Get Ready for Back-to-School with Seventh Generation (Review/Giveaway)

One (1) lucky Goodies for Mom reader will win a Seventh Generation "Back-to-School" kit courtesy of Seventh Generation.

The winner receive the following great eco-friendly products from Seventh Generation:

• Seventh Generation backpack
• two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes (one for home and one to donate to your child´s classroom),
• disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner,
• facial tissue and
• paper towels

We at Goodies for Mom always love receiving products to use from Seventh Generation because they work hard to protect our environment and our homes. Our favorite is the disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner. It really brings a shine to your surfaces and cleans even tough dried up spills, which we have a lot of at our house. The disinfecting wipes will be greatly appreciated by your child's teacher since as we all know it seems like children are germ magnets.

With nearly 22 million school days lost each year due to the common cold and flu (CDC) and as many as 2.7 million bacterial found per square inch on common school surfaces (NSF International), it´s no wonder that 82 percent of parents with kids in grades K-5 fret about the germs in their children´s classrooms (according to a survey conducted by Seventh Generation).

This school year, Seventh Generation is sharing tips from best-selling author and pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, to help parents protect their child´s health during back-to-school season. Dr. Greene suggests taking the following precautions:

Optimize the immune system

• Reap the benefits of probiotics like those found in yogurt. A recent study showed that children who received enough probiotics daily throughout the cold and flu season had a significant reduction in the number of illnesses they had and, when they did get sick, the symptoms were both milder and didn't last as long.
• Be sure your child is getting plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement.
• Build a strong foundation. Good food, good sleep, and good physical activity all help the immune system to flourish.
• Be wise about reducing unnecessary exposure to harmful germs
• Teach children the key times to clean their hands in the classroom. The most important times include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, naptime, play stations) and before meals or snacks.

History of germs (video courtesy of Seventh Generation)


ENTER TO WIN

To win this wonderful tote bag filled with Seventh Generation products, just visit the Seventh Generation website than return to leave us a comment telling us what product you would most like to try from their fine line of eco-friendly products. Deadline is August 20, 2010 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win

Extra entries for:

• Linking to this contest
• Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
• Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
• Tweeting about this giveaway

Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know. Make sure to share your links with us.

P.S. You can get great coupons for Seventh Generations products by clicking here and joining the Seventh Generation Nation.

About Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation is committed to becoming the world's most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home.  For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit http://www.seventhgeneration.com/.

Disclaimer: We received the products, gift pack, and an aadditional gift pack to give away free of charge from Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.

Product Review: Clorox Cleaning Products

I've long been a fan of Clorox wipes and have since found many other Clorox products to enjoy.

My favorite of which is the Clorox disposable toilet cleaner. I know it's not very "green" but with three "boys" (one is hubby) in the house, the toilet bowl is a nasty, nasty place and I want nothing more than to dispose of anything that comes in contact with it. These are perfect because I clean and toss.

The Clorox hard surface cleaner is great for cleaning toys/high chairs, especially during this time of year when germs seem to abound, just ask my two sick boys. :( It's mild smell makes it a pleasure to use and it makes things shine.

The one product I own that I'm not crazy about is the kitchen cleaner. The scent is just too strong and I worry it's a little too strong with the kids around so I think this may be replaced by something a little more environmentally friendly and kid friendly in the near future.

I've also started using the shower cleaning pads and they work great but to be honest I don't need these to be disposable. I'd much rather have this cleaner available to use with a resuable brush or sponge. But it does work great!

As always, I am going to work at replacing some of my household cleaners with more eco-friendly alternatives so watch for reviews in the future on more "green" products.

[Visit Clorox site now.]

Chobani® Champions - Greek Yogurt Just for Kids

Chobani® Greek Yogurt has launched a new line of yogur just for kids. The line, entitled Chobani Champions, combines the nutritional benefits of Greek yogurt with kid-loving flavors like Strawana, Verry Berry, Honeynana, and Chocolate. This 2% low fat yogurt has real fuite, no preservatives, and no artifical flavors.  It is also gluten-free and kosher-certified.

Chobani sent us one of each flavor to try. They are very thick and creamy.  My youngest is a freak about yogurt and loved them all. He especially liked the Honeynana. My oldest likes a smoother, lighter yogurt so these weren't up his alley, and I think the chocolate was not what he was expecting.

Champions include probiotics and 2X more protein than other yogurts. It is also made with hormone-free milk

To get a cup of Champions on Chobani, click here.

Find a store near you.

At Chobani, they give 10% of profits to charities throughout the world, like Farm to School programs, CARE, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and more. They have most recently donated $50,000 to Haiti Relief efforts.

We received free samples of Chobani products to facilitate our review.

Johson's Baby Shower Blog Tour

As part of the Johnson's Baby Shower Blog Tour, we were excited to receive a box full of Johnson's Baby products. The box contained lots of baby bathtime products, along with lotions and a Destin diaper creme.

My all-time favorite baby shower gift to give to any expectant mom is a gift basket full of baby essentials. And what gift basket wouldn't be complete without Johnson's Baby products? The photo shown here is a recent gift I gave to a good friend to congratulate her on the birth of her 2nd daughter. It was very happily received. I included Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Lotion and Destin Diaper Creme. These are all useful products to a mom with a new baby in the house.

My son's (and my) favorite item in the collection is and has always been the Bedtime Bath®. This is one of the best smelling bath products we've tried and it definitely helps calm baby (and mommy) down in preparation for bedtime. It is also a NO MORE TEARS® formula to protect little eyes from stinging.

[I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Johnson’s and received samples of Johnson’s Baby products to facilitate my review.]

Product Review/Giveaway: Wet Ones® Hand & Face Wipes

One lucky Goodies for Mom readers will each win  five (5) 40-count car cup holder canisters of Wet Ones® Hand & Face Wipes. We know if you are a mom, you can use them ;)!!!

With kids back at school and flu season right around the corner, as a mom, I'm always worried about the spread of germs and keeping my boys healthy. Can I just tell you how much I love Wet Ones® Hand & Face Wipes? These are great for all those kid messes, while also keeping them germ free.

They are very moist so they are easy to get little hands and faces clean and do not dry out easily. The Gentle version is great for sensitive skin, and the antibacterial is great for germy situations. These are the first thing I pull out before we eat, after we eat, or after leaving a visit to great grandmom in the nursing home.  I always have the travel pack or the individually wrapped ones conveniently located in my purse, diaper bag, or glove compartment. 

Plus, an added benefit of these wipes is they work great on stains.  Just rub the stain and it disappears. My youngest is a ketchup fanatic and Wet Ones® take the stain right out of his clothes and mommy's too.
While washing hands with soap and water is the first line of defense in preventing the spread of germs, sometimes that is just not possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends alcohol-based hand sanitizers or antibacterial hand wipes, such as Wet Ones® as an effective alternative when soap and water are not available. Wet Ones® Antibacterial Wipes clean hands and kill 99.99% of germs.  They are great for after play time, and before eating.

[Click here for a $1.00 off coupon]

ENTER TO WIN

Tell us your favorite use for Wet Ones® or your biggest mess where you could have used one. Deadline EXTENDED TO Monday, September 21, 2009 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win

Extra entries for:

• Linking to this contest
• Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
• Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
• Tweeting about this giveaway
• Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know.

[Visit Wet Ones® now.]

Product Review/Free Sample: Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters

We received a free sample of several of Nature Valley's newest product, Granola Nut Clusters. Good thing they sent several bags because I had to beat off my husband to just get one of the bags to test because he opened one before I had a chance and was scarfing them down at record speed.

These really are yummy and are a good high energy snack. They are low in sugar and high in fiber. Just a few really fill you up quickly (of course unless you are my husband).

They come in four nut varieties: Roasted Cashew (my favorite and the only one I was able to wrestle more than one piece of away), Nut Lovers, Roast Almond, and Honey Roasted Peanut (hubby's fav).

Sign up for Nature Valley's Eat Better America newsletter and receive a free Trail Mix Bar and sample of their new Granola Nut Clusters.

[Sign up now!]

Brought to you by MyBlogSpark.

Bumkins Back 2 School Blog Tour: Art Smock Review

We at Goodies for Mom are excited to participate in the Bumkins Back 2 School Blog Tour! Mom bloggers throughout cyberspace are talking about Bumkins back to school products! The tour includes reviews of the junior bib, aprons, art smock, and wet bags. So head over and check out some other great mom blog reviews too!!!! In addition, Bumkins will be giving away five (5), $35.00, gift certificates so read below to see how you can enter.

With Back to School right around the corner, we received the Art Smock to review in the Cat in the Hat pattern. The photo really does not do the pattern justice. It is so adorable and the boys were excited to see one of their storybook characters on it. I am all for anything that reminds children of reading.

The smock is made of Bumkins' proprietary waterproof fabric, which is stain and odor resistant. Importantly and one of my favorite features is that it is PVC, BPA, Phthalate & Vinyl Free. The fabric is extremely durable and you can tell it is made of high quality material. It has a tie closure to keep it from falling off. Just machine washable and hang it to dry.

Now here is the important part and the part I messed up when they asked us what item we wanted to review. The Art Smock measures 16" across chest, 17" from neck down, 40" cuff to cuff. Although it is designed to fit 2 - 5 year old, my 3 year old did not fit in it. He was just too broad across the chest and we should have went with an apron. (Notice this is why I have no great photos of my son in it like the other moms.) I had chosen this because I love the coverage it gives because it goes farther down the arm. Messy preschoolers need all the coverage they can get. I hope Bumkins decides to make this in bigger sizes in the future.

This is a long shot from my dad's old shirt that I used to paint in when I was little!!!! Your little ones will be even more excited to paint when to get to wear this and you'll love keeping their clothes nice and looking like new. Of course, maybe my 3 year old should wear it all day ;) I think every shirt he owns has a stain of some sort on it at the end of the day.

Win a $35 Bumkin's Gift Certificate
Plus, Bumkins will be giving away five (5), $35.00, Gift certificates as a part of the Bumkins Back 2 School Blog Tour! Bumkins will choose the five winners beginning Monday August 10th, giving away one gift certificate each day that week.

All you have to do to enter is comment on the Bumkins blog, or on ANY of the participating blogs’, Bumkins Back 2 School Blog Tour posts! [HINT: Don't forget to make sure to leave us a comment on this post for a chance to win before you visit the blog tour.]

Visit the Bumkins Back 2 School Blog Tour now.

GIVEAWAY/REVIEW: Automoblox - T9 Pick Up Truck

One lucky Goodies for Mom reader will win an Automoblox® - T9 Pick Up Truck courtesy of Lou Lou's Corner.

According to Automoblox Co LLC, "By merging sophisticated design with the simplicity of warm, traditional wooden pieces, colorful translucent roofs and bright rubber tires, Automoblox® offers a innovative play system that inspires creative thinking and many hours of educational fun for kids—and for those who are kids at heart."

My boys are the princes of cars and trucks. I have no idea how many they have and probably do not want to know the officially count. When to box arrived, my boys fought over (ok, they fight over pretty much everything) who got to play the the sturdy wooden truck first. Then I had to time each one's usage in 10 minutes intervals to keep the peace. All night they were swapping the toy backing forth. The smooth, sleek edges of the truck have no sharp edges and the plastic seems very durable (although leave it to my boys to eventually figure out a way to break it at some point.) Even a couple months later they still pull it out and all their playmates love it too. Of course, they lost one of the little men the very first night. I think it is a new world record. They played with it for less than two hours and lost part of it. We did not even leave the family room with it but they managed to somehow lose it and it has yet to be uncovered. Probably down a seat cushion or under the couch. Hmm, maybe I should clean, HUH? They love to take the tires, wheels, roof and pull it apart and rebuild it while using their imagination to play mechanic. This toy is great for 3 year olds and above.

ENTER TO WIN
Visit Lou Lou's Corner website and tell us your favorite product from their fun, colorful selection. Deadline EXTENDED TO Monday, August 3, 2009 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win
Extra entries for:

• Linking to this contest
• Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
• Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
• Tweeting about this giveaway
• Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know.

[Visit Lou Lou's Corner now.]

PRODUCT REVIEW: Shakers by MolliCoolz

Does anyone not love a good milkshake? Although my hips certainly do not need a milkshake, my boys can usually con me into one once in a while. When Shakers by MolliCoolz wanted us to review their product, I was anxious to try them and so were my little ones.

Shakers let you have a thick and creamy milkshake at home. You don’t need a blender or an ice cream scoop, all you need is milk. I was suspicious they would really produce a great milkshake, because I thought it can't really be that easy? But I was wrong, it really was that easy. I just added milk to the single serving container filled with free flowing ice cream beads. Then I put the top back on and shook it for 30 seconds. Very cathartic too. Shake out a little frustration at the same time.

MolliCoolz’s pelleted ice cream beads are produced through its patented technology that allows the small beads to exist in a free flowing pelletized form at normal ice cream temperatures. MolliCoolz products are made with fresh cream and natural flavoring. Shakers are available in the following flavors: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and cookies ‘n’ cream.

These really are very yummy!!!! The boys loved them too. They were thick and creamy just as promised and so easy to "shake" one up. My favorite is the Cookies and Cream. This definitely isn't an everyday food with 310 calories per serving but it is a great treat on a hot summer day and very filling!!!

You can find them at retail chain grocery stores, such as Wal-Mart Supercenter, and are priced under $2 each per container.

[Visit Shakers by MolliCoolz.]

Product Review/Giveaway: Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Decor Canisters

Two (2) lucky Goodies for Mom readers will each receive coupons for Five (5) Free Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Decor Canisters.

Can I just say I LOVE Clorox wipes? They are quick to grab and clean up tough messes, which with two young boys happens well just about every 5 minutes at our house. I used them all over the house, especially in the kitchen. Things just clean up so well and sparkle when you are done. My favorite thing to use them for is cleaning baseboards. Just grab the canister and get the dirt and grime up quickly in all the little cracks and crevices.

Now Clorox has made them even better by putting them in attractive, easier to open and dispense canisters. I just sit it on the counter and it blends right it. "Hiding cleaning products under the sink a distant memory."

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes new Décor canisters:

• Come in eight unique color palettes to match any home décor
• Feature a sleek new shape and wider mouth
• Have a new effortless single sheet dispensing system
• Have the same disinfecting power of their namesake wipes
• Are fashionable enough to be left on the countertop
• Available at retailers nationwide

Plus the prices have even went down since they launched in February!!!

ENTER TO WIN

Visit Clorox Disinfecting Wipes new Décor canisters website and tell us your favorite new canister design. Deadline is Monday, July 13, 2009 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win

Extra entries for:

• Linking to this contest
• Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
• Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
• Tweeting about this giveaway

Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know.

[Visit Clorox Disinfecting Wipes new Décor canisters now.]

Win a $500 Visa Card at ecostore USA

Goodies for Mom is again participating in the Mommy Go Green Blog Tour as we bring you reviews and news of new eco-friendly products and services. This week we are featuring ecostore USA.

ecostore USA, is offering a fabulous opportunity to win $500 Visa Card through their Facebook page to help promote their natural, plant based eco-friendly lemon cream cleanser.

How to Enter

1. Make a 30 second clip of you using the lemon cream cleanser showing the effectiveness and how it is healthy and eco-friendly.
2. Download your 30 second clip to any service such as YouTube, Google Video or Viddler.
3. Become a ecostore USA Facebook Fan and provide the link to your video.
4. One winner will be chosen by the ecostore USA team based on creativity, uniqueness, and effective use of the product.

The contest ends June 29th, 2009. Visit their site for official rules and details

My favorite product from ecostore USA is their Citrus Spray Cleaner. This leaves counter tops clean, shiny and smelling great. It works great on lots of pesky cleaning chores.

The Pure Oxygen Whitener is also a great alternative to bleach to whiten clothes. This is especially important to me with a husband and two boys who love to get dirty. I had a pair of dirty white socks that my oldest wore on a playdate and the other mom sent home a pair of her son's new socks because she thought they were a lost cause. I socked them overnight in the washing machine with this product, and they came out almost new at the end of the wash cycle.

About the Lemon Cream Cleanser
Ecomommas rave about the versatility of the Lemon Cream Cleanser. Using only plant-based ingredients including Lemon Verbena oil, it can be used everywhere from the bathroom to the stainless on your stovetop.

About ecostore USA
ecostore USA are passionate about improving the planet and bringing people household products that are safer and healthier for you and your family. Originating in 1993 as a New Zealand-based manufacturer, wholesale distributor and retailer of sustainable household and personal care products, ecostore USA offers plant-based cleaning products as well as body and baby care products.

[Visit ecostore USA now.]

Brought to you by Mommy Go Green Blog Tours.

Ouchies Help the Ouchies While Being Cool

With skateboards, roller blades, and sports, there are a multitude of other ways your tweens and teens can injury themselves. They are too old for the cutsie Dora, Spiderman, and Scooby Do bandaids, but do they really want the boring beige? Ouchies has the solution for covering those scrapes and cuts while still looking cool.

From pink camoflage to flames to sculls, Ouchies have a style your tween and teens will love. And if that doesn't meet their style needs, they have floresants ones and permanent markers that lets them create their own custom design. These bandaids are tough for busy kids.

Even my little guys loved these and wanted to decorate their own to get their mind off whatever the injury of the day happen to be. They also were very excited to see their favorite Disney TV Stars Zack and Cody wearing a similar bandaid on the show. Plus they stayed on really well on my very active boys.

[Check out Ouchies now.]

Happy Mother's Day from Land's End: Win a $100 Gift Certificate from Land's End

One lucky Goodies for Mom reader will have a very Happy Mother's Day because we will be giving away $100 gift certificate from Land's End.

With swimwear season right around the corner, Land's End's Beach Living® suit separates are available in great cuts, styles, colors and prints. These separates include swim tops with adjustable straps that can be worn three different ways, side ties on swim skirts and bottoms that can be shortened or lengthened.

Last year Land's End sent me their popular V-neck Halter Swim Top and the Beach Living Solid Jersey SwimMini™. I actually bought the Beach Living Tummy Control Swim Shorts later on my own because although I do like the mini, the shorts are a more casual, comfortable choice for everyday wear. Can I just say that I love this suit? I am plus size mama so I HATE most suits. I love that I can mix and match the sizes so I can order the appropriate size even if I'm not a perfect match sizewise. In addition, have a two-piece suit that is not a bikini (which believe me when I tell you no one would want to see) is fabulous when you are rushing to go to the bathroom with two little ones in tow. I love not having to completely undress and redress everytime. This is an extremely high quality suit that you can get for around $100. Hmm, that brings me to our giveaway...

...This would be the perfect thing you can buy if you win the $100 gift certificate from Land's End they are offering one lucky Goodies for Mom reader.

ENTER TO WIN
To enter the giveaway, just visit Land's End and tell us what you'd buy if you win. Deadline is Monday, May 11, 2009 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win
Extra entries for:

• Linking to this contest
• Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
• Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
• Tweeting about this giveaway

Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know. Make sure to share your links with us.

[Visit Land's End now.]

Green Toys: The Perfect Earth Day Gift

Wanting to get your little one a gift in honor of Earth Day, we've got the perfect green gift for you.

Green Toys^TM was nice enough to send us a sample of one of their 2009 new arrivals. They sent us the Green Toys Dump Truck.

After I managed to work out an equitable sharing plan for the boys, they were happily taking turns playing with their favorite new toy. They were running it all over our family room once they stopped fighting over it. This is one strong toy to stand up to two active boys who were pulling it in two different directions, leaning on it, and crashing it into pretty much every chair they could find. The truck's big bed also was filled to the top with all kinds of cars, Little People, and miscellanous toys.

The truck is made of 100% recycled milk cartons and made in the USA. It has working dump bed and no metal anxles. It is a high-qualty, well constructed toy that is made to last. It also has a great texture. They come packed in recyclable corrugated boxes with none of those pesky ties and plastic casing that makes holidays and birthdays pure torture for parents.

My boys also have the Cookware and Dining Set and love that too.

Other toys include:

• Recycling Truck
• Tool Set
• Sand Play Set
• Ecosaucer
• Indoor Gardening Kit
• Jump Rope
• Tea Set

About Green Toys, Inc.
Green Toys Inc. makes a wonderful line of children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. Their goal is to help reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet.

[Check out Green Toys now.]

Giveaway/Product Review: MaraNatha Peanut Butter

One Goodies for Mom reader will win a Maranatha Nut Butter Sampler Pack (retail value=$25), courtesy of Maranatha® Nut Butters.

With Earth Day approaching, we are featuring organic and natural products over the next few weeks. Maranatha offers organic and natural nut/seed butters. Each is finely ground in small batches. They contains no trans fats, hydrogenated oils or preservatives.

We tried a jar of the natural peanut butter and it very good. You won't want to go back to those other brands once you've tried this one. You can definitely tell it is freshly ground. It is amazing that this good-tasting PB is actually low in sugar. They also offer no salt version for those watching their sodium intake. We tried the creamy version, which still has a slight crunch to it but it doesn't have the flavor smashed out of it like many smooth version do. My favorite way to eat it is on graham crackers. Yum!!

Just a quick note, which I didn't realize and left my first jar out :( It's generally best to refrigerate their nut butters. This is because they do not contain any preservatives or stabilizers.

Now if I can just find a healthy, yummy tasting, low-sugar jelly to go with this natural PB favorite.

About Maranatha® Nut Butters
Maranatha® Nut Butters was founded in 1982, by the husband and wife team of Robert and Chris Plotnik. As one of the first natural food distributors in America, the Plotniks started delivering dried fruit from the California Central Valley to small natural food stores in Oregon and Washington. Today, Maranatha is one of the nation's leading makers of organic and natural nut butters, growing about 20% to 30% annually over the last three years.

ENTER TO WIN
To enter to win the Maranatha Nut Butter Sampler Pack, just visit MaraNatha Nut Butters, and then leave us a comment telling us which nut butter you would most like to try. Deadline is Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win
Extra entries for:

1. Tell us you favorite your favorite way to eat PB.
2. Linking to this contest
3. Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
4. Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
5. Tweeting about this giveaway

Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know. Make sure to share your links with us.

[Visit MaraNatha Nut Butters now.]

Product Review: Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Getting Ready for Kindergarten is a great way for your little ones to start preparing for school. It helps teach them the skills they need to master to be ready for school.

These colorful and beautifully illustrated books help parents work with their children in an organized fashion ensuring the skills your child will need are completed by following their fun, easy activities. It is a great way for parents to spend time helping their children learn. This is also a great way to get into the happy of learning together, which will definitely help when homework starts. Moreover, my kindergartener loved the reinforcing of the same skills he was learning in school. It could also be that extra practice for a child who may be have some trouble on a particular skill as well.

Skills reviewed include letters, numbers, seasons, and more. These books will give your children a head start on a great school year.

Other books in their collection include Let's Get Ready for First Grade, and Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten (English & Spanish version). In addition, they offer two wonderful, heartfelt books to help young children faced with the death of a parent.

These Award-Winning, State-Approved books are helping parents and kids prepare for Kindergarten and First Grade like never before! They are geared for ages 2-8! Teachers at home and school love them! They are being used by over 400 school districts.

Use Coupon Code = "CEDAR" for a 20% discount.

[Visit Cedar Valley Publishing now.]

About Cedar Valley Publishing
Founder and CEO of Cedar Valley Publishing, Stacey Kannenberg is an author, publisher, consultant, spokesperson and mother. Stacey is a nationally renowned education expert and award winning author with an expertise in children’s education. She is the co-author of the award winning and state approved, Let's Get Ready series. She is a frequent presenter at Early Learning and Head Start Conferences where she holds workshops for teachers and educators entitled: Empowering Parents 101.

Product Review/Giveaway: Friends Forever Girls

One lucky Goodies for Mom reader will win a Friends Forever Girl doll of their choice, courtesy of the Friends Forever Girls Dolls store.

Friends Forever Girls represent six ethnically diverse, fun loving girls, each with her own special and unique personality. Each doll comes with her own story, and comes dressed in hip, age appropriate clothing. The dolls are brought to life through a series of books that take the reader through the challenges, and adventures of growing up as a girl.

We received Reina to review. Reina is of Hispanic heritage. Reina wants to be a veterinarian, and loves animals. She works hard in school. She really is a beautiful doll any girl would love to own. Her clothing is soft and well made with lots of details from the ruffle on her pants bottom, to her clogs, to the fringe on her shawl. This smooth, vinyl doll is a substantial 18" tall. They sell for a very reasonable $59.00 and come with their own book (introductory offer), butterfly promises bookmark, and stand. Reina also comes with her own backpack, and colorful shawl. She also comes in a beautiful box that needs no wrapping for gift giving. Additional accessories are also sold separately to add to your collection.

Coupon Code:
Goodies for Mom readers also can use coupon code: "Spring" will receive a free Girls Friends Forever T-shirt when they purchase any Friends Forever Girl doll. Expires April 20, 2009.

Enter to Win
Enter for a chance to win your daughter a Friends Forever Girl doll of their own by visiting Mom Works, then leaving us a comment here with which doll you would choose. Deadline is midnight EST on Monday, March 30, 2009. Open to Continental US Only.

More Chances to Win
Extra entries for:

1. Linking to this contest
2. Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
3. Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
4. Tweeting about this giveaway
5. Voting for the Cushie Pushie Company in the Leading Moms in Business Contest each day for extra chances to win. (It's easy with just two quick clicks, no registering required, and you can vote for us once a day for the length of this giveaway.)

Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know. Make sure to share your links with us.

[Visit the Friends Forever Girls Dolls store now.]

Brought to you by Mom Blog Marketing.

Product Review: Swami Baby Onsies and Tees

Swami Baby Boutique offers the cutest onsies for your infants and toddlers that give a voice to your little ones who are wise beyond their years.

These onsies are extremely high quality both in the cotton material and in the screen printing. They are very thick and will keep your little one warm in those cold winter months. The extra soft cotton is gentle on their delicate skin. And the snaps easily open and close (my biggest pet peeve with some onsies). But the best part is the cute little sayings on them reminding us to "just breathe, mom," that they are "constantly changing, and "so far so good." My favorite saying comes on the Think Green T-Shirts, "same shirt, different day. i recycle." Just a quick warning, the tee seems to run a little small so you'll probably want to order a size or two larger. My boys like them baggy too though. They also offer several organic versions.

About Swami Baby
As a yoga teacher and mother of three, Katie Holley began to see that kids already possess much of what adults are striving to achieve; they have the innate ability to live in the present, to take time to enjoy life, to be aware of their surroundings, and to be direct. She wanted to create a line of babywear and gifts that reflects the natural teacher, or swami, children can be if we just take the time to listen. Swami Baby not only strives to give this innate wisdom a voice, but also as a reminder to us adults to relax, enjoy ourselves, and take life one baby step at a time.

[Visit Swami Baby Boutique now or follow Katie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/swamibaby.]

Giveaway/Review: Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush Gift Bag

This giveaway is closed.
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One lucky Goodies for Mom reader will win a Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush and other high-quality dental hygiene products in a resuable canvas gift bag, courtesy of GUM® brand.

This is definitely one of our favorite new products. With February being Children’s Dental Health Month, my kindergartener has been talking about brushing his teeth and the importance of good oral hygiene. The arrival of the Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush was perfect timing. We had been trying counting to brush longer before its arrival but the colored flashing lights made brushing longer fun. It stays lite for 60 seconds.

Of course, we had to go out and get his little brother one too as soon as possible. I found myself telling the local grocery store order person about this wonderful new product she just had to order and she assured me she would look into it. In the meantime, we found one at a local department store but I'm sure we'll be getting more.

They are very reasonable priced, and available in four fun colors - red, blue, green, and yellow. Only problem we had was the boys fighting over, which color was going to be theirs. We are now the proud owners of a red and green one but they said next time they'll try the yellow and blue. LOL!

The only negative thing I found was the very narrow, tapered head. It's designed for small mouths but it does make it a little hard to put the toothpaste on without tipping over but good brushing habits are worth the minor inconvenience of holding it while putting on the paste.

I love the suction cup on the bottom since it keeps the toothbrush head off the sink which is so much more hygenic, and gives more space on the counter. Who doesn't need that?

Enter to Win
Just leave us a comment telling us what color Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush your little one would choose by midnight EST on Tuesday, February 24, 2009. Open to US Only.

More ways to win
Extra entries for (1) linking to this contest, (2) subscribing to our feed or following us with Blogger, (3)having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site or (4) Tweeting about this giveaway. Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know. Make sure to share your links with us.

[Check out great kid's stuff that encourages good dental hygiene.]

Product Review: CozyCare Capes

Who doesn't end up getting a bath when you bathe your little ones? Whether it's from splashing or cuddling them when they are wet. Some days I think I get wetter than they do. The answer to this age old problem: CozyCare Capes.

We tried one out. The boys were very intrigued by the new towel and the fact that mommy was "wearing" it. The generous size covered even my plus size figure ;). (If you are very petite this may be a little bit too much towel for you but you could always use if for yourself since it is very absorbent if that is the case.) Their exclusive waterproof panel kept me dry even when the boys tried their hardest to get me wet. After bath time was over, my toddler was very excited to get to use it himself and it nicely wrapped around him and kept him warm even during the dead of winter. Of course, my oldest made me promise as soon as I had a chance to wash it that he would get a turn to try it too. I had washed it before our first use, and it came out of the dryer looking brand new.

They come in a beautiful organza bag and would make a fantastic baby gift. They are even available for monogramming.

Other CozyCare products include:

• CozyCare Mat - unique and clever multipurpose mat with exclusive built-in waterproof panel. Great for massage, tummy time, diaper changes, and many other uses.
• CozyCare Caps - Keep your little one's head warm during and after bath.
• CozyCare Cloths - adorable and uniquely designed round wash cloth for baby.

About Spa Time Baby
As new moms, co-owners Debra Medina & Leslie Barile wanted to nurture and pamper their babies with spa inspired products. Spa Time Baby lead the way and expand the nurturing and pampering experience for babies and toddlers everywhere. They also offer skin care, massage, gift sets and bath tunes for a spa experience for your little ones.

[Visit Spa Time Baby now.]