NurtureShock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman Review & Giveaway

Thanks to the Hachette Book Group, I received a copy of NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman (ARV $24.99), that made me really think about the way I'm raising my boys.

In a world of modern, involved, caring parents, why are so many kids aggressive and cruel? Where is intelligence hidden in the brain, and why does that matter? Why do cross-racial friendships decrease in schools that are more integrated? If 98% of kids think lying is morally wrong, then why do 98% of kids lie? What's the single most important thing that helps infants learn language? NurtureShock is a groundbreaking collaboration between award-winning science journalists Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. They argue that when it comes to children, we've mistaken good intentions for good ideas. With impeccable storytelling and razor-sharp analysis, they demonstrate that many of modern society's strategies for nurturing children are in fact backfiring--because key twists in the science have been overlooked.Nothing like a parenting manual, the authors' work is an insightful exploration of themes and issues that transcend children's (and adults') lives.

NurtureShock was a very interesting read. The book discusses various topics, such as those mentioned above in the synopsis, and the research findings and examples were quite intriguing.

Since Little Music Man has been going through speech therapy for a little over a year now, the chapter that really hit close to home dealt with a baby’s speech skills. A lot of the chapter focused on the educational-type DVDs that are so popular and why such DVDs may not really be helping a baby’s speech. This chapter also mentioned what the key factors are in helping to develop your baby’s vocabulary, and gives you examples of things you can do.

Now, I don't necessarily agree or disagree with all the points and findings in this book, however, NurtureShock really opened my eyes to the possibility that things I’ve learned about and read about on raising children previously may be all wrong.

However, I do know that all babies and parents are different, and no two circumstances are exactly the same. I also know that this book doesn’t solve all problems, but it could possibly point you in the right direction and give you some insight and alternative solutions to handle situations that you may be experiencing.

We all want what’s best for our children, and it doesn’t hurt to read others’ points of view on various topics.

Whether or not you agree with the findings noted in NurtureShock, I’m sure you’ll find it an interesting read.

Shop: You can purchase NurtureShock at various book stores online and nationwide beginning September 3, 2009.

Win: Five lucky winners will each receive a copy of NurtureShock!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to N, lilyk, bridget3496, Think about it, Kim!

• To enter, comment on what you think is a common concern amongst parents when it comes to child development (excluding anything mentioned in this post).
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and NurtureShock
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is September 7, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on September 8, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US or Canada addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for the review and giveaway products.

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JumpStart Pet Rescue Review

Earlier in the year Little Music Man was introduced to JumpStart, a super fun interactive adventure that you can find online or through CD-Roms, and we were very fortunate to try out the brand new JumpStart Pet Rescue Wii game!

JumpStart Pet Rescue contains 5 Discovery worlds where Preschoolers navigate through 5 stories in a search for lost pets. Each Discovery world contains a guided story told by one of the JumpStart friends, leading children on a learning adventure through more than 70 learning lessons and activities that teach kids over 75 essential skills they need to succeed. As kids progress through the adventures, they improve their pre-reading skills, memory, creativity, motor skills, listening, and much more...Pet rescue and care are incorporated into the game storyline. Children can feed, groom, play with, and train their pets.

JumpStart Pet Rescue (ARV $39.99, rated EC for Early Childhood by the Entertainment Software Rating Board) is so much fun to play! After we dressed up Little Music Man’s avatar, he immediately started exploring. Most of the time we have to help Little Music Man move the controller and we also have to tell him when to press a button since he’s still on the younger side, but Little Music Man still enjoys playing JumpStart Pet Rescue!

One of the few activities he can currently do without much help from us is paint a picture, since all he has to do is wriggle the controller to “paint.” He always has fun seeing what the painting turns out to be!

Little Music Man’s favorite place to go is the Movie Theater. He has so much fun singing and dancing to all his favorite songs, like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. He also loves going down the water slide and visiting the library. Right now he only has one book to read, but soon he’ll earn more books and I’m sure he’ll visit there more often.

Little Music Man also has a dog named Shadow, and he learns how to take care of Shadow and teaches him to do tricks!

JumpStart Pet Rescue also offers many creative, educational games throughout the adventure for Little Music Man to play that help his memory and allow him to learn even more about letters, numbers, colors, prepositions, and more!

I know as Little Music Man gets older it’ll be easier for him to “explore” on his own without assistance from mommy and daddy, and I’m sure he’ll enjoy JumpStart Pet Rescue even more!

Just like JumpStart online and the JumpStart CD-ROMs, JumpStart Pet Rescue is fun, educational, and interactive. It’s simply amazing the kind of technology our kids have access to today!

Check out the JumpStart blog for information on how you can win 1 of 25 copies of JumpStart Pet Resuce!

Shop: You can purchase JumpStart Pet Rescue on Amazon.com, or click here for a list of retailers.

Thank you to Knowledge Adventure for providing the review product!

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The Little Lasso Review and Giveaway

Thanks to Baby Goga, LLC, I received the Little Lasso, which is a wonderful tool that helps to prevent Smiley Boy’s toys and sippy cups from falling to the ground whenever we’re at restaurants or I’m taking him out for a walk in the stroller.

Our mission is simple: to provide the best products and service to our customers at the lowest prices possible. We take great pride in our company, our commitment to customer service and in the products we sell.

I was fortunate to receive a Tropical Stripe Lasso (ARV $19.95). At first I was a little wary about how well the Lasso would stay attached to a stroller or high chair because it uses a link-type ring, and I used to use those link rings with toys and they would always fall off. However, I’ve already used the Lasso on high chairs at home and at restaurants, on high chair covers, and also on strollers, and not once has the Lasso detached or fallen off! The Lasso remains secure, and so does whatever is “lassoed.” Usually I have a toy secured by the lasso, but it also has worked great with sippy cups.

I really love how the Lasso is designed—the scrunched fabric, the big beads, and especially the fresh and modern patterns!

The Lasso is also machine washable, which is another big plus.

The Lasso has worked wonderfully each time I’ve used it so far, and I expect that it will continue to keep Smiley Boy’s toys and cups from falling to the ground, keeping them clean, and keeping us both happy.

Shop: You can purchase a Lasso on The Little Lasso website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Use code SAGENSAVVY for 15% your purchase on The Little Lasso website; no expiration date.

Win: One lucky winner will win a Lasso of choice!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Marin!

• To enter, visit The Little Lasso website and comment on which Lasso you’d like if you won.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and The Little Lasso
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  5)Become a Facebook Fan of The Little Lasso (be sure to leave your Facebook User name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is September 5, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on September 6, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Baby Goga, LLC for the review and giveaway products.

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They Might Be Giants

It's a unique concept to grasp, a CD / DVD directed towards kids that adults can enjoy, but 2009 Grammy winners, They Might Be Giants, are back with their fifth of it's kind: Here Comes Science. The Johns (Flansburgh and Linnell) are taking their catchy, educational tunes on the road, but not leaving their older fans hanging. They will be playing double header performances in many cities, offering adults a later show.

See below for full list of dates, and their video for "Electric Car."

You can also take a listen to a free MP3 of single, "I am a Paleontologist".

The 2-disc set will be available exclusively physically on Amazon and digitally on iTunes September 1, full-scale release September 22 on Idlewild/Disney Sound.

You can pre-order the set on Amazon here.

They Might Be Giants Tour Dates:

09/13: NJ @ Union County Music Fest @ Oak Ridge Park

09/19: Raleigh, NC @ North Carolina Museum of Art

10/01: Ithaca, NY @ State Theatre

10/02: Albany, NY @ Hart Theatre/The Egg

10/03: Albany, NY @ Hart Theatre/ The Egg

10/04: New York, NY @ American Museum of Natural History

10/08: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall

10/09: St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant

10/10: Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre

10/11: Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theatre

10/13: Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue

10/15: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom

10/16: Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theater

10/17: Kutztown, PA @ Kutztown University - Schaeffer Auditorium

10/18: New York, NY @ NYU - Skirball Center for the Performing Arts

11/14: Los Angeles, CA @ Royce Hall @ UCLA

11/15: Santa Barbara, CA @ Campbell Hall @ UCSB

11/21: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts

11/27: Uncasville, CT @ The Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun Casino

11/28: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

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Kameleon Jewelry Review

Thanks to Kameleon Jewelry, I have a really pretty sterling silver chain and pendant that can be easily changed to reflect my mood or complement my wardrobe!

All of us share a basic desire to express our individuality, our feelings and emotions and to stand out from the crowd.

We have captured the essence of this spirit with the launch of our new line of sterling silver interchangeable jewelry – Kameleon Jewelry -'Change is Natural'. Nature has inspired both our style and purpose to create a Jewelry Collection as unique as you are.

I was fortunate to receive a Custom Compact (ARV $20), Italian Sterling Silver Chain (ARV $15), Solid Round Pendant (ARV $19), Blue Sparkle Crystal JewelPop (ARV $25), and an African Violet JewelPop (ARV $20).

I love silver sterling jewelry, and the sterling silver chain and pendant is simple and pretty, and can be easily transformed with any of the JewelPops offered by Kameleon. The pendant already came with a Blue Sparkle Crystal JewelPop in it, but when I wanted to change it to the African Violet JewelPop, it was a cinch to change.

You just push the JewelPop underneath with your finger or the JewelCap (which comes with each design), and out it pops. To put a new JewelPop in, simply push it in, and you’ll actually hear a little pop!

The Custom Compact holds up to 14 JewelPops, and it makes a convenient carrying case. It easily fits in your purse, making it easy for you to change the JewelPop anywhere you are, anytime you want to.

Kameleon Jewelry offers a variety of pieces, including earrings, bracelets, brooches (I love the dragonfly brooch!), and even sunglasses! They also have a vast selection of JewelPops of different shades, with different designs, adorned with crystals, and more.

Kameleon Jewelry’s pretty and fashionable JewelPops and jewelry pieces make it simple to change your accessories to suit your style, your mood, and your wardrobe. With the versatility of the pieces, you can customize your jewelry as often as you wish!

Shop: To purchase Kameleon Jewelry and JewelPops, visit the Kameleon Jewelry website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Thank you to Kameleon Jewelry for the review products.

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Sonny & Reed Review

Thanks to Sonny & Reed, I have a cool necklace that’s also a wonderful teether!

Sonny was born in 2005. As he began teething, his mother noticed him constantly pulling on her necklaces and putting them in his mouth. She mentioned to several of her friends that she wished she had an attractive necklace that was safe for Sonny to teethe on. Reed was born in 2006. His mother soon began to observe the same pulling and teething on her necklaces. She was as concerned over the safety of it. Reed’s mother remembered hearing Sonny’s mother mention her desire for a safe teething necklace that complemented her style from day to night. Together Sonny & Reed’s moms decided to make such a necklace to suit their sense style and be safe for their children to teeth on. It took some time to design and find the right place in the USA to make Sonny & Reed necklaces. Sonny and Reed necklaces are made from FDA approved material. The necklaces conform to Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 16 CFR 1500. Most importantly, Sonny & Reed’s necklaces are safe for Sonny & Reed’s precious little brothers: Asher & Parker. Fashionably worn by moms, safe for babies.

I was fortunate to receive the Black 26” Nubbed Necklace with Clear Logo Bead (ARV $29.50).

As a teether, Smiley Boy loves it! It’s smooth on one side of each bead, and on the other there are a whole bunch of teething nubs. Smiley Boy loves pulling and teething on this necklace, which is so much better than when he used to constantly pull and “chew” on my hair and clothes. The necklace has also survived some pretty good yanks by Smiley Boy.

The Sonny & Reed teething necklace is simply convenient—I don’t need to go searching in a diaper bag for a teether, and Smiley Boy has easy access to the teether whenever I’m carrying him!

As a necklace, I love it! Since it’s black, it can pretty much complement any color I’m wearing, and even any style—whether I’m dressing up or dressing casually, the necklace can really go from day to night! And it simply looks like a cool accessory—I bet many people don’t even know it’s a teether unless they see Smiley Boy teething on it!

What I especially like about the Sonny & Reed necklace is that it actually looks similar to a Black Kukui Nut lei, which is popular in Hawaii.

For a teething necklace that is safe, practical, and able to complement any wardrobe, check out Sonny & Reed!

Shop: To purchase teething necklaces, visit the Sonny & Reed website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Use code Savvy10 for 10% off of your order; expires Sept. 30, 2009.

Thank you to Sonny & Reed for the review product.

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Emily Osment Giveaway

Emily Osment, a star on the hit Disney Series Hannah Montana, recently released the single All The Way Up, and the video just premiered on Yahoo! Music!

All The Way Up is such a catchy song, and watching Emily rock out on the cool new video made me want to sing and dance along!

Shop: You can purchase a download of All The Way Up on iTunes.

Win: One lucky winner will win an Emily Osment autographed photo, along with a t-shirt and tote bag from the Emily Osment online store (ARV $50).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Gianna!

• To enter, simply comment on what you like the most about All The Way Up video, song, or about Emily Osment herself.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Emily Osment
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is September 2, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on September 3, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Wind-up Records for the giveaway products.

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HipGreenDeals.com

Thanks to Green and Clean Mom, I found out about a great new daily deal website that features eco-friendly accessories—HipGreenDeals.com!

HipGreenDeals.com is here to help you accessorize your green lifestyle by offering eco-friendly products for 40% to 80% off retail price.

Every day at 6:00 am MST we will offer an incredible deal from some of the leading brands in green products. At that point it is up to you to take advantage of the deal before it is gone. Once it sells out, it’s gone! You’ll have to check back in the following day for a new deal.

HipGreenDeals.com has teamed up with some of the most popular brands in the eco-fashion industry, such as The Andean Collection, BYOB, and Moonrise Jewelry, to offer you eco-friendly accessories at awesome prices!

“In this economy you have to stand out both in your work and your appearance. As a new mom I found myself wearing the same black dress all too often in order to dress conservatively and hide the baby weight. I needed to freshen up my wardrobe but I wanted to be environmentally and socially responsible just as I was teaching my son to be. I chose to purchase a few key accessories rather than spending the money on new clothes.” said Christine Altavilla, founder of HipGreenDeals.com. “Because eco-friendly jewelry is handmade, I tend to get many compliments and questions about where I make my purchases. I created HipGreenDeals.com to make eco-friendly shopping easy, fun and affordable for women like myself.”

Not only can you find eco-friendly jewelry on HipGreenDeals.com, but you can also find practical, reusable bags and other accessories that you could incorporate into your lifestyle, no matter what shade of green you are!

Make sure to sign up for the daily alert so you don’t miss out on any of the Hip Green Deals!

This post is part of a Green and Clean Mom Blog Tour.

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Dick's Sporting Goods Giveaway

Whenever we’d go to California, we’d often end up at a Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the most popular sporting goods stores in the nation.

The year was 1948. Eighteen-year-old Dick Stack was an energetic salesman at a small Army and Navy store in Binghamton, New York. One day, the store owner asked Dick, an avid fisherman, if it would be a good idea to sell fishing gear in his shop. Dick offered to develop a plan.

After working tirelessly on a business plan over a succession of sleepless nights, Dick nervously approached the owner with his vision. The response was stinging. Dumbfounded, Dick was told that he didn’t know what he was doing and “would never make a good merchant.”

That evening, frustrated and dejected, Dick retreated to his grandmother’s home. She listened quietly as he recounted his story. When he had finished, she rose silently and went to the kitchen. Removing the lid from her cookie jar, she extracted $300 of her hard-earned savings and pressed the bills into Dick’s hand.“ Dick, always follow your dreams,” she advised.

With his grandmother’s $300, Dick opened a modest bait and tackle shop in Binghamton. By 1958, at the urging of his loyal customers, he expanded his product line to include much of what you’ll find at Dick’s Sporting Goods today.

Dick’s Sporting Goods offers a huge selection of items for all types of sports enthusiasts.

Whenever we’d go to Dick’s Sporting Goods, DH would look for golf items. Most of the time he’d literally just look (since he’d often look at drivers), but sometimes he did come out with some great golf shirts and other golf accessories.

If you’re on Twitter, Dick's Sporting Goods is currently giving away a $100 gift card each day for 50 days in a cool and easy Twitter promotion! Click here for the details.

No matter what sport you’re into--fishing, golf, skiing, BMX biking, football, archery…Dick’s Sporting Goods is the one stop shop for all things sports!

Shop: You can shop online at DicksSportingGoods.com, or to find a Dick’s Sporting Goods near you, click here.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a $100 Gift Card to Dick’s Sporting Goods!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to GStix!

• To enter, follow @dickssportcmo on Twitter AND leave a comment on this post with an answer to the question "What would you buy at Dick's with $100 and why? (be sure to leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Dick’s Sporting Goods
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is August 31, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on September 1, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Thank you to Dick’s Sporting Goods for the giveaway product.

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Lala Travels Review

Thanks to the Family Review Network, I downloaded two Lala Travels apps (works on both the iPhone or iPod touch) for Little Music Man to enjoy!

Little Lala by Lauren Selig, illustrated by Patty Makatura, and narrated by Flora McGill (ARV $.99): Little Lala is a delightful children’s book that toddlers and adults of all ages will enjoy. Grab your passport and join Litlle Lala, a curious and adventurous girl, as she takes a trip around the world searching for delectable dishes for a magnificent party for her friends.

Little Lala’s ABC’s by Lauren Selig, illustrated by Patty Makatura, and narrated by Flora McGill (ARV $.99): Lala’s ABC’s is a beautiful, easy-to-use alphabet flashcard app that helps toddlers learn to read. Each card features a letter of the alphabet in uppercase and lowercase, an adorable drawing of an animal whose name starts with that letter, and the word for the given animal.

Little Music Man enjoyed both applications, but of the two applications, Little Music Man’s favorite was Little Lala’s ABC’s. He really had fun going through all of the flashcards, identifying the animals and the letters on each card. The timing of the flashcards is just right, and we could pause it if we wanted to, or immediately move on to the next card. There’s also an option to shuffle the cards, which keeps Little Music Man really attentive as he has no idea what letter is going to pop up next!

Little Lala (or "Little Lalalalalala" as Little Music Man calls it) is a cute story, but I think it's one that he'll enjoy more when he's older (he simply kept wanting to go back to Little Lala’s ABC’s!).

I personally thought Little Lala was a fun and imaginative story, as it told of Little Lala's adventures in traveling and eating around the world. However, I did think the font was a little too small. I think Little Music Man will have a hard time reading the words (once he’s able to read), so fortunately the book is narrated (or I can simply read it to him).

The Little Lala and Little Lala’s ABC’s are great ways to keep your little ones occupied while learning about the alphabet and animals, and places and foods from around the world!

Shop: You can purchase Little Lala and Little Lala’s ABC’s at the iTunes App Store.

Thank you to Little Lala for the review products.

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Solana Swaddle Wrap Review

There are many benefits to swaddling, and swaddling always helped both my boys sleep. However, they would quickly outgrow their swaddle wraps, and I could never find a blanket that was large enough while not being too thick at the same time to continue swaddling them in. I never would have had that problem if I had a Solana Swaddle Wrap from the very beginning!

The Solana Swaddle Wrap is the vision of 2 long-time friends, Theresa Marcum and Sunny Willmington-Wight. With 2 children each, they encountered the same issues as every mom - the need to calm and soothe their babies. And although swaddling was clearly a perfect solution for this issue, they could not find blankets breathable enough for swaddling in the Arizona heat, or big enough to continue swaddling past the first few weeks. Starting with some hand-hemmed over sized squares of lightweight crinkle cotton (which became into the Original Solana Swaddle Wrap), Theresa and Sunny found they could easily swaddle their babies until they weighed about 20 lbs, while the lightweight fabric helped protect their little ones in the Arizona heat.

I was fortunate to receive a Green with White Trim Original Solana Swaddle Wrap (ARV $19.99). The swaddle wrap is nice and large (45”x45”), making it easy for me to swaddle Smiley Boy. Because the Solana Swaddle Wrap is light and breathable, I don’t have to worry if Smiley Boy is getting too hot like I would with some of the other blankets we used to use, especially in the unbearable heat and humidity that we’ve been experiencing lately.

Having a swaddle wrap, such as one from Solana Baby Wear, that could be used from the time your baby is born up until 12 months old (depending on your baby’s weight) and that would feel comfortable throughout the year is practical and convenient.

Once Smiley Boy is past the weight limit for the Swaddle Wrap, I’ll still be using it, but as a blanket or a stroller cover when we go out for walks to help give him some shade. I often lay the Swaddle Wrap on the ground so Smiley Boy can lie or sit on and play. I could even use the Swaddle Wrap as a nursing cover or a car seat cover!

Solana Baby Wear offers many other pretty colors and designs of their Swaddle Wraps, and they offer organic options too!

For a pretty and versatile swaddle wrap that you can use for many, many months, you definitely should check out Solana Baby Wear!

Shop: You can purchase beautiful baby wraps on the Solana Baby Wear website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Thank you to Solana Baby Wear for the review product.

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PakNak Giveaway

Last year I posted about PakNaks, a cute, colorful, and easy way to personalize backpacks, lunch totes, notebooks, and more!

Use PakNaks® to transform plain backpacks, bags and all of your stuff into personalized, ever-changing, colorful works of art. PakNak® charms are interchangeable, weather resistant and quickly and easily stuck to all of your stuff. Leave pins, patches, stickers and clip on charms behind with our super strong Velcro® that makes changing your look as easy as changing your Nak.

The PakNaks are easy to apply and switching to another Nak is just as easy. You can change it whenever the mood strikes!

With so many creative and colorful designs to choose from, you and your child should have no difficulty finding the perfect Nak. What’s even better--each Nak comes with its own trading card, and you can also download the Nak’s coloring book for free.

PakNaks are the perfect accessory to decorate a variety items—you’re only limited to your imagination!

Shop: To purchase PakNaks, visit the PakNak website, or click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Get 20% off your purchase using code PAK20; expires 9/15/09.

Win: Four lucky winners will each receive 3 PakNaks (Total ARV $12.00)!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to mgster, dddiva, Meg Hitt, Helen!

• To enter, visit PakNak and comment on which 3 PakNaks you’d choose if you won.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and PakNak
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is August 29, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on August 30, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!
  

Thank you to PakNak for the giveaway products!

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Brain Child Press Review

Thanks to Brain Child Press, Little Music Man has a really fun game and some books which make learning all about vegetables a lot of fun!

A Very Purple Pepper: Colors to Know so You Can Grow by Peggy Sissel-Phelan (ARV $5.99): Every child needs to learn the basics - colors, numbers, letters, shapes. Why not add nutrition education to the lesson by teaching colors using the wonderful world of vegetables. With this easy-to-read picture book children will not only develop color sense, but also learn basic info about why vegetables are important in their diet, how the color of vegetables can help them, and why eating a variety of vegetables is important. The book highlights 47 different vegetables by color and name, with a total of 54 vegetables being pictured. Can you find them all?

Little Music Man loved identifying all the different colors as well as the vegetables he knew. He also learned about new vegetables that he’s never seen or eaten before, such as purple pole beans, brown yucca, and green okra. The photos in this book are so sharp and vivid. There was one close-up photo of a girl eating corn on the cob, and Little Music Man kept putting that page up to his face, pretending to eat the corn too!

A Visit to the Farmers’ Market by Peggy Sissel-Phelan (ARV $5.99): This easy-to-read picture book about the benefits of shopping at the Farmers’ Market stresses the importance of variety, color, and freshness of foods. With so much to see and taste, “A Visit to the Farmer’s Market” is healthy and fun for all ages!

We took Little Music Man to the Farmers’ Market a couple times before, but the ones we’ve been to definitely didn’t have the abundance of brightly colored fruits and vegetables that were depicted in this book. In this book Little Music Man once again had fun identifying colors and the foods he knew, or thought he knew—he kept saying the yellow squash were “badadas” (bananas). The next time we go to a farmers market I’m sure Little Music Man will have a lot more fun thanks to this book!

We were also fortunate to receive the Vegetables Match Up Card Game (ARV $9.95). There are 20 different vegetables to match up, but right now we only do 10 cards (5 matches) at a time. He has fun trying to match what he can, and he also enjoys pointing out the different letters on each card.

The books and matching card game from Brain Child Press really appealed to Little Music Man—the bright and clear photos of the produce really engaged him and made learning all about vegetables fun!

Shop: To purchase Brain Child Press books and games, visit the Brain Child Online Shopping Website.

Thank you to Brain Child Press for the review products.

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Sid the Science Kid and Dive Olly Dive! DVDs Review and Giveaway

We were fortunate to recently receive some great NCircle Entertainment DVDs that Little Music Man had a blast watching!

Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens (ARV $12.99)

Sid the Science Kid wants to know why things have to change. Why does his yellow banana turn brown? How come his shoes are shrinking? What made his ice pop melt and just how does Grandma know how to make a pancake that is not too squishy or burnt? Sid and his friends work together to discover the effects of time, temperature and the environment with the help of some revealing experiments and songs.

Episodes include:
My Mushy Banana
My Shrinking Shoes
My Ice Pops
The Perfect Pancake

Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club (ARV $12.99):

When Sid the Science Kid hears dogs barking in his neighborhood, he wonders if they’re talking to him. At school, Sid discovers that animals do communicate in lots of different ways, by using body language, making sounds, and barking! Woof! It’s the latest question in a long list of questions that Sid finds himself wondering about. For example, what makes dirt so dirty? Why do bees live in hives and ants live in anthills? Do leaves actually do anything? Come explore backyard science with Sid in these super duper episodes that feature bugs, nature, animals and more!

Episodes include:
Hello Doggie
Home Tweet Home
The Dirt on Dirt
Don’t Forget the Leaves

Sid the Science Kid is one of Little Music Man’s favorite shows—and mine too! We both love the singing and dancing, the cool discoveries, and the fun characters. I personally think the song Sid sings when his mom takes him to school is really cute!

Little Music Man really enjoyed Change Happens, especially because it featured two of his favorite foods—bananas and pancakes! What was really neat was that The Perfect Pancake episode featured how to make applesauce, which just happened to be what Little Music Man did in school earlier the day we watched the DVD!

Little Music Man also enjoyed The Bug Club. He loved seeing all the “ogs” (dogs), and The Dirt on Dirt episode was cute, simply because this episode explained how dirt is also called “soil,” and Little Music Man thought “soil” sounded like “cereal,” so he kept saying “cereal” and signing the word cereal.

Dive Olly Dive!: Ship Shape Sub (ARV $12.99)

First, Olly, Beth and Skid ignore a warning from Diver Doug when they decide to stay overnight on a “haunted” shipwreck The friends soon learn that the spooky ship might not be haunted, but it’s still dangerous! In another adventure, Suzy the Sea Plane doesn’t listen to Ranger the Cowboy Seahorse because of his small size. But when Suzy becomes tangled in the Kelp Forest, she learns good things come in small packages!

Episodes include:
Haunted Ship Prank
Less is More
Navigation Consternation
Follow that Lobster
Don’t Tell Beth

Little Music Man watched an episode of Dive Olly Dive! only once before, so we were excited to be able to watch more episodes!

Each episode was full of cool underwater adventures and Little Music Man learned a lot of great lessons, such as how you shouldn’t judge someone by the way he or she looks, the importance of honesty, and the value of friendship.

What I like the most about Dive Olly Dive! is that although the characters make mistakes, they learn and grown from them, which is what Little Music Man will eventually realize as he grows older--that it's okay to make mistakes as long as we learn from them!

The Sid the Science Kid and Dive Olly Dive! DVDs were so much fun to watch, and I know we’ll be watching it again and again, and each time we do Little Music Man will make even more discoveries and learn more important lessons.

Shop: You can purchase the Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens, Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club, and Dive Olly Dive!: Ship Shape Sub DVDs on the NCircle Entertainment website, or at various other retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will win Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens, Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club, and Dive Olly Dive!: Ship Shape Sub DVDs!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to kngmckellar!

• To enter, comment on what about Sid the Science Kid and/or Dive Olly Dive! you or your kids love.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Sid the Science Kid and Dive Olly Dive!
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is August 27, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on August 28, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to all policies related to this giveaway.
  Good luck!
  

Thank you to NCircle Entertainment for the review and giveaway products.

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Perseverance: True Voices of Cancer by Carolyn Rubenstein Review

I previously mentioned how my FIL was recently diagnosed with cancer, which is one of the reasons why I was very interested in reading Perseverance: True Voices of Cancer Survivors by Carolyn Rubenstein (ARV $24.99, Forge Books).

Can you imagine being in high school or college and suddenly learning you have cancer? You thought you had a lifetime ahead of you and the whole world at your feet, but suddenly you're told... maybe not. How would you cope? That's the question the twenty young people in this book had to answer when they were diagnosed with childhood cancer. Perseverance tells of their trials and tribulations, of their triumphs, and of the unique challenges that day-to-day college life brings them. Perseverance also provides an intimate look at the lives and journeys of these young people and how their courage and strength have affected the lives of others.These honest, first-person accounts lend amazing depth to the inspiring stories of these young men and women...Twenty unique and fascinating stories, with one common theme: perseverance. The stories of these heroes demonstrate how anyone can learn to live with energy and passion, regardless of the obstacles to be faced, and will remind us all that now is everything.

Although Perseverance focused on children and young adults who were diagnosed with cancer, their stories of perseverance and the overall message in this book will resonate with everyone, young or old.

I went through a wide range of emotions reading this book, and I cried both sad and happy tears. Sad tears were shed because of what these individuals endured (the countless surgeries, the chemotherapy), what their families went through, and how they told of others they knew who had lost their battles with cancer. Happy tears were shed because of their strength, their outlook on life ("I refuse to let cancer dominate"), and their accomplishments.

The stories throughout the book discusses each person’s individual battle with cancer. People describe how they discovered they had cancer, how they felt once they were diagnosed, how they treated it and continue to treat it, how life changed because of it, and what the future holds for them.

Ultimately, the book tells of how each person persevered, and the lessons they learned throughout their battles with cancer. Whether it was through educating themselves, asking for help, or never giving up hope, everyone learned how to live.

And that is one of the main points of Perseverance--to live. Perseverance is book that will really touch your heart, and although it may sound so cliché, it will really make you realize how wonderful life is and to not take each day for granted. This book and those who shared their stories within it offers life lessons that remind you that no matter what obstacles you encounter in life, big or small, you should never stop living your life to its fullest.

Shop: You can purchase Perseverance on the Macmillan website, or at various other retailers online and nationwide.

Special Note: Now through Aug. 21, Carolyn Rubenstein, the author of Perseverance, has a cool Twitter giveaway going on. She'll be giving away a Kindle to one winner each day! Click here for complete contest rules and details.

Thank you to Macmillan for the review product.

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ClearEars Review

I always love finding innovative products, and if they are eco-friendly in any way, all the better, which is why I was really eager to try out ClearEars.

Water trapped in the ears after swimming or bathing can be very uncomfortable and may lead to ear problems such as Swimmer’s Ears. The revolutionary, patent pending product, ClearEars, is a soft, comfortable earplug containing a FDA approved polymer which draws water from the ears.

• Works fast in only 5- 10 minutes.
• Safe for kids and adults.
• More convenient than ear drops providing on the spot relief.
• Earth friendly as ClearEars can be reused to help plants retain water. See package for details.
• Alcohol free, dries and relieves.

I was fortunate to receive a 5 pack of ClearEars (ARV $5.99). I tried them after a bath, as I constantly get water trapped in my ear. Usually I just shake and tilt my head until the water comes out and my ears feel emptied, but using the ClearEars is so much easier and convenient!

It’s very easy to squish the ClearEars to fit into my ears. I used it only in one ear first, and after only a few minutes I could really tell a difference—the water seemed to have been all soaked up, whereas the other ear in which I didn’t put the ClearEars still felt wet and full of water.

I also made sure DH tried it, because after he bathes he does one of the biggest no-nos—he uses a cotton swab to dry out his ears! No matter how much I tell him not to do this, no matter how the box also says not to do this, and despite a previous incident in which the cotton got stuck in his ear once, he still uses cotton swabs, so I had him try ClearEars to prove that there is a better, safer way to get the water out.

He said the ClearEars worked “okay,” but he didn't feel like it got all of the water out. I personally think he’s just so used to using the cotton swabs, but I'll definitely have him try ClearEars again until he stops using the cottong swabs!

The ClearEars are great for kids too. I had no problems fitting the earplugs in Little Music Man's ears, but because he's simply not used to having earplugs in his ear, he took it out after just a few seconds. However, I'm sure older kids won't mind leaving the earplugs in for a few minutes.

Although ClearEars can only be used once, you can re-purpose them by reusing them to help plants retain water! Just cut them up and add them to your potted plants!

If you or anyone you know has ever suffered from Swimmer’s Ear or if you have problems with water getting trapped in your ears after swimming or bathing, try ClearEars!

Shop: You can purchase ClearEars on the Cirrus Healthcare Products website, or at various other retailers online and nationwide.

Thank you to Cirrus Healthcare Products for the review product.

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Wanchai Ferry Review and Giveaway

Whenever we order or pick up Chinese food, I always make sure orange chicken is one of the entrees. Thanks to My Blog Spark, I was recently able to try Wanchai Ferry’s Orange Chicken and I was quite impressed with how easy it was to prepare and how delicious it turned out!

In 1972, Madame Chong left her home in Central East China for a new life in the bustling city of Hong Kong. To support her two young daughters, Madame Chong began making dumplings from an old family recipe and selling them from a cart in Wanchai. Although her dumplings attracted many fans, Madame Chong was not satisfied. She listened to her customers carefully and revised her recipes until they were perfect in every detail. Word soon spread across the city and her dumplings became the talk of the town. The Hong Kong press even named Madame Chong the city's "Dumpling Queen." In 1985, Madame Chong established the Wanchai Ferry® Peking Dumpling Company to make her creations more widely available. Since that time, Wanchai Ferry has become a leading brand not only in Hong Kong but the world over.

I was fortunate to receive a sample of Wanchai Ferry’s Orange Chicken (ARV $8.90), and in less than 14 minutes, I had a very delicious meal that was quite comparable to any Chinese take-out, yet a lot healthier, since it wasn’t as greasy and contains no MSG.

I’ve tried other frozen orange chicken entrees before, but Wanchai Ferry’s Orange Chicken was by far the tastiest, and the fact that it comes complete with vegetables and rice made it even better.

I did wish there was an option to microwave the entire meal to make it even easier to prepare, but I’m sure it tastes better when it’s cooked over the stove according to the directions.

Wanchai Ferry could easily satisfy you’re craving for Chinese food. In less time than it takes for you to pick up the phone, place your order, and get your food delivered, you could have a delicious and inexpensive Chinese meal for two thanks to Wanchai Ferry.

Shop: To purchase Wanchai Ferry products, click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Visit Wanchai Ferry to get a $1.50 coupon.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a “Stay-at-Home” Prize Pack (ARV $25.00) consisting of two Wanchai Ferry coupons, as well as some great Asian inspired rice bowls, chopsticks and bamboo placemats.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to jceko77!

• To enter, comment on your favorite Chinese dish.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Wanchai Ferry’s
  2)Subscribe to my feed
  3)Add my button to your sidebar
  4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is August 24, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on August 25, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  Good luck!
  

Thank General Mills for the review and giveaway product.

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Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend Review

I’ve mentioned before how much I love Mexican food, and thanks to Mom Central, I was able to try the Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend (ARV $2.99) that really gives food some nice Mexican flavor!

Mrs. Dash® Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend: Create healthy Mexican meals that are salt free and full of flavor. Take your taste buds south of the border and turn up the flavor in all your dishes, from chicken to tacos. Make any meal into a party and let the Mexican flavors of Mrs. Dash® Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend dance their way into your meat, fish or vegetable dishes.

Since our family made plans at the last minute to go to a relative’s house for dinner, I had to think of something quick and easy to make. I didn’ t have time to go to the store, so I thought I’d make a simple dip. I took a block of softened cream cheese, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, and threw in some Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend (I didn’t measure how much seasoning I added—I just kept tasting it and added more tablespoonfuls until I liked the flavor), and I garnished it with some scallions.

It smelled really good, and all of the seasonings really gave it an extra zesty kick!

I also ended up using some of this “dip” as a spread. I spread it on some flour tortillas, added some shredded chicken—and I had a quick and easy appetizer!

It’s hard to believe that something so flavorful is simply an all-natural blend of herbs and spices. I love that it’s salt and MSG free too! This is really important to me, because ever since I became a mom, I really try to get our family to eat healthier. I try to incorporate a lot more vegetables into each meal, and I always try to give Little Music Man healthy snacks, such as fruits. I also try to watch our entire family’s sodium intake (it’s surprising how much sodium is in pasta sauces, soups, etc.), but thanks to Mrs. Dash seasonings, I’m able to make delicious, healthy meals for the entire family, and I can’t wait to use the Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend in other recipes featured on the Mrs. Dash website!

Shop: You can purchase Mrs. Dash products at various grocers nationwide.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central on behalf of Mrs. Dash and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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Alaskan Newcomer Kate Earl’s “Melody” Named Single of the Week by iTunes for August 18th

The path to global musical notoriety from the frozen confines of a place called Chugiak, Alaska just got a little easier, thanks to the rapturous new song “Melody,” by newcomer Kate Earl. iTunes will feature the jubilant new hit from the Alaskan native as their Single Of The Week on Tuesday, August 18th. Earl’s debut full-length Universal Republic/Casablanca Music release, Kate Earl, will be made available digitally to online platforms the same day.

iTunes, the world’s leading music vendor, will make the single available for free all week, as well as providing an informative mini-snapshot of the singer for fans just getting to know the intriguing Earl. The digital meet-n-greet is all part of their Single Of The Week apps, which has become one of the most coveted slots in music, particularly for breaking artists.

And Earl is poised to ‘break’ soon. Signed to Tommy Mottola’s Casablanca Music, she is already drawing comparisons to an impressive array of female artists such as Feist and the legendary Rikki Lee Jones. The nimble “Melody” epitomizes the singer’s deft high-wire act as she displays sultry confidence and an enticing vulnerability in both musical range and narrative. Critics and influential online blogs have also taken notice, with PopMatters heralding the talented artist by proclaiming: ‘Earl can be something special.’

Born in Anchorage Alaska, she moved to Los Angeles after years of dreaming of a music career while helping out in her parents’ gas station in the barren outlands of a town twenty miles north of Anchorage called Chugiak. The apt translation of the former military homestead is a ‘place of many places,’ and Earl has written about how all roads leading to her unbelievable musical journey began there: ‘I’d ring a customer and dream…Stock the shelves – dream…plow the snow….dream.”

Now, armed with a “Melody” that is spreading like wildfire online and on radio, the charismatic singer is about to turn all those dreams into reality.

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Baby Brain Review

After I gave birth to Little Music Man, the pediatrician recommended how long I should feed on each side. So, I started a notebook to record feedings, as well as dirty diapers. However, I often forgot to write things down, or if I did write them down, I would misplace the notebook I wrote in, so I’d end up having several notebooks. With Smiley Boy, logging information is so much easier thanks to Baby Brain (ARV $4.99)!

Maternia is a family business that creates products to simplify life after baby. Our first product is Baby Brain - the ultimate iPhone app for parents. Established in 2009 by Jackie and Jay Ashton, Maternia was inspired by Marina (born July '07) and Taylor Ashton (born November '08) - our two little ones under two. When Marina was born, I was so nervous about making sure I did everything right, but I couldn't remember a thing. Was it the right side or the left? I was worried about whether or not she was eating enough, and I was desperate to find her best sleep times so that I could get more rest. So, I started tracking everything on paper, and stored it in a bulky binder. The logs reassured me that my daughter was eating well, and helped me to see her sleep patterns. It was very helpful, but I thought...there has to be a better way. Sixteen months later, Taylor came along and I got out those logs again to remember what the heck I did with the first baby. I was once again sleep deprived and I found myself jotting things down on unopened mail, receipts, or the back of my hand. We developed Baby Brain to give parents just what they need - a simple tool for tracking your baby's meals and sleep - so you can relax and get more rest.

Baby Brain's features include:
- Easily track feedings, diapers, and sleep.
- Tracks both breastfeeding and bottles.
- Easy to use! Log feedings, diapers, sleep with just a tap.
- At a glance see when your baby was last fed, and on which side!
- Easily view logs from prior days, weeks and even months.
- Email reports to spouses, doctors, and nannies/sitters.
- Track as many babies as you like.
- A Breastfeeding Timer that runs while you check email or the web!

Baby Brain is such a great idea, especially since I’m sure many moms find themselves in the same situation as Jackie and I did.

First you add your baby’s information—name, birthdate, and gender. Then you add information about bottles, nursing, diapers, and sleep. You can even add helpful notes within each category. For instance, you may want to note if your baby's poo was a certain color, or if your baby spit up while feeding.

Initially I used the Baby Brain to record feedings. The Breastfeeding Timer is very handy. Before, I’d look at my watch or the nearest clock to mentally note the time I started nursing, but there were many times I’d forget the start time!

Since Smiley Boy now feeds more regularly, I have been using Baby Brain to monitor his diapers, since sometimes he goes a day or two without making any poo.

The feature I like best is how I can email reports to DH if he’s the one who’s taking Smiley Boy to his well-baby visit. The first time he took Smiley Boy to a well-baby visit, he had no idea what to tell the pediatrician when he asked “How long is he drinking and how often?”

Baby Brain is a handy app that all moms can appreciate. It helps you keep track of your baby’s progress in a convenient manner, which helps to keep you organized (and sane) at the same time!

Shop: You can purchase the Baby Brain on the iTunes App Store.

Thank you to Maternia for the review product.

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Hallmark Review

Receiving a special card from someone always brings a smile to my face, and thanks to the Family Review Network, I received some samples of Hallmark’s new Edge of Motherhood and Moms Encouraging Kids lines, which not only made me smile, but made me laugh out loud too!

Edge of Motherhood:
“Motherhood is sometimes raw, always authentic and frankly funny,” said Tina Neidlein, a writer who helped develop one of Hallmark’s new encouragement lines just for moms, called Edge of Motherhood. “Moms told us that they want to be able to connect with other moms around the experiences that only they can truly appreciate. That’s why we’re excited to share these new cards – to help moms address that need.”

Moms Encouraging Kids (Moms Encouraging Moms also available):
“Whether you know a new mom who is trying to get the hang of things, or a kid who needs a little help releasing the back-to-school butterflies, giving a card to someone to brighten their day is the biggest little thing you can do for them,” said Neidlein. “Don’t wait until a holiday or birthday to tell someone that you care about them. Lift someone up when they’re least expecting it.” The cards from the Edge of Motherhood and Moms Encouraging Kids series (ARV $.99-$2.99 each) are so funny and so cute! I know any mom or child who receives the cards would love them.

The Edge of Motherhood cards are perfect for any mom—it doesn’t matter if she’s a SAHM, works outside of home, or has one or multiple children. All moms will be able to relate to these cards, which describe real-life experiences that only moms could understand and appreciate.

My favorite Edge of Motherhood card says "Wow, a whole three hours of sleep! I feel like a new woman!" Inside: "It'll get better, I promise."

Right now I can totally relate to that card since Smiley Boy still wakes up several times a night. If I can sleep for two hours straight during the night without him waking up, that is a major accomplishment!

The Moms Encouraging Kids cards are really sweet. You don’t need a special occasion to give your child one of these cards. In fact, it’ll be even more special when you give one of these cards “just because.”

I think the Moms Encouraging Kids card that states “This little card isn’t meant to embarrass you…” Inside: “too much,” with a sound clip that keeps saying “Hi honey” “Guess who loves you,” and other funny, loving statements, is so cute! I’ll be saving that one up to give to Little Music Man or Smiley Boy one day.

I think all moms will appreciate these new cards from Hallmark. These cards say what many of us feel, do, and think, and they are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face!

Shop: You can purchase Edge of Motherhood and Moms Encouraging Kids/Moms cards on Hallmark.com, or at select Hallmark Gold Crown stores and retailers where Hallmark cards are sold (the full collection is sold only in stores).

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program for Hallmark, who supplied the cards for review.

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