Howard B. Wigglebottom: Children’s Book Review + Giveaway!

I love getting children’s books for Kynlee…so much so that she has her own bookcase in her room! She loves to “read” to herself and flip through the pages contently but she also loves being read to by anyone who will. When the opportunity arose for us to review a Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen book, we happily accepted!

We are at a point where we are trying to teach Kynlee that she needs to mind and learn to listen, so this book was perfect! Yes, she’s only 14 months old, but she knows not to do certain things, although she will test us on those quite frequently!

The first half of the book talks about how Howard isn’t listening and the consequences that follow. The last half of the book shows Howard deciding to be a better listener and reaping the benefits! There is a page in the back that shares six tips on How to be a Better Listener and I just loved that they included that! There is also another page that has “Listening Discussion Questions” that you can go over with your child. Obviously, Kynlee is too young for those right now but they’ll be perfect in a couple of years. I also loved the illustrations in this book – they are very cute and perfect for kids.

I’m most excited that Kynlee will be able to learn a valuable lesson while enjoying her story time with this book throughout the years. I’ve been trying to decide which book I want to get for her next, and I think it’ll be this one:

These books would make a great Christmas present or stocking stuffer for your little one! And guess what? You can win one right here! Just fill out the super easy Rafflecopter form to be entered to win.

Tiny Prints Review

It’s that time of the year again! Time to start thinking about Christmas cards. Or, if you’re like me, time to start fretting & frantically trying to find the *perfect* card. Recently I’ve seen Tiny Prints floating around the blogosphere and although I’ve never ordered from them personally, I did notice that the invitations for one of my baby showers came from there and they turned out really cute!

So, I decided to browse around their Christmas cards. I tend to like flat cards versus folded when it comes to Christmas cards so I immediately starting narrowing down my options by filtering the results. There are TONS to choose from and it can be a tad overwhelming if you’re not sure what you’re looking for!

I’m still undecided on which one to get but here are a few of my favorites…

(click on the images for direct link)

It’s so hard to decide! I like to send them out the first or second week of December, so I guess I’ve still got a couple of weeks to think about it. I truly love sending Christmas cards and I also love receiving them!! Before we had Kynlee, I sent out cards to our family and friends but they were just “regular” cards. Now that Kynlee is here we definitely have to have a picture (or several) on the card each year!

 

Does your family send out Christmas cards each year? If so, what’s your favorite card this year?

 

*I will be receiving 50 free Christmas cards for posting this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.*

Kid Puzzles Review

Kynlee, at 14 months, LOVES puzzles. She’s not quite able to put the pieces in just right but they definitely intrigue her. When the opportunity arose for us to review a puzzle from Kid Puzzles, we jumped on it!

Kid Puzzles are created by Marvin and Margaret Jack, who have been making puzzles for over 27 years right here in the USA - 100% themselves! Yes, you read that right. They make each and every puzzle completely themselves. I love that!

For our review, we were sent the Dancing Fruit peg puzzle pictured below:

How cute is this??

I love that the puzzle is hand-painted (non-toxic) and wooden! It seems like it will last for a very long time so that in itself motivates me to keep up with all of the pieces so that our future children can play with it, too.

As soon as I opened the package, Kynlee started playing with it right away! I didn’t even have a chance to snap a photo of just the puzzle before she was right there, front and center.

If you’d like, this puzzle (and many others on their website) can also be personalized with your child’s name. How fun!

The beginner puzzles (like the one we were sent) range from $17-$25 and are approximately 8 5/8" x 11 3/4". They also come with the pegs to make it easier for smaller children. (The more advanced puzzles come without the pegs!)

This small family business also makes 3D Multi-Layer Puzzles and Puzzle Stools for children! Any of their items would be a PERFECT gift for children with the upcoming holidays & a great way to support a small business so definitely check them out on their website!

Kynlee is thoroughly enjoying this puzzle and we are looking forward to getting a personalized one soon. We’ll be sure to share when it comes in!

*Disclaimer: We were sent the item for review free of charge from the company or PR representative. No other compensation took place. As always, the thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.

Our Little Ladybug: Wholesale Halloween Costumes {Review}

I have been racking my brain trying to decide what Kynlee should be for Halloween this year. Last year for Halloween, she was only 2 months old so I didn’t really put her in a costume. Instead, she wore a Halloween onesie with a black&orange tutu, black tights, and a Halloween hair bow to match. She definitely looked cute!

Since she’s older this year and will be going trick-or-treating (to family members’ houses) I wanted to get her a costume but I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to get. I started searching the internet for somewhere to buy cheap costumes. Let’s face it – I don’t want to spend a ton of money on an outfit she will wear just one time.

That’s when I found Wholesale Halloween Costumes. They have a huge variety of costumes to choose from – so I filtered the results to show only the baby Halloween costumes. After going back and forth between a few of the costumes, Luke and I decided on the Lady Bug Infant Costume.

I’m happy to report that it is perfect for her! I was worried that the tutu would be itchy against her skin, but it didn’t seem to bother her one bit! I was also worried that it was going to be too big, since the size range is up to 24 months and K (at 13 months) is on the smaller end for weight/height but it fits her like a glove :). The wings “flap” when she walks and it is just precious. They velcro onto the back of the dress – super simple & easy to do!

We already had the ladybug hair clip and it’s the perfect completion for the costume! For Halloween, I’ll add some black tights/shoes and a black long-sleeve onesie (if it’s actually cold). Other than that all I will have to do is steam out the wrinkles!

This costume has a retail value of $24.99 but can be bought for just $12.70 at Wholesale Halloween Costumes! I doubt I’d pay the $24.99 for it, but just because it’ll only be worn once. I do think $12.70 is extremely reasonable for this adorable costume!

Disclaimer: I was sent the costume by the company or PR representative free of charge in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation took place. Your opinion of the product may differ from mine.

Young Love

A few weeks ago I was sent Mat Kearney’s album “Young Love” to review. I was so excited for the opportunity so I jumped on it quick! I think Mat is a wonderful artist with BIG talent and I was eager to review his new album!

Originally Thinglinked @ jjrepublic.tumblr.com

First of all, Mat’s voice is down right AMAZING. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I love all of the songs on this album and I especially love that it’s not full of “unnecessary words” that I wouldn’t want Kynlee to hear. His words seem to fit my life perfectly and I am instantly in a better mood when I listen to his music. The songs on this album just make me happy. They make me want to get up and dance (in the comfort of my own living room, of course, with blinds and curtains drawn. Ha!).

Past songs of Mat’s have been on numerous TV shows including: 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, Friday Night Lights, Scrubs, NCIS, and several others so you’ve probably heard those before.

Below are the songs you’ll find on his Young Love album (which debuted at the #1 spot and can can be purchased on iTunes):

Hey Mama

Ships In the Night

Count On Me

Sooner or Later

Chasing the Light

Learning to Love Again

Down

She Got the Honey

Young Dumb and In Love

Rochester

Seventeen

My current favorite!

Mat will be going on tour in September and is playing nearly 40 shows in US & Canada.  Tickets are on sale now! Check out his website for more information.

You can also follow Mat on Facebook and Twitter!

Have any of you listened to Mat's new album? What are your thoughts on his music?

Disclaimer: I was sent Mat Kearney’s  album “Young Love” for free in exchange for my honest review thanks to One2One Network. All thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are my own & I will always give my honest opinion of a product. Your opinion of the product may differ from mine.

LOVABLE LABELS – #ABE2 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: *EXTRA ENTRIES*

I am so excited to share with you all the second sponsor for my ABE 2.0 prize package of “Making Your Life Easier”….

Lovable labels are, you guessed it… labels! Not just any labels, though. These are “labels that stay put because kids’ stuff doesn’t!”

E-Mealz ~ Review & Giveaway!

I am so excited to share with you my thoughts on E-Mealz… an online menu planning service AND one of my sponsors for ABE 2.0 (more to come on that later)!

I have seen a lot of information about it in the blog world and really wanted to try it myself. Let me just say… I absolutely.love.it. Not only do they offer a variety of meal plans that is sure to fit any family, they also match up many of the ingredients with what is on sale at your local store that week. Genius!

I originally signed up for the Low-Fat Walmart family plan. I decided to change to the Regular Walmart plan and make adjustments as needed (like substituting low fat options). I found that we like the menu options better on the regular plan and it was super easy to alter that plan to low-fat in our own way (which is what we normally do with recipes anyway). If you have a picky eater in the family – no need to worry! Several of the options are kid-friendly! The next two meals I want to try are the Steamed Cajun Shrimp & the Quick ‘n Tangy Beef Stir-fry. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Another reason why I love E-mealz? It’s budget-friendly! We’ve been trying really hard to pay off some debt and stick to a budget so when I saw this site was “Dave Ramsey Approved” that was a huge bonus! At just $1.25 per week ($5 per month) it is VERY affordable and will save you a ton of time in the meal-planning department!

Below is a sample menu from the meal plan we are currently using!

Doesn’t it all sound delicious???

E-mealz is the PERFECT option for busy families – especially with school starting back so soon! Kynlee’s not in school, yet, but I am! So…anything that can make my life a little easier… I am all for!

Be sure to check out E-mealz on their website, Facebook, & Twitter pages!

Now, how does a giveaway sound?

How does TWO giveaways sound? Pretty good, huh?!

E-mealz is offering two of my readers a 3-month subscription to their site! Please fill out the form to enter.

*Also note: This is my first time using Rafflecopter for a giveaway so let me know how you like it or if you experience any problems while trying to enter! Thanks!*

GoGreen Pocket Diapers Review & Giveaway

Although we have not yet been able to make the full switch to cloth diapers, I have enjoyed reviewing different brands and finding what works best for us so that when the time comes to purchase our stash we know exactly what to get!

Several weeks ago Leah from GoGreen Pocket Diapers sent us this Twinkle Tush diaper to review!

The first thing I love about GoGreen diapers are the prices! The diapers range from $8.99-$14.95 making them very affordable and comparable to other brands!

I also love that these diapers are One-Size so that you don’t have to keep moving up in sizes (read: buying more diapers). A lot of people worry that you won’t get a very good fit for your baby with a one-size diaper. Well, that is true with some of the other brands but Go Green’s diapers fit K like a charm!

This standard diaper comes with one microfiber insert. I found this to be absorbent enough for Kynlee but if you have a heavy-wetter you may want to stuff it with one or more.

These diapers are also snaps. I believe snaps to be the overall better choice over velcro. Actually, when kids are infants, the velcro isn’t a big deal but as they get older and learn how to take their own diaper off (!!!) you’ll be wishing you had snaps! Snaps also don’t get wear out as quickly.

On the GoGreen website you’ll also find other diaper accessories like wet/dry bags, cloth wipes & inserts, and snap-on aplix conversion kits (coming soon)!

Would you (or your child, rather) like to try one of these great diapers?

Leah has so graciously offered to do a giveaway here at KUWK!

*Please make sure to leave a comment for each entry you are completing. Also make sure to include your email so I can notify you if you win!*

WIN!!!:

One of my readers will win their own GoGreen Pocket Diaper!

(Color choice of boy/girl/neutral)

Mandatory Entry:

Follow this blog publicly on Google Friend Connect.

That's it!

(You do not have to be a blogger to follow)

Extra Entries (Optional):

-Like GoGreen Pocket Diapers on Facebook Thank them for the giveaway on Keeping up with Kynlee! (1 entry)

-Like Keeping up with Kynlee on Facebook (1 entry)

-Follow @GoGreenDiapers on Twitter (1 entry)

-Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)

You can also:

-Subscribe to this blog via email & ACTIVATE subscription (+2 entries)

-Tweet this giveaway, up to 2x per day, leaving the permalink each time. (1 entry per tweet)

“ Win a @GoGreenDiapers from @whitbjordan’s blog! Ends 7/10. Open to US/Canada. http://bit.ly/jkXTES #clothdiapers ”

***Giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only and will run until 11:59PM EST on July 10, 2011. Random.org will be used to choose the winner. I will notify the winner by email and that person has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.***

GOOD LUCK!

Disclaimer: I was provided with the item(s) for review free of charge. No other compensation took place. I will always give my honest opinion when reviewing a product and your opinion may differ from mine.

Baby Einstein Discovery Kits! Review & Giveaway

We recently had the opportunity to review one of three new Discovery Kits by Baby Einstein and I want to share my thoughts with you about it!

(At the end you'll have a chance to win your own Discovery Kit!)

 The kit we reviewed is called Baby Lullaby and it comes with a DVD, CD, and book. 

Let me start off by saying this: Kynlee hardly watches any TV. I mean it's a rare occasion when she does. When Kynlee was between 3 and 4 months old, we let her watch "tv" for the first time (it was the laptop actually, streaming netflix). She's probably watched TV or movies on the computer around 10 times since then. That's it. Nothing seemed to hold her attention. Until now :).

Enter: The Baby Lullaby kit. Also known as The Life Saver kit (okay it's not technically known as that, but that's what I like to call it). It plays classical lullabies by Bach, Brahms and Mozart. You (and baby! ha) can relax to the sound of ocean waves, watch puppet shows and view other tranquil images. If I'm being honest here (and I always am) the DVD was seriously putting my husband and I to sleep because it is SOO relaxing!

Check out the informational video below about the discovery kits.

Kynlee literally sat in her exersaucer and watched the DVD all the way through. Luke and I kept looking at each other in awe that she was still watching! I call this kit a lifesaver because I can pop in the DVD while I need to get other things done around the house and I know it will hold her attention.

The book in this kit is small with pictures - the perfect size for Kynlee to hold and look at herself! The CD plays throughout most of the day and it's also awesome!

Overall we have been thoroughly pleased with this discovery kit and plan to get several more (if not all of them)!

For those of you who would like to try out these discovery kits for yourself, they are sold in stores and also online. Check out BabyEinstein.com for more purchasing details. These kits retail for around $19.99 US/$24.99 Canada.

But how about trying one out for FREE? :)

One lucky reader of mine will win their very own Discovery Kit that includes a DVD, CD & cards! The kit being offered is the Neptune's Oceans. This is the kit I am planning to get next - we can't wait to try it out!

WIN:

Neptune's Oceans Discovery Kit

Mandatory Entry:

Follow this blog publicly on Google Friend Connect. 

That's it!

(You do not have to be a blogger to follow)

Extra Entries (Optional):

-Like Baby Einstein on Facebook (1 entry)

-Like Keeping up with Kynlee on Facebook (1 entry)

-Follow Baby Einstein on Twitter (1 entry)

-Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)

-Tweet up to twice per day, leaving the permalink each time (1 entry per tweet):

"  Want to #win 1 of the NEW Discovery Kits from @whitbjordan & @babyeinstein? Enter here: http://bit.ly/hG0D6D! Ends 4/23, open to US/Canada.  "

-Subscribe to this blog via email & ACTIVATE subscription (+3 entries)

***Giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only and will run until 11:59PM EST on April 23rd, 2011. Random.org will be used to choose the winner. I will notify the winner by email and that person has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.***

GOOD LUCK!

Disclaimer: I received this free Discovery Kit through a LBi/Baby Einstein program. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and no other monetary compensation took place. I'd like to thank the company and/or PR representative for the item(s) I was sent for review and also for the item(s) being given away to one of my readers.

Thirsties Clothdiaper Review & Giveaway!

I recently had the opportunity to work with a great cloth diaper company named Thirsties®.

What I love most about their diapers is that they are 100% made in USA by work at home mommas! That is not always the case with other cloth diaper brands. 

We were sent the Warm Stripes Duo Diaper to review.

How cute is that? :)

These diapers came in two different sizes. 

Size One fits 6-18 lbs., 0-9 months.

Size Two fits 18-40 lbs., 9-36 months.

This means that you get a trimmer fit, which is great on my small baby! This was our first time trying a sized cloth diaper and I was instantly sold!

Not only is this diaper a trim fit, it is super absorbent! We have not had any leaks and are very pleased.

This was also our first time trying a diaper with aplix closure. All of the others we've tried use snaps to close. I must say, the aplix is very strong and seems like it will last a long time.

The outside of the duo diaper is made with 100% polyester and has a waterproof urethane coating.

The inner is made with 100% polyester microfleece.

Insert 1: 55% hemp, 45% cotton

Insert 2: 100% polyester-microfiber terry

This diaper is FREE of VOC's, PVC, phthalates, lead & latex. 

The duo diapers range in price from $18.50 (for solids) to $19.50 (for prints). 

They also have an outlet section where you can find the duo diapers, as well as their other styles, at a discounted price!

I was very happy with the overall look, feel, ease of use and trim fit of this diaper! I will definitely be adding some more to our stash. 

If you would like more information, visit the Thirsties website or request a free catalog. 

Now it's giveaway time!

The wonderful people at Thirsties are offering one of my lucky readers their very own Duo Diaper!

WIN:

One Duo Diaper

TO ENTER:

This is mandatory if you'd like to be eligible to win.

Follow this blog publicly on Google Friend Connect or let me know if you already do. Then comment on this post & include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

That's it! Pretty simple.

 (GFC is on the left side of this blog & you do not have to be a blogger to follow). 

EXTRA ENTRIES:

These entries are completely optional but are only valid once the mandatory entry is completed.  You may complete any or all. Leave a separate comment for each completed (remember to include your email).

-Like Thirsties on Facebook & thank them for the giveaway on Keeping up with Kynlee! (+1 entry)

-Like Keeping up with Kynlee on Facebook (+1 entry)

-Follow ThirstiesInc on Twitter AND me on Twitter (+1 entry)

-Tweet the following up to 4x per day with at least 1hr between tweets leaving the permalink each time (+1 entry for each tweet):

" #Win a DuoDiaper from @whitbjordan & @ThirstiesInc here: http://bit.ly/esCSOc! Ends 3/14. Open to US/Canada. #clothdiapers  "

-Subscribe to the blog via email & CONFIRM subscription in order for entries to count. (+3 entries, leave 3 separate comments).

Please note: Giveaway is open to U.S. & Canada only and will end at 11:59PM EST on March 14th, 2011. Random.org will be used to choose the winner. Winner will then be contacted by email and has 48hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. 

GOOD LUCK!!!

*Disclaimer: I was provided with the item for review free of charge. I was not compensated in any other way. The thoughts and opinions of the product are strictly my own & I will always give my honest opinion when reviewing products. Your opinion of the product may differ from mine. 

itti*bitti clothdiaper review & giveaway!

I was recently given the opportunity to review 2 clothdiapers and a wetbag from itti*bitti, a company not in the U.S. yet (but coming in March)!

The first diaper is called:

The bitti tutto is a One Size Fits Most (from a tiny newborn to small child). This is ranked the top diaper (nappy) in Australia! We were sent a pink bitti tutto and  we LOVE it! Here's a couple of pictures of the bitti tutto from the website:

grows with your child!

(inside of the diaper)

This one size diaper also comes with three soaker pads so you can customize the absorbency amount to fit the needs of your child. These instructions will tell you how to accurately use your bitti tutto and soaker pads!

The outside of the bitti tutto has a waterproof minkee fabric for baby's comfort. I can assure you...it is super soft and Kynlee seems to love it :)! 

I'm usually pretty skeptical about One Size's as far as bulkiness goes but itti bitti did not disappoint! This bitti tutto diaper still has a trim fit and looks so adorable on K! Another thing I'm skeptical about when it comes to One Size diapers is the actual size. Will it fit my small baby? The answer is YES on this one. The bitti tutto fits K so well and we have had NO leaks!

The second diaper we were sent to review is called:

The bitti d'lish diapers come in two different styles: Snap in One (SIO) and All in One (AIO). We chose to review a purple AIO!

The bitti d'lish AIO's are great for convenience with the one piece design. Let's face it - these days I am ALL ABOUT convenience! These diapers are also very easy to use because there is nothing to snap in or extra pieces to fold - which is great for dads or care-givers who are unsure of the cloth-diapering process!

AIO's naturally have a longer drying time but I noticed that the bitti d'lish dried really fast compared to other AIO's.

The thing I love most about this diaper is how absorbent it is! It holds up well overnight (which is when Kynlee is wet the most).

Overall we really LOVE this diaper and the trim fit on Kynlee!

The next item we reviewed was a (pink):

Luxury Wetbag

itti bitti luxury minkee wetbags are designed for storing wet diapers when out & about.

They are made from waterproof laminated minkee, zippered to hold in smells, the perfect size for a day out, and hold around 4-6 diapers (website says around 4 but I can fit 6)!

The bitti tutto & bitti d'lish both worked so well for us that I can't pick a favorite! We love them both. The wetbag is also wonderful to have for her diaper bag!

Would you like to try itti bitti diapers for your child? Well now you can! The awesome people from itti bitti are offering one of my readers their very own bitti tutto, bitti d'lish AIO and a wet bag!

WIN:
one bitti tutto

one bitti d'lish AIO

one colored wet bag

TO ENTER:
This is mandatory if you'd like to be eligible to win.

Follow this blog publicly on Google Friend Connect or let me know if you already do. Then comment on this post & include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

That's it! Pretty simple.
 (GFC is on the left side of this blog & you do not have to be a blogger to follow). 

EXTRA ENTRIES:

These entries are completely optional but are only valid once the mandatory entry is completed.  You may complete any or all. Leave a separate comment for each completed (remember to include your email).

-Like ittibitti.US on Facebook & thank them for the giveaway on Keeping up with Kynlee! (+1 entry)

-Like Keeping up with Kynlee on Facebook (+1 entry)

-Follow ittibittiUS on Twitter (+1 entry)

-Follow me on Twitter (+1 entry)

-Tweet the following up to 4x per day with at least 1hr between tweets leaving the permalink each time (+1 entry for each tweet):

" Win 2 #clothdiapers & a wetbag from @whitbjordan & @ittibittiUS! Ends 3/3. http://bit.ly/gtGYyI #nappies "

-Subscribe to the blog via email & CONFIRM subscription in order for entries to count. (+3 entries, leave 3 separate comments).

Please note: Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end at 11:59PM EST on March 3rd, 2011. Random.org will be used to choose the winner. Winner will then be contacted by email and has 48hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. 

GOOD LUCK!!!

*Disclaimer: I was provided with the items for review free of charge. I was not compensated in any other way. The thoughts and opinions of the product(s) are strictly my own & I will always give my honest opinion when reviewing products. Your opinion of the product may differ from mine.