Rave & Review

Mamas & Papas Gingerbread Knitted Blanket {Review}

My daughter completely overestimates my ability to turn yarn into something pretty.  Although I can crochet {a little}, I certainly am not going to be making blankets, hats, or sweaters any time soon.  Yet, every time we go to the craft store, she likes to load up our cart when I’m not looking with yarn in every color of the rainbow so I can “yarn her a blanket”… and I have to break her heart every time.

Thank goodness I am crafty enough to do the next best thing – order her a beautiful blanket from Mamas & Papas.  I first saw the Gingerbread blanket from afar at the ABC Kids Expo last year, and even though I was across a large room, I fell hard.  And, apparently I wasn’t the only one because the rep said it was the single-most talked about item in the booth all day long.  I must say, I’m not a bit surprised; just like all the other goodies from Mamas and Papas, it is a little retro, very colorful, and way more fun than anything I would ever be able to make. 

And, the Gingerbread blanket is truly gorgeous.  It looks like a beautiful heirloom afghan that is passed down from generation to generation, but it also has a modern-vintage feel that is so in right now.  It is made from super soft cotton yarn and trimmed with cotton edging that makes it feel even more substantial and cozy while snuggling.   

When my daughter first saw the Mamas & Papas Gingerbread , her reaction was just as I expected and she claimed it right there on the spot.  Ever since it arrived, it has been her go-to blanket and she has spent literally hours snuggling it on car rides, covering her while relaxing on the couch, and while sleeping. 

As much as my daughter loves snuggling the blanket, I love that it is machine washable and looks great even after several washes.  And, I’m not the only one who thinks so; we get compliments on it whenever we’re out and about and everyone wants to know who made it.  I’m tempted to lie and say I “yarned it” for my kiddos, but no one would ever believe I had enough time to make what is quite possibly the world’s cutest blanket, so I always end up telling them it's Mamas & Papas. 

And, then of course, I have to tell them about when we were in London and happened upon one of their stores when I was newly pregnant.  Being that we were already crazy excited to be shopping for a little one, we loaded up a cart with adorable baby clothing and drooled over their strollers that we couldn’t get in the States.  Even today, those clothes we brought back from the Mamas & Papas store are some of my favorites, the ones we can’t bear to part with even though we aren’t anticipating any more babes. 

And, now we get to add the Mamas and Papas Gingerbread Blanket to the list of things we cannot let go, things that we will save for grandkids.  In fact, I love it so much that I’m going to be getting the Whirligig blanket for my son this year so they can have a matching pair for their rooms.

Buy: You can buy either the Gingerbread Knitted Blanket or Whirligig Knitted Blanket for $44.99 from Mamas & Papas.

A big thank you to Mamas & Papas for sending the Gingerbread Knitted Blanket to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Zutano Introduces ZUTANOBLUE at Target {$75 Gift Card Giveaway}

Baby clothing sure has come a long way in the past 20 years.  When I was a tot, there was pastel pink or blue or, if you didn’t know whether you were expecting a boy or girl, you got muted yellow and green.  But now baby clothing comes in every color of the rainbow and in styles I can’t help but swoon over. 

It would be hard to pinpoint exactly when the switch to fashionably fun children’s wear happened, but my guess it was right around the time Zutano hit the market and turned the pastel baby clothing market on its head.  Just look at some of these adorable goodies from their collection.  Feel free to swoon, I’ll wait. 

Almost makes me want another little one.  Almost.

Thanks to the combined efforts of Momtrends and Project Nursery, I recently spent some time with the wonderful people behind the Zutano brand at BlogHer and was amazed at how nice and personable they all are.    

We met up at the famous FAO Schwarz in NYC and had a delicious catered dinner from Tacombi.  While we ate, we learned a little bit about the company, why it started, and what its vision was – in the beginning and looking forward.  We even got to see the Zutano bicycle that founder Michael Belenky used to hand-deliver orders from all over the city.

A far cry from delivering via bicycle, Zutano also announced at the event that they will be collaborating with Target in the coming months to showcase the ZUTANOBLUE line designed by Uli Belenky in stores nationwide.  Since I love Target and can’t go a full two weeks without stepping in one, I love that now I’ll be able to see all the adorable Zutano designs in person there as well. 

The Zutano event was a very relaxed get together that made it easy to connect with old friends as well as meet some new ones, and everyone there was amazingly nice. I was really excited to see a sneak peek of what’s to come in the Zutano Spring 2013 line and made myself a little wish list while I mingled.  Whether I’m shopping for my daughter, son or all the new babies in the family, there’s a ton of cuteness, color and fun in the coming months and I love it all. 

We ended the event with a quick tour of the colorful 500-sq ft Zutano section at FAO Schwarz, which is actually run by the owner’s eldest daughter, Sofia.  I fell in love with the adorable owl print for my daughter and the traffic print for my son, which just so happens to be a perfect fit for both of their personalities. 

After we got home from NYC, we checked out Zutano online and was even more impressed with their selection.  Zutano can grow with your child from newborn to 4T and has everything you need from clothing to accessories to feeding gear to nursery decor.

Want to win some Zutano cash this fall?  You're in luck!

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win at $75 Zutano Gift Card!

To Enter: Visit Zutano.com and tell me one of the items you would buy

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this amazing giveaway {Zutano $75 gift card giveaway http://t.co/zw2AlYPv} and tag Zutano and Rave & Review

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1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet after following @Zutano and @RaveAndReview

1 Extra Entry - Pinning.  Follow Zutano on Pinterest

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post! 

1 Extra Entry - Pin or Like this post {use the buttons at the bottom of post to make it super easy! Can be done once per article}

On September 29th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn by Random.org, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  US only.

Winner, winner.  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #206 Kristen said... I entered the Country Outfitter giveaway.

A big thank you to Zutano for inviting me to the event as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

 

Kidlandia Lets Children Rule Their World

One of the greatest things about childhood is the sense of wonder kids have for the world around them.  Creating make believe kingdoms and lands far, far away is an important part of learning who we are and how we fit on this Earth, but it’s also the best way to watch their imaginations at work and see what they dream up if they were in charge. 

Would they build their kingdom inland, nestled in the hills for protection or would they build right along the waterways with a port for shipping?  Would the islands around be named something exotic, filled with golden beaches and lagoons or would it be foreboding and dark, a place where pirates roam free?  And, most importantly, where would they bury their treasure?

These are some of the many questions you and your little one will discuss as they bring their “world” to life with Kidlandia.  Kidlandia is just what it sounds like: a land just for kids, made entirely by kids.  The Kidlandia site helps your child easily create a map of their kingdom, adding features, images, graphics, "kreechers", Disney characters, text and more and then allowing you to place them, resize them, rotate and move them and finalize your design right on their easy to use website. 

In the middle of a big snowstorm this year we got a chance to do just that as we created a treasure map with Kidlandia that is certain to be a well loved keepsake.  Really, the hardest part of the process was deciding what we would create our map on – whether it would be a blanket, a scroll, wall hanging, t-shirt, canvas, growth chart, placemat, puzzle, mouse pad, magnet or pillow case.  After much debate we finally decided on two pillowcases, which are perfect for folding into a treasure hunter pack as a map {bonus: it doesn’t rip!} and still extremely practical for our world traveler bedroom theme because they are able to grow with the kids.

After we decided what we were making, the next debate was how we would personalize the map.  Since we have two kids and didn’t want to leave either child out, we decided to make a family map that they could share.  To do this, we just used our last name for the kingdom name and let the Kidlandia program auto-fill in the map for us. 

We then changed up many of the auto-filled text and instead used nicknames for both, funny expressions they say, and names and nicknames of many of their friends and family to personalize the map for both of them.  After that, we added some nautical accents to the map in the oceans, castles and buildings to the land, and finished our special map.  The resulting kingdom map was so cool that the kids simply couldn’t wait to show everyone.  Luckily, the pillowcase arrived quickly and we were able to have the finished product to display, decorate, and play with. 

Once they arrived, we immediately began to play with them, folding them into squares and putting them in the kids’ treasure hunter packs so they would be all ready to search for riches.  The pillow case fabric is fairly thin and can easily be crumpled into a pack, rolled, or even hung on the wall for a cute piece of practical art, which I thought was pretty cool.  The only thing I would change about the pillowcases is that I wish the backing fabric was brown or cream instead of white, which would look better with the antique-looking map on the front.  Not a deal breaker for sure, but something I would like to see changed at some point.

The kids were so excited to go back over the names of all the places, thrilled that their cousins, friends, and family names were all represented on the map that they had chosen and were excited to show everyone where their names were.  I really love that each child has their own island territory in the kingdom that is uniquely theirs and that they share the mainland as the center of the kingdom.  I think it’s going to lead to some really fun play scenarios that they can build upon together.

I really love that the Kidlandia products will be a great toy and learning tool, then a great addition to the décor, and finally, will become a keepsake that they can each keep from their childhood - There really aren’t many kid’s products that you can say that about!  If your little one would love to make their own kingdom, wall hanging, blanket or more, I would highly recommend Kidlandia as a great gift that they can help you create or you can surprise them with.  Just think of how excited a little one would be to open a Kidlandia personalized product just for them!

{note: this picture has been edited to protect family and friends who requested we not use their names - obviously the map does not have those white bars on it!}

If you go to the Kidlandia website, the first thing you will notice is that it doesn't look like an online store, it really is a place for kids.  In addition to personalized products that you can buy {like the pirate map pillow cases we reviewed}, there are also a number of interactive features right on the website.  From online games, mobile apps, plus toys and even printable, personalized products, there are lots of ways to keep the kids entertained for hours. 

A big thank you to Kidlandia for allowing us to review a set of personalized pillowcases. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

Fill In The Blankie {Giveaway & Discount Code}

 Spring may still be weeks away, but I’m already counting down the days until the sun comes back and we can spend some time outdoors.  As much as spring is about flowers, colors, and sunshine, we all know that spring is also baby season.  This means many of you out there are awaiting a special arrival and searching for that perfect present that will wow new parents. 

Well, I’m happy to say that I have found the perfect gift for you.  Fill In The Blankie isn’t your average baby gift, it’s a beloved keepsake that is sure to be the favorite newborn present.  By combining blankets with beautiful fabrics and prints with personalization that’s as unique as your little one, it’s the perfect gift to celebrate any special occasion.

Now, I know personalized baby blankets are not exactly cutting edge.  I’m pretty sure that roughly 75% of baby blanket manufacturers offer a personalized option, which usually includes 10-25 characters of personalization space and is just enough room for a name and birthdate if you’re lucky.  Well, lucky for you, Fill In The Blankie is not your average baby blanket company. 

Fill In The Blankie offers an ultra personalized version of the classic baby blanket and something that will surely become a sentimental keepsake for your lucky recipient.  Instead of just a few characters of personalization space, Fill In The Blankie makes use of the entire edge of the blanket and allows you to personalize all four sides with up to 200 characters.  That’s a lot of personalizing.  It’s so much personalizing that they actually offer a helpful “Text Ideas” page that gives you ideas for personalizing your special blanket.

I’m usually not at a loss for words, but when I was asked to personalize my son’s special keepsake blanket, I drew a blank as to how to fill all four sides.  Two sides were easy – his full name and birthdate, but the other 2 needed something fun and sweet that wouldn’t be something he would be embarrassed about later if his friends saw it.  At first it seemed like an impossible task, but checking out their ideas section and brainstorming with hubby gave us the perfect personalization messages for our baby.

For the second side, we went with the message “Dangerously Cute” which is something I think every family member said in the hospital when he arrived.  If you have met my son in person, you’ve probably seen his world’s deepest dimples and chances are you said at one point “those are going to be dangerous”.  {If you’re wondering, yes, they are dangerous.}  The third side was a message from our daughter to our son, which I thought was something that would be sweet for both of them.

Once I placed my Fill In The Blankie order it was mere days and it arrived in my mailbox, wrapped in a beautiful fabric bag with a message tag and all ready for gifting.  It was so soft and snuggly that I don’t think we had it all the way home before my little one had claimed it and was happily snuggling it in the cold. 

Once I got the blanket away from him and had a chance to take a good look at it, I could see why he loved it so.  I also loved the soft satin-trimmed blanket and how snuggly soft it is even with the embroidery.  I really love the font and colors we chose and 
that they work just perfectly in his bed or when we’re out and about in the stroller. 

We’ve all taken to the blanket just as I thought we would and it’s now the blanket we use for snuggle time and when we’re reading together.  The one thing I was surprised about is that the embroidery is visible on both sides of the blanket: one printed backwards and the other printed correctly.  It’s actually pretty cool and adds visual interest on the other side of the blanket as well, which I love.  Plus, the wrong side out image doesn’t look like the backs of my sewing projects with my hanging threads and numerous “re-dos”; the backside looks nearly identical to the top side’s print, only backwards. 

Really, there’s not a whole lot not to love about Fill In The Blankie.  Offering some of the cutest fabrics and patterns around and personalization to fit any occasion or recipient, Fill In The Blankie blankets are now my go-to baby shower gift for new parents.  I love that my son has his own personalized blanket just for him from all of us and that it’s the perfect memory of baby’s first year. 

If you are looking for the perfect baby shower, first birthday, christening or new baby gift, you should definitely check out Fill In The Blankie, the ultimate personalized baby blanket site.  With an incredible selection of fabrics and designs as well as many different personalization options, you are sure to find that perfect blanket for any occasion and something that is guaranteed to be a keepsake they adore for years. 

Bonus: From now until 3/10/12, you can save 20% off your total by entering RAR20 during checkout at http://www.fillintheblankie.com/

One lucky Rave & Review reader will get $100 to personalize their own blanket from Fill In The Blankie!

To Enter: Visit Fill In The Blankie and tell me what blanket you love the most

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/wLbbSoJF} and tag Rave & Review and Fill In The Blankie

1 Extra Entry - Like Fill In The Blankie on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On March 31st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US addresses only.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

#111

polly said... email subscriber#1

A big thank you to Fill In The Blankie who provided me with a personalized blanket to review as well as the giveaway and coupon code for readers.  All opinions of these awesome blankets are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Pouch Carrier Cover from Rain or Shine Kids {Review & Giveaway}

While we’ve had a bit of a mild winter here in the Pacific Northwest so far, it looks like winter is going to hit us pretty hard in the next few weeks.  Taking other years into account, this means that we are likely looking forward to months and months of ice, freezing temperatures, and snow in our future.  While most of us have snow gear and down jackets we can slip on, the problem becomes what you can do to keep the littlest ones warm during freezing temperatures.  The answer, of course, is Rain or Shine Kids, our favorite Seattle brand. 

We’ve raved about their Woobee blanket that kept our daughter from freezing in our trip across Spain and Morocco, we’ve adored their UPF Sun Blanket that helped protect our little guy from sun, wind, and rain, and we’ve recommended the Fleece Blanket for all the weather in between, but now they’ve got a brand new line of Pouch Carrier Covers that we are crazy about.  Designed to keep your little one toasty while rolling, strolling, or sledding, the cover is the perfect thing to place over your baby carrier, your stroller, your car seat, or even in the event of a snowstorm, your sled.

We got to check out this new line at the ABC Kids show in September and thought it was truly brilliant, so we were thrilled when one arrived at our doorstep right before the cold hit.  Now that the weather has taken a dip, the Rain or Shine Kids Pouch Carrier Cover has gotten quite the workout over the top of the ERGO baby carrier.  When the weather dipped even further and the snow began to fall, we loved using the cover right over the top of our Mountain Boy Bambino Grande Pull Sled, keeping the little one toasty warm even while the flakes were falling.

Like everything made by Rain or Shine Kids, the design of the Pouch Carrier Cover is truly outstanding.  With the signature Woobee weatherproof cover paired with their super soft lining, it looks just like the Woobee we love, but with some important differences.  Instead of a flat perimeter as with traditional blankets, the bottom half of the Pouch Carrier Cover is gathered with an elastic hem, creating a pocket that your little one’s lower half is enveloped in.  Then, ¾ of the way up the cover, they included coordinating grosgrain ribbon to tie to baby carriers, strollers, car seats, wagons and more. 

Quality details throughout and extra features will make this the only cover you will ever use.  For instance, my favorite feature: the front kangaroo pocket for your hands {while front carrying} or your child’s {while strolling, rolling, sledding}.  This was great during our daily snow walks where I couldn't wear gloves and take pictures, and also served as a warm and dry place to hold onto the camera in between shots. 

I also love that Rain or Shine Kids included snaps tabs on the sides and the undersides that you can connect if you’ve got too much fabric and reduce bulk while providing the coziest environment possible.  Not only does this help keep the cover fitted to whatever carrier or seat you're using, it is also so incredibly snugglable that you will never want to take your babe out.

While I have focused the review on how great this is for babies {and the people that carry them}, this adjustable nature makes it a cover that is not easily outgrown. It is so adaptable that our three year old can still use it if she tucks up her legs and our 1 year old fits in it with room to spare, as you can see below. 

We’ve used it numerous times throughout the past few weeks and it’s now a fixture on our days out for keeping the little ones cozy in the car, in the stroller, the carrier, or just about anywhere else.  We love it so much that we always have it ready, which is great because we're going to be needing it around here well into June!

Find out more about the Pouch Carrier Cover from Rain or Shine Kids as well as the rest of the Woobee family at rainorshinekids.com

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Rain or Shine Kids Pouch Carrier Cover of their very own!

To Enter: Visit Rain or Shine Kids and let me know what other item of theirs you have your eye on.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/Ij0SzYCT} and tag Rain or Shine Kids and R&R on Facebook

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2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

I want to keep cozy with the awesome @RainOrShineKids Baby Carrier Cover! Enter the #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/Ij0SzYCT

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On February 28th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US addresses only.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

#104 meaghan mcdermott said... The sun cover would be great to have!

The Rain or Shine Pouch Carrier Cover for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

aacua 4-in-1 Bath Wrap by maamam {Review & Giveaway}

Is there anything cuter than a little one straight out of the bath?  I would say yes, a babe wrapped in an aacua towel.  The aacua towel was the first release from maamam LLC, a San Francisco-based company that everyone is buzzing about for its vibrant and innovative baby products.  After trying the aacua towel out these past few weeks, I can honestly say that it’s pretty genius.

Summertime for our family means a whole lot of time spent in water.  Whether we are at the beach, the pool, or simply in the tub after a long day of playing outside, water is the one common factor.  Of course when you have water you also need towels, and that’s where the aacua comes in.  Unlike bathrobes that are silly and impractical for small babes, or large towels that are bulky and hard to secure around a wriggling babe, the aacua is not only perfect for babies, it also grows with your child to toddlerhood. 

Although it is cute a modern, don’t let its minimalistic design fool you.  In addition to growing with your child from baby on up, the aacua bath wrap truly is 4-in-1.  That’s because it is more than a towel, more than a robe, and more than an apron for mom and dad - it’s all these and more.

No matter how old your babe is, the aacua always starts the same, as an absorbent terry cloth apron for you.  You simply attach the ring around your neck and secure the sides around your body and it does a great job of protecting your clothing from any splashes or shenanigans.  Then, when babe is clean, the aacua quickly transforms to a cozy baby cocoon, a towel, or an adorable hooded bath wrap depending on your child’s age. 

Since my kids are 9 month and 3 years, I got to try out two of these configurations and loved both of them for both kids.  For my daughter, I simply place the hood over her head and then she can slip her hands out the side slits and Velcro the towel around her easily.  For my son, I slip my hands through the side slits, grab him from the water, and immediately envelope him in towel right up against my chest to keep him warm and help dry him off in the best way possible – with a hug from mom and dad.

If I was leaving him in the aacua for cuddles, I could also transform it into a towel cocoon by velcroing the ring around the wrap to hold it all together.  While I wouldn’t wrap my son at home like this since the nursery is right across from the bathroom, I really wish I would have had the aacua on our recent family vacation when my son spent hours wriggling out of bulky beach towels while snuggling family members poolside.  If we had been able to wrap him like this right out of the pool, he would have been one deliriously happy little guy all snug and warm in a towel cocoon. 

As with a standard terry cloth towel, the aacua is easy to clean in the washer and dryer, and actually gets softer as you use it.  The only thing to note is that it does have Velcro tabs sewn in, so don’t launder the aacua with delicate items that might snag easily.  If this was a concern, making sure each tab is connected to its corresponding color tab would do the trick, or even a washing bag. 

Price: $42.  Even though it is quite a bit more expensive than a cheap baby towel, I would highly recommend the PTPA Award Winning aacua for its amazing ability to grow with your child and offer a practical toweling solution for every age - even baby dolls!

http://www.maamam.com/

One lucky winner will win an awesome maamam aacua 4-in-1 Towel of their own! 

To enter simply visit Maamam.com and tell me something you learned about the company or a product you love

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Enter to #win a 4-in-1 aacua towel from @MaamamLLC and @raveandreview. Read their #ravereview and #giveaway: http://t.co/1XkCSCX

3) "Like" maamam on Facebook or subscribe to their YouTube channel

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website  (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On September 24th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses. 

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed!  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to

#14 lia Keller said... I learned that they have amazing products and that maamam is a private company that is founded and operated by mothers. (from website)

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.  As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog.  My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Things Remembered Photo Contest {enter to win $200!}

If you’ve been reading this site for any length of time, you probably already know how I cannot resist a personalized gift.  So, of course I have spent quite a bit of time shopping at Things Remembered, the mother of all personalization stores.  Whether it’s for birthdays, mother’s/father’s day, or holidays, I have purchased numerous gifts at Things Remembered throughout the years and have always been a very happy customer. 

For those unfamiliar with Things Remembered, you should run over to their site {or store} and get familiar, quick.  They pretty much have everything you could ever want that can be engraved or personalized, and are readily available at many local malls as well as online so you can shop easily in person or remotely.   

Of course, I also love receiving presents from Things Remembered.  When I was pregnant with my daughter I received the sweetest present ever from my mother-in-law for Christmas – an engravable silver baby cup with a gift certificate for the engraving that I could use after the baby was here to put her name, birthdate, stats, etc.  I loved it so much that my daughter was only 4 days old when I took that beautiful baby cup down to my local store and had it all the personalization completed. 

When I went to go pick it up, the clerk had wrapped it nicely in a signature box and it was all polished and ready for me to display.  But, even cooler than that is that the person who engraved it for me picked up on a conversation that my husband and I had while ordering it where we mentioned that we would want a script that was gender neutral so we could get a cup for any addition babies we may have, and the clerk had written down the exact specifications of his engraving so that it could be easily duplicated by any store at any point.  Talk about great customer service!  {side note: ordering the same cup for my son was a BREEZE with his detailed notes, and the finished silver cups displayed together are some of my favorite keepsakes ever}

When I heard that Things Remembered was having a great Holiday Photo contest this summer that has $200 up for grabs, I jumped at the chance to enter it and tell you all about it.  I entered with our family picture from 2010, which was our first self-taken picture as a brand new family of four.  It was sent as our holiday greeting card in 2010 because I love it so much and I have thought about framing it to put up each holiday.  When I look at it, it reminds me of those magical first days as we all adjusted to our new roles and our family was complete.  Just thinking about it makes me nostalgic for the holiday season! 

Do you have a favorite holiday picture?  Just go to the Things Remembered Facebook page to enter the Things Remembered Facebook photo contest for a chance to be in their Holiday campaign and win $200.  It was easy to enter and actually kind of fun looking back through my past Christmas pictures with my beautiful babes.  Have fun and good luck!

A big thank you to Things Remembered for sharing the contest information as well as a gift code as a thank you for spreading the word {maybe I should get a frame for this pic?}  As always, all opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Huge Sale at Rain or Shine Kids - Get your Super Woobee at 40% Off!

Do you love Rain or Shine Kids as much as I do?  I know from past comments that just about all of you out there would love a Super Woobee blanket as much as I would, so I’m really excited to report that they are now on sale for a whopping 40% off, which is a really awesome deal. 

But the sale doesn’t stop there - From now until July 14th, you can find 20-50% off their entire site so you can get sun covers, plush blankets and more for an incredible discount that’s always in season.  So go on and get yourself that Super Woobee, the Original or Fleece Woobee, or the Woobee Graphic you’ve been eyeing… at the lowest prices I have ever seen. 

Maybe we will finally cave and get that great Seattle Graphic Woobee we both love… or maybe the Paris blanket to remind us of our Europe trip, or the San Fran blanket in honor of the city I was born in, or even the NYC blanket to recognize one of our absolute favorite cities.  No matter which we choose it is bound to become a favorite and get all sorts of compliments when we’re out!

Start shopping at RainOrShineKids.com!

Thank you to Rain or Shine Kids for sharing their sale information.  No form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this post - we just love this great Seattle company!

Kelty Big Dipper Junior Sleeping Bag "Grows" With Your Child

Get Out and PLAY - Day 14

Getting our kids excited about the great outdoors is something that is a huge priority for us.  Surrounded by mountains, ocean, and miles of forests to explore, enjoying nature is just a way of life here in the Pacific Northwest.  However, loving the great outdoors isn’t easy if you’ve got the wrong gear, so I love that Kelty, the makers of some of the best outdoor gear around, also has a great kid’s line. 

It has been a mission of mine to make sure that my children always have the correct gear so they stay comfortable, safe, and happy no matter what the weather, so I was really thrilled to see that Kelty makes the same high quality gear they are known for just pared down to child size.  Instead of cartoon characters and other unnecessary baubles, their kids’ line looks like real outdoor gear because it is real outdoor gear. 

We got to test out the Kelty Big Dipper 30 Junior Sleeping Bag these past few weeks and saw firsthand all the really cool features that make this bag special.  From pockets, pouches, lining and more, this is certainly a bag that can accommodate your growing child and their growing needs. 

But, your child isn’t the only thing that’s going to be doing some growing; the Big Dipper Sleeping Bag also “grows” right along with your little one.  Kelty understands that we don’t want to pay good money for a sleeping bag that our child is going to grow out of in mere months, which is why they designed a sleeping bag that literally expands right along with your child. 

The Big Dipper “grows” by way of a zippered section at the bottom of the bag which allows you to extend the sleeping bag by a whole 12” whenever you would like with one simple zip.  This zippered extension allows you to keep the bag small for when your child is little, giving them a cozier sized bag with more warmth in the foot area and giving you a much smaller footprint in your family tent.  Instead of wasting money on a toddler bag, and then a child size, this means I can use the same sleeping bag for my little one all the way from pre-K until they are tall enough for an adult bag!

While this child sized bag may be pint sized, but it is certainly not light on features.  Weighing 3 pounds 9 oz, it is easy enough for little ones to carry on their own in the included {attached} stuff sack but still will keep them toasty warm no matter where your travels take you.  With a soft interior that is cozy and warm as well as a good fluffy fill that adds extra padding and cushioning for when you’re really roughing it, your kids are sure to appreciate the added comfort and protection from the elements. 

While you could absolutely use the Big Dipper Sleeping Bag for sleepovers and camp, it is also designed to be used by your most daring explorer as well.  Whether you trek across tundra or simply car camp, the Big Dipper can accommodate your child’s growing needs as well as their growing bodies.  It comes with grown up features like an elasticized hood, baffled zippers with anti-catch fabric, and a stuff pouch on the underside of the hood that allows you to turn a fluffy coat into a comfy pillow, something I really appreciate as it means one less pillow to pack.     

Knowing that your kids have the right gear makes you more likely to get out as a family and create all sorts of great memories.  Whether it’s hiking together, climbing, or traveling as a family, Kelty will make sure that your whole family can truly enjoy the experience.  Kelty gear can help give your children an appreciation of nature long before they are able to walk and keep them begging to get outdoors well into their teens.  With cleverly designed gear that can last for years and even through several children, the Kelty brand is perfect for outfitting your entire family.   

Visit Kelty.com to find out more about their adult or children's line of outdoor gear

 

A big thank you to Kelty who sent the sleeping bag for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Recycled Cotton Blankets from Twirls & Twigs {Review & Giveaway}

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 7

I used to think that blankets were kind of boring.  Really, what is there to rave about a piece of fabric and some trim?  It turns out I just needed to find Twirls and Twigs, the makers of some of the most uniquely adorable children's clothing anywhere, because their blankets are definitely rave-worthy.

It's hard not to fall in love with one {or five} of the Twirls and Twigs recycled cotton blankets.  Their quirky patterns, colors and designs, make them some of the cutest and most unique designs I have found anywhere.  With different color prints, contrast stitching, and embroidery paired with textured cotton and designer trim, the combination is beautiful as well as irresistible. 
 
In fact, when faced with a line sheet of all their new releases, I had a really hard time narrowing it down to even my top 5 choices because they all were so uniquely fun and, well, fabulous.  I finally called in the whole family and we decided on the perfect blanket for our little reviewer together – a design called Henry that was so perfect that my sister in law also went out and purchased one that matches in pink for her daughter.

Once our recycled cotton blanket arrived we realized they are more than just great looking, they are also incredibly delightful to snuggle with.  Made proudly in the USA with soft recycled cotton fibers and textures galore, they are super soft and perfect for kiddos to love. 

And, both my little ones fell hard for Henry, the sweet polka dot hedgehog that adorns our bright orange Twirls and Twigs blanket.  Even though they have only been buddies for a few short weeks, my son sleeps so much better when he is snuggling his Henry blanket that it has become absolutely essential for car and stroller rides.  Naptime on the go now depends so heavily upon these snuggles that my daughter finally gave in and reluctantly agreed that Henry could be his special blanket.

Little ones may not care that the recycled pre-consumer fabrics of their Twirls and Twigs blankets are helping to keep unnecessary waste from being discarded in our landfills or that the vibrant colors in their creations are retained from the original fabric pieces which cuts down on the use of harmful dyes and chemicals released into the environment, but they are sure to appreciate the color and the “broken in” feel of the fabrics.  It may be hard to see this in the pictures, but the textures and suppleness of the fabric are simply amazing.  This makes these blankets perfect for little ones to run their hands over while they snuggle in, something our little reviewer does lovingly every time he hugs it. 

With Twirls and Twigs commitment to reducing waste and producing the highest quality products they can, it makes perfect sense why they are an instant favorites for kids and parents alike.  Whether you are looking for sweet, sassy or stylish, Twirls and Twigs has the perfect match. 

Check out their site to see all the different varieties of blankets they carry as well as retailers online and local.  While you are there, be sure to check out their line of clothing to see all the clothing I am dying to get my daughter into.  If you are specifically looking for their recycled blanket for a special little one, you will love that you can even get your favorite Twirls and Twigs blanket personalized if you order direct from Diapers.com.

 
One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Twirls and Twigs Recycled Cotton Blanket! 

To Enter: Simply "like" Twirls and Twigs on Facebook and sign up for their email newsletter {top right of website}

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

I am dying to win an adorable Twirls & Twigs recycled cotton blanket from @raveandreview - enter here http://bit.ly/jd3byj    

3) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

4) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

5) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

6) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries!)

On June 6th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Address only.

Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to: #10 Kimberly said... I like you on FB

A big thank you to Twirls and Twigs who provided a sample for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.