed. Plus listen to the ingredients- sunflower seed oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, hazelnut oil, borage oil, rose hip seed oil, extracts of oat and calendula, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), ascorbyl palmitate (vitamin C), essential oils of lavender and neroli- all so great!

Bella Mama Face And Body Spritzer- "Instant refreshment and hydration in a spray with a subtle, light et complex fragrance. Spray the Face & Body Spritzer to keep the “pregnancy glow” alive!" This is really a very refreshing spray. Quite nice.

Bella Mama Foot Soak- "Rest tired, swollen feet in a bath filled with these uplifting salts made with a wonderfully cool and refreshing citrus aromatherapy blend." Smells great and a foot soak becomes a really welcome pleasure especially during the third trimester as I recall. This foot soak has a really relaxing aroma and feels fabulous!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Bella Mama is generously offering one winner one Bella Mama Starter Gift Set which includes 2 oz Belly Oil, Face & Body Spritzer and Foot Salts. ($37.50 value)

Giveaway Dates: November 11- November 29, 2010 Midnight CST

How to Enter:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit Bella Mama Natural Skin Care and leave me a comment with an ingredient you like
2. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
3. Follow Bella Mama on Facebook
4. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
5. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win @bellamamababy natural skincare belly oil, foot soak, & face spritzer #Giveaway http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner selected through random.org- #65, Yona Williams.

Bella Mama did provide the gift box in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.

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Picture It Picture Books Your Child Illustrates Review and Giveaway

My kids love to read! And my five year old daughter loves to draw! In fact she draws so much that I constantly have to recycle some of it. (It is bad when she catches me- "What is this doing in the recycling, Mama?!") So when I read about Picture It Picture Books, I knew we would have a hit. We can all enjoy reading, she can have fun drawing, I can have a nice, neat, easy to store keepsake, she's proud, I'm proud, so of course, I wanted these Picture It Books!

Picture It Picture Books come in six different books that help inspire children by leaving room for their imagination and illustrations. First we read, Goodnight Dreams Picture Book, Both my son and my daughter really enjoyed the story and then my daughter had a lot of fun illustrating. And of course, I had a lot of fun watching her and reading it again with her illustrations. It was really neat to see what she pictured the characters' dreams to be like. All six books have a solid entertaining story line and plenty of room for your child's masterpieces. These would make a fabulous gift for any child to encourage their creativity and love of reading.

Our unique line of ‘picture books without pictures’ are a perfect way for children to explore their creativity by getting lost in the stories and illustrating whatever comes to mind. Not only are our books fun and engaging for a child, but what parent won’t keep them for years to come?

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
One winner will receive two Picture It Picture Books, Imagining Me and My Alphabet, which allow room for your child to illustrate each story. (a $16 value)



Giveaway Dates: November 10- November 23, 2010

How To Enter:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase.

1. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
2. Like Picture It Picture Books on Facebook
3. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
4. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win @pictureitco Children's Books where your child illustrates the story! #Giveaway http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner selected through random.org- #66, RaettigFamily

Picture It did provide the books in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own those of my children.

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Bobo’s Oat Bars Healthy On the Go Snack Review and Giveaway

As a mom with a three year old and a five year old, I like to keep some snacks on hand in my purse and car for occasions when I need them. It can be a challenge to find healthy, yummy snacks for my stash and now that I am pregnant and I want to snack all the time too, I have been looking for more options! I just found Bobo's Oat bars and they are great!

Bobo’s Oat Bars are distributed nationwide, made with non-GMO ingredients, are wheat-free and vegan. The bars are sweetened with brown rice syrup, a sweetener low on the glycemic index, which means it’s slower for your body to metabolize. Bobo’s Oat Bars are also made with organic rolled oats and heart-healthy oils. The bar comes in ten flavors so you can have lots of variety.

Bobo’s Oat Bars have been recognized by Shape magazine as the healthy snack to grab when you’re craving an afternoon treat. The bar is featured in Shape’s October 2010 issue as a tasty and nutritious choice that is low in fat and calories, yet high in satisfaction.

We tried three flavors of Bobo's Oat Bars- Coconut, Almond, and Oatmeal Raisin. First I tried the Coconut and it was delicious. It reminded me of a macaroon but not quite as sweet and you still go all the good texture an flavor of the organic oats. The almond had a marzapan taste to it was was delicious. My three year old approved of both of these selections too! Last, we tried the Oatmeal Raisin and I kid you not, it is just like an oatmeal cookie in flavor. I like these bars because they are free of artificial ingredients, additives, sweeteners and other harsh chemicals. I like that they are high in fiber offer some protein and they taste great. They are a great healthy snack to have on hand.

Bobo's Oat Bars Can be purchased online or you can use the store locator to find them in a retail store near you.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: One winner will receive one case of Bobo's Oat Bars in their choice of flavor. ($28.80 Value)

Giveaway Dates: November 10- November 24, 2010 Midnight CST

How To Enter:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit Bobo's Oat Bars healthy organic snacks and leave me a comment with the flavor you want to win
2. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
3. Follow Bobo's Oat Bars on Facebook
4. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
5. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win a case of @BobosOatBars healthy organic snack #Giveaway http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT
6. Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs by clicking here (no login required)
7. Grab my blog button, blog about this (+2 entries), or enter it in a linky and leave a URL I can visit to see it

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Winner selected through random.org- # 13, 5webs

Bobo's did provide the bars in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own those of my son.

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Umi Children's Shoes Review and Giveaway

Umi makes quality shoes for children in the 1-8 age range. They are all about "a little love for little feet." Umi has really precious girls shoes, mary janes, and boots. They also have boys shoes in fun color colors and styles and even some waterproof selections. Umi Shoes does a great job at pairing the detailing with the practical comfort element.

About Umi-
"And around here, happy little feet begin with our gentle hands. Hands that meticulously craft each and every shoe for the utmost in comfort and fit. Hands that simply know how to make a better children’s shoe. So, what makes a better children’s shoe? Years of experience working with age-appropriate lasts, patterns and buttersoft leathers give Umi a step up over everyone else. At Umi, all we make are children’s shoes, and we believe every step your child takes is as important as their very first."

We were lucky enough to select a pair for my 3 year old son. I chose the Tiberius Lo Boys Sneaker. Umi does an amazing job showing photos of the shoe from about 6 different angles so you can really see what you are buying before you get it in the mail. I love the detailing on this shoe- all the different colors of coordinating leather and the stitching. This is a handsome shoe for him to wear to school and still be able to play hard on the playground. Leo loves his Umi shoes and is always choosing them to run around in!

Umi Shoes can be purchased online or you can use their Store Locator to find a store near you. They are also have an awesome special right now where you can get a FREE Laurie Berkner CD. (My kids LOVE Laurie Berkner!)


GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
One winner will receive their choice of any in stock Umi Children's Shoe. (up to an $85 value)

Giveaway Dates: November 9- November 30, 2010 Midnight CST

How To Enter:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit Umi Children's Shoes and leave me a comment with the pair you want to win
2. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
3. Follow Umi Shoes on Facebook
4. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
5. Follow UmiShoes on Twitter and MWYT on Twitter
6. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win @umishoes awesome children's shoes (up to $85 value) #Giveaway http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT

Giveaway Rules:

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner selected through random.org- #129, Jolee.

Umi did provide the shoes in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own those of my son.

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I discovered Shake Away Vibration Isolation Pads for my HE Washer at Frigidaire Accessories Site

I have to tell you about the coolest little accessory that I didn't even know existed until the other day! I got my HE Washer almost two years ago and it is great except that I have always hated how vigorously it spins during the spin cycle. The washer is in a laundry room and it is over the basement and when we first got it I have to say I literally hoped it wouldn't spin through the floor! The door to the laundry room would shake if I left it shut during the spin cycle. Wowzer. I never knew there was something I could do about it.

Then the other day, I was browsing through the Frigidaire Accessories Store and I discovered there was an easy solution out there the whole time! KE Shake Away Plus Vibration Isolation Pads sounded pretty great and I was really curious to see how they worked. They promised to:
* Radically reduce floor vibrations - especially those from expensive front-loaders
* Prevent much of the physical and mechanical damage to your laundry machines caused by vibration
* Protect your floors from scratches caused by vibrating laundry equipment
* Reduce the overall noise level from your laundry room

I received them in the mail and read the directions which were very simple! You just slide the 5-layer pads under the feet of your washer, dryer, laundry center or laundry pedestal. They work with any brand laundry machines too! Even though it sounded pretty simple, I was not sure how we were actually going to accomplish it because my machine are set back in a nook. My husband just tilted the washer back and slid the pads under the front feet, then tilted it forward and I held it while he slid the pads under the other feet using a dowel (basically a smooth stick). It was pretty easy. I always have a load of laundry ready to do so I threw one in to test the pads out.


KE Shake Away Plus Vibration Isolation Pads really worked. I love them. Of course, my machine still spins like crazy but that is the job it is supposed to do. But now, there is no shaking! I can actually shut the door to the laundry room without all the shaking commotion. I can visually see a huge difference in the shaking and it really sets my mind at ease! Not only does it save the noise but now I don't have to worry about the damage it could be doing to the machine or my house while shaking away! I would suggest these to everyone with a HE washer! They are so worth it!!

I would like to thank Frigidaire for supplying me with a code that allowed me to only pay tax on the pads. I received no monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.

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Del Monte $25 GC Giveaway and Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms

Del Monte Fresh Produce has launched a program to help support kindergarten thru 12th grade public school teachers with cash to purchase school supplies and fresh fruit in the “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” campaign. One hundred prizes totaling $1,000 each will be awarded to teachers who get the most votes in the “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” online contest at www.fruits.com. Voting takes place everyday and each Monday, prizes are awarded!


GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Del Monte will generously give TWO of my readers a $25 gift certificate booklet for Del Monte Fresh Produce. The booklets can be used for Del Monte fresh fruit at any store that carries Del Monte products.

Giveaway Dates: November 8- November 15 Midnight CST

How to Enter:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase.


1. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
2. Like Del Monte on Facebook
3. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
4. Vote for my blog on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking here

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winners selected through random.org- #5, Hetal and #34, puye.

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Oh! Toys Unique Toys and Games

I discovered Oh! Toys almost a year ago and the thing that I think is really cool about it is that Oh! Toys has a very unusual collection of toys and games that are really different, education, and fun! Today I am going to give you a peek at some of the unusual games they carry.

Gobsmacked. Place 3 in a row of the same color or shape and your opponent scores a point in this maniacal memory game! It will have your mind spinning as you try to remember the pattern on the board before it's spun around and another patterned plug is added. For 2 players ages 6 and up. This looks like a good one for my daughter some time soon!

Anomia. This card game is really fun and fast paced and gets you going! I played this one with some MOMS Club members and we all had a blast. Anomia is a hilarious play experience where everyone is involved at all times. Anomia plays off the fact that our minds are positively brimming with all sorts of random information and you have to be able to access it quickly so people end up shouting out all kinds of funny things! This game can be played with 2-6 players, designed for ages 10 and up.

Inverse. A simple, but ingenious strategy game for 2. Get all 5 of your playing pieces on the field while blocking your opponent. A competitive game of obstruction and construction. Fosters planning, strategy and spatial understanding in a fun and fast competitive framework. For 2 players, ages 6 and up.

Visit Oh! Toys to see their whole selection of unique toys and games! You can also text key word "ohtoys" to 244326 to be in Oh! Toys Fan Club $25 Gift Card November drawing!

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