Last Chance To Grab American Girl's 2016 Girl of the Year!

Enter to win American Girl's 2016 Girl of the Year Lea Clark

If you have a young child in your life you're going to want to enter this giveaway today. My blogging friends and I are joining together to give away an American Girl doll, just in time for the holiday season. All of these simple entries can help you win the one big gift to go under your tree, sit by the candles, and simply shock your little one into disbelief.

My daughter has been blessed and received several American Girl dolls over the years - my mom is a big fan and enjoys surprising my daughter with them as presents for big occasions. We're truly lucky to have her make our holidays and birthdays such fun - and I'm really excited to be doing the same for one lucky little kid out there who might be dreaming of finding Lea Clark under the tree (or wherever you hide your holiday presents!).

Keep reading to find out more about which doll we're giving away, my co-sponsors, and how you can enter to win.

Good luck, y'all. I'm rooting for you!

Lea Clark™, the 2016 Girl of the Year, dives in to new adventures and explores what’s in her heart. 

The 18" Lea doll is only available until 12/31/16, or while supplies last. This American Girl Doll giveaway is for a Lea Clark American Girl Doll, Lea's Exclusive Collection, and her book Lea Dives In–written by Lisa Yee, valued at $180. Giveaway ends on December 11, 2016 at 11:59 pm. Shipping just in time for the holidays!

Meet Lea, the 2016 Girl of the Year™! The 18" Lea doll has warm hazel eyes that open and close, and long, light-brown wavy hair with sun-kissed highlights. She has a huggable cloth body, and her movable head and limbs are made of smooth vinyl.

Lea and her bundled starter set ($180 value!) comes with:

• Brazilian festival outfit: A bright, multicolored dress, featuring an attached braided belt and braided trim on the straps
• Sandals with crisscrossed laces
• Underwear
• An embroidered canvas messenger bag with colorful woven straps
• A pretend compass necklace
• Lea Dives In paperback book
• Lea’s Beach Dress (available only in this collection): A tie-dye-print dress with bows at the shoulders
• Green flip-flop sandals
• Matching sunglasses
• A pretty butterfly hair clip

American Girl Doll Giveaway – Lea Clark 2016 Girl of the Year

Sponsored by:

Life of a Ginger

Good Girl Gone Redneck

Sunny with a Chance of Sprinkles

It's me, debcb!

Beauty in the Mess

Merlot Mommy

Emmy Mom

Penney Lane

Amber Nicole

Embellishmints

Kiss My Tulle

Simply {Darr}ling

Adventures In Familyhood

Mama Mommy Mom

A Madison Mom

The Best Crowe's Nest

 

---

 

Entry-Form

Terms and Conditions:
This American Girl Doll Giveaway is open to US Residents 18 years of age or older. Giveaway ends December 11th at 11:59 PM ET. Winner will be chosen by random drawing. Winner will have 48 hours to reply via email to accept the prize or another winner will be chosen. All entries will be validated. Sponsors reserve the right to invalidate any entry at their discretion. Entering will add your email to our mailing lists. We NEVER share our contacts.

 This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with American Girl, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Pinterest.

Tweet

American Girl's 2016 Girl of the Year: Lea Clark

Enter to win Lea Clark, American Girl's 2016 Girl of the Year

If you have a young child in your life you've surely heard of American Girl dolls at some point. And if you've been reading my blog for a little bit over a few weeks - then you know I participated in a giveaway for the 2015 doll of the year in November/December for the holiday season. 

My friend Kate over at My Mommy Brain has coordinated these two giveaways with a good handful of bloggers and they're being hosted by us on our own. They're not sponsored by American Girl in any way - it's just us - putting our hard earned money in together to promote and host this event for our readers. 

So, let me introduce you to Lea Clark. The 2016 doll of the year!

Tweet

Keep reading »

Sweet Peanut Butter Cereal Treats

These are so good.

I mean it. So so good.

And super simple, too.

Tweet

Keep reading »

Keep Our Babies Safe While They Sleep

If you've ever seen an infant sleep you know that they toss and turn like nobody's business. 

And if you've done your research you know that little ones aren't supposed to have blankets in their crib with them - fear of SIDS and other incidents has discouraged that practice for many years now. There are too many unknowns. Researchers also say that bumpers and stuffed animals should not be in the crib at bedtime or nap-time, as well. 

There are several incredible products out now that keep our babies cozy at night and ensure that they are safe, as well. 

Baby Sleeps Safe is a product that does just that. 

Tweet

Keep reading »

American Girl's 2015 Girl of the Year: Grace Thomas

Hey, everyone. I normally wouldn't post on a holiday, but I'm too excited and just have to get this info out to you all as early as possible. So - happy holidays - and keep reading ...

I'm so excited to share that this holiday season I'm participating in an American Girl doll giveaway with some fellow bloggers. Enter today and you could win your very own Grace Thomas to absolutely make the holidays of the young girl in your life. Look at her - isn't she pretty?

Tweet

Keep reading »

Parents Are Always Prepared. Right?

If you're like me you know that once the school year is underway you're going to be completely lacking in your child's eyes. You see - our kids get sent off to school and before winter break they're in need of about 900 new things. It's not just my child, right? Please tell me it's not just my child.

Fortunately - Zazzle helped me prepare for this early in the year.

Their back-to-school selection is still solid. Need a new backpack because your kiddo has already shredded theirs? Got you covered. Lunchbox already full of stains you can't remove? Great selection available.

Tweet

Keep reading »

It Happened in Maine.

It's no surprise that all I keep seeing on FB over the last few days is the woman in Maine who yelled at some 21 month old to stop her from crying. She is the owner of a diner that the child and her parents were eating at, and apparently she has no issues with yelling at a kid to shut up - not in so many words - but as she describes herself in her countless interviews, she says that she SCREAMED and SLAMMED her hands on the counter saying 'This has GOT TO STOP!' ... and she is all pleased w. herself that the child stopped crying. Of course the kid stopped - she probably scared the sh*t out of the child. 

Tweet

Keep reading »

Letting Go: My Kid Plays Down The Street

We live in a family-friendly neighborhood.

There are loads of cul-de-sacs and kids roaming freely.

Maybe way too freely, but we've decided that it's time to let our daughter roam a bit.

She's eight. Her birthday was in February, so she's not a "new" eight. But still. She's eight.

Is that too young?

Tweet

Keep reading »

Book of the Week: Women Are Scary, Melanie Dale

When I received an email introducing me to Melanie Dale and her new book with an opportunity to read and review it I jumped at the chance.

I mean - look at the cover? It's hilarious.

Even my husband asked me, are those cake pops?

Uhm, yeah. Yeah, they are.

Mommy cake pops.

Intimidating looking mommy cake pops.

And hilarious looking ones, as well.

Tweet

Keep reading »

The Laurie Berkner Band Visits the Triangle!

* The Laurie Berkner Band has sponsored this giveaway to enable me to invite one of my readers to attend this event in Raleigh, NC on February 28th. Full disclaimer is posted below. *

If you're a parent anywhere you have to know who Laurie Berkner is.

And if you don't? I'm going to introduce you right now. Watch.

Tweet

Keep reading »

Pumpkin Oatmeal Recipe

Oatmeal. Pumpkin. Breakfast.

Delicious.

It really is. Delicious. I promise.

Tweet

Keep reading »

Spoonful of Comfort ~ product review

* I received a complimentary gift package of Spoonful of Comfort for my review. 

I have not received compensation for this post. *

I've always heard about Spoonful of Comfort. Always thought it sounded amazing. Maybe even went so far as to wish someone would send it to me. /fine - no maybe - I have!/

I've sent it to a friend before and she loved it. Said it was an incredible surprise and an amazing relief for her to have dinner for her and her husband. I was glad. And still intrigued. Would it be weird to send it to myself? 

Yay! Thanks for being you! Love, Me?

And so when the Spoonful of Comfort team contacted me about possibly reviewing their product, I was all in. Yes, please, when can I try it? 

Within no time at all I had this beautifully organized package of goodies at my door. 

Tweet

Keep reading »

Amazing Reads: The 6/27 Edition

It's been a while since I've shared my amazing reads of the Interwebs with y'all and so I figured I'd give the book recs a short break and talk posts with you today.

So first I'd like to bring up the topic of trophies for kids. I tried to comment over at Brittany Bullen's place this afternoon but I'm not able to. But she has an intriguingly titled post up that is a letter to all coaches: Dear Coaches, Please stop giving my kid trophies.

It's interesting, and something I talk about often with my husband. One of my best friends and I talk about it A LOT, too. The thought process changes often, but at the same time we fall on similar sides of the idea. I say, yes, I get it when the little ones get their trophies, sometimes they need the reinforcement, especially the teeny tiny ones. But older kids? Don't they need to learn that trophies aren't for everyone? I think so - but I also think there's more to it. It could turn into an entire post, so I'll just encourage you to read the one I've linked to and let me know your thoughts about it. Or don't and let me know anyway. I'm up for chatting about it. 

Tweet

Keep reading »

Prepare Your Kids for Summer Camp with Minute Clinic

*This post is a sponsored post on behalf of Minute Clinic. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.*

Whether your kids are staying close to home this summer or planning to sleep away at camp for a few days, Minute Clinic has both, great tips AND a great deal for you. Keep reading to find out more!

Our kids are always on the go. Always moving. Always running. There are few exceptions. Camp will surely not be one of them. It's important to keep in mind, whether we're with them or we're not, a good handful of things we can do to keep them safe.

A few of them that are always at the top of my mind and are also recommended by Minute Clinic are:

SUNSCREEN
* Outdoor play is a blast. Whether they're swimming, at the playground, playing sports or playing in the sand our little ones need coverage. Sunscreen is a MUST. It's essential. Think about it - think of how many years we've lathered ourselves up with coverage to ensure that we didn't burn and find ourselves soaking in a bath of witch hazel and aloe by day's end. Our little ones need that even more than we do. As with everything else, they need us looking out for them to ensure that they don't get hurt. Don't skimp on the sunscreen. A few of my favorites come in stick form - some actually come in foam now! - and it's no lie that I have personally been using Coppertone Water Babies since my 20s. It's not just for kids.

HATS
* A wide-brimmed hat is best for our kids when they're out in the sun. It shields their scalps and their faces in a way that other head gear won't do. Baseball caps work in a pinch, as well. If you don't have a hat go back to the first recommendation and spray some sunscreen on their scalp and the part of their hair. Sunburn on the head is awful and we can protect them from it.

SUNGLASSES
* My eye doctor told me that kids need sunglasses even more than adults do. Their eyes are extra-sensitive to the sun's rays and a shield against them is a must.

SAFETY GEAR
* Water safety seems a given. If your children cannot swim, get them the gear they need to keep them safe on the water. Life jackets (a MUST for kids when out boating), puddle jumpers, backpack floaties. Personally, I'd stay away from water wings, because they just don't seem safe enough. They don't stay on and they won't really keep your baby afloat unless you're holding them up right in front of them. Look into Coast Guard approved gear and put your mind at ease.

* Biking safety is beyond a given. Be sure that if your kids are anywhere where there will be bikes that they have a helmet that fits them well. I see so many kids rolling around the neighborhood helmet-free and it freaks me out. It's not how we grew up, but it's so important and really easy to ensure they wear.

* Playground safety is something I think about everyday. My daughter's class has recess outside and they have some pretty awesome play structures. It's important that our kids have the right kind of shoes for playtime at the playground. Flip flops and sandals and even "croc-like" shoes aren't the best. Your best choice is a pair of sneakers. (What do you call them where you live? I've heard everything from tennis shoes to my personal favorite, kicks!) Admittedly I am not always one to enforce this rule, but I do make sure flip flops and open-toed shoes are a no-go for the playground. See the picture below for my own confession ...

And please,  be sure your bigger children are aware of little ones. While it's not your responsibility to take care of someone else's child, it IS your responsibility to teach your child(ren) proper playground behaviors.

There are so many things to consider when sending our children off to camp that these basic, everyday rules-of-thumb will do you well as you pack your little ones up and get them on the bus - whether it's for a day or a week or a month - it'll set your mind at ease if you have reviewed these topics with them in advance.

Minute Clinic wants to help you ensure that your child is at his/her healthiest and gets off to camp okay. Click through to a $20 off camp and sports physical coupon for the Minute Clinic at your local CVS.

And to keep up with Minute Clinic and receive regular tips on summer safety, follow them @MinuteClinic on Twitter.

*This post is a sponsored post on behalf of Minute Clinic. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.*

Tweet

Whisk: Quality Kitchenware and Classes in Cary, NC

* This is a review post. My daughter attended a cooking class at Whisk recently for me to review. I am not receiving compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are either mine or my daughter's. *

About a week or so before Easter my daughter and I went over to Whisk to attend a class for kids in which they'd be preparing holiday treats. Initially I thought that I was supposed to stay with her for the session and work with her. But when I arrived I learned that this was a totally parent-free class. Score!

This particular class was more like a workshop and included arts and crafts activities for the attendees along with the food prep. Whisk referred to the class as their first mini-camp, which ran longer than their usual two hour kids' classes do.

Whisk has a variety of classes on their calendar for this spring and summer. They have parent-child combination classes, along with adults-only classes, including some on Friday evenings that are geared towards those in search of a date night or girls' night out.

Their schedule includes demonstration classes for those who prefer to learn visually, or perhaps find cooking entertaining and would rather watch. Then there are the hands-on courses where skill development is the primary goal. And lastly are the participation courses where you'll be cooking and prepping along with your instructors. And then, of course, eating!

Now, back to my daughter's hard work that Saturday morning. She barely knew I was leaving after she sat down at the Whisk counter. Take a look ...

This class was so much fun for my daughter and she absolutely wants to return to Whisk to attend another lesson. It's fun, laid back and non-stressful for the kids. AND the parents. My kiddo came home with a variety of fun treats for the family to share (1. an edible arrangement, 2. purple deviled eggs, 4. bunny cake) and a really cute craft (image 3, a lamb flower pot).

And of course, before leaving I decided to walk around some. That was probably a mistake, as I didn't leave there without a purchase. I bought my first cast iron skillet! (Sssh, don't tell anyone I haven't used it yet. I'm slightly intimidated!)

The inventory at Whisk is phenomenal. Their products are of the highest quality. They carry brand names such as LE CREUSET, Lodge, Cuisinart, Kenwood and more. And yet one of the cool things about Whisk is that they're a local shop and Dan and Diana Saklad truly care about your shopping experience. They love cooking and they want you, their potential customer, to love it, too. Dan stood and spoke with me for a while as I waffled back and forth between skillets and eventually had my husband come in to help me decide which to buy. As a cast iron novice I was totally confused. He had loads of details and information to share, and so did his on-the-money staff.

Overall our experience at Whisk was a fantastic one. I would definitely recommend a kids' cooking class to anyone whose child is interested in fun food prep and I'm hoping to get there to take one for myself one of these days.

Also - I liked the store so much my husband and daughter popped in and got me a gift card for Mother's Day! Looks like I'll be back and shopping again soon. Hope to run into you there!


* This is a review post. My daughter attended a cooking class at Whisk recently for me to review. I am not receiving compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are either mine or my daughter's. *

Tweet

Motherhood, by JC Little ~ Book review

* I received an electronic copy of this book directly from the author to facilitate my review. 

I was not compensated for this review in any way. *

Have you heard of JC Little yet? She's The Animated Woman.

And her drawings are rock-yer-socks awesome. Seriously. All you need to do is head on over to her website to see just how talented she is.

And what's amazing about this book - beyond the sentiment and the artistry - is that there are no written words. That's right. Not a one.

So how, pray tell, is this an actual book?

Tweet

Keep reading »

Listen to THESE Mothers. #LTYM

* One of the incredible mommas participating in this year's Listen To Your Mother show has connected with me to help me give away these two tickets for this event. I am not being compensated in any way for it, I just want to help support the show and the incredible cause, AND help someone attend who might not have had the chance to! *

If you know any woman who is a mom and is a blogger and are Facebook friends with them you've probably heard of Listen To Your Mother. In fact, I'm almost sure of it.

My Facebook feed has been blowing up these last few weeks with these incredible women (and some men, too, by the way!) as they prepare, attend, share and open up for the 2014 Listen To Your Mother events. This year the show hits 32 cities, and I'm lucky enough to share that the "Triangle" is one of them again.

If you haven't yet had a chance to read about the show, please take a few minutes to do just that. Listen To Your Mother is an opportunity for the participants to share their own personal stories about motherhood. Whether they relate to their own experiences as moms, their relationships with their own mothers, pretty much any spin you can think about putting together with your stories of moms make up the show.

I'll tell you my own small personal story and share that I auditioned for Listen to Your Mother last year. It was a moving and powerful experience - just doing that alone. I *may* have cried a little. I wasn't chosen to participate so I didn't wind up attending (transportation difficulties), but I have watched many clips of various readings across the board and found myself moved in different ways each time. So many emotional and touching moments. Stories shared that you just won't want to miss out on.

This year's event has partnered with SAFEchild, a local organization whose mission statement shares that they are committed to eliminating child abuse in Wake County by helping adults and children create nurturing environments free from abuse and neglect.

And lucky for you ... I've got two tickets to give away!

The show in Raleigh will take place on Thursday, May 8th at 7:30pm and I've got two seats with your name on them. The show will take place at the Kenan Auditorium at William Peace University.

All you need to do to enter is share a small memory of motherhood with me. Whether it's about your own journey as a mom, your own mom or grandmother, your mother-in-law ... just give me a few lines and you could be the winner. And you'll thank me - I promise.

And if you can't wait a few days to see if you've won you can purchase your own LTYM tickets.

The stories you'll hear that evening will make you laugh, cry and everything in between. So enter now. And thanks. For supporting the women who will brave the stage that night. AND for remembering moms everywhere as you sit back and join them.

* This is not a sponsored post. I'm a fan of the Listen to Your Mother concept and love that there are so many cities participating this year. I hope that each of my readers can get to a show near them, and I'm thrilled to have an opportunity to offer two tickets to someone in my area for the Raleigh-Durham show. I have not been compensated in any way for this post, nor will I be. I'm sharing this information and this giveaway because I want to. Thanks to my friend Stephanie of Scattermom.com for providing me with the tickets for this event!* 

Tweet

Run Like a Mother®

Today was the first day in AGES that I got myself outside and actually went for a walk/run. I often call it that but who am I kidding? It's almost always a walk. But I actually threw some jogging into the mix today, and guess what? I not only survived - but I liked it!

I did a weird pattern of walk 5 minutes, jog 5 minutes, repeated and then walked a final 15 minutes. It's totally not what the training people at Run Like a Mother recommend for novices like me, but sometimes you have to give yourself a little boost to remind yourself you CAN do it.

And so I did.

I'm lucky enough to be among a handful of bloggers participating in the annual Run Like a Mother event this year on Mother's Day in the Raleigh, NC area.

I'm actually supposed to be participating in the training program, but of course, my schedule is completely out of whack. I haven't made it to any of the training events - but I'm trying to follow along with the details they gave us when I made my training materials choice.

What's really cool about this event is that it's just for women. And the mission of Run Like a Mother is geared towards women.

The mission of Run Like a Mother® is to fuel a woman’s journey toward health and wellness. 

Empower with education and training programs. Inspire with communities, events and races. 

Enable through programs and partnerships. Run Like a Mother® Isn’t Just a Race, It’s Our Way of Life. 

Contact us at info@runlikeamother.com.

Run Like A Mother® is an inspiring, celebratory event involving the entire family that engages women at 

every stage of a woman’s life.  We are a community of women joined together by the power of running 

who share a desire to live healthy, balanced lives.  We offer support, motivation, inspiration and education.  

The people over at Run Like a Mother have given me a t-shirt and a tote bag to give away to one of my readers. The bag is super cute - says this bag-aholic individual. Take a look ...

The tee is nice, too, but I don't have one yet as the one I got was too tiny. So if you're lucky, you might be a local mama and I might pass along the extra t-shirt I have to one of you!

Just let me know what your running goals are for 2014. Or your fitness goals, if running isn't a part of them. And don't forget to check out the Run Like a Mother race and training programs over on their website. 

There's a coupon live right now for a discount on race registration - but hurry! - it's going to expire soon. And you don't have to live in my area to participate. There are several events across the country for you to look into and consider attending. Each event will also have a 1-mile fun run for the kids!

To find out more about Run Like a Mother you can head over to the Run Like a Mother Facebook page or check them out on Twitter @Rlamrace.

* I was provided with access to the Run Like a Mother training program and registration for the Raleigh, NC race on Mother's Day, 2014 for writing this post. I was also provided with a tote bag and t-shirt to give away to one of my readers. All expressed opinions are strictly my own. *

Tweet

Sing into Spring with Disney Records!

* As an influencer of The Entertainment New Media Network I received these CDs to facilitate my review of them and was not compensated for this post in any way. Walt Disney Records will be providing both, a gift set of the four CDs I received along with a 4-pack of preschool CDs to two winners picked by me randomly. All expressed opinions are strictly my own (and that of my 7yo daughter!). There are affiliate links throughout this post. *

It's time to SING INTO SPRING with Walt Disney Records!!!

Join me today as I invite you to learn about the four CDs I received to review for you all. Take a look!

My daughter and I have been bopping around my kitchen to the soundtrack of Teen Beach Movie all morning. It helps that she has seen the movie a good handful of times and we have it on our DVR as I write this. I'm pretty sure we'll be watching it again tonight now that she's motivated into the mood with the music in the background of our day.

Our second CD in this gift-pack is Disney's Play It Loud. With music by Zendaya (of Shake It Up), Debby Ryan (Jessie) and China Anne McClain (ANT Farm), your kids are going to love this. Seriously. It might be on repeat wayyyy too many times - but hey, at least it's kid-friendly lyrics, right?

We've also got a copy of Austin and Ally: Turn it Up for you. With thirteen songs the cast kicks it up a notch and I have to admit, the music is pretty catchy. It's the kind you find yourself singing along with after a while and forget it's a "kids' CD" ... for a little while, at least.

And then of course, let's talk FROZEN.

I mean, what is there to say? If you haven't seen the movie yet - well - you really must. But if you haven't heard any of the songs yet, I must ask you - where have you been hiding?

This CD is one of the top selling CDs right now. The music won an Academy Award for goodness' sake. Or maybe two. Who knows? But really - if you and your kids don't know pretty much every song by heart you need to enter this giveaway. STAT.

I'm also lucky enough to give away the Preschool Sing into Spring 4-pack to one lucky reader. This bundle consists of the Doc McStuffins Soundtrack, Jake and the Neverland Pirates - Yo Ho Matey CD, DJ Shuffle (which I kind of want for myself because it's got a mix of Sofia the First, Jake, Doc, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and more) and last, but never least, FROZEN.

YES. This means that BOTH winners will be receiving a copy of the FROZEN soundtrack. What more could you want?

Click through my Rafflecopter below and find yourself a way to enter. I promise to make it as easy as possible for you.

And if you want to purchase any of these CDs on your own, I've got the links throughout the post for you to go shopping. Happy listening!

a Rafflecopter giveaway * As an influencer of The Entertainment New Media Network I received these CDs to facilitate my review of them and was not compensated for this post in any way. Walt Disney Records will be providing both, a gift set of the four CDs I received along with a 4-pack of preschool CDs to two winners picked by me randomly. All expressed opinions are strictly my own (and that of my 7yo daughter!). There are affiliate links throughout this post. *

Tweet

Baked Chicken Quesadilla

Looking for a way to take some of your favorite simple ingredients and turn them into a brand new dinner that even your kids will love?

I've got it.

I mean it - I do.

Last night I was looking in the fridge, looking in the pantry, looking on Facebook and I was bored bored bored. I knew I was going to do something with the rotisserie chicken I had on-hand and had even asked friends earlier in the day what they would recommend.

A few friends suggested enchiladas, which I've never actually made before, but this sort of spurred me into remembering something I'd done once, which was baking and making a quesadilla.

We have tacos quite frequently in our house. I would say I had made them so often that for a long while I just ignored the ingredients and would skip over them on my mental list of menu options.

But last night it was different. I remembered once making something that turned into a baked quesadilla. I couldn't remember what I did, so I decided to give it a go and create my own.

It was delicious. An absolute success. And so easy to make!

Tweet

Keep reading »