We are all trying to do our part to help our environment.  I think about it more now that I’m a mom than I ever did before.  I want to leave our world in the best possible shape for our future generations.  So, when I had the chance to review some product from Stubby Pencil Studio I was so excited.  Stubby Pencil Studio was started by Kate Rosenthal in 2006 when she realized the need for eco-friendly and do-it-yourself art products for children.

Hailey received a fabulous package of goodies from the Stubby Pencil Studio and she was thrilled.  Here are some pictures of her enjoying a few of the fun items she received. 

Hailey enjoyed playing with some natural play dough- Mary’s Softdough.  She loved it.  And I loved it- it did not crumble at all like your typical play dough does.  There was no play dough on the floor when she finished playing.  And you moms know that is important.

Hailey always insists on writing Brooke’s name when we play with play dough- so here she is right after we wrote Brooke’s name.  In this picture Hailey is smelling the softdough because it smelled sooooo good.

Here Hailey is coloring with Soy Crayons on her Color ‘n Kids Interactive cards.  I have been teaching her about bugs and insects so the package of Six Garden Pals Color ‘n Kid cards was perfect.  She loved coloring her ladybug.  And I love that crayons are made from all natural pigments and soybean oil and that the cards are printed on 100% PCW recycled stock.

Here Hailey enjoys writing with Jumbo Triangular Color Eco Pencils.  This was her first time using colored pencils and she absolutely loved using them.  I loved the triangular shape because they didn’t roll off of the table and all over the floor.  Plus they are produced with 100% FSC certified wood from reforestation sources.

So, how would like to win a $70 prize package from Stubby Pencil Studio?  I thought you might be excited about that.  Here is what your prize package will include:

Green to the Letter Stationery set including:
4 packs of Color ‘n Kids cards (winner’s choice of styles)
Set of 10 Smencil pencils 
Set of 12 eco colored pencils
Set of 12 Watercolor crayons
Box of 24 Soy crayons
Trio Pencil Sharpener

If this sounds fabulous to you, and I know it does, here is what you need to do to enter to win:

• Click over to Stubby Pencil Studio and look around.
• Come back here and leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite item is.

Want a second chance to win?

• Blog about this giveaway on your blog, linking back to this post, and leave me a SECOND comment with the URL of your post.

This giveaway will end on July 4th at 11:59pm EST.  I will pick a winner using the random number generator shortly after it ends.  This giveaway is open to US and Canadian shipping addresses.

If you can’t wait to see if you win, you can use this coupon code: BDAY08 for a free pack of Color ‘n Kids cards: Six Birthday Wishes ($7.95 value) good thru 12/31/08. The coupon code goes in at checkout - on the review your payment page - on the left hand side there is a spot to click that says Questions, comments or BONUS CODE.

When I was a little girl I knew just how my life would be when I grew up. I was going to be a stay at home mommy. I would spend my days playing with kids, taking them to the park, reading books, doing fun activities, etc. Do you know what wasn’t a part of my dream? Laundry, bills, making dinner, cleaning, sleepless nights, taking a toddler grocery shopping, and certainly not being sick and still having to do all of that. I really had no idea how hard it would be to be a mom.

I was recently watching a show where someone said that they had heard a little girl say that she wanted to be just like her mom when she grew up and “do nothing.” As kids we really had no idea the sacrifices our parents made for us and we couldn’t possibly comprehend all they did for us. Once you become a parent you suddenly realize “Wow! My parents did a lot for me!” (Thanks, Mom and Dad!!)

I think for most of us, even though life isn’t exactly how we dreamed it would be it is still pretty good. We have a lot to be thankful for even if it means being thankful for the piles of laundry and all of the extra cleaning we have to do. So, even though I have to cart a big old basket of clean laundry up my stairs every few days I am still living my dream. It’s a little bit different than what I had dreamed of when I was a child, but it’s still a great life.

I have a shirt from LTDChix with this graphic on the front of it and I love it! The two ladies who started these Living The Dream shirts are both moms who are living the same dream that you and I are living- carting kids around, trying to find a few minutes to exercise, and doing lots of laundry. And these fabulous ladies have agreed to give one of you one of their fabulous shirts.

Here is what you need to do if you want a chance to win:

• Click on over to LTDChix. Look at the choices they have for shirts and pick the one that reminds you of your life as a mom.
• Come back here and leave me a comment telling me which one is the most like you.

Want two chances to win?

• If you’d like a second entry into the giveaway you can post about this giveaway on your blog linking back to this entry. Then leave me a SECOND comment with the URL to your post.

This giveaway will end on June 27th at 11:59 pm EST. I will use the random number generator shortly after that to pick a winner.

Have you ever gone out to eat only to realize that you didn’t have a bib with you for your baby or toddler?  That has happened to me many times- and tucking a napkin into the front of Hailey’s shirt just does not cut it. 

There are so many times that I see a product and I say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”  And these bib clips from Kangaroodle were one of those times.  It is the perfect solution to my forgetting a bib when we go out to eat.  This bib clip can turn a napkin into a bib- actually it can turn just about anything into a bib.  So, now instead of having to keep a bib in Hailey’s diaper bag I can just keep this bib clip in there instead.

I didn’t bring my camera with me the last time we went out to eat, so Hailey had to model the bib clip for you at home.  See how easily it works?  I just clipped a paper towel on and the paper towel turned into a bib.  And what is even more amazing is that Hailey actually leaves it on for more than 30 seconds (the typical time span her regular bibs stay on for).

These bib clips are not the only wonderful item at Kangaroodle though.  There are so many things at Kangaroodle I would love to buy.  This store is all about fun, functional and fabulous items.  They have some adorable clothes, some really cute decorations for baby’s room, toys, items just for mom and even more.  You just have to stop by to see all of the fabulousness.

So, now I suppose you’re wondering what the title of my post is all about.  You know, where I mentioned a $50 gift certificate.  Well, how would you like a $50 gift certificate to Kangaroodle?  You would?  I thought so.

Here’s what you need to do if you want a chance to win:

• Click on over to Kangaroodle, have a look around and pick out your favorite item.
• Come back here and leave me a comment letting me know what you favorite item is.

Want two chances to win? 

• If you’d like a second entry into the giveaway you can post about this giveaway on your blog linking back to this entry.  Then leave me a SECOND comment with the URL to your post.

This giveaway will end on June 20th at 11:59 pm EST and is open to US and Canadian shipping addresses.  I will use the random number generator shortly after that to pick a winner.

**This is a sticky post.  Please scroll down for newer entries.**

Okay ladies, let’s be honest- we’re pretty good at complaining about our husbands.  But we married our guys for a reason- because we love them.  So, stop and think about why you love your hubby and what some of your favorite things are about him.

See that picture?  Over there on the left?  That’s me.  I’m wearing a shirt that says “my husband rocks.”  Because he does rock.  And I am happy that I am married to him.  And I think it’s a great idea to tell everyone how I feel about him.  

One of my favorite things about Rich is the way he can always make me laugh.  No matter what is going on, his great sense of humor can always bring a smile to my face.  He is also an awesome dad.  I love to watch the way he is with both Brooke and Hailey.  And I love how much he loves them.  You know what else I love about Rich?  His awesome cooking.  And not only is his cooking amazing- but the fact that he is willing to cook dinner so that I don’t have to, tells me how much he cares about me. 

Those are just a few of the things about Rich that makes him rock.  So, now it’s your turn.  What are some things about your hubby that rock?

Do you want to proudly wear one of these shirts so you can announce to everyone you see how fabulous your hubby is?  Well, From*me Tees has agreed to give one of your choice of one From*me Tee marriage tee valued at $18 or less.  (By the way, From*me Tees has shirts for men to wear to brag about how great their wives are too, so men are welcome to participate in this giveaway.)

How can you win?  Simple:

• Click on over to From*me Tees products and look around.
• Come back here and leave me a comment.  Tell me which product you like the best.  And tell me why your spouse rocks.
• For an extra entry- blog about this contest on your blog linking to this giveaway and to From*me Tees.  Then come back here and leave a second comment with the direct URL to your post.

And here’s a little bonus for you.  If you make a purchase from From*me Tees while this giveaway in running and before the winner is announced and you happen to be the winner of the giveaway- you will be fully refunded for your order and receive two additional shirts (valued at $18 or less) for free.  So, basically- you would end up with 3 free shirts.

And, as if that isn’t enough- From*me Tees is offering a discount for those of you who do not win.  Starting right now you will be able ot get free shipping on any order of 2 or more products.  This special will end on June 17th.  How it will work is you will place an order for 2 or more items and the shipping charges will be charged.  Then send an email to info@frommetees.com to let them know you participated in my giveaway and your shipping charges will be refunded.  Or when you place your order mention my giveaway in the “how did you hear about us” box during check-out and your shipping charges will be refunded the following day. 

So then.

Head on over and check out the From*me Tees products.  Tell me your favorite product and tell me why your spouse rocks. 

This contest is open to all shipping addresses and will end on Friday, June 13th at 11:59 pm EST when I will use the random number generator to pick a winner.

I love organizing and I love lists.  I love lists so much that I have even made a list of all of the lists I would love to make.  When I think about organizing and making my lists, my heart starts to race with anticipation.  I believe this is called OCD.

Anyhoo, my calendar hanging in my kitchen is always full of planned activities.  There are doctors appointments, dentist appointments, eye doctor appointments, playgroups, mom group meetings, etc. Then there are birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and all of those kinds of things.  And it drives me crazy trying to fit everything into those teeny tiny squares.  I also like to plan activities to do with Hailey for the days we are home and I don’t have anywhere to keep track of my plans.  I have searched high and low looking for a planner that has a weekly view with room to keep track of everything.  And until now my search has left me frustrated.

I now have the answer to my problem- and it is called momAgenda.  The wonderful ladies at momAgenda have given me a 2008-2009 momAgenda Desktop day planner.  This planner is fabulous!

There is a monthly view as well as the week-at-a-view format that I have been searching for.  The weekly view has a place at the top for mom to keep track of her appointments and plans.  The bottom of the page has room to keep track of activities and plans for up to 4 kids.  Then at the very bottom of the page there is place to keep track of your dinner plans for each day.  There is also a momEssentials address book in the back that can be removed from the planner to be reused each year.  It is so perfect!

I know all of your moms out there are drooling over the thought of having one of these fabulous planners.  And guess what?  Today is your lucky day.  momAgenda has agreed to give one of you one of these momAgenda Desktop day planners.  WooHoo! 

All you have to do to try to win one is look around at the momAgenda site.  Check out the choices of colors for the momAgenda Desktop and tell me which one of the five choices you would want if you win. Simple as that!  If you’d like an extra entry you can blog about this giveaway on your blog and then leave me a second comment with the direct URL of your post.

This giveaway will end on June 6th at 11:59 pm (EST) and is open to US and Canadian shipping addresses.