Friday, April 30, 2010

Readeo Giveaway

Technology has created numerous ways for us to keep in touch with family and friends, and I recently found out about Readeo--a product that helps to enable relatives near and far to connect and bond with little ones during storytime!

Readeo was founded in 2009 by CEO Coby Neuenschwander while living in Chicago with his son Oliver. Because of the distance between Oliver and his grandparents, they were having trouble establishing a meaningful relationship. Visits only happened a couple of times per year, phone calls were inadequate, and video chat alone didn’t hold Oliver’s attention. Reading together became the vehicle for establishing and strengthening the relationship between grandparent and grandchild.

Today, Readeo is a patent-pending product that combines the best children’s books with high-quality video chat to create a shared reading experience called BookChatTM where people can see, hear, read and interact with grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and others—just as you would if you were in the same room. Readeo allows families to connect and interact in a meaningful way—even when they may be far apart.

Extremely user-friendly, Readeo is packed with useful features including:
· Face-to-face story time from anywhere in the world
· Award-winning and popular titles hand-picked for the site by Readeo’s editor
· Personalized “bookshelves”
· A library that is searchable by age, gender and subject matter
· A Book of the Month that is free to all users

I think Readeo would be wonderful for not only those who have relatives that live in other states or countries, but also for those who have a parent who is deployed or travels a lot on business, or even perhaps one that works odd hours and can't be home during the day when the child is awake or for bedtime stories.

To see how Readeo works and the technical requirements, you can visit their website to watch a helpful video and get more information.

There are a lot of great books offered in Readeo's Library, including many by some of my boys' favorite authors, such as Leslie Patricelli. I'm sure Readeo members would be able to easily find books their own children will love!

Membership is $9.95/month or $99.95/year, and you can even sign up for a 14-day free trial. For a limited time (through Mother's Day), you can get a special 1-year gift subscription for Mother's Day for only $49.95!

Readeo is a neat way to keep in touch and to create a unique and special story-telling experience that would bring smiles to everyone who uses it!

Win: Five lucky winners will each receive a one-year subscription to Readeo (ARV $99.95).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Sarah B, Gianna, ColleenMarie82!

To enter, visit Readeo and comment on your favorite feature/why you'd like to win!
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 Readeo (leave the link in your comment)
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)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
6)Visit the Readeo Library and comment on which book your child/grandchild would be most eager to read with a loved one.
7)Follow Readeo on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
8)Like/Fan Readeo on Facebook (leave your Facebook user name in your comment).
The deadline for entries is May 7, 2010, 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 May 8, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
Valid for all addresses.
By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to Readeo for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Sniffle Solutions: Going to the Doctor

Sniffle Solutions: Expert Q+A

My kids hate going to the doctor and always melt down into a tantrum. Is there anything I can do to make it tolerable for them?

By Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson for Sniffle Solutions

It’s really important for the child to have a clear expectation of what the visit will be like. Describe what is likely to happen and be as honest as you can. For example, never tell a child that a shot won’t hurt. Instead, say something like “Yes, it’s going to hurt, but only for a little bit.”

To make the wait more tolerable, arm yourself with as many helpful diversions as you can, like three favorite books, two soft blankets and a little snack.

Depending on the age of the child, there are other things you can do ahead of time to help the visit go smoothly. For instance, a play doctor kit is a great toy for toddlers, because they get familiar with the stethoscope, the otoscope and all those other tools with funny names that we use during a doctor visit. For school-age kids, have them think of a question to ask the doctor about their bodies so they feel like they have their own agenda.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of rewards. After the doctor visit, plan to do something your child really enjoys, such as going to a favorite playground. And always follow through -- even if the visit doesn’t go well.

Finally, if you try all this advice and your little one still screams through the entire visit, don’t lose heart. It’s actually developmentally normal for kids between the ages of nine months and about 3 years to dislike doctor visits, because that’s when kids experience stranger anxiety.

Sage and Savvy is a Studio One Network Media Partner.

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam

It's On! Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato will rock the summer in "Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam," a full out rock 'n roll musical that celebrates music, dance and the freedom of summer and reminds viewers to 'enjoy the journey.' Part of the blockbuster Disney Channel Original Movie franchise that introduced a generation to contemporary movie musicals, "Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam" premieres FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. It will be ushered in by the biggest summer-long experience ever presented by the channel, the industry leaders in providing world-class content for kids, tweens and families.

The movie's soundtrack, featuring 15 original songs spanning hip-hop, rock and pop/rock, will be available TUESDAY, JULY 27 on iTunes and in stores nationwide.

"Camp Rock 2" provides for an even more unrivaled Disney entertainment experience via a worldwide concert tour -- a spectacular live show filled with headliners the Jonas Brothers, special guest Demi Lovato and the stars from "Camp Rock." Produced by Live Nation, the three continent concert tour begins July 27 in Dallas, Texas. Tickets can be purchased at www.livenation.com. Further information is available at www.jonasbrothers.com.

Beginning May 11, fans can also access a "Camp Rock"-themed premium iTouch and iPhone app, which will also be optimized for the iPad, to buy tickets to the concert, hear music clips, watch videos and more.

"Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam" is the sequel to the TV/soundtrack/DVD triumph "Camp Rock," which for 2008 was cable TV's #1 entertainment telecast in Total Viewers (10.1 million) and TV's #1 entertainment telecast among Tweens 9-14 (3.8 million). Since its premiere, the Disney Channel Original Movie has reached over 137 million unduplicated viewers, and its soundtrack has sold 2.5 million CDs worldwide while spending a remarkable 10 weeks in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. The "Camp Rock Extended Rock Star Edition" was the #1 TV movie and the #1 Family TV title on DVD in 2008.

This summer of fun opens on a high-pitched Camp Rock reunion. All the Camp Rockers have returned, eager to tune up and rock out. Nobody's more excited than Mitchie, who anticipates more than a summer of music. Fresh from a world tour, the rock band Connect 3 are hanging all summer - Shane to pursue last summer's crush on Mitchie, his band mates as moral support. Guitar legend Brown Cesario, Camp Rock's owner, is ready to rock 'n roll.

But all is not copasetic at this rocking teen paradise. Across the lake glistens the new Camp Star: a high-tech, big-money music camp funded by Brown's former band mate-with-a-grudge, Axel Turner. Down-to-earth Camp Rock may have passion, talent and commitment, but Camp Star boasts resources, infrastructure and money -- enough money to poach Camp Rock's counselors and put Camp Rock out of business.

But Axel isn't counting on a natural born leader named Mitchie, who vows to save her beloved camp and her friends' summer. Clipboard in hand, she organizes the older Camp Rockers into counselors and keeps the camp running. Then Mitchie steps it up again… by challenging the egocentric Camp Star to a Final Jam -- an end-of-summer performance duel… may the best camp win.

Starring are Demi Lovato as Mitchie Torres, Joe Jonas as Shane Gray, Nick Jonas as Nate, Kevin Jonas as Jason, Alyson Stoner as Caitlyn Geller, Meaghan Martin as Tess Tyler, Jasmine Richards as Peggy, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle as Ella, Matthew "Mdot" Finley as Luke, Chloe Bridges as Dana Turner, Roshon Fegan as Sander, Jordan "J" Francis as Barron, Maria Canals-Barrera as Connie Torres, Daniel Fathers as Brown and Daniel Kash as Axel Turner.

"Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam" was written by Dan Berendsen (Disney's "Hannah Montana The Movie" and "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie") and the team of Karin Gist and Regina Hicks. It is based on characters created by Karin Gist, Regina Hicks, Julie Brown and Paul Brown. The director and co-producer is DGA Award winner Paul Hoen (Disney Channel's "The Cheetah Girls One World" and "Jump In"). The producer is Kevin Lafferty and the executive producer is Alan Sacks. "Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam" is a production of Sudden Motion Productions, Inc and Alan Sacks Productions.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Fun Factory Free Tokens with Tropicana Juicy Rewards

Tropicana Juicy Rewards offers all kinds of savings opportunities, and I'm always searching their rewards offers for activity ideas. One offer I found was for Fun Factory, a family arcade center--5 free tokens with a $5 Token Purchase for just 1 point!

We went to the Pearlridge Fun Factory with Smiley Boy (Little Music Man was in school) and he had such a blast on the different kiddie rides.

He rode the merry-go-round, a car, a bus, and even a horse!

There are also several games that younger kids can play, many of which they can earn tickets on to redeem for prizes, and there are a lot more games that older kids (and adults) can play too!

Tropicana Juicy Rewards offers many other great discounts on family entertainment, movies, dining, and so much more!

If you haven't already signed up, sign up today and you can get a free bonus point*!

To get your bonus point:
1. Go to Tropicana Juicy Rewards
2. Set-up your Tropicana Juicy Rewards account
3. Visit the "Enter Codes" page within the site and get started with MOMCE-NTRAL
*This one-time use code is valid for new accounts ONLY. Must be entered within 6 hours of creating your account.

I wrote this review while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Where in the World is Mrs. Butterworth's Contest Winner

Mrs. Butterworth’s® announced the grand prize winner of the “Where in the World is Mrs. Butterworth’s?” contest which asked Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup lovers across the U.S. to submit a photo showing where in the world they are with Mrs. Butterworth’s. Brooklyn Onuffer, 7, of Crestview, FL brought her favorite syrup with her to the North Pole!

For over 40 years, Mrs. Butterworth’s, has been brightening-up breakfast tables everywhere with her thick, rich and buttery syrup. This time Mrs. Butterworth’s wanted to see where people bring or find this traveling syrup bottle all over the world, so a contest was launched asking folks to send photos in with a description of where they can be found with Mrs. Butterworth’s? Hundreds of entries later, a grand prize winner and five finalists were chosen. The grand prize winner received a $1,000 cash prize and five finalists-each received $250 American Express gift cards. All winners also received a year’s supply (one case per person) of Mrs. Butterworth’s thick, rich and buttery syrup! (ARV: $40.00).

Five other finalists also had astounding entries. They included 62 year-old Reed Ide of Brandford, CT who took Mrs. Butterworth’s with him to Amsterdam; 62 year-old William Cifuentes of Mahomet, IL whose wife gave him Mrs. Butterworth’s for his trip to Central Africa so she could keep an eye on him. Mrs. Butterworth’s was also found in Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador with 25 year-old Michael Tischer of West Allis, WI; he took his favorite syrup bottle with him to the Pacific Coast where he is doing volunteer work. 7 year-old Paige Jacqueline Strode, who is a daughter of a US Army officer stationed in Spain, always loves receiving Mrs. Butterworth’s care packages from Aunt Kasey living in the U.S. And 4 year-old Marshall Bennett found Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup all the way in Sasebo, Japan-where his dad is stationed in the Navy.

“Mrs. Butterworth’s brings delightful moments to breakfast tables everywhere,” said Stefan Aps, marketing director at Pinnacle Foods Corporation. “We couldn’t believe the places people found and brought Mrs. Butterworth’s, she really is a world traveler!”

For more information visit www.mrsbutterworthssyrup.com/whereintheworld

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

WW: My Attempt at Container Gardening

Visit Wordless Wednesday or 5 Minutes for Mom for more participants.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Mom Central's Mother's Day Gift Guide

If you need gift ideas for Mother's Day, check out Mom Central's Mother's Day Gift Guide for some great ideas, as well as opportunities to win some great prizes!

Three of the exciting giveaways include:

See's Candies: See's Candies' variety of mouth-watering sweets will satisfy any taste preference. Give Mom the gift of indulgence with the new line of chocolates from the Keepsake Collection. Featuring both classic flavors as well as the new Strawberry Truffle, this line perfectly coincides with Mother's Day with pink, yellow and orange designs brightening up the boxes.

"L'Occitane Experience" Vivabox: Luckily for gift-givers (and receivers!) everywhere, Vivabox has revamped the traditional gift card with their gift box packages. Packaged by theme, each Vivabox includes gift items to use or taste as well as a gift card. With themes ranging from "Spa Beauty" to "Gourmet to your Door" and "Bar-B-Que," Vivabox offers gift card packages catering to the hobbies and interests of both men and women.

Shark Cordless: Sometimes pulling out the big vacuum can be a pain in the neck…literally. Not only does carrying the weight cause stress on your body, but the constant bending and pushing to get into nooks and crannies can be time consuming. Help make cleaning easier for Mom with the Shark Cordless Floor and Carpet Cleaner, or better yet, offer to help with the chores yourself.

For more information and to see what other great prizes Mom Central is giving away, visit Mom Central's Mother's Day Gift Guide!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central. Mom Central entered my name in a random drawing to win a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Bebe au Lait Mother's Day Sale

Bebe au Lait is having a Mother's Day sale!

You can get two free burp cloths if you purchase any nursing cover through their website, plus free shipping.

Simply visit http://shop.bebeaulait.com/4mom2010 to get the details and the coupon code.

The promotion expires Monday, May 10th.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

FLO TV Personal Television Giveaway

Often times when we take the boys out to a restaurant and they start getting fussy, and after we've exhausted all options of keeping them occupied and content (toys, games, drawing, etc.), we'll start playing a video on DH's smartphone. However, sometimes they get tired of watching the same old thing, or the video takes so long to buffer, that it just makes things worse. If we had a FLO TV, we wouldn't encounter those kinds of problems when trying to find something for the boys to watch!

The FLO TV Personal Television is a dedicated device for consumers’ on-the-go lifestyle that is perfect for sharing with friends and family, and we’re giving you a chance to win one. FLO TV Personal Television is the first portable digital television to offer all these features in one package:

Dedicated portable television. Measuring 3 inches by 4.4 inches by 0.5 inches and weighing just over 5 ounces, FLO TV Personal Television is small enough to fit in your pocket while sporting a screen large enough to enjoy a complete television experience.
Live mobile TV from America’s best content providers. FLO TV offers full-length simulcast and time-shifted programming from the world’s best entertainment brands, including CBS Mobile; CNBC, CNN, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX News Channel, FOX Sports, MSNBC, MTV, NBC2Go, NBC Sports, ABC Mobile, Crackle (Movie Channel), Adult Swim, Nickelodeon and CBS College Sports. FLO TV also offers limited-time bonus channels for special events, premium programs and original content.
A dedicated, nationally available mobile television network. The FLO TV service is available through a dedicated multicast network so millions of consumers can simultaneously get amazingly high-quality video and audio in real time without streaming, buffering or downloads.
A capacitive touch-screen. Users control the device with intuitive swipe gestures. The oleophobic glass lens keeps the 3.5-inch QVGA display crisp and clear.
Long battery life. With more than five hours of viewing time and 300 hours on standby, the FLO TV Personal Television can be used for extended viewing or on long trips.
An easy to share experience. With a large screen, built-in adjustable viewing stand and integrated stereo speakers, FLO TV Personal Television can entertain you whenever you want and wherever you are. FLO TV Personal Television is a dedicated device so it’s easy to share with family and friends.

FLO TV sure sounds cool!

Our boys could watch the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon, DH could watch all kinds of sports, and I'd watch the news (okay, okay, I'd probably watch reality shows!).

The FLO TV is lighter and smaller than a portable DVD player or laptop, so you could easily take the FLO TV Personal Television with you anywhere. I think it would be great while we're at restaurants or waiting in the doctor's office!

If you're in search for a gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, or any other occasion, or you simply want access to a variety of TV shows while on the go, check out

FLO TV!

Shop: To purchase a FLO TV Personal Television, click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: The regular price of a FLO TV Personal Television is $249.99 plus a $14.99 a month subscription fee, but currently you can get a FLO TV Personal Television for only $199.99 with six free subscription months (almost $90 in savings!). Click here for more pricing information.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a FLO TV Personal Television with a free six-month subscription (no credit card is required for free subscription).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to BrendaLea, the Prpldy!

To enter, visit FLO TV and comment on your favorite feature of the FLO TV.
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 FLO TV (leave the link in your comment)
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)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
6)Follow FLO TV on Twitter
7)Comment on what kind of programming (channels and/or shows) you'd like to see on FLO TV.
8)Like/Become a Fan of FLO TV on Facebook (leave your Facebook username in your comment)
The deadline for entries is May 4, 2010, 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 May 5, 2010 (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!

Note: Check the coverage map for service in your area. All programming subject to change. All sports programming subject to blackout restrictions.

The sponsor has provided the giveaway item free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Ouchies Jr. Review

Thanks to Ouchies, my boys have some really cool bandages for all of the inevitable cuts and scrapes.

When my daughter turned five, her supply of bandages began to dwindle from all the boo-boo’s that kids get, so I decided to search the aisles of drugstores for some kind of alternative – something cool, something different, something stylish. To my complete surprise, I came home empty handed; only able to offer her one of my horribly, boring beige bandages.

As I stood there in front of her medicine cabinet, I thought to myself, “Why are there no cool bandages?” I felt that change was in order, but it wasn’t until my wife (who is the true inspiration and “umph” behind these products) gave me a nudge and said, “You can do it.” From that point on, I started Ouchies – offering kids an array of adhesive bandages that allow them to show their style and personality. Since that time I have had two more kids, furthering my dedication to giving kids the chance to express themselves through bandages.

So, join me, my wife, my two daughters and son and let the world know that just because you are 5 or 8 or even 11, you can still have style after you have fallen and scraped your knee. Down with beige bandages, baby!

The day after I received a package from Ouchies, it just so happened Little Music Man fell on the playground at school and he had a pretty big cut on his knee. His teacher cleaned and bandaged it with--yup, you guessed it--plain, beige bandages.

So after bath time, I showed him the cool Jon Scieszka's Trucktown bandages from the Ouchies Jr. line, and put two on (initially we used two because his scrape was pretty big, and then eventually we just used one).

Each tin contains 4 bandages of each of 5 Trucktown designs. Since Little Music Man loves all things on wheels, he really liked the bandages (and often times I'd find him playing with the tin because he wanted to put more bandages on).

Ouchies Jr. also has really cute Olivia bandages that I'd probably end up wearing (because yes, I am a klutz and I get cuts all the time).

I can't wait to see what other designs Ouchies comes up with next, and maybe they'll offer different sizes too in the future.

The Ouchies Jr. bandages are great for anyone who is a Trucktown or Olivia fan, or simply anyone who wants a fun and cool bandage!

Shop: Click here to find out where you can buy Ouchies.

Thank you to Ouchies for providing the product for review free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Vistaprint Photo Book Giveaway

I knew Vistaprint offered a fantastic variety of business cards at great prices, but I had no idea they offered so many other types of products, such as birthday invitations, custom t-shirts, personalized mugs, and even photo books!

Vistaprint provides more than eight million small businesses and consumers per year with the easiest way to make an impression at the best price. With a unique business model supported by proprietary technologies, high volume production facilities, and direct marketing expertise, Vistaprint offers a wide variety of products for both small businesses and the home. Options range from business cards, brochures and websites to invitations, thank you notes, calendars and more. A global company, Vistaprint employs more than 1,850 people, operates 20 localized websites and ships to more than 120 countries around the world. Vistaprint's broad range of products and services are easy to access online, 24 hours a day, at www.vistaprint.com, and are satisfaction guaranteed.

Whether I want to create something for myself, for a baby shower, a holiday gift, or for fundraising, Vistaprint has a vast selection of products to suit my needs.

One of the many cute items Vistaprint offers is personalized ornaments! Wouldn't it be a nice tradition to create special ornaments every year?

If you have a friend or family member who's tough to shop for, or you simply want to make something special for yourself or a loved one, check out Vistaprint for some great gift ideas!

Shop: To create your very own invitations, photo books, and more, visit Vistaprint.

Win: One lucky winner will win a 12x12 photo book to personalize with your own special photos (26 pages; option of hard, leather or linen cover; free 14-day shipping; ARV $50+)

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to mogrill!

To enter, visit

Vistaprint and comment on your favorite product (excluding anything mentioned).

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 Vistaprint (leave the link in your comment)

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)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)

6)Follow Vistaprint on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)

7) Become a Fan of Vistaprint on Facebook (leave your Facebook username in your comment).

The deadline for entries is May 2, 2010, 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 May 3, 2010 (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 Vistaprint and Team Mom for providing the product for giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Bake Me A Wish! Mother's Day Discount

Once a year, we have the opportunity to recognize and appreciate the woman who loves us unconditionally. This year, send Mom a gourmet gift cake from Bake Me A Wish! to show her just how sweet you turned out. Each cake is adorned with an imported Belgian Chocolate Mother plaque and includes a greeting card, and you can save 15% on Mother's Day Cakes with code: SPG15 (expires May 9, 2010)!

Bake Me A Wish! is a Sage and Savvy affiliate!

Little Stinker's Baby Butt Spray Review

It's AMAZING how much odor can come out from a baby, if you know what I mean. Just one poopy diaper can cause a lot of stink, but recently I had a chance to try out Little Stinker's Baby Butt Spray, which helps to make lots of things smell really nice without using a lot of not-so-nice ingredients.

To use the science of natural, organic, and botanical ingredients to create unique, essential, safe, and effective cosmetic products, which can be applied with confidence to maintain the health and beauty of skin. We take the "un" out of "unpleasant."

The Baby Butt Spray's lavender and vanilla fragrance smells wonderful. It can be sprayed on Smiley Boy's bottom to help control any odors without irritating his skin, but it can also be sprayed in rooms around the home too. I use it in the bathroom, the boys' room, even the kitchen, and it does a great job of leaving a pleasant scent wherever it's sprayed.

I even use it on myself too when I feel like I need a little break or need to relax--the fragrance is so soothing and pleasing.

The Baby Butt Spray smells great, is paraben-free, and very versatile, and with all the poopy diapers we see in our home, it will be all used up in no time.

Shop: You can purchase Baby Butt Spray (ARV $11.95) and other Little Stinker products on the Little Stinker website.

Thank you to Little Stinker for providing the product for review free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Things Remembered Mother's Day Giveaway

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and if you still haven't found the perfect gift for your mom (or any other mother-figure in your life), look no further than Things Remembered!

Things Remembered began over 40 years ago as a small engraving and services shop called "Can Do". And today, Things Remembered has grown into the nation's leading, and most successful, retailer of personalized gifts. We're proud of our longevity in the retail business and we are committed to continue to offer beautiful, unique, quality, personalized gifts to our customers. Today's Things Remembered customers can browse through our collection of gifts that goes far beyond expectations. Plus, we'll engrave gifts purchased elsewhere! No matter what the gift or where you purchased it, we can engrave the item for that extra, personal touch. Simply bring your item to any of our 600 nationwide mall locations and one of our experts will carefully engrave it.

Things Remembered offers so many great gift ideas for Mother's Day, and they even have a Top 10 Mother's Day Gifts guide to help with your search to find the perfect gift!

Two items on the guide include:

Customizable Music Box – Did mom sing to you as a child? Relive those memories with a gift of song. A new collection of customizable music boxes plays clips of actual artist recordings – complete with lyrics, instruments and vocals – making them different from traditional music boxes that merely play a tune. One fitting option for Mother’s Day is the classic “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder.

Sterling Miracle of Life Necklace– The moment her children were conceived, she thought of each as a miracle. This beautifully detailed sterling silver necklace features an embracing mother and child figurine within a sparkling cut-out crystal heart. The pendant swings in front of a solid hart pendant, which can be engraved with a special message.

Aren't those gifts just precious?

Things Remembered is also holding a Mom Memories Picture Contest: Want you and your kids to be featured in a Things Remembered e-mail? Remembered is asking moms to submit their favorite family photo, along with an engraving they’d pick to go with it on a picture frame. Ten moms will receive free personalized frames, and the best photo/engraving will be featured in a Things Remembered e-mail!

Mother's Day is on May 9, so don't delay your search for the perfect gift any longer (but if you do procrastinate even more, Things Remembered offers a variety of shipping options to help you get the perfect gift in time for Mother's Day or any special occasion, or you can simply go to a Things Remembered near you!)

Shop: You can purchase personalized charms, frames, music boxes, and more on the Things Remembered website, or click here to find a Things Remembered store near you.

Savvy Savings: When you sign up for the Things Remembered exclusive gift offers, you’ll get $5 off your next purchase!

Win: One lucky winner will receive either a Customizable Music Box (ARV $40) or Sterling Miracle of Life Necklace (ARV $55); winner's choice, includes engraving.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to brandy c!

To enter, visit Things Remembered and comment on a gift you’d love to give on Mother's Day (excluding any of the giveaway items) AND how you'd engrave it (you may leave out name(s)/other personal info.).
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 Things Remembered
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)Tweet this giveaway (leave your link in your comment)
6)Follow Things Remembered on twitter and tweet “I'm following @Tremembered thanks to @sagemom” (leave your link in your comment along with your Twitter name)
7)Become a fan of Things Remembered on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall about a gift you’d love to give on Mother's Day (excluding any of the giveaway items) AND how you'd engrave it (you may leave out name(s)/other personal info.).
The deadline for entries is April 30, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
Entrants must not have won any other Things Remembered giveaway/sweepstakes, etc. within the past 90 days of this giveaway's end date.
If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on May 1, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept. Note: Winning entry is subject to verification of not winning a previous Things Remembered giveaway/sweepstakes within the past 90 days.
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 Things Remembered for providing the giveaway products free of charge. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts

Summer Stars (www.summerstars.org), one of the largest non-profit summer programs in the country, works each year to send hundreds of urban youth to a free, ten-day performing arts and music education excursion. The program – completely free to campers – relies entirely on donations for funding, and this year we are competing in the Pepsi Refresh Everything project (www.refresheverything.com/summerstars) for a chance to win a grant for this year’s program.

Founded in 1999 as the Britney Spears Camp for the Performing Arts, and later the American Idol Camp, Summer Stars was renamed in 2006 as the leading non-profit summer arts program in the country. Entering our 11th year in bringing art, music and nature to children who need it most, we hope you might join our cause. We need as many votes as possible by April 30, 2010 to secure the grant we are seeking.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

The Members Project

Thanks to the One2One Network, I found about a great new program from American Express and TakePart, the Members Project, which emphasizes how we all can make small steps to make a difference in the lives and world around us.

Making a difference is simple. It starts with you and your first small step. Whether it's one volunteer hour, one mouse click, or one dollar, we all have a part to play and something to give. With members Project, you have a wide-open platform to express your passion- in small, manageable steps. Everyone can get involved. Take your first step.

There are three ways you can make a difference through the Members Project:

Vote: Cast your vote every week to help decide which five charities will receive funding from American Express. Voting is open to everyone and there will be five new winners every three months. Various projects are represented, focusing on the environment, education, health, and more.

Volunteer: Even one hour can make a difference in the lives of others. Find a volunteer opportunity that's right for you, and you could be rewarded for your time. To search for opportunities, you simply enter keywords or location. I searched by location (Hawaii) and several opportunities resulted that caters to a variety of interests. You can even earn Membership Rewards bonus points if you volunteer through the Members Project.

Donate: Make a donation with your American Express® Card, or donate Membership Reward® points. You can choose from over a million charities. Giving has never been so easy. Searching for an organization is simple, and there are numerous organizations that could use the help.

Times are tough for many of us--we are all so busy and many of us are on tighter budgets, but all it takes is one vote, one hour, or one dollar to make a difference.

We all can make a difference, and the Members Project helps us to do so.

I was entered into a gift card drawing for writing this post as part of a One2One Network campaign.

The Babies are Coming - Celebrate and Nourish with YoBaby!

YoBaby is celebrating babies everywhere and helping nourish local communities with some very special events and we invite you to join us!

On Saturday, May 1 (and Wed. May 5 in some locations), YoBaby will be sharing samples of YoBaby Meals in select Whole Foods Market locations. We’ll also be giving away coupons good for free YoBaby products and FREE TICKETS to an advance screening of BABIES – a new documentary film opening Mother’s Day weekend.

View the trailer here: http://www.focusfeatures.com/video/babies_the_trailer

YoBaby is helping nourish local communities too. You can join us in the Stonyfield & Whole Foods Market Nourishing Communities Contest by bringing a non-perishable food donation to the sampling. You’ll receive a coupon good for more FREE YoBaby Yogurt to take home, and your food donation will help your local Whole Foods win a grant from Stonyfield Farm to support a local-food based charity of their choosing. By helping nourish others in your community, you get free yogurt and the opportunity to get free tickets to this special screening of the movie BABIES before it opens in theatres.

To find a participating Whole Foods Market location near you, visit http://www.stonyfield.com/babiesmovie/participating_whole_foods_markets.htm

Plus, become a Fan of our YoBaby Facebook Page for additional opportunities for screening tickets and the announcement of our Nourishing Communities winners! (We’ll be releasing last call screening tickets on the morning of May 6th and letting you know where and when on Facebook.)

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Find Mother's Day Gifts at Zappos.com

Zappos has something for every mom, whether she is the fashionista, the mom on the go, the athletic mom, or the mom who does it all.

Being a one-stop-shop, Zappos offers great gifts in apparel, pajamas, handbags, accessories, housewares, and spa and beauty products. With so many different styles and personalities, it can sometimes be challenging to find the perfect gift for Mom. Zappos makes it easy to browse through the site. Zappos even has a gift page with some great gift ideas! (http://www.zappos.com/gifts).

There are many gift ideas for the "Earthy Mom," and my personal favorite is the Haiku by Sharon Eisenhauer Grab Bag Branch in Chocolate Brown.

And if Mom is already an avid Zappos shopper, she knows there are always new products, brands and styles available at Zappos.com.

Zappos is known for Delivering Happiness…so Mom is sure to love!

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Buffet's Inc. Mother's Day Promotion

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and Buffet's Inc. restaurants, popular steak-buffet restaurants are offering the opportunity to treat Moms on their special day! Visit one of their locations on May 9 and/or 10 and receive a card containing a unique entry code for the chance to win several pampering prizes like spa gift certificates or a cruise! Enter the code and learn more at www.wecelebratemoms.com.

Buffet's Inc. includes Ryan’s, Fire Mountain Grill, Old Country Buffet, HomeTown Buffet, Granny’s Buffet and Country Buffet.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

EcoMazes: 12 Earth Adventures by Roxie Munro Review and Giveaway

Little Music Man and I recently got to review a great book that's not only perfect for Earth Day, but for every day learning about our planet and its various inhabitants--EcoMazes: 12 Earth Adventures by Roxie Munro.

The marvelous Roxie Munro is back with more a-MAZE-ing adventures! This time she’s taking kids on an exciting (and informative) journey through 12 incredible ecosystems, from lush evergreen forests to colorful coral reefs, from the frozen tundra to hot desert sands. And to make things even more fun—and challenging—every bright and bold maze features hidden animals that belong in that environment, including wolves, stingrays, parrots, crocodiles, and a whole colony of seals! The ecosystems include:Tropical Rainforest - Desert - Arctic Polar - Grasslands - Savanna - Wetlands - Coral Reef - Tundra - and a human habitat: a campground!

Little M

usic Man had a lot of fun finding various types of animals, birds, reptiles, insects, and more throughout the various ecosystems represented in EcoMazes. He had to look for a monarch butterfly in the grasslands, hippos in the savanna, and alligators in the wetlands.

Although there were some creatures that both he and I were not familiar with, such as snowy petrels and a purple gallinule, the ecosystem and creatures were drawn so that you could make an educated guess (e.g. if you were asked to look for 7 wood ducks, all 7 would be grouped together) so you could easily idenfity all that animals you needed to.

Not only was it fun to find all of the animals and learn new ones, but going through each maze was a lot of fun too.

The illustrations of each ecosystem were great, and since Little Music Man loves penguins, his favorite scene was that of the Antarctic Polar. My favorite ecosystem was the coral reef, and the author actually snorkeled through coral reefs in Hawaii for research (in addition to traveling all over the world!).

At the end of the book are the answer keys as to where to find the different animals, as well as more information on all the different ecosystems.

EcoMazes is an englightening and engaging book, and such a terrific way for Little Music Man to learn about all kinds of animals and their habitats.

Shop: You can purchase EcoMazes at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $14.95).

Win: One lucky person will will a copy of EcoMazes!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to saturdaynightfever!

To enter, simply comment on which ecosystem you/your children would be most interested in learning about and why.
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 EcoMazes (leave the link in your comment)
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)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
The deadline for entries is April 29, 2010, 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 April 30, 2010 (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 Sterling Children's Books for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Mother's Day Savings are blooming with Tropicana Juicy Rewards!

Tropicana Juicy Rewards is honoring moms with a very special offer!

Celebrate Mother's Day with the gift of fresh flowers from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM® – and save $15.

Make her day special with a delicious homemade breakfast or brunch, featuring the best orange juice – Tropicana. And surprise her with a bouquet of the best fresh flowers from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM.

The perfect Mother's Day is just a click away. This reward is yours with just 3 points. Hurry over to tropicana.com before May 10, 2010 to get this limited–time, exclusive offer.

I am a participant in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points.

Go Green! Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Earth Day with "R"Us

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, we have once again partnered with Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the Jane Goodall Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website offering earth-friendly activities, Roots & Shoots empowers kids worldwide to care for the planet.

To support Roots & Shoots, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund has awarded the organization a new $10,000 grant. An inaugural $10,000 grant from the Fund last year enabled Roots & Shoots to support an amazing 800,000 volunteer hours from kids nationwide.

Together, Toys“R”Us and Roots & Shoots have developed the following list of activities to help families appreciate the outdoors this Earth Day.

Jump! Whether you call it skipping rope or jump roping, it’s a great activity to improve strength and fitness and can be performed on grass or pavement.

Retreat to the Beach. Instead of driving to the beach, recreate a piece of the coast’s serene atmosphere with a sandbox in the yard. Sandboxes provide a peaceful place where creativity and play come to life.

Be Farm and Garden Fresh. Get to know your local farmer and enlist the kids to join you at the local farmers’ markets. Better yet, plant your own garden that everyone can care for and enjoy all season long.

Let’s Go Fly a Kite! Show the kids how to soar into a colorful sky with only the force of nature to power your kite. A centuries-old activity, kite flying can be enjoyed at any age—with a little wind, of course!

Give Back. Gather the family for a volunteer day dedicated to beautifying the earth. Many communities have organizations that champion environmental protection and regularly organize events like stream and trail clean-ups.

Be Bubbly! Invite the neighbors to create bubble wands out of objects found around the house like straws, pipe cleaners, strawberry baskets and coat hangers. Take the kids outside and have your own bubble party!

Take a Hike. Locate a nature trail near you and take the kids on a woodsy adventure. Hiking is a group activity that provides great exercise and hands-on experiences with the natural world.

Start a Kickball Game. All it takes is a rubber playground ball, make-shift bases and some friends to start a kickball game. Create a neighborhood tournament and coach the kids though innings of bouncing fun.

Catch and Release. Butterflies are some of nature’s most beautiful creatures, although they aren’t easy to observe when they flutter in the sky. Using an insect or butterfly net, capture them and show the kids how to appreciate their beauty up close. Then let them loose.

As families strive to make lifestyle changes that incorporate outdoor and eco-friendly activities, “R”Us stores nationwide continue to offer differentiated environmentally friendly items and a vast selection of toys and playthings suited for outdoor activity—all at affordable prices.

To learn more about the Jane Goodall Institute and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, please visit www.janegoodall.org and www.rootsandshoots.org.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

CafePress Giveaway

I previously mentioned how my favorite shower gifts were a BIG BRO t-shirt and LIL BRO onesie from CafePress, and only recently did I discover how they offer a vast selection of "green" items that can help make everyday a day to celebrate Earth Day.

Here at CafePress, it's all about you and your passions. In a nutshell, we're the world's best destination for expressing yourself through merchandise. From your favorite T-shirt and hoodie, to the tote bag over your shoulder and bumper sticker on your car, we're here to let you express your interests. And what makes our products so unique, and so expressive, is that we don't create the designs on them. Our community of designers do - all through millions of shops we help them run.

With Earth Day just a day away, I was fortunate to receive a couple of great "green" items: an Eco Mom tote and a Build a Better World Tee.

I love the tote's design, and it's also nice and roomy to fit a lot of items.

I love the tee as well--it's sleek with a simple, yet motivating statement.

Not only does CafePress offer cool clothing and practical totes, but they also offer water bottles, aprons, stickers, unique gifts, and so much more!

I had a really difficult time selecting a tote and tee--there are just so many great designs!

If you have difficulty deciding on a design as well, you can also create your own unique design on a variety of products!

In addition to offering items to help you live a greener life, CafePress has teamed up with iVillage in the Earth Day Photo Contest. Enter your photo, share your green dreams and inspiration with us, and you could win an Eco Vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands!

For more information, visit the Earth Day Photo Contest.

If you're looking for a cool green tee, tote, or water bottle, or simply want a unique and creative way to express yourself, check out CafePress!

Win: One lucky winner will receive a green tee and tote from CafePress in honor of Earth Day!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to FDP 4 Life!

To enter, visit CafePress and comment on which green tee and tote you'd pick 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 CafePress (leave the link in your comment)
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)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
6)Follow CafePress on Twitter
The deadline for entries is April 28, 2010, 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 April 29, 2010 (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 CafePress for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Archive

Friday, April 30, 2010

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Sniffle Solutions: Expert Q+A

My kids hate going to the doctor and always melt down into a tantrum. Is there anything I can do to make it tolerable for them?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Monday, April 26, 2010

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Wednesday, April 21, 2010