Friday, December 31, 2010

Winners!

Where did the year go? Before we say hello to 2011, here are the last winners of 2010...

Checking Our List #30: The lucky winner of a Jeep Wrangler Twin Sport All-Weather Stroller from Kolcraft is...

Congratulations, Danielle @ "We Don't Have It All Together"

Checking Our List #31: The lucky winner of a BISSELL Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner is...
Congratulations, Brandy!

Checking Our List #32: The lucky winner of a Construction Site Giant Floor Puzzle from Carson-Dellosa Publishing is...

Congratulations, Bethany C.!

Checking Our List#33: The lucky winner of a Cuisipro Batter Dispenser is...

Congratulations, freddie!

Checking Our List #34: The lucky winner of a $50 Amazon gift card courtesy of GiftZip is...
Congratulations, Debi!

Checking Our List #35: The two lucky winners of a MoBeam numi key are...

Congratulations, anna and Julie!

The lucky winner of a $25 Amazon gift card courtesy of Bestcovery.com is...

Congratulations, Sarai!

The lucky winner of a DVD copy of Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs in the Snow is...

Congratulations, Addison K.A.T.!

The lucky winner of a Kix "Kid-Tested, Mother-Approved" Prize Pack is...

Congratulations, Nad!

Happy New Year! I hope 2011 brings joy/love/success/no debt/travels/a new job/weight loss (or whatever it is that you're dreaming of) to everyone!

KinderGlo Night Lights by Blue Moon Lites {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, cmyoung!}

It's funny how two siblings can be so different, isn't it? Whereas Little Sister B is adventurous, hugely curious and almost completely fearless, Big Sister E has always been much more levelheaded, cautious and practical. In some ways she is a 4-year-old through and through and, in others, she seems wise beyond her years.

So, for me, there are times that I have to remind myself that she's still a preschooler and not just a miniature adult. She can be so responsible and caring and helpful that when it comes to something like wanting a night light, I know it is something that can be sensible while also being fun.

Which is exactly what we've found with KinderGlo from Blue Moon Lites.

The perfection combination of toy, friend and darkness guardian, KinderGlo night lights are the most unique, well-designed idea for kids that I've seen in a long time. Available in eight different adorable characters, these LED rechargeable night lights are made from a BPA and lead-free plastic that is soft and durable to the touch... and, as they don't ever get hot, there is never any worry of hurting small hands that want to grab and hold them.

But wait, it gets even better. KinderGlo night lights don't just stay plugged into the wall like traditional night lights, the character is fully portable and can be placed and removed from the charging base with ease. That means that this glowing pal can actually be hugged, cuddled and carried around when needed... which is precisely why I knew it would work perfectly for Big Sister E.

As she sat down with me to see her Hippo Night Light in person, I think I was just as excited as she was due to the fact that I knew that she would love it.

As we unpacked the box, the complete setup of this night light took less than a minute. By simply plugging the charger base into the wall and turning the power switch on the bottom of the Hippo on, it immediately lit up and began slowly rotating through the soft glow of the changing colors.

That's it! The single button on the bottom allows you to choose between keeping the light continuously on or turning automatically off after 30 minutes, as well as giving you a choice of the rainbow of changing colors or staying just blue, red or green. Big Sister E instantly liked the way that the colors faded into one another and we both sat, mesmerized, and watched the show for a while.

I knew she would love it, I just knew it.

Bringing her Hippo into her room, we found a perfect spot on the shelf near Big Sister E's bed for it to rest... and, from that day on, it has worked like a dream. If she is restless at bedtime, she simply picks it up (which starts the lights) and plays with it for a while before drifting off.

As these night lights hold a charge for 8 - 10 hours, there isn't any worry that it will run out if she doesn't place it back on the charger right away. But, being the practical girl that she is, Big Sister E nearly always places it right back in its spot and looks to see the red light on the base come on to let her know it is charging. That's my girl!

Even better (and I especially love this part), if Big Sister E gets up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, she simply grabs her Hippo on her way out of bed and has just the right amount of light to see. I don't have to worry about leaving a night light on in the hallway or if she is going to stumble into something on her way to the door; KinderGlo has been a wonderful solution that we all can enjoy.

In fact, it is one of the first things that Little Sister B reaches for to play with when we're in her older sister's room during the day - who can resist the rainbow of lights? I've even caught Big Sister E lifting up the Hippo to turn it on and then setting it back down and proceeding to sit and "read" books aloud to it. It has turned out to be a great friend!

To help ease, calm and comfort at bedtime or provide a soft glow in the darkness or even as a fun toy to take along to occupy kids in the car, there really is a long list of ways that KinderGlo night lights can be used. Considering that they're non-toxic and extremely durable, one purchase could last from being slobbered on during the toddler years all the way to... well, I don't know. Am I too old to want one? The Bear is awfully cute...

Thinking of purchasing your own KinderGlo? I highly recommend it! These cute characters retail for $24.95 and can be found at multiple locations, including Amazon. But why shop without a coupon? Enter the discount code 7LZFTLZM7J0Z and receive $3 off of each character night light from KinderGlo's webstore! These would make great gifts!

Thanks to the generosity of Blue Moon Lites, one person will get to experience the entertaining and security (and more sleep, possibly?) that KinderGlo can bring, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of KinderGlo Night Light from Blue Moon Lites!

To enter to win: Visit KinderGlo and tell me which of the adorable night lights you would choose if you win.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow KinderGlo on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN your choice of KinderGlo innovative, adorable, colorful night lights (ARV $25)! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/ikdztv #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and KinderGlo. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 21st at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

A big thank you to Blue Moon Lites for providing a KinderGlo Night Light for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Friendly Friday: December 31st

Welcome to Friendly Friday!

Remember, YOU can host the link list on your blog, too! Just click "Get the code here..." at the bottom of the list. The code is different every week, so be sure to get the new code when hosting Friendly Friday on your blog. Hosting the list is a great way to get even more traffic to your blog and make Friendly Friday more beneficial for everyone.

Thanks for joining the Friendly Friday celebration hosted by Xenia at Thanks, Mail Carrier, Christi at Frugal Novice and Charla at Healthy Home Blog! We invite you to join us every Friday to make more friends in blogville, get more blog followers and follow other great blogs out there.

To join in the Friendly Friday celebration, include your family-friendly link in our list, follow the hostesses in the first 3 spots and then start blog hopping! Visit other blogs on the list and comment to give them some blog love. Then take a minute to follow them through Google Friend Connect - this is a good way to keep up with other blogs, but also lets us show support to each other! Please DO NOT list your giveaways here, links must be to either your homepage or your Friday posting with your blog title. All others will be deleted.

When people comment on your blog and let you know they're a part of Friendly Friday, return the favor and follow them back. This way everyone gets traffic and followers out of participating, and it's a win-win situation. We would love for you to also grab our Friendly Friday button and post it on your blog and/or in a post - the more bloggers that find out about Friendly Friday and participate, the better!

Spotlight on Friendly Friday Followers!

We love your participation and want to show it! In addition to gaining followers, each week we'll select three blogs at random and will feature links and a write-up for those blogs in the content of next week's Friendly Friday post. There are so many seriously wonderful blogs out there, and this will be a great way to highlight some of those each week. Say hello to the lucky chosen 3 for this week (and feel free to stop by and give them a little extra love):

Colleen at Shibley Smiles and her husband have three adorable kids, and she says that "Her life, her love, her laughter is her family!" In her "Kids Say the Cutest Things," she tells her daughter that maybe she got her coal for a gift. Hubby says that the daughter doesn't know what coal is, to which their daughter replies, "Yes I do, it's a store! Kohl's!" Colleen also features giveaways & reviews, health & fitness posts, memes, and much more.

Tina at Family Literacy and You focuses on close family relationships through faith, reading and activities. She's an Educational Consultant with Usborne Books and More, and Tina gives reviews on different books, learning packs and reading activities. Book fairs, grants and conferences for parents on "Raising Kids to Do Hard Things" are also some of the things you can read about on Family Literacy and You.

Tami at Little Moments Like This has been married to her childhood sweetheart for nine years, and they're thrilled to be expecting their first child this next summer. They live and love the military life and currently live in Africa. Tami writes about their everyday life, blessings and adventures and her interests include being an animal lover, educator and avid reader.

Now that you know about these 3 wonderful blogs, it's time for you to join in! Add your family-friendly link below and we'll see you back here every Friday! And don't forget, you can grab the code to share the link list on your blog, too.

All three hostesses appreciate followers through Google Friend Connect AND Twitter and we'll follow you back - just leave a comment with your URL and/or Twitter username. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Inspired By Finn {Review & Giveaway}

Inspired By Finn{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, missbobloblaw!}

I'd have to go back and look in her baby book to be sure, but I think Big Sister E got her first tooth somewhere around five or six months of age. As well as the time that has passed, another reason why I don't clearly remember is because the event itself was... uneventful.

No crying, no fussing, pretty much no change in her laid back personality at all - I think we just happened to peek into her mouth and there was her first pearly white tooth peeking through her gums. Pretty much the ideal way for this milestone to occur, right?

Well, as with many things, when Little Sister B reached the teething stages... it wasn't nearly as easy. There have been many tears, cries of pain and a whole lot of her cramming her fingers into her mouth and looking at me sadly. Aside from things to chew on or frozen washcloths (which never helped her) or giving her medicine to help relieve the symptoms (which isn't really what I want to continually do), there didn't seem to be any other options.

At least not until I came across more and more people that love and swear by the Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces from Inspired By Finn.

Baltic AmberA natural and traditional European remedy for teething discomfort for hundreds of years, when Baltic amber is worn on the skin, the skin's warmth releases trace amounts of healing oils from the amber that are then absorbed. Among other things, the oils will then help heal a long list of problems, from headaches to inflammation to low energy levels.

By handcrafting their necklaces (as well as bracelets, anklets and more) out of this fossilized tree resin, Inspired By Finn has found a way to bring authentic Baltic amber, and all of its benefits, to babies, children and adults. Even better, they're gorgeous!
Teething discomfortAs soon as I opened the box, I immediately couldn't decide if I liked the rich color of the Honey Round necklace or the mix of shades in the 4 Different Round necklace. The colors are just amazing in person!

As I examined each one closer, right away I appreciated the craftsmanship that went into making them both. Not only is the necklace cord knotted in between each bead (meaning that if it was somehow broken, the beads wouldn't all scatter as if they were just on a string), but the screw clasp is extremely durable and stays securely closed when twisted shut.

Of course as soon as I went to place a necklace on Little Sister B, Big Sister E was right there asking for one of her own. Even though she is no longer teething, I knew that there were so many testimonies about Baltic amber making a difference in the lives of people with all kinds of ailments, so the second strand went to her.

They were both very, very happy about this.

The results? To be honest, I'm not sure. I'm not a doctor (although even if I was, how could I prove what was attributed to the Baltic amber and what wasn't?) but I do know that the girls LOVE these necklaces. Whenever they are taken off (it is recommended to remove them for baths, swimming and sleeping), there is no chance of forgetting to put them back on due to the constant reminders.

I would have liked to try one of these myself to see if I could tell any difference in the way I feel, but neither Big Sister E nor Little Sister B has been at all willing to give up their necklace in the weeks that we have had them. So whether it is the attractiveness of the colors (we constantly receive compliments whenever we're out) or the healing properties, we have definitely been happy with our Inspired By Finn experience.

With so many people dedicated to the relief that they have found from Baltic amber, I don't see any reason not to try one of the many options that Inspired By Finn has available - they could be the answer to so many ailments and symptoms!

Prices are affordable to start with (the necklaces start at $20.95) but you can also save 20% off of your purchase by participating in Inspired By Finn's Facebook promotion... plus they run 40% off sales from time-to-time (also announced on Facebook), which would make for a real bargain on an item that could last for years to come!

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will get to see for themselves the beauty and benefits of Baltic amber and Inspired By Finn, because...

One lucky person will win a Baltic Amber Teething Necklace from Inspired By Finn!

To enter to win: Like Inspired By Finn on Facebook (please leave a portion of your username for verification).

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN an Inspired By Finn Baltic Amber Teething Necklace - beautiful and beneficial! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/glVFUr #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Inspired By Finn. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 21st at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

A big thank you to Inspired By Finn for providing two Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces for me to review as well as one for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Shenzhen Ceramic Knives Fruit and Vegetable Set {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, CherylS22!}

With 2011 right around the corner, it's time to make another year's worth of resolutions in hopes of achieving some of the changes, whether big or small, that we'd all like to make in our lives.

For me, there are many... but one is the amount of time that I spend in the kitchen. Instead of having my husband pick up take-out on the way home or make meals that mostly come out of a box, I am resolving to make more home-cooked dinners that my whole family can gather around the table and enjoy.

I can hope, right?

So, with plans to do more cooking, that means I'll need the tools to make the process easier, faster and more convenient. Which is exactly what I've found now that I've been introduced to Shenzhen Ceramic Knives.

The leading online retailer of ceramic knives and ceramic knife sets, Shenzhen Knives not only offers you a superior slicing and cutting product, but their direct distribution results in a significantly lower price than would be found elsewhere. With options of purchasing a single Paring Knife up to a complete 3-piece Chef Set, these are the perfect complement to the steel knives that we all own and use every day.

So, what are the benefits of ceramic knives? With blades made from ziconium oxide instead of steel, each one is lightweight, resistant to acids, germs, oils and rust, does not affect the taste of food and, due to ceramic being harder than steel, stays sharper longer. Now who wouldn't want all that?

Thinking that ceramic knives sounded pretty good to me, I couldn't wait to give the Shenzhen Knives 2-piece Fruit and Vegetable Set a try. When they arrived in their bright green box, I was impressed just by seeing them still in the packaging.

Pulling the 3.2" paring knife and 4.8" slicing knife out of the box, I couldn't help but notice that these were indeed much lighter than my traditional knives. The handles are extremely comfortable and, with very light pressure, the blades do indeed cut through fruits and vegetables with ease.

Plus, is it weird to think that the stark white of these knives just looks better than steel? Will their attractiveness make me cook better?

Giving the horizontal blade ceramic peeler a try, I found that it also slid easily down the vegetables and proved to make very precise movements, just like the knives. All in all, the three items in this set really have come in handy in the kitchen and I can see using them for quite a long time... and, due to the fact that the zirconium oxide is nearly as hard as diamonds, I love that I won't have to sharpen them for quite a while - a big plus.

And, as these knives are built to last and resist stains, rust and that gross metallic taste all while the non-stick surface makes them easy to clean (hand wash only), they really are a nice addition to any cook's current cutlery set. With a 30-day money back guarantee on top of their already affordable prices, these durable tools are ones that will surely withstand all of the ups and downs that I put them through in my future cooking endeavors.

Think you're ready to join the large group of ceramic knives fans out there? Right now when you purchase a 6" Chef's Knife at Shenzhen Knives, enter the code FREEPEEL3 at checkout and receive one of these great Ceramic Peelers for free (a $9.99 value)! That's not all, also thanks to the generosity of Shenzhen Knives, one person will also be able to slice and dice their fruits, vegetables and more with ease, because...

One lucky person will win a 2-Piece Fruit and Vegetable Set from Shenzhen Knives! ARV $44.98!

To enter to win: Visit Shenzhen Knives and tell me something you learned there or another of their high quality products that you would like to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you Like Shenzhen Knives on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a Shenzhen Knives Fruit and Vegetable Ceramic Knife Set + Peeler (ARV $45)! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/dSZian #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Shenzhen Knives. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 21st at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Shenzhen Knives for providing a 2-piece Fruit and Vegetable Set for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

North American Bear Company {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Jessica!}

Even though it was a lot of work, last summer I held a garage sale that was very necessary around here. Where does all of this stuff come from? How have we managed to accumulate so many things that have no use or that my kids have absolutely no need for?

One main box that I was glad to put out on the driveway was filled with the junkiest, cheapest stuffed animals. Whether they were won from fairs and carnivals or picked up as an afterthought at the store, they were ones that my kids never played with or loved - they just never made the cut.

Instead, they seem to have a sixth sense for plush pals that are truly made to last. The ones that have style and quality and are just... better. And the name that defines the best of the best stuffed animals is none other than North American Bear Company.

A family-owned and operated company started 30 years ago, North American Bear Company was formed out of the desire of a mother looking for the perfect teddy bear for her son (now that's what I call a dedicated mom). Today, their small, tight-knit staff consists mainly of parents who know and love the wide variety of products just as much as their customers - and who can blame them?

With everything from dolls to teddy bears to cuddly monsters, there is an option for both boys and girls of just about any age and interest. And North American Bear Co. doesn't just design adorable stuffed animals, they also have entire categories of fun Accessories or items for Dress-Up that are just the right combination of entertaining and endearing.

We set out to discover just how much fun we could have with these unique items when North American Bear Co's Handbag Goldfish and Tutu Tulle Kit arrived and brightened our day.

Brightly colored and silky soft, the Handbag Goldfish was confiscated immediately by Big Sister E as soon as she laid eyes on it. I did talk her into sharing it with Little Sister B for a while... but later on found that she had managed to stash it away in her room for even more time to herself.

Although I have to admit, even after I brought this plush fish back out to be shared, I could understand why she wanted to spend a little extra time with it.

With its sweet face and fins, convenient carry handles and easy-to-open zippered top (covering quite a large fully-lined compartment inside), this is one goldfish that can be both a toy and a purse at the same time. Measuring approximately 13" long, this isn't a tiny bag but rather almost large enough to be a cozy pillow as well. How many purses can do that?

From small treasures to important scraps of paper, both girls have loved using this unique handbag for carrying just about anything that is needed on a daily basis or for an imaginary adventure.

And what's the perfect outfit to wear when going on one of those adventures? Well, your very own custom tutu, of course.

Available in pink or purple, North American Bear Co's Tutu Tulle Kit has everything you need to not only wear a classic dress-up item, but to design it yourself. Opening up the package, we found the multi-layered tutu, a large tube of glitter glue, a package of shiny sequins, nine fabric flowers, thick paper templates to be used to create even more decorations and a satin bow to finish the look (that Little Sister B confiscated right out of the bag and was never to be seen again).

The concept of this kit is completely fun yet very simple: the lucky little girl creates her own decorations using the included supplies (or any additional ones that are added) and drops them down into the pocket-type layers of the tutu itself. The result is a completely personalized and easily changeable item that can be worn for pretend play, ballet or just any time that a tutu is an outfit's perfect finishing touch.

Being that Big Sister E is a huge fan of both arts & crafts and dress-up, this tutu was the perfect combination to entertain her from beginning to end. She started by decorating the fabric flowers, as well as some of the paper templates, with the glitter, sequins and crayons.

After they dried, it was easy to slide each piece into the openings near the top of the tutu and letting them fall throughout the layers. All that was left was to use the adjustable waistband and wrap this tutu around a 16" - 27" waist of the little ballerina waiting nearby.

I really like being able to open and close the waistband this way so that kids don't have to step in and out of the tutu as they usually do. Plus, even though this kit is recommended for ages 3+ that doesn't mean that a certain younger dress-up fan around here doesn't get to also enjoy the fun that this tutu has brought...

Little ballerinas have to try to imitate their big sisters in all of their poses, too

From classic and traditional to modern and unique, North American Bear Company has a huge collection of high quality, well-crafted items that would make great gifts for newborns through big kids. Heck, I think I need a Pink Tutu Tulle Kit of my own! With reasonable prices and oh-so-cute features, this is one company that knows what makes parents and kids happy.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will get to pick their favorite bear or monster for the child in their life, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of Classic Bears or My Own Monsters (up to $30) from North American Bear Company!

To enter to win: Visit North American Bear Company and tell me which of their adorable items is your favorite.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow North American Bear Company on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a North American Bear Co Classic Bear or My Own Monster (ARV $30) from @NABearCo! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/ejuFKD #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and North American Bear Company. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on January 21st at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open worldwide! If you're reading this, you can enter!

A big thank you to North American Bear Company for providing a Tutu Tulle Kit and Handbag Goldfish for me to review as well as the choice of Classic Bears or My Own Monsters for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Mamas & Papas Trek Stroller {Review}

I may not be completely up to date on the latest technology or gadgets (nor will I probably ever be), but one area where I feel pretty well-informed is that of Kid Stuff. I'd like to think that I'm pretty well-versed in the land of children's toys and gear and that I can spot a particular brand of stroller or diaper bag from pretty far off... and then list the cool features that it boasts. It's a talent, what can I say?

So, when Great Britain's number one baby brand, Mamas & Papas, finally arrived in the United States, I took one look at their unique and innovative strollers, high chairs, bouncers, toys and more... and realized I didn't know a thing about them. Who are they? What do they stand for? And, most importantly, what makes them so great?

Let me tell you: as I started to find out about the company as well as their products, I liked what I found.

Built on a passion for style, quality and innovation, Mamas & Papas was founded in 1981 by a mother and grandmother who was one of the UK's first female entrepreneurs. Who better to understand and anticipate the needs of pregnant women, mothers and their families?

So, with every product that they offer attractive to look at while adding simplicity, sophistication and, of course, function, I couldn't wait to see the colorful Trek stroller from Mamas & Papas in person.

It was clear right out of the box that Mamas & Papas took into account the major elements that matter to parents prior to constructing the Trek. As well as the great look of the Blueberry fabric (although the Raspberry is pretty cool as well), I could hardly believe my eyes when I pulled this stroller out and found that it was nearly 100% fully assembled.

No wheels to attach, no brake system to construct, no straps to thread; the only thing the Trek needed was to pop it open and it could have gone directly out for a ride.

Attaching the large canopy took only a few seconds, as the sides snapped right onto the stroller frame and then were easily held in place with Velcro on the back.

However, as I fully extended the canopy I noticed something that I had never seen before and instantly wondered why that was: a toy loop right at the end that was perfect for hanging any sort of toy or rings to keep a baby or young child occupied. As I have spent so much time trying to figure out how to attach things to previous strollers for Big Sister E and Little Sister B to entertain themselves with, having a loop just makes sense - what a great idea!

Designed for children from 6 months old up to around age 3 (approximately 18 - 33 pounds), the Trek is comfortable enough for younger babies and tall enough for older children to easily fit without nearing the top. This lightweight (13 pounds) umbrella stroller is just the thing for compact storage or easy travels - there is even a convenient shoulder strap that makes toting this around a breeze.

When it comes to the ride, the plush, padded seat, multi-position backrest and adjustable harness height ensure that your little one will have a custom, comfortable time no matter what. And, as nice as these features are, they are only enhanced by how simple they are to use and modify whenever necessary.

Raising and lowering the backrest requires only one hand - slide the clip located right on the back of the seat to the desired level and the seat leans back. When it's time to be upright again, just slide the clip tighter and you're done. As well as making naptime on-the-go more cozy, it is also extremely quick and convenient!

Changing the height of the 5-point harness is nearly just as easy, as all that is necessary is to pop the harness strap back through the seat and then move and secure it to the desired location. That allows for quick changes if a taller child is going to be riding or just when your child begins to outgrow the current setting.

The harness itself is slightly different than others that I am familiar with as well, due to the fact that the two sides fit together (similar to two puzzle pieces) and then snap together into the main buckle. At first I wondered if this would be more time-consuming or difficult, but I was pleased to find that it wasn't at all. In fact, I felt as though this system resulted in a more secure, safe fit.

When it came time to test out the Trek, I found that the foam handles were soft and comfortable to push and having the option of leaving the front wheels to swivel or lock them in place made the ride smooth and easy for both of us. Plus, with the brake conveniently located connecting both back wheels and a decent-sized (removable) storage basket underneath, parents have easy access to all the necessities.

When it is time to close up the Trek, the simple fold release mechanism allows you to do it pretty much all with one hand. Simply step on the side lever and pull up on the strap and the entire stroller folds down into one compact 11" x 9" x 41" package that, due to the large lock on the side, stays closed no matter how you carry or store it.

I am constantly recommending to new parents that they do NOT need a massive, bulky travel system because it just ends up difficult to move, carry or store. Instead, Mamas & Papas has taken great features from full-size strollers and put them into an efficient, more manageable model. This lightweight stroller provides comfort, style and safety in an easy to open and close frame that both the child and the parent will enjoy using.

No matter what the terrain, your little one will experience less bumps and stay perfectly cozy and secure. In fact, if you happen to get caught in a rain shower, the Trek even comes with its own separate rain cover that easily hooks and Velcros to the frame and stays in place with ease. As well as keeping your baby happy and dry, there are also ventilation holes along both sides that allow plenty of oxygen to keep flowing - a great addition to a handy accessory.

With a collection of convenient features, innovative styling and high quality and durability, the Trek stroller would be a great addition to any parent or soon-to-be-parent's line of gear. And, with their well laid-out line of lightweight strollers (the Trip, Trek, Tour, Cruise and Voyage), I like the way that Mamas & Papas makes it possible to find the one that will work best for your needs and fits your budget.

Plus, if your child is anything like mine, they'll love the relaxing ride they receive from a top-quality stroller like this one.

Retailing for $179.99, the Trek stroller (and many other great Mamas & Papas items) can be found at Babies R Us stores across the country as well as online. You'll also want to stay connected with Mamas & Papas on Facebook and Twitter so that you never miss the latest information or a great sale.

(Other than the Trek stroller that I was provided by Mamas & Papas, I was not compensated or enticed or to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this stroller and this company and their products.)