~Hair Sprinkles Review And Giveaway~

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

One of the wonderful things about having a little girl is getting to buy all of those cute hair accessories! Since Day 1 my daughter has had a ton of hair. Now that she is almost two, it's getting pretty long! She has such pretty curls in the back, so we are letting it grow out. Her bangs however, are another story. We trim them, but it seems like they grow SO FAST! I like to use a hair clip to keep them out of her eyes and show off her pretty little face.

When I was looking through Etsy for little girl's hair clips, I found a site called Hair Sprinkles. I completely fell in love with her style! Hair Sprinkles is owned by Kim, a stay at home mother of three. She has one boy (age 4) and two girls (ages 2 &1). Her husband is in the U.S. Coast Guard and currently they are stationed in Texas. At the end of May, however, she will be moving to Alaska!

Kim started making Hair Sprinkles shortly after her daughter Ava was born. She began to get a lot of requests from friends and family that wanted to have their own Hair Sprinkles (and I can see why, they are adorable!!) In February 2008 Kim decided to open up a shop on Etsy. She tells me that her 2 little girls Ava and Lainey are her inspiration behind all of her creations, and she is loving every minute of it! She also tells me that she loves to see her customers so thrilled to have her sweet hair clips to use on their own children!

Kim sent me my own Hair Sprinkle to try out of my little girl. It was hard to choose just one, because honestly I love them all! I decided on the Rosie Posie (pictured above) because I think my girl looks great in red :) The hair clip was sent in a pretty little gift bag, and when I took it out I was so pleased! It was even cuter in person! My daughter immediately asked to wear the 'fowa' so I put it right in her hair! The clip is so well made, it is flawless. The colors really popped against her hair color, and added the perfect touch to her outfit! Here is a picture of her wearing her Rosie Posie Hair Sprinkle! (it works many different ways as you can see!)

These clips are very affordable - most are only 4.00! And since they are handmade with care they will really last and hold up over time. Hair Sprinkles are made with felt and are put together after your order is placed. Kim will even create a custom order for you if you have specific color combination in mind! There are tons of different color combinations - so you can get them to match with every outfit! There are pinks, greens, yellows, blues, purples, browns, reds, and whites! There are so many fun possibilities at Hair Sprinkles!

I was SO impressed with Hair Sprinkles, and I honestly cannot wait to go back and get more! These will look so pretty on holidays with a dress, and also in the Spring & Summer with little pigtails in or to help keep her hair out of her face while she plays outside! I love that there are so many ways to wear the clips too! Maybe the best thing about ordering Hair Sprinkles is the customer service - Kim was so nice and friendly. I know she would be so helpful with any questions you had for her!

GIVEAWAY: Kim has very generously offered a beautiful assortment of 3 Hair Sprinkles for one lucky reader! (pictured above!)

Set includes the

Hot Pink and Brown Pretty Posie

Rachel Posie

Posie Bloom in Shocking Pink

TO ENTER: Please visit Hair Sprinkles and take a look at the beautiful assortment of hair accessories! Then leave a comment on this post with the name of your favorite style!

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
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this!
6. Make any purchase from Hair Sprinkles and recieve 5 extra entries!

Giveaway will end on April 11th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be notified via email & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. US Residents only.

Please be sure to have an email address somewhere - in your comment or in your Profile. If you win, I need a way to contact you. Thanks!

Thanks for entering & thank you to Hair Sprinkles for a sweet review & giveaway opportunity!

Wordless Wednesday

Thought I would FINALLY join in all the fun Wordless Wednesday brings! And it's not so wordless...sorry ;)


This is me and my daughter at an Aquarium this past weekend.....I am pointing at the Octopus I just spotted at the top of the tank.




Apparently I had never seen an Octopus up close before. It was DISGUSTING!! It seriously looked like an alien creature from another planet LOL! Eeeew just thinking about it is making my gag reflex go LOL! Here's a closer shot of the creature...
Yuck right? That giant mass thing on the lower left side is like he head or something. And his eye that was facing us kept blinking. Jeez I had no idea they looked like that. I feel silly, being 25 and not knowing what a real Octopus looks like!

On a MUCH cuter & sweeter note, here is the Sea Turtle we fell in love with!

He just hung out there and swam...letting us look at him & get lots of pictures. I seriously wanted to hug him, he just looked so peaceful & gentle. Much better than an octopus ;)

Visit 5 Minutes For Mom for more WW Fun!

Pandora...I am totally jamming out right now

Have you been to Pandora? This is such a cool site! It is basically a radio station that only plays songs you like. You set up a free account (super easy) and then put in an artist you want to listen to. Then they play a mix of songs that are from that artist & also a mix of other songs you may like that are similar sounds.

I started with Taylor Swift...and have added 'variety' to my playlist. I have artists like All American Rejects, Blink 182, Poison, and Kelly Clarkson. LOL It's an interesting mix! If they play a song you don't like - you just hit the little 'thumbs down' sign and they won't play it again. It skips it right away too...no waiting like you do on the radio.

But I found you can only skip so many songs an hour (I think it's 10) so if you hit your limit, you're stuck until time passes and you can skip another one. I usually turn it down or try to listen to a song I don't know...actually there are some really fun songs I never knew existed!

Random song time....Don't Take it Personal by Monica. Hmm not really fitting with my selected artists LOL! But hey, I liked it when I was like 12 so I'll listen...

......Okay I'm skipping it. Oh no! I hit my limit LOL! This is like real time blogging..I am digging it. Okay I am embracing this song. Good thing I have my headphones on, hubby's not so big on loud music. And the babe's asleep. My own personal rock concert LOL.

Next is We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister. Too bad I'm not working out right now, it's a good song to jump around to.


Anyways check this site out and create your own station! It's a fun way to pass the time while you blog, clean, or want to dance it out with the kids!

This post has gone off course, lol....

Winner of Ellembee Clothing!

Alright, I have the winner of the Ellembee giveaway! This lucky lady will get their choice of clothing item from Etsy shop Ellembee! There are SO many beautiful pieces to choose from...so here it is!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:156
Timestamp: 2009-03-30 03:37:55 UTC

That's #156....Nelsby! Congrats!!! I have emailed you, you have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks so much to everyone that entered & to everyone that did all of those great extra entries! If you saw something you loved, remember to go back and visit Ellembee to make your purchase! Spring is coming...and these clothes are so stylish!

PIC

~~Frecklebox Review& Giveaway~~Personalized Products!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***


I absolutely adore personalized products for my daughter. However finding those items can be next to impossible. The name we gave her is not exactly common, and our spelling is even more unique. You know those little shops that sell license plate names, cups, key chains, stickers, and pens that all have a name cutely displayed on them? That will never be us. I look at those things longingly...even my own name is spelled in a way that I never got anything personalized when I was a kid.

But there is an awesome company that is changing all of that. Frecklebox is a web based company that specializes in creating unique, fun, personalized children's products that really make the child feel special. They have a huge assortment available like books, puzzles, posters, coloring books, stickers, growth charts, placemats, and journals. ALL of which will be personalized with any name you want!

Frecklebox is unlike any other site I have ever visited. Usually when you place an order to have something personalized, you just type the name in a form and hope it looks okay. You have no idea what the final product will look like when it shows up at your door. But on Frecklebox, you actually get to see, right before your very eyes, the product come to life. You give them a name, and in just a few seconds they place the letters right on the screen. When I first saw it, I was amazed and impressed! I just chose which book I wanted, filled in her name & our personal message we wanted to add, and that was it. Once I saw her name on all of the pages I knew I HAD to have this book! We ended up getting the "My Name Is..." Book so she can start learning how to recognize and spell her own name. We also got the "Color Me..." coloring book...because she's 2 and loves those crayons!!

When the package came in the mail, I was really excited to see how they turned out. They were amazing!! We sat down right away (along with my husband) to read the book to her. She loved that her name was written right into the book! She definitely knows her name and even calls herself by her name (talking in third person lol),so hearing it come up all the time in the book was really fun for her. My husband and I were really impressed with the quality of the images. It looked MADE for her, like someone had sat and illustrated her name right onto the pages. Seeing her name written in the clouds and in the stars was so sweet and special...this is a book that we will cherish for years to come.

Here is the same book we chose for her. Every page is a new way to introduce their name. It uses different nature scenes to display the name such as on sand, clouds, and written out in ladybugs! It is a beautiful book and unlike anything I have ever seen!

Everything from Frecklebox would make amazing gifts. It truly is so much more original than just picking up a toy from the mall. This will impress the children & parents the same! Kids love to see their own name in print and will be thrilled to get the chance to read it over & over (& over & over!) The stickers, coloring books, and placemats also make really great party favors. I can see this princess coloring book being the perfect addition to a princess themed party!

Or how about this book made just for the big sister or big brother? What a great way to make them feel special before getting a new baby in their home! This one is called the "New baby" personalized book!

Another product I LOVE is their Growth Charts! Frecklebox has a great selection of growth charts that are sure to look great in your child's room! My favorite for my daughter would be the Castle And Pony.

Another great thing about Frecklebox is their prices! They keep their products affordable which is so great - especially for moms. Their personalized Stickers are just $3.95 and their Coloring Books are only $6.95! Their books start at just $19.95 and are well worth it. They will last YEARS and are such a special keepsake!

GIVEAWAY: Frecklebox has very generously offered one reader their choice of ANY item from their site! That's right - you can pick whatever you want and get it personalized for someone special!

TO ENTER: Please visit Frecklebox and take a look around! Then come back and leave a comment on your favorite product you found there!

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

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Blog about this Giveaway (link here & to Frecklebox)
4. Add my Button
5. Follow me on twitter & Tweet this giveaway
6. Sign up for the Frecklebox newsletter (right column)

Contest will end on April 8th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen from random.org and will be emailed & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen. Contest is open to US Residents only.

Please remember to have an email address visible in your Profile or leave it in your comment. If you win I will need a way to reach you :)

Thanks for entering! And thank you so much to Frecklebox for this great review & giveaway opportunity!

~~Ellembee Giveaway Ends Tomorrow~~

The giveaway from Etsy shop Ellembee will be ending tomorrow night at 10pm...so get those entries in now!

There are a lot of easy ways to increase your chances of winning too!

The winner will get any clothing item from Ellembee. The clothes are so stylish and with spring coming everyone needs a new wardrobe piece!

Enter HERE! Good luck!!

Finally Have a Camera Again!

We got a new camera last night! I couldn't wait anymore, I was going crazy without one!! I didn't even wait for the weekend. My husband got home from work, and I said "We're going out to get a camera! I can't stand it anymore!!"

I went there wanting either a Nikon Coolpix or a Canon Power Shot. In the end, my husband basically decided he wanted the Nikon...I think he just likes that Brand name best! It seems like a great camera though, and itwas in our price range. I was going to take a picture of it...but remembered that wasn't really possible LOL! So here's a pic from the Nikon Site

I am still learning how to use all of the features. It has some cool ones like a Sports setting that takes multiple pictures really fast to get a lot of action shots - and they aren't blurry! It also has Electronic VR Image Stabilization, Smile Mode & Blink Proof (how absolutely cool are those 2? IDK how it does it lol!)

I think we made a good choice. I was leaning towards the Canon's but like I said, my hubby wanted a Nikon. And honestly I just want something that will capture a great pic - I don't want blurry pics or ones that are too dark. This one has a lot of good features for places with poor lighting, which is my entire house LOL. So I guess its a good fit!

Quick reminder when entering giveaways

The last couple of giveaways I have had a little issue with email addresses...there wasn't any way to contact the winner!

Even if you are not entering as Anonymous, even if you have a name & profile set up with Blogger, you still need to make your email address Public. Otherwise when I click on your name & profile, I don't see any way to contact you.

If you have a blog I will leave a comment that way - but I still prefer an email address.

If you don't have an email address in your comment and you don't have an email address anywhere in your Blogger Profile, I will have to choose another winner. I hate doing that but I NEED a way to contact you directly.

So be sure to double check your Blogger Profile to see if your email is public. Or leave it in the comment.

Thanks so much! I really want you to win...so I hope this helps!

Winner of The Soft Landing Lunch Bag!

Winner will get their choice of the Lefty the Dog or Benny the Tiger Lunch bag!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:88
Timestamp: 2009-03-27 16:42:42 UTC

Congrats to Laura! I have emailed you, please get back to me within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Thanks to everyone that entered this giveaway! Remember to go to The Soft Landing for all of your feeding needs - they make it easy to find safe toxic free products for our kids!

Discount Code for Pedoodles

Pedoodles is offering a discount code to all of their customers! It's good for 30% off and runs until April 6th!

Just enter the code SpringFling at checkout!

You may remember the Pedoodles review & giveaway we had here on Ladybug Soup back in January..they have a great selection of baby & toddler shoes, shirts, and hats! Go check them out & use this code to score some great savings!

Winner of Fatts MaGee Zipper Pouch!

I have the winner of the Zipper Pouch from Fatts MaGee! These are SO cute, fun, and functional - I know the winner will love it!

From Random.org...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:43
Timestamp: 2009-03-26 04:48:25 UTC

That's lucky #43! Congrats to Shel! I will be emailing you shortly, get back to me within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Thanks to everyone that entered! And remember these Pouches are super affordable so if you didn't win you can head over to Fatts MaGee and pick up your favorite design! I know I'll be getting another one soon...mine has been taken over as the place for my daughter to store her crayons ;)

Naptime.....Anyone? No?

Apparently naps are a thing of the past in this house (unless you count my husband...)

My daughter just WILL NOT nap anymore. She gets tired, cranky, closes her eyes, but then sits up. Like ready to play. I neeeeeeed naptime back LOL! That's my shower time, my time to regroup and be energized for the 2nd half of the day.

I am still going to keep trying though. Everyday I'll try. Maybe one day she'll forget she's on strike & accidentally fall asleep :)

Two giveaways ending soon...

Just a quick reminder that the Fatts Magee Zipper Pouch giveaway will end tonight at 10pm so hurry and get those entries in if you haven't!

Also the Lunch Bag giveaway from The Soft Landing will end tomorrow at 10pm CST so you definitely want to get your entries in for that!

SKOY Cloths ~ Three Winners Announced

Here are the three lucky winners of the SKOY Cloths! Each winner will recieve a 4 pack of these great cloths! From Random.org...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
32
41
83
Timestamp: 2009-03-24 15:51:39 UTC

Congrats to these lucky winners!

#32 Tamara B
#41 Amy
#83 cdziuba

I have emailed you all, please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

~~ Mr Bobbles' Blankets Review & Giveaway~~

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

My daughter is turning two next month (eek!) and is getting to be a big girl! Of course I still see her as my baby, but each day she is becoming more of a toddler or 'kid' and is becoming more independent and developing her own little personality.

Now that she is a little older she is needing more big girl items, like a pillow! I really didn't want to use just any pillow, I wanted one that was made especially for toddlers so that it would be just the right size for her crib & someday for her toddler bed. One great company that makes the perfect toddler pillow is Mr Bobbles' Blankets!

Mr Bobbles' Blankets is a mom owned business that is owned & run by Renee, a mother of two boys. It all began when Renee created a blanket '6 pack' for her friend's baby shower. It came complete with a cardboard 6 pack carrier! The gift was a huge hit so Renee made a few more for different friends that were also having babies that year. The ladies loved the generous size of the blankets, the fun patterns, and that they were so soft against their precious baby's skin! After Renee gave birth to her own son, she really got to see just how handy those blankets were, and then created her wonderful burp cloths which are a huge hit as well!

Since having her second son, Renee devotes herself full time to her family & business. She has added a line of washcloths, burp cloths, no slip play yard sheets, waterproof mattress pads, nap mat sheets, super sized blankets, and of course toddler pillows! There are a lot of cute gift sets available that would make wonderful baby shower gifts, birthday gifts, or a gift for a new big brother or sister! These products will last so many years and can become a very special addition to your childs bedtime routine!

Mr Bobbles' Blankets provides a HUGE selection of adorable fabrics! You can have any of these items made in the fabric of your choice! Our toddler pillow came with 2 pillow cases. The Pink Bunny and the Designer Butterfly Swirls. Both are SO cute! When the package arrived I helped my daughter open the box, and she pulled the pillow out herself. When she saw those little bunnies she squealed with delight! She immediately put it on the ground and 'pretended' to take a nap! She knew it was just for her and loved that it was just her size! Since we moved almost a month ago she has had a hard time adjusting to her new room, but I really think having her little pillow with her every night has helped the transition. It gives her a little added comfort and something extra to hug!
Mr Bobbles' Blankets also has a great blog full of useful information for moms, including this Swaddling Technique complete with pictures! I always had trouble swaddling my daughter, I wish I had this tutorial when she was a newborn! There is an important article on When To Use A Toddler Pillow to give parents a general guide to follow and advice on introducing a pillow to your child. Parents are advised to talk to their pediatrician before giving their child a pillow to sleep with at night, just to be sure. And also check out the Top 10 Reasons to Use A Toddler Pillow for all the great ways a pillow can help you & your child. A few main reasons are:

• For kids 2 & up pillows can help during cold/flu season! When you have cold and are stuffy, laying on your back can be so uncomfortable! Older children can get some relief by being slightly elevated at night.
• These pillows are great to send with your child when they go to Grandma's house for an overnight visit! It helps them take a little bit of 'home' along with them & provides comfort!
• Small enough to bring along on trips! Take it on an airplane, or car ride. Traveling will be a little easier if their favorite pillow comes along for the ride!


• These pretty Satin Pillowcases help keep your child's hair tangle free while they sleep! Anyone who has ever had to brush out a little girl's knotted hair will appreciate this!

Renee's Blog also has coupon codes for her customers! She has a lot of good information coming up for moms about babies, toddlers, and preschoolers so you definitely want to subscribe so you don't miss out!

GIVEAWAY: Mr. Bobbles' Blankets would like to offer one lucky reader their choice of either the Supersize Blanket & Toddler Pillow Set OR the Twin Toddler Pillows! You can choose ANY fabric that is in stock!!

TO ENTER: Please visit Mr Bobbles' Blankets and take a look around! The come back and leave a comment with your favorite fabric design!

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

1. Follow My Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Follow on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway (leave the link)
4. Add my Button
5. Blog about this giveaway (link here & to Mr Bobbles Blankets)

Contest will end on April 3rd at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen from Random.org and will be announced here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Contest is open to US Residents only.

Please be sure to have an email address available in your comment or profile so that I have a way to contact you if you win! Thanks for entering & thank you to Renee for a wonderful review opportunity! I know this pillow will become a special comfort for my daughter for years to come!

Visions In Vinyl Review & Giveaway~3 WINNERS~

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

We live in a home that has white walls. Just plain, boring white. Painting is not an option right now, and I really needed a way to spruce up my walls and make them feel more warm and inviting.

After looking into my options, I discovered that Vinyl Wall Art is perfect to decorate your home with. It's removable, can be personalized, and there are so many color choices to match your decor. In my search to find a shop that had a great selection and great prices, I discovered Visions In Vinyl. This shop is run by Heather, a married mom of two boys.

Heather told me that she has always been a very craft person, and tackles things with passion. Vinyl was no exception! When she bought a new house they had 15' ceilings. The staircase needed a hand painted saying that was at least 6' wide and 2' tall! That's when Heather learned about vinyl for walls. It wasn't enough to buy it from someone else, she needed to create it herself! So after some research she bought a vinyl cutter & plotter. She was 8 months pregnant at the time & had an 18 month old as well! So after he went to bed she would go back to the office and create & learn everything she could about the machine and software.

A couple months later the hand painted saying was ready to be put up in the staircase - completely created by her! Heather also works full time job running an overhead crane company and has even included vinyl in that area as well, creating lettering for their trucks and cranes. She tells me that she is very lucky to have found a way to incorporate vinyl into her everyday job, and that she loves what she does!

Heather offers a huge selection of Vinyl Art in her shop. From personalized name designs, to inspirational sayings, with owls, flowers, growth charts, and so much more, she really has something that will fit for every family out there!

The great thing about Vinyl is that it's not permanent...if you are changing the theme of the room you can just remove the vinyl. So much easier than repainting an entire room! Vinyl Art is perfect for nurseries. Just look at this sweet Spotted Whale Personalized Art for a new baby's room!

Or how about this 321 Blast Off Rocket Ship for your little boys room? It is so adorable!

Visions In Vinyl offers a huge variety of colors and text styles. The possible creations are endless! Heather also will work with you on the size of the art and will even send you a few color samples if you need to have them in person to match things perfectly.

In our daughter's room we have the Ladybug Daisy Vinyl Wall Art and the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Vinyl Art. I am absolutely in LOVE with them both!! The Ladybug & Daisy is personalized with her name and I think it is so sweet to see her name above her crib! It's so pretty & girly!
The Twinkle Twinkle Art is SO cool! The saying is really sweet and there are a lot of stars included...we spread them out along her wall and it fills it up so well. For all that came with that set it is incredibly affordable at only $12.00! And of course I got to pick the colors for the text, stars, ladybug/flower & name. It was a lot of fun to create something special for my daughter's room! No more bare white walls....you walk in and feel the fun & warmth from the decorations on her walls. I think the selection at Visions In Vinyl would be be perfect in so many other rooms in our house too!
This Vinyl Art would be perfect for literally any room in your house. I could see them going well in our kitchen, living room, bedroom, and entryway. There are so many ways to improve your home decor and add a little something extra to your rooms!




The Vinyl comes with complete & thorough directions so that you can use them properly and get a great result on your walls. They are easy to follow too! My husband was the one who actually put them up (he's taller and just better at that stuff haha!) And he didn't have any trouble at all! He said it was very easy to apply and it all went very smoothly. We are both thrilled with the look. When you walk in the room it actually looks painted on!

Overall I was thrilled with the results of our art from Visions In Vinyl. It really looks professional! Heather keeps her prices very affordable too, so you don't have to spend a fortune to get this classic look in your home. She is also very friendly and so easy to work with! If you have something in mind for her to create, just let her know and she can work with you to make something perfect for your family!

GIVEAWAY: Visions In Vinyl would like to offer 3 Lucky Winners their choice of any Vinyl Art from her shop up to a $20.00 value! She will even create something personal for you if you have something in mind!

TO ENTER: Visit Visions In Vinyl and take a look around! Then come back & tell me your favorite item from Heather's shop!

Extra Entries: Please leave an extra comment for every additional entry you complete!

1. Tell me what room in the house you are looking to add Vinyl to!
2. Follow my Blog
3. Subscribe
4. Add my Button
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway
6. Blog about this contest

Contest will end on April 2nd at 10pm CST. Winners will be chosen from Random.org and will be announced here on Ladybug Soup as well as emailed. Winners have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Contest is open to US Residents only.

Please be sure to leave an email address in your comment or have it available in your Profile so that I have a way to contact you if you win!

Thanks for entering! And thank you to Heather for a great review & giveaway opportunity! You have truly made our daughter's room such a special place for her!

Do You Love Your (affordable) Camera?

If so, let me know!

I am needing a new camera due to the milk incident. I see a lot are on sale but I am not sure what makes one better than the other, or which brand is best. Not my area of expertise. And I know I should research it - but who has time for that?

So I thought I would ask my lovely, super smart, all knowing readers for their opinions.

So what do you use?

Twilight DVD Release Midnight Tonight!

Twilight DVD releases tonight at midnight!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woo hoo!!!!!!!!

I can hit PAUSE! REWIND! All the EXTRAS!! YAY!

I can't wait to watch it over & over & over again. My hubby really should just go make other plans this weekend because that's all I want to do once I put my little one to bed. I cannot wait for the DVD Extras. I haven't allowed myself to watch any clips that have been on ET & E! because I want to be surprised & take it all in tomorrow.

Walmart is having Twilight release parties...but I am a MOM and will not be going...can't exactly leave the house that late in case my babe needs me!

I am actually holding out for Target's 3 Disk Special...this is the only place I have seen it available and I am so excited to get it! I have no idea what the third disk will be, maybe just ITunes stuff. But I NEED it LOL!So tomorrow morning I will be heading out to Target as soon as they open to buy it!

And yes, I am aware I have problems ;)

No never sounded so sweet...

My daughter has found a way to get whatever she wants.

She just adds a little "Mommy" to the end of every sentence. And I am putty in her hands. It's that simple!

Even her NO has become cute.

I'll ask her something like "Should we change your diaper now?"

And I get "No, mommmy."

It's hilarious and makes her 'no' so much easier to hear LOL!

She has also started using 'please'. Like ALL the time. More, please. Cracker, please? Please? PLEASE??? She thinks if she says please she will get whatever she is asking for, no matter what. Which I guess is my fault! For some things I would tell her to say please, then give it to her. Yup, that one is my fault. At least it's polite!

Here are some more fun words I get to listen to all day...

Yyyyyyipper
Translation: Zipper. Can't do the Z sound yet, and this one always makes me laugh.

Han! Han!
Translation: Hand. As in Put that in my hand OR Pick me up using your hands. Multiple Uses. Kinda cute, sometimes not :)

Boom Boom
Translation: Chicken Nuggets. Hmm...thats a weird one right? Well not really. My daughter is the worst eater, I have to struggle to get any food in her at all. It's fun (not). So to get her to eat chicken nuggets I always called it chickie boom boom, and would sing a song. So now she just calls it boom boom. I can see her in kindergarten asking if they are having boom boom for lunch LOL. Ooops!

Hone
Translation: Phone. She already loves to talk on the phone. Or a spoon, remote. Whatever. She's not picky. She will use anything as a 'hone' and it's cute EVERY time!

Hiiiyouuuuu
Translation:Caillou. My daughter's newest obsession. We can't walk by a tv without her saying it. Cute at first, getting a little old :)

hunckle,hunckle
Translation:Twinkle twinkle. This means 'let's sing twinkle twinkle mom!" But don't try to sing along. Or you will get this next one yelled into your ear...

NO NO NO TOPPPPPP!!!!
Translation: no, no, no, stop. Self explanatory I think. usually screamed when you sing a song that she wants to sing ALONE. Apparently she already knows she wants to be a solo artist and never will be in a band. She wants to show off and sing alone, and your off key rendition of row row row your boat is really just messing her up. So STOP.

Ye, Sher, Ye Sher
Translation: Yes sir, yes sir. From Ba ba black sheep. Probably the cutest little song I have ever heard her sing. This is my favorite part :)

I would love to learn how to upload videos so that I can share the cuteness with everyone (I will pretend other people care) But i don't see that happening anytime soon. So this will have to do for now!

It amazes me how much of her toddler words I can fully understand. Sometimes people look at me like "What did she say" and I can always tell them!

You mean you've never talked on a 'hone?" LOL!

Ultimate Blog Party with 5 Minutes For Mom!

5 Minutes For Mom is again hosting their Ultimate Blog Party! This is a chance to go visit new blogs, meet new people, and even win some prizes!! There are TONS of participants so go visit some & even make your own post!

Thanks so much for visitng my blog as part of the Ultimate Blog party! I am looking forward to meeting some great new ladies!


A little about me...my name is Kellie. I am 25, married, and have a beautiful little girl who will be 2 next month (eek!) I am a stay at home mom, who also works from home occasioanly. I live in Minnesota - and I love getting to enjoy all 4 seasons :)

My daughter is a free spirit and an entertainer. I have no idea where she got her outgoing personality because thats NOT me. She is a joy to be around (most days!) My kid is the one who meets another child & wants to hug them & give them a kiss. She's a lover not a fighter! She doesn't ever hit...so far so good!

I seem to be lacking that whole housewife gene...not sure how that happened. I don't cook fancy meals, I don't sew, I don't make dresses. But I am coming to realize that it's okay...I am an awesome mom and that's what counts! I know how to make my daughter laugh, I like to run & play, love to read, and tickle like no ones business. We have some fun times here at home together :)

I have been blogging about 7 months now and I am so glad I found this outlet! It's been a great way to meet people, have fun, get advice, learn new info, and TALK TO ADULTS!! LOL As a stay at home mom I don't get much adult interaction....usually my conversations revolve around Sesame Street & Caillou!

I lways have a fun giveaway going on....I love doing reviews & trying new products out with my daughter. I also love picking winners! I feel good giving people things LOL.

Lastly I will explain how I got my blog name...which I don't think I have ever written about! It's not because I blog about soup lol!

I was about 10 and in my childhood home. It was summer and I was eating a bowl of ramen noodles. With crackers. There I am, slurping away. When I feel something. CRUNCH! OH MY GOD!! I quick spit out my bite & flipped out! I looked down and it was a LADYBUG. In my SOUP. Then it just flew away!

Ever since I have disliked ladybugs. I can't stand them, they make me want to gag. They fly so slowly right at your head. Disgusting. And if anyone would know that they are icky, it's ME! So it's been a joke with my friends to always get me things with ladybugs on them. Just to be funny! I have since started to like Ladybug patterns though..as long as they aren't real I am okay!!

So I named it Ladybug Soup. Doesn't have much to do with motherhood, but hey, it's personal right? Afterwards I thought....hmmm maybe Ladybug Soup wasn't the best blog name out there. But at least it's unique & you may just remember it!

I love adding friends on Twitter - so feel free to add me if you Tweet! http://twitter.com/Kelliebug

Also if you like giveaways I have some up & add more all the time! So come back & enter them - you may just win something great!

What's a party without prizes right? There are a LOT of different prizes to be won for joining in the Ulitmate Blog party Fun! Here are my 3 choices to win!

$50.00 target Gift Card from Agoosa-we practically live at Target...so this is needed!
$100 gift card to A Rocking Horse to love offered by 5 Minutes For Mom- I would LOVE to give my daughter a rocking horse for her b-day!


And of course, these are faves too! I would really be happy with anything but since I have to choose some..here they are!
49, 58,106, 118, USC 9, USC 26, USC 47, USC 59, USC 66, 15, 104, USC 12, USC15, USC 16,

Ellembee ~ Etsy Giveaway ~

GIVEAWAY CLOSED~~

Being comfortable is probably one of the most important things about my clothing choices, but I don't want to give up being stylish & hip in the process. Just because I am a mom and spend my days at home, doesn't mean I don't want to look nice! Finding clothes that fit this need can be a challenge, but I found a great Etsy shop that is making it a whole lot easier!

Ellembee offers a great selection of clothing for women who don't want to give up style for comfort. The clothes are soft, fitted, and casual but still sexy! The colors are soft & feminine and offer pretty delicate designs like poppies, flowers, and twigs.

Ellembee was created by Lisa. Lisa attended a private Fashion art school in San Fransisco for fashion design. She had been working for the past five years in Southern California as a bedding designer when she got laid off from her job in January 2008. In February 2008 she moved back home to Michigan 'regroup' and that's when she started Ellembee. She was really just trying to make ends meet while looking for another job, but then Ellembee really took off! In addition to selling on Etsy, she attends craft shows in the summer and gets to meet so many interesting people along the way. Lisa's other interests include reading, knitting, golfing, going to movies. She is also active in her church and loves being back home in Michigan!

I am just crazy about all of the styles available at Ellembee! She sells jackets, skirts, long sleeved, hoodies, tee shirts, tank tops, sleepwear, and scarves. She even has onesies! Wouldn't this be so pretty on your little girl?

Here are more of my favorites! The first is the Floral Tank in Robin's Egg Blue. I am loving that bold & intricate design! The second top is the Entanglement Tee Made from Bamboo! I love the ink colors in this one. It has a combination of minty green, butterscotch, and light brown. And because it is made of Bamboo, it is super soft!

GIVEAWAY: Lisa at Ellembee has very generously offered ANY ITEM OF CHOICE to one lucky winner! That's right! You can pick anything you want from her shop!

TO ENTER: Please visit Ellembee and check out all of her beautiful clothing! Then come back and leave me a comment with the name of your favorite item!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for each additional 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 giveaway!
6. Get an additional entry for every one of my other giveaways you enter! (leave an extra comment here)

Please remember to have an email address available either in your profile or in your comment. If you win I will need this info to contact you :)

Giveaway will end on Saturday March 28th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org and will be emailed & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Contest is open to EVERYONE! US & International! Thank you so much to Ellembee for participating in this great giveaway!

Happy St Patrick's Day! A Little Extra Luck in Entering My Giveaways ;)

Hope everyone (that is celebrating) has a fun & safe saint patrick's Day! My husband & I are Irish but aren't doing too much to celebrate...just having decorated cupcakes after dinner :) Little Loo is looking forward to that one, she has been eyeing them all day!

I have 3 giveaways going on right now, so maybe today is your *lucky* day and you will win! Giveaways are always listed on the sidebar over there --------------->

Zipper Pouch from Fatts Magee

Lunch bag from The Soft Landing

SKOY Cloths - 3 lucky winners

Lots of Twilight Giveaways to Enter from Walmarts 11 Moms

In honor of Twilight being released on DVD this coming Friday (finally!) I have changed my Profile Picture. Yes that is me....with my Edward action figure :)


My awesome sister gave that to me for my birthday...along with an Edward poster! She is reading the series right now and likes it too...maybe not as much as me but still likes it ;)


So I am changing it up bit and put the puppy pic aside for awhile. I don't usually like pics of myself up but I figured so many other people do it and I like to see what the blog writers look like. Is that strange? Hope not LOL!



And in addition to this Twilight picture I am sharing I will also give you a list of some SUPER Twilight giveaways going on around the blog world - specifically from some of the Walmart 11 Moms. These ladies have some GREAT blogs and always have interesting things going on. A select few are giving away a Twilight prize pack worth approx 150 dollars, along with a second winner getting a 25.00 twilight gift card to spend on some Twilight gear (or the movie!).


So here they are! Make sure to visit & enter to win!

Deal Seeking Mom - this one ends on March 17th so hurry and enter quick!

Consumer Queen - Ends 3/22 - lots of extra entries available!

To Think is To Create - Ends 3/20 at Noon - Lots of Extra Entries available

Classy Mommy - Ends 3/20 - extra Entries for Tweeting - see post details

Mom Advice - Ends 3/17 at 8pm - hurry hurry!

Cameras & Milk Do Not Mix

So much for a spill proof cup!

Yesterday we went to the Children's Museum (which was great!) My daughter was playing, having fun. So I tell my husband to get out the camera & take a picture of her.

It's at the bottom of the tote bag I brought in with us. So is the sippy cup full of milk. It's wet. Uh oh. He tried to wipe it off, but it wouldn't show anything on the screen. A minute later it wouldn't turn on at all. Wonderful. Now we have no camera and will have to go buy a new one, which I was not planning on doing anytime soon.

Of course I would love to get a nice one, but just can't right now. I'll have to start looking around the stores to see if anyone is having any sales.

So we have no pictures of our outing this weekend. And I wont have any pictures of her in her adorable Irish Girl tee shirt tomorrow for Saint Patricks Day. Bummer!

Tomorrow is also my wedding anniversary! Nothing exciting planned though. Apparently my husband is getting me something (probably on his lunch hour tomorrow lol) and I have no idea what it will be. He says it's something I want. I told him to give me a clue, but he wouldn't. I like to try to guess my surprises, I have no idea why!

And it might get to 60 today!!! I love that 45 feels like summer after a long cold winter!!

The Soft Landing Review & Giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

If you are like me, you were concerned when all of the news about BPA in our children's bottles & plastics came out to the public.

My daughter's safety is my #1 priority. I am not willing to take any chances on her health, and I refuse to use any plastics that may have been made with harmful materials. But weeding out the good from the bad has been difficult at times. Some labels say it, some don't. I like to be sure what I am buying has been tested and it 100% safe. Researching products can be very time consuming even confusing. As you can imagine moms do not have a lot of free time to be spent doing this kind of work.

Luckily there is a website that takes the guess work out of it all. The Soft Landing is a company that only sells safe, BPA Free, PVC Free, and Phthalate Free products. You can feel confident that anything you purchase from The Soft Landing has been given the okay by the those individual companies. They make it easier for us moms to keep our homes safe and toxin free.

The Soft Landing was founded by Alicia, a mother of three who was searching for a better way to find safe plastics for her children and nephews. She recruited some dedicated family members in her search to bring us the highest quality non toxic products for our kids.

The Soft Landing has so many great essential baby and children feeding gear that all moms can use and will need. They have lead free bibs, BPA Free sippies, stainless steel feeding sets, toxic free teethers, safe bottles, breast feeding storage, and SO much more. This is the perfect one stop shop for all of your basic feeding needs. I really love the look of the Safe Sippy. It is made of stainless steel and has no toxic chemicals or BPA.

This Nuby Ice Bite Teether is perfect for those babies who are still doing plenty of chomping! Again it is BPA, PVC, and Phthalate Free! And on their website it sells for only $4.00! They have many other teethers and bath toys so you can stock up and feel assured that your baby isn't getting anything other than a good time from their toys!

The prices are also very reasonable and fair, which is something that really caught my eye. Sometimes if you want things that are natural, safe, or organic you have to pay so much more. But this is not the case at The Soft Landing. They understand the importance of keeping these harmful materials out of our children and do their best to keep the prices affordable for everyday families.

They have some great gift sets available on their website that would make great baby shower gifts, and even gifts for birthdays. These are products that every mom will need & use so it really does make the perfect gift! The set pictured above is the Green Sprouts Baby Dish Gift Set and is made from corn starch based plastics that are safe and eco-friendly.

I was fortunate enough to be sent a Lunchbag to try out from their site. It is the Built NY Munchlers Insulated Lunch Bag in Lefty the Dog. Isn't it adorable? Since my daughter is a toddler now we often have to bring along a little lunch for her when we go on outings to malls, grandmas, or the play center. This bag is tested for lead safety, insulated, and unzips to create a little placemat. This last feature is especially great for outings because you will always have a clean place to set your food!

Built NY collaborated with the award winning children's illustrator Stephen Savage to create lunch bag designs based on Zoo Animals. They also have available Benny the Tiger -a bright, fun tiger design perfect for those kitty loving children!

GIVEAWAY: The Soft Landing has generously offered to give one lucky reader their choice of a Built NY Munchlers Lunch Bag! You can choose between Lefty the Dog or Benny the Tiger! (both pictured above)

TO ENTER: Simply visit The Soft Landing and take a look around. Then come back and leave a comment with your favorite product from their site.

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 this giveaway - link here & to The Soft Landing

Please remember to leave an email address if you are entering as Anonymous or if your email address is not visible in your profile.

Contest will end on March 26th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be emailed & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is open to US Residents. The Soft Landing will also ship to Canada for free, but winner will be responsible for duties charged by your country.

Thanks to everyone that enters & thank you to The Soft Landing for a great review & giveaway opportunity! I love that you work to make it a little easier for moms to keep those toxins out of their homes!

Fatts MaGee ~ Review & Giveaway! ~

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! WINNER ANNOUNCED!



Nothing boosts my mood better than a cute accessory! I especially love bags & wristlets! It's a great way to spruce up my outfit, keep all of my essential personal items in a handy spot, and even keep things around the house organized.



I recently found the Etsy shop Fatts Magee and just fell in love with the items! Let me introduce you to the woman behind the shop! Fatts Magee is owned by Andrea, a mother of three. The shop is named after her only daughter- a nickname for her :) She works full time as a Data Specialist at a children's hospital. She shares her family time with has a husband, 2 boys (twins,4) and her 7 year old girl.



Andrea fell in love with handmade pieces after purchasing a couple of bags from Dawn at DSCHICBOUTIQUE. Understanding Andrea's interest in crafts, Dawn gave her the encouragement she needed to go out and buy a sewing machine. Dawn told her to start with a pillow...and she wouldn't be able to to stop. And she was right!



The thing I love most about Andrea's story is that she had never before even touched a sewing machine. She hadn't yet discovered her crafty side, but quickly found out she had a knack for it! She started off my making pillow cases, bags, fabric coasters, purse organizers, and tool rolls. She had a great response, but wanted to pick things up a little. So one day she made a zipper pouch out of some scratch fabric, and it sold in 2 hours! Andrea was shocked by the response, and amused! She created more and they started selling like hot cakes! The thing that Andrea enjoys most about selling on Etsy is that she is able to share her creations with so many people; she gets so much enjoyment from knowing that the items she creates people like and want. It must be an incredible feeling!




Andrea was kind enough to send me a Zipper Pouch to try out for myself. I chose the Orchid Boho pattern and it is just gorgeous! The pattern is bold and feminine, and makes me feel very chic. The quality is exceptional, the stitching is flawless and I can tell a lot of effort went into making the bag. I so far have kept my id, keys, money, and lip gloss in it when I went on a quick solo shopping trip. I also threw it in my diaper bag when we go out as a family. It keeps all of my important items together so I won't be searching for things at the bottom of the huge bag!







I can also see using this bag for makeup, pens, change, sunglasses, hair accessories, and even crafty items for your children. The possibilities are endless and so much fun!




At only 7.00 each and free shipping, these Pouches and Wristlets are very affordable! The quality is amazing and they have so many uses, I would highly recommend picking one (or two) up! There are also so any great fabric choices so there is sure to be something you love. Another great thing is that Andrea is so friendly and easy to work with. I know she would be great in working with you and answering any questions you had for her!


GIVEAWAY: Fatts Magee has generously offered one lucky reader their very own Zipper Pouch (their choice of fabric!)

TO ENTER: Simply visit Fatts Magee and look around her shop! Then come back and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item or fabric style!


EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a separate comment for every additional entry you complete to get credit :)

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Blog about this giveaway
4. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway (leave me the url)
5. Add my button
6. Tell me what you would keep in your pouch!

Contest will end on March 25th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen from Random.org and will be emailed as well as announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Please be sure to leave an email if your Profile does not have it available or if you enter as Anonymous. Otherwise I won't have a way to contact you should you win.

This is open to US & International readers!

Thanks for entering & thanks to Fatts Magee for this great review & giveaway opportunity!