Rave and Review

Charm Factory Signature Stamps for Polymer Clay, Ceramics and More!

You may remember my posts in the past where I showed some of my polymer clay creations that I make each holiday season.  I haven’t gotten serious about selling any of my ornaments in the past, but I have had so many requests that I have recently started an Etsy shop where you can purchase custom ornaments.

While the shop isn’t even technically open for business, and currently has no listings, that’s one of my goals this year.  Until this point all my ornaments were marked in permanent marker, which worked fine for my own tree, but it doesn’t seem very professional if you’re actually selling them.  After deciding on the name Clayfully, the next step was figuring out how I could “sign my work”. 

Until this point all my ornaments were marked in permanent marker, which worked fine for my own tree, but it doesn’t seem very professional if you’re actually selling them.  Thank goodness I found the coolest thing online – custom signature stamps from Charm Factory.  Designed to give precious metal clay, ceramics, and clay users a better solution for marking their creations, Signature Stamps feature your name or logo and give you an easy way to create your own brand. 

The custom stamps are created especially for you and have a small ½” diameter laser engraved stamp that gives you the perfect mark each time.  The handle of the Signature Stamp is made from lead free pewter and the stamp head is made to order out of Delrin, a high temperature plastic that is known for its durability. 

To use, you gently press your Signature Stamp into the clay to cut a deep and lasting mark and then bake or cure as usual.  Unlike rubber stamps that degrade and don’t have clean and easy-to-read impressions, the Signature Stamp is a great solution for artists.

As much as I love the stamp from Charm Factory, I also really love their customer service.  As soon as my stamp was created, they sent me an image of a stamped piece of clay so I could preview what it would look like imprinting my creations.  I thought this was really cool because I was really excited to show the stamp to hubby and my artsy sister who is going to help me with Clayfully, and couldn’t wait for it to arrive.

Once it arrived, I got to work playing around with it and found that in really soft clays and doughs, the Signature Stamp requires a little bit more pressure in order to get the whole logo to imprint, which does create a ring due to the stamp head imprinting into the medium.  With harder clays such as Sculpey and FIMO, the impression is stamped easily without leaving the stamp head ring left behind.

You can order quickly online and there are no quotes, set up fees or additional costs.  No matter what the content – text, your signature, or a logo – your Charm Factory Signature Stamps price is only $44.99. (Plus, free shipping is offered in the US.)

Find out more at Charm Factory or http://www.charmfactory.com/signature-stamps.aspx

A big thank you to Charm Factory for providing a Signature Stamp for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Display Your Everyday CUTE with Lizzie, Izzie + James

If you have a little fashionista like I do, then you probably spend a good deal of time searching for hair accessories that are spunky, adorable, and show off their personality perfectly.  In my hunt for that perfect accessory, I found Lizzie, Izzie + James, a company that makes a whole collection of the most adorable handcrafted hair clips, headbands, and even crowns {can’t leave the boys out, can we?} that any little one would love.  Whether you are looking for flair for everyday or for special occasion pieces, you are bound to find the perfect accessory at Lizzie, Izzie + James. 

But, then once you have all these adorable handcrafted clips, how do you keep them from being carried all around the house, leaving you running around to collect them in order to get ready each morning?  Lizzie, Izzie + James has you covered with Lulu the Owl, the cutest little clip holder I’ve ever seen.  Not only does little Lulu keep those clips from taking over your home, it also allows them to be displayed as art and enjoyed every day. 

I was so excited to see Lulu the Owl in person to help organize our growing collection of hair accessories.  So, of course I was thrilled when she arrived quickly and was packaged beautifully and all ready for giving, which I think is a testament to the great customer service that you can expect from Lizzie, Izzie + James.  We're talking next day shipping, flat rate shipping as low as $3, and one of the best refund policies, ever.  Truly awesome, right?

Within minutes, Lulu was out of the package and being snuggled by my daughter.  The large size of Lulu paired with her squeezably soft body makes her seem more like a stuffed friend than a traditional wall piece, something that made my daughter squeal with delight.  And, who can blame here, Lulu certainly is snuggle-able.  Handcrafted in premium 70-100% wool felt that is beautiful and incredibly soft and measuring in at a plump 8” x 8”, she is pretty much irresistible. 

While at first my daughter was content to play with what she thought was the coolest owl plush ever, she was soon wondering why on Earth Lulu had a long ribbon attached to her.  I explained that the two pieces of ribbon were not an owl leash as she originally thought, but instead they were to hold her clips.  She was so excited she immediately ran to her room and began loading Lulu up.  Because my daughter has a huge collection of accessories, I love that the grosgrain ribbon measures a nice 30 inches long (including the flower) can hold quite a few clips easily and beautifully.

Once Lulu was hung in her room with her clips all attached, we both sat back and admired how cute she looks.  Not only is it great having all the little clips in one place, it saves us so much time each morning because it is really easy to match clips to clothes when they are all nicely displayed.  But, even better than all this organization is how cute it looks on the wall and the fact that my daughter loves her new friend Lulu!

If you are looking for little clips, bows, headbands and more, you should definitely check out Lizzie, Izzie + James and see all the adorable handcrafted cuteness.  Then, once you have a collection of adorable accessories picked out, just add Lulu the Owl to your cart and help you get your little one gorgeous in half the time.  Next on my wish list is a handcrafted crown for my little boy so he can have a little bit of Lizzie, Izzie + James for himself!

Connect with Lizzie, Izzie + James on Facebook and on their blog {P.S. I did notice a nice COUPON CODE on the Lizzie, Izzie + James Blog that goes until April 15th!}

http://www.lizzieizziejames.com/

A huge thank you to Lizzie, Izzie + James for sending Lulu to be adored.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Piggyback Rider {Review & Giveaway}

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 1

Oftentimes our days out are not stroller-friendly.  Whether we are traveling, going to be in large crowds, or will simply be covering a lot of unpaved ground, we go wheel-free fairly often.  This wasn't a problem when we only had little ones that could snuggle up in a front pack or toddlers that could go in a backpack, but now we've got a child who loves to explore as much as we do and who prefers to lead our way.

As much fun as this is watching her explore, the problem comes when she inevitably tires before we do.  Typically that leaves us carrying her the rest of the way, either on the hip, on the back, or on our shoulders, all of which are awkward and takes extra hands to secure her along the way.

Sometimes we bring an extra baby carrier for this reason, but that brings with it a whole host of problems.  Issues such as what to do with the carrier when she's walking on her own, how to easily get her in and out over and over again quickly, and what to do when she finally outgrows the baby carrier all together.  A better solution, and something we are so excited about, is the Piggyback Rider that allows you to carry your child on your back quickly and easily while still allowing them to see everything that's going on around you.

While the Piggyback Rider might appear from a distance to be similar to other child carriers, once you see it in person you will realize it is unlike anything else on the market.  Instead of a metal framed or soft back carrier, the Piggyback Rider is unique in that it doesn't have a pouch or seat your child goes into, which we all know limits the size your child can be to still be carried comfortably as well as their mobility while riding. 

In place of a fabric seat is a metal bar that your child actually stands on while riding, making it ideal for older children who want more freedom and a better view.  While the Piggyback Rider is worn like a backpack over both shoulders, it’s the single metal bar that simply hangs at your hips that makes it so unique.

This bar makes it easy for a child to hop on easily without needing extra adults to help, and it gives both you and your child more maneuverability on the go.  But, that doesn’t mean that it is without safety features to help secure your child.  The Piggyback Rider comes with four spots for your little one to hold onto, a removable safety harness to ensure your child stays in place, and slip resistant covering over the foot bar to keep little shoes secure. 

What’s great is that the Piggyback Rider is great for multiple ages since the maximum weight is an astonishing 60 pounds.  When accommodating different sized passengers, you will love that the backpack straps, the height of the bar, and even the security harness can all be adjusted in numerous ways to give you and your child the best possible fit.

Things we absolutely love about the Piggyback Rider: since the Piggyback Rider consists of mainly shoulder straps for you and your child, it makes it an ideal carrier for hotter weather when you want minimal coverage.  As opposed to traditional carriers which hold your child tight against you and then wrap them in fabric, the Piggyback Rider allows your child to lean tight against you if they want to or lean back ever so slightly so they aren’t even touching you. 

The minimal size of the Piggyback Rider also makes it great for wearing in tight spaces as well as the fact that it rolls up so small when you’re not using it.  This makes it great for festivals, events, and more when a big backpack would be cumbersome and hard to store.  Also a huge bonus is that the entire carrier comes in a convertible storage bag which can be used as an attached pouch as well as a mudflap to keep dirty shoes off of you.  

Although it is fairly small, we loved that the Piggyback Rider is still strong and sturdy.  This is because it is made with high quality climbing buckles and webbing as well as an incredibly strong aluminum bar that doesn't warp even when faced with the higher end of the weight limit.

But the number one reason we love the award-winning Piggyback Rider is that every child likes a piggy back ride.  Finding a solution for giving one without straining, pulling, or balancing is a hit for both parents and children alike, but even better is that all this bonding can be done hands free.  By moving your child’s weight to the backpack-like straps, you can carry them for a much greater amount of time before you get tired, which just might make you dad of the year.  

FEATURES OF THE PIGGYBACK RIDER:
•    For kids 2 ½ to 7 years old (up to 60 pounds)
•    Weighs less than 3 pounds and is the size of a rolled towel
•    Built with a shoulder mounted foot bar for child to stand on, four integrated grab handles to hold, and a safety harness to secure your child
•    Made of strong and sturdy high quality climbing buckles, webbing and tempered aluminum bar
•    Comes in a covertible multipurpose storage bag/mudflap
•    Allows adult to stand much straighter than the typical 30-40 degree slouch associated with the old-fashioned piggyback method
•    So many uses - walking through the mall, amusement park, sports game, hiking and more!

  BUY IT: The Piggyback Rider can be purchased for $79.99 with free shipping directly from Piggyback Rider online.  To see it in retail, check out the Where to Buy map.

 
With hiking, vacation, and outdoor season just around the corner, one very lucky Rave and Review reader will soon be sporting a Piggyback Rider of their very own!

 To Enter: Simply tell me one place that you would use the Piggyback Rider. You can visit www.thepiggybackrider.com for ideas.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like Piggyback Rider on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Get Out and PLAY!  Win a Piggyback Rider Child Carrier from @raveandreview and @PiggybackRider click here to find out more http://bit.ly/eJSQls! 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On May 12nd at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to # 7

Christina G. said... We go on daily walks and my 4 year old is too big for the stroller and yet always tires halfway home...this would be perfect!  

A big thank you to Piggyback Rider who provided the sample for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Bausch + Lomb Biotrue {Video Review}

Spring is here, which for us usually means allergies, fluctuating temperatures, and our first dose of air conditioning, all of which are notoriously hard on contact lens wearers.  While contact lenses certainly are more convenient than glasses for many of my daily activities, the transition to warm weather can really do a number on my eyes.

Bausch + Lomb understands that nothing’s fun if your eyes are red and uncomfortable, which is why they have created a full line of lens care solutions for every need.  The newest product in the Bausch + Lomb family is Biotrue, a multipurpose solution that is formulated to match the pH of healthy tears which works to keep your eyes healthy and comfortable even in harsh conditions. 

This was something I really appreciated, and found that unlike other contact lens solutions that felt oily or greasy, the Biotrue solution has a clean feel that I really like.  From my use for the past few months, I have been really happy with it and would definitely recommend it for other contact lens wearers.  

See my video review below for more details, or check out http://www.biotrue.com/:

I conducted this review while participating in a Mom Central Consulting blog tour on behalf of Bausch + Lomb Biotrue.  I received a Biotrue sample and a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

A Day on Nutrisystem {Review & Giveaway}

I had never heard of Nutrisystem until earlier this month, but now that I have, I swear it’s everywhere.  On television, in magazines, and even on other blogs.  Looking back now, I suppose it’s possible that I had seen the commercials and ads before, but that I had discounted it as something that would be too expensive or wouldn’t work for real women – you know, the kinds with families to feed that don’t have time to prepare two separate meals. 

But, having read all the blog reviews recently, it does appear that the system does work for real women – and women I know personally.  The basis of the Nutrisystem program is that it includes pre-packaged and pre-portioned meals that make it possible to eat the right amounts with no counting calories, hiring a sous chef, or going broke.  Trust me when I say I wouldn’t believe it worked if I didn’t trust the bloggers who were posting about it. 

I got to try a full day’s worth of food from the Nutrisystem diet and left with two thoughts.  The first is that it was rather difficult for my daughter to not move in on my meal.  Even if I had prepared her a full {and delicious-looking} meal beforehand, as soon as my food was done, she was right there begging for bites.  The second is that some meals were certainly better than others, and I was surprised by which ones I liked and which I could have done without. 

It should be noted that I did not get to choose my meals.  They were chosen for me by the ad agency, and I had no idea what I was getting until I opened my package.  That being said, there were a few items I would have never picked for myself, and thus aren’t likely to become a favorite any time soon, which is more of a personal preference than a reflection on the quality of the food itself.  I tried out three meals – a breakfast, lunch and then a dinner – as well as two snack/dessert items.  I really, really loved that each package was color-coordinated, making it easy to see what was intended for what meal. 

For breakfast I tried out the Sweetened O's Cereal and thought that is was pretty good.  Not overly sugary and not mushy when added to water, but it also wasn’t anything spectacular.  It pretty much tasted just like I thought it would, but the real surprising thing to me was the portion size.  After looking at the package it became very clear that I had been pouring myself too much cereal until that point, akin to a serving and a half, which probably wasn’t doing me any favors when trying to lose the baby weight.   

For lunch I tried out the Split Pea soup and thought I would hate it.  I had decided at a young age that I did not like split pea soup and had successfully avoided it in my adult life.  I was really surprised to find that I actually like the Nutrisystem Split Pea Soup, and so does my daughter {who ended up eating nearly half of my serving}.  Who knew?

Then, for dinner I had the BBQ Sauce Over Beef and found it to be kind of bland.  It should be noted that the food I received was a shelf-stable variety, and in practice I tend to avoid these types of meals because I really prefer my meals to not be covered in sauces or have extra sodium, which are usually prevalent in shelf-stable foods.  While the BBQ Beef wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t my normal faire.  That being said, if eating it would allow me to lose tens of pounds, I would do it. 

Surprisingly, I ended up hating the snacks and desserts.  I tried the chocolate pudding and a snack bar and thought they both were too sugary and the snack bar had a strange texture.  Seeing as how I was really looking forward to the snacks because I had heard so many great things about them, I was a bit disappointed to find that they weren’t for me.  Not surprisingly, though, my daughter loved them both.  I certainly wouldn’t  purchase them for her or anything, but it’s something to note if you tend to have the tastes and likes of a two year old. 

For those of you looking into the Nutrisystem program, it does come in different varieties for men, women, diabetics, and more, thus giving you the variety to choose from.  There is also the option of upgrading your meals to their “Nutrisystem Select”, a program I’m sure I would have preferred since it has frozen and fresh ingredients to choose from.  The Select program offers a more premium experience than the one I have detailed here, and something that I think would ultimately be an easier Nutrisystem program for me to stick to in order to lose weight. 

That being said, I really love that everything is already set for you with Nutrisystem – you don’t have to measure portions, count calories, or buy pricey diet foods – and that everything is extremely easy to prepare.  Since I don’t get a lot of time to myself to think about and prepare meals, sometimes my diet suffers because of it, so I love the idea of a plan that takes all the guesswork out of dieting!   

Find out more at http://www.tvtopten.com/nutrisystem.html

 
With beach season just around the corner, one lucky Rave and Review reader is going to enjoy sampling some Nutrisystem meals for themselves!

The winner for the giveaway will receive the following:
•    Mexican Style Tortilla Soup
•    Cajun Style Chicken & Sausage with Rice
•    Double Chocolate Almond Cookie
•    Chocolate Chip Scone
•    Choc Peanut Butter Bar

 To Enter: Simply tell me what your experience with Nutrisystem is

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like TV Top Ten on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Beach season diet time!  Win some Nutrisystem meals from @raveandreview and @TVTopTen click here to find out more http://bit.ly/flMb6q! 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On May 2nd at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to #90 tina page said... i like tvtop10 on fb(tina wofford page)

A big thank you to TV Top 10 who provided the day worth of Nutrisystem to check out.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this review.

Pine-Sol Supports Reading is Fundamental {Giveaway}

You may be asking yourself what on Earth Pine-Sol has to do with education, and the answer may surprise you.  A recent study found that children who perform better at school tend to identify their home as having a positive smell.  That may sound a bit strange at first, but I guess it does makes sense.

What do you think of when you picture a good smelling home?  Clean?  Homey?  Well cared for?  All of the above?  As someone who feels like scents can really change the way you view a room, I spend a lot of time making sure that my house is clean, and thus smells clean.  While there may be a trail of dolls, monkeys and fake foods that runs the entire length of my home on every single flat surface, those surfaces that they rest on are usually really clean.  

Of course, with two children under 3, keeping things clean is a labor of love, but it’s something that I firmly believe is best for the entire family.  Showing your kids that you care about the environment they are rolling, twirling and dancing in goes beyond the immediate clean gratification and, as the study shows, helps them even once they leave the house.  Knowing that home is where it all begins and that the environment that they grow up in will set them up for their future makes me all the more convinced that a deep clean is good for more than the house. 

The added bonus of having your house clean is that there is more time that can be spent as a family, reading, talking, and playing together instead of spending that time hunting for what you are looking for.  It’s a pretty simple concept, really, but one that is easy to forget when you’ve got a family of mess-makers.  But, teaching kids that it’s good to clean up as you go and to put things back where they belong is a skill that they will definitely thank you for later in life.    

Reading Is Fundamental, the largest family and children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States, understands that this family time spent reading with our kids is paramount.  This is why they have given away 16 million {yes, million} new books per year to children in need. 

Pine-Sol is a proud supporter of Reading Is Fundamental and has donated $40,000 this year alone.  So, in addition to helping keep our homes clean {and clean smelling} by introducing 2 new scents and improving upon 2 classic scents, Pine-Sol is now joining in the fight against illiteracy by giving back to this great organization.   

How you can get involved:  By simply “Liking” Pine-Sol on Facebook during National Reading Month (March 2011) – for every two “Likes” Pine-Sol will donate one book on your behalf, up to 5,000 books. Visit www.facebook.com/PineSol.

The Study:   A new Taste & Smell Research Foundation conducted study, commissioned by the maker Pine-Sol® cleaners, found that children who perform better at school almost always identify their homes with scents associated with clean. The study also showed a correlation between memory of positive scents and performance, demonstrating that it begins at an early age and is something that parents can impact.

• Children who perform better at school almost always identify their homes with scents associated with clean - 84% of students reporting GPAs of A or B had positive childhood home smells – using descriptors like “lemony, minty or clean”; with only 16% noting negative smells at home.
• Those who recalled their childhood home as being an environment with negative smells or aromas were two-times more likely to have a lower grade point average (GPA) than those that did not.
• The study demonstrated a positive connection between a well-cared home and the sort of stable family environment that promotes academic success, self-esteem, learning and harmony – and enhances achievement later in life.
• 34% of students with a GPA grade of C or less, remembered negative childhood home aromas including urine, fecal and mold – double the percentage of those with higher GPAs.

 
In honor of National Reading Month {March 2011}, one lucky Rave and Review reader will win 3 gorgeous hardbound books to add to {or start} their family's collection:

My People - illustrated by Charles R. Smith, Jr, The Dot - by Peter H. Reynolds, and The Lion & the Mouse - By Jerry Pinkney 

 
To Enter: Simply tell me what your favorite Pine-Sol product is

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like Pine-Sol on Facebook to donate {how easy was that?}

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

"Like" Pine-Sol on Facebook to donate books to Reading is Fundamental @raveandreview click here to find out more http://bit.ly/ef95oG! 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On April 29th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian Addresses.

Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to the lucky winner: #104 Andrea said... I love Charlotte Sometimes

A big thank you to Pine-Sol who provided the information on Reading Is Fundamental.  This post was sponsored by Pine-Sol through a compensated Mom Bloggers Club member program. 

In Memory of Zackie

On March 10, 2011, the world lost a sweet little boy named Zack Hamilton.

Zackie wasn't just any little boy, he was an inspiration to all the many hearts he touched.  He also was the son of my very good friend, Heather Hamilton.   

Before I was a mother, I would have told you that losing a son would be heartbreaking.  However, now that I'm a mom, the sadness I feel for Zack's family is immeasurable.  I've spent a lot of time crying over the loss of this beautiful little boy and wanted to share his story with all of you. 

Zack was born in September 2007 with a congenital heart defect known as Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage (TAPVD). At two and a half weeks old, Zack underwent a procedure to repair his heart. Zack’s survival at that time was the first of many miracles in his life.

Zack also had several other anomalies, including hearing loss, global developmental delay, feeding issues, a gastrostomy tube (G-Tube), seizures, and fluid in the brain. Though he had no official overall diagnosis, the genetics team discovered Zack had a deletion of the 12th chromosome. This deletion is the first recorded case in the world, making Zack a very special and unique little guy.

Although just 3 years old, Zack touched many more people that he ever could have realized. Life is best measured by impact and not duration. In that way, Zack lived a life of incredible importance.

To honour this amazing little boy, Heather and her family are helping to raising funds to dedicate a room to Zack at York Central Hospital decorated with his favourite character – Elmo.  Zack spent a lot of time at York Central each winter.  The staff on the floor would fight over who could be his nurse and would often shower him with gifts and toys when we were there.  He was their little hero and they, like all of us, loved him dearly.  When he died, the nurses and staff on the Pediatric floor (5E) wanted to honour him by having a room dedicated to Zack.

You can help the Hamilton family make this dream a reality by making a tax-deductible online donation to help ensure Zack’s memory continues to live on. They will be decorating the room as Zack would have wanted...lots of Elmo murals, stickers and colour for the children to have a comfortable and fun room during their stay.  They have already lined up donations from paint companies, artists and even entertaining equipment to be donated to Zack's Dream Room.  When the room is ready, it will have a plaque outside the door with his name for everyone to remember the amazing child he was.  Of course, there will also be hosting a Grand Opening with Elmo to entertain the kids as Zack would have wanted.

To make a donation, see an amazing video tribute, photos, and read more about Zack, click here

Be sure to follow @zacksdream on twitter or email the Zack's Dream Team at: zacksdream@rogers.com

HOP the Movie - Easter Fun for Everyone #HOPtoit

My daughter has recently gotten very into movies, and we now use them as a reward system for when she successfully completes her sticker chart for the week.  So, with a full week’s worth of stickers colorfully arranged on her chart, we set off for an advance screening of the movie HOP from Universal Pictures this past weekend.

I actually hadn’t heard much about the movie before we got there, having just taken a quick look at the trailer online beforehand, but I was pretty sure my daughter would like the movie.  But, since she’s only 2 ½, sometimes she starts getting fidgety only a few minutes into the movies and the rest of the time is spent corralling her in her seat and bribing her to be quiet to not disturb other patrons.

Once the movie started and the action began, I was absolutely shocked that my daughter went from jumping in a circle yelling “it’s a bunny movie, I’m at a bunny movie!” to sitting and staring at the screen awestruck.  Even more amazing – she stayed in her seat almost the entire movie.  As in, only got up twice: once to cuddle with me and another time to cuddle with her dad and brother.  That’s got to be a world record, right?

The thing is, I actually forgot that I should be nervous about a two year old in a theatre because I was enjoying the film so much.  We’re talking laugh out loud enjoying myself.  Numerous times - sometimes when no one else was laughing. 

If you haven’t heard of HOP before, here’s everything you need to know: the story follows the story of E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand), the teenage son of the Easter Bunny who lives on Easter Island (naturally).  Expected to take over the family business, E.B. flees and finds himself in Hollywood pursuing his dream of becoming a drummer in a rock band.  While there he encounters Fred (James Marsden), a twenty-something slacker who is struggling to find himself while dealing with the disappointment of his whole family.

I should stop right now and clarify that this movie is a cross between animation and live action, something hubby and I are not usually fans of.  To be honest, it was so well done that it was easy to forget that E.B. was computer generated since the quality was so amazing.  Even the way the actors interacted with E.B. was really well done, making you feel like they really believed he was there, too.

While I typically shy away from movies that are season-specific because I don’t want to re-organize our movies that frequently, I will definitely make an exception for HOP because we all enjoyed it so much.  But, before it is released on DVD, I am fairly certain we will be catching it again when it comes out in theatres everywhere on April 1st. 

For more info on the film you can check out all the HOP websites:
HOP Official Website at http://www.iwantcandy.com/
Follow on Twitter  and “Like” on Facebook 
HOP on YouTube 

Thank you to SocialMoms who allowed us to pay for the movie with a princess sticker chart as opposed to real cash.  I was not asked to write a post about the movie or compensated in any way for this Rave Review.

Blue Celery Organic Double Sling Baby Carrier

I’m a HUGE fan of babywearing.  Besides being the only way I can get out of the house with two kids alone, it’s also a great way to snuggle and bond with my baby while still enjoying being out.  So naturally I was really excited when I recently found a great Canadian company that makes an organic double sling style baby carrier that is a hybrid of structured carriers and wrap style carriers, offering the best of both while being more versatile than either of them alone. 

The Blue Celery Sling is made in Canada and is a versatile all-around carrier for a variety of different positions for baby, tyke, and toddler.  It’s easy to use, fun to wear, and great for just about any activity you can dream up.  The stretchy organic material of the Blue Celery Sling makes it easy on your back, neck, and shoulders, as well as making it the perfect place for your little one to snuggle right in, which is why it is baby approved as well as mama approved!

The first thing that impressed me about the Blue Celery Sling is that it comes packaged in a reusable unbleached cloth bag reminiscent of a lunch sack, which I thought was great for a variety of reasons.  The first reason is that I love when baby carriers come in bags that help keep them contained {and clean} in the car, stroller, or even diaper bag, and the second being that it’s going to make a great lunch sack for my little one when he’s ready for meals on the go.

The next thing that impressed me was the variety of positions you can do with the Blue Celery Sling.  Since it is a unique double sling style carrier with a removable sash, you can choose between 5+ separate carry positions from cradle to upright and even a hip position.  This makes it is extremely versatile and economical for parents on a budget since it can effectively take the place of multiple carriers. 

Another huge plus is that it can be used for preemies to preschool which means that you can use it for longer than some other style carriers that have more rigid sizing.  Whereas some carriers aren't great for small babies, the Blue Celery is perfect even with little little ones, which I think is a huge plus.  While my toddler is dead-set on being a "big girl" and didn't want to go in the wrap, if she was willing, she would have fit comfortably as well and been well within the 35lb weight limit. 

But the thing that impressed me most was how much my son LOVES it!  He loves to be snuggled 99% of the time, so a sling that has a bit of stretch and still allows him to be close is pretty much the best thing we can carry him in.  When he gets sleepy, I love that I can secure his head in the sling better than with other carriers (he's only 4 months old and doesn't have complete neck control yet, especially when drowsy).  This extra security is especially nice for long periods of time when I know he will fall asleep. 

All of the Blue Celery Sling positions are fairly simple and easy to figure out with minimal instructions and diagrams, which is a plus for all those that claim wrap carriers are too complicated for them.  With a double sling style carrier, you get nearly all the benefits of wrapping without actually having to wrap.  In fact, there are absolutely zero buckles, clasps or buttons on the sling, which definitely gets extra points from me for ease of use.  The pictures in the instructions also helped a lot, and I thought they were well done even for first time babywearers.

But, by far the best thing about the carrier is that you can use the Blue Celery Sling as a traditional sling on one shoulder only and then also over both shoulders to evenly distribute the weight of your baby.  Add in the sash and the Blue Celery Carrier becomes even more versatile, allowing you to secure baby to you easily and give you the utmost in hands free mobility. 

Having multiple positions and carrying methods is a great thing so that you can change positions frequently and easily throughout the day depending on baby’s mood and your activity.  This makes it the perfect carrier for when you are out of the house all day and doing different tasks, and even for multiple children if you have two that are willing to be carried.  As someone who travels a lot and is often away from the house all day, these multiple positions are really key so I don’t get sore and tired.

Another thing helping me babywear all day long is the awesome stretchiness of the organic fabric of the Blue Celery Sling that makes little ones feel lighter in this type of carrier than in a traditional rigid sling or front pack.  If you’re like me and like to stay active with your little one without feeling  it in your back, neck and shoulders the next day, you will love this little bit of stretchiness that acts as a weight reduction carrier.  This is even more important as your little one gets older and heavier but still wants to be carried and snuggled while you’re out.

The only real drawback to having a double sling over a wrap carrier is that it does make it harder to share one carrier between two different sized people.  Because the Blue Celery Sling comes in 5 different sizes, you will have to decide who you specifically want the sling to fit when you are buying and then try and make it work for anyone who might share in babywearing duties.  I can see this might be an issue if you are taking turns carrying baby over long periods of time or over the course of a long vacation.  It also means that if you need the Blue Celery tighter for a certain activity or task, you only have the additional sash you can adjust, which is sometimes not quite adjustable enough.     

But, the fact that the Blue Celery Sling is extremely versatile and can be used as a sling, upright carrier and hip hammock while still maintaining most of the functionality of a multi-hold wrap makes it something that I think most parents will find indispensable.  That, paired with its full machine washability makes it an easy top pick for me in baby carriers.  

My son loves it, I have hands free, and my back doesn't hurt the next day... win, win, win!!  It’s really no wonder that the Blue Celery Sling was recently awarded the PTPA Seal of Approval as this carrier is definitely parent tested and parent approved – oh, and baby, too!

To find out more about the Blue Celery Sling, visit http://www.bluecelery.com/ as well as visit them on Facebook

A big thank you to PTPA Media for having us test out the Blue Celery Sling.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Happy Easter Store Personalized Gifts {Review & Giveaway}

Growing up, I looked forward to Easter more than I did my birthday.  And, now that I’m a parent, I love Easter even more than I did before.  Really, what’s not to love – it’s a day for family gatherings, spring flowers, pretty dresses, egg hunts and, of course, adorable little kids. 

I’m so excited that the Easter Bunny will be making his rounds in just a few short weeks and have already started planning all the fun things I want to do with my little ones.   While my baby probably won’t be doing anything but lying around looking cute, my almost 3 year old is going to be a few barrels of fun and I simply can’t wait.  I know she’s going to be beside herself when she comes downstairs and finds her basket and all the goodies inside.

Because I’m so excited, I’ve been scouring the shelves of my local retailers looking for treats these past few weeks and was getting really disappointed that I wasn’t finding anything Easter morning-worthy.  I hadn’t even thought of searching online until I heard about the Happy Easter Store, but now I’m very happy that I did because they had every single thing I was looking for. 

Happy Easter Store is truly awesome because it showcases products from a variety of different retailers.  This means it has one of the best selections of truly tasteful Easter baskets, gifts for all ages, and even gorgeous centerpieces that are all ready for giving.  Whether you are shopping for children, for adults, or for decorations to put out for Easter brunch, Happy Easter Store has you covered.

They even have a whole section devoted to personalized products, which most of you know by now are my weakness.  One glance through the personalized Easter gifts and I fell in love with over half of them.  After much debate, I finally narrowed it down to the Baby’s First Easter set which was perfect for my little one.

The Baby’s First Easter 3-piece set is even more adorable in person than it is online.  It includes a wooden caddy, a sweet brown bear wearing bunny PJs, and a 100% cotton bib, all of which are personalized for your baby.  You can choose between pink or blue and then customize it with any name up to 9 characters. 

I have been tricked in the past by stuffed animals that look cute online and then when you get them they end up looking like something from a crane machine, so I was really happy to see that the bear is not only incredibly cute, but it is also super soft and snuggly, perfect for a first Easter and beyond.  For that reason, I love the way the PJs are embroidered with your baby’s name but they don’t say “1st Easter” on them so you can actually bring them out every Easter during their childhood. 

Speaking of something that is going to see a lot of use, I really adore the wooden caddy that holds everything and I know that it’s going to be very beloved.  It does require some really simple assembly, but even I was able to get it assembled quickly with a screwdriver.  Once I got it all put together, I was really impressed by how cute it was as well as how sturdy it is. 

The caddy measures 13"L x 9"W x 9”H and is personalized with vinyl letters on one side.  The lettering seems to be really well done and doesn’t look prone to peeling or cracking.  As with the bear, the caddy doesn’t  specify that it is for the “1st Easter”, which means it could either be used every Easter for childhood or could even be a permanent feature in the baby’s room!

The bib is the only thing that does specify Baby’s 1st Easter as well as your baby’s name.  It attaches with a Velcro closure and is machine washable without fear of the fabric paints washing off.  It’s the perfect thing for keeping your baby’s Easter best looking great even after Easter brunch is over and a great little keepsake (that doesn’t take much room to store!).

As with all items from Happy Easter Store, personalization of the Baby’s First Easter set is included for free.  Whether you are creating a custom Easter basket, buying a gift set, or shopping for personalized Easter gifts, you should check out Happy Easter Store first and save yourself a few dozen trips to the store!

http://www.happyeasterstore.com/

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $50 GC to Happy Easter Store just in time for the holiday!

To Enter: Simply tell me what you would buy with the gift card!

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like Happy Easter Store on Facebook {you get a discount code just for liking!  woohoo!}

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Easter is April 24th & I'm dreaming of how to spend $50 GC to Happy Easter Store from @raveandreview. Enter to win http://bit.ly/ffN69D! 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On April 3rd at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#202 Stacey said... Commented on the Kellogg's post

A big thank you to Happy Easter Store who provided the Baby's First Easter Set as well as the giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.