October 19, 2010
My sister in law was at my house recently and I was showing her one of my very unique cake pans. "That's a Wilton!", she exclaimed.Wilton cake pans and other products are unmistakeable and anyone who has ever used any of them knows that, when you want the best, you want Wilton.In an age where companies are coming and going left and right, it's nice to know that there are those out there like Wilton who have been around since the 1920s and continue to be leaders in their field. Wilton is more than cake pans, cookie cutters and decorating kits. Wilton products are the highest quality and their innovative designs are always unique and continuously developing. With a business that has grown successfully in the last 8 decades and continues to bring customers amazing products, it's no surprise that Wilton is on the lips of every baker and their products are on the wish lists of women everywhere. Wilton carries so many fantastic specialty cake pans for all occasions. With Halloween and the holiday season around the corner, Wilton can absolutely help make your festivities more fun. And, if you're baking challenged like me, then Wilton is the place to go for baking tips, tutorials and ideas. Are you throwing a ghoulish Halloween party this year or attending one where you want to make a scream? Check out Wilton's super fun Halloween ideas and dazzle the crowd with your spooky treats!
Wilton sent me their Dimensions 3-D Skull Pan. Like their Giant Cupcake Pan, this pan creates an awe inspiring 3 dimensional cake that is absolutely the center of the party. Now, I am definitely not a baker but, this is the second time I've used Wilton products and I can say that they make it pretty fail proof. One of the really cool things about the Skull Pan is that even before you add any decorations, the cake is really cool looking. So, if you want to go icing free, just sprinkle some powdered sugar or decorate to your heart's content, it will look amazing. One of my absolute favorite things about the two Wilton cake pans that I have used is that once you take the cake out, there is almost zero cleanup. The cakes come out of the pans so easily that it is incredibly simple and quick to clean the pan. 
If cakes aren't what you are wanting to make for your holiday parties, be sure and check out Wilton's cupcake tins, candy molds, ice cube molds, cookie pans, cookie house kits, cookie cutters and all their other perfect items to really complete any party. Whether it's a birthday, holiday or just a Saturday, your sweets will be created wonderfully when using Wilton. As much as I doubt my baking skills, there are tons of products from Wilton on my wish list.
Click HERE to browse Wilton's jaw dropping Halloween ideas! Buy it!You can get Wilton products from their online shopping site and retailers nationwide.Win it!One reader will win the Dimensions 3-D Skull Pan!US onlyends 10/23Mandatory to Enter: Tell me something else you'd love to have from WiltonExtra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry.- Like Wilton on Facebook- Follow Wilton on Twitter- Subscribe to the Wilton YouTube ChannelAll other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Kitchen
October 18, 2010
My kids have a lot of DVDs that I have absolutely zero problem with them watching any time they want to watch them. The reason I'm always so laid back about the viewing of these movies is that they are Scholastic Storybook DVDs and the absolute gold standard in children's movies. Everything amazing about Scholastic books takes life in their Storybook DVDs. All of the charming Scholastic stories you remember from your youth, as well as amazing new stories from talented new authors can be found with fun animation and catchy songs while being narrated by some of Hollywood's elite. One of the newest Scholastic Storybook DVDs to be released is full of hilarious stories from award winning author Mo Willems. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was the winner of a 2010 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children’s Video. The other two Mo Willems stories on the DVD include Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (presented both in English and Spanish) and Leonardo, the Terrible Monster.
The day our copy of this DVD arrived, I put it in the player in my daughter's room and walked out. A few minutes later, I heard my kids yelling. Alarmed, I went to the bedroom only to find them yelling and squealing with laughter at the silly and interactive title story on Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! They both absolutely love this DVD and it seems to never get boring for them. Whether they are watching it for the 5th time in a row or haven't seen it in a week, they are just as engaged and enamored by the story as the first time they watched it. Scholastic has always had a magical touch with the stories they bring children but, with their Storybook Treasury DVDs they have proven that they can bring the magic to the children of the technological age without losing any of the beloved stories and all while enhancing their DVDs with bilingual stories and read-along features.
I adore Scholastic Storybook Treasury DVDs and highly recommend them for all children. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! would be a fantastic choice for kids on your holiday shopping list!
Buy it!
You can get all the Scholastic Storybook DVDs HERE.
Win it!
One reader will win a copy of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
US only
ends 10/28
Mandatory to Enter: Let me know who you'd love to win this for
Extra Entries: All extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : DVD
October 18, 2010
My husband is constantly searching for snack foods that are healthier than what fill the eye-level shelves of our local grocery stores. He's extremely health conscious and I love that his healthy lifestyle has worn off on myself and our children. When it comes to snackfood, though, I still need some yummy flavor. Luckily, we were recently introduced to Mareblu Naturals. Mareblu Naturals was started by a parent who, like most of us, was concerned with all the over-processed, pre-packaged, unhealthy snack foods filling the grocery store shelves. There is just no reason for all the artificial colors and flavors. Mareblu Naturals takes the natural goodness of dried fruits, nuts, evaporated cane juice and sea salt to create a trail mix that is unlike any other I've ever tried and is jampacked with nature's bounty. Mareblu Naturals snacks are all natural, Kosher, 100% Vegan, Gluten-Free, low in sodium, dairy-free, peanut and wheat free, preservative free, cholesterol free and contain no trans-fats. Really, does it get any better than that? This is a snack that everyone can eat. 
Mareblu Naturals has Crunch Bags, Crunch Bars, Glazed Whole Nuts and Dry Roasted Nuts. My husband loves the Crunch Bags and my personal favorite are the Crunch Bars. I have to say here that I honestly have never been a fan of any kinds of nuts. I really did not expect to like these snacks as much as I do. The Crunch Bars with fruit in them are absolutely scrumptious! My favorite are the BluCran Pomegranate Trail Mix Crunch Bar and the Strawberry Pomegranate Trail Mix Crunch Bar. While they are called "Crunch" bars, they are actually slightly chewy and I like that. 
If you prefer a snack you can pop in your mouth like popcorn, the Crunch Bags are perfect. I love that the Blueberry Pomegranate Trail Mix family sized bag that Mareblu sent us to try out is resealable. As a budget conscious shopper, resealable bags are an absolute plus. The Crunch Bags are filled with the yummy trail mix that make up the Crunch Bars but, in smaller, bite-size form. You'll also find a ton more flavors in the Crunch Bags. Perfect for school lunches, mid-morning snacks, movie night healthy snacking and any time you want something yummy to snack on!
The nuts and other ingredients that Mareblu Naturals uses in their snacks are so amazingly good for us. Almonds, pistachios, pecans and cashews have so many health benefits and when paired with the natural cane juice and flavorful dried fruit, Mareblu Naturals has a snack that kids and adults will both love and feel good about eating. Buy it!You can purchase Mareblu Naturals snacks from their online shopping site, Costco, Sams, Amazon and many other online and storefront locations nationwide. Search their site to find the location nearest you. They are also now served on USAirways!
Be sure to check out the Tasty Recipes offered on the Mareblu Naturals website!
Win it!2 winners will each receive the following:1.25oz1-Blueberry Pomegranate Trail Mix Crunch1-Pistachio Trail Mix Crunch1-Almond Crunch1-Cashew Crunch1-Pecan Trail Mix Crunch1.2oz Bar1-Strawberry Pomegranate Trail Mix Crunch1-Mango Pomegranate Trail Mix Crunch1-BlueCran Pomegranate Trail Mix Crunch
US only
ends 10/27
Mandatory to Enter: Tell me if you've ever tried Mareblu Naturals or which flavor you'd most like to tryExtra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry.All extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Food
October 18, 2010
For the past few weeks, my feet have been happy.I mean, sublimely happy.We're talking "I'm walking on sunshine" kind of happy.Until I take off my Sanuk shoes. Then my feet get a little sad.I remember the first time I saw Sanuk shoes. My father-in-law, proving to be hipper than I, has been sporting them for years and I've been coveting them for as long. You can tell when someone's wearing Sanuk shoes. It's like they're in on a little secret that you may not be privy to and they've got a little twinkle in their eye. Think I'm joking? Try on a pair. They are easily the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. If you want laid back style you can wear with practically anything, Sanuk is the only place to look. 
Sanuk means "Fun" in Thai and, after my interactions with this company, both professionally and on their Facebook page, I can tell you that they could not have chosen a better name for themselves. What started in 1997 as one man's inner tube-and-carpet innovative shoe design has turned into a company that makes you yearn to wear their shoes and dream of joining their ranks. If you are on Facebook, you must join the Sanuk fun. Not only will you get info on their shoes, be able to actually get any questions you have answered and get to interact with the fun peeps over at Sanuk but, you also get the daily spread of smiles that Sanuk is committed to bringing everyone. Their posts put a smile on my face every.single.day. Plus, they've got great contests going on all the time for their awesome swag! I also love seeing what other Sanuk wearers have to say about their beloved shoes and like knowing that my Sanuks will most likely out live all my other shoes.
"But, what about the shoes?", you say. Oh, I'll tell ya about these awesome shoes! Sanuk offers a heap ton of different styles for men, women and kids. No need to be a surfer to sport the coolest kicks around. About six months ago, I spied a pair of flip flops (one of my shoe obsessions) that were cooler than any I had ever seen. The socks attached to the flip flops had me mesmerized with their coolness and I knew they had to be mine. One quick google search later and I was transported into the world of Sanuk. My first pair of shoes from Sanuk were the grey and white striped TubeFlops. Oh yes, you heard me right. They are flip flops with toeless tube socks attached. Not only are the flops themselves the most comfortable I own but, the fabric that the socks are made out of is unbelievably comfortable. I love love love them!
Sanuk sent me a pair of their I'm Game zebra print Sidewalk Surfers. It's been really hard for me to wear any other shoes since I received these. I have literally changed clothing on some days just because my top didn't match my shoes. Yes, I have started matching my shirt to my shoes instead of the other way around. Of course, now my TubeFlops and Sidewalk Surfers are getting a bit lonely and need more Sanuk friends in the closet. Luckily, Sanuk makes so many other styles and the only hard part is deciding which pair to get next. 
There is so much more to Sanuk than their amazingly cute shoes. I urge you to take a look around their site, their Facebook page and their blog and get to know the fun little family that makes up the company. Read up on Sanuk's RASTA Project and find out about their mission to produce footwear that is absolutely impact free, being made from recycled tires, jute, hemp, natural latex, cork and recycles plastic bottles. The RASTA Project shoes are super stylish and make your heart feel good while making your feet feel good.Smile more!You can get Sanuk shoes from their online shopping site and tons of other online retailers. You can also find them in shoe stores and surf shops nationwide!Win it!One insanely lucky reader will win a pair of Sanuks!US onlyends 10/27Mandatory to Enter: Visit Sanuk and tell me which pair you want if you winExtra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry- Like Sanuk on Facebook- Follow Sanuk on Twitter- Subscribe to the Sanuk You Tube channelAll other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Shoes
October 14, 2010
Use Your Words!My kids hear me say that all the time. It's a phrase I learned long before I had kids when I worked in daycare. Emotions are difficult for children and it can be quite a challenge for them to recognize their emotions and express them. Very young children are especially volatile when dealing with emotions they aren't used to or don't understand. Any time my kids get worked up and upset, they hear me say "Use your words" to try and help those feelings manifest as language instead of tantrums and violence. Jeremy Zmuda gets this. His understanding of the need for kids to be able to know how to express themselves and work through their feelings on so many things, along with his love of music and his guitar come together on his album Use Your Words.Jeremy Plays Guitar is a band that makes music for kids because they love kids, love music and they totally rock. The masterful musicians that make up the band have resumes that would blow you away but, it's their talent and obvious love for what they do that will blow you away as soon as you hear the music. I'm totally in love with Use Your Words and wish I could personally give Jeremy a thank-you hug for all of this music but, definitely for songs like That Food Makes Me Sick and the title track, Use Your Words. Really, when listening to Use Your Words, it seems like there's a fun song to reiterate so many of the things that I tell my kids all the time. It is insanely easier to get a child to listen when you are singing a piece of a song they love instead of droning on in your "mom voice". Huge thanks to Jeremy Plays Guitar for helping me be a cooler mom!
Use Your Words is fantastic for toddlers, preschoolers and young children. There are so many key principles that children of those ages are learning and dealing with that are addressed through the fun songs on the disc. Though, don't discount how wonderful it is to play music for children from the minute they enter this world. My music-loving one year old nephew loves the music of Jeremy Plays Guitar just as much as my 3 and 6 year old daughter and son. The melodies are just as catchy as the lyrics and I definitely recommend Jeremy Plays Guitar for a highly entertaining way to interact with your kids on issues that will affect them every day and give you another helpful tool in the craziness of parenting. Buy it!You can get your hands on a copy of Use Your Words HERE.Win it!One reader will win a copy of Use Your Words!US onlyends 10/23Mandatory to Enter: Tell me who you'd love to win this for.Extra Entries: Leave a separate comment for each entry.- "Like" Jeremy Plays Guitar on Facebook- Follow Jeremy Plays Guitar on Twitter- Subscribe to Freeze Dance Records' YouTube channelAll other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Music
October 11, 2010
From pregnancy to birth and beyond, one of the most important things for mom and baby is comfort. The sad fact is that, often times, the comfort mom and baby so need is often rather elusive. Pregnancy can be an uncomfortable time for mom while a newborn can sometimes be quite fussy just due to discomfort from many different things. Luna Lullaby is an amazing company that has taken advice from leading experts and combined it with their own parenting experiences to design top quality products designed for comforting and soothing newborns and pregnant moms. Luna Lullaby carries three wonderful products. The Soothing Blanket, Bosom Baby and Bounce-a-Bye Baby are all obviously designed with care and great attention to detail while keeping in mind the specific needs of mom and baby.The Soothing Blanket is a swaddling blanket made of extremely soft, lightweight, high quality cotton muslin with a fabric weave specially designed to breathe easily. The stretchable fabric provides a snug swaddle. The Soothing Blanket comes with an instructional DVD and 3 blankets. The large size of the Soothing Blanket is not only ideal for swaddling newborns and larger babies but, makes a great blanket you can use for many things once your child is past the swaddling stage. Versatility in the high quality products is just one of the things you can love about Luna Lullaby.
Bosom Baby is Luna Lullaby's award winning nursing pillow. I personally think that the Bosom Baby is a better choice than most of the nursing pillows I've seen because of the unique V-shape. The pillow seems larger than others I've used and more likely to fit all women than the traditional C-shaped pillows. There are no zippers or velcro on the Bosom Baby's comfy covers. Like the Soothing Blanket, there's also a high level of versatility with the Bosom Baby nursing pillow. Use it for nursing, tummy time and even for extra support in the right places during pregnancy.
Luna Lullaby sent me one of their Bounce-a-Bye Baby balls. Now, I've seen exercise balls before. My sister in law has one that has to be hidden away when guests come over because it's just unsightly. The Bounce-a-Bye Baby balls are all totally adorable, come in three cute designs and there's no need to push them in a closet. These balls can be used for so many things. Use the ball for your pregnancy work outs then as a birthing ball. After baby arrives, use the ball for soothing a fussy baby and for your post pregnancy workouts. The older your child gets, the more they'll start to use the ball for their own enjoyment. My 3 and 6 year olds have definitely tested the sturdiness of the Bounce-a-Bye Baby ball and I can absolutely say that these balls are completely sturdy and high quality. I love that the ball comes with a stabilizing base. Let's face it, a pregnant woman or a new mom aren't exactly the most graceful people. Knowing you aren't going to roll over and hurt yourself or the baby is very nice. I wish I would have had one of these balls when I was pregnant but, cannot wait to use it during any new pregnancies. I highly recommend it and think it is an absolutely perfect baby shower or new mom gift, along with the Bosom Baby and Soothing Blankets. 
Be sure you check out the Luna Lullaby blog for fantastic tips and articles for pregnancy and parenting!Buy it!Take advantage of the new lower pricing and purchase any of these items from the Luna Lullaby website!Win it!One reader will get their own Bounce-a-Bye Baby ball in their choice of style!US and Canadaends 10/22Mandatory to Enter: Visit Luna Lullaby and tell me which ball style you would choose if you wonExtra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry.- Like Luna Lullaby on Facebook- Follow Luna Lullaby on Twitter
All other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Baby Gear
