Lula Ballou Gadget Case Giveaway **CLOSED**

Congratulations to the winner, always_317537! Thanks to everyone for entering!

Result: 2 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Ever wish you had a stylish way to carry and protect the gadgets you MUST have with you all the time (think...iPhone, BlackBerry, iPod, Flip camera, digital camera, etc.)? Looking for more than the boring, standard cases that come with them (that nobody I know ever uses anyway...)? Well look no further! The padded gadget case from Lula Ballou is just what you have been looking for! It is a great solution for those who want a case that can be carried on its own (and is not a big fashion "don't"!), or can be used for protection while you carry it in your purse or diaper bag. The gadget cases come in many fabrics, are padded for optimum protection and are all SUPER cute! In addition to being gorgeous, another fabulous feature is that the strap has a clasp that allows it to be undone and clipped around a stroller handle, shopping cart, belt loop...you name it. How is that for style AND function? Well, thanks to Lula Ballou, one lucky Mommy Works reader will get to pick out the gadget case of their choice! See details below for how to enter, and thanks again to Lula Ballou! And be sure to check out the other great bags they offer too! They make wristlets (which are one sale NOW!), key pouches, zipper pouches, and purses. You're sure to find something you love!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules below (US ONLY):

1. For your initial, required entry visit Lula Ballou and leave me a comment telling me which gadget case you would want if you win, or another product you would love to have.

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comments here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and leave a tweet about this contest. Leave me a link to your tweet as well as your Twitter name.

3. Blog about this contest to earn TWO extra entries and leave me a comment with the link to your post. **Be sure to leave TWO separate comments if you do this**

4. Follow my blog through Blogger.

5. Grab my button and place it on your site (w/ link to site in comment) for THREE extra entries. **Be sure to leave me THREE separate comments indicating that you have my button so that they will all be counted**

6. Subscribe to my blog via e-mail.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you if you win. Winners also submitted via PRIZEYWinners if you would prefer not to leave an e-mail address. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Saturday, March 7 The winner will be randomly chosen via Random.org and notified on or around Sunday, March 8.**

Go Green!: Seventh Generation "Living Home Starter Kit" Review and GIVEAWAY! **CLOSED**

Thanks to everyone who entered! Congratulations to the winner bison61! You will have 48 hours to get back in touch or another winner will be chosen. Thanks again!

Result: 9 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

My husband and I have been thinking recently about moving, and in turn have been thinking seriously about CLEANING! Not that we live in a total mess every day, but there are definitely things that don't get done as often as we'd like (i.e. dusting!). In the past, every time we decided to have a "cleaning day", I got nervous about all of the fumes and chemicals that were floating around the house. It's easy not to notice them while you're the one actually doing the cleaning, but the second you step back and take a break, many times the smells are enough to knock you over. I know I usually get a headache after I've used a 100 different cleaners too. To combat this, we've always opened the windows, turned on the fans, etc. This helps to some degree, but it's still not great. Since we've had EG I've become even more nervous about harsh chemicals in cleaners, and usually try to make sure she is not at the house while we are doing the "serious" cleaning. Then, the thought occurred to me that if I don't want her there, why would I want my husband or me to be exposed to all of this mess either?? Not to mention the dog...poor thing can't complain about anything, but it obviously affects her too. Thus began my search for some great household cleaners that were family-friendly, and eco-friendly, and still got the job done. Thank goodness for Seventh Generation! They offer cleaners to get any job done right, and are completely safe for me, kids, and pets. From the Seventh Generation website:

"Seventh Generation is committed to becoming the world's most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home. "

"The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, 'In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.' Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment and making the world a safer place for this and the next seven generations."

This just what I was looking for! And...the wonderful folks at Seventh Generation were very generous and provided me with a Living Home Starter Kit to review. Boy am I glad they did! This kit included Grapefruit Glass Cleaner, Green Mandarin All-Purpose Cleaner, Emerald Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Green Mandarin Shower Cleaner, Tub and Tile Cleaner, Kitchen Cleaner, 2 rolls of Natural Paper Towels, and a Reusable Tote Bag. My first thought was that they must be pretty confident in their product to provide me with all of these to review! And, I can honestly say that we put all of them to the test! I have to say that I was truly impressed by how well all of the cleaners worked on what they were intended to clean. I think many people are of the mindset that the stronger the fumes, and harsher the chemicals, the better job it does at cleaning. Seventh Generation proved that this is not so. All of the cleaners worked like a charm, and there were no overpowering smells that lingered for hours (if you would like a completely fragrance and dye free cleaner, check out their Free and Clear line)! I have to admit that I was a little nervous after looking at the names of some of the cleaners. But, the scents were great, and none were too much for my little one (thank you, thank you, thank you!). I am certain that we will continue to enjoy our Seventh Generation cleaners and will be buying more in the future. They make a cleaner or product for any job including products for babies (diapers, training pants, laundry detergent), a line of laundry products (powder, fabric softener, liquid), a Free and Clear line (free from all dyes and fragrances), household cleaners, household paper and supplies (toilet paper, paper towels, napkins), feminine care products, and dishwashing products. As you can see, they are definitely committed to their mission and I hope they continue their mission and create even more products!

Lucky you, you have a chance to win the exact set that I was able to review (pictured above)! This includes full size versions (yes, full size!) of the cleaners, 2 complete rolls of paper towels, and the reusable tote (please note that it is not exactly like the one pictured, but just as cute!). All of this is almost a $50 value! See details below for how to enter, and I KNOW you will love it!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules below (US ONLY):

1. For your initial, required entry visit the Seventh Generation website and leave me a comment telling me something you learned (not mentioned above) about the company and/or tell me your favorite product (not included in the kit) and why.

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comments here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and leave a tweet about this contest. Leave me a link to your tweet as well as your Twitter name.

3. Blog about this contest to earn TWO extra entries and leave me a comment with the link to your post. **Be sure to leave TWO separate comments if you do this**

4. Follow my blog through Blogger.

5. Grab my button and place it on your site (w/ link to site in comment) for THREE extra entries. **Be sure to leave me THREE separate comments indicating that you have my button so that they will all be counted**

6. Subscribe to my blog via e-mail.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you if you win. Winners also submitted via PRIZEYWinners if you would prefer not to leave an e-mail address. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Friday March 6 The winner will be randomly chosen via Random.org and notified on or around Saturday March 7.**

Wordless Wednesday: Beach Baby

EG last year at the beach. She had just started sitting up on her own. My, how far we've come! And...oh, how I wish we were at the beach right now!

Timesaver Tuesday: Bag it up!

Today's timesaving tip is one that I try very hard to implement, and saves so much time when I actually do it!

A great way to save time in the morning, before going out, when packing lunches, etc. is to go ahead and divide up snacks, fruit, etc. into single servings so that you can just grab and go when you are headed out the door. I know I always carry a snack with me for EG to munch on in the car, while we are waiting in line, or shopping at the grocery store. It's so much easier when I can look in the cabinet, grab a snack, and run rather than finding a bag (which we are probably out of...lol), getting the Cheerios down, pouring some out (while trying to hold EG and not spill them!), and then heading out the door. So the next time you buy that container of Beech-Nut Yogurt Nibbles (EG's favorite!) or some other favorite snack, go ahead and make some "ready to go" snack bags. It will save you a little time and sanity when you need it!

Follow that squeak! Mooshu Trainers Toddler Shoes Review

Nothing gets you in the mood for spring more than a pair of fabulous sandals (even if they aren't for you...)! So imagine my delight when these pink beauties from Mooshu Trainers showed up on my doorstep for EG! At first glance, I could honestly say that these were the cutest little sandals I'd ever seen. I couldn't wait to try them on EG and see how she liked them. But, before I tell you how much we LOVED them, let me tell you a little about Mooshu Trainers, Inc. First of all, they are compliant with all CPSIA regulations and included a copy of their compliance certificates with the shoes. This tells me that they have my child's best interests in mind and stay on top of the latest rules and regulations regarding children's items. Based out of Dallas, TX, Mooshu Trainers, Inc. makes many different styles of children's squeaky shoes. Their collection includes Plain Mary Janes (which are anything but plain with the variety of colors and addition of rhinestones to some of them!), Flower Sandals, Boys Sandals, Boys Loafers, their new Mary Jane Tennis Shoes, and their original Add-a-Bow Mary Janes and Sandals (which are fabulous because you can switch out the bows to match any outfit!). All of their shoes have squeakers in the heel that make a squeak with every properly placed step. Now, I know some of you are thinking, "squeakers...what!!". But, hear me out. First of all, the squeakers are removable. If you ever feel like you'd rather not hear a squeak with every one of your child's many little steps, the squeakers are very easily removed (just be sure to put them in a safe place since they are a choking hazard...and so you don't lose them). However, you just might find you want to leave them in, at least for a little while. First, they help your child to walk properly (heel to toe) by rewarding them with the little "squeak" sound. Second, the squeakers make it very easy to identify your child and find them both at home and in public. Hopefully you would never have to find them in public, but this would definitely make it easier! This would be particularly useful in situations with large crowds and many people! Finally, the squeaks were quite entertaining to EG and she didn't want to take the shoes off! Did I mention that she hates to wear shoes? Okay, I rest my case for the squeakers. Now, onto the style and function of the shoes. In a word...perfect! The leather they are made from is unbelievably, buttery soft. Much softer than the leather on any of my own shoes (somehow that's just not right!). There isn't a "rough" part on the entire shoe, and I imagine EG would be able to wear them all day with no problem at all. The color is vibrant and beautiful, and the rhinestone in the middle of the flower adds a little bit of flair. They were so cute on EG that I'm sad it's still a little too chilly to wear them out. We did try them out around the house, and these are the only pair of shoes EG actually wants to put on. They must be comfortable, because I have to pry them off of her feet, and I've alrady mentioned how much she loves the squeakers. I would most definitely buy another pair of Mooshu Trainers and would urge you to try them out for yourself. You can find a complete list of retailers (both retail stores and online retailers) on the Mooshu website. Check 'em out!

Wordless Wednesday: Bye Bye Boo-Boo

EG nursing her boo-boo received when she climbed out of her crib at daycare last Friday!

Slow Cooker Mate Giveaway at Ohana Mama Blog!

Since this blog is geared toward working moms, I just have to share the great giveaway going on at Ohana Mama Blog. Every working mom I know loves to use a slow cooker for its ease of use and convenience on busy week nights. Well, the folks over at Slow Cooker Mate have improved on your traditional slow cooker by making it with three chambers...one large chamber for the main course, and two smaller chambers for the sides. Genious! Now, we can cook a complete meal all at one time! I cannot think of a more perfect kitchen item for working moms. I definitely need one of these and thought you guys might too. If this is something you would love to have (and I know you would!), go over and check out the Slow Cooker Mate giveaway at Ohana Mama Blog. And hurry, because it's only a 48 hour giveaway!

Timesaver Tuesday: When to Work

If you need to finish working on something (that truly can't wait until tomorrow), go ahead and stay a little bit after work to finish it rather than taking it home.

Every minute I am late after work makes me feel a little more guilty. Because of this I try to leave school as quickly as possible in the afternoons. Usually, this isn't a problem as long as I utilize my planning period appropriately. Lately, though, I have had a lot of paperwork to complete, and I have more than I can finish during planning. Although I feel guilty for staying late after work, I have found that the same task that takes 30 minutes after work will take twice as long (if not longer) if I take it home. Thus, it actually takes more time away from my family when I take work home. At home, EG always ends up fighting with the computer for my attention (who can blame her?) and I end up in a bad mood because I can't get finished. Also, it isn't fair to her, when she hasn't seen me all day, to pick her up from daycare and then ignore her for an hour! It is better for all of us if I just stay a little longer at work and then enjoy the rest of the day with my family, not having to worry about work or find time to get something done.

Image source: http://hr.ucsb.edu/icons/work_life.jpg

Dapple Review and Giveaway! *CLOSED*

**Thanks to all who entered and congratulations to the winner, kenan and tree! You will have 48 hours to claim your prize.**

Here are your random numbers:

13 

Timestamp: 2009-02-28 14:41:04 UTC

I am so excited to have been given the opportunity to review Dapple baby cleaning products! I was leery about using cleaning products while I was pregnant, worrying that they would be harmful to my baby. And since EG was born 17 months ago, I have become even more concerned. Especially considering that everything in our house has probably been in her mouth at some point in time! So, when I saw that Dapple makes not only baby-friendly cleaners, but baby specific cleaners, I had to try them! I have always tried to find baby-friendly cleaners to wash EG's highchair and toys, and have always washed her dishes separately by hand. I've never used the dishwasher for her items because, in our area, the water mixed with your standard dishwasher detergents sometimes leaves a film on the dishes (especially plastic ones!). I worry that there are dangerous chemicals still left over on this film and have never put any of her things in the dishwasher. Having said this, you can imagine my excitement when I was given the Dishwasher Powder and the NEW Toy Cleaner Wipes to test out. Long story short, they were both AWESOME and I will definitely be buying more!

The first thing I did after receiving the cleaners was to fill up my dishwasher (okay, so it was already full and waiting for someone to put some cleaner in there!) and test out the Dishwasher Powder. It was the first time that I felt comfortable putting some of EG's dishes in there. Also, I was wondering how this powder would work with our water. All of the research we've done indicates that the higher level of phosphate in the powder, the less film we'll have on the dishes. Thus, I found it particularly interesting the the Dapple is phosphate free. As I anxiously awaited for my dishes to be washed, I wanted to test out the toy cleaner wipes. Luckily, we had just purchased a few Little Tikes items from Craigslist that needed some cleaning. Before, I would have likely wiped them down with Clorox wipes, let them dry outside, and then rinsed them with water. EG would probably not have been able to play with them until the next day when I was sure that everything was completely dry and chemical-free (in my mind at least). This time, though, I decided to use the Dapple toy cleaner wipes because I felt that they were safe enough for me to use, let dry, and then let EG play with the toys right away. They cleaned really well (The toys had already been cleaned by the previous owner so it's not like they were filthy. If they had been I think I would have needed a spray toy cleaner...which Dapple does also make!), had a "non-chemicaly" fresh smell, and were a nice weight and size. They also came in a handy little Travel size pack that would easily fit in a diaper bag, car, or purse. Throughout the week that I've had the wipes, I've used them on nearly everything from her highchair, to cleaning pacifiers while we're out, wiping off a restaurant table, etc. They are great to have around, and the best part is that I know they are completely safe! Co-founder of Dapple, Tamar Rosenthal, said, "We envisioned our babies popping their toys right back into their mouths the minute they were cleaned and we wanted to be comfortable with that." Sounds good to me!

Now, back to the dishes...I was so impressed! All of the dishes came out completely clean and with fewer filmy dishes than with any other detergent we've used...interesting because we supposedly needed more phosphates. My husband was impressed too, as he had been less than convinced that this "baby" dishwasher powder could be tough on dirty dish grime. Boy was he wrong (and he even admitted it!)! This powder is actually formulated specifically to "zero in on residues that babies leave behind" and it worked great on grown-up residue too. We loved the dishwasher powder and will be keeping some in stock at our house!

It's so wonderful to find an eco-friendly cleaner made specifically for babies, and I just can't say enough about Dapple. I can't wait to try the rest of the Dapple product line, which also includes Toy Cleaner Spray, Dish Liquid, and the full-size container of Toy Cleaner Wipes. If you would like to try them out yourself, Dapple products are available for purchase at Babies "R" Us, Diapers.com, Giggle.com, Dapplebaby.com, and in certain boutique stores. Dapple has also graciously agreed to give away a travel pack of the Toy Cleaner Wipes and Dish Liquid to one lucky reader of Mommy Works! See details below for how to enter!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules below (US ONLY):

1. For your initial, required entry visit the Dapple website and leave me a comment telling me your favorite product and how you would use it.

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comments here telling me which you have done:


2. Follow me on Twitter and leave a tweet about this contest. Leave me a link to your tweet as well as your Twitter name.
3. Blog about this contest to earn TWO extra entries and leave me a comment with the link to your post. **Be sure to leave TWO separate comments if you do this**
4. Follow my blog through Blogger.
5. Grab my button and place it on your site (w/ link to site in comment) for THREE extra entries. **Be sure to leave me THREE separate comments indicating that you have my button so that they will all be counted**
6. Add my blog as a favorite on Technorati (button on left sidebar)
7. Subscribe to my blog via e-mail.

**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible one in your profile, so that I can contact you if you win. Winners also submitted via PRIZEYWinners if you would prefer not to leave and e-mail address. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Friday February 27. The winners will be randomly chosen via Random.org and notified on Saturday February 28.**

Wordless Wednesday

Okay, I enjoy seeing everyone else's Wordless Wednesday pictures so I thought I'd post one of my own starting today.

In honor of Valentine's Day I thought I'd share a picture of my Valentine and me on our wedding day. I love him so much and could not imagine life without him!

Timesaver Tuesday

Starting today (forgive me for the late start for my first Tuesday...lol) I'm going to be writing a weekly Timesaver Tuesday tip. After all, this blog is focused on products, tips, and ideas to help you make the most of your time spent with your precious little ones. Thus, I thought a Timesaver Tuesday would be totally terrific! I hope that this is a post that you can look forward to each week, and I'd be delighted if you'd share your own timesaving tips with me! They may even be featured on a future Tuesday! Now for the first ever Timesaver Tuesday...

I'm going to keep it simple this first week...very simple! My best daily timesaver is getting all of EG's clothes and accessories set out the night before, even her diaper. I set everything out in a stack on her changing table in the order it gets put on (i.e. diaper on top...shoes on the bottom). Having everything ready to go in the morning saves us at least 15 minutes. And in the morning when hubby and I are rushing to get ourselves ready for work, 15 minutes is a lifetime! Now if I could just get MY clothes organized the night before, EVERY night...

Etsy Find: Puppy Love Quiet Book Giveaway *CLOSED*

Congratulations to the winner shelburns! You have 48 hours to contact me and claim your prize. Thanks to all who entered!

Here are your random numbers:

2
Timestamp: 2009-02-12 21:54:18 UTC

A giveaway just in time for Valentine's Day! I stumbled across Shelley Wallace Designs' quiet books the other day while searching on Etsy. They intrigued me because I am always in search of a way to keep EG entertained when we are out places, especially where we have to wait (i.e. the doctor's office, checkout lanes, etc.), and these seemed like an awesome way to do that. One lucky reader will get to try out the Puppy Love book for FREE! That is a $38.00 value! All of the books she sells are of her own design and are super cute. She also offers the kits so that you can make your own book at a much cheaper price than the completed ones. I hope you'll visit her site and check them out, as well as the other items she has for sale. Thanks to Shelley Wallace Designs for offering this great giveaway!

To enter this giveaway follow the rules below (US ONLY):

1. For your initial, required entry visit Shelley Wallace Designs and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item on her site (other than the Puppy Love book).

To earn extra entries you may do one or more of the following and leave me additional comments here telling me which you have done:

2. Follow me on Twitter and leave a tweet about this contest. Leave me a link to your tweet as well as your Twitter name.
3. Blog about this contest to earn TWO extra entries and leave me a comment with the link to your post. **Be sure to leave TWO separate comments if you do this**
4. Follow my blog through Blogger.

5. Grab my button and place it on your site (w/ link to site in comment) for THREE extra entries. **Be sure to leave me THREE separate comments indicating that you have my button so that they will all be counted**
6. Add my blog as a favorite on Technorati (button on left sidebar)
**Be sure to leave me your e-mail address, if there is not a visible on in your profile, so that I can contact you if you win. This contest will end at 11:59 PM CST on Wednesday February 11. The winners will be randomly chosen via Random.org and notified on Thursday February 12. Good luck to all!**

All You Need is Love...and a Little Creativity - Valentine's Day Ideas for the Family

In light of the current economic crisis, and my recent desire to simplify my life as much as possible, I was inspired to create a blog post for families out there looking to make Valentine's Day a little more meaningful this year...and for little to no money.  I decided that this year I want a Valentine's Day filled with love...real love that doesn't need all of the commercial "fluff" to be experienced.  Thus began my search for some great, low-cost (or NO cost) Valentine's Day ideas that were still fun and festive.  Lucky me, there were lots of ideas to choose from!  I would like to share a few, okay several, of them with you so that you have some great activities to choose from as well.  I hope you find something you can use!  

One great website I stumbled upon was Family Fun.  They currently have a whole section of their website devoted to Valentine's Day with tons and tons of ideas that you can look through.  And the best part of all is that I found most all of them to be pretty budget and family friendly (hence the name I guess).  They have everything covered from recipes to printables to games.  There is something for everyone!  I especially loved the Crayon Hearts idea as a fun valentine that can be reused and isn't junk food.  I actually purchased crayon hearts for my daughter's daycare group before I found this and thought about how easy they might be to make.  I might go ahead and make some with her just for fun!  And don't stop at just hearts; you could also do x's and o's, cupids, etc.  Whatever you can find a mold for!  This is a great, easy idea for any holiday really, just change up the colors and mold.  For all of you moms out there who want something edible but are tired of junk food, I thought the Healthy Hearts were a great idea.  The only supplies you need are watermelon slices, orange slices, and bamboo skewers.  Makes a cute, festive, healthy, edible treat!  These were just two of my favorite ideas, but there are literally hundreds of others you can check out.  They even have how-to videos for some of their Valentine's Day crafts and recipes.  It's definitely worth your time to look through their website!

Some more great ideas I've acquired from friends, other websites, etc. are as follows:

- Sounds obvious, but I'll say it anyway.  Instead of store bought valentines, make your own!  All you need is some construction paper, markers/crayons, glue, accessories (googly eyes, sequins, glitter, stickers...), and some imagination.  A super cute idea (from the Family Fun website...lol) is to take a clothespin and glue two paper hearts side by side on it to make "wings".  Then add pipe cleaners for antennae and write your message on the wings.

- Put a different spin on the Christmas Advent calendar and make a countdown calendar for Valentine's Day.  Choose a simple, special activity to do with your loved ones on each day of the countdown.  If your child(ren) is old enough have him/her help decide which activities to do.  They don't have to be elaborate, just something you do together (i.e. moms and daughters might want to paint each other's fingernails one day).

- On Valentine's Day morning, have a special breakfast together with special Valentine's Day food.  You can easily "Valentine-ize" any foods by using a heart cookie cutter and/or red food coloring.  Pancakes and toast are super easy to cut out.  For snacks later in the day, you can make heart sandwiches or rice krispie treats.  Also, pretty much anything red or pink looks festive...how about a Valentine Smoothie from strawberries and raspberries?

- Create a Valentine's Day treasure hunt that leads to a small gift or a fun activity.  Place the clues on paper hearts.  If you're really creative, handy with a GPS, and it's going to be nice outside, create your own Geocache that leads your family to a favorite place in town (i.e. a restaurant or park).

- Have all family members write "love letters" to each other and deliver them on Valentine's Day morning.  Create and decorate bags or mailboxes for each family member in which to collect their "deliveries".

I hope you've found an idea or two that you can use and I'd love for you to comment with your own!  It doesn't have to take a lot of money to create a memorable Valentine's Day filled with love.  But, whatever you decide to do this Valentine's Day, be sure to include the best gift of all...your time.   :)