Category Archives: Review

“Count on the Subway” Book Review & Giveaway!!!

random house kids logo

Count on The Subway by Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender is a delightful children’s book that tells what it’s like to ride the subway counting all the way.  My little ones love this book especially since they hear all about the subway from their sister who attends school near NYC.

This book was very timely since she will be graduating in a few weeks and was hired as a GIS Analyst with New Jersey Transit.  So trains, subways and everything transportation is big around here.

So if you have a MetroCard of if you have never stepped foot on a subway, this book is a ticket to ride for all.  Everyone can experience a taste of navigating through NYC on this counting adventure!

Count on the Subway

1 MetroCard, Momma and me.
Down 2 flights—to catch the 3.
4 turnstiles, singers 5.
A rumble, a screech . . . the train arrives!

This bright, young counting book is a delightful trip through the New York City subway system. Hand in hand, child and mother see colorful subway signs and funny passengers, watch trains screeching by, and make new friends. With bold illustrations and a playful, rhyming text, this is not only a counting book, but also a tribute to New York and a sweet story of a child and parent navigating the city together.

Giveaway

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Count on the Subway!  Thank you Random House for sponsoring this great giveaway and for the review copy.  Open to US residents.

Random House, Count on the Subway Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Yonanas, Healthy Dessert Maker Review & Giveaway

Yonanas Logo

With the unofficial start of Summer at the end of this month, cool, refreshing treats are so timely.  However, while ice cream on a hot day may be delicious, it can pack on the pounds if you’re not careful.  There’s a great way to cater to your ice cream craving with a healthy alternative.

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Yonanas, healthy dessert maker takes frozen bananas and other kinds of frozen fruit and turns it into a soft serve style dessert.  You simply freeze bananas without the skin along with frozen fruit you can buy like mixed berries, mango, pineapple etc.  Let the fruit thaw for about 15 minutes at room temperature and then run it through the Yonanas machine.

I was impressed with how easy it was to make a yummy, healthy treat with the consistency of ice cream.  It tasted like a fruity sorbet.  You can add chocolate or top with sprinkles or other toppings if desired.  For easy cleanup the components are dishwasher safe!

 

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Yonanas is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own Yonanas machine.  Thank you Yonanas for the review machine and for sponsoring this sweet giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Yonanas Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Filed under Cooking, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review, Shopping

Sunny Sleevez – End the SunScreen battles

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Sunny Sleevez Logo

After a long, cold winter, the sun is finally beginning to shine again.  Time to start thinking about protecting our skin from the sun’s damaging rays.  This is an issue that is very important to me especially where my kids are concerned.  So many sunscreens contain cancer causing toxins, even those marketed as baby and children’s sunscreen.

sun sleeves 1

I do have a sunscreen that we use and love that does not contain  hazardous chemicals but I am excited to share another option.  Sunny Sleevez are remarkable UV sun gloves that are perfect for babies, kids, tweens and beyond.  They come in great colors and designs and all kids need to do is slide them on.

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Sunny Sleevez are a patent pending, chemical-free option that is not greasy, never needs to be reapplied and will not get rubbed in kid’s eyes.  A wonderful choice for kids that don’t like the feel of sunscreens.  The lightweight, breathable fabric wicks away moisture to keep kid’s skin cool.  Sunny Sleevez work from the minute they are on, don’t wash off and offer  50+UPF UVA/UVB protection, keeps SPF even when wet.  Easy care machine washable and line dry.  Sunny Sleevez are sold in pairs and have a SRP of $14.99.  

sun sleeves

My son loves them and he flipped over the cool flame design.  He loves wearing them and I can go all day without having to reapply sunscreen.

Sunsleeves

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Filed under Fashion, Health, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review, Shopping, Toddler

Sharing My Coffee Journey With Mr Coffee® & Millstone®!!! #CoffeeJourneys Giveaway!!!

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias, Millstone® Coffee, and Mr. Coffee® #collectivebias.

#coffeejourneys #cbias #shop #collectivebias

Growing up, whenever I heard the familiar quick double ring of the doorbell, I knew without a doubt,  behind that door stood my favorite uncle.  The sound of the doorbell had me acting like Pavlov’s dog because after letting him in, I started a fresh pot of coffee.

There was no question if he would like some or not, it was a given.  Coffee was a catalyst for bringing us all together.  When the coffee was ready we would all gather round the table or sit on the deck with my parents and whatever siblings were home and talk, laugh and share memories.

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

Coffee is the way I start my morning, it’s something I share with friends, it’s comfort, it means talking with family, sharing time alone or sitting back and watching my kids play. Coffee is weaved throughout my life and it’s more than a drink, it’s a link that joins people together, it’s my #coffeejourney.

Some of my greatest memories of my parents, who are no longer with me, are the talks we had over coffee.  Even as a child, before I drank coffee, the familiar smell was comforting and it meant that I could dip a shortbread cookie in my dad’s cup and savor a bit of the grown up drink that always drew people together.

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

As a mom of five, I understand that interruptions are a part of life but cold coffee shouldn’t have to be.  The Mr Coffee® 10 Cup Optimal Brew™ Thermal Coffee Maker has moms covered and I can always come back to find fresh hot coffee in the sleek, stainless steel carafe.

 

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

Simple pleasures are some of the best and for me, wrapping my hands around a hot mug of rich, flavorful  Millstone® coffee is the ultimate.  Millstone® has a great selection of coffee that works so well in the Mr. Coffee® drip coffee maker.

Sharing My Coffee Journey With Mr Coffee® & Millstone®!!! #CoffeeJourneys Giveaway!!!http://www.mommyramblings.org/2014/04/25/mr-coffee-10-cup-optimal-brew-thermal-coffee-maker-review-giveaway/ … #coffeejourneys #cbias #shop

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

My favorites are the flavored coffee, the smell of French Vanilla wafting through the house gets everyone’s attention.  To learn about the Journey of the Bean and get some great insight into Millstone® coffee just click HERE!

Mr. Coffee® 10-Cup Optimal Brew™ Thermal Coffee Maker and Millstone® coffees are available at Walmart.  I went to Walmart to purchase the Mr. Coffee® 10-Cup Optimal Brew™ Thermal Coffee Maker and Millstone® coffees.

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

The coffee maker is easy to start using right out of the box.  Just a quick rinse and wash of the water reservoir, filter basket and carafe and you are ready to brew.  I purchased a reuseable Mr Coffee basket filter because I find it more eco-friendly and cost-effective than using disposable paper filters.

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

 

The side mounted, filter basket is removable and makes filling a breeze.  The removable water reservoir allows for easy filling at the sink. The water filter that’s included  fits in the top of the filter basket and will remove up to 97% of chlorine  from the water.  There is a handy red, sliding clip on the top that lets you select the month you put the filter in so that you know when it is time to change it.

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

The clock is easy to operate and you can set it for delayed brewing.  The Fresh Brew Timer ensures your coffee is hot and fresh.  You can brew 10 cups of coffee in less than 7 minutes, and if you just can’t wait, there’s a pause and serve feature.

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

The clean cycle helps eliminate any calcium build up.  The stylish, vacuum-insulated stainless steel carafe keep your first cup as hot and fresh as your last.

#CoffeeJourneys #CollectiveBias #shop #cbias

 

I saved the best for last because you can WIN a Mr Coffee® 10 Cup Optimal Brew™ Thermal Coffee Maker with a bag of Millstone® French Vanilla flavored coffee!!!  To enter just use the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!! Open to US residents in the contiguous 48 states.

While you are entering, I need to go because it won’t be long until I am interrupted by that familiar door bell ring.  These days taking time for conversation and coffee with my 89-year-old uncle are more precious than ever!

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Nui Organics, Kid’s Clothing Review & $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway!!!

nui organics

Kids want to be comfortable in their clothes.  Naturally, active kids want to be able to twist, turn, wiggle and jump without feeling constricted.  

Nui Organics loves producing quality clothing for children using only the world’s purest merino wools and cottons. No harsh chemicals for our children, or our planet. Everything is manufactured in a socially and environmentally responsible way.  

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I recently had the chance to try some of Nui Organics clothing with my son.  I chose the Kavi Shorts in ocean stripe and the Vic, 3/4 Sleeve Top in ocean whale.

nui Ocean Whale Top

nui organics kavi short

My son loved them and immediately started jumping around because they were so comfy and that worked to my disadvantage when trying to snap a picture of him with the outfit.

nui organics collage
It did show me that they are an excellent children’s clothing choice that feels great and looks great and to kids, comfort trumps most anything.  Lots of easy to mix and match pieces are available for boys and girls.

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Nui Organics is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a $50 Gift Certificate to Nui Organics!  Thank you Nui Organics for the review outfit and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Nui Organics $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Baby, Fashion, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review, Shopping, Toddler

Celebrate Earth Day With Flight of the Honey Bee, Little Pear Tree & E.I.E.I.O!!!

Candlewick Press

April 22nd is Earth Day and I want to tell you about some great books you can read with your child to celebrate.

Flight of the Honey Bee by Raymond Huber:

Your child will get to follow the flight of a honey bee as she searches for nectar to sustain her hive and, along the way, pollinates flowers to produce seeds and fruits.

Flight of the Honey Bee

A tiny honey bee emerges from the hive for the first time. Using sunlight, landmarks, and scents to remember the path, she goes in search of pollen and nectar to share with the thousands of other bees in her hive. She uses her powerful sense of smell to locate the flowers that sustain her, avoids birds that might eat her, and returns home to share her finds with her many sisters. Nature lovers and scientists-to-be are invited to explore the fascinating life of a honey bee.The back of the book gives examples of how to save the bees that you can discuss as a family as well as an index.

Little Pear Tree by Jenny Bowers: 

little pear tree

Children will be captivated as they watch a tiny seed grows through the seasons into a fine pear tree in this beautiful book. This format showcases vibrant artwork with more than twenty-five flaps that you lift to discover creatures hidden in every scene. The charming text makes this the perfect interactive primer to a key scientific topic.

 

E.I.E.I.O, How Old MacDonald Got His Farm With A Little Help From a Hen by Judy Sierra:

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The Little Red Hen gives Old MacDonald some pointers on composting — and a legendary farm is born — in this rhyming, rollicking read-aloud. Once upon a time, Old MacDonald didn’t have a farm. He just had a yard — a yard he didn’t want to mow. But under the direction of the wise (and ecologically sensitive) Little Red Hen, Mac learns to look at the environment in a very different way, and whole new worlds start to bloom with the help of some mud, garbage, horse poop, and worms!

Judy Sierra’s spirited verse, paired with Matthew Myers’s exuberant illustrations, yields a fresh take on a children’s classic, complete with raised-bed gardens and an organic farmers’ market—making this a perfect story for armchair gardeners and devoted locavores of all sizes.

Enter To Win All 3 Books:

My kids love books and these 3 were a big hit and have spurred some great conversation about nature, growing plants and trees and of course all the ways bees are essential in our world.  Candlewick Press is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One luck blog reader will win all three of these books!  Thank you to Candlewick Press for the review books and for sponsoring this Earth Day Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Candlewick Press, Earth Day Trio of Books Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Kidorable, Fireman Rain Wear Collection Review & Giveaway!!!

Kidorable Logo Kidorable Logo

April showers bring May Flowers.  Time to get in gear for spring rain.  We love Kidorable Rain Wear, they are our go to brand for kid’s rain coats, rain boots and umbrellas.  The quality is great and boots, rain coats and umbrellas used by my older son can be passed down to his younger brother looking brand new.

We love the great details and designs that are used on everything and how there’s such a large selection of coordinating items for each style.  We recently had a chance to review products from the Fireman Collection.

kidorable fire raincoat

kidorable fire boots

kidorable umbrella

When everything arrived, my son could not wait to try it on.   Actually, both little boys wanted to try everything on and so they did. Everything is easy for them to get on and off and the attached hat on the hood of the rain coat provides great coverage with the wide brim.  The rain boots are fun and keep puddle jumpers dry and the umbrella is easy to open and close for little hands.  My son loved this set and his little brother can’t wait for him to outgrow it!kidorable2

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Kidorable is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings.  One lucky blog reader will win a Kidorable Umbrella in their style choice (subject to availability). Thank you Kidorable for the review pieces and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Kidorable Umbrella Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Ornaments with Love, Personalized Ornaments Review and Giveaway!!!

Recently I was contacted by Ornaments with Love and asked to do a review for their personalized ornaments.  As the mother of five it is sometimes hard to find personalized ornaments for a family of 7.  I was surprised to see so many choices for large families that I had a hard time choosing.  After a lot of browsing, I finally chose the personalized Fireplace Tabletop Decoration Christmas Ornament with 7 People.

It was shipped right away and arrived a couple of days later and I was blown away.  It is absolutely gorgeous and the pictures do not do it justice.  It is so detailed and has a sturdy easel back for display.  It has a high gloss finish with sparkly, glitter stockings hanging from the festive mantle with everyone’s name.  Two topiary Christmas trees flank each side of the fireplace and above the Mantle I had Merry Christmas and the year painted.

I love their site, there are lots of ornaments and tabletop decorative pieces that will accommodate large families and many grandchildren.  If you are looking for special keepsake gifts there are ornaments for babies, families, couples, grandparents, military, animals, sports fans, hobbies, relatives and more.

Personalized Fireplace Tabletop Decoration Christmas Ornament with 7 People image

 

Ornaments with Love is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings.  One lucky blog reader will win an ornament of their choice (subject to availability).  Thank you Ornaments with Love for this treasured keepsake ornament and for sponsoring this very merry giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

 

Ornaments with Love Personalized Ornament Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules!!! 

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Blast Zone, Ultra Croc Inflatable Water Park Review!!! Exclusive Discount Codes!!!

You may remember our review of the Blast Zone Hang Ten we did a few months ago.  We love that inflatable so when we had the chance to review the huge Ultra Croc Inflatable Water Park we were ecstatic.  It arrived quickly and was very easy to unpack and set up.  All we had to do was unroll the inflatable and then hook the blower up, plug the blower in and voila, we were up and ready to attach the water hoses and sprayers.  It was pretty easy for my husband to attach them and they have multiple velcro fasteners to hold the hose and sprayer heads on securely.  We were also able to just leave them attached and deflate and inflate time and again.  We have used in multiple times in the few days we have had it.  I like that the hose tubing is clear so you can see that it is clean and if there was ever an obstruction.

This inflatable has three separate pools, 3 slides, a climbing wall and that all equals a tremendous amount of fun on a hot day.  My three-year old climbs the wall no problem and there are lots of safety handles for him to use.  They have a blast with this inflatable and we have to literally drag them out when the sun starts going down and they start shivering.  Even then they don’t want to get out.  We never hear that they are tired of it or don’t want to go in.  We simply set it up and start the water in the morning and they are in for the majority of the day.

The quality is great, and we are so glad it has so many commercial features because it is going to hold up very well to the tremendous amount of use it is going to receive.  If you are looking for something super fun to keep the kids active and cool this summer, check out the Blast Zone Ultra Croc Inflatable Water Park or any one of their other great inflatables.  A big thank you to Blast Zone for this incredibly generous and fun review!!!

Blast Zone is offering three exclusive discount codes to Mommy Rambling’s Readers for use on BlastZone.com.

Save 5% Off Your Entire Order, Receive Free Shipping and Pay No Sales Tax

Code: SAVE5

Save 10% Off Orders over $2,000, Receive Free Shipping and Pay No Sales Tax

Code: 2K10

Save 15% off Orders over $5,000, Receive Free Shipping and Pay No Sales Tax

Code: 5K15

 

 

The Ultra Croc 13-in-1 Inflatable Water Park takes the Rockin Croc to a new level of Splashing, Sliding, Crawling, Climbing fun! This enormous Water Park Offers fun for kids of all ages. The inflatable beast includes 3 commercial vinyl Slides, 3 commercial vinyl Splash Pools, 2 commercial vinyl Spray Tunnels, and a commercial vinyl Climbing wall!

Adventurers scale this monster inflatable by climbing the back ramp, complete with safety handles, foot holes and a safety platform. From the top, kids choose any of 3 raging water slides to race down:  The 8-foot-long Snout-Slide, The 9.5-foot-long leg-slide, or the 17-foot-long Tail Slide (w/pool).

The most daring explorers will have a blast crawling underneath the Ultra Croc’s Belly, through either of the 2 spray tunnels. Each tunnel is soaked by an overhead sprayer assembly (included), which rains down like a car wash! Parents: There is no longer any need to fight your kids to bathe: The Croc-Wash will clean them for you!

For those who want to chill-out in the 2 Croc Lagoons, these 2 mini swamps are approximately 50 (left) and 75 (right) square feet of  maximal chill-zone!  Inflates in under 2 minutes.  Keeps kids splashing for hours!

Features:

  • 3 Commercial Vinyl Slides
  • 3 Commercial Vinyl Splash Pools
  • 2 Commercial Vinyl Spray Tunnels4 Water Sprayers
  • Commercial Vinyl Climbing Wall
  • Included Fan with GFCI
  • Carrying Case

Dimensions and Capacity:

  • Total Footprint: 21′ Deep x 21′ Wide x 8.25′ High
  • Length of tail slide from top of slide to bottom of slide: 8′
  • Length of tail slide from top of slide to end of tail pool: 17.5′
  • Length of Nose Slide From top of Slide to bottom of slide: 8′
  • Height of slides: Approx 5′
  • Length of foot slide: 9.5′
  • General measurements of 2 splash pools:  Left :9′ x 8.25;   Right 9′ x 5.25′
  • Diameter of tunnels: 28″
  • 4 in Splash Pools
  • 1 Per Slide
  • 1 on Climbing Wall
  • 100 Lbs Per user

About The Blast Zone “Ultra” Line

The Blast Zone line of Ultra inflatables takes our most popular Home-Use inflatables to the Next level. Each Blast Zone Ultra Inflatable is based on inflatables that have proven themselves with years of fun, safety, durability and quality. We have taken these inflatables and made them BIGGER and BETTER, adding additional features, designs, reinforcement and more commercial grade materials.

What do I get?

Each Blast Zone inflatable includes the inflatable unit, a UL approved blower a carrying case, stakes for the blower and stakes for the bouncer. The inflatable unit rolls up to about the size of a medium to large sleeping bag (depending on bouncer). Most of our inflatable toys ship via UPS in one box that includes everything. To set up the bouncer, just unroll it, hook the inflation tube to the blower, turn on the blower and stake it down. The blower runs continuously while kids play, and air escapes through the seams and fabric.

 

 


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Filed under Blast Zone, Home & Garden, Outdoor Fun, Review, Summer, Toys

Patch Products, Farkle Frenzy Game Review & Giveaway!!!

I was recently sent the fast paced  Farkle Frenzy game from Patch Products to review.  Farkle Frenzy adds an exciting new dimension to the classic Farkle dice game! Now everyone rolls at the same time to try to score the most points. Press down the funky Bubble Hub to vibrate and bounce the common die, and then let the fun begin! Take a risk and roll to collect scoring dice on the stepped Dice Risers, and race to fill yours first!   For 2 to 4 players and ages 8 and up.   If you are looking for a fast, fun, family game, then you should check out Farkle Frenzy.  Everyone thought the bubble hub with the enclosed dice was a great addition to the Farkle game, as well as allowing everyone to play at the same time.  If you are a Farkle fan and even if you have never played Farkle, I recommend Farkle Frenzy.

Patch Products is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings.  One lucky blog reader will win their own Farkle Frenzy game.  Thank you Patch Products for the review Farkle Frenzy and for sponsoring this fun giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.
Patch Products Farkle Frenzy Game Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter below.  Good Luck!!!

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