Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Looking for Healthy Snacks? Simply... Go-Gurt "Simplify Your Life" Review +Giveaway!

How many times have you read that my family loves healthy snack options?? I will write about new and exciting products that pass my scrutiny until I am blue in the face. Why? Because I don't want my children growing up in a world of artificial colors and sweeteners. That said- recently I was given the opportunity to review the new Yoplait Simply... Go-Gurt.

I love yogurt, and craved it during my pregnancy with my daughter. The thing is that most "low-fat" yogurts contain phenylketonurics, phenylalaine, aspartame, high-fructose corn syrup or another artificial sweetener.

I love Yoplait yogurt, so I jumped at this opportunity from MyBlogSpark. I was sent a coupon for a free package of Simply...Go-Gurt, a backseat organizer, a pocket Etch-a-Sketch, and this great little organizer- with sticky notes and everything!

It took me a few stores to actually find the Simply...Go-Gurt in stock, but once I did, the kids and I fell in love. Really, I know that sounds corny, but it's the truth. (I cannot tell you how much we are NOT morning people.) Often running late, the Simply..Go-Gurt has been quite the lifesaver, simplifying my life. The kids love it because it's the perfect size, and it tastes great. Simply...Go-Gurt is available in two kid-friendly flavors, Strawberry & Mixed Berry. Each convenient portable yogurt tube contains a good source of calcium and vitamin D. The kids love the individual serving size. I love the ingredients, and the fact that it's from Yoplait- a brand I trust and buy often.

Looking for a healthy alternative to fake fruit or over-sugared ice pops this summer? Try throwing the individual sleeves in the freezer. After only a couple of hours these pops make for a refreshing treat after a day in the sun!

Want it?
Click on the micro site below to get a free coupon (not valid in some states including: California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee), tell a friend, get snacking advice, and give your opinion on this new product.



WIN IT!
Our friends at MyBlogSpark & Yoplait have offered one lucky reader their chance to WIN a Simplify Your Life prize pack, just like the one I received.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!


Please refer to our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to officially claim your prize!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US. This giveaway will end on May 4, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. Disclosure: The Simply... Go-Gurt prize pack, information, and additional prize pack were all given to us from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark to share my own opinions on. Any opinions expressed are 100% mine. Your experience with these products and company may differ.

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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Exclusive Facebook Fan Giveaway

"Like" 4BabyAndMom to become a fan on Facebook- Click HERE to bring you to our page. Please spread the word on your website that I am trying to get 1000 likes in 10 days. We have 5 days left, and 652 'likes' left.

If you share it on your site, leave me a comment here and get 5 extra entries into the rest of our giveaways for the month!

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Saturday, April 24, 2010

BBC Earth Offers Free Planet Earth Episode Download on iTUNES


Celebrate Earth Day & Enjoy PLANET EARTH in Stunning HD For Free April 12-26, 2010

From the Press Release:

In celebration of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, the beloved and award-winning BBC Earth series Planet Earth is now available on iTunes with a special, one-time free episode download (“Pole to Pole”) from April 12 – 26, 2010.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FREE EPISODE


This jaw-dropping, 11-part series from the BBC’s Natural History Unit presents the epic story of life on Earth. Series producer Alastair Fothergill and his team spent four years in production, over 2000 days in the field, using 71 cameramen filming across 204 locations in 62 countries to capture the ultimate portrait of our planet. It has garnered legions of fans and universal critical acclaim with Oprah Magazine saying “It is the most beautiful, wondrous and truly majestic series - the best thing I’ve ever seen on TV.” Using a budget of unprecedented proportions and captured on HD cameras, Planet Earth is among the highest rated and best selling HD programs ever made. It offers stunning visuals perfect for any HD television or HD handheld device like the Apple iPad which launched on April 3rd.

The BBC Natural History Unit has been producing extraordinary programming for over 50 years, and continues to take viewers to new and exciting parts of our Earth. Planet Earth, a BBC/Discovery co-production, aired on the Discovery Channel in 2007. It is the must-see precursor to the highly anticipated BBC nature series Life, currently airing on the Discovery Channel and releasing on DVD June 1, 2010 from BBC Video.

You can easily share this free download with your friends on TWITTER by clicking on the link. See what other people are saying and talk about it using the #planetearth hashtag. Be sure to remind your friends that this free download is only available until Monday!

Want more Planet Earth? The whole series is available for instant download on iTunes in both Standard Definition and Hi-Def.

You can also go behind-the scenes with the all-new playlist, The Planet Earth Diaries ($4.99/Playlist; 99¢/episode). Here you’ll find a total of 110 minutes (eleven 10-minute episodes) of footage detailing what the crew had to endure in order to capture some of the most enthralling moments of the series.

CAN’T GET ENOUGH?
Complement Planet Earth with other BBC Earth series such as Blue Planet , and Yellowstone and Galapagos, both available in HD.

Check out one of the clips below, and be sure to visit the additional links below to see more stunning videos.



Additional Video Clips:

Be sure to download the FREE episode now on iTunes, before this offer ends on Monday!


All images and video © BBC. No monetary compensation was received for advertising this promotion. The information was provided by American Pop Digital.

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Silikids Special Earth Day Offer!



Glass bottles are back! Save 50% off AND get a free replacement skin on your next Siliskin bottle purchase using coupon code: SILIBABY

Safe, cost effective, and green. What's better than that? The protective skin allows baby to have a grip on the bottle, and if it drops is much less likely to break than a standard glass bottle. Don't have a baby drinking out of bottles anymore? Try the Silikids cup! Happy Earth Day!

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Green News from General Mills

Green Giant has long been committed to reducing its footprint on everything it plants, produces, packages and brings to your table. Now, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Green Giant is taking that commitment to the environment one giant step farther, by giving $200,000 to The Nature Conservancy to help fund an innovative project that will encourage greener farming practices to repair and protect a natural treasure — the Root River, one of Minnesota’s (home to Green Giant) best trout streams.

Throughout its century-long history, Green Giant has worked to reduce its environmental footprint through many measures including:

• Reducing the amount of land and water needed to grow vegetables
• Packing vegetables in smaller, lighter cans, so it takes less fuel to deliver them to supermarket shelves
• Utilizing traditional seed breeding methods over the last 35 years to double the amount of sweet corn grown on an acre of land
• Teaming up with growers to install a more efficient irrigation system that can reduce water use by more than a million gallons a year
• Switching to more earth-friendly paperboard to package frozen vegetables, saving approximately 54,000 trees annually in the process

When you buy Green Giant® vegetables, you are supporting these initiatives. To learn more about this partnership and how Green Giant is making its footprint smaller or to make a donation to The Nature Conservancy, visit www.greengiant.com.

This information was provided to us by General Mills by the Psst... program. No monetary compensation was received by posting this press release.

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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

April Showers Brings... Mother's Day! (And so much more!)

Is it just me, or is Mother's Day coming a little early this year? I know that it's always the second Sunday in May, but literally last night, I just looked at a calendar and just about fell on my face!

There is so many new and exciting things going on at 4BabyAndMom this spring. Well, first, our family survived our first state competition. (Oh, and as a quick update, Days Inn ended up refunding us the entire nights stay.)

Almost immediately afterward, we had an awesome visit by two sets of family members from up north. During the visit we ate at a Tijuana Flats restaurant for the first time (oh-mi-gosh, I'm in LOVE!) and visited Clearwater, and the beach. We took a boat out to the Gulf of Mexico, and visited Shell Island. The island lived up to its name, as the white sandy shore line was covered with shells all different shapes and sizes. Abbigaile got to drive the boat.. well, she did with her uncle, but she pretended too!

We even found two sea urchin in the water! Out at sea, Alex wanted to go tubing so we let him. He knows how to swim, but he wore a life jacket- just in case. We went slow, and all of a sudden we noticed dolphins in the water around us, and him! He loves dolphins since our Sea World encounter, so he wasn't affected at all. *I* was a little nervous, but I survived. They were beautiful!

After that, Alex's uncle took him on a fan boat to look for alligators. He absolutely loved his week with his relatives, and they spoiled him rotten.. which was a great change, because usually it's Miss Abbie that's spoiled ridiculously.

Anyway- now that our company has officially moved onto bigger and better things, we're starting to get back into the swing of things. We have some great giveaways listed now, and some new ones will be posted soon.

I set a goal for myself. I really want to see if I can get 1000 Facebook Fans. I am going to be putting up a giveaway this week that will either be split- IF my goal is met, one prize pack will go to a Fan only, the other to the readers and commenters here- If I don't make the goal, the two prize packs will be given out to my readers here only. Each prize pack will have an estimated retail value of about $350! I would love it if you could help spread the word by sharing our link or profile on Facebook. Oh, also, our Facebook Fan Page is a direct url now- Facebook.com/4BabyAndMom how awesome is that?!

Keep on the lookout for a beautiful photobook giveaway from VistaPrint (valued at ~$50!) and a giveaway for a 16x20 photo canvas from CanvasPress.com, valued at over $100! I can't wait to share these great companies with you, and many more these next few weeks.

The first week of May I will be heading up to the Greater Cleveland area (aka "Cleveland Plus") for a Family Familiarization Tour. This tour will consist of 4 jam-packed days and will include various stops at family-friendly locations throughout the region including a behind-the-scenes tour of our famous Parade the Circle, stops at the renowned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and an overnight in the Sandusky area (with tours of the area’s indoor waterparks and Cedar Point).Needless to say, I can't wait to go, and then share everything I learned with you all!

Also, after I come home from my trip, you should find some more posts from Marissa. This semester of college is almost over, and she is eager to jump into the blogging wagon in full force. I've spent the last few months trying to teach her anything and everything that I could. I am sure you all will enjoy the wealth of knowledge she brings to this site. 

So that- in a nutshell- is what has been going on over here. Now that that's settled...what are you waiting for? Tell a friend, subscribe by email- so you don't miss a thing, and enjoy the next chapter at 4BabyAndMom!

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Monday, April 19, 2010

Little Tikes 40th Celebration + 30th Anniversary Cozy Coupe Giveaway!


Since 1970, the Little Tikes Company has been committed to creating safe, high-quality, durable and fun toys for active girls and boys, featuring a series of bestselling learning and riding toys that encourage kids to “Get up and Grow” while learning through active, creative and social play. From the old classics to modern toys, your kids will love playing outside when you have Little Tikes toys in your backyard.

For 30 years, this kid-powered ride on has been a kid-powered favorite. Little ones love being behind the wheel while adults love the durability. Now, with new redesigns and interactive features, the Cozy Coupe is better than ever!

Our family loves Little Tikes products, from toy chests, to picnic tables, to inflatable jumpers, or ride on toys; whenever we are on the search of durable kids toys, our first choice is Little Tikes. Both of my children had a Cozy Coupe, and drove it non-stop; from the local park, to up and down the driveway, they loved their Cozy Coupe. Alex had a classic red and yellow coupe, and Abbie had his for awhile, then we got her a pink one. She thought she was the queen in that car- and hated to share with any friends. She HAD to drive. No if, and's or buts about it!!

The new 30th Anniversary Edition Cozy Coupe is super cute, and looks just like the infamous Little Tikes logo, with big eyes and all! Perfect for your active toddler, this Cozy Coupe has a retail value of $49.99.

With spring in the air, and the summer-time right around the corner, you may want to visit the Little Tikes website to shop around for great outdoor toys to keep your tots busy, use their imaginations, and most of all- have FUN!

Right now if you use the coupon code FRSH0322 at checkout, your order $200 or more will ship completely free! (see site for details)

Thanks to our friends at Little Tikes, right now you can enter to win your child their own sweet ride: the Little Tikes 30th Anniversary edition Cozy Coupe.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Please refer to our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to claim your prize. 

This giveaway is open to residents of the US. This giveaway will end on April 30, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. Disclosure:  I received no monetary compensation for this post, and any opinions expressed are 100% my own. Your experience with this product and company may differ.

**THERE WAS A TYPO IN THE ORIGINAL TWEET- THIS GIVEAWAY ENDS ON 4//30 NOT 4/25. I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.***

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Win a Weekend of Temptation in Las Vegas

Image


This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of KAO Brands. All opinions are 100% mine.



It takes just a couple of seconds to enter to win at the Temptation is Beautiful contest and giveaway. You can win daily prize packs stuffed full of some of your favorite bath and beauty products.

This contest actually started in March, but from now until May 8th, you can enter daily for a chance to win the daily tempting beauty basket, as well as the grand prize- a tempting trip to Las Vegas for you and 3 of your friends with $1,500 in spending money!

Take a mom getaway with your friends, a second honeymoon with your spouse and another couple you like, give it to your future sister-in-law as an exiting bachelorette party- the possibilities are endless.

If I won, part of me would want to take my husband, the other would want to make this a trip "just for the girls". Relax, play at some casinos (I love black jack!) and see some shows. I've never been to Vegas, so I would make the most of it. With $1500 spending money, I could even have room for a massage! 

While you're there, don't forget to take the Temptress Temperature quiz and share it with your friends for even more extra entries! I took the quiz, and apparently I was "Hot, Hot, Hot" in college!

If you take your Temptress Temperature, be sure to leave me a comment and tell me what you are!! This contest is open to residents of the US only. Good Luck, press your luck, and enter to win now.

Visit my sponsor: Temptation is Beautiful

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Friday, April 16, 2010

Seventh Generation Review + Giveaway


Thanks to MyBlogSpark, the 4BabyAndMom team was given the opportunity to try the new Seventh Generation Disinfecting Cleaning Kit. The cleaning caddy came packed with Multi-Surface Disinfecting Spray, Wipes, Bathroom Cleaner, two rolls of recycled paper towels, and the book,The Conscious Kitchen.

Seventh Generation is a 20 year old company based out of Burlington, Vermont that is notorious for their all natural non-toxic cleaning products. They not only give back to their planet, but they give back to their community.

I hate to clean, but with two kids and a dog, I find myself cleaning almost all of the time. The choices I make reflect on my household, and recently I've been trying to take the steps to a "greener" home. Choices that are healthy and safe for my family and my pet. One of the struggles I've had is finding products that kill germs, because my kids touch everything, and tend to have their fingers or hands in their mouths often.

Seventh Generation has created a line of naturally disinfecting product recognized by the EPA using the oil from thyme, Tymol, to kill germs that lead to common colds,influenza, salmonella, H1N1, and more. They disinfect as you clean, and leave no harmful residue on any surface germs can get to.

Most "green" cleaners say they cut grease and grime just as good as the products our mother's used, but I can honestly say that I was very impressed with the quality of clean left behind. The Multi-Surface cleaner I abused all over the kitchen, and the wipes were heaven-sent. The bathroom cleaner was great on the tiles in the tub. I liked the paper towels because of the fact that they were made from 100% recycled paper, and that they were unbleached. They worked relatively well for cleaning, but weren't tough enough for my kids spills or dog accidents- which is the major use of regular paper towels in my home.

The scent is very strong in this line of products. For me, it wasn't unbearable,  but for Marissa it was completely different. It has a very strong "ben-gay" style scent, which she found very overwhelming. I used my products in moderation and spread out, so I wasn't overwhelmed, but I could definitely smell it. We both would prefer trying other scents if made available.

The book, The Conscious Kitchen by Alexandra Zissu gives great tips to be good to both the earth and your body. This book covers topics like cutting energy bills, avoiding pesticides in food, and recipes for tasty, healthy meals.

From the book & MyBlogSpark:
  • Change is Good Choosing cleaning products without indoor air pollutants like volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, is a simple and effective way to reduce your indoor air pollution. If you´re not prepared to switch everything overnight, start by swapping out the one product you use the most, and moving forward from there.
  • Think before you spray Residues from cleaning products can last on a surface for longer than we we´d like to know and travel to areas that we sometimes don´t intend them to. Don´t contaminate your food by prepping it on a surface that may contain harsh chemical residues - rinse cleaning products from food preparation surfaces carefully or use botanical disinfecting cleaners that do not require a rinse step.
  • Home is Where the Clean Is Your standard cleaners are good for removing soils and dirt from kitchen surfaces, but to tackle germs you need a cleaner that is effective against microbes like bacteria and viruses. Many cleaners contain ingredients that have antimicrobial properties such as vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, but the germ killing power of these is not necessarily guaranteed. To be sure you are killing germs, use an EPA registered disinfectant. Seventh Generation tapped into the disinfecting power of the common garden herb thyme, to provide a disinfecting cleaner that kills germs* naturally.
  • Make the Old New Again Think twice about the items that you´re using to clean and dry your kitchen equipment and dishes. Use rags (like old t-shirts and washcloths) instead of paper towels. If you aren´t prepared to kick your paper towel addiction just yet, use only recycled versions that are unbleached or haven´t been whitened with chemicals containing chlorine and see how long you can make a roll last.
  • The Writing is on the ... Sponge Be sure to read the fine print on sponges and only purchase those that do not contain antimicrobial pesticides. Remember to store sponges in a dry place and frequently clean them by popping plastic sponges wet in a microwave for two minutes or boiling sponges for three minutes in water.
  • Mom Was Right, Wash Your Hands Wash your hands with soap and water before and after prepping food, and always before eating. So much of what can be potentially harmful in a kitchen can be reduced by this simple act that doesn't require any harsh chemicals whatsoever.
*Refer to product labels for full details 

Our friends at MyBlogSpark is giving one of our lucky readers the opportunity to win a prize pack of their own!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!


This giveaway is open to residents of the US. This giveaway will end on April 25, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. Disclosure: I received this product to review at no cost from MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generations to review and share my own opinions on. I received no monetary compensation for this review, and any opinions expressed are 100% my own. Your experience with this product and company may differ.

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Weigh in Wednesday- Blog the Weight Away

I have not been to the gym once this week. I hopped on my scale just a few minutes ago, and I am down weight. I am really upset about this.. well, not that I'm down weight, per say, but that I am down DRASTICALLY compared to the scale at the gym. Like, do they rig it so you don't see the numbers going down so you keep going. Or get discouraged, and they suck your money away cause you're stuck in a contract?! Sigh.

Well, my scale at home says that I'm down 10 pounds. However, I tried on my bridesmaids dresses and they didn't zip the whole way, so I *feel* like I'm up about 5 pounds, (or swollen waiting for Dear Aunt Flo to arrive). Sorry for the TMI. So starting this week I'm back at ground zero. I'm going to use MY scale, and I'm going back to the gym- after my company leaves.  I need to get healthy again, I can feel my stamina decreasing. My gym partner and I decided to run 5 miles next time we go to the gym. I'm excited.

I hope you all had great weeks this week, and that the numbers were on your side. Make sure you show support to the other bloggers that participate in our Linky. If you are trying to get healthy, or lose weight, be sure to link up and spread the word.



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Are You a Fan? Do You Follow Us?

Have no fear, we're not being stalked, we just want to know- are you our Fan or do you Follow us?

Why? Because great things are in store for our Fans and Followers. Once we hit the 1,000 Fan benchmark, we're going to give a fabulous prize pack away from two of our favorite sponsors. What are you waiting for? Tell your friends now and click that little Fan button.. and while you're there, answer some of our posts.. We're starting to feel like we're talking to ourselves.

With Thanks,
Lauren & Marissa



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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

No Sleep=No Good. Our Experience at Days Inn Orlando/UCF

Typically on 4BabyAndMom you see pleasant or positive reviews on products we want to share with you because we think that the items or services we received rock. I hate writing about products I have a negative experience with, and try very hard to find both the positive and negatives to share with you all. If I have a product or service that I had mixed reviews about, I typically share it. This review is quite different, because I had such a horrible experience, and am so disappointed that I do not want any of my readers to ever have an experience like we did last Friday night.

Florida State Odyssey of the Mind Competitions were held in Orlando at UCF, so needless to say there were a ton of hotels for our group to choose from. Unfortunately, we had to choose from a list of approved school vendors. We compared prices and amenities and for what it’s worth, when the purchaser scoped it out online everything looked great at the Days Inn and Suites Orlando/UCF Research Park. I took it upon myself to check it out online, and when I searched, there was no real area to check out reviews on the Days Inn site, and the googled reviews were mixed, and many were old reviews. I did read some good reviews, so I was hopeful.

The kids were excited, the parents wanted the best experience for their children. We couldn’t wait to get to the hotel, unpack, grab dinner and maybe take a dip in the pool.

We hit a ton of traffic on our way out, and checked in about 7:45 at night. We peeked our head into the room, and changed really quickly. There was a bug in the bathroom and the room smelled musty and closed up. We put the air on, so when we came back it would be cooler, then we went to eat. We went to Friendly’s and had a great time. When we got back to the room, the air conditioning was off; the room was humid and stagnant. We had to put shoes up on the window sill to hold the curtains back so the air would kick on, even then it turned on for about 5 minutes, got the area right in front of the bed super cold, and then turned off. It would get hot and humid, and then to get the air to go back on again we’d have to lower it down to 60 and try again. The furniture in the room looked worn.. The carpet was filthy and stiff, (not comfortable to a bare foot at all), one of our towels had a black curly hair in it, another had a dirty foot print stain; the coffee pot in the room did not function properly, and the TV in the room was set in an armoire at the end of one bed, so only that bed could watch it. It was extremely awkward, especially since we used both beds. The beds- dear God, the beds- were the most uncomfortable things I have ever laid in in my life, and the pillows were like cinder blocks. Seriously, I would have had a more comfortable and more sound sleep on I-4 during rush hour. It was horrendous!

The location of the hotel was great; convenient to a lot of the places we were going, near almost every restaurant under the sun, and easy to get to, however, the neighboring property was a nusiance. We should have known from the name “University Inn” that we were in for it. Honestly, I am not “old” but God Almighty, I aged this trip-mostly thanks to this hotel. The party started about 11pm, and continued until 2:30am when we called down and the concierge said that the police had already been notified. The police showed up, and threatened a group of the kids with going to jail but literally after they left, it began again.. And lasted until about 5:30am. The seal around our door was basically non-existent, so if you stood in our room with the lights out, you could see light around three sides of the door. The car alarms, bass, motorcycles zipping in and out of the parking lot sounded as if they were in the room with us. Not to mention, the music, yelling, and curse words, (which kept the kids up until almost 12am) made for a pretty restless night for me! 

The other families were originally planning on staying for two nights, thankfully we only had to put up with one night of hell. We complained in the morning, (WE meaning I, and the other mothers in our group), because unfortunately everyone’s room was disgusting, and everyone was kept up with the noise from the neighbors.

The manager in the AM refunded $20 from the nights stay to our account, and apologized saying that they really had no control over the other property and that she’d call over there some time that day. She “couldn’t believe” that all of our rooms were inadequate. I suggested walking through them again, the younger desk attendant tried to apologize by telling me of her previous experience staying at the hotel, but it was not our experience., not even close. I would have expected that type of experience from a Hooker Hotel, or a $40/night or below hotel, but not for almost $90 a night (yes, $90 included a discount from the school!).

The worst part is that our group- our very small group compared to other groups in the area- was not the only one that complained that morning. While I waited my turn to speak to the AM manager, four other people had the same, if not similar complaints.

I am extremely disappointed in Days Inn, and would not ever recommend anyone to stay at that location ever. If their life depended on it, never. I would recommend sleeping in your car before staying at that facility (or the neighboring University Inn, for that matter!).

What happened to the saying, “The Customer is Always Right” and “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”. My advice for Days Inn at UCF- Invest in a retaining wall to block out your neighbors, update your rooms, and get better washing machines for your towels. Also tell your staff to be a bit more pleasant and not to act in disbelief at the entourage of guests complaining of similar inconveniences, and perhaps pay the cleaning staff a little bit more. They have the toughest job of anyone, especially at your facility. My advice for my readers- invest in a better facility, the $20-40 bucks extra is TOTALLY worth it.

I do hope that someone from Days Inn reads this, and if so, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at 4BabyAndMom at gmail dot com.



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Free Starbucks Coffee 4/15- Make a Difference!

From Starbucks: 

One person can save trees. Together, we can save forests. That's why we'd like to encourage everyone to switch from paper cups to reusable travel mugs. Check out http://www.starbucks.com/TheBigPicture to see the thousands of people taking the pledge to make a difference.

Join the movement. On April 15th, bring a mug to your local Starbucks and we'll give you a free brewed coffee*.

Bring in a mug any day, and get 10 cents off your beverage, anytime.

This event is taking place at locations all around the world. As your local barista for details.

*up to 20 fl. oz. while supplies last
How awesome is that? Learn more about this pledge, and other Starbucks Projects at http://www.starbucks.com/thebigpicture.

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Saturday, April 10, 2010

Banquet "Thanks a Million" Promotion almost over! Hurry for your chance to WIN!

For 50 years, Banquet has been making the familiar foods that families love. From Salisbury steak to crispy fried chicken and turkey pot pies to chicken breast tenders, you can always count on Banquet to provide consistently good taste at a great value.

Banquet products include frozen dinners, pot pies, fried chicken, chicken nuggets, tenders and patties, Banquet wings, Homestyle Bakes, and Crock-Pot Classics.

This winter, Banquet has been giving away thousands of dollars as a way of saying "Thanks a Million" to their customers. Packages of Banquet frozen meals with the "Thanks a Million" logo each contain a special thank you gift, either one of over 16,000 redeemable cash prizes, (worth anywhere from $10 to $100,000), or a Banquet coupon. The promotion has been a huge hit so far and it looks like all of the special packages will have been purchased by next month.

We don't make a habit of eating a ton of prepared meals, but one thing I cannot seem to wean ourselves from is the Banquet chicken breast nuggets or popcorn chicken. The kids love the taste of them, and for the price it's a great solution for a quick lunch or dinner on our super busy days. Needless to say, if you open my freezer, you'll likely see a box of popcorn chicken every single time.  Thanks to Mom Central, we were given coupons to try our favorite Banquet products at no cost. I hate most chicken nuggets or popcorn chicken, but there's something about the way Banquet nuggets crisp up. They taste great baked in the oven with a side of fries and green beans.

The Banquet "Thanks a Million" Instant win game can be found on specially marked packages, and are available at grocery stores everywhere. You should hurry, because this is your last chance to try to win the grand prize of $100,000!

To find a store that sells your favorite Banquet meal or food click here. For the official rules of the "Thanks a Million" Instant Win Game, please visit www.BanquetThanksaMillion.com.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Banquet and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly that of 4BabyAndMom, and your experience may differ.

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Friday, April 9, 2010

Walgreens Photo Sale- FREE 8x10 + Discounts on Collages


Click on the image above now to get your coupon and FREE 8x10 photo! Sign up for emails to receive coupons and discounts in your inbox.

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Thursday, April 8, 2010

ABC Neckties Review + $25 Gift Card Giveaway

My husband loves wearing suits, but I prefer a nice clean cut dress shirt with khakis or jeans.. a tie tops it off- especially the khakis. I will admit, I sometimes wish my husband had a job where he could wear business suits more often, or ties, I just find him super attractive when he's dressed up.

When Alex was little, I dressed him up in a little clip-on tie as often as possible. I love little boys with ties too, they just look so cute! So, when ABC NECKTIES offered me a chance to review their website and products, I had to agree with enthusiasm.

They sent me a Father and Son Matching Tie Set in the brown and tan stripe pattern. This was PERFECT for Easter. You can see how the men in my life looked in their matching ties, and Alex was so proud tying his own tie- just like Daddy- with only a little help from Mommy.

The product arrived very quickly, and I was impressed with the packaging. In a simple black box, with a clear plastic top, the Father-Son set was displayed very lovely. The pictures on the site do NOTHING for the quality of these ties- they are beautiful. They are perfect- not too thick, but not flimsy; wide, but not double wide; and they feel expensive. The set that we were given to review is originally about $30, (currently on sale for $25.46). I don't know if you've ever bought a tie for a young man, but the last time I bought Alex a tie, it was $18, and the last clip-on I bought him was $10. I can't even remember the last time Bri let me buy him a tie, but I know it wasn't cheap.

ABC NECKTIES carry a huge selection of high-quality, discount ties. Starting at only $15, it's easy to find something for the man (or little man) in your life. Based out of Indiana, this ten-year old company not only provides excellent product, but communicate effectively and holds customer service standards very high and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and hassle free returns, should your experience be anything less than the best.

Whether you're looking for silk ties, skinny ties, striped ties, or novelty, sports or cartoon ties, ABC NECKTIES has what you're looking for. Their customer service representatives are waiting for you to contact them with any questions or comments you may have.

Right now, ABC NECKTIES is running a Spring Sale- save 15% off of their already low prices, and as always get free shipping on all orders to the US.  Get your honey looking HOT again with just a tweak to his wardrobe. Sale prices start at about $11, some clearance items are even less! So what are you waiting for- Mother's Day is almost here, but Father's Day is right around the corner- Order your dad, husband, honey, or son the perfect tie from ABC NECKTIES now.

Want it?
Head over to ABC NECKTIES and check out their large variety of neckties for the man, or men in your life.

Congratulations to our WINNER!

Please refer to our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to claim your prize!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US. This giveaway will end on April 22, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. Disclosure: I received this product to review at no cost from the PR firm representing ABC NECKTIES. I received no monetary compensation for this review, and any opinions expressed are 100% my own. Your experience with this product and company may differ.

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DATE NIGHT with Tina Fey + Steve Carell Opens April 9th

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 20th Century Fox. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm a movie girl. One of my first real jobs was a music and movie store at the mall. I have a plethora of useless information from music and movies in my head, took a class on Themes in Films, and love dissecting the story lines of new movies.

Even before I got married and had kids, I loved watching movies with couples working as a team, messed up families putting the "fun in dysfunctional", and kids who take action. I love action movies- (Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington are two of my favorite actors)- and also have a special place in my heart for funny movies. No, not "comedies"- funny movies. I never really had taken a liking to the gross humor that's present in so many of the movies on the market now, and find that I really take offense now that I am a mom.

That said, I have a confession to make. I love Steve Carell and Tina Fey, and the idea of them starring together in the new Date Night Movie excites me. I can't wait to see the way the both of them interact during this film.

In “Date Night,” which opens Friday, April 9th, a bored suburban couple played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey go on their weekly dinner date and find themselves thrown into a night of intrigue: there’s breaking and entering, a car chase, a shootout and a showdown with an underworld boss at a strip club. Husband and wife come out of the adventure with some scratches and also with their ardor renewed.

Check out the preview of DATE NIGHT here:




This movie opens up this Friday, April 9th at theaters everywhere. I hope it's as good as it looks. If you see it this weekend, I'd love to hear your opinions! Enjoy your Date Night.

Visit my sponsor: Date Night

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Weigh in Wednesday- Blog the Weight Away

So I hopped on the scale this week. Not so good. I'm up two pounds. This week I spoke with my mom, and I think her and I are going to try something different. More along the Special K diet, but points for dinner.

I need to do something, I'm starting to get uber frustrated. My girlfriend Kerri started going to the gym the same time as I did, and she hasn't gone in about a month because their family was sick for three weeks back and forth.. She was the only one NOT sick. She's lost a total of 8 pounds since she stopped going to the gym. What the heck?! My other workout buddies are losing weight and I'm not. I'm about ready to pull all of my hair out. I wish I knew what was going on inside my body. Sigh.

Great goals for next week. I want to see a - on that scale, I want to eat more fruit, and drink more water. I think I will try logging my food this week as well. Hope you all had a great week and that the holiday didn't totally mess you up.


MckLinky Blog Hop


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Wordless Wednesday- Family


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Monday, April 5, 2010

Boudreaux's Butt Paste Review + Free Sample Offer

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.


Two simple funny little words that describe it to a "T".
--- Butt Paste.


My children had the most acidic diapers in the world.. Okay, I don't know that for sure, but what I can tell you is that we tried everything on their sensitive little bottoms. Like all great parents, we bounced from brand to brand on the quest to find until a mom a the local play place in the mall happened to mention "Butt Paste".

The way she raved about this product, I knew I had to give it a try.. and I did.. and I too, fell in love with Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.

It's very rare for me to have an item that I proclaim I love, need or have to have so badly that I would sing it from a roof top- but this is one of them. Despite the giggle-worthy name, this stuff worked like a charm!! Every time the kids broke out in that horrible diaper rash (you know, the one NOTHING ever seems to help..) I made sure to run to the medicine cabinet and slather their tushies with Butt Paste. I've "payed it forward" and recommended this cream to many new moms, add it to every diaper cake I make, and have even given my tube to a stranger at a changing table at a rest-stop.

You may have heard about or seen this diaper cream featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Tonight Show, the Today Show, People Magazine, ESPN, While You Were Out on TLC. Now, you have an opportunity to try Boudreaux's Butt Paste to see what everyone's raving about.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste is available in drug, discount and grocery chain stores everywhere. To get your free sample now, visit: http://www.blairex.com/BLButtPaste.php .

Thanks to Social Spark for this review opportunity. Your opinion or experience may differ from mine, and as always, consult with a medical professional to ask any questions you have on this product or on diaper rashes. I am not a medical professional, and do not claim to be. This review is in my own words and based on my own previous experience with this product.



Visit my sponsor: Boudreaux’s Butt Paste



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Four New Winners Announced- Are you one of them??

Be sure to check the original posts or the WINNERS PAGE to see if you've won!

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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter, from our family to yours!

I just wanted to say thank you to all of our readers, and take this time to wish you all the happiest Easter and Passover. Come back tomorrow because all of the new winners will be announced, and a new giveaway will be posted this week.

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Friday, April 2, 2010

Have fun at KinderCare Summer Camp

I remember being a child and attending summer camp. Our local park and pool, (which was literally right around the corner from my house), ran a sports camp that I attended almost every summer growing up. I couldn't wait for it to begin.. from the arts and crafts as a young girl, to street hockey, football and sun tanning as I got older- to the bowling days and swim sessions. Great memories were made during that time, great friendships started and developed through the years, several of whom I still connect with occasionally.

With Spring Break in full swing, I realized that in just a blink summer vacation was going to be here. Now that Alex is older, I think that he'd really enjoy summer camp the way that I did as a child, so I've started looking into different options available in our area. He's never attended a camp before, but I always make a point to try to do a few weeks of educational activities throughout the hot, dog days of summer in Florida.

Thanks to Mom Central, I found out about the various activities in the KinderCare Summer Camp Program.
It's hard to keep kids entertained during the summer, not to mention hard to keep their brains from "draining" all of the information and facts they've learned through the year. With programs like "Dig Ancient Egypt", children can learn all about the history and mystery of ancient Egypt with age appropriate activities, crafts, and exploration. Preschool kids can even have fun with programs like "Surf's Up!", which encourages your child to use their imaginations and pretend that they are at the beach for the week. Children learn about the waves and ocean ecology, build sand castles, increase balance by pretending to surf, and so much more.

With fun field trips and activities, KinderCare Summer Camps work to excite children to continue to learn and discover beyond the classroom. The best part? KinderCare Summer Camp is created by kids and features a 12-week themed program where each week brings new activities and new friends!

Unfortunately, the nearest KinderCare Summer Camp is almost 25 miles away from us, so this program won't work for us. My quest continues, but to find more information on the KinderCare Summer Camp Program, head to KinderCare’s website: http://www.kindercare.com/summercamp and find a location near you!


“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of KinderCare and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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Thursday, April 1, 2010

Another reason to hate Florida

Two words- Wolf Spider.I had never heard of it before today- and thank God I never did.. or I may not have moved down here!!

We just got home; I dropped the kids and hubby off and ran to Walgreens real quick. When I got home I dropped my bag on the couch, and went back outside for a moment, and hear, "Babe, I think we have a tarantula in the house!"

I couldn't believe what I heard.. I came in, and there was this giant spider with huge, long legs looming on the wall between the front door and the garage door. Brian killed it, and I called Marissa (as she's lived in Florida most of her life), hoping that she would know what the heck it was. Sure enough, she suggested it was a Wolf Spider. Get a load of this spider!! How gross is this??

All I have to say is that I am glad that spider is dead.. and I probably won't be sleeping well tonight. ((Shudder))



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$25 off of $75 and MORE at Lane Bryant through April 25th!


I just got back from shopping for an Easter outfit, and wanted to let you know that there are great sales for spring clothing at Lane Bryant.

Plus right now you can save $25 off of your purchase of $75 or more, $50 off of your purchase of $150 or more, or $75 off of your purchase of $225 or more! Simply enter promotion code 0500004454 at the check out to save on your online or phone order.






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