GIVEAWAY: Brights Starts Baby Collection (Multi-Blog)

Welcome to the Bright Starts Ultimate Baby Shower Giveaway!

Bright Starts and Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa-Mom have teamed to offer an amazing Bright Starts Sunnyside Safari Collection giveaway to one lucky reader!

This includes the Sunnyside Safari™ Chair Top High Chair, Playard, Plug in Sway & Swing, Portable Swing and Saucer making this truly the Ultimate Baby Shower Gift.

Special thank you to the wonderful bloggers who made this possible including our co-hosts: To Sew with Love, The Lucky Ladybug and Mom Blog Society.

I just love all the jungle animal prints featured on this set. It wasn't that long ago that I was using all of these "baby appliances" (as I like to call them) with my kids. Having a family and buying all of these products is expensive, so why not win this whole package!

Big smiles and bright adventures go hand in hand in this exciting, fun-filled collection!

Take a walk on the sunny side-where baby gear goes together in delightful new ways. It's a win for infants and parents alike, with irresistable jungle characters adorning an array of fun coordinated products you'll use every day. Each piece of the collection does its job charmingly, with non-stop fun at an unbeatable value.

The Bright Starts Sunnyside Collection is available at Wal-Mart!

Sunnyside Safari™ Chair Top High Chair
A good high chair is a must for moms, and Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Chair Top High Chair is as good as they come! It does what a full-sized model does and more, adjusting to four different heights (and nearly any table), reclining to three positions, and converting to a booster seat for smooth transition to the toddler years.
The reversible seat pad is made of stain-resistant fabric you can wipe clean or machine-wash. The removable Stay Level Tray™ remains flat even when the seat is reclining. All this, plus the friendly characters of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Make mealtime and snack time more enjoyable for baby and you. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• Convenient 2 piece reversible seat pad is made of stain resistant fabric that is wipeable and machine washable
• 4 height positions to fit most table sizes
• 3 position recline
• Removable Stay Level Tray™ remains level even when seat is reclined
• 3 locking positions to grow with baby
• Built-in holders are convenient for drinks or snacks
• Converts to booster for easy toddler transition
• 5 point convertible safety harness

Sunnyside Safari™ Playard
A bright, sunny place for baby to rest, play, get a quick diaper change and spend a few moments with some friendly jungle pals! That's the Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Playard. This playard includes a removable bassinet with our time-saving One Less Step™ feature for easy fold-and-go mobility.
There's a convenient changing table, a handy side storage pocket, easy-roll wheels, a travel bag, plus a colorful toy bar to delight baby. And like all Bright Starts™ products, this playard is an unbeatable value. Part of our coordinated Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• Removable bassinet with One Less Step™ to quickly fold and go
• Convenient changing table
• Toy bar with 2 fun toys
• Side storage pocket
• Wheels for easy portability
• Includes travel bag

Sunnyside Safari™ Plug in Sway & Swing™
Some swings go back and forth. Some go side to side. This one does both—and does it with music, toys, and delightful jungle style. With a seat designed for 180° rotation, allowing three swing directions, the Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Plug in Sway & Swing™ uses our unique TrueSpeed™ technology to sense baby's weight and adjust for consistent speed—so it grows along with baby.
The swing also boasts a volume-adjustable 20 minutes of melodies and nature sounds, an overhead mobile—even an AC adaptor to save on battery expense. And it features the fun and engaging characters of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• Seat rotates 180° for 3 swing directions
• TrueSpeed™ technology maintains 6 speeds as baby grows
• Mobiles with 2 playtime toys easily pivots out of the way
• 20 minutes of melodies and nature sounds with volume control and auto shut-off
• AC adaptor saves money on batteries
• Swing time with 3 settings: 30, 45 and 60 minutes
• Whisper Quiet™ operation
• 5 point harness
• Machine washable seat pad
• Non-slip feet

Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing
Find baby's favorite speed with this innovative portable swing. The Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing is a win for parents and babies—from its machine-washable padded seat right down to its bright yellow, non-slip feet. With six distinct speeds to choose from, you'll find it easy to suit your little one's mood—and our patented TrueSpeed™ technology keeps those speeds consistent even as baby grows.
The Comfort Recline™ seat gives you a choice of two positions, and WhisperQuiet™ operation makes this swing silent in use. Wrap it all up in the super-fun animal decor and you've got a perfect travel companion. Part of Bright Starts™’ Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Features:

• TrueSpeed™ Technology maintains 6 speeds as baby grows
• Comfort Recline™ seat with 2 positions
• Whisper Quiet™ operation
• Easily folds for storage or travel
• 5 point harness
• Machine washable seat pad
• Non-slip feet

Sunnyside Safari™ Saucer
This is where babies go for serious fun. A Walmart exclusive, the 7-activity Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Saucer offers entertainment options galore—and a lighthearted jungle theme with fun characters you'll adore.
The seat rotates a full 360° for endless interaction with the activity stations. Twin overhead toy arms provide even more entertainment options. And the three different height positions make this one saucer your baby won't soon outgrow. Four link loops mean still more toys can be attached. Part of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection, this saucer will quickly become a family favorite. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• 3 adjustable height positions allows entertainer to grow with baby
• Seat rotates 360° for nonstop interaction with 7 activity stations
• 2 overhead toy bar arms with mirror, hanging toy and fabric crinkle leaves
• Hanging elephant toy
• Bendy giraffe teething stalk
• Bead chaser with easy to grip textured beads
• Lion popper with spiraling beads
• Rotating ladybug barrels with fun textures and beads
• Rocking toucan on leaf stalk
• 4 link loops for attaching more toys
• Lays flat for storage
• Built-in toy tray is easy to clean

Giveaway starts on May 7 at 12:01AM and ends May 28 at 11:59PM. Open to the US residents only; must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Enter to win the Bright Starts Ultimate Baby Shower Giveaway including the Sunnyside Safari Collection on the rafflecopter form below.

Review: Children's Claritin

My kids have minor allergies, but sometimes those irritations from allergies turn them, well more irritable and not like my kids. The Claritin kids was helpful and worked quickly and they were back to being happy kids again.

With dispensing options that included a chewable tablet or liquid, it was easy to get them to take it. The grape flavor was pleasing to them and I was not met with any resistance.

I received a product sample, coupon, collateral or other special premium from BzzAgent.

Review & Preview: "Mighty Fine" (Movie)

I had the unique opportunity to preview the movie "Mighty Fine" over the internet. What a great way to do a movie preview, although I loved going to previews at the theater when I was in college.

"Mighty Fine" opens in theaters on May 25th. Check this listing to see if it will be playing at a theater near you. If you live in the Twin Cities, it will showing the at the AMC Showplace16 in Coon Rapids, MN.

Joe Fine, played by Chazz Palminteri, the father in this film moves his family from Brooklyn to New Orleans during the 70's in the pursuit of increasing their wealth and living a live with more luxuries than they were previously living with. The story is told by the youngest Fine daughter, Nathalie as she reflects on this period of her childhood and learning the cold lesson that money can't buy happiness and trying to maintain the illusion of money can be even worse and the true reality that dealing with mental health issues is scary and saddening.

This was my first online movie premiere that included live chat with other bloggers viewing it. It was kind of fun to chat with others and "talk" about the movie. This is the only venue in which I could imagine "talking" through the movie is ok. My final thoughts on the movie to the live chat was that I thought they could have stretched the movie out another 10 minutes (to make it a full 1 1/2 hours) and give us some more insight on his mental illness and treatment. The live video chat with one of the actors was pretty neat and helped fill in any gaps that might have been missing in the movie.



I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Mighty Fine and the distributor. I received access to an online showing of the film and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

GIVEAWAY and Review: Rock & Learn DVD

I was very excited to have the opportunity to review  the "Letter Sounds" DVD from Rock'n'Learn. My first experience with Rock'n'Learn was when my daughter (soon-to-be 6) was my son's age (2 1/2 years old) and I got us a copy of their video "Colors, Shapes, and Counting". She loved it just as much as she was drawn in to "Letter Sounds". There is just something about the simple bright computer generated images dancing and singing to music about concepts they are trying to grasp that just pulls them in.

"Letter Sounds" is geared towards ages 4-7, and it really does span that range. Since my daughter is an early reader, some of the concepts were reinforcement of things she already knew, but others were testing her knowledge of spelling. And because big sister was in to it and yelling out answers, her little brother was right there too and participating and soaking it all in.

Since watching this DVD for the first time less than a week ago, they have asked me to watch it several times already and my son has asked to watch it even when his big sister is not around.

ONE LUCKY READER GETS TO WIN THEIR CHOICE OF DVD OR CD!!!

I am also excited to be able to offer my readers a coupon code for 25% off at Rock'n'Learn. Just use code JQ7711. 

Also, here is a little clip of my kids watching the DVD. They were shouting out a lot more before I turned the camera on and of course my son started to become a bit of a ham for the camera.

Don't forget to check out their SPECIALS!  There is also a FREE Sight Words App and a  FREE Multi Rap App 2x  for Android or iPad.

Review: Palmolive Fresh Sponge Kit

Check out my Tweet, Twitpic, and Facebook Post about this product!

Here are my thoughts about the product:

• I liked that my sponge stayed fresh smelling. 
• I liked that it is phosphate free.
• I like that the container is recyclable. 
• I like that it is concentrated so you only need a small bit.
• I like that the scent is light and pleasant.
• I like that it is a large container so it will last me a long time and I will have to buy less containers, which means less packaging.

I would like to know more about the ingredients used to make Palmolive Fresh Sponge so that I can evaluate the impact they have on the environment, so I wish they were labeled on the package so I could read them rather than having to go home and look them up. I would like it better if it was a dye-free dish
washing liquid.

I received this bottle of Palmolive Fresh sponge and a new sponge through a review program with Influenster in order to evaluate the product. All thoughts, opinions and the photo are my own. I was not compensated for this post.

Wordless Wednesday: Hanging Out at Caribou Coffee

Try It Tuesday: Super Easy Butterfly Craft

All you need is some washable markers (they run the best), round coffee filters, a pipe cleaner, spray bottle of water, and  googly eyes (optional, will need glue too if you use these.)

Just have your child (or yourself  I love making these too! They turn out so pretty!) color however they wish on a coffee filter. No need to make a pattern if you don't want to because the colors were spread and run together. And it's ok to have lots of white space left (see the colored filters in the next picture.)

Spray water on your filters. These will run and make a mess on your table. It is easily  wiped clean, or you could put  wax paper under it, or to make a double craft - let the wet filter dry on top of a piece of white paper and it will leave a print.

To start making the body of the butterfly, just fold the pipe cleaner in half and twist a couple times at the bottom.

Place your dried filter in the center and scrunch down to make wings. Twist at the top to secure it and then fold down ends of pipe cleaner to make antennae.

Apply glue and googly eyes (if desired, which my son did.)

Aren't these pretty! Such a fun & easy craft for toddlers, preschoolers,  or anyone!