October Citrus Lane Box!

It’s the middle of the month, and that means there was a bright, happy package on our door step earlier this week!  Yes, it’s Citrus Lane time again, and this month’s theme is Fall Fun.  Let’s dive right in, shall we?

 

How can you look at that bright, sunny tissue paper and not be happy?

 

As you can see, this month’s box was once again filled with all sorts of goodies!

 

Included in every box is an insert that gives you detailed information about all of the items, along with special coupon codes and the websites where you can find more great deals from the same companies featured in each package.

 

Oball by Rhino $4.99

This was the very first thing Sara grabbed out of the box, even before the food, now that’s saying something!  This ball is extremely lightweight, collapses down for storage and springs right back to life when you are ready to play again.  It’s hard keeping the kiddos from throwing balls in the house, but with this one, there is far less chance of them breaking anything or hurting themselves (or each other!) and that is a huge plus in my book.

 

As usual, Sara is referring to the packing list as she discovers all the contents of her box.

 

Munchkin 7oz Click Lock Trainer Cups $8.99 for 2 pack

Can you ever have too many sippy cups?  I mean, especially at this time of year, with all of the family fun trips on the weekend and visiting with relatives for the holidays.  It’s never a bad idea to keep an extra sippy cup in the car and even one at Grandma’s house, just in case.  I don’t know about you, but with four kids, well, it is a miracle every time we make it to point b.  Period.  If after said trip we realized we forgot a sippy cup?  Well, let’s just say the baby wouldn’t be the only one crying.  An extra bonus to these cups?  Guaranteed 100% leak proof.  Go ahead and give the kid some grape juice, it’s all good.  Now, if they play sprinkler once their mouth is full, well, it wasn’t the cup’s fault.

 

“What else do we have in here?”

 

Big Smiles Cheesy Potatoes by Ella’s Kitchen $2.49

Food is always a big hit in our house, and these pouches are super convenient, travel well, and reseal if you have leftovers.  Cheesy potatoes sounds like a yummy addition to any warm, fall meal, and definitely wins in the yum factor with Sara.

 

“Okay Mama, let’s bust these taters open!”

 

BabyGanics Smooth Moves Lotion $5.49

Cooler weather means dry, itchy skin.  This BabyGanic lotion is silky smooth, with all kinds of great, nourishing ingredients that won’t only soothe, but will really benefit baby’s (or your!) skin.  There are no nasty chemicals in this lotion, so no worries using on even the littlest ones.  Yay for healthy skin!

 

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil Mini $4.99

This month’s box included a mama treat!  This is a cleansing oil.  Sounds counter intuitive?  I concur.  This 100% water soluble formula promises to dissolves away the dirt, makeup, sunscreen, etc that everyday brings and rinse off leaving skin soft, smooth and healthy.  I haven’t tried it yet, but I am definitely looking forward to pampering myself, thank you Citrus Lane!

 

In My Den from Chronicle Books $8.99

This adorable book has a finger puppet, right in the middle, making story time interactive and even more fun!  This book is perfect for snuggling up to after a day at the pumpkin patch, and it has a super sweet message.  So cute, and as I have said before, we are book hoarders in our home, so a book is always a very welcome addition!

 

Try out your very own subscription to Citrus Lane by clicking HERE.  Once you follow that link, enter coupon code 10TODAY to save 10%.  Or, enter code 10MONTH for $10 off one month.    When you subscribe for a full year, they also give you two months free.  Who doesn’t love free?!

We love Citrus Lane in our home.  As I have said before, the value of the products each month for the small price paid is just fabulous.  And much cheaper than a “quick” trip to Target for me.  I love being introduced to new brands and companies, and we have loved everything we have gotten so far.

 

 

Sometimes, no matter how cool the stuff in the box is, the box ends up being the best toy!

Related articles

• September Citrus Lane Box! (livinglavidamommy.wordpress.com)
• August Citrus Lane Box! (livinglavidamommy.wordpress.com)

Potty Tots Giveaway Winner!

No, I didn’t forget about my winner!  We had a computer meltdown over the weekend.  Literally.  We woke up to the smell of burning plastic.  When we got up to investigate, it turns out the fan on the graphics card had stopped working, and thusly started to melt.  Not the best thing to wake up to, but, ya know.

Anywho.

My Potty Tots winner is……………….

 

Ashley K.!!!  Yay!!!

 

A great big congratulations to her, she will be getting her Potty Tots potty training kit in the mail very soon!

Didn’t win this time?  No worries!  You can still get your very own Potty Tots Potty training kit through the Potty Tots website!  Have your little one with you when you explore the site, there is a lot of fun, interactive stuff to do!

 

I hope everyone had an awesome weekend!  Can you believe it’s October already?!  My goodness, how time flies!

Potty Tots Review & Giveaway!

I will be completely honest with you all and just say that I hate potty training.  I dread it.  The Pull Ups Potty Dance?  Ridiculous.  We have books and DVDs and I even sat through Dr Phil’s Potty training in one day deal.  You know what all of these things are lacking?  Focus on the child!  This is where Potty Tots is completely different.  Everything is all about full immersion of the child into the realm of using the potty.  There are adorable characters, cute songs, fun games, even an interactive website all designed to help get your child excited to use the potty.  Brillante!

Potty Tots was invented by a mom, Jill Leech.  I love that.  Who better to know what’s best for our children?  She saw a need for this in the market and so she made it happen!  Her philosophy is to make learning fun, and she did exactly that with Potty Tots!  The characters are multi-ethnic, easy to relate to, and honestly, they really are adorable.

Through the Potty Tots website, once you go through all the amazing information and fun activities, you can order a Potty Tots kit for a boy or a girl.  Each kit is specifically geared towards your child, getting them excited to start potty training.

The kits include a potty training guide book, an illustrated potty chart, a progress chart with clings, and an animated DVD with bonus music videos!

The kit is literally jam packed with all kinds of goodies that are perfect for helping you and your little one gear up for potty training with as little stress as possible.

Something super cool and unique with this system, is the progress chart that is included.  There is a large sheet with tons of adorable vinyl cling Potty Tots that are used to show your child’s progress.  Ideally, this would be hung in the bathroom, but we use ours on the refrigerator, where everyone can see Noah’s progress and cheer him on.  The more cheering and excitement there is, the more interest and success there is, trust and believe!

Noah would literally run down the hallway to move his little Potty Tot down the field, it was cause for celebration!

And of course, he also loved the book, which not only stars the Potty Tots, but they use the very same system in the book, showing the chart in use and everything, which is even more exciting for the child because they get to do exactly the same things as their favorite characters in the book.  Kids like to imitate, the awesomeness here is just, well, awesome.  This system has worked wonders with Noah’s potty training.  We have tried several different methods, taken several breaks, even assumed the kid would wear diapers into his teens.  Well, maybe not that bad, but potty training can be a stressful time.  Anything that helps encourage your child, and you for that matter, is worth it’s weight in gold.  Potty Tots is most definitely worth it’s weight in gold!

This is a system that you will use now and then pass down to the next child or share with your friends and family.  No silly gimmicks, no complicated maneuvers, just plain, simple, tried and true methods that make potty training something that does not need to be dreaded.

Check out Potty Tots for yourself at there website by clicking HERE.  They even have diplomas that you can print out for your little one!

“Like” Potty Tots on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Follow Potty Tots on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Did you check out their website and “Like” their Facebook page?  Once you do both, leave me a comment or send me an email to let me know and you are entered to win a Potty Tots training kit of your very own!  Share this review with your friends on Twitter and Facebook, and I’ll let you have an extra entry.  Hey, I’m cool like that.

I’m telling you, this system is effective!  I really wish I had had it for my oldest two, but now I know where to go when Sara is potty training next year.  Now go enter and good luck!  Winner wlil be announced Saturday, September 29, 2012.

The awesome folks at Potty Tots provided my with a Potty Tots kit free of charge for review purposes.  I was not compensated in any other way, and Potty Tots really did make potty training fun in our house!  They are awesome!

September Citrus Lane Box!

It’s mid September, and that means it’s time for our monthly Citrus Lane box!  For those who don’t yet know the awesomeness of Citrus Lane, basically it is a monthly subscription service, curated to your little one(s) from newborn to age 3.  Each month is centered on a theme, and the boxes are filled with fun, age appropriate goodies from brands that you may not have known about before.

This month’s theme is “Animal Parade”.

 

Sara was eager, as always, to dig right in!

 

Included in every box is an insert that tells you more about each of the items and often includes Citrus Lane exclusive coupon codes and offers from the featured companies.

 

It also includes the websites to the brands, so you can look up even more cool products that they may have to offer.

 

Green Sprouts Long Sleeve Bib $20.00

Have you ever dreaded meal time because of the inevitable mess that would explode as your toddler fed him or herself?  Yeah, me too.  Heck, half the time, we strip them down to the diapers, knowing that they will end up wearing most of their dinner.  This bib is waterproof, has a velcro closure to stay in place and it even has a flip pocket to catch anything that would otherwise slide down into baby’s lap.  Oh yes, this ranks high on the awesome meter!

 

HappyBaby Happy Tot Pouch $1.75

Bib firmly in place, now let’s eat!  HappyBaby makes yummy organic food pouches that are easy to store, easy to carry and easy for little ones to feed themselves with.  The pouch is BPA free and has a resealable top for preserving any leftovers.  This pouch is long gone, Sara loved it.

 

It’s like she’s anticipating the mess she is going to make with that fruit pouch.  What a thoughtful girl!

 

BabyGanics Toy & Table Cleaner $3.99

This item was in another box a month or two ago, but let me tell you, it is great to have several!  I like to keep one in the diaper bag, and now I have one next to the high chair.  This cleaner is paraben, sulfates and pthalates free, a perfect way to clean baby’s highchair tray at home or on the go.  It is also handy for wiping down restaurant tables, or anything that you want to make sure is nice and clean before your baby decides to gnaw on it.

 

I think Sara approves of her cute little puppy bath sponge!

 

Rich Frog Tub Sponge $5.95

Bathtime will be even more fun with this adorable little puppy dog sponge!  It has a very soft terry cloth covering that is soft on baby’s skin, a handy dandy loop to hang it to dry, and it stays afloat in the tub, so it is always easy to find and play with!

 

The cuteness of this book is almost too much!

 

InnovativeKids Faces Book $6.99

This book, as you saw, opens up to several, adorable and fun masks!  Talk about making reading fun!  This book was hugely giggle inducing for the whole family.  What a fun idea, we love it!

Try out your very own subscription to Citrus Lane by clicking HERE.  Once you follow that link, enter coupon code 10TODAY to save 10%.    When you subscribe for a full year, they also give you two months free.  Who doesn’t love free?!

We love Citrus Lane in our home.  As I have said before, the value of the products each month for the small price paid is just fabulous.  And much cheaper than a “quick” trip to Target for me.  I love being introduced to new brands and companies, and we have loved everything we have gotten so far.

Knot Genie Giveaway Winner!

As promised, it is time to announce the winner of the oh so awesome Knot Genie!  Alot of you were very interested in winning the Knot Genie, I imagine you all most have as much fun fighting with your daughters whilst brushing out their tangles!

Out of over 300 entries, I am happy to announce that Sharina Coon from Mobile Alabama is the lucky winner!  Congratulations!!

Sharina has twin daughters with very curly hair, so she has twice the fight when detangling.  Poor mami!  I hope that the Knot Genie works it’s magic for you, keep us updated!

Didn’t win this time?  You can still get your hands on your very own Knot Genie by visiting their website.  Just click HERE and check out all their awesome colors and pick one for yourself.  You won’t regret it!

DIYdidIthinkthiswasagoodidea?

Abe took a long weekend this past week, and so I convinced him to take on a project I have been wanting to do forever.  One that he did not want to do.  See, we have this nice kitchen table that wasn’t as nice as we thought it was.  Within two months of buying it, it was pretty much crap from a water spill that bubbled up in the middle of the table.  Soon after, other marks started showing up from moisture, splitting the wood and just making it look junky.

That was depressing.  We spent good money on what we thought was good furniture, and come to find out, what was advertised and what we were in fact told was solid wood, was actually a very thin piece of wood over what I presume to be MDF.  Why would we think Weekends Only would sell crappy furniture?  Lesson learned.

Regardless, we spent the money and I was determined to make this table look awesome again.  I did research and studied tutorials over the last several months and felt confident that we could fix the table.  We sanded, we prepped, we stained.

Here’s a fun fact.  When your table top is all dusty from sanding, and you want to wipe it off really well before staining it, DO NOT USE A DAMP CLOTH TO DO SO!!!!

Is that common knowledge?  Because I didn’t know that, so maybe I’m just a dumbass.  Apparently, when you get even the teeniest tiniest amount of moisture on the raw wood, that opens up the pores and gives it super stain soaking powers.

Wanna guess how I got the excess dust off?

Yup.

Wanna see a picture of how I ruined all our hard work?

 

See those purdy finger streaks on the table?  The super dark marks where I opened up the wood pores with my damp cloth?

*le sigh*

So, this left us with some fun options.  One included completely re-sanding and then re-staining.  That would be the right way to fix it, on a normal table that wasn’t crap.  See, the tiny sliver of wood left on top of the MDF is more than likely not enough to last another sanding.  Soooooo…..

We painted it.  You can still see the wood grain through it, which is cool, and once we get it good and sealed/lacquered, hopefully it will be gorgeous and well protected until we buy a new set, not from Weekends Only.

It will either be cool, or require tablecloths until we get our new set.

Oh well, live and learn I suppose.  I’ll share more photos of the disaster once we have the clear coats on.  Woo hoo!

The DeodoMom Cream

It’s something that we all need and we all use.  There are endless choices in a huge aisle, so many different formulations and scents and powers.  So many chemicals.  What am I talking about?  Deodorant.

You probably never thought about all the junk the deodorant companies put in their products, did you?  Me neither.  Never a second thought.  Likewise, I never realized that antiperspirants use aluminum to essentially plug the sweat glands until the skin is shed.  Does that sound like a healthy way to be stink free?  I didn’t think so either.

The DeodoMom Cream has no aluminum, no alcohol/glycol, no fragrance, dye or parabens and is 100% vegan.  Instead, it uses magnesium hydroxide, a mineral safe enough to eat, and water to effectively keep you odor free.

But does it work?

There are plenty of products out there that are better for us and that claim to work just as well as the chemically ridden cousins, only to disappoint.  That is not the case with DeodoMom Cream!  I have been using it in the sweltering heat, running around, running errands, chasing kids, you name it, and not once have I been distracted by ineffective deodorant.  (Come on, you know it’s happened to all of us at some point.)

And I like the fact that it is fragrance free!  How many deodorants actually smell nice?  In my opinion, they all have a very metallic undertone to them, and if I wanted to smell like metallic baby powder….well, I don’t.  So….

DeodoMom Cream was created by a husband and wife team, specializing in toxin-free and hypoallergenic products for pregnant women.  Obviously, pregger mami’s aren’t the only ones who care about what goes on and in their bodies, so this product is awesome for anyone who is health conscious and trying to make better choices for themselves and their family.

There are two formulations of the DeodoMom Cream.  It is available in a roller, just like regular roll on deodorant, as well as in cream form.  The cream comes in a jar and is applied like a lotion to the underarms.  Men and women can use DeodoMom Cream, but men will probably prefer the roll on, what with all their arm pit hair and what not.

There are also several olive oil soaps available, each specifically catering to different body areas and conditions.

Check out DeodoMom Cream on their website by clicking HERE.

“Like” DeodoMom Cream on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Follow DeodoMom Cream on Twitter by clicking HERE.

 

The awesome folks at DeodoMom Cream provided me with free product for review purposes and so that I could share their awesome product with my readers.  I was not compensated in any other way, and I really do love their awesome, safe deodorant!

August Citrus Lane Box!

Just in time for back to school, this month’s Citrus Lane box has some fun goodies for the little ones not yet in school.

 

I love how Sara likes to inspect the insert of each box, like she is reading about all her new stuff!  Smart baby!

 

Lots of stuff that will be great for our little “filed trips” and errands while the big kids are at school.

 

As always, each box includes this insert which tells you more information about all of the products, includes websites and coupon codes and even little tips and tricks in line with the month’s theme.  Also, as you saw, this is one of Sara’s favorite parts of the box, even more than the yellow tissue paper!  Now that’s saying something!

 

Skip*Hop Zoo Lunchie Insulated Lunch Bag $14.00

Okay, I have to admit, I am in love with and completely obsessed with owls, so when we opened this box, my eyes immediately went to this super adorable lunch bag!  Love it!  It has an easy wipe clean interior, along with a little mesh pocket for hand wipes or napkins or utensils, you name it.  It also has an awesome clip on the handle, so it easily attaches to a backpack, stroller, diaper bag, etc to maximize space.  BPA and Phthalate free, this lunch bag is perfect for toting snacks on the go and keeping bottles, sippy cups, juice boxes etc nice and cool.  It’s so adorable, I think Mama may want to pack her lunch in it….

 

Andy Warhol’s Colors Board Book $6.99

Books are one thing in our house we can never have too many of.  My husband and I are bookworms, and we have passed that trait onto our children.  Literally, my kids would rather sit and read than play with toys.  Yes, they are awesome.  So is this bright and colorful board book!  Totally modern, totally colorful and totally fun, this is the perfect size for little hands and nice and sturdy for the roughness it is bound to experience.  It isn’t very long, which makes it perfect for little ones with short attention spans or for that last “one more story” at the end of the day.

 

Carefully going through each and every item.

 

DP (de-pee) Stain & Odor Remover $3.99

Oh, I could have used this yesterday!  Let’s hope I don’t have to use this anytime soon, but boy, am I glad to have it on hand!  DP is an eco friendly biodegradable enzyme cleaner that is tough on stinky, icky messes.  Anything from spit up to food disasters to even……poo, it is all blasted away with this product.  If you haven’t experienced an insanely stinky, icky mess with your child yet, just wait.  That day is coming, and now you can be prepared.

 

Keepin’ Fresh Baby Food Storage $3.75

This is adorably sized just right for kiddie portions, and it is made completely leak proof, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and freezer safe.  It is also BPA free, phthalate free, PVC and lead free.  These are made sturdy and can definitely take a beating and not look or perform any less than perfect.  I think I need about twenty more…

 

Sara found food!

 

Plum Organics Tots Yogurt Mish Mash $1.69

Included with the yummy Plum Organics this month, was a nice $2.00 off coupon for another Plum Organics product.  I love the convenient pouches and the replaceable cap to save any uneaten portions.  And of course, Sara loves the yummy flavor.  This is a great way to sneak in a serving of fruits and veggies if you have picky eaters.  It is also an awesome, healthy snack.

Lots of good stuff this month!  These things will all come in handy for play dates and trips around town.  What is Citrus Lane, you may ask?  It is an awesome subscription service that curates boxes to your specific baby’s age and the monthly theme and then ships them to your door each and every single month.  No leaving the house, no research, it’s all done for you!

Try out your very own subscription to Citrus Lane by clicking HERE.  Once you follow that link, enter coupon code 20TODAY.  This will save you $15 on a 3 month subscription, $25 on a 6 month subscription, or $50 on a 12 month subscription.  When you subscribe for a full year, they also give you two months free.

We love Citrus Lane in our home.  As I have said before, the value of the products each month for the small price paid is just fabulous.  And much cheaper than a “quick” trip to Target for me.  I love being introduced to new brands and companies, and we have loved everything we have gotten so far.

Dolphin Organics

 

If you aren’t already in love with Dolphin Organics products, you are about to be.  This company was started by a husband and wife team who wanted only the best, organic and natural products for their children.  As I have mentioned before, so many products that are out on the shelves marked as “natural” and “organic” are just using those buzz words to pull you in.  A quick inspection of the label will show a long list of chemicals and preservatives that have no business being in a natural, organic product.

 

There is a whole line of amazing products to choose from,  and each of them is truly natural and organic, using nothing artificial, not even preservatives.

 

Something very nice you’ll notice on the back of each bottle, is the complete list of ingredients.  Not only does it tell you exactly what is in the product, but it even breaks it down into rows, telling you what items are natural and what items are certified organic.  There is also an “artificial” row, but as you’ll notice, that row is oh so nicely kept empty.  Que bueno!

 

 

You’ll also notice that Dolphin Organics is very proudly made in the USA, and is cruelty free and vegan.  The Simply Citrus Lotion blends organic aloe leaf juice, organic calendula flower and certified and organic citrus products which together gently hydrate, nourish and protect sensitive skin.

 

The lotion smells amazing and very fresh and goes on very smoothly, not leaving any greasy residue.  I feel good knowing that I’m not putting any nasty, unnecessary chemicals on my baby’s skin, and at the same time, I am nourishing and protecting her.  Plus, I’m not being tricked into buying something I think is good for my baby, only to find out that it is riddled with nasty, harmful chemicals .  It’s good to be smart!

Want to hear something else smart and amazing about this company?  With every purchase that you make,  Dolphin Organics donates a portion to Friends of Karen, a charity that is dedicated to supporting families with critically-ill children.  Not only are you buying the very best products for your children, but you are also supporting other families that need your help, just by purchasing these amazing products!

Dolphin Organics is doing their part by being a responsible company, making the smallest carbon footprint that they can while providing safe, natural and organic products for our children.  This is a company I feel very good supporting.  They are pretty awesome.

Check out Dolphin Organics website by clicking HERE.

“Like” Dolphin Organics on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Follow Dolphin Organics on Twitter by clicking HERE.

 

The awesome folks at Dolphin Organics provided me with the Simply Citrus lotion free of charge for review purposes.  I was not compensated in any other way, and I really do love this awesome company and their amazing products!

Bum Boosa!

Can I just start this review by saying how fun it is to say Bum Boosa?  Try and say it without smiling.  Impossible!  You’ll be smiling when you hear about this awesome company too.

As parents, how many baby wipes do we go through while our little ones are growing up?  Too many to count!  Well, Bum Boosa happens to make non synthetic, tree free baby wipes.  What do they make it out of?  100% viscose renewable bamboo!  Their wipes are alcohol free, paraben free, sulfate free and are formulated with gentle ingredients that include organic aloe vera and calendula extract.  They have a very lovely, mild scent of lavender and sweet orange.

Bamboo is completely renewable and sustainable, requiring no pesticides or insecticides, things I don’t care to wipe my baby with.  And with every purchase of the 80 ct wipes, Bum Boosa, in partnership with Trees For The Future, will plant a tree, helping to restore deforested regions around the globe.  Ummm…..that is really amazing.  Buy wipes, which you need anyway, and plant a tree, rebuilding a forest.  Yup, sounds like a plan for me!

I have been enjoying the wipes with my babies, they are soft and strong, and leave a very pleasant scent.  They are also very gentle and soothing on delicate baby bottoms, which is very important especially when you have babies with sensitive skin.

Speaking of sensitive skin, Bum Boosa also has an amazing diaper rash ointment.  It is 100% natural, made with nourishing plant based ingredients. A soothing formula of zinc oxide, vitamin E, lavender and chamomile make this powerful, effective and again, very pleasantly scented.   It is also made at a factory utilizing 100% wind power!  Bum Boosa isn’t just talking the talk, they truly are giving back and doing their part to make this planet a better place to call home.

Check out Bum Boosa on their website by clicking HERE.

“Like” Bum Boosa on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Follow Bum Boosa on Twitter by clicking HERE.

 

The awesome folks at Bum Boosa provided me with a sample of their wipes and diaper rash ointment free of charge so that I could share their awesome company with all of my readers.  I was not compensated in any other way, and I really do think their products are awesome.