Winners, Winners, Everywhere!

Due to my unexpected case of strep throat, I slacked in redrawing the SleepJoy and Coleman Lantern winners. But since today is the first day that I can hold my head up for more than three minutes without my glands feeling as if they were going to explode, I decided to draw all of the winners. So, check the winner's page, or the original post, and congrats to all of our winners.

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Tomorrow starts our Back to School Bash! Did you RSVP?

Well, I know Lauren put out the announcement and a few of you grabbed our button and posted it to your blog walls or facebook pages, (HUGE THANKS!!) and are earning extra early bird entries for doing so! I'm so excited for the party to start tomorrow!

We have been working very hard behind the scenes trying to get everything ready to go. We will be working with a very diverse and interesting bunch of companies this month- from Marcal, to Elmer's, to Seventh Generations, to Crayola and so much more. We're even going to have a food week, with special deals, coupons, and giveaways from some of your favorite kid-friendly food products!

We've had a couple of questions emailed or facebooked to us regarding the Back to School Bash, and as always we enjoy hearing from you, our readers on anything and everything- especially when a blog party is involved.

Okie dokie-

If you would like to add our button to your Facebook Page, please copy it from here.. Try not to copy it as a jpg, keep the original file type (png). Then go to your Facebook page, in your status update, tell your friends that you are participating in the Back to School Bash @4BabyAndMom-- As you are typing @4BabyAndMom, there should be a bar that comes up underneath and automatically pulls up our fan page. Click it and it will become a hyperlink sending your friends our way. If you are having a problem getting it to show up as a hyperlink, t-y-p-e-s-l-o-w-e-r. Some times Facebook needs to catch it's breath. ;)


Anyway, then click on attach photo, select our back to school bash button, and post it to your wall. Ideally, we would love for you to put our direct domain- http://www.4BabyAndMom.com - in your status update too, but we'll leave that up to you!

I think that's about it! Spread the word and grab a button!

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Pop On Pals Builds Pretend Play!

There's this great new product that we were able to review recently called, Pop On Pals. It's brand new to the market, in fact, their website just went live last week!

Pop On Pals are a new collection of toys for tots and preschoolers. The people can "pop-on" different outfits or costumes in just a snap, and the play sets interact with children as soon as the characters "pop" into place. Little hands can play with each individual character, and love hearing the click it makes as the pieces lock into place.

We received the Amusement Park Playset, and Abbigaile LOVED the fact that it had a ferris wheel! (Although Alex is too old for this product, he was excited to unpack this play set because it had a roller coaster!) When we first got it out of the package, Abbie started playing with it instantaneously. Her big brother was a super big helper because, at first we couldn't figure out why the ferris wheel wasn't operating. He figured it out in about three seconds. We didn't realize that there's a yellow knob by the top of the roller coaster that needs to be pushed over for the ferris wheel to work. When it's leaning one way, the ferris wheel goes around and when it's leaning the other way, the swing swings.

Since opening it, Abbie has been playing with it on and off almost constantly. Yesterday, I caught her with her barbie, selling tickets to the Pop On Pal.. I do wish that the actual play set came with more than one person, as children would be encouraged to interact the characters together.

Visit the website to find more information on the available playsets, transportation vehicles and Pop On Pals accessories, to download coloring sheets, or play with their interactive website to see how everything works!

Pop On Pals offers truly does offer your preschooler a "World of Endless Popabilities!"

Special Thanks to Team Mom for allowing us to review this product.

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Under $1 Deals! Back to School Steals

You may have noticed that the Sunday paper's sales fliers are starting to ooze back to school savings. With both of my kids in school full time, I have started stocking up on school supplies already- and with sales like these, why not?!

These are the under a dollar deals that I have found in my area:
Be sure to check your local sales fliers for price accuracy.

Visit your local Kmart to find:

2 pocket, 3-prong portfolio folder: $0.15
RoseArt 24-ct crayons: $0.25
4-oz. Elmer’s school glue: $0.25
Paper Mate pens (Limit 4): $0.50
Pencil boxes: $0.50
RoseArt colored pencils (12pk): $0.50
Filler paper 150-ct wide or college ruled (Limit 4): $0.50
Select Fashion PR Licensed folders: $0.50

Walgreens is offering these great deals:

2 Pocket Folder with Prongs: $.09 (Limit 5)
Penway Memo book 50 sheet: $.19 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Mini Composition Book 80 Sheets: $.19 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Penway Flexible Ruler: $.39
Penway Protractor: $.39
Penway Poly Pencil Case: $.39
Penway Index Card Case: $.39
Penway 2 Pocket Poly Portfolio: $.39
Penway Crayons 24pk: $.39 with in-ad coupon
Crayola Posterboard: $.39 with in-ad coupon (Limit 6)
Scotch Mailer: $.39 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Penway Filler paper Wide or College Rule, 130 sheets: $.59 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Elmer’s Glue: $.59 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Elmer’s Glue Sticks 2pk: $.59 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Penway Carry-All Pouch: $.59 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Penway Composition book, 80 sheets: $.69 with in-ad coupon
Paper Mate Profile Pens, 2pk: $.69 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Sharpie Markers, 2pk: $.69 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)
Penway 3 Subject Notebooks, College and Wide Rule, 120 sheets: $.99
Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils 30pk: $.99
Pilot Easytouch Retractable Fine Point pen, 2pk: $.99
Pilot Easytouch Pens Medium Point 3pk: $.99
One size fit all book cover: $.99
Liquid Highlighters 5pk: $.99
Penway #2 Pencils 24pk: $.99
Kids' Scissors: $.99
Construction paper: $.99
Crayola Colored Pencils, 12pk: $.99 with in-ad coupon (Limit 3)


Stock up on pens and these great items at Staples:

Staples Bic Round Stic Ballpoint Pens, black (8-pk): $0.01
Staples Multi-Purpose Paper, 96 bright (500-sheet ream): $0.04 after Easy Rebate
(Both of the above deals are available Sunday through Wednesday with a $5 purchase.)
Buy any backpack, get the full amount back on a Staples gift card (Limit 1): FREE
Zebra Sarasa Retractable Gel Pens (5-pk): $0.26 after Easy Rebate (Limit 1)
Staples Hype Highlighters (6-pk): $0.25 (Limit 2)
Really Useful Box: $0.25 (Limit 2)


Office Depot is offering:

Office Depot Acrylic Rulers: $.05
Office Depot Eraser Caps: $.10
HP Office Paper: $0.95


If you bought everything I've just listed, it would cost you $22.98 for 46 items.. (including your free backpack!) So what are you waiting for? Happy Shopping!!

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Save the Date! Back to School Bash ~ August, 2010

<a href="http://4babyandmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Back%20to%20School" target="_blank"><img alt="Back To School Bash_4BabyAndMom" src="http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c5/Fluttergirl0117/4Babyandmom/BackToSchoolButton-1.png" /></a>

Back to School means much more than shopping for new clothes and colored pencils, and leave it to 4BabyAndMom to bring you some of the hottest reviews and giveaways during the Back to School Bash, during the ENTIRE month of August!!

Last year we had an amazing turn-out, and this year we are anticipating even more surprises in store for our readers! We still have a few openings in our line-up, so if you are interested in seeing your product featured, please contact 4BabyAndMom at gmail dot com. But hurry, spaces are limited!!

Who's coming to the Back to School Bash?
So far Kids Foot Locker, Kmart, Sears, Crayola, Lafayette Puzzle Company, and Tie Buddies are among the amazing, fun, and fabulous companies that have RSVP'd YES!!

We are still waiting for some RSVP's to come in, and don't want to give ALL of our sponsors away yet, but we do want to give you a greater chance to WIN!!!!

Grab our Back to School Bash button EARLY and add it to the side bar of your blog or website.  You may also post this button to your facebook page if you do not have a blog or website. Just right click on it, save it, add it to your wall pictures and like our page. Please TAG 4BabyAndMom in the picture, and add http://4babyandmom.com to your caption- so your friends can find us and we can verify its placement.

If you grab our button before August 1st, you'll receive an extra 3 ENTRIES on every giveaway you enter from NOW through August 31st!!! **(You must post here to tell me you've grabbed the button EARLY, and comment that you have extra entries on all of the giveaways you enter.)**

What are you waiting for? Grab our button, share it with your readers and your friends, leave a comment below so you earn some extra entries!

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Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go, by Lucille O'Neal *Review*

I don't want you to judge this book by its cover.. or by its author's name.

I will be honest, I was totally expecting this book to be a doozy, and not in a good way. I thought that this book would be about life as a parent of a professional athlete, instead of a story of an incredible woman, her struggles, her victories, her strengths and weaknesses.. and everything in between.


I don't even know where to begin reviewing this book because of how deeply it touched me and because of how many of the moments she described, I walked through myself. From deep longing to be loved, to love someone with their whole heart, to having a baby out of wedlock in a family that was devoted to their faith, to losing herself while taking care of everyone else- the story of Ms. O'Neal's life is an incredible read.

I didn't want to put it down, which for an autobiography, is an incredible feat. Ms. O'Neal's memories on paper came to life and flowed effortlessly from beginning to end. The details in this book are great, and really make it feel as if you are standing in the living room with her at 17, staring at the wallpaper and disapproving face of her grandmother when her pregnancy was discovered.

I found myself becoming hopeful and excited as new friendships and relations begin and  truly relate & empathize with the author at many moments throughout this book. It made me take a step back, and look into my relationship, into my job as a mother, and into my future. It was inspiring and motivating, and showed me that no matter what your age, you could do anything if you put your mind and your heart into it.

Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go is an incredible journey into woman-hood, into finding yourself-no matter what your age, and into loving yourself completely. As the author describes, it's her journey from "Mental Welfare to Mental Weath", and it truly is.Watching the story come full circle gave the book a well rounded story line and sense of completion. I enjoyed this book very much, and would recommend it to others.

Simply put- If you are looking for a great motivational story to read this summer, head to your local bookstore or to Amazon and pick up WALK LIKE YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO, by Lucille O'Neal.

I received this book from BookSneeze.com and was asked to provide my opinon on the selection. As always, this review is 100% that of 4BabyAndMom, and your experience or opinion my differ.

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Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes: You + 100 Friends + Hampton= A Weekend to Remember!

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

It's hard to believe that it has been 10 years since I graduated from high school. My family moved just days before school started in 9th grade, and although I went to only one high school, I have extremely close ties to the high school I felt I should have graduated from. This year, I was invited to two high school reunions, but unfortunately I will not be able to attend either of them. I have two weddings I'm going to be in within two and a half months, and it's just not in my budget.

Thanks to Facebook, recently I have been able to reconnect with a whole nine years worth of old friends, and rekindled many friendships.. but it's not the same as being able to see them all.

I just learned about the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes and I can't even tell you how quickly I would take advantage of the grand prize-a free stay for me and 100 of my friends at a Hampton for one weekend. The lucky winner will also receive $5000 to help pay the tax for the weekend! Talk about a great way to catch up with old friends!

Entering only takes a few moments, but think of the possibilities. Friends and family that you haven't seen in forever-and-a-day, all at one location for two days. How fun! What I love about this contest, is it's not like other contests I've seen; anyone can enter, (not just Hilton Honors members), and it doesn't matter if you've never stayed at a Hampton. 

So, what are you waiting for? Enter the sweepstakes now, and share with me what YOU would do if you won!

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