November 20, 2009
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
When it comes to gift giving (or getting!) personalization says so much. Personalized gifts are all the rage and have always been popular because everyone loves to know that something was made just for them.I found a store that has so many items available for personalization that it's truly unbelievable. Monkey See Boutique is both a website store and a shop on Etsy. When I first browsed the Etsy shop I was impressed with the selection and the adorable items. When I checked out the full website I was floored. There are literally hundreds of amazing gifts for every single person in your life. I don't even know where to begin with showing you all the amazing items in this shop. With so many items it's very nice how easy the site and the Etsy shop are to navigate. It's all clearly broken down by category and then once more within the categories. Aside from all the different color and style choices of the items, you can personalize it all. The font choices are fantastic and there are color options as well. Monkey See Boutique has countless items for kids. The cutest clothes, room decor, accessories, art kits, travel goodies, lunchboxes, jewelry and so much more are all perfectly displayed for your shopping enjoyment. 
The home decor and organization section is definitely one of my favorites. I love cutesy home decor. I also really love personalized home decor. The decor that has our last name on it means so much and are truly things I can imagine passing down to my kids someday. It makes a home so comfy and welcoming to have a personalized touch. 
When it comes to entertaining, Monkey See Boutique has a bountiful supply of amazing tableware. You'll find everything from serving platters to placemats, "prissy plates" and lunchboxes to personalized cocktail and bar accessories. While any of these would look great in your own home, they'd all make wonderful gifts. I think the personalized wine glasses would be fantastic gifts for bridesmaids, a book club or women's group or just your best friend!
Monkey See Boutique sent me one of their lap desks. I don't know what I did without it! First, it's way too stinkin' cute. The big polka dots with the sleek modern colors and my initials in hot pink make me happy everytime I see it. I love how practical it is. I'm definitely on the computer a lot and I like to use my lapdesk to have my laptop in my lap while I hang out on the couch and work. My kids like to use it for art and I know these lapdesks would be great for anyone. The desk itself is high quality. The pattern and colors are perfect and the initial lettering is immaculate. I'm thrilled with this product. The cup holder is super convenient and makes the desk that much better. I also love how many different styles and color choices are available. 
Every time I browse the Monkey See Boutique shop I am overwhelmed with all the "I want" items. I find something new every time and I'm sure you will too. The prices are reasonable and the quality of the product is superb. The mom behind the designs is definitely a crafty and creative woman who's love for what she does absolutely shines through. I recommend all the products from Monkey See Boutique for you and the folks on your shopping list. Monkey See Boutique would like to give one of my readers a $25 gift certificate!US onlyTo Enter: Visit Monkey See Boutique and fill out entry form belowExtra Entries: -Follow the Lolidots Blog publicly in the google friend connect-Become a fan of Monkey See Boutique on Facebook and comment on their wall that you found them on Lolidots Blog-Visit the Monkey See Boutique Etsy shop and "heart" the shop-Follow Monkey See Boutique and Lolidots on Twitter and TweetWin a @monkeyboutique Gift Certificate from @lolidots http://lolidots.com/giveaways10 entries- Make a purchase from Monkey See Boutique during this giveaway
Posted by Robin Haws.
November 20, 2009
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSEDNatural pain remedies are becoming increasingly popular. A natural pain remedy for an infant or child can be a welcome relief from medication. Natural relief from the pain associated with teething can be a wonderful thing and really ease a parent's mind while easing the baby's pain. Natural amber is a centuries-old pain remedy. Remember in Jurassic Park when they showed the mosquito in the pretty yellow/orange colored rock? That's amber. It's fossilized resin from trees that date back as far as 50 million years. Throughout time, amber has been worn against the skin to reduce pain, promote fast healing and boost the body's immune system. When worn against the skin, the amber releases natural oils that have been scientifically proven to have a beneficial effect on the human body.For decades, European countries have used Baltic Amber necklaces for teething pain relief in babies. The benefits of these necklaces include stimulating the thyroid glands to help reduce drooling, soothe inflamed cheeks, a general calming effect and anti-fever functions.Supermama Amber Teething pain relief necklaces are made of pure, natural Baltic Amber. Each bead is knotted individually for safety. The bead sizes are safe if ingestion occurs and cannot be choked on. The clasp is plastic and designed to break away with pressure. Supermama has taken every safety precaution in the production of these amazing necklaces. The necklaces come in two colors that are both very gender neutral. 
Does it work? I truly believe that it does. Remember, this is a centuries old healing aid that has recently been scientifically proven to be effective. My personal experience tells me that these Baltic Amber necklaces from Supermama do indeed work. My daughter is 2. She's got all her teeth but, that doesn't mean she's past having pain. The day we got the Supermama amber necklace my daughter was fighting her first ear ache. I figured I'd put the necklace on her because, if nothing else, she likes jewelry. Literally within minutes my daughter's fussiness was gone. She seemed completely back to her old self. I was amazed. My husband, less of a skeptic on natural remedies than I, was not surprised at all. The benefits of amber are real and I'm a firm believer in the beneficial qualities of Baltic Amber and in the teething necklaces from Supermama. 
These Amber teething necklaces from Supermama are definitely going to be one of my go-to baby shower gifts from now on and I've already recommended them to everyone I know who's lives are crazed by teething right now. I'm happy to say that Supermama sent me an extra necklace and I am giving it to one of you! To Enter: Visit Supermama and fill out entry form belowExtra Entries:-Follow the Lolidots Blog in the google friend connect-Become a fan of Lolidots on Facebook-Follow Lolidots on Twitter and tweetWin a Supermama Teething Necklace from @lolidots http://lolidots.com/giveaways10 entries- Make a purchase from Supermama during this giveaway
Posted by Robin Haws. Posted In : Baby Gear
November 20, 2009
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED It's hard to believe that a company as successful as Kidorable was started in a small efficiency apartment. The light bulb idea to create apparel and accessories for children that would be practical and unbelievably fun has turned into a booming business that has seen success around every turn. One look at the products from Kidorable and it's easy to see why they are so successful and why they remain a favorite shopping destination for parents and kids alike. The whimsical apparel and accessories that Kidorable happily creates are perfect for the soaring imaginations and invidual personalities of every child. Their functional uses and ability to put a smile on a child's face ensure that parents are fans as well. Kidorable has put smiles on faces for over a decade and plans to do it for years to come. 
Kidorable has a dozen different product lines, each as cute as the next. From bookends to tshirts, raincoats to winter gloves, Kidorable has the most adorable products for children that I have ever seen. 
The umbrellas and other rain gear from Kidorable are everywhere. I've seen them a lot when I've been out and about. I've seen them in stores and I've seen them on kids. They are absolutely precious and so very practical. 
The backpacks from Kidorable are perfect for any child. The outer PVC makes them incredibly easy to clean which, in turn, makes them more durable and longer lasting. The cuteness meets the functionality with the inner and outer pockets on each backpack.
The absorbent, soft cotton towels are a must for bathtime, beach time or lounging by the pool. These are so much fun for a child to wrap up in and let their imagination take over. I like that you can get them in a smaller size for babies or a larger size for toddlers and bigger kids.
Kidorable also has winter accessories. The hats, gloves and scarves come in all the great styles that the raingear and other products come in. The items can be purchased separately or as a cute set. My son has the dinosaur set from Kidorable and we both adore it. The hat is stretchy and one size fits all. Each piece is soft and comfy and incredibly cute. I love the high quality of the product and I am beyond in love with the smile that lights up my son's face when he wears these items. How wonderful for a dino loving little boy to be able to wrap up in warmth while in his imagination he is transorming into a dinosaur himself. I also really like that the gloves are attached to each other. Otherwise one would inevitably end up lost with all the other single gloves and socks that go to another world. The pieces and set are very reasonably priced and I think they would make excellent gifts for any child this winter.
Kidorable has been a favorite of Hollywood for a while. Suri Cruise has been spotted with her Kidorable ladybug umbrella and the products have been listed on numerous magazines' "hot lists". Kidorable was even featured on TBS' Movie and a Makeover as a holiday gift choice. I'm thrilled to say that Kidorable and all their A-dorable items are a definite choice for the Lolidots Ultimate Gift Guide. With all these amazing products you will absolutely find something for every child on your holiday shopping list.Kidorable is giving one of my readers their choice of umbrella!US onlyRemember to get the extra entry for becoming a Kidorable Facebook Fan! Not only will you get an extra entry but, Kidorable is supporting Toys for Tots by donating $1 for every new Kidorable Facebook Fan that signs up between Nov 1-Dec 25! What a great way to spread the word about Kidorable, get extra entries in this contest and support a great cause!To Enter: Visit Kidorable and fill out the entry form belowExtra Entries: -Enter our other giveaways-Sign up to Follow the Lolidots Blog (publicly in the Google Friend Connect)3 entries- Become a fan of Kidorable on Facebook-Follow Lolidots on Twitter and tweetWin an umbrella from Kidorable @lolidots http://lolidots.com/giveaways 10 entries- Make a purchase from Kidorable during this giveaway
Posted by Robin Haws. Posted In : Gear for Kids
November 19, 2009
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
It seems common knowledge these days that when learning is fun, children will be more excited about it. The tricks for teaching children without them realizing it are endless. Everywhere I look there are fun new ways to incorporate learning into everything. There are books and videos that are outstanding for engaging children in an entertaining form of learning. The books that Bill Martin Jr. wrote in his 60 years as a children's author are some of the most beloved and favorite books for children, parents and teachers. My favorite is Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? Bill Martin Jr.'s award winning and best-selling books, Chicka Chicka 123 and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom have been turned into a sing-along, animated explosion of fun and learning for children. 
The two disc collection of animated stories includes the popular Chicka Chicka 123 and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom stories along with 9 other great stories for kids. Through these stories, children learn numbers and letters in a fun and entertaining way through the classic stories, the beautiful animation and the incredible songs. My kids absolutely love these movies. My 5 year old watches one of them almost every day. He sings along with the songs and I love knowing that he's learning while having so much fun. The Chicka Chicka Storybook Collection dvd's would make perfect gifts for any toddler or young child this holiday season. One lucky reader will win a set of these amazing dvd's! US onlyTo enter: Fill out entry form belowExtra Entries:-Sign up to Follow the Lolidots Blog-Become a fan of Lolidots on Facebook-Follow Lolidots on Twitter and tweetWin a Scholastic Storybook Collection DVD set from @lolidots http://lolidots.com/giveaways5 entries- Blog about this and link back here
Posted by Robin Haws. Posted In : DVD
November 19, 2009
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Technology is "in". It's accessible and it's incredibly convenient and portable. It seems that every day there are new gadgets on the market. New phones, new handheld devices to make our lives easier, newer and smaller computers and a multitude of other gadgets designed to meet the needs of the person on the go. With all that portability comes contact with pockets, bags and all that is inside of them. After spending an arm and a leg on the gadgets, how frustrating is it to see them get scratched or messed up? Zagg is a company that is doing something about that and has a line of products designed to protect your technology investments. There are over 3000 invisibleSHIELDs in the Zagg product line. These tough film coverings are transparent and made to be super thin. They are designed to cover the contours of every device you own to provide protection from all the things that could scratch your gadgets. The Zagg products come with a lifetime replacement warranty though, it's unlikely you'll need to use it. The material Zagg uses in their film is military grade that was originally developed to protect helicoptor blades. Your cell phone will definitely be protected by these. Another plus is that once you have the film in place, you'll see that you have an increased grip when handling your device. This definitely comes in handy and, if you drop your phone as much as I do, you'll be glad for the added help. 
Zagg invisibleSHIELDs come in thousands of different cuts to fit all of your devices. From cell phones, cameras and gaming devices to laptops, media players and even watches, you'll find a Zagg invisibleSHIELD to fit your personal device. I love how many products Zagg has considered when making their coverings. Within each product category you'll find tons of different brands. It's easy to navigate and finding your personal device is simple. 
My husband is a civil engineer. He spends a great majority of his life with his laptop. Every day that laptop goes into a bag and comes home with him. Sometimes he has to take it to job sites. With all the travel, it's always possible that the life of the computer will be cut down and scratches seem inevitable. I received an invisibleSHIELD from Zagg to fit hubby's laptop. The application process was fairly simple. I recommend taking your time and being patient. Once you get the invisibleSHIELD on, you'll be all set but, you want to make sure that you apply it correctly to ensure that your device is properly covered. Once the film was applied we could barely see it. It's virtually invisible and doesn't add bulk to the laptop. While the invisibleSHIELD will be wonderful for my husband's laptop and what it goes through, I really believe that a cell phone or other handheld device without one of these coverings is definitely lacking something and will not last as long as one with a Zagg invisibleSHIELD. 
Since it's conception in 2005, the Zagg line of products has exploded in the market and over 1 million have been sold. Zagg has set a standard for these products and the way a company should run. With the introduction of their new ZAGGskins, film coverings with designs on them, they are sure to secure their place in the technology market even more than they already have. I'm a huge fan of, not only the products but, the company itself. Their staff is friendly and obviously very customer service oriented. I highly recommend Zagg and their products for anyone wanting to preserve the life of their devices. 
Zagg would like to give one of my readers an invisibleSHIELD for your electronic device! Protect those new gadgets you are buying this holiday shopping season!US onlyTo enter: Visit Zagg and fill out entry form belowExtra Entries:-Sign up to Follow the Lolidots blog-Become a fan of Zagg on Facebook -Follow Lolidots on Twitter and tweetProtect your gadgets! Win a Zagg invisibleSHIELD @lolidots http://lolidots.com/giveaways-10 entries- Make a purchase from Zagg during this giveaway
Posted by Robin Haws. Posted In : Men's Gifts
November 19, 2009
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSEDThere are some items that are just considered "essential" for babies. No matter your personal preference for clothing, diapering, swaddling and all the other multitude of choices that come along with a new baby, it's safe to say that any new mom and new baby can use and will need bottles and teethers. It's also safe to say that the other "essential" for babies is that we take care of their future and the future of their planet. What if you could get the essential products for baby from a company completely focused on protecting their essential future?Lifefactory creates baby essentials using the latest scientific research and modern design. Their products are both funcional and innovative. Every product from Lifefactory is free of toxins, safe for babies and supports their growing bodies and minds. This company is taking great strides to ensure that the future planet our children will inherit is safe as well. Only the most readily recyclable materials are used to create the products from Lifefactory. Packaging is kept to a minimum and eco-friendly practices are of the utmost importance.
The bottles from Lifefactory are amazing. Aside from the environmentally friendly materials and packaging, the rigorous safety standards and the latest research used to create the designs, the bottles are functional, sleek and designed to grow with a child. I've never before seen a bottle that has a cap which can serve as a cup. I'm amazed that the twist on solid cap can be put on the bottle to turn it into a juice cup or to store snacks. The silicone sleeve helps those little hands to grip the bottle and both the sleeve and the bottle can be boiled and frozen. The bottles are free of harmful toxins like BPA and PVC. The silicone sleeve and nipples are non-toxic, latex free and free of plastics. These bottles are truly innovative and the future of this essential baby product. Lifefactory also conveniently offers 5 different types of nipples for their bottles. This was definitely a problem we had when my daughter was a baby. All the nipples on the bottles were small enough when she was an infant but, not large enough for cereal in the bottle or for when she got older and needed a faster flow. We always ended up cutting a bigger slit into the nipples or having to buy different bottles. The different bottle nipples from Lifefactory, along with the optional Solid Cap means that these bottles will last longer and be much more useful for a longer period of time. 
The teethers from Lifefactory are also BPA, phthalate, PVC and latex free. They are covered with random and various ribs and nubs that are fun for a developing and teething baby to explore. The teethers can be frozen or refridgerated which is always so soothing for baby's gums. Great for the parents and for the babies, these teethers can be put on as a bracelet so you aren't constantly searching for it. I really like this teether and will absolutely use them when I have another baby. 
Lifefactory is definitely a company that I respect. Their products are amazing for babies and their environmentally conscious practices are good for us all. I recommend their products because I've used them and know they are high quality and excellent choices when it comes to some basic essentials for baby. The bottles and teethers from Lifefactory would make wonderful baby shower gifts and excellent gifts for new mom and new baby or as stocking stuffers this Christmas. Lifefactory would like to give one of my readers an assortment of their amazing teethers!
US onlyTo enter: Visit Lifefactory and fill out entry form belowExtra Entries: -Enter our other giveaways-Sign up to Follow the Lolidots blog-Become a fan of Lifefactory on Facebook and comment on their wall that you found them on the Lolidots Blog-Follow Lolidots and Lifefactory on Twitter and tweetWin eco-friendly teethers from @Lifefactory and @lolidots http://lolidots.com/giveaways10 entries- Make a purchase from Lifefactory during this giveaway
Posted by Robin Haws. Posted In : Baby Gear
