September 5, 2010
Do you send fruit in your child's lunch? Take snacks in the car with you? Fruit is always an amazing and healthy snack for all of us but, not always convenient to pack in a lunch or bring along in the car. Even something like a banana or apple produces quite the mess in our car. Fruit cups are chosen often for school lunches but, can still be messy and are definitely not free of sugars and other unhealthy things. But, what do kids like to snack on? Something crunchy! Something fun! Something that tastes great! What do parents want? Something that's good for them!Funky Monkey has got you covered. 
Funky Monkey takes the fresh taste and wonderful nutrition of fruit, combines it with other fruits and organic seasonings then freeze dries it to produce a sweet and crunchy snack that is fantastically good for you. And, believe me, these snacks are scrumptious! Really, some of them are as sweet as candy and all are satisfyingly crunchy like your favorite snacks. I really never knew that freeze-dried fruit snacks could be so good. 
Funky Monkey Snacks are perfect for school lunch snacks, road trips, running out the door in the morning, afternoon pick-me-up snacking and toddler snacks. There are tons of great flavors to choose from and everyone will easily find a favorite. My favorite? I love the sweet and tangy sour flavor of Pink Pineapple which is pineapple and guava but, I also love the smoother flavor of Bananamon which is banana with organic cinnamon. Yummy! My son loves sour candy so, JiveALime is a great flavor for him with the citrus tang of the lime juice with the pineapple. 
These snacks are USDA Organic, 100% real fruit, 100% fat free, no sugar added, gluten free and vegan. When it comes to sweet snacking, I don't think it gets any better than Funky Monkey Snacks! I highly recommend them to anyone and everyone and think they are perfect for kids. Buy it!You can get Funky Monkey Snacks online or in stores like Target, Whole Foods, Safeway, Kroger and others nationwide. Win it!One reader will win one bag of each of the 7 flavors that Funky Monkey makes!US onlyends 9/15Mandatory to Enter: Visit Funky Monkey and tell me which flavor you most want to try.Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Don't forget to include an email address somewhere in your comment or user profile!- Click here and submit your own funky fruit combo creation and then tell me in a comment what you suggested to them.
- Follow Funky Monkey on Twitter- "Like" Funky Monkey on Facebook- Write on the Funky Monkey Facebook wall that you found them on Lolidots and leave a link to this post.All other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them. Remember, you get an extra entry for every current contest you enter!
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Food
September 3, 2010
Okkatots recently won the PTPA Award on two of its products. To celebrate, they are giving away one of their Baby Carriers and one of their Travel Diaper Bags!
Until September 14th you can go HERE and comment on the post to enter the contest and win one of these awesome Baby Carriers from Okkatot! Their winner will be announced on September 15th.
If you enter their contest, come back here and get two extra entries in any or all of the current giveaways at Lolidots. Just tell me that you entered the Okkatots giveaway and what your comment username is on their page. For every extra entry you do on the Okkatots contest, you can get another extra entry in giveaways here. Just tell me which entry you got over there in your comments here!
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Baby Gear
August 30, 2010
In our house, Pillow Pets are king. Every single one of us has our own Pillow Pet, some of us have more than one and all of us are very protective of our pets. If you've ever used a Pillow Pet, felt one or own one, you know why we are obsessed with these adorable things. Pillow Pets are the softest and cutest pillows in our home. With a quick flip of the velcro, they become our kids' favorite stuffed animals. My daughter totes her dog Pillow Pet around with her and has named the cute red puppy Clifford. My son's Alligator Pillow Pet is often a dinosaur or dragon and gets to fight with the other animals often. Once it's time to relax, all the pets turn back into pillows and sleepy heads lay down on the softest and cushiest pillows around. We are absolutely in love with our Pillow Pets.
And, we aren't the only ones. In just a few months from last summer to the 2009 holiday season, Pillow Pets were in such high demand that they were all in back order. Parents and kids everywhere where scooping them up and the demand hasn't slowed down. Personally, it may be my favorite craze ever. There's just no resisting the cuteness of these pets or the softness of the pillows. Combine them in one Pillow Pet and you've got something that everyone in the family must have for themselves. Because, really, you can't just have one of these. We found that out the hard way shortly after getting our first Pillow Pet. We were all vying to be the one to sleep with it! Now that we're all set with our own, it's just a matter of deciding which one we all want for our second! 
I've given Pillow Pets as gifts and they are always received wonderfully. There's no denying that kids love these and parents, especially those who have never seen them, are always amazed at their softness and how exciting they are for a child to own. My daughter got a Pillow Pet for Christmas last year and it was love at first sight. I have a feeling that Pillow Pets will be on both our Christmas Shopping and Christmas Wish lists this year. But, with sales projected to surpass last year's holiday numbers, I'll be snagging my Pillow Pets early this year!
Buy it!You can get your Pillow Pets from their online site. Order early before the rush of the holiday season!Win it!
One reader will win their choice of Pillow Pet!US onlyends 9/11Mandatory to Enter: Visit Pillow Pets and tell me which pet you'd like to get this holiday season and who you'll give it to.Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry.2 entries- Enter the Megan Abrahamsen step stool giveaway2 entries- Enter the CraftieRobot giveaway2 entries- Enter the Scholastic DVDs giveaway2 entries- Enter the Carolina Pad giveawayAll other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Toys
August 30, 2010
I love to give personalized gifts, especially when it's for a child. As a mom, one of the things I am always sure to use if given to me is a cute picture frame. A personalized, cute picture frame? That's gift-giving gold. And, while I'm pretty crafty, I don't have a lot of time these days to be making tons of picture frames. Luckily, Etsy comes to the rescue again as I stumbled upon another adorable shop there. Megan Abrahamsen is a mom with tons of corporate world experience. She knows business and fashion but, as a mom, knows what kids need and what moms want. The items she makes are unique, adorable and wonderfully customizable. Decor for children's rooms should match the child's personality and being able to match something to their room as well makes those items absolutely perfect. Megan's talent is obvious when you browse the galleries of products. From rocking chairs to toy boxes, picture frames to foot stools, you'll find the perfect item for your child's room or the ideal gift for that special little kid in your life. A personalized rocking chair becomes an instant keepsake and makes a fantastic prop for those birthday pictures. 
Every child needs a foot stool. Having one with their name on it is super special. 
Mirrors and picture frames aren't just for children's rooms. Customize them to match whatever decor you want.
Megan sent me a couple of her picture frames. They are absolutely adorable. The Birthday picture frame is perfect as a gift for any aged child or just to frame a special image from your own child's birthday party. I think it would also be a great addition to a baby shower present. I told Megan that I would love a red and black frame with "Love" on it to match my living room decor. What she sent was exactly what I envisioned and absolutely marvelous for the living room bookshelves. It would have taken me hours of thinking and crafting to come up with something that wasn't quite as good as what Megan was able to create. I love the gift possibilities with Megan Abrahamsen products. To me, giving a customized gift says that you took the time to think about the recipient and find something special just for them. For an expectant mom, birthday child, grandparent, teacher and so many others, a customized gift can absolutely brighten their day. The items from Megan Abrahamsen are incredibly well-made and her shop is definitely one of my faves. Buy it!You can find Megan Abrahamsen products through her online site or her Etsy shop. You can contact Megan to create customized items.Win it!One winner will get to choose a step stool design and customize with a child's name! US onlyends 9/10Mandatory to Enter: Visit Megan Abrahamsen and choose your step stool design.Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry.- If you are an Etsy member, "heart" Megan's shop HERE and leave your Etsy name in your comment.2 entries - On the Etsy shop's homepage, lower left sidebar, click "Share" and share the page through any of the options. Make sure you leave a link to your share in your comment. All other Extra Entries are on the upper left sidebar here. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Furniture and Decor
August 29, 2010
Whether you are a student hitting the classroom this fall or just a computer toting office worker, having unique bags and accessories is simply a must. My go-to site for finding the most unique items around is definitely Etsy. I was browsing Etsy recently and came across a store that blew me away with it's products. CraftieRobot's Etsy store is full of the most unique bags and other items I've seen in a while. More than unique, these products are fun and play on pop culture icons both current and vintage with focus on cult icons like zombies and the "geek" phenom. CraftieRobot isn't just for zombie lovers though. With nods to classics like Alice in Wonderland, cult faves like Hunter S. Thompson, vintage movie and anatomy images and current mod fashion, you'll find something for every style taste in this unique online store. 
CraftieRobot carries messenger bags, laptop bags, passport covers and wallets, journals, mousepads, belts and the coolest lightbox/nightlights I've seen. Every item is high quality and the designs are top notch. Buying handmade and supporting small businesses is something we should all do more of and stores like CraftieRobot carry items you will never find at the major chain stores. Plus, for me, it doesn't get better than buying something made in Texas. The very cool owner of CraftieRobot sent me one of the messenger/laptop bags. The "Caution Zombies" decal is perfectly placed on this bag and the bag itself is impeccable. Definitely sturdy, this bag will hold a small laptop or tons of other necessities. The unique image ensures that it's highly unlikely someone else will be carrying the same bag. In an office world of plain black bags or a college campus of chain store purchases, being unique is rare and fun. 
Those with a more mod taste can check out items like the Bird on a Branch Messenger Bag.
Are you a film buff? How about the Vintage Movie Camera Messenger Bag?!
Looking for a unique gift? Something versatile? The Alice in Wonderland Mini Lamp/Nightlight is great and would even be perfect for a child's gift!
The selection of different items at CraftieRobot is impressive. Aside from gifts and bags, there are definitely items that I consider perfect for Back to School. Do you have a loved one proudly entering med school? Check out the Vintage Human Anatomy Journals!
I'm thinking that the Hunter S. Thompson belt is the perfect Christmas present for my brother. 
Stop giving the same old gifts year after year. Stop buying the same boring bags as everyone else in the class. Check out Etsy and definitely the CraftieRobot shop and add some funk to your life. Buy it!You can get everything seen here and so much more from the CraftieRobot Etsy shop.Win it!One reader will win any item they'd like from the CraftieRobot shop!!US onlyends 9/10Mandatory to Enter: Visit the CraftieRobot shop and tell me what you'd pick if you win.Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry.- If you are a member of Etsy, "heart" the CraftieRobot shop and tell me your Etsy name- On the left sidebar of the CraftieRobot Etsy shop, click Share and share the shop on your Facebook, Twitter, Kaboodle, Tumblr or StumbleUpon. 2 entries for each share if you leave a link to it in your comment.All other Extra Entries are on the upper left sidebar here. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Back to School
August 29, 2010
I spend a lot of time making lists and writing everything from articles to notes for myself. I like to keep it all organized and easy to find. For an organization obsessed person like me, office supplies are essential and so much fun. My favorite office and school supplies are super stylish and come from Carolina Pad. I'm in love with all the amazing designs that Carolina Pad offers. Their selection of products is incredibly impressive. From notebooks to laptop sleeves, calculators to binders and so much in between, Carolina Pad has all the supplies for school and office but, gorgeous designs that you won't see anywhere else. 
Carolina Pad sent me some of their products from the new Studio C Collection. This is their signature brand that includes the designs Hot Chocolate, Techno, Royal Twist, Zensational, Sasquatch and Dreamsicle. I absolutely love the bright colors and whimsical patterns of Dreamsicle. I think that my current favorite design from the Studio C Collection is Zensational. I love notebooks and journals and all that I have used from Carolina Pad are by far my favorites. Everything Carolina Pad offers is high quality and style is at the forefront of their priorities. School and office supplies can definitely be fashionable and all of Carolina Pad's products are just that. 
Carolina Pad products have been seen on shows from Gossip Girl to iCarly and many others. Let's face it, if it's trendy enough for shows like 90210 and Gossip Girl, it's going to be h-o-t. 
All of Carolina Pad's products are easily accessible because they are sold in major chain stores like Walmart and Target nationwide. You can also purchase them from the online site. The Carolina Pad online site is just another great aspect of this amazing company. You can browse the collections but, you'll find so much more there. You can create and purchase high quality vinyl stickers, get back to school organization tips, sign up for the Carolina Pad e-Card Club, get tons of tips and articles on getting and staying organized and ask the organization experts all of your questions on how to get yourself organized. Carolina Pad is all about fun and stylish organization, whether it's for the dorm room or the home office. I definitely recommend any of their products for personal office use, their arts & crafts items and stylish bags. Carolina Pad and their products are absolutely on my top list of must-haves for Back to School shopping. Though school has started and the shopping may seem done, all those notebooks will need to be replaced very soon. Replace them with Carolina Pad products and add a little style to the school day!
Win it!One reader will win an assortment of products from the Studio C Collection from Carolina Pad!US onlyends 9/7Mandatory to Enter: Visit Carolina Pad and tell me your favorite design.Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry.- "Like" Carolina Pad on Facebook2 entries - Write on their Facebook wall that you found them here and leave a link to this post.- "Like" the new Studio C Carolina Pad Facebook Page- Follow Carolina Pad on TwitterAll other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Back to School
