I have to admit, when I saw this book slide out of the envelope, it took my breath away.

Because as much as I try to stay totally unbiased when I review things, I saw that duck and wanted to give it a big hug. Doesn’t the duck look like it needs the hug? Not in a sad, pathetic way…more of a ohmygoshitssocuuuute way.

So, I was basically praying the book would be half as good as the cover art…because if the book was bad, well, the duck would cry. Then I’d cry and it would be a mess.

What it Came With

• A Beautifully illustrated book (with CD lyrics in back)
• A CD with 12 songs
• Sticker on the book indicating it received a Parents’ Choice Gold Award

My Expectations

As I mentioned in the beginning…I was totally rooting for the duck.

The Results

I cried. There, I admit it. It’s basically a totally different retelling of The Little Engine That Could. But, you know what, a cute little duck just begs for more of an emotional investment in the story than a train engine. It does for me, anyway.

I found myself saying “Yes, I can!” on the duck’s behalf.

My kids weren’t even here when I did.

Conclusion

The book is great, the CD is adorable and great for kids. It’s not a kid CD with hidden meanings to keep the adults interested, either. It’s straight-up happy-child good-tyme lyrics. From loving a hippo to planting a seed and helping it grow in a garden, this is a CD I am thrilled to play for my girls.

There are also two other phenominal Book/CD combos I was able to check out and the quality of both are beyond belief. I recommend these because the price is fantastic when you consider you’re getting a hardcover book and a full-length CD. Talk about a two-for-one deal.

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What are your favorite books to read to your little ones? Before the Duck in New York City our favorite was the Snuggle Puppy book…but the duck is the new favorite around here.

Yeah, I know, the picture is huge. The problem is if I give you the tiny picture you can’t see all the detail that shows it’s certified organic, has less sugar, and all the stuff that makes this juice make a difference.

The thing is, I don’t care if it plants trees in another country if my kids won’t drink it, so lets see if this organic juice is all it’s cracked up to be.

What it Came With

• Eight little cartons of juice.

My Expectations

Ok, I have to admit it. I tried RW Knudsen juice back in 1998 right when they were bought out by another company. I had nothing to do with the sale of the company - I just tasted the juice. Let me tell you, my expectations were way low. If this juice actually tasted like fruit, I would have been impressed.

But it’s ten years later and I’m sure they wouldn’t still be in business if the juice tasted terrible. Plus, these are made for kids and they didn’t even have juice boxes last I heard of RW Knudsen. So even though my expectations were low, I was more than happy to give it an honest, fair shot.

The Results

My kids love this stuff. The best part? After they were done drinking they actually played with the boxes. All the boxes have Berenstain Bears pictures on them and my kids dig that show. I’m not a huge fan, but hey, cartoon time isn’t about what I like…

Conclusion

We’ve purchased more Sensible Sippers since we received the original sample package in the mail. The kids love it, I get to know it’s organic and has no added sugar, it’s a total win-win.

The Giveaway

We’re giving away three prize packs that include a T-Shirt, juice, and a coupon. Not one box of juice, a package of eight. I have no idea what the T-Shirt looks like, I didn’t get one, but it probably has a Berenstain Bear on it…if it doesn’t I already said I had no idea!

• Rules for gaining extra entries (and there are bunches of ways) can be found on the main Giving Thanks for Giveaways post.
• Comments posted through Nov 26st @ midnight central time will be eligible to win.
• A winner will be announced on the blog Nov 28th.

Good luck!

When i received the headband from Your Couture Kid in the mail, I did not expect my girls to turn into extreme fighting champions trying to be the one to wear it first.

And yet…that’s exactly what happened. It seems the initial “cuteness” factor was too much for my girls and they each felt there could be no taking turns, they wanted to be the one to wear it first.

Seriously, I had to use candy to separate them.

The adorable headband isn’t just a pretty hairpiece, either. My 3-year-old pulled and pushed as she put it on her head and took it off her head, it didn’t break!

Overall I’m thrilled with Your Couture Kid and there will be a few more headbands under the tree for Christmas that my girls won’t have to fight over - they’ll have their own!

Oh, and if your little one isn’t old enough for a headband yet, or they just prefer pigtails - Your Couture Kid has you covered with the most adorable ponytail holders I think I’ve ever seen!

This post was written for the Family Review Network on behalf of Your Coture Kid.

I love turtles. Mixing caramel, chocolate, and nuts is one of the true joys in life - I don’t know anything that tastes more decadent and luxurious than yummy-licious turtle goodness.

When General Mills told me they had come out with a new Turtle Chex Mix Bar … how could I say no?

So the kids and I inhaled tasted the bars and we’re here to report if they’re as good as they sound.

What it Came With

• A box of six full size Chex Mix Bars - Turtle flavor
• A really cute basket that contained…
• A loofah sponge thing with a handle thing.
• A wood nubby thing with a handle for massaging, I think.
• Three lovely chocolate scented tealight candles.
• A nail brush (I forgot how great these were for the kids’ nails - and mine)
• A spa towel (that means mini bathroom towel, I didn’t know that)
• A huge bottle (13.5oz) of the most edible tasting Caramel Buttercream body lotion EVER. (Seriously, when you smell it, you will want to eat it. Don’t. Just trust me, it doesn’t taste as good as it smells.)

That is a lot of stuff in a cool, reusable basket.

My Expectations

I wondered if all the stuff that came in the basket was supposed to distract me from the actual taste of the Turtle Chex Mix Bars. For a moment, I was scared to try them - so I figured I’d give them to the kids first. My expectations were pretty low - I figured if the bars weren’t good I could eat the lotion.

The Results

After the kids ate their bars in record time, I figured they were probably pretty good and I snuck one out of the box before my kids could tackle me for it. Like everything else I have encountered graced with the name of Turtle…it’s YUMMY!

It has 3.5g of fat per bar. Not the lowest level of fat I’ve seen, but a heck of a lot better than a candy bar. Plus each bar has 4g of fiber and 2g of protein. So you can totally pretend it’s healthy and enjoy your Chex Mix Bar guilt-free!

Conclusion

I’m in. I already bought another box of these (and by box I mean the 35 pack from amazon.com - I love buying in bulk so it lasts forever) and have gone through a lot of the products that came in the spa package. I cannot get enough of the lotion and still have to resist eating it every time I put it on my hands. I know you think I’m saying it smells better than it possibly could, but I swear to you, it smells like caramel buttercream like on a cake. The smell mellows on your hands so there is just a wafting of the smell.

The Giveaway

I have three….yes three….spa baskets to give away to my wonderful, amazing readers. One basket per person, though … so if you enter eight times (which you could) and you win twice, I’m sorry but you’re only going to get one basket. That’s so everyone has a chance to get something. If you have a better idea of how to make it fair, I’m available through email and open to suggestions!

• Rules for gaining extra entries (and there are bunches of ways) can be found on the main Giving Thanks for Giveaways post.
• Comments posted through Nov 21st @ midnight central time will be eligible to win.
• A winner will be announced on the blog Nov 24th.

Good luck!

There are a few things I worry about when it comes to buying Sadie her first bike.

• Getting caught on the chain.
• Falling.
• Stopping the bike.
• Getting caught on the pedals.

I’m sure every parent has these same worries, so when I was contacted by Hasbro to check out the new Playskool Glide 2 Ride bike, I thought, “Is this really going to be safer for my daughter?”

Come inside and let’s find out…

What it Comes With

The Playskool Glide 2 Ride is a bike that’s about 90% put together out of the box. You put in the handlebars and tighten, adjust the seat, pump up the tires, and if you’re not putting the pedals on right away…you’re ready to ride. A great way to avoid having to put together a bike for your kid the night before and trying to figure out how to put the hundred piece monster together at three in the morning. Simple and easy (just the way we like it around here!)

My Expectations

I had really high expectations of this bike. Hey, I’m an honest woman. When I see a pink bike that has all these safety features and is touted as being THE hot holiday toy for 2009 - I expect it to deliver in a big way.

The Results

Here is a video of Sadie, my 3 year old daughter, trying out the bike for the first time. She loves it, and I don’t have to worry about her getting tangled in anything.

Make sure the volume on the video isn’t turned all the way up. It’s like negative one million out and I’m huffing and puffing and cold. But don’t mute it - Sadie says some cute stuff.

Glide 2 Ride - MommyBlog Reviews from Jennifer Gniadecki on Vimeo.

After she turned around and went back toward the house, I caught her riding with a more confidant swagger. She almost falls, but rights herself, and then really starts cruising toward our front door!

Glide 2 Ride - End of the Ride from Jennifer Gniadecki on Vimeo.

Conclusion

It’s a huge hit, and I have no idea how I’m going to top this for Christmas. Or if I can top this for Christmas. Luckily she’s three so I can probably play it off and remind her as she’s unwrapping her gifts on Christmas morning that the bike was a Christmas present too. Because I don’t know that there is a toy available that could even come close to beating her first bike.

I love the fact that the Glide 2 Ride has both a hand brake and pedal brakes. I don’t have to dump it and buy a new bike once she learns the balancing act. The seat and handlebars both adjust about four inches up from where they are now - that’s at least a year if not a couple of years of good use. Yea!

I also think it’s nifty it comes in blue.

The Giveaway

You can win your choice of a pink or blue Glide 2 Ride for your little one (or the little one of someone you know). When a child gets a bike for the holidays, it is something they remember forever. Now you can give them that memory without having to worry about tottering, unstable training wheels making it more difficult than it needs to be.

• Rules for gaining extra entries (and there are bunches of ways) can be found on the main Giving Thanks for Giveaways post.
• Comments posted through Nov 21st @ midnight central time will be eligible to win.
• A winner will be announced on the blog Nov 24th.

Good luck!

Here at MommyBlog Reviews we know that shopping for the holidays is tough.

From the budgeting to the picking of the gifts you never feel quite sure you made the right choice. Or, if you feel you made the right choice, you probably feel like you spent too much. If you don’t suffer from either of these problems, you need to write an e-book on gift buying because I know a bunch of people who will buy it! *laugh*

Due to writing deadlines (did you know I was a professional writer?) I have been slackalicious on my giveaways and my poor closet looks like I looted a boutique, a department store, and a spa.

You all NEED this stuff! You can keep it for yourself or your child, or give it as a holiday gift to someone and know you are giving a high quality item for a whole lot of nothing in terms of cost.

This month there are six giveaways. Yep, SIX. The first one will go up tomorrow morning and they will continue through November 28th. Here’s what’s coming up in the giveaways this month:

1. Chex Mix Spa Packages (Package of Chex Mix bars and cool spa stuff.)
2. Glide 2 Ride Bike (Your choice of pink or blue)
3. RK Knudsen Sensible Sippers (free juice boxes and a t-shirt)
4. Crayola Digital Camera
5. Precious Girls Club (book and online access card)
6. BabbaCover infant seat covers (super cute and really functional!)

So get your comments ready, tell your friends, and best of luck to everyone! As usual, we will be using Random.org to pick winners, most prizes are shipped directly from the company so they may take a while to get to you, and for the week of November,here are how to get extra entries:

• Subscribe to the RSS feed.
• Post about any or all of the giveaways on your blog.
• Mention it in a post on a forum you’re part of.
• Twitter it.
• Post it on your MySpace page.
• Post it on your Facebook page.
• Add the 125×125 button below to your blog or web page and then come show me the link in a separate comment!

<a href="http://mommyblogreviews.com"><img src="http://www.mommyblogreviews.com/images/gtfg-125x125.jpg" alt="Giving Thanks for Giveaways" /></a>

Please make sure to post the link in a comment so I can see where you posted!

Enjoy, and I can’t wait to get started bright and early tomorrow morning…let Giving Thanks for Giveaways begin!

New Products, Interactive Entertainment, Samples, Baby Derby Races, and Family Fun - if you’re wondering what’s going to be going on (other than Baby Derby Races (how can you say no to baby derby races?) read on, because it’s going to be fun…plus kids and grandparents get in free!

Information Stations

National and local childcare professionals will provide new and expectant parents with information on various topics such as transportation, safety and nutrition.  Certified car seat safety experts will conduct free demonstrations.

Amy Clark, founder of MomAdvice.com, will be hosting Kenmore Kids’ Kitchen preparing family- and budget-friendly recipes, sharing tips for natural, child-friendly cleaning and showcasing fun crafts you and your family can create at home this holiday season.

Exhibits

One hundred manufacturers, product, service and retail companies from across the country, including Babies“R”Us, Fisher-Price and Chicco, will showcase product lines, trends and innovations.  Consumers have the unique opportunity to interact one-on-one with the nation’s top juvenile product manufacturers.

Numerous new products representing the latest advances in safety, efficiency and fun will be showcased at the event.  The Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat takes the human error out of installation by giving parents visual-check green bubble levels. Fisher-Price My Little Lamb™ Cradle ’n Swing surrounds baby in plush, cozy fabrics, while it cradles and swings, soothes and delights growing babies, and Philips Avent IQ Bottle and Baby Food Warmer automatically calculates the cycle time required for warming frozen or chilled food and liquid with no risk of overheating.

In addition to providing extensive information, the Babies“R”Us pavilion will highlight everything new and expectant parents need when preparing for baby’s arrival, setting up a nursery, traveling with a newborn and establishing a safe environment for baby, as well as information about product demonstrations, expectant parent and grandparent seminars, and THE signature state-of-the-art baby registry.  Parents will be able to preview eco-friendly alternatives to conventional baby products and items from the recently launched Amy Coe Collection, which is available exclusively at Babies“R”Us.  Featuring baby merchandise for today’s fashion-conscious moms and gift givers, the Amy Coe Collection includes modern infant furniture, colorful bedding sets, fun room decor, trendy diaper bags, whimsical plush and gifts, adorable meal-time accessories, plus stylish layette and apparel for infants and toddlers.

Family Entertainment and Activities

The American Baby Faire offers continuous stage entertainment for children of all ages, including dancing and giant-sized books that come to life in musical storytelling productions of Pocahontas, Aladdin and Cinderella.

Everyone’s favorite event, the Babies“R”Us Baby Derby returns once again.  Crawling babies will race hourly for the title of Chicago’s Fastest Crawlers.  Up to 500 babies will race for Babies“R”Us gift cards while cheering moms and dads await the tiny winners at the finish line.  Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners.

The Chicco Rodeo will debut at the American Baby Faire Chicago this year.  Cowboys and cowgirl toddlers can mosey on down to the official “rodeo track” and race toy horses.  The rodeo track features complete with official racing lanes, cowboy referee, straw hats for the racers and fun prizes for winners.

KISS invites parents to dress up their babies & kids in Halloween costume and come to American Baby Faire.  Any child in costume will be entered in a drawing to win fun prizes.

Pricing and Details

The 12th Annual American Baby Faire Chicago will be held Saturday, November 1 & Sunday, November 2, 2008 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, 1551 North Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60173.  Hours are: Saturday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm and Sunday, 11:00 am–5:00 pm.

Admission for adults is $8.00, but discount admission coupons are available at local Babies“R”Us stores. Children under 12 and grandparents are admitted FREE.

The Giveaway

If you would like to attend, MommyBlog Reviews has ten free tickets so not only will gramma and the baby get in free…so will you!

Enter by leaving a comment! Don’t delay or dawdle now - the show is this weekend, Nov 1&2! You know you’re going to want to get the kids out of the house after trick-or-treating on Friday, this will be the perfect place with exhibits to play on and things for you, too, mom!

Helen Hunt marries Matthew Broderick (who still looks 12 years old) in the first scene of this beautiful movie.

Unfortunately, that’s the last good thing you see for a while. This movie is heart-wrenching to say the least. At one point I found myself wondering if the movie was ever going to cut Helen Hunt a break.

Then I thought, oh there it is, there’s the sun through the clouds.

Yeah, that was a fake out.

But I laughed, I cried, and really found the performances to be real. No overly made up stars in this film, no fake moments. Maybe a little overdramatic, but only when it was necessary to get the point across.

This is a fantastic movie and I look forward to recommending it to my friends, because if you like the Lifetime Movie Network, well, let me just say this movie blows anything showing on Lifetime out of the water.

Good plot, great characters, subplots weave together beautifully.

I highly recommend it.

When we opened it there were two very cool products inside. The Bath Blizzard and Aquadoodle Floor Mat from SpinMaster.

We’ve been fans of Aquadoodle products for over a year now (the girls had the travel pads and wall sized Aquadoodles) but hadn’t gotten the kids a floor mat yet. They were thrilled.

One of the things I think is such a nice extra touch on the Aquadoodle is the pictures on the side of the mat. The wall ‘doodles have the pictures too. They are 1-2-3 step pictures on how to draw simple things like a sun, a house, a stick person…my daughter follows the directions. So she’s learning while she’s having fun.

The other package in the box was also a SpinMaster product called the Bath Blizzard. It made the amazing claim that it created bubbles and dumped them into the tub so it was like a never-ending bubble bath for the kids! (never-ending = about fifteen minutes = a lot of bubbles)

While it took us a while to get it going, we followed the directions and did not give up…see what happens…

Even though my fantasies saw those bubbles coming out much chunkier, what matters is what the kids thought. They loved it…and have asked for it every time they’ve taken a bath since the first time.

So I think it was a success!

If you are looking for the perfect invitation, the perfect thank-you card, birth announcement, or even the perfect holiday card…you’ve thought about the envelope.

People do all kinds of crazy things to make the envelope special so the recipient knows what is inside is really special. From wax seals to calligraphy, there are many ways to make your card or letter stand out from the rest of the mail.

PictureItPostage is betting that you’ll want to personalize your correspondance to the last detail - the stamp.

MommyBlog Reviews received a sheet of stamps from PictureItPostage, and here is what I think…

What It Came With

• Twenty stamps on two sheets. These are big stamps, not standard square stamps.

My Expectations

I hate to say it, but when I saw how pretty the pictures of the stamps were on the website, my expectations were low. Could PictureItPostage really make stamps that look that good? Really? From a picture I upload?

While I might have been wary, I always try to reserve outright judgement until I see the product - that way I’m not biased out of the gate. Everyone gets a fair chance.

But I was a little worried.

The Results

I opened the package, slipped out the protective packaging and sheet of tissue that keeps the stamps safe, and gasped. These are beautiful. The ability to choose the solid color on the side of the picture allowed me to pick the same shade as the shirt my daughter was wearing and it really made her picture “pop” off the stamp.

I cannot wait to send these on mail so my family and friends can enjoy the surprise.

One other thing - you can SEE the picture on the stamp. These aren’t tiny stamps, they are pretty big and will absolutely stand out on the front of your card or letter.  

Conclusion

These stamps make me want to put my kids in Santa hats and get a family picture together as fast as possible. If you already have a holidy photo you can use and shrink it and let your recipients be amazed when they realize the picture on your stamp is the same as the picture on your card.

When they ask you how you did it, give them the link to PictureItPostage - stamps make the world a better place and have everyone smiling before they open the card.

Just think how amazed your friends and family will be when you send out a birth announcement with a picture of your adorable new infant on the stamp. That’s a showstopper right there.

This review is part of the Family Review Network.