Nifty Mom – Page 80 – Samantha King – St. Louis Content Creator

‘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.

Promoting Good Health this Holiday Season with Colgate for Children #HolidaySmiles

My two and three year old both love SpongeBob SquarePants. If something has SpongeBob on it, they got to have it, no matter what it is. When my two year old doesn’t want to put his pajamas on, all I have to say is “I have your SpongeBob pajamas” and his attitude changes and he’s get excited to put them on. The same works for brushing his teeth. If he gets to use a fun cute toothbrush, he will ask to brush his teeth throughout the day. I can’t go wrong there! This is something I keep in mind when I am buying gifts and necessities for the little ones.

Winner Announcement: Melissa & Doug Trunki

The winner of the Melissa & Doug Trunki Giveaway is….

CAROL B of NV

Congratulations Carol and I hope you enjoy the Trunki! (Winner has been contacted and confirmed)

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.

Heinz57 Pulled Pork Recipe + Tailgate Prize Pack Giveaway

It’s the middle of football season and around here, that means entertaining, tailgating and Sunday gatherings. Tailgating and football games aren’t complete without the perfect foods. Some of our favorite tailgating foods include meatballs, burgers, brats and pulled pork sandwiches. I am always looking for new recipes to try and I have found some tasty ones on Heinz 57‘s website. Heinz 57 is sure to add flavor to any meal with their three products: Heinz 57 Sauce, Heinz 57 Steak Sauce, and Heinz 57 Sauce with Honey.

PULLED PORK RECIPE

One of my favorite recipes is the Heinz 57 Pulled Pork. It serves approx. 8 people and only takes 10 minutes to prep.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup Heinz 57® Sauce
1/4 cup Lea & Perrins® Worcestershire Sauce
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 onion, chopped
3.5 lb. boneless pork shoulder blade roast, trimmed and cut into 4 pieces

Mix together 57 Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, mustard, sugar, tomato paste, and onion in a 5-6qt slow cooker. Season with salt & pepper. Add pork and make sure it gets coated with the mixture. Cover and cook on low heat setting for about 8 hours, or until pork is cooked through (no longer pink or an internal temperature of 165°F) and tender, turning occasionally.
To serve, remove pork from slow cooker. Pull pork into shreds using two forks. Return pork to slow cooker and stir until well mixed with sauce. Serve onto your favorite sandwich buns and serve immediately.

PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY

Heinz57 is giving one lucky Nifty Mom reader a Tailgating Prize Pack which includes:

Heinz 57 Sauce, Heinz 57 Steak Sauce and Heinz 57 Sauce with Honey
Grilling tools
Heinz blanket
Can cooler
Heinz tailgating book

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. No purchase necessary to enter. The giveaway is open to contiguous US residents only, 18+ and giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST November 25th, 2012. Winner will be selected via random.org and contacted by email. Winner has 48 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!

Nov 17 Lowes Free Kids Workshop – North’s Sleigh from Rise of the Guardians

Lowes November Free Kids WorkShop Lowe’s offers a great ‘Build and Grow’ Clinic for kids every few weeks. This Saturday, November 17th at 10am the kids will be building North’s Sleigh from DreamWorks Animation’s new movie Rise of the Guardians.

The first 50 to register and be present at the store will receive the kit, an apron, and goggles. the recommended ages is 1st-5th grade.

For more information, store locations, and preregistration visit Lowe’s Build And Grow here. They also have fun activities, kits you can purchase and family projects.