Reviews – Page 8 – Nifty Mom

IKEA Soft Toys for Education – Gifts that Give Back

If there was one store I wish we had in St. Louis, it is definitely an IKEA store. They have so many unique products and gifts at amazing prices. I could literally spend hours browsing their store online finding new fun products. During the holiday season, one of their hottest items are their soft toys. They offer countless different soft toys starting at just $0.49. This year, they have made their way onto Nifty Mom’s Holiday Gift Guide for obvious reasons.

We have been enjoying non-stop play with a soccer ball, TORVA Carrot and a basket of veggies. I fell in love with each of them immediately and my kids love playing with them all. The soccer ball is perfect for my 2 & 3 year old sons. When they see a ball, any ball, they HAVE to throw it. No matter what. Well with the soft toy, they can do it without breaking anything or hurting anyone. A huge plus for me!

As the boys pulled veggies out of the basket, we played a ‘What’s That’ game with them naming each one out loud: carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms and peas. These are great toys to play pretend and for healthy food education. I like to get them out when I am making dinner and let them ‘help’ me and make dinner as well. The large carrot is part of the TORVA soft toy collection. Even though I love all the soft toys, this one is my favorite. It is extremely soft, huggable and as big as my 10 month old. He just adores it. These are high quality soft toys, tested to prove durability and to withstand rough play by my sons!

During November and December, for every soft toy purchased, the IKEA Foundation donates €1 (approximately 1.29 USD) to Save the Children and UNICEF, and is spent on children’s educational projects. Last year, they were able to donate €12.4 million! The Soft Toys for Education Campaign started in 2003 and since then has raised $61.75 million, supported over 70 projects in nearly 40 countries, and helped more than 8 million children receive a better education. That’s amazing! I love a great company that gives back.

For the latest updates, stay connected by following IKEA on Twitter, Facebook, and the IKEA Foundation on Facebook.

I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

‘ABC What I Can Be’ Book & Personalized Children’s Gifts by I See Me!

There is nothing more enjoyable than reading a good book to my kids. They love all kinds of books with animals, trains, adventures and fun. To make a it more intriguing and special, personalization can make a book stand out above the rest. Personalized books will never be the same since I discovered products from the award-winning I See Me!.

Our mission is to increase self esteem in children through personalized books that celebrate the uniqueness of each child.

I received their newest book, ABC What I Can Be, for Ethan, my three year old son. This educational story highlights different careers he can be from A to Z. The first thing I noticed after receiving the book is the quality. It is very well made with a hard cover and heavy-duty pages, perfect for any preschooler.

What makes I See Me! books so unique, is extra steps they take to ensure the entire book is personalized. Unlike most personalized books, I See Me! adds personalization to the illustrations. Every page has Ethan’s name on it to correspond with the career. Not only can this make a child feel extra special, it also teaches them name recognition. The story is written in rhythm and flows smoothly from A to Z. The creativity can hold a child’s attention through each page. It truly is a fun book.

I know Ethan will love his new book and it will be in our collection forever. When his brother sees it, I am sure I will have to order one for him.

OTHER I SEE ME! GIFTS

There are many books to choice from, including holiday themes. Some great titles to pick from:

My Very Merry Christmas
Who Loves Me
The Super Incredible Big Sister
A Very Happy Birthday
My Very Own Fairy Tale

They also have personalized gifts such as coloring books, placemats, puzzles and gift sets. When you order two or more placemats or coloring books (great stocking stuffers), there is also a discount. I See Me! has compiled a great list of their hot products for their 2012 Holiday Gift Guide. Place your order my December 1oth to receive your order by Christmas with normal shipping. After that, you can still order with expedited delivery.

For the latest updates and products, stay connected by following @ISeeMe_Maia on Twitter, becoming a fan on Facebook and following their Pinterest Boards.

I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Using Glad ForceFlex Black Bags to Conquer Holiday Messes

The holiday season is always accompanied by a lot of parties, gatherings and dinners. We are always hosting numerous gatherings at our house and the holidays are exceptionally hectic. It is always a great time, but with every party comes lots of food, trash and messes. I try to handle the mess throughout the party and stay one step ahead before it gets out of control. Here are a few ways I prevent a huge mess at the end of the night:

Ensure the house is mess-free before guests arrive.
Always be on the look out for trash laying around and immediately throw it away.
Have more than one trash can at different ends of the room or house.
Keep extra bags at the bottom of the cans. When the trash bag is full and you remove it, a new bag is right there.
After everyone leaves, do a walk-through of the party area with a Glad Black Bag and pick up any left messes.

The Glad Black Bags have been a huge help for me lately. We haven’t hosted any parties the last week or two, but I have been using them to put my full kitchen trash bags in. The last time we bought 13 gallon bags for the kitchen, we decided to try to generic brand. Bad idea. I never imaged the quality would be as poor as they are. Every time I try to take a full bag out, the drawstrings tear the bag, rips off, and I discover holes and tears in the bag. To get the full and destroyed bags to the garage, I have been putting them in the Glad ForceFlex Black Bags. The 30 gallon bags easily hold two fully-stuffed kitchen trash bags (pictured above). They are very heavy-duty and the ForceFlex prevents any rips and tears. I have never had one rip, no matter how full and heavy the bag was. This week is the start of a busy stressful holiday season and Glad Black Bags have given me one less thing to worry about, eliminating the stress of the mess.

Glad has partnered with the one and only Tori Spelling to host OMG Extra: After the Wild Life, a cute and fun Facebook series featuring loveable, messy animals. While you are there, play ‘Missing in the Mess’ and find the differences in messy pictures. ‘Like’ Glad on Facebook and starting watching the hilarious videos.

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Glad. I received products to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”

BAND-AID & Neosporin Lip Health Products – Perfect Stocking Stuffers

When it comes to stocking stuffers, I like to include small items that are practical and aren’t toys or candy. I pick things that are used year-round, promote good health and not just for kids. This year, I will be including some BAND-AID and Neosporin Lip Health products in my family’s stockings.

BAND-AID BRAND

With two boys that think they are indestructible, bumps, bruises and cuts are inevitable. I keep a first-aid kit on hand and it is always stocked with BAND-AID Brand Adhesive Bandages. They have new QUILTVENT technology that creates air channels to allow the wound to breathe. The waterproof tough strips are flexible and stay adhered during all my daily activities. I had to use one on my finger and I was still able to bend it and had no issues working with my hands throughout the day. When it came time to remove the bandage (which I dread doing), it was painless and effortless.

For the kids, we have cute and fun Muppet bandages. The package includes various designs and assorted sizes. The bandages are plastic and flexible allowing them to stay in place when applied. My three year old is not happy when he has to wear a BAND-AID, unless it has a Muppet on it. For more kids fun, download the Band-Aid Magic Vision app (free) and bring the Muppets to life with interactive fun by scanning the bandages.

Aside from bandages, BAND-AID offers other great products. I can’t count how many times I have worn new or uncomfortable (but cute) shoes and have gotten blisters on my feet. I use to put a BAND-AID on my ankle or foot to prevent blisters, but that normally didn’t last long and they would just rub off. Now, I just use the BAND-AID Friction Block Stick to prevent the blisters. It has a lubricating formula that instantly reduces rubbing on the skin. It is easy to apply, invisible and not greasy. The size is perfect to keep in my purse for fast and convenient applications. This is one product I wish I had when I wore heels everyday.

For the latest products, coupons, offers and updates be sure to visit BAND-AID.com.

Neosporin Lip Health

With the cold weather comes dry skin and chapped lips. Neosporin has a few products in their Lip Health line that protects lips from the winter chill and make for great stocking stuffers. The Daily Hydration Therapy is for daytime use and has SPF 20 to protect your lips from the sun as well as the cold. The Overnight Renewal Therapy helps restore your lips and make them softer and healthier as you sleep. The daytime cream is lightweight and brings comfort to dry lips. The overnight cream is a little thicker and really hydrates the lips. Neither are greasy. The pair of products assure visibly healthier lips after 3 days and I can attest to that. They are a new must-have in my house.

For the latest products, coupons, offers and updates be sure to visit NeoLips.com.

Disclosure – I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

I’m in Love… with My New Keurig OfficePRO Single-Cup Coffee Brewer

My typical day is pretty hectic with three little ones and this Momma needs her coffee. In the morning while I am getting breakfast ready, I normally get out my canister of coffee with intentions of brewing a pot. Keyword there: intentions. Some days, I get so sidetracked I forget all together. Other days, I notice the canister is out an hour or two later and finally brew my pot of coffee. However, I get sidetracked again and I forget that there is a pot brewing. After another hour or so, I will remember and eventually get a cup. By the time I go back for cup number two, to my disappointment, the auto-off has already shut off the brewer. I could turn it back on to keep the coffee hot, but it just gets burnt and doesn’t taste that pleasant. As much as I love coffee, I always seem to be wasting almost a whole pot or not making any at all. However, I am enthused to say that I finally found a solution: The Keurig OfficePRO Single-Cup Coffee Brewer.

I have only heard good things about Keurig, and thanks to Staples, I finally got to discover for myself how great they really are. The OfficePro is a commercial brewer that has a 48oz water reservoir and generally brews about ten times the amount of a typical home brewer. This is perfect for me because it is always ready to brew and I can drink a lot of coffee. The brewer also comes with a 12 pack of variety K-Cups to sample (I enjoyed each of them). I also recieved an 18 pack of Tully’s French Roast (my selection and very delightful).

Once I received the package, I couldn’t wait get my new Keurig set up and brewing. Setup was simple and the instructions are easy to follow. Before use, it has to be primed. To prime it, all I had to do was fill up the water reservoir and turn the power on so the brewer fills and warms the water. Then, press ‘brew’ to cleanse and fill a cup of water (with no K-Cup). The process takes less than five minutes. Now, its ready to go.

To brew a cup of coffee (or other beverage), insert a K-Cup into the holder and close. The blue light around the ‘brew’ button will flash alerting you it is ready to brew. Within about 30 seconds of pressing the brew button, you will have a fresh cup of coffee ready to enjoy! After 15 seconds, the brewer will be ready to brew the next cup of coffee. Please note that when the water tank is filling up the there is a vibration noise momentarily. It’s not that bad, but it is normal.

There are many features to the Keurig OfficePro including:

‘Auto-Off’ Button: When selected, it will turn off 2 hours after the last cup of coffee is brewed.
Cup Size Selection: The brewer can brew 6oz, 8oz, or 10oz at a time
Removable Drip Tray: Removes to allow for travel-size mugs and easy clean up. Also holds about a cup of liquid in the event that a cup is brewed with no cup/mug.
Single Cup Brewing: No wasted, forgotten about, or burnt coffee
Always ready to brew: When I turn it on in the morning, I am enjoying a fresh cup of coffee within three minutes.
Designed to stay on all day: I have comfort in leaving the brewer on all day long knowing it can handle it

Not only is the Keurig OfficePro convenient, is also eliminates the mess of coffee grounds & filters and the error of using too much or too little coffee grounds. The only thing that could be negative about the brewer is that I may be drinking way too many cups of coffee now. I have not went a morning without at least one cup of coffee since I received the Keurig and I have even enjoyed a cup or two in the evening. I am truly in love.

Disclosure: I received a Keurig® OfficePRO® Single-Cup Commercial Coffee Brewer from Staples to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Snacking Healthier with Del Monte’s New Fruit Cups #SmartSnack

When it comes to snack time in my house, my kids typically want cookies. I am trying to give them healthier snacks and avoid the cookies as much as possible. How great would it be if they were asking for fruits, not cookies every day? However, I have yet to find that perfect fruit snack that they crave and ask for. I wanted to find something new not only for my sons to enjoy, but also that I would like. I tend to skip meals sometimes, because I easily lose track of time trying to get other things done around the house. When I need a quick snack, junk food is always at hand and I end up with regret after I eat it. In search for that perfect snack food for the family, I headed to Walmart.

While shopping, I was excited to find some new flavors of Del Monte fruit cups: Diced Apples & Pears with Caramel flavor and Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice. Not only did they look delicious, but they just sound like they would be full of flavor. I purchased a few to give them a try. When I pulled them out for snack time, my sons were very interested.

We first tried the Diced Apples and Pears with Caramel flavor. Caramel is my favorite flavor and it definitely gives the fruit cups a sweet addition. There is just a hint of caramel so it is not overwhelming. Both my sons loved them. My three year old wanted more when he finished his cup. My two year old managed to drink all the juice out of the cup after he was finished. Almost the whole time he was eating, he was saying, “mmm, yummy” repeatedly. The small size of each fruit piece was perfect for the little ones. The Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice was also just as delightful and flavorful. The cinnamon spice gives it an extra kick of flavor with each bite. They are easy and convenient for the kids and myself.

I am proud to say, the same day they first tried the fruit cups, they asked for them that evening! Healthier snacks: Total Success!

How healthy are Del Monte’s new fruit cups?

Each fruit cup has a full serving of fruit and just 60 calories. Unlike a lot of other fruit products I have purchased in the past, they have no high fructose corn syrup. They are in a extra light syrup and are gluten free.

With their convenient size and packaging, I have added two cups to my ‘ready-to-go’ tote/diaper bag. When we are out running errands or on play-dates, I will always have a healthy snack on hand.

I can’t wait to try more flavors. I think I may try the Diced Peaches in light syrup with Cinnamon and Brown Sugar next time.

Be sure to check out my Google+ photo album for my full shopping trip and experience. For the latest updates and snacks visit Del Monte, follow @DelMonteFoods on Twitter, and become a fan on Facebook.

“I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Del Monte #CBias #SocialFabric. All Opinions expressed are 100% mine.”

Decorating for Halloween with Hallmark + Prize Pack Giveaway (ends 10/23)

Even in this digital age, I still prefer paper greeting cards. I still use ‘snail mail’ to send cards to friends and family for holidays, birthdays, and just to say I am thinking about them. When you think of greeting cards, what is the first thing the comes to your mind? For me, it’s Hallmark. I love everything about Hallmark. Not only do they have greeting cards for just about everything, they also have great gifts. This year I was excited to learn about their Halloween Decor. My little guys love Halloween and they enjoy all the decorations around the house.

From humorous to sincere, Hallmark has greeting cards to send to someone special for Halloween or fall. I love the over-sized witch one I received. My sons’ favorite part are the “googly-eyes” and we have set it up on our mantle for display. I also received a “Thinking of You” card with an autumn theme that I sent to my grandparents that live out-of-state. I know they really enjoy receive greeting cards and what can be better than a surprise card when you least expect it?

My Pet Ghost

Meet our pet ghost, Julian Hijinks. Safe in the bottle, Julian makes an appearance when the top bottle stopper is pushed. With spooky sounds and different sayings, this pet ghost is a hit with my preschoolers. The boys love that they have control over when the ghost appears and it can keep them entertained for quite some time. I have a feeling after Halloween, when all the Halloween decorations get packed up, I will have a hard time getting them to say goodbye to Julian. Hallmark also sells two other pet ghosts, Maxwell McSpooky, Genevieve Ruffles. Each ghost is different, but all share that spooky fun.

Witch’s Hat Door Decor

The Witch’s Hat hangs on your door and is motion activated. When someone walks by it, a witch’s face appears and it cackles and says ‘Happy Halloween’. To ensure my sons get the most out of the Witch’s Hat, we have it hanging in our living room. They can’t get enough of the witch. When it goes off, they laugh, jump up and down, and yell, ‘Again, Again!’ Since we do have it in a high-traffic spot, we only leave it turned on a few times a day for the kids, which is easy with the ‘on-off’ switch. On Halloween I will move it to the front door so the witch can surprise unsuspecting trick-or-treaters!

You can purchase Hallmark’s Halloween Decor at your local Hallmark store or near the greeting card section at retailers such as Walmart. Hallmark is also offering you 30 percent off Hallmark’s selection of Print On Demand photo cards and party plates with the online coupon code Blog30.

Win it!

Hallmark is giving one lucky Nifty Mom reader a Witch’s Hat Door Décor and a gift pack of Halloween greetings!

No purchase necessary to enter. The giveaway is open to US residents only, 18+ and giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST October 23rd, 2012. Winner will be selected via random.org and contacted by email. The winner has 24 hours to reply to confirm their prize or a new winner will be picked. Sponsor is responsible for shipping the prize to the winner, not Nifty Mom. If you have any issues entering or have any questions, please email me at contact (at) niftymom(dot)com.

GOOD LUCK!

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER**

Disclosure – I received the named products at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

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