Babies Gotta Have It

Did you know that this week is National Smile Week?  See that small person in that super cute picture there? She makes me smile.  A lot.  And her smile is like a bowl of ice cream.  A treat that just cracks open your face from ear to ear.

Fittingly, my biggest reason to smile turned three on Monday.  We had her party today.  In a New York City park.  Four of her little friends came.  She wore the bathing suit she has on in that picture and ran through city sprinklers.  I think she had a ball.

As if on cue, the folks at 1-800-Flowers.com sent us not one, not two, but three items guaranteed to make us smile.  When the Happy Day Bouquet arrived at our door, in a bona fide cake box bedecked with ribbons, the Bean was beside herself with glee.  And you gotta admit, it’s a pretty cheerful little flower cake.  And her favorite color, as she will tell you repeatedly, is yellow.  Cha-ching.

Also arriving at our door on birthday party day thanks to 1-800-Flowers.com were the Happy Face Cookie Gift Box and the Popcorn Factory’s Survival Kit Treats Pail.  They are quite simply boxes full of smiles. The cookies from Cheryl’s are scrumptious and the Survival Kit would be such a great thing to send your college freshman the first week or two of school when she’s homesick and just needs a little smile.

And so the Bean is three.  And that first week of college is only 15 years away.  And as my friend John said today, “If you want to feel time fly, have a kid.”  This summer has disappeared as quickly as my little irascible baby girl changes moods.

And I’m holding on to that precious little smile.

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Want to win one of the Happy Day Bouquets to send to the person in your life who makes you smile? Or just to sit on your table and give you a chuckle when you look at it?  Thanks to 1-800-Flowers.com, you can. Want to enter? Read on.

To Enter the 1-800-Flowers.com National Smile Week Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Leave a comment on this post sharing something that made you smile today. It could be your exceptionally fresh breakfast cereal, a hug from your tween-age boy, or a knock-knock joke.  Whatever got you smiling.  I wanna hear it.  Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of eight entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and follow 1-800-Flowers.com on Twitter tweet the following (just cut and paste): It’s National Smile Week. Win a Happy Day Bouquet from 1-800-Flowers.com and @BabiesGottaHavT
• “Like” 1-800-Flowers on Facebook - Click HERE
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the little orange button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Wednesday August 11th and ends on Wednesday September 1st at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

I have been in my little hometown for two weeks now.  We have done summer the Central, PA way with whoopie pies at the Farmer’s Market, feeding ducks, swimming lessons, outings with cousins, and lots and lots of ice cream.  My favorite local place to get ice cream is Ard’s Farm.  You can get a cone or a dish or a sundae in the farm stand and take it outside where they have farm-themed play equipment and animals to feed.  In fact, you can buy a handful of animal kibble from a bubble gum machine, and put it on a conveyor belt that you crank way up to the top of this tower thingy…and the goats will climb up a series of ramps to eat the food up there.  I am not joking.  I should totally take a picture of this to post, but trust me.  It’s hilarious.

My little Bean is a picky eater, but she can put down ice cream like a frat boy.  It’s astonishing.  In our household, loving ice cream is a family affair.  The Bean gets it from both sides.  So when I got the chance to review Breyers new Smooth and Dreamy products, I immediately brought the gift certificate home so that my Mom and Dad and the whole extended family could sample them.  We debated a bit and settled on the Triple Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bars.  Chocolate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, dipped in chocolate. 130 calories.  6 grams of fat.  Did I mention they are dipped in chocolate?

The verdict?  Delicious.  Mom said they were “intensely chocolatey” and “a chocolate-lover’s delight.”  Doc Hubby thought the mix of textures was particularly satisfying (the crunch of the outer chocolate, the smoothness of the ice cream and the surprise of the chocolate chips inside).  And we all loved that the chocolate covers only about 3/4 of the bar!  This is genius.  Fat and calorie saving I am sure.  And it prevents that inevitable ice cream bar crisis moment when the big bit of chocolate on the bottom cracks and falls and melted ice cream starts leaking out. These bars are easy to eat.  I also love the wide ended popsicle sticks.

My college roomie is visiting in a few days with her two kids.  I can’t wait to try the Vanilla Fudge Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches with them.

Check out the Breyers Smooth and Dreamy website for some fun games and sweeps (spin the Wheel of Delight to win instant prizes).  And enter here for a chance  to win coupon good for a free box of ice cream bars or sandwiches.  Thanks to Breyers THREE Babies Gotta Have It readers will win this cool prize!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Breyers Smooth and Dreamy Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite flavor of ice cream.  Oh yeah.  A giveaway this delicious should be that easy.
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of nine entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (just cut and paste): @BabiesGottaHavT is giving away ice cream.  Try the new Breyers Smooth and Dreamy Bars! http://snurl.com/zupxy
• “Like” Breyers on Facebook - Click HERE
• Follow Breyers on Twitter - Click HERE.
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Monday July 26th and ends on Monday August 9th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Breyers and received products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Update!  We have three winners!  Random.org says…”Result: 18″, “Result: 39″, and “Result: 27.”  Congratulations Ellen C., Joyce and Gretchen!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Did I mention my baby girl is turning three in a month and I’m in my hometown for a few weeks and I’m basically just feeling nostalgic?  About everything.  Even maternity clothes.

Because despite those moments when the ferocious Russian nurse at my OB’s office weighed me and said “Wendy…that’s enough“, I really kind of loved my curvy pregnant shape.  I didn’t worry about my weight one bit when I was pregnant. I enjoyed my brownies and croissants.  And may I remind you, I’m an actress.  Though I have not really succeeded in losing the baby weight, it is my job to worry about it.

So, if you’re preggo, getting bigger by the day and loving it (or hating it…depending on your mood), check out the Moody Mamas Summer Collection on the virtual racks at Target.  Moody Mamas boasts an impressive celebrity client list including Jennifer Garner (love her!) and Jessica Alba, and their colorful summer collection of totally affordable and totally chic maternity dresses will help you feel like a pampered star…even when you’re plopped in front of the window a/c unit nursing a seltzer and sweating like a marathon runner. As a bonus, these cute dresses are great for transitioning into fall and postpartum as well!  Made of luxurious fabrics, inspired by the runway, ranging in price from $39.99 to $44.99, and available in plus sizes, Moody Mamas dresses are guaranteed to make you love love love your baby belly. Trust me.  One day you will not be able to remember just what it felt like any more.  And you will miss it.

A really really cute summer dress that hugs that baby belly.  Yeah…that’s something Mamas-to-be Gotta Have.

Buy it: Find Moody Mamas Summer 2010 Collection at Target.com.  Get 30% off your purchase when you use the coupon code: MM Discount

Win it: One lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win a dress from the collection!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Moody Mamas Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Check out the Moody Mamas Collection at Target.com.  Come back and leave a comment on this site sharing two or three of your favorite looks.   Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of nine entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (just cut and paste): Win a chic maternity dress from the Moody Mamas Summer Collection at Target @BabiesGottaHavT http://snurl.com/zfvac
• Join the Moody Mamas Group on Facebook - Click HERE
• Follow Moody Mamas on Twitter - Click HERE.
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Friday July 16th and ends on Monday August 2nd at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: Moody Mamas is providing the dress for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post, and all views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

UPDATE!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 57″.  Congratulations Ashley R!  And thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Teeny teeny tiny clothes.  Onesies.  Baby hats.  Eeny weeny shoesies.  My baby girl is turning three in a month.  I miss the baby clothes.

Secondhand clothes are a godsend.  We are still living on them.  But every now and then, especially when you’re expecting a baby, it’s just fun to pick out some beautiful cuddly little piece yourself.  And if it’s 103 degrees outside, and you’re seven and a half months pregnant, why not shop online?

My Baby Clothes Boutique is a really fun online destination to browse for unique baby clothes and designer baby gifts.  These clothes range from hip and trendy to classic and timeless with lots of options to fit every budget.  I just spent some time looking around, remembering that warm fuzzy feeling of shopping for teeny tiny duds, and here are a few of my favorite finds.

At $14.92 there’s nothing stopping you from snagging this adorable swimsuit for your baby boy.  It’s only mid-July.  We got a whole lot of beach weather left.  And My Baby Clothes Boutique has got baby swimwear.

Today’s smocking for girls is totally modern and totally adorable when it’s done on this hand-smocked romper and matching hat.  Ah yes…baby hats.  Hello cuteness.

My Baby Clothes Boutique also has a really nice selection of organic clothes and gifts for baby!  I love this Organic Cotton Bodysuit with a little tiny sweet skirt for only $25.

And for those of us whose babies have grown a bit bigger, My Baby Clothes Boutique offers clothes and Halloween costumes for toddlers and preschoolers too, as well as a nice selection of tutus and pettiskirts for babies and toddlers.  They sent us a pair of these Flower Power jeans for the Little Bean and they are a-dor-a-ble.  Sweet with a soft waistband in contrasting fabric.  Cute detail from head to toe.  Love them and can’t wait for back-to-preschool just so she can wear them!

So turn on the a/c and go shopping for your baby.  And thanks to the kind folks at My Baby Clothes Boutique, one Babies Gotta Have It reader will start off their summer shopping spree with a $25 gift certificate!  Want to enter the giveaway?  Read on!

To Enter the My Baby Clothes Boutique Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Head over to My Baby Clothes Boutique.  Come back and leave a comment on this site sharing what you’d spend your $25 gift certificate on.   Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of nine entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (just cut and paste): Win a $25 Gift Certificate to My Baby Clothes Boutique @BabiesGottaHavT http://snurl.com/zcl0q
• “Like” My Baby Clothes Boutique on Facebook - Click HERE
• Subscribe to the My Baby Clothes Boutique Newsletter - just enter your email at the top of the page HERE.
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)  And as a very special bonus, if you blog this giveaway, and add a link to My Baby Clothes Boutique on your blog, My Baby Clothes Boutique will send you a $10 gift certificate!
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Wednesday July 14th and ends on Tuesday August 3rd at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: I was given a pair of jeans for review and My Baby Clothes Boutique is providing the gift certificate for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post, and all views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

UPDATE!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 53″.  Congratulations TARA!  And thanks to everyone who blogged this giveaway and linked to My Baby Clothes Boutique.  I will be going through the comments, finding you all, and contacting you regarding your gift certificate.

Call me old fashioned, but I really like getting flowers for Mother’s Day. Or Valentine’s Day. Or my birthday. Or Wednesday. When the 1-800-Flowers.com box arrives I’m one happy camper.

But this year, why not consider 1-800-Flowers.com for Daddy too?  Honestly, I think it’s crazy romantic to give a guy flowers.  I really really do.  You can get some gorgeous orchids (kinda sexy, don’t you think?) and even a beer mug of chrysanthemums (no joke, check it out).  The folks at 1-800-Flowers.com sent Doc Hubby a really lovely Father’s Day Dish Garden, and he was tickled pink.  It arrived very well packaged, in excellent, fresh condition just today!  He’s going to take it to his office.  If you ask me, every office needs a plant to make it homey.  And healthy!

But maybe your guy isn’t the floral type.  1-800-Flowers.com offers much more than plants for Daddy.  Consider a sports-themed gift like the Golf Bag Cooler with Snacks or the Outdoorsman Fresh Fruit and Sweets Box. Or, for the Daddy who loves his baked goods, I guarantee you that the Cheryl & Co Happy Father’s Day Tin of Cookies will be a tremendous success.  Remember when I went to the opening bell at NASDAQ sponsored by 1-800-Flowers.com a few weeks ago.  We were sent home with two of these cookies.  I gave one to the babysitter.  Doc Hubby and I shared the other one.  He honestly said to me, “this is my new favorite cookie.  This is the best cookie I have ever had.”  They are scrumptious.  I totally should not have given the other one to the babysitter.  And I should have grabbed five more from the basket on the way out.

So if you absolutely can’t live without those cookies, check out the Father’s Day Collection at 1-800-Flowers.com and snag yourself a tin.  Or, one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win a $40 gift certificate to 1-800-Flowers.com. So enter and get ready to eat some cookies or wow your guy with the unexpected.  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the 1-800-Flowers.com Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Head over to 1-800-Flowers.com and check out their selection of Father’s Day Items.  Come back and leave a comment on this site sharing which item is your favorite.   Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (just cut and paste): 1-800-Flowers.com for Father’s Day. So much more than flowers! Win a $40 Gift Certificate @BabiesGottaHavT http://snurl.com/x8g8h
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Tuesday June 8th and ends on Tuesday June 29th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: I was given a Father’s Day Dish Garden for review and 1-800-Flowers.com is providing the gift certificate for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post, and all views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update: We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 42″  Congratulations Stephanie Grant!

Babies Gotta Have It may be undergoing a bit of an identity crisis.  My sweet baby girl…is now a preschooler.  I suppose they remain our babies until they go off to college and beyond, but as my focus has turned more toward toddler and preschooler products, it’s so lovely to return to the unique and beautiful baby products that inspired this blog to begin with!

You know I love pretty and stylish burp cloths!  Well the Burp Sees from Zeebabee are some of my new favorites.  Not only are they blessedly devoid of bunnies and dinosaurs, they are designed to encourage baby’s developing vision.  Babies, as we all know, are best able to see high contrast patterns in black and white for the first months of their lives.  Since they spend most of those early days in our arms, the Mama behind Zeebabee created gorgeous burpies out of vibrant black and white patterns accented with colorful fabrics to give baby something to look at as she’s spitting up for the one millionth time in any given day.  Or just burping like a sailor. Big sigh over those now long-gone milky happy baby burps.  Also check out her pretty Baby See T-Shirts, stylish and hip black and white tees (and you know NY Mamas love to wear black) also created to stimulate baby’s vision.

Looking for a great baby shower gift?  Buy these funky and fun burp cloths and tees at Zeebabee.  Or win one right here at Babies Gotta Have It!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Zeebabee Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Head over to Zeebabee and check out their selection of Burp Sees and Baby See Tees.  Come back and leave a comment on this site sharing if you’d choose a burp cloth or a tee and which pattern you would pick if you won.   Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of eight entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (just cut and paste):Zeebabee Burp Cloth and Baby See Tee Giveaway @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/29gtdla
• Follow Zeebabee on Twitter.
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Monday June 7th and ends on Monday June 21st at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post, and all views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 24″  Congratulations Katie!  And thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Five times.  My daughter has been sick five times since she started preschool in January.  Oh, has the germaphobia come home to roost.

The latest? Last week.  Two days before we were scheduled to spend a lovely Memorial Day weekend with my family at the beach.  Yeah, that didn’t so much happen.  Naw, I’m not bitter.

After all that would be just cruel! To resent my daughter’s 103 degree fever because it wrecked my beach weekend? Heartless. How do I know her fever was 103? Funny you should ask.  About a week before she came down with the latest preschool plague I was sent an Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer.  I got it and thought, “yeah right, won’t be needing this til next winter!” Ha ha.  Joke’s on me.

For years Moms have placed hands gently on sweaty little foreheads and announced with conviction “fever” “no fever.”  Me? Not so good at it.  Getting better.  Doc Hubby takes the Bean’s tempy right up the backside.  Yeah, not so much.  I have managed to get the ear thermometer going by making it something she does with me–but honestly I’m not so sure that I’m getting it in all the way.  The TemporalScanner is totally non-invasive.  Just place it in the center of your child’s forehead, swipe it across the forehead toward the ear and release.  It takes some practice, but I found that if I followed the directions I got pretty consistent readings.  Readings higher than the ones I get with the ear thermometer. Just read and follow the directions.  Check out the FAQ on the website for more guidelines and information.

But it seems that many researchers agree that Temporal Artery assessment of fevers is more accurate than ear thermometers and easier than the rectal.  Duh on that last one.  I have to admit I had very little resistance to this thermometer last week.

Last week.  When we didn’t go to the beach.  Sigh.

Just in time for you to miss out on your summer vacation, buy a Exergen TemporalScanner Temporal Artery Thermometer on Amazon.comor at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Costco, Babies R Us, Toys R Us and Sam’s Clubs nationwide. They retail for less than $50 (the ones on Amazon are all around $35–did I mention I paid $60 for the ear thermometer at a drug store here in NYC. Insane.) Or win an Exergen TemporalScanner right here on Bitter Babies Gotta Have It!

Did I mention I love my daughter so so so much and it kills me when she’s sick?  I do.  And it does.

To Enter the Exergen TemporalScanner Thermometer Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Head over to Exergen and check out the TemporalScanner.  Come back and leave a comment sharing why you want to try the Temporal Artery Thermometer.   Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (just cut and paste): Win an Exergen ThermoScan Temporal Artery Thermometer @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/2fgb2dt
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Thursday June 3rd and ends on Thursday June 24th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: I was provided with an Exergen TemporalScanner Thermometer for review and Exergen will be providing the product for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 38″ - Congratulations Jenna!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

For a few weeks this winter, I considered doing a 14 week job in California.  I didn’t end up taking it for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I wasn’t actually offered the job.  But for a while I thought seriously what it would be like to spend almost three months away from the Little Bean.  It kinda kept me up at night. And it will no doubt sound cliche, but chief among my reasons for not wanting to go away was not being around to read bedtime stories for what seemed like an impossibly long time.

In so many ways I am very lucky.  I didn’t have to go.  So many Mamas and Daddies don’t have that choice.  Whether a parent is in the armed services, employed in another city or state, or even just required to put in extremely long hours that preclude bedtime, these days, tales of families spending lots of time apart are pretty common.

Honestly, as awesome as video chat is, my little one tires of it fairly quickly–more quickly than her grandparents do. My Mom read the Little Bean a story during an online chat the other day.  A beautiful old Golden Book about a kitten.  It was pretty neat in theory, but honestly, we couldn’t really see the pictures.  And my daughter certainly couldn’t follow along with the words as Granny pointed to them.   But the book kept her engaged for longer than just talking usually does  So what’s the solution to quality long-distance storytime?

Readeo.  Readeo is a really really good idea.  Readeo is video chat meets storytime.  Simply log onto Readeo.  Have Mama or Grandma log on, too.  Become “friends”.  And start a book chat.  Check out the video above to see what the interface looks like, but basically the top of your screen displays a vibrant, crystal-clear, page-turnable book, and the bottom of your screen displays the two standard chat windows–you and your loved one.  You child and the reader look at the pages at the same time.  Your child hears the book as Grammie or Daddy or Aunt Jossy reads it.  You all turn the pages and experience the story at the same time.  Even though you’re miles apart.  It’s a pretty great concept.

If you have a webcam and high speed internet, you’ve got all you need to make Readeo work.  Sign up for a free trial (and even if you don’t choose to upgrade to member status you can still read the book of the month for free every month) and give it a try.  As a side benefit, even if you aren’t book chatting, Readeo members can enjoy books from the Readeo library solo.  So if it’s too rainy to head out to the library, but you can’t stand the thought of reading “Brown Bear Brown Bear” for the thirty millionth time, log onto Readeo for a library of new books all just a click away.

Are you still waiting to send that perfect belated Mother’s Day gift to your Mom across the country? Or are you looking for a unique and special Father’s Day gift for a Daddy deployed overseas?  A subscription to Readeo, from your child, to a parent or loved one, is a really thoughtful gift.

And the great news…yeah you knew this was coming…Readeo is offering free one-year subscriptions to Readeo to five Babies Gotta Have It readers. You heard me.  Five!  Want to enter?  Read on.

To Enter the Readeo Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Visit the Readeo Online Library.  Then come back here and leave a comment sharing which book you’d most like to hear your loved one read to your child.   Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of eight entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and Readeo on Twitter, and tweet the following (just cut and paste): Enter to win a one year subscription to @Readeo @BabiesGottaHavT and share some long-distance storytime online. http://snurl.com/x3ich
• Fan (or “like”) Readeo on Facebook
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway open to anyone anywhere in the world–that’s a lot of what’s awesome about Readeo. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Wednesday May 26th and ends on Wednesday June 9th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: Readeo provided a one-month trial subscription to me so I could review the site and the free subscriptions to the winners of this giveaway.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update!  We have winners!  All of you!  Thanks so much for entering!

So here’s the dilemma my friend Gretchen faced last night.  At one single moment in time her husband was attending a class, her son was playing in a baseball game and on a completely different field, her daughter was playing in a T-ball game.  I have heard that Mamas are supposed to be superheroes, but unless someone has really figured out how to bend space and time, there’s pretty much no way that my friend Gretchen can see both of those games at once.  Yet, of course, she did.

However, as much as I desire to tout the amazing and tireless Mamas who somehow do manage to be two…or three…or four places at once, my favorite part of this story is that my friend’s six-year-old daughter was playing T-ball.  Now, she also dances and does gymnastics and is in every way a model for my little Bean who is already wearing her hand-me-down leotards.  Today’s tomboys and girly-girls have so many more options beyond climbing trees and styling Barbie’s hair on a giant free-standing head.  Today’s preschoolers and high school girls are dancing and playing lacrosse and soccer and tennis and basketball, and I love it so much.

Active girls want active dolls.  Dolls like the  Go! Go! Sports Girls from the Dream Big Toy Company.  I first met Jodi, the founder of The Dream Big Toy Company at Toy Fair.  Jodi has a daughter and has coached girls through “Girls on the Run,” a program that encourages girls to make healthy choices  through running.  She gets it.  And these dolls are awesome.  They are sporty. They are snuggly.  They have cute uniforms.  They come with accessories.  They are for ages 3 to 12.  And they play sports! Real, active, sweaty sports like soccer, tennis, basketball, softball, and golf.  They also dance, run, swim, and do gymnastics.  And there are new Go! Go! Sports Girls arriving all the time!  They are proving hugely popular and I can see why.  I dig them.

Because princesses are okay and all, but tennis players rock.  Have you ever seen Serena play? And soccer players.  Love that World Cup.  And basketball players.  WNBA woot! And runners.  And…

Look for Go! Go! Sports Girls online at Amazon.com, Target and elsewhere.

Or enter to win one here!  The Dream Big Toy Company is offering one Babies Gotta Have It reader a Go! Go! Sports Girl of her choice! Want to enter? Read on!

To Enter the Go! Go! Sports Girls Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Head over to Go! Go! Sports Girls and check out the great selection of girls!  Then come back here and leave a comment sharing which girl you’d choose if you won.   Entering is that easy!

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (just cut and paste): Is your little girl a Go! Go! Sports Girl? Enter to win a sporty plush Go! Go! Sports Girl Doll  @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/2wrsxc3
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Thursday May 20th and ends on Thursday June 3rd at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. Very shortly thereafter,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: The Dream Big Toy company provided a doll for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 7″  Congratulations Gretchen!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Okay you know I’m an actress and a huge fan of really good theater for children.  New York, I am discovering, is absolutely full of wonderful artistic experiences for kids, and I am so excited to be able to share another one with you.  If you and your family are in the city, check out John Tartaglia’s “ImaginOcean!”

The concept: a live, black-light, musical puppet show that starts with a treasure map and takes audiences on a remarkable adventure. Jam-packed with music from R&B to Big Band and Swing, dancing jellyfish, and a magical undersea journey, “ImaginOcean” is a blast “from the first big splash to the last wave goodbye.”  I mean…a puppet musical lit with black lights?  Are you kidding me?  Is there anything more fun and magical than black lights and neon to a kid? I don’t think so!

The guy: Who is John Tartaglia?  I first saw him in the outrageously funny musical “Avenue Q.”  He was nominated for a Tony for that brilliant performance and went on to perform in “Shrek, The Musical,” “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” and to create and star in the Playhouse Disney series “Johnny and the Sprites.”  We jaded New York types don’t get so starstruck any more…I once followed John Tartaglia three blocks down 43rd street before chickening out of approaching him and saying how amazing I thought he was in “Avenue Q.”  He’s that good.

The website: Check out the interactive and really fun website for “ImaginOcean” for ticket information, video clips from the show, photos, a chance to join the Fan Club, an online study guide, games, profiles of all the characters, and more!

The giveaway: One lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win a voucher good for two tickets to select performances of John Tartaglia’s “ImaginOcean.”  New York City is gorgeous this time of year!  Why not zip in as soon as school gets out and take in a performance of “ImaginOcean.”  You’ll be glad  you did!  These ticket vouchers are valid from May 23rd to June 30th 2010 for performances: Wednesdays at 11 am and 2 pm, Saturday 4:30 pm and Sunday 12 pm.

To Enter the John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean Ticket Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Leave a comment on this post sharing a memory your favorite puppet ever–live or on TV.  What puppet made a lasting impression?  That’s it!  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of nine entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (just cut and paste): Win two free tickets to John Tartaglia’s “ImaginOcean” in NYC! @BabiesGottaHavT http://tinyurl.com/38r7j8w
• Follow ImaginOcean on Twitter.  Just click HERE!
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left sidebar
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook. Click HERE!
• Become a Fan of Fan Dorsel the Fish on Facebook.  Click HERE!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Monday May 17th and ends on Monday May 24th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Tuesday May 25th,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: “ImaginOcean” supplied me with two tickets to the show and tickets for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update! We have a winner! Random.org says “Result: 8″.  Congratulations Sarah Cusick!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!