packing...packing....packing....boring b-day

I am taking a quick break from packing - I am working so hard but turn around and nothing looks any different! I think the hardest part is that as you work, things just get messier & more cluttered so it feels just wrong!
I have a huge to do list and it seems never ending. On top of that I have to go to the DMV (ah!) and renew my license because I turn 25 in the morning! EEkk! What a way to celebrate your birthday....packing & cleaning. Boo to that.

So I may not be around too much this week. But keep entering my great giveaways in the meantime - I will be on & off throughout the day to tweet about them & to approve comments & check emails. I can't stay away too long of course!

And next week I will post my birthday present from my sister - it's fun & I loved it all! We all got a good laugh out of it too!

It's midnight, I should probably go to sleep. But I have more dishes to do, packing to finish. HELP ME LOL!

Sun Kissed Bud ~ Etsy Review & Giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***


If you have been with me and my blog since the start, you may remember my love of the Etsy shop Sun Kissed Bud. When putting together a great group of Etsy features, I just had to include this excellent pampering shop!

Sun Kissed Bud was created by Ayelet, a former chef from NYC. Ayelet started to notice that she wasn't feeling right. her eyes felt very tired, her legs were weak and heavy, she could barely walk up stairs. She started to have double vision in the mornings, even once walking right into a tree. She went to a few different doctors to discuss her concerns & her symptoms, but they blamed it on her hard work and her gym workout routine. Finally she went to a fourth doctor and told them she would not leave him alone until he figured out what was wrong with her. After that, she was finally diagnosed with Mayasthenya Gravis.

Her immune system got so bad she couldn't fight colds, and her skin became very sensitive & she had rashes & allergies. She decided to do some research on remedies and became interested in natural skin care. Eventually she left the restaurant world and starting making more lotions, soaps, and creams. Her family and friends urged her to share her products with the world, and Ayelet stumbled upon Etsy by a fluke. Since then Ayelet's health has improved. She had her thymus gland removed, and is taking medication for her muscles. She tells me that she is taking 1/2 the medications she used to and is working out and feeling stronger than ever! Ayelet's story is so inspiring! Instead of just giving up, she used her health situation to better herself and make a new and exciting living in the process. She is so dedicated and strong, learning her story makes me proud to support her shop!

Ayelet loves to create and loves to listen to her customers ideas. Through their needs, they inspire her to keep growing. At Sun Kissed Bud, you will find a huge selection of affordable bath & body products, and all are made with only natural ingredients. Some of the things you will find are:

• Lip Balms
• Dead Sea Salts
• Bath & Shower Body Wash
• Lotion Souffle Creams
• Handmade Artisan Soaps
• Foaming Shower Mousses
• Natural Vegan Deodorants
• Natural Facial Products
• Gift Sets available

Through the months I have been able to try many of Ayelet's products, and have loved each and every of one them! This time I was sent 2 samples, the first being her Vintage Berry Wine Soap. It is incredible!! It has definitely become my new favorite bar soap scent! The soap is made with pomegranate juice, strawberries, pineapples, and a touch of vanilla. I love how the scents are soft and don't overpower you, but are still sweet enough to smell on your skin after use.

This is the New Lick Me Sweet Decadent Whipped Body Souffle! It has hints of Red Raspberry, watermelon, cantaloupe, Violet, grapefruit, and kumquat. I was able to sample this Souffle, and it is divine! The scents make me feel like I am on a tropical island, taking in the sweet scents of tropical fruit. It is so soft and creamy, and makes your skin feel nourished and refreshed. The scent pleasantly lingered on my skin the entire day!

DISCOUNT: Ayelet would like to offer all of my readers a 25% discount on all of her products (excludes soap stacks & gift sets) when using the code Decadent Souffle 09 when checking out. Also you can sign up for her newsletter HERE to receive special offers & coupon codes!

GIVEAWAY: Ayelet is generously offering one lucky reader her New Lick Me sweet Decadent Whipped Body Souffle! (pictured above)

TO ENTER: Please visit Sun Kissed Bud and look around at her wonderful selection of bath & body products. Then come back and leave me a comment with your favorite item!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for every entry you complete!

1. Sign up for the Sun Kissed Bud newsletter (upper right corner)
2. Follow my blog
3. Subscribe
4. Add my Button
5. Tweet this giveaway
6. Follow me on twitter
7. Blog about this giveaway

Please be sure there is a way to contact you - if you enter as Anonymous or have a private profile, be sure to leave an email address in your comment so I have a way to contact you if you win :)

Contest is open to US Residents only. Contest will end on March 3rd at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be emailed and announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Winner of See Kai Run or Smaller Shoes!

We have a winner for the See Kai Run giveaway!! This lucky winner will get their choice of any pair of shoes from the See Kai Run or Smaller line!


From Random.org...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:38
Timestamp: 2009-02-22 16:22:59 UTC

Congrats to #38....Kristine!! Kristine I am contacting you today, please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize :)

Thanks to everyone that entered and to See Kai Run for sponsoring this great review & giveaway opportunity! Everyone be sure to check out their site for the latest Spring styles!

A Great Reason To Watch the Academy Awards on Sunday

I would probably watch it anyway on & off. But I have heard that Ron Pattinson will be presenting an award. *fingers crossed*

I probably don't have to tell you this, but Rob is reason enough to tune in on Sunday. And for those of you who have no idea who he is...I will tell you :) He plays Edward in Twilight...and here is a little eye candy for you. You are welcome ;)

See what I mean? Unfortunately I have NO idea what time he'll be on, which means I'll be tuning in the entire night. If he hasn't presented by my daughter's bedtime, I may let her stay up a little late LOL. I am also a little nervous for him, he is kind of awkward at interviews & stuff, so I hope he does well. Really all he has to do is stand there, brooding away. He doesn't have to say a word....

Okay one more

Odds & Ends

None of these things are worthy of their own post, but together make up a good mix of daily life. So here are a few random things I feel like writing about right now...

Today my daughter counted to 10 on her own. She has known all the numbers for awhile but usually will mix them up randomly or likes to say them right along with you. But today she said it perfectly, completely on her own. I was very proud!

Yesterday we did another library story time. We both enjoyed it, although I will admit I was slightly surprised when my overly friendly daughter went up to 2 different girls and hugged them right away. But that's not the funny part...she also kissed them. Probably on the face, she was kinda blocking my view of the other kids head. In my head I was thinking"Oh my God she is kissing the children on the lips!!!" LOL!! Leave it to my kid to be the kisser & hugger. Please tell me other kids do this sometimes? I don't do daycare, I have no idea if this is the norm. I have heard of kids having hitting problems, not kissing & hugging problems LOL! That's one way to make friends...

I will also admit I felt a little left out of the group...it seems like they all knew each other or were talking and getting to know each other. No one really talked to me much, unless they were smiling or laughing at my social butterfly daughter. I don't know what my deal is, my husband says I give off unapproachable vibes. But I am just shy sometimes I guess. Need to work on that for next story time.

TMI AHEAD...We have been having some constipation problems with my daughter. yesterday was one of the worst days she has ever had, crying & screaming in pain. It was horrible to see her struggling so much and so afraid to go potty. I called the doctor, and he recommended a glycerin suppository which we used. It worked right away, only took 5 minutes! I wish I had that earlier when she was trying to go for an hour! He also wants her to take Miralax once daily until her 2 year checkup in April. i think that seems like a longtime to keep her on medicine, i tend to not like that sort of thing. But I gave it to her today in her milk, and she drank it with no problems. I really hope it works, I don't ever want to see her in that much pain ever again.

And I think my scale is broken. I haven't gained weight, but I feel like I have. I look like i have . Whats the deal?

Lastly, will somebody please tell my husband that it is not polite to cook bacon while I am nearby and working out? It is torture, I swear. I was crying inside ;) I even took a bite, I mean who can resist bacon? Not me!! And the fast food runs should be done in secret too. It's getting harder to say no to these things, I mean I am only human.

So that's all for my ramblings. i will be posting another Etsy giveaway today sometime, my last one for the month. I need to have some time to pack & move next week, so those giveaways will take us to the end of February. So go enter all of them & support those Etsy shops!

~Boutique Sophia~Etsy Review & Giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***


So many little girls love to play dress up, and my daughter is no exception. One of her favorite things to wear is a tutu! Tutu's are the ultimate princess accessory and make little girls feel so special and magical. When she was a year old, she wore a tutu for her birthday party, and I will be doing that again this year when she turns 2 in April. This year she will be wearing a gorgeous tutu from an Etsy shop called Boutique Sophia!

Boutique Sophia was started by Christy, a mother of one boy and one little girl, and a former school teacher. After having her daughter, some questions arose about her daughter's hearing. Wanting to dedicate all of her time to her daughter, she took a year off work. The hearing issue resolved itself, but Christy found herself struggling with the notion of going back to work. She realized how many day to day things she had missed out on with her son, and didn't want to do the same with her daughter. So she and her husband agreed that she would leave her job and be a stay at home mom.

Of course, like many single income families, there was the concern of extra money. One of her friends knew Christy's concerns, and also knew how crafty Christy was. She told her all about Etsy, and even got her started with lots of instructions on how to make little girl's accessories! She immediately fell in love with tutus! She started off making them for her daughter, then for her nieces to wear to dance class. After she got more experience she decided to sell them on Etsy! And I am so glad she did! In addition to tutus she sells hair clip holders, and some paper crafting items. She is also working on making some boy related products, to give her son a little attention too :) Everyone knows how fun it is to dress up little girls, but boys can get left out in this area. I think it's a great idea to expand for all of the little boys out there!

I was fortunate enough to receive a tutu for my daughter from Boutique Sophia, and I absolutely love it! The colors are so beautiful and there are many to choose from on her site. The fit was very comfortable and the craftsmanship was flawless. I was very impressed with the quality of the tutu. The waist band was also stretchy so it will grow with her for years to come. Another thing I noticed was how FULL the tutu was! It was so fluffy and big, just beautiful! My daughter of course flipped when she saw it!! We immediately put it on her and she started twirling like a little ballerina! I can definitely see children wearing these at birthday parties, dance class, or playing dress up! It would make such a beautiful photo outfit as well - if you are having professional photos taken of your little girl there is nothing cuter than a tutu! Here is my daughter doing her 'ballerina' impression :)

Boutique Sophia's prices are also very affordable. That's one of the things that caught my eye, the styles and colors are gorgeous, but you won't pay an arm and a leg for them.

Each tutu is made after your order is placed. You can choose any color combination you'd like, and Christy loves to put new colors together and see the wonderful outcomes. The sizes can be used according to her size chart, or customized for your child at no additional cost. And like I mentioned, the way the tulle is tied makes the tutu very full! You can also add embellishments such as flowers, rhinestones, bows, and ribbons to complete your customized tutu.

Another thing I love is that she will make a tutu for your daughter along with a matching tutu for their favorite stuffed animal! How cute is that? We have a bear right now that is wearing an old tutu, so I know this is a lot fun for kids!

Overall I was very pleased with Boutique Sophia. Not only is Christy very talented, but she is also super friendly and would be great with answering any questions you have on your order.

GIVEAWAY: Christy would like to offer one of my lucky readers their very own tutu from Boutique Sophia (pictured above)! This tutu is sized to fit approximately a 1-4 year old girl and will be at different lengths depending on the child's height. Isn't it gorgeous!!!

TO ENTER: Please visit Boutique Sophia and take a look around! then come back and tell me what you liked from her shop!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway
4. Add my Button
5. Blog about this (link to Boutique Sophia)

Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. If you enter as Anonymous or if your Profile is private, just leave an email address so I can reach you if you win! Thanks!

Contest is open to US Residents only. Contest will end on MARCH 7TH at 10pm CST. Winner will be emailed and announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner will have 72 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.

Thank you so much to Boutique Sophia for this lovely review & giveaway opportunity. I know your tutu will bring joy to my daughter for years to come!

Winner of Bisro Box!

We have a winner of the Bistro Box! The lucky winner will get their choice of a Baby or Toddler Bistro Box, which will help answer all of those food & nutrition questions we all have had!

From random.org

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:18
Timestamp: 2009-02-20 04:28:06 UTC

Congrats to #18...Aaren! Aaren I have sent an email for your mailing info! Thanks for entering!

Thanks to everyone that entered & to Baby Bistro Brands for this great giveaway & review opportunity. I have gotten so many great ideas from your Toddler box, and have a feeling it will continue to come in handy the next couple of years!

Rainbow Swirlz~~~Etsy Shop Review & Giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***



I am a comfy tee shirt kind of girl. But I still like to be stylish and keep them pretty & chic! While looking at different tee shirts on Etsy, I discovered Rainbow Swirlz. The shop is owned by Mendy, a mom of one little girl. She sells an assortment of tees, totes, scarves, messenger bags, and aprons that have the most unique and hip designs ever!

Mendy has had her shop on Etsy since 2005, and started off by selling mostly totes and earrings. She told me she has always had a thing for screenprinting, and really starting getting into that field more in 2007. Free time is sparse for Mendy, and most of her days consist of screenprinting, packaging, receipts, responding to Etsy convos, filling wholesale orders & consignment shops, and of course spending time with her daughter and husband. Whew!! She is one busy Mama! She also is helping her Dad and Brother with their new business and started her own blog in February.

In the future Mendy tells me she would love to open her own boutique in the city, and sell her own line & some other goodies too. In addition to that, she would like to have a shop in her hometown to do all of her custom orders & do all of her screennprinting for her boutique. I fully believe she can do it all! Her shop is amazing and her designs are edgy and unique, definitely what people are looking for!

Here are a couple of my favorite items from Rainbow Swirlz. This is the Bamboo Alternative Long Sleeve VNeck Shirt - looks so comfortable and I love the Bamboo design!

And here is an adorable Owl T Shirt that comes in many different colors including white, Gold, and Red!

Mendy sells a great selection of tote bags that can be used as a purse, diaper bag, grocery bag, or a bag to bring to the library that will carry your books for you. The possibilities for these bags are endless!

GIVEAWAY: Mendy has very generously offered one lucky reader a Tote Bag of their choice from Rainbow Swirlz!

TO ENTER: Visit Rainbow Swirlz and look around a little! Come back and leave a comment with your favorite item from the shop!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete.

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway
4. Blog about it
5. Add my Button

Contest is open to US Residents only. Contest will end on February 28th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen from random.org and will be emailed & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Gnomeclothes ~ Etsy Review & Giveaway!!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

I have long given up on using products like paper towels, plastic bags, and produce bags. Instead I use cloth napkins, reusable cloth bags or containers for lunches and snacks, and cloth totes for grocery shopping. I feel like it is a small way I can do my part to help the environment. Think of all of the baggies that get wasted everyday...and how many napkins and paper towels your family goes through in a year. Not only does the Planet benefit from using cloth, but so does your wallet. I now smile to myself when I go by the paper towels, knowing that I am saving in more ways than one.

I have been looking for an Etsy shop that sells affordable cloth products to use in my home, and was thrilled when I stumbled upon Gnomeclothes! Gnomeclothes is an is an Etsy shop & website that is perfect for those families who are ready to make those small changes and use cloth instead of paper or plastic. The designs are functional, practical, and fun! Michelle is a mother of two girls, and in addition to making cloth bags/napkins, she has an adorable line of children's clothing as well! She is skilled in many areas and it shows through her great selection of work!

I was able to review an assortment of products from Gnomeclothes, including the Cloth Sandwich Wrap, Cloth Baggie, Cloth Snack Bag with a velcro closure and a handle and a Set of 4 Cloth Napkins. This was a perfect mix of great items to get our family started on. The designs are very unique and she has a huge selection of fabrics. Some would be great for children's lunchboxes, and others would be perfect for my husbands work lunches. There is a design for everyone's tastes. The cloth napkins have been put to good use, and I feel so much better about using them rather than paper towels. When I am done with them I just toss them in the washer with the rest of my laundry! Super easy and they come out even softer after being washed & dried.

My other favorite (which I now use everyday!) is the Cloth Snack Bag with the velcro closure & handle. I LOVE that bag! Because I have a toddler, I never leave the house without a snack or two in my bag. This keeps the snacks together and keeps them from getting mashed on the bottom of my purse. The velcro keeps everything in there nice and secure. These bags can replace your plastic baggies and are so easy to wash & reuse over and over!

Gnomeclothes also keeps their prices very affordable. This 4 piece set of cloth napkins is only $3.96!

Here is a colorful all cotton Snack Bag in Dragon Scales for only $6.30!! These bags can be used in so many different ways! You could put makeup in them, pencils, money, cell phone, puzzle pieces. They are so versatile and stylish! I cannot wait to build up a stash of these products - the quality is great, the price is right, and the benefits of using cloth is so important to the Planet (and your wallet!)

GIVEAWAY: Gnomeclothes has very generously offered one lucky winner this set of cloth products (pictured above!) which includes:

1- Cloth Sandwich Wrap (organic)

1- Cloth Baggie- for sandwiches or snacks

1- Cloth Snack Bag with a velcro closure and a handle

1- Set of 4 Cloth Napkins

This would be a great way to get your family headed in the right direction in being environmentally friendly and saving money on all of the paper products!

TO ENTER: Please visit Gnomeclothes and take a look around! Then come back and leave a comment telling me your favorite product or item!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every additional entry you complete

1. Tell me how you would use your cloth bags! What would you put in it?
2. Follow my Blog
3. Subscribe
4. Tweet this giveaway
5. Blog about this giveaway (link to Gnomeclothes)
6. Add my Button

Contest will end on 3/7 at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org and will be announced here as well as emailed. Contest is open to US Residents only. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Please leave an email address or have one available in your profile so that I have a way to contact you if you win.

Thank you so much to Gnomeclothes for a great review & giveaway opportunity! Your products are so useful and well made, and are being put to good use!

I think I am feeling just a little overwhelmed. We are moving at the end of the month and I am stressing about the entire process. Just looking around my house right now, I have NO IDEA how we are going to get everything into a box to be packed. There is too much STUFF. I cleaned out my closet last night, and there is still way too much junk. The place we are moving has smaller closets, so I have no idea where it's all going to go. Aaaahhh! I hate moving :(

I think that stress is affecting my dieting abilities lol! I kind of want to eat everything I see...it's not good. I have no idea where all of my self control went, but I am determined to find it! Valentine's day didn't help, either did being sick on Friday. I didn't work out much the last 5 days, and I need to get back into the routine.

And I turn 25 next week. Yes, 25 may not seem old but it's kind of a big deal to me. Halfway through my 20's. Eeek. I don't know where the last year went, it seems like I JUST turned 24. I have no idea why, but my birthdays always get me a little down. Weird huh? I don't know what it is about them, but usually I feel a little out of it around my birthday. So add to that moving, and some other personal issues, and you have one stressed mama.

Now where are those Doritos..... ;)

Winner of Pretty Baby Boutique

Good Morning!

My first Etsy giveaway ended last night and I have a lucky winner! The winner will recieve an item of their choice from Pretty Baby Boutique, a shop that sells the cutest accessories for little girls!

From Random.org

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:22
Timestamp: 2009-02-17 16:03:22 UTC

Congrats to #22....Baba (Deborah)!!! Deborah I have emailed you - please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize!!

Thanks to everyone that entered! Thanks also to Summer from Pretty baby Boutique for offering this great review & giveaway opportunity! Your items have quickly become a favorite in our household and I wish your shop lots of success!

Coco Bonbons ~ Review & Giveaway ~ 2 Winners

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

Finding fun, bright, and original clothing for children can sometimes be a challenge. A lot of the stores selections look the same and can get a little dull. That's why I was really excited to find Coco Bonbons, a fun, creative clothing line for children that is completely unique! The first line came out in Fall of 2006 and was started by Coco Kyriopoulos, mom of 2. The designs feature some of children's favorite things, like penguins, trucks, robots, and kitties and make wearing these clothes so much fun for kids. In fact, each line of clothing is named after a child in Coco's life, drawing inspiration from their favorite things!

CocoBonbons just introduced their Spring Line on their website, and are taking requests to pre-order these designs. I was so excited when I looked through their new designs!! I loved the Fall line, and I REALLY love the Spring line! These are patterns you won't see anywhere else, but are ones that children and adults will love! Here are a few of my favorites from the new Spring Line!

This is the Hallie (Owl) Bubble! There is nothing sweeter than Bubble suits in the spring & summer! Any little girl would look so sweet wearing this -I love the delicate flowers and of course Owls are adorable! Check out this raincoat! this is the Phoebe (brown flower) Raincoat - they have other styles available too!

And there is also a great selection for your little boys! the Clark (Golf) T Shirt would be the perfect top for a little boy who likes to golf with his Daddy :)

The Fall Line is still available and Coco Bonbons has some HUGE sales going on right now! This Outerspace Blue Tee is on sale for $7.50!!! Their discounted Fall Line can be accessed from their website under Sweet Deals!

This BonBon Knit Dress is only $10.80 (originally 28.00)! I know I could get many uses out of this dress as it can get cooler into May in my state. And check out the sweet candy design!

Coco Bonbons sent me an adorable set from the Paper Dolls Line for my daughter. Everything fit perfectly and was very comfortable for her to wear! The material was very sturdy, and I can tell that it will last through many months of play and won't wear thin. I love how original the clothes are, and the pastel colors are sweet & lovely on her. I was super impressed with our clothing from Coco Bonbons and am really excited with the new Spring Line as well!

GIVEAWAY: Coco Bonbons would like to offer 2 lucky winners each an outfit - one for a little girl and one for a little boy!

TO ENTER: Visit Coco Bonbons and take a look at their adorable selection of clothing! Then come back and leave a comment telling me which item was your favorite! Also please tell me if you would like the BOYS outfit or the GIRLS outfit. Both of these things must be done to qualify :)

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete!

1. Follow my blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Button
4. Blog about this giveaway with links here & to Coco Bonbons
5. Add my Button

Contest is open to US Residents only. Contest closes February 26th at 10PM CST. Winners will be chosen using random.org and will be emailed and announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thank you so much to Coco Bonbons for this great review & giveaway opportunity!

~~~Medibag 4 Kidz Winner~~~

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day! I hopefully will be getting more posts up later today when I feel a little better, but for now here is the winner of the Medibag 4 Kidz! From Random.org...


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:62
Timestamp: 2009-02-15 17:02:14 UTC

#62...Congrats to Kim! Kim I have emailed you - please respond within 72 hours!

Thanks to everyone that entered! And thank you to Me4Kidz for sponsoring this great review & giveaway opportunity. It was a pleasure to feature a wonderful company that gives back to their community and offers such useful products!

Yesterday I took my daughter to our local library for Storytime! It was the first time we have ever done something like that, and we both really needed it. She had a lot of fun seeing the other kids, and was her usual social, sweet self. We read stories & did little games & songs. I learned some new material to use at home too :)

After the library we went shopping for a Valentine's day gift for my hubby ( just a card & some candy..he doesn't read my blog unless I make him so no spoilers!) She was really good in the store - no fussing at all! Maybe that's because i let her hold onto a little teddy bear the whole time...I am not above that to prevent a meltdown. But she set it down next to her later and forgot about it, so I ditched it when she wasn't looking. Yeah kinda mean but she has too many stuffed animals as it is.

Then we went to my mom's and had a nice long visit with Grandma! She got to see her puppies, and her kitty. She learned the kitty's name - Sammy. It was so cute - all day "Hi Sammy!" in her little toddler way. I really must say that her language has taken off again lately- new sentences are popping out of her mouth all the time - and each one is cuter than the last. She does this adorable little phrase - She puts her little pointer finger on her chin....and says..."hmmmmm...let's seeeeee" It cracks me up everytime! I have no idea where she got it. probably from me - I just didn't even realize I was doing it. Just to see a little girl do that out loud thinking is adorable! And she knows it makes me laugh so she does it a lot for me ;)

So we had a great day, and a great night. She only woke up once last night as oppose to 10 times the night before. And she slept until 11am this morning, and so did I. It was wonderful, and truly needed after the previous night we had. I think it's going to be another good day :)

See Kai Run ~ Review & Giveaway ~

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED***

Most women love shoes, and I am no different. However, I love shoes that my daughter can wear way more than my own shoes! One of my favorite companies for children's shoes is See Kai Run! See Kai Run was started in 2004 by a Mom who was inspired by the need for comfortable shoes with flexible soles, and that were sturdy enough for her little boy Kai to run around outside in. She also wanted to create designs that were as hip & fun as her little boy was. She definitely achieved that with her amazing line of shoes! The shoes are made with flexible rubber soles, and butter soft leather. They also have a breathable leather lining, padded collars for comfort, and easy to use velcro closures. If you have ever put shoes on a child, you know how important velcro is. Shoe laces are a no go - and I have struggled many times with not being able to squeeze my daughter's feet into the shoe. The See Kai Run shoes really opened up wide and i was able to easily slip her foot in. This just makes things so much easier when you have so many other things going on when trying to get out the door. No more shoe struggles!

See Kai Run has also contributed hugely to charities. In June 2008, a program called Share a Pair helped donate over 8000 shoes to Soles4Soles and the World Association of Children and Parents. And in the November edition, purchases helped donate 9700 more. Amazing! This helped so many children all around the world, and was truly a blessing for so many families.

Twice a year See Kai Run comes out with brand new designs, and their Spring 2009 Line was just recently launched. The new designs are so fresh & colorful! I had the chance to try out the Clara design, and absolutely adored them! My daughter doesn't wear shoes very much. I think the light up shoe incident turned her off LOL! But when she saw these she was so excited! She immediately wanted to wear them, and doesn't want to take them off! I was so happy because shoes have always been a struggle for us. They are so soft on her feet, and the rubber sole bends comfortably so she can run & play with ease. I love the colors, the pinks are soft & will match will everything. And like I said before, the velcro straps are the BEST. I have no problems getting them on her like I have with other shoes. Overall I was completely impressed with See Kai Run's shoes. Not only is the selection huge, but the structure of the shoes is perfect for our growing children's feet.

GIVEAWAY: See Kai Run has generously offered one lucky reader their choice of any pair of shoes from the See Kai Run OR Smaller line!!

TO ENTER: Simply visit See Kai Run and look around at the great styles of children's shoes! Then come back and tell me what pair you love or what caught your eye!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete :)

1. Sign up for See Kai Run's newsletter HERE (be the 1st to hear about sales, new styles!)
2. Follow my blog
3. Subscribe to my blog
4. Follow me on twitter & tweet this giveaway
5. Blog about it, link here & to See Kai Run
6. Add my Button

Contest is open to US Residents only. Contest will end February 21st at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced here as well as emailed. Winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thank you so much to See Kai Run for this great review & giveaway opportunity! You definitely have fans in our household!

Nana Star Winner!!

Well I am very on top of things tonight aren't I? I was just sitting here bored, and remembered that I get to pick a winner tonight for the Nana Star giveaway! Yay! So here it is from random.org

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:42
Timestamp: 2009-02-11 04:49:33 UTC

So #42 is the lucky winner...Congrats to Leah!! Leah has won her choice of a Nana Star Plush & Book! I will be emailing you here momentarily so make sure to respond within 72 hours!

Thanks to everyone that entered this giveaway! And thank you so much to Nana Star for this review & giveaway opportunity. Nana Star is part of the family now!

Nana Star Giveaway Ends Tonight!

Just a reminder that the Nana Star Giveaway ends tonight at 10pm so hurry and get those entires in! This is for an adorable Plush & Book set from Nana Star!

Pretty Baby Bowtique ~~ Etsy Giveaway & Review

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

I am SUPER excited to bring you this first Etsy Shop feature & giveaway!

Pretty Baby Bowtique is an Etsy Shop run by a stay at home mom named Summer. She is the mother to 2 children, a boy and a girl, and is pregnant with her third child, another girl! She started making pretty hair accessories for her little girl, and then for friends & family. Last year she decided to start an Etsy Shop and her business has really taken off! She even sells her items in several boutiques! She told me that her favorite part of this is being able to offer her products to everyday people at affordable prices. Her work is also a little outlet - which I can certainly understand! Being a stay at home mom is wonderful but can become a little monotonous and having this craft really helps keep her sane :)

Summer sells THE most beautiful little girl's accessories. There are headbands, beautiful flower clips, beanie hats, and hair clips. Each of these are handmade with great skill & care and are truly high quality. I had the chance to try a Beanie hat with a wonderful, large flower clip for my little girl. As soon as I put it on, I about squealed with joy!!! I couldn't believe how sweet it looked on her. The hat fit her great and was completely soft & comfortable for her to wear. It was so girly and precious on her, I really couldn't have been happier. The item looked great on her site, but in person it was even better! I will definitely be adding this hat to all of her special occasion outfits (okay, and pretty much every outfit for every day LOL!) Pretty Baby Bowtique completely surpassed any expectations and made me a huge fan! Summer was also a great pleasure to work with, and I know will be so helpful in answering any questions you have for her.

This is a picture of my little sweetheart wearing the adorable hat from Pretty Baby Bowtique...isn't she a doll! This is the first time I have posted a picture of my daughter on my blog, so it's extra special :)

GIVEAWAY: I have a really special treat for one lucky winner! Summer is offering one reader an item of their choice from Pretty Baby Bowtique!

TO ENTER: Simply visit Pretty Baby Bowtique and take a look around at all of the beautiful accessories! Then come back and leave a comment with your favorite product from her shop!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete!

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Button
4. Follow me on twitter & Tweet this giveaway
5. Blog about it - with links here & to Pretty Baby Boutique
6. If you make a purchase from Pretty Baby Boutique, you will earn 5 extra entries!

Contest is open to US Residents only. Contest will end on February 16th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen from Random.org and will be emailed & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 48 to respond or a new inner will be chosen.

I also wanted to let everyone know that later in the month Pretty Baby Bowtique will be closed for about a week for Summer's maternity leave. So if you visit later & the shop is closed, just wait a few days and it will be back up! Mama needs a little rest :)

Thanks so much to Summer for sponsoring this great review & giveaway. I absolutely LOVE your products and I will cherish them for years to come!

Etsy Features On The Way!

This month I am very excited to be featuring some wonderful Etsy shops on Ladybug Soup. If you haven't ever gone to Etsy, you are seriously missing out! There are tons of items available that are all handmade by talented people all over the world. From clothing to paintings, accessories to paper goods, there is something for everyone on Etsy.

What's also great about it is that you are supporting handmade items made by regular people like you. These are where to find the shops run by stay at home moms, the undiscovered artists, and international wonders. I could literally spend hours looking through Etsy, finding all of the products that people have spent their hard work and time on. Of course, I don't really have hours anymore :) But I have found some really great shops and I am so excited to be able to share them with you here! So get ready for some Etsy reviews & giveaways!

Bistro Box Review & Giveaway

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED***

Like many mothers, I had tons of questions when it came to feeding my daughter. When she was an infant, there were many 'rules' I had heard of that confused me. From introducing rice cereal, holding off on foods that were common allergens, and when to make the switch to whole milk.




When Christina's sister had a baby, she discovered that there was no one single place for moms to go to get all of their nutritional questions answered. Using her background in Nutrition, she created the Baby Bistro Box (ages 0-12 months). This box is a one stop index that is filled with useful, easy to understand information regarding your baby's nutrition. The Baby Bistro Box includes safety rules, shopping tips, recipes, prenatal suggestions, and up to date nutritional facts.

The next step Christina took was to create a box for the next group - the toddlers! I had the chance to try the Toddler Bistro Box (ages 1-3) and I was really impressed! It has everything I need all in a cute, compact box. The sections range from nutrition facts, (yummy!) recipes, food safety, even creative activities. I have really enjoyed reading the 'Starters' section. The many different mind boggling toddler behaviors are touched on in this part of the Bistro Box, and i am glad they are in there! One minute all my daughter wants is cheese. The next day, she won't touch it. Some days it seems like she has barely eaten anything. It has been very helpful to read about tips for setting a positive example for mealtimes, and how to deal with these little moods they get in. I love the fun tips on how to involve your child & make eating fun! The Food Nutrition section was also really helpful for us. It was great to be able to just pull out the card and look at what foods will give her which vitamins. This Toddler Bistro Box will certainly come in handy the next couple of years as she grows up and her needs & my questions will change.

I think these Bistro Boxes are a must have for any mother with young children. The Baby Bistro Box would be a great baby Shower gift for a new mom. I know it would have helped me immensely our first year. The Toddler Bistro Box can help you through all of those questions that are sure to arise as you make your way through those exciting toddler years.

GIVEAWAY:How would you like to win a Bistro Box of your own? Christina has generously offered one lucky reader their choice of a Bistro Box (Baby or Toddler!)

TO ENTER: Please visit Baby Bistro Brands and tell me one section you are interested in learning/reading about!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry you complete!

1. Tell me if you would like the Toddler or Baby Bistro Box
2. Follow my Blog
3. Subscribe
4. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway
5. Add my Button
6. Blog this with link here & to Baby Bistro Brands

Contest is open to US Residents only. Contest will end on February 18th at 10pm Central. Winner will be announced on Ladybug Soup and emailed by me. Winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thank you to baby Bistro Brands for sponsoring this great review & giveaway opportunity!

FLAbuLESS Review

I recently discovered a Shapewear product that controlled & slimmed an area that a lot of women have problems with....the arms! Think about how many times you see products for the tummy, hips, butt. But never for the arms. That's where FLABuLESS comes in!

FLABuLESS is the first ever shapewer that conceals, slims, and re-shapes the arms. It was founded in early 2008 by Lee Ann Stevenson, discovering a void in the shapewear market for arm support. She found that many women felt the same way, and that the only options available were invasive surgeries or choosing an unflattering wardrobe to hide their arms under loose fabrics. So she created the FLABuLESS, which are unique compression sleeves for the everyday woman, from business women to the stay at home moms.

I had the great opportunity to try out the FLABuLESS, and I think it is such an excellent product! It fit perfectly, and I could really tell that my arms were more shapely, and less jiggly. I know a lot of women who work out so much, and yet they still have some of that extra skin going on under their arms. It can be very frustrating to not be able to help that problem spot. This would be the perfect product for so many people who just need some extra arm support & slimming. The FLABuLESS took a moment to put on (like all shapewear I have ever tried!) but once I got it into place, it was comfortable and completely concealed under my clothing. No bulging or seams!

The FLABuLESS is available in 3 different styles. the first two are the Pleine ($29.95) which is a long sleeved option, and the second is the De Quart ($26.95) which is short sleeved. They come in Black and Copper Nude. The third option is the Veston, ($54.95 to $61.95) which is their take on the 'shrug' It is perfect to wear over sleeveless tops, strapless tops, and dresses. It would be great for Weddings or to wear to work! Sizes for the sleeves range from S-4XL and the Veston comes in S-3XL.

Overall I really loved the FLABuLESS and think it is a great way to have some help shaping and supporting your arms. This could give so many women the added confidence of looking good in their clothes and who couldn't use that? I know I can, and for that, I am thankful for FLABuLESS!

Winner of Fairytale Brownies...yummy!!

The Fairytale brownies contest ended last night, and I just got a winner from Random.org! These are the BEST brownies and would make a great Valentine's day gift, and there is still time to order! On to the winner....

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:241
Timestamp: 2009-02-06 16:33:21 UTC

Congrats to Karen S!!

Karen S said...
"The toffee crunch brownie looks wonderful"

Karen I will be emailing you shortly! Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen!

Thanks to everyone that entered this Valentine's giveaway! And thank you to Fairytale Brownies for sponsoring this delicious giveaway!

All day I have had an earache...yes an earache. I don't usually get those, and I am not too happy about it. It's pretty bad though, lots of shooting pains. The left ear hurts, the left side of my throat, and the left side of head feels tingly & painful to the touch. Really weird.

If it still is this bad tomorrow I may go to the doctor, and bring along my daughter to make sure she doesn't have one too. She doesn't have a fever, but didn't want to eat AT ALL today which concerns me. I mean she's always picky, but even her favorite things she refused. Just drank lots of milk. I just hate going to the doctor, especially for double appointments. It takes forever. I really just want her checked out, she is still to young to tell me what is bothering her, so if she had a sore throat or something I feel like I'd never know :(

I think I will just keep an eye on her & play it by ear.

Me4Kidz Review and Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED***

As a mom of a toddler, I have seen my fair share of tumbles, spills, and scrapes. There have been numerous occasions that I have wasted time looking for medicines, creams, or band-aids to patch up my little girl. Accidents like this come with the territory of having children; from the time they crawl, they are so curious & unstable. Not to mention love to get into everything the can!

For all of those moments and so many more, we have Me4Kids. Me4Kidz specializes in first aid - making our job so much easier. Me4Kids is a family owned & operated business . All of their products are made in the US, and all of the plastics they use in their products are certified lead free & and are 100% recycled. Another thing I just learned about Me4Kidz is that they are partnered with non profit organizations to provide work for those that are disabled. This enables those individuals to feel part of their community & raises their self esteem. Special Needs people have a very important place in my heart and I am so happy to support a company that recognizes their importance and tries to make the world a little better for them. 10% of all purchases are given back to the disabled community.

There are many helpful products available from Me4Kidz. I was able to review the Medibag4Kidz which is a complete First Aid Kit. This kit has everything I would need to treat minor injuries, and I am so lucky to have it! I love that it has everything in one centralized location. No more searching for that lost band aid, or realizing that you don't have any burn cream on hand. This Kit makes you prepared and more confident, which will help your child feel reassured. It is a must in any household - especially with children. Here is the list of all of things that are included in your Medibag:

5) Neon Bandages
(1) Gauze Roll
(4) 2 X 2 Gauze Pads
(2) Knee & Elbow Bandages
(4) 3 X 3 Gauze Pads
(10) Junior Bandages
(2) Anti-Itch Ointments
(2) Antibiotic Ointments
(2) Antiseptic Hand Gels
(15) Antiseptic Wipes
(1) Burn Gel
(8) Red Crayon Bandages
(8) Blue Crayon Bandages
(8) Yellow Crayon Bandages
(1) Kid-Friendly Organized Doctor's Bag

(1) Eye Wash
(1) First Aid Flip Chart

(1) Instant Cold Pack
(2) Nitrile Free Blue Exam Gloves

(1) One time use thermometer
(1) Hypoallergenic First-Aid Tape
(1) Blue Kid-Friendly Plastic Tweezers
(10) Application Swabs
(20) Smiley Faced Stickers
(2) Safety Pins
(2) Sting Pads
(1) Bright Colored Emergency Sticker

(1) FREE Mail in offer included (less S&H)

Amazing right? Included are the everyday items, but also the ones you may not already have around like the eyewash, knee & elbow bandages, or the anti itch ointments. I love that a one time use thermometer is also included. If you were traveling out of town, this would be an easy way to be prepared and have everything you need while on the road or at a hotel.

Me4Kids also has a Pet Medibag for your furry friends! Greta to have on hand, this could save a costly trip to the vet for a non-emergency pet problem! Smaller kits are also available, that are the perfect size to throw in your diaper bag or to keep in your glove compartment.

Medibags can be purchased at select stores and purchased at online sites such as Babies R Us and Target for approx 14.99. That's a great deal for all that is included! You even get a mail in coupon for a refill of products with every purchase!

GIVEAWAY: Me4Kidz would like to offer our readers a chance to win a Medibag 4 Kidz of their own!

TO ENTER: Simply visit Me4Kidz and come back and leave a comment with a product or item you are interested in having on hand!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave an additional comment for every extra entry you complete!

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my button
4. Blog about this giveaway with links here & to Me4Kidz
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway!
   

Contest is open to US Residents only and will end on February 13th at 10pm CST. Winner will benotified by email & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner must respond within 72 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks to Me4Kidz for sponsoring this great giveaway & review opportunity! It is so great to see companies like yours giving back to our communities & truly making a difference in the world!

Giveaway ends tomorrow!

Just a Reminder that the Fairytale Brownies giveaway will end tomorrow! You definitely will want to get your entries in for this delicious Valentine's Giveaway!

Pound for Pound Challenge

Do you watch the Biggest Loser? I have seen it only a few times, but actually have become more interested this season because I am trying to lose weight. There was one episode that had me crying! I just felt so bad for the person that got kicked off! But at the end of the episode they showed an update and he looked so great! He stuck with his program and lost a lot of weight - so that made me feel a ton better. From the Biggest Loser comes the Pound for pound Challenge. This is a really great program that anyone can sign up for & participate in. You log in, and make a pledge with your weight loss goals. For every pound that you lose, General Mills will donate 10 cents to Feeding America. This may not sound like a lot, but it is enough to secure & deliver one pound of groceries to participating food banks (there are over 200 that are connected with feeding America). General Mills has promised a minimum of 1 million dollars in donations, in an event that not enough pounds are lost. But I really think that people will step up to the challenge! I love that you can help someone in need, while also making yourself healthier in the process.

After you pledge, it's up to you to work to deliver results. To log your results, you are to return to the site between the dates of April 1st - May 5th for the Final Weigh In. So you still have plenty of time to lose some weight & help this great cause! The earliest date you can use for your beginning weight loss day is December 15th, 2008. I actually know the day I started in January, so I used that. The total results will be announced on the Season Finale of The Biggest Loser which airs on May 12th. I am excited to see how many pounds Americans have lost for this Pound for Pound Challenge!

Another way you can help is to check your food labels for the Pound for pound Challenge lid or label seal. If you mail these in, they will also donate 10 cents to Feeding America! So check your cupboards for participating companies like Cheerios, Cascadian Farms, Fiber One, Green Giant, Yoplait, Bisquick, and total. Click HERE for more details.

Winner of hat from Pedoodles!

Good morning!

I have a winner for the Hat from Pedoodles! From random.org...here it is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

61

Timestamp: 2009-02-03 16:10:26 UTC

That is #61---Ellybean!!! Congrats!! I have emailed you, so please respond within 72 hours!

Thanks so much to everyone that entered this giveaway! And thanks to Pedoodles for the great review opportunity!

The strangest, but cutest thing happened to me last night.

A quick background - my daughter likes to wake up at night. A lot. For a few nights in a row she was waking me maybe 6 times a night. Crying, screaming for me. So I'd go in & get her back to sleep because it was easier than listening to her cry. But after the third night, I was beat & needed some sleep! So I was going to do a little CIO, just wait a few minutes, go in & comfort without picking her up, then leave. Wait & repeat it again. The first night she was pretty upset when i went in & wouldn't pick her up. She cried a few minutes but then slept the rest of the night.

So last night she wakes up at about 12:30 crying & yelling Mama. Normally I go in & have to pick her up & nurse her, or the screaming will get worse. I go in, and she is reaching for me. I gave her a hug and whispered gently to her.

"Do you need a hug baby? Mama is always here when you need her okay? But it's bedtime now and you need to lay down and go to sleep okay?"

Her response? "Okay. Bye."

Ummmmmm.....I was shocked!! This is a girl who flips out when I won't hold her if I come in at night. She still nurses so for her to just understand that she needed to sleep & she wasn't going to nurse was HUGE!

Then I said "Okay, lay down & I will tuck you in"

So she lays down completely on her own. I tuck her in, give her her teddy bear, and tell her goodnight & that I love her. She said bye again & I walked out the door with my mouth hanging open!

It was a great step for her to be able to just lay back down without nursing. Hopefully these steps will make it easier to wean her in the next few months. When I layed back down in bed & told my husband what had happened, we both talked in amazement on how our little girl has grown up so much. She is using more sentences now and just understands so many things. She never fails to amaze us everyday with how much she is capable of. In a way it makes me sad that my baby is getting older, and isn't quite a baby anymore. But I am also so excited for what the future holds for her.

Nana Star Review & Giveaway

Nana Star is a beautifully written series that follows the adventures of a little girl named Nana Star. The first book in the Series called Nana Star follows her as she sets out to help a little Star find his way back home. She starts her day as a regular little girl, then suddenly has a great and magical adventure ahead of her. The second book in the series is called Nana Star and the Moonman and continues the story of the lost baby star. But this time, she is on her way to the heavens and the world becomes to dark as everyone has gone to bed. At first she feels alone and scared, but then a new friend named Moonman promises to watch over her, even when she can't see him. This second book is especially great for children who have felt lonely, or are afraid of being alone at night. The message is powerful yet easy enough for little readers to understand. The third book will be available this Spring and is called Nana Star and the Blue Wolf. I am so excited to read this third book in the series and see how their adventure continues!

Each of these books is uniquely illustrated with soft colors, and wonderful characters. The stories instill old fashioned values into our children that unfortunately get forgotten in today's toys & books. Nana Star is generous, caring, brave, and selfless. The books also come with a CD of the story and music so children can listen and follow along with the words in the book, or even listen to the story in the car.

Also available are the adorable plush characters straight from the beloved books. Now children will have a new way to connect with the characters they meet, and can follow along in a whole new interactive way. We received both books, and the Nana Star doll and the Moonman doll. I must say that the plush toys were a huge hit with my daughter. The little doll is so dear and sweet. She has bendable legs to mold to your child's imaginations. She will instantly become your daughter's best friend! The Moonman is soft and has such a caring, kind face. He lights up in a soft glow, and plays a little lullaby tune when squeezed. I think this would be a great thing to have for the little one's that may want t security toy at night. If they are afraid and alone, they can press the Moonman and have a little nightlight and lullaby. My daughter loves them both so much and has so much fun with them. She also loves to cozy up to her Moonman & sway to his soothing song!

Another great thing about this family owned company is that they donate a portion of their proceeds to their Nana Star Foundation. This is dedicated to helping make life easier for children attending under-resourced, inner-city schools and for terminally ill children. It is so important to purchase from companies that are making a difference in the world, and Nana Star is one of those companies. In addition to this foundation, they also donate their books & toys to schools, libraries, and hospitals throughout the country and around the world.

February is also their Laugh Friendly Month which promotes a positive attitude, and laughter! To help spread awareness for their foundation, they have started Button for a Buck! Now when you donate $1.00 to their Nana Star Foundation you will receive a 3 inch button that lets everyone around you (grumpy coworkers anyone?) know that YOU are laugh friendly! This is an easy way to donate to a wonderful cause! Click HERE to visit their laugh friendly site and to donate to their deserving foundation!


DISCOUNT: To celebrate Laugh Friendly Month, Nana Star is offering everyone a 10% discount on all of their products! Just enter LF2009 when checking out!

GIVEAWAY: Nana Star has generously offered one of readers their choice of book & plush character from their site! Now your child will learn the story of Nana Star and snuggle a beloved character in their arms!

TO ENTER: Visit Nana Star and tell me something you liked or learned about the site! It can be anything from an award they won, to a kids activity you liked.

EXTRA ENTRIES: In honor of Laugh Friendly Month I am offering an extra entry for telling me what makes you laugh!! Easy & fun!

Additional extra entries if you:

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Button
4. Blog about this giveaway
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet about it!
6. Donate to Nana Star Foundation for 5 extra entries!

Remember to leave an additional comment for each extra entry you complete! Contest is open to US Residents & Canadian Residents.

Contest will end on February 10th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen from Random.org and announced here on my blog, as well as emailed.
Please leave an email address if you enter as Anonymous or if you don't have it public in your profile. Thanks!

Thanks to Nana Star for this great review & giveaway opportunity! Your characters are truly enjoyed by the whole family!