Happy 2nd birthday to my crazy, loud, stubborn, loving and funny boy. I can hardly wait to see what you have in store for us.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Wordless Wednesday - Happy Birthday Jakey
Happy 2nd birthday to my crazy, loud, stubborn, loving and funny boy. I can hardly wait to see what you have in store for us.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Tiny Soles Shoes Review and Giveaway
My boys are all very active. They, like other children, seem to grow way too fast. They are extremely tough on their shoes. I used to think that since they were only going to be in a certain size shoe for such a short period of time, then the cheaper shoes would be fine. I will admit (in this instance only) that I was wrong.
It is amazing how long a good pair of shoes will last. I recently found Tiny Soles which carries some of the best lines that I have found including: pediped, Eleven, Jack and Lily, Robeez and See Kai Run. You can search by brand, size, type. If you can't find the right shoe here, I am not sure anyone can help you. It is now my place to shop for my all my kid's shoes.
I had the hardest time just picking one pair of shoes, but I had heard great things about pediped Flex so I decided to focus on that brand. We settled on the Jake because, well, my son's name is Jake. As good a reason as any right? When I said I had a hard time, I wasn't kidding. However, the Jake is adorable & the light brown color we chose, matches everything. Perfect. They arrived in lightning fast time and were exactly as I had hoped.
The pediped flex features "supple, premium grade Nubuck leather uppers combined with ultra-soft, flexible soles with shock-absorbing air cushion technology on each heel and ultra-flexible pedi FLEX ZONEs for maximum flexibility and support. Perfect for running, jumping and playing, this shoe provides the
ultimate in comfort, protection and support." They also come with these inserts called pediped Flex Fit System. You place them under the current insole to adjust fit and then as your child's feet grow, you remove them to extend length of wear. Neat, huh?DISCOUNT!: Tiny Soles is offering my readers a coupon code for 10% off orders of $30.00 or more. Simply enter nateandjakesmom at checkout. Coupon is valid until 08/31/09.
WIN IT!: One of my readers will win a $30 Gift Certificate to Tiny Soles!
TO ENTER: Go to Tiny Soles and tell me what you would buy with your gift certificate.
This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.
Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:
- Blog about the giveaway with a link to my blog (http://nateandjakeandme.blogspot.com) and to Tiny Soles (http://www.tinysoles.com) 2 entries, leave 2 comments
- Follow Tiny Soles on Blogger
- Follow me on Blogger
- Subscribe to my blog via email
- Become a fan of Tiny Soles on Facebook
- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the contest. Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.
Contest ends July 22nd at 11:59 PST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on July 23rd and they will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. US ONLY.
**Entries are Per Person, Per Email Address, Per Household, Per IP Address and/or Per Blog. Failure to follow these rules will lead to disqualification in this contest and all future contests on this blog. In other words, no cheating please.
Take Me Back Tuesday - 4th of July
How do you play along?
We all have tons of photos from the days before the digital camera. I figure if I just scan a few each week, eventually I will get them all safely into my computer.
Every week you can come back here and share photos that "take you back." Maybe it is the bad hair we all had in the 80's or the bell-bottoms you swore were so hip in the 70's. Whatever you want to share!
If you decide to participate, sign the Linky below and I promise to head on over and spread some comment love your way!
4th of July 2003
I am a Clutz
If you really know me - You won't be surprised to hear that I fell down the stairs ... again. One of these days I will break something. It is just a matter of time.
(That is a rug burn on the left & on the right is the bruise that just gets more purple every hour. I will spare you the others. G-Rated blog and all.)
TriDerma Skincare Review
Is it not funny how your children's ailments start to take over your life? I feel like I have been mentioning my children's eczema in almost every post. Honestly, I deal with this issue all day and so it is no wonder that it would filter into my blog. I sent out a plea for help with this issue and one of the companies recommended by a few people was TriDerma.
TriDerma graciously sent me the TriDerma MD Baby Extreme Itch & Dryness Fast Healing Cream and the Eczema Fast Healing cream. We have been using the Fast Healing cream on poor Luke's ankles and they are doing much better. They suggest daily use to maintain healthy skin and prevent flare-ups. I also suggest this since once it cleared up I stopped using it, only to have to start up all over again as his rash reappeared.
Both boys get the Extreme Itch and Dryness cream every night after bath. Both Luke and Jake seem more comfortable and Jake has not had a flare up at all since we started using it. As babies get older, eczema can become less severe and it seems Jake is following this pattern. I highly recommend the Extreme Itch and Dryness for less severe eczema cases. Luke has severe eczema on his face and must see his doctor for special medication.I feel comfortable using these products which are free of cortisone and steroids. TriDerma MD Baby is a safe solution with ingredients that have been used for centuries to help soothe, heal and calm irritated skin without side effects. Each TriDerma Baby product contains a proprietary form of aloe known as AP4 Genuine Virgin Organic Aloe which contains over 200 natural healing properties. Among them, natural antiseptics to fight bacteria, natural anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling and natural analgesics to soothe pain.
The complete TriDerma MD Baby Skincare line consists of All Purpose Aloe Healing & Cleansing Gel, Severe Diaper Rash Fast Healing Cream as well as the Extreme Itch and Healing cream. They are all reasonably priced at a suggested retail price of $14.99.
You can purchase TriDerma products at online at www.triderma.com and TriDerma MD Baby can be found at Babies R Us.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Whimsical Creations Giveaway
I was invited to a bridal shower recently, but the invitation was late in arriving and so I was pressed for time to buy a gift. I live up in the mountains and getting down the hill to go shopping is sometimes hard. I remembered that my friend, Melanie of Whimsical Creations, had some adorable wedding cake photo holders and I contacted her to see if she could make me 2 as soon as possible.
She made them and mailed the off the next day! They were beautiful and exactly like I had hoped.
She made them and mailed the off the next day! They were beautiful and exactly like I had hoped.
I just found out that she is holding a giveaway for 2 of these adorable photo holders on her blog.
I know I am entering - are you?
I know I am entering - are you?
Kiss My Face Review and Giveaway - For Kids!
ENDED || CONGRATS LISA!I wrote a post a while back telling you about Kiss My Face's new kids line that features endangered species. The kids’ collection packaging highlights various endangered species and provides facts and tidbits on each animal. We all know how much kids love animals and what a great way to educate them about these special animals?
Kiss My Face is well-known for their belief that nature creates the best ingredients. They believe that it's their job to "combine these natural and organic ingredients in body care formulations that are potent and effective to make you look good and feel good." All this "never at the expense of our planet, employees or values—but with honesty, humor and style."
Their kids' collection contain no artificial colors, fragrances, and no parabens. I tried out the Orange U Smart detangler, foaming hand wash, foaming shampoo and body wash, and shampoo & conditioner. Coming soon will be a berry smart and scentless line. The orange smell is light and refreshing, not over powering at all. I love it and so does Jake.
My only issue was using the foaming shampoo and body wash. I didn't read the directions and you don't pump the dispenser but simply squeeze the bottle to release the foam. I spent a few days getting frustrated - yes a few days - before I read the back of the bottle. I was so embarrassed.WIN IT: One of my readers will win the same set I received (Orange U Smart detangler, foaming hand wash, foaming shampoo and body wash, and shampoo & conditioner).
TO ENTER: Go to Kiss My Face Kids and let me know what animal your little one would like the best! (Use complete names please)
This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.
Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:
- Blog about the giveaway with a link to my blog (http://nateandjakeandme.blogspot.com) (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
- Follow me on Blogger
- Subscribe to my blog via email (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
- Add my button to your blog
- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the contest. Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.
Contest ends July 18th at 11:59 PST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on July 19th and they will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. US ONLY.
**Entries are Per Person, Per Email Address, Per Household, Per IP Address and/or Per Blog. Failure to follow these rules will lead to disqualification in this contest and all future contests on this blog. In other words, no cheating please.
Divvies Bakery - Yummy Review and Giveaway
ENDED CONGRATS SARAH!!
If you follow my ramblings, you will know that I have children with eczema. Children with eczema have a propensity to also be allergic to certain foods. With that in mind, I have been on the look out for foods made without those ingredients that are high on the list: Dairy, Eggs and Peanuts. Divvies produces allergen-free food and I for one, would not have known what was "missing" had I not known already.
It was rough, but I reviewed Divvies cupcakes, cookies and popcorn. Oh, the things I do for my readers. In all honesty, this was one the most fun reviews - Who wouldn't enjoy eating their way through a package of bakery treats?
I will start with the cupcakes. These are delivered within 3 days of shipment to make sure they are as fresh as possible and they certainly were. Our chocolate cupcakes tasted fabulous and were oh so moist. You know how when you eat a cupcake that has just been baked and it practically falls apart? That is what you get with these. They also come with a HUGE tub of frosting that is simply divine! Sprinkles too? You bet!
The chocolate chip cookies I received were packaged in a box with 12 individually wrapped packages of 2 cookies. These weren't as sweet as I expected and like. So, I decided to test them out on an expert; my 8 year-old nephew. I gave him a pack and he went to the table to eat them. I walked away and when I returned he was finishing off the last cookie. I asked if he liked them, and since his mouth was full of cookie, nodded his head enthusiastically.
My favorite cookie is the sugar cookie. My big complaint of store bought sugar cookies is that they are usually way to sweet. These were perfect and had that wonderful sugar sprinkle on top. Soft but with a nice crispness to them that just made me have to have just one more to see if they were all so perfectly baked. They were. I am also a huge fan of popcorn. The caramel corn was quickly nabbed by my husband however, and I didn't get too much of it. What I did eat was so good and I couldn't really blame him for stealing it.
One of my readers will get their chance eat some of that great popcorn because Divvies is giving one of my readers a 3 Gallon box of popcorn!
TO ENTER: Go to Divvies and let me know what new product you would like to see.
This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.
Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:
- Join Divvies email list (click on the red dot upper right) 2 entries - leave 2 comments
- Blog about the giveaway with a link to my blog (http://nateandjakeandme.blogspot.com) and to Divvies (http://www.divvies.com). Be sure to leave a link to your post in your comment. (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
- Follow me on Blogger
- Subscribe to my blog via email (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
- Add my button to your blog
- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the contest. Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.
Contest ends July 18th at 11:59 PST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on July 19th and they will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. US ONLY.
**Entries are Per Person, Per Email Address, Per Household, Per IP Address and/or Per Blog. Failure to follow these rules will lead to disqualification in this contest and all future contests on this blog. In other words, no cheating please.
Toot - Toot!
Did you hear that? That is me tooting my own horn.My husband said I should celebrate my 1,000th subscriber and since I always listen to my husband {insert laughter here}, I thought I would also take this time to thank you all. I am humbled that over a thousand people receive my feed in some form or another. I never thought people would put up with me for this long; so I am simply going to enjoy it while it lasts.
To celebrate, I ate a whole lot of goodies from Divvie's bakery and since I am in such a great mood - I will be posting the review and the FABULOUS giveaway for Divvies unbelievable popcorn today so you can celebrate with me.I told my husband that as soon as I post this, my subscriptions will dip below 1,000. So if you are reading this and you see that I don't have 1,000 subscribers anymore ... Picture me giving me my husband the "I told you so" stare.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms - Giveaway
A little while back I wrote a post about a book that I received called, In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. This book is always close at hand as I refer back to it when I have had a rough day. Dr. Laura helps me stay focused and remember why I chose to stay home with my kids. Even when the kids have decided to see just how much patience I actually possess.I hope, as Dr. Laura does, not to alienate those who choose to work outside the home. Growing up, I never thought I would be a stay-at-home mom. I wanted a career and well, money. However, as things do, my goals changed. It wasn't until my 2nd son was born when I was 34 that I realized, the only place I wanted to be, was at home with my children. There have been some who have criticized me for "wasting" my education. In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms has given me the tools I need to put those naysayers out of my mind. I have always believed that my choice to stay home was the right one. Now I feel just a little bit stronger knowing the mighty Dr. Laura has my back.
I have been happy to share how much I enjoyed and valued this book. In fact, I was actually contacted to review this book and since I already had it, I asked if I would be able to give away a copy to my readers. Thanks to the publisher Harper Collins - I get to do just that!!
WIN IT!: One of my readers will get there own copy of
In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms
TO ENTER: Simply tell me who you would want to give this book to or if you would keep it for yourself!
In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms
TO ENTER: Simply tell me who you would want to give this book to or if you would keep it for yourself!
This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:
* Blog about the giveaway with a link to my blog (http://nateandjakeandme.blogspot.com).
* Follow me on Blogger
* Subscribe to my blog via email (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
* Add my button to your blog
* Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the contest. Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.
Don't have a blog? You can still earn extra credit entries by emailing 5 friends and invite them to enter the giveaway. Email must include the link to the giveaway and be cc'd to me (nateandjakesmom at gmail dot com).
Contest ends July 16th at 11:59 PST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on July 17th and they will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US entrants only.
**Entries are Per Person, Per Email Address, Per Household, Per IP Address and/or Per Blog. Failure to follow these rules will lead to disqualification in this contest and all future contests on this blog. In other words, no cheating please.
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