Rhino Shield Impact Resistant Screen Protector

It's that time again - time to renew our cell phone contracts and upgrade our phones. We had debated waiting a bit, but decided to take advantage of current offers and upgrade from the iPhone 4s to the 5s. That meant it was time for a new round of phone cases and screen protectors too.

We've always had screen protectors and I certainly didn't want to pass on one for our latest investment especially with one young child in the house and another on the way. Kids can be crazy rough on electronics even if they don't mean to be. And, then, of course are the times like when my last phone fell out of my pocket and hit the ground. Not a good thing, but always a bigger sigh of relief when you know you have protected your screen.

I was grateful for the opportunity to try an impact resistant screen protector from Rhino Shield and received the small yellow envelope pictured above. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside is the protector along with everything you need for quick & easy installation.

And the Rhino Shield was so easy to install! I've installed (and sometimes paid & watched installation of) screen protectors in the past and this was by far the easiest. No sprays or wetting. Just clean the phone screen, peel the backing from the protector, stick and smooth out. No waiting. You can immediately use your phone and, in my case, I immediately put the case back on.

I've been using the Rhino Shield for about a month now. It has firmly stayed in place. There are no scratches that I can see. It has gotten a bit smudged up on occasion. I've had a similar issue with past screen protectors and fully blame my make-up (but I'd rather battle the smudges that go without that!). The Rhino Shield also feels more like the original iPhone screen to me than other protectors I've used. A nice smooth finish.

Overall, I'm very pleased with Rhino Shield and would recommend to any smart phone or tablet users who want a little extra protection for their device. To get your own, visit their website or check local stores such a Best Buy, Target, Etc. Rhino Shield retails for $24.99.

Note: I was provided with one Rhino Shield Impact Resistant Screen Protector free for review. No other payment or compensation was received. The opinions expressed are are strictly my own.

Read More

Snackeez review

Do your kids beg you for products they see in commercials? We've started to reach that point which is why I was happy to get the opportunity to review Snackeez for free.

Snackeez (if you've missed those commercials with the catchy jingle) is an all-in-one snack/drink cup. It holds a 16oz drink along with 4oz of a snack in a separate compartment that attaches to the top and features a lid. Sip your drink through the straw. Flip the lid to enjoy your snack. Easy for kids of all ages to use.

After removing our Snackeez from the packaging and washing the pieces (very easy - overall cup, snack cup plus straw and all are dishwasher top rack safe), Dylan was anxious to fill it and give it a try. His choice? Blackberries and water.

As a parent, I do like the all-in-one design. Often he's trying to juggle a cup plus a snack and will drop or spill something. With Snackeez, he simply has to hold the one container and can enjoy both easily. I also appreciate how easy it is to clean.

If you are interested in purchasing Snackeez for your family, visit their website or check your local stores. We've spotted them in Target and Walgreens. Snackeez retails for $9.99 and comes in 4 color combinations.

Note: I was provided with a free Snackeez cup for review. The opinions expressed are are strictly my own.

Read More

#BacktoSchool with Mabel's Labels

It's back to school time and that also means time to label all of your child's belongings. Mabel's Labels is a fun & easy way to do just that. Dylan is still in preschool, but we are labeling like crazy from his clothes to his nap mat.

A few of the summer camp activities he's enjoyed the past couple months have included taking something extra to school. We've been using the personalized Sticky Labels to ID these - a flashlight for "camping out" day and a container with fruit to share during a lesson on gardening. For the fruit, I chose to send it in a plastic, inexpensive container we had on hand and smacked the label right on.

Mabel's Labels are dishwasher & microwave safe as well as waterproof. After "fruit day," the container came home and I tossed it straight into the dishwasher with the label on. When I pulled it out, the label looked as good as it did when I first put it on. Several more uses of the container; temperature change from sitting in the cabinet to storage in the refrigerator to washing & drying in the dishwasher. It still looks perfect.

And then, I had one more thought. This is a 'junk' container, but what if it wasn't. Will the label remove ok? Remember, this is after weeks of use and dishwasher runs. I pulled at the corner and, sure enough, it peeled off easily and cleanly. You can't tell where the label was. Nice!

I'm definitely pleased. If you're looking for a fun & easy way to label your child's belongings for back to school, Mabel's Labels is the way to go.


Can't decide on a single product? You don't have to. Order the Ultimate Back-To-School Combo. It includes 40 Skinny-Minis, 50 Tag Mates, 16 Shoe Labels and 2 Teeny Tags.

Note: a set of 40 Personalize Sticky Labels were provided to me for review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Read More

Lowe's Build & Grow: the story of 2 Disney Planes

We love Lowe's Home Improvement hands down. It's always been our "go to" for home DIY needs especially now that we're in the foreclosure house (always something new to fix here!). It's also a North Carolina company and that just makes it feel more like home.

In the spring, after reading about the successful Lowe's Build & Grow experience for Allison's son who's about 6 weeks older than Dylan, we decided maybe he was old enough and we would start going. It's been a father son thing and the boys have gone to most of the Build & Grow clinics this year starting with the Croods projects.

No secret to our family, friends and blog readers - we also love Disney. When we learned this summer there would be 6 Build & Grow Disney projects, we marked our calendars. We even warned friends ahead of time that Dylan's 4th birthday party would be at the same time as a Saturday build and to register for the Sunday one.

The Build & Grow clinics this month featured Dusty and El Chupacabra from Disney/Pixar's latest movie - Planes. For the first weekend, Trent signed Dylan up for the Sunday clinic. It would time perfectly for when I had to be a baby shower so off we all went on our way to a fun afternoon. The boys arrived just after 2pm and the line was long. Trent even texted me to say he'd never seen so many people. They patiently waited in line for 20 minutes. Anyone with a 4 year old knows what a feat this is. When they got to the front, they were told the kits were all gone. He was offered the two Toy Story kits from July that he had already done. Trent accepted as they had come all that way and Dylan wanted to build something.

Dressed for the event and all the Dusty kits were given away.

After I learned of the situation and came home, I commented on Instagram how we were disappointed. We know it's a free event and offered as a perk to customers. There are no guarantees. But we had also pre-registered and had learned on a previous visit speaking with an employee that there are 100 kits per day - 75 allotted to pre-registered kids and the other 25 for first come, first serve the day of the build. Often they even had leftover.

Lowes contacted me back via social media and asked me to email with details and contact information. I did. The initial email was pretty generic "sorry" and noted the store manager would be asked to contact me. He did call the next day and apologized saying that he was sorry Dylan didn't get the kit. The turnout was far higher than usual - customers came from other parts of the county because their stores filled up so fast. He offered to call other stores and even check with corporate to see if a kit could be found. Both the manager and I were skeptical one would be.

After a week and having not heard back (nor calling myself, I admit), I assumed it was lost cause. We had registered for the Saturday morning Build & Grow clinic this past weekend and arrived 20 minutes early to ensure we didn't have a repeat. We were the 5th or 6th family in line. The boy in front of us looked about the same age. He and Dylan showed off their apron patches to each other as we waited. The boy had the Dusty patch and Dylan matter of factly said, "I did not get that one." Simple as that. He remembered but didn't seem bothered.

New signage and a completed plane at the El Chupacabra build.

While we waited, I noticed signs stating that the Build & Grow would open promptly at 10am and only those registered would get kits until 10:15am. Trent said the signs had not been there before. At 10 the Build & Grow opened, an employee checked our forms and marked us off a list as we went in. Dylan happily got his El Chupacabra kit, built it and then we headed off to buy a few items before heading home. I thought about asking just in case a Dusty had been found, but figured if I hadn't heard back from Lowes by now, the kits were most likely all gone and to just let it be. I was pleased they had heard me out and the new signage plus list checking clearly showed changes had been implemented.

So excited the only shot I could get of his big grin is a blur!

We came home, had lunch and then noticed the answering machine. Imagine my shock to get a message from an employee at Lowes saying they had found Dusty kits and had been looking for us that morning! Apparently we were in and out of the Build & Grow so fast, and my failure to actually ask them, that the employees didn't find us. I called back, found out who we needed to see and Dylan & I returned to Lowes where we were apologized to again and given a BIG box with the Dusty kits. My boy was overjoyed! I was dumbfounded as I looked into the box. I honestly never thought they would find any.

Before we left, we stopped at the kids' build kits by the registers and picked up a small child's hammer to purchase. When we got home, Dylan quickly started on his Dusty plane in our garage. He and Trent later played with Dusty and El Chupacabra racing them all around the garage while I worked on my latest DIY project.

Building Dusty and "flying" Planes in the wind of the fan

All I can say is ... thank you, Lowes! I don't know how & where the kits were found, but we are appreciative. There really couldn't have been a happier outcome.

Read More

FlipsAudio Solo 2 Social Review

I work in an open office. No longer in one of the cubical spaces in the center, but my new office only has 3 full walls and then opens to the rest of the room. This means it can get a little noisy at times even with music flowing through my small computer speakers.

I had been debating headphones for the times I really needed to block everyone else out and focus. So, when I saw a chance to try & review a pair of Solo 2 Social headphones from FlipsAudio, I immediately responded.

Inside the box I found an oval zippered carrying case, the headphones, a USB cord and instructions. The FlipsAudio headphones function like normal headphones when you plug them in and place over your ears to listen.

The USB and instructions were for the speaker option. Charge the headphones using the USB cable and then you can "flip" them to speaker position and share your music with those around (get it - solo 2 social?). What's really cool to me is that the headphones "know" based on position whether you are using them as headphones or speakers. If you take them off and set down in the headphone position, you'll hardly hear anything as you step away. Flip them to speakers and suddenly, there is music to share. Very cool.

Honestly, Dylan managed to try them first and he thought they were pretty cool! I took them to work the next day, tossing the carrying case into my briefcase. Sure enough, there was enough noise mid-morning that I needed to block the world out and focus. I popped on the FlipsAudio headphones and away the background went while I focused on a set of plans I needed to mark up.

Final run down ... these are attractive, well made headphones. They fold easily to store and travel well in the carrying case. I did find them a little tight on my head, but I've had that issue with headphones before. I imagine they will be more comfortable after a few more wears. The padding along the top and at the ears is very comfy.

Interested in getting your own pair? FlipsAudio is offering $10 Off on Flips Solo 2 Social Headphones plus a free rush shipping upgrade when you use the code FA0010INT  This offer is exclusive to purchases made online at www.flipsaudio.com and valid from June 12, 2013 through July 16, 2013. Each unit purchased will receive $10.00 off the online retail price plus an “upgrade” of your shipping from ground to Rush 3-Day at no additional cost to you. This Offer is unlimited in quantity and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Note: The FlipsAudio Solo 2 Social heaphones were provided to me for free for review. The opinions expressed are are strictly my own.

Read More

Little Tikes Neighborhood Market

Over the summer, Little Tikes hosted a giveaway to raise awareness for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. To enter, a photo needed to be shared on Twitter and include the hashtag #LittleTikesLovesLemonade. 5 winners received a free Neighborhood Market playset.

I shared a photo of Dylan driving his Cozy Coupe down our sidewalk. In early July I was contacted by Little Tikes and notified that we were one of the lucky winners!

All of this happened right as we were preparing to sell our house and move. I knew if Dylan saw this new toy, he'd want to open it immediately. Given that anything already boxed would be easier to move, I opted to ship it to my in-laws house and have them store it until we were in our new home.

The day we picked up the toy, I snuck it into our car while Dylan was busy playing with his grandmother. He fell asleep on the ride home. I took advantage of the opportunity to get it into the house without him seeing. A few minutes later, he walked in, saw the box and just stopped & stared. He finally walked over to the box and said, "Wow! Cool." This is before we had even opened it!

All 3 of us worked on putting it together (ok, so Dylan focused more on the toy food & cash register while Trent & I did the "construction" part). And all 3 of us have been playing with it since. Our days are now filled with, "Dada, you want to buy?" "Mama, you want to buy?" Dylan loves selling us food from his market. He even had me write "Dylan's Market" on the sign just like the box.

The entire market is so cute - It has a handle on one end and wheels on the opposite to easily move it to different locations. The food area has clear sliding doors on the front and 2 shelves with 3 bins each to hold the food (it comes with fruit, ice cream cones & cupcakes). Under the sign is an awning to pull down when closed or roll up when open. To complete the fun, the market includes a cash register, 4 plastic dollars and a credit card.

Note: The Neighborhood Market was received free to me as a prize in a giveaway sponsored by Little Tikes. A review or otherwise was not required as part of my win. The opinions expressed within the review are my own.

Read More

Playset

On our wish list for a new house was a playset for Dylan - or at least the space to put one. He's enjoyed Step 2 climbers in the past (Kangaroo and Woodland), but needs something bigger as he grows. We were fortunate to find a house that already had a redwood playset installed. It was a little worn from age and neglect so Dylan & I made a visit to the local Woodplay store last month to set up a date for cleaning & repair.

The set was checked for safety, pressure washed, stained and a new ladder and swings were installed. It literally looks brand new. Dylan was ecstatic when the work was complete and he could finally play.

He even convinced me to climb up in the playhouse with him:

I have a feeling a lot of hours will be spent out here.

Read More

Busted T-Switch

The words "uh oh" can mean a variety of things when it comes to a toddler. I went to see what led to them one morning last month. Dylan had been alone in the living room setting up a new train track while I was cleaning up the kitchen. As I approached, he said, "sorry, Mama." Uh oh. Then I saw it - the broken piece of track:

I was stunned. I didn't even think you could break these tracks. But, sure enough, a portion of it had snapped clean off. Thus I shared the photo via Instagram and Twitter commenting  ":( D broke his @MelissaAndDoug t-switch track." 

For what it's worth, I know Melissa and Doug is very responsive via Twitter. Maybe not to every comment, but they certain man their social media well. I had a quick response to call their 800 number. I did and was shocked to find a REAL person answered the phone. Seriously, for a chatty person, I was momentarily stunned. I expected an automated system and told their customer service rep just that! She laughed and joked with me about it. Then listened to my explanation of why I was calling (broken piece, Twitter). Which all led to this:

Melissa and Doug shipped Dylan a replacement piece! Amazing. I did not expect that at all. Thank you, Melissa and Doug! You rate #1 for us with quality toys and personable, awesome customer service.

Read More

New Fort

Two years ago, we bought a Step2 Kangaroo Climber for Dylan from Craigslist. We've frequently referred to it as his "fort." He's loved it, but also outgrown it. Too tall for the doorway (occasionally forgetting to duck!) and had mastered climbing up & over both sides - it was time for something bigger.

First time down the slide. March 2010

Last week searching Craigslist again, I found a Woodland Climber for a good price. I wasn't certain it would fit in our CR-V, but, thankfully, a friend offered to help and Sunday afternoon we brought it home. Dylan was ecstatic about his "new fort" even though it was in a pile of pieces on our patio!

Monday afternoon, with the rain subsided, we headed outside to clean it off and put it together. Oh, yes, there was still a good bit of sogginess and mud in our backyard, and it was chilly, but that didn't bother him at all. He was so excited to help me clean each piece and assemble it. He was even pointing out which piece was next (without directions!) and telling me what to do. So funny!

Helping clean & assemble the new climber

Right as we finished, the new owner of the Kangaroo Climber arrived. I wasn't sure how Dylan was going to react, but he did great. He climbed on it again while I showed it to her. Then helped us take it apart and carry pieces to the car. He even said "goodbye" as it left to create happy memories for it's 3rd family. A bit bittersweet for me, I'll admit, as it's one more sign my little boy is growing up! But I can't deny the happiness on this little face after climbing up into his new "big" fort for the first time:

A very happy big boy. :)

Read More

New Wheels

You know you're a mom when your "new wheels" excitement equals a new stroller! ;) In late June I saw a tweet from Kolcraft (@Kolcraft) regarding a chance to win their new Contours Optima Tandem Stroller. The contest was detailed on their blog here. Basically, each day during the contest you could tweet an entry that had to start with "Oh Optima how I love your ..." and include the hash tag #ContoursOptima.

I entered 3 times. On the final day of the contest, I sent this tweet:

Oh Optima how I love your sleek design. Walking w/you would be divine. The kids would cheer & I could finally tone my rear. #ContoursOptima

And, lucky me, that ended up being the winning tweet! To say I was shocked was an understatement.

I was still pinching myself when the box arrived on my doorstep! Now for those who missed why I need a double stroller - I watch my 10 month old niece during the week along with Dylan. We get out of the house quite regularly. Some days we do okay with her in Dylan's lightweight stroller and him on the buddy harness (yes, I proudly use one - I'm not willing to chance losing my child or worse). But there are times when I need to be able to push them both and this has been a blessing to all 3 of us.

Can you see the smile on his face?

The seats detach from the frame and, combined with the included universal car seat adapter (a second can be ordered), there are 6 different seating arrangements. Our favorite is both seats facing each other. This allows them to interact. With the previous tandem stroller we had, both seats only faced forward. Dylan was constantly turning to reach "baby" and hand her snacks or was getting frustrated when she leaned forward and pulled his hair. Now they both sit comfortably.

I like the padded grip, parent tray, large storage basket underneath (I can easily fit both their diaper bags with room leftover) and how smooth the stroller rides. It's so nice to be able to comfortably push & maneuver a stroller that seats two. We've taken it for a spin all over from the mall to 2+ mile walks down the greenway.

Padded grip and large parent tray with 2 cup holders

One of the other things I like is that this stroller is only 37 pounds making it nice and lightweight. It can be folded with both seats attached or one/both removed. I have found it simplest and easiest on my back to remove both seats, then fold the frame to place it in my car. This may sound tricky, but the seats detach so easily, I can quickly do it now and be on my way.

This literally just touches the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other great details (the adjustable height canopies, different seat & footrest angles, 5-point harness on both seats, etc) and two stylish color schemes to choose from. Overall, I'm very pleased and think it's a wonderful product. Thanks again to Kolcraft for this great prize!

Note: The Contours Optima Tandem stroller was received free to me as a prize in a giveaway sponsored by Kolcraft. A review or otherwise was not required as part of my win. The opinions expressed within the review are my own.

Read More

Kudos

I've blogged about both my JJ Cole diaper bag and Maclaren stroller in the past.  Love them both for their style, practical use and affordability.  Add to that fabulous customer service by both companies.

I first contacted JJ Cole last year when the fabric on my original System bag began to pull apart.  I had barely used it 6 months.  They were quick to respond and not only ship me a brand new bag, but the newer System 180 which is a bit bigger.  Fast forward to this year and two zipper pulls snapped on me in a week's time:

I still need/use my diaper bag to tote around our daily essentials from diapers and wipes to snacks, sippy cup, change of clothes, etc.  And I still need it to zip up.  So, I called JJ Cole again.  I explained the situation from the bag replacement last year to the zipper pulls breaking now.  I was not looking for a new bag, just new pulls so I could still use my bag.  No problem.  A couple days later I had my pulls and just like that I'm back to a fully functioning bag!  Yay!

With the Maclaren Volo stroller, I had a small tear issue.  The fabric was pulling apart/tearing at one front corner of the seat where it was sewn:

I called Maclaren and spoke to a very friendly customer service representative.  I explained my problem and emailed him photos.  The following week, I had a brand new seat cover!

I really appreciate the great customer service from both companies!  It's nice to know that there are companies that still stand behind their products.  :)

Note: Review contains my personal opinion and was not requested by nor a requirement of either company.

Read More

HappyBaby Food Review & Giveaway

As a mother, it's important to me to give my son the best food possible. From his first day of life, I started by breastfeeding. (Not that I disagree with formula. We even supplemented with some during Dylan's early days at the urging of our pediatrician for health reasons.) As he began to eat solid foods, I starting making his food and I still make the majority of the foods he eats. However, there are some foods I don't make (ie, rice cereal) and sometimes I've just fallen behind or want to mix up the pallet a bit.

I originally stumbled across HappyBaby Food by accident one day perusing foods in the freezer aisle of the grocery store. I loved that they had food just like my homemade ones - organic foods, pureed and frozen into 1 ounce portions. I picked up a box to try at home. Dylan loved the taste and devoured them. I loved the convenience and good nutrition.

When the opportunity arose to taste test a few HappyBaby Food products for a review and giveaway, I jumped at the chance. It was a bit like Christmas when the packages arrived. We received an assortment of frozen and dry foods to try.

Dylan is in a self-feeding stage right now where he prefers to feed himself more than eat off a spoon from us. That said, we started our taste testing with the HappyBites products. The variety of shapes and textures of the different options seemed to grab his attention right away. I think he was curious about these new items that we didn't cut into tiny pieces. He could finally grab, hold and bite into them on his own.

Enjoying a Chicken Bite

The only leftovers on Dylan's highchair tray after trying the Chicken Bites and Salmon Stix were a bit of the breading. Can't blame him there. Personally, I found the Mac+Cheese and the Chicken to be very tasty. All three cooked best in the oven.

We already had some familiarity with the HappyBaby Frozen products so I was excited to see flavors that we hadn't tried in the shipment. Dylan surprised me with his love of the "Mama Grain" mixture of organic bananas, black beans and quinoa. This particular flavor smelled like banana bread. Yum!

The Organic Puffs and HappyMelts were also a big hit. I've tried both myself and found them to be tasty. Dylan eats every piece that he can get his hands on so I take it he finds them tasty too. The puffs were less sugary than other brands we've used which is a huge plus to me as a parent.

All in all, we were very pleased with all the products we tried and Dylan will definitely be enjoying more in the future. Now we want to share with you. Compliments of HappyBaby Food, one reader will win the following:

• 2 free trial coupons for each of the HappyBaby Food product lines
• 1 FAQ on Probiotics & DHA
• 1 Infant & Toddler Nutrition Guide, co-authored by Dr. Sears
• 1 HappyFamily Recipes

To Enter, leave a comment on this post with your baby's favorite HappyBaby Food product or which product you think your baby might like the best.

Want to gain additional entries? Here are a few ways:

1. follow this blog
   
2. follow me on Twitter - @2pawsdesigns
3. follow HappyBaby Food on Twitter - @HappyBabyFood
   
4. tweet about this giveaway using "I want to win the HappyBaby Food #giveaway from @HappyBabyFood & @2pawsdesigns! #contest Please RT" (valid for extra entry once per day)
5. blog about this giveaway
6. "like" 2paws Designs on Facebook
7. "like" HappyFamily on Facebook
   

For each additional entry, please post a new comment. Ie, if you tweeted or blogged about the giveaway, come back and post a link. Thanks!

Giveaway is open to all US residents 18 years or older. Ends Sunday, June 20th at 9:00pm Eastern time. Winner will be picked by random.org. Winner will be contacted by email address. Be sure to either leave a valid email address along with your comment or check back on Monday, June 21st when the winner is announced to email it to me then.

Note: HappyBaby Food products were received to try for review, however, all opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Read More

CSN Stores Review

Last month, I hosted a giftcard giveaway for CSN Stores and they were kind enough to give me the opportunity to shop as well. With over 200 online stores, there are a LOT of shopping possibilities. I fully expected to make a decision and place my order that week. Instead I had way too much fun surfing their sites to see what my options were.

I finally made my selections and placed my order over Memorial weekend. I chose a necessity (Rolodex refill cards) for our home office and a few fun things for Dylan from CSN Baby. I liked the ease of shopping in two stores with one checkout. I did have to re-login when I shopped the second store, but that was a small price to pay versus having two separate checkouts and two separate charges for shipping costs.

The first package arrived midweek and, by this past Monday (5 business days total), all four items had reached my doorstep.  I was quite pleased especially since I had selected regular shipping.

Dylan eagerly grabbed at this Melissa and Doug puzzle as soon as I pulled it out of the box.

Overall, I was very satisfied. The websites were user friendly. The products are excellent quality and arrived very fast. Thanks, CSN Stores!

Note: CSN Stores contacted me with this promotional opportunity and I received a giftcard for my review. However, all opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Read More

Thank you, Munchkin!

We recently won the Corner Bath Organizer from Munchkin as part of their "Munchkin Monday" on Twitter (#MunchkinMonday). After opening the box, I handed the package to Dylan. He was patting it while I tried to take a photo:

And patting or clapping is his form of showing excitement so I took this to mean he was quite pleased.

This organizer is a bit unique from others we've seen. It attaches snuggly in the corner of our bath with 4 suction cups. The open design and mesh window on the front make it easy to see and access your toys. Made of neoprene fabric, it is soft and mildew resistant. It features a small hole in the bottom to drain excess water. The organizer comes in two colors so we requested blue which matches nicely with Dylan's other bathroom accessories.

Now Dylan just needs a few more toys to fill it up with! ;)

Overall, this is a very nice product in our opinion and we appreciate the gift. Thanks, Munchkin!

Note: Corner Bath Organizer was received as a prize for participating in the Munchkin Monday contest on Twitter. Review contains my personal opinion and was not requested by Munchkin nor a requirement of receiving the prize.

Read More

YoBaby!

I recently started buying YoBaby yogurt for Dylan - who loves it and devours every bite. The packaging advertised a rewards program via the Stonyfield Farm website. Being a frugal minded mama, I, of course, went to check it out. While on the website I registered and found the page for printable coupons. I made my selections, clicked print and .... well, no coupons. Instead a webpage telling me I had printed my limit came up. Um, but I wasn't able to print any. I clicked my way over to the "contact us" section, explained my predicament and asked if there was any other way to obtain coupons. I expected I might get an automated response and then, maybe, a real reply in a day or two. I was wrong. I received a response in about an hour's time and was told that some coupons would be mailed to me. Woohoo! This was all last Monday and what did I find in yesterday's mail - my coupons. :)

Read More

Diaper Bag Love

Last April a group of friends from church gave me a surprise baby shower and part of their gift was the diaper bag we'd registered for. Trent & I picked out the bag on a whim while registering at Babies 'R Us because he said he'd carry it. If the husband will carry the diaper bag, that's a winner. ;)


"The bag" was the System bag by JJ Cole Collections. I have loved using this bag - it has a great organizer pocket on the front and comes with stroller attachments, a pacifier pod (easy to keep our beloved Soothie nearby when out & about), and a changing pad tote. That said, you can imagine my disappointment last month when I noticed that the fabric was beginning to pull apart around the zipper to the main compartment. Since I'm still not working, purchasing a new bag would be an extra expense we don't need right now. So I decided to take my chances and call the company directly to see if there was any way to get it repaired or replaced.

Any time I call a company, I expect to hear an automated system. Listen to a dozen options. Press a button. Maybe listen to a few more options. Maybe listen to music or a commercial while waiting as patiently as possible for a real human being to answer the phone and talk to me. Well, I nearly fell out of my chair when a real person answered immediately! And she was polite and helpful. Took all of my information and promised I would get a call back.

Sure enough, the next day I received a call. Explained the problem. Emailed a few photos. And last Friday the replacement bag arrived at my door:

Even Cali likes the new bag. :)

They were kind enough to replace my bag with the newer design - the System 180 bag. I definitely loved my old bag, but, oh my, am I madly in love with this new one! Along with all the great features of the original, this bag is a bit larger and has an extra pocket.

I can't say enough positive words about JJ Cole & their wonderful employees. It's nice to find a company that stands behind their product and people who obviously enjoy their job & assisting the customer. Many thanks!

Read More

Busy Evening

Last night we made our second trip to Best Buy this week. Our all-in-one printer recently died (amazing how much you realize you need a printer when you don't have one) and we had finally purchased a new one on Sunday. Once we had it hooked up, it was obvious it was a lemon. It sounded as though every internal piece was scraping. The cats both were bug eyed and looking around trying to figure out what thing was causing such a dreadful noise. Then to top it off, there was a spot under the scanner glass so every scan came out with a dot on it. The employees at customer service were easy about the exchange and the new printer works perfectly. On top of that, we were able to leave our old printer for free recycling. If you have any electronics that need recycling, I definitely recommend checking out their program - for us it is far more convenient than driving to the local county recycling center.

After we returned home, I spent some time making Cat Squares for the 2 orders I had yesterday in my Etsy shop. A little shot of the work in progress (that awful checked fabric in the background is the ironing board cover - I hate it, but that $10 board & cover have lasted me 10 years now so I can't complain too much):

Read More