Aloha Friday!

Hooray For Friday!!

Created by Kailani at An Island Life - In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response If you would like to participate head over to the blog An Island Life and join in!


My Question Is: What has been your favorite thing about summer so far?

Target Clearance on Toys - 75% Off!

Tonight I was at Target picking up a birthday present for my niece...and noticed that they are having a HUGE toy sale!

My local Target had many items that were selling for less than $5. I got a Word World Cat (plus bonus DVD) for about $2.50...and a Tinkerbell toy that originally sold for $30 for only $5.

I left the Wonder Pets Hamster (who sings!) at the store...but he was less than $5 too. Kinda wish I had bought it...

There were so many great toys for Christmas, so if you like to stock up early, it is worth checking out! I however, have no willpower and find it impossible to hang on to toys that long :)So she's getting them soon...on a boring afternoon.

Nature's Baby Organics

Bringing home that new baby, you want to do everything right. Everything about them is so soft, healthy, and fragile. I remember being concerned about the products I was using on my daughter's delicate skin. Were there harmful chemicals in them? Would they irritate her soft sensitive skin? She even went through a period of getting little hives, and I would spend countless hours worrying if she was allergic to something I had put on her.


Fortunately there are companies out there that are helping us moms by creating organic products for our babies and children. At the top of that list is Adena, founder of Nature's Baby Organics. Adena is a mom of 2 little girls, who each have had some struggles with their skin... like rashes and eczema. Seeing the chemicals that went into products that were commonly used by moms, Adena set out to create her own line of organic products, free of those harmful chemicals that other companies were using.
Nature's Baby Organics create products that are gentle, yet affective. I was able to try the Organic Face and Body Moisturizer on my daughter. The scent is very pleasant...not overpowering or perfumy. Which is perfect, because I tend to be overly sensitive to those kinds of smells. The lotion doesn't leave her skin feeling greasy...it just feels softer & more moisturized. The best thing about this lotion is that is is 100% Vegan, gluten, paraben, SLS & Propylene Glycol Free, and is hypoallergenic. This lotion worked great for us....I only wish I had it when she was younger & having hive issues! It would have been a wonderful choice for us then as well. But I will definitely be more prepared the next time around!

In addition to the Organic Face & Body Moisturizer, Nature's Baby Organics also offers these organic products:

Shampoo & Body Wash
Conditioner & Detangler
Organic & Preservative Free Diaper Cream
All Purpose Deodorizer
Aromatherapy Calming Spray
Organic Baby Oil
Organic Silky Dusting Powder
Organic Soothing Stick
Ah Choo Chest Rub
Bubble Bath


Nature's Baby Organics is now available at Target!!! This is a huge opportunity for them, and I know they will do so well there! To purchase Nature's Baby Organics at your local Target, please click HERE to find a store near you! I am happy to support a fellow mom who is doing her part to ensure we have organic products available to us!!

My New Look!! It's Here!!

Well what do you think???

I think I am in Love LOL! This new design that So Dazzling Blogs created for me is completely perfect! It's bright, fun, more organized.....I even have a Nav Bar for crying out loud!!

I also adore my button, isn't it cute?? If you have my old one up, be sure to add this new one!



<a href="http://ladybugsoup.blogspot.com/" title="Giveaways,Reviews, and life with my little ladybug!"><img src="http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr80/sodazzlingblogs/button-4.png" /></a>



I still can't believe I get to work on this blog from now on! It's like a whole new home (and this blog is a home in some ways!) I want to thank Ms. Mik for all of her hard work & bringing all of her awesome talents to this design! Everyone should go check out her site, she has great tutorials & free layouts that are adorable!

Pardon The Dust...

My new design is going up right now...so pardon the dust while things get set up!!!

Gather Around & Connect Online!

Being a stay at home mom, my adult interactions are seriously limited these days. Aside from my husband, my conversation are usually with a two year old! While those are fun & important times, I have missed having adults to share with. That's why I am so happy to have found blogging, and other great communities on the internet. There are places that I can go to connect with other women who are in the same place as me, women who have common interests, ideas, and struggles.Thanks to Mom Central, I have discovered a new place to meet & interact with people. It's called Gather and it's a website that brings together people with common interests & opinions to one central place. There are literally thousands of groups on gather.com you can join in on. All kinds of topics are explored on Gather...from books, freebies, parenting, politics, and everything in between. The extra bonus feature in this community is that the content you add to Gather can earn you points - which can be redeemed for gift cards to places like Target, Pay Pal, and Home Depot!

Signing up for Gather was very easy. I created a user name & password and answered some quick questions. I have enjoyed looking round at other people's posts & comments. And there are tons! I have enjoyed looking through groups on Current Events, Photo Art Galleries, Food Group (yum!), Parenting, Frugal Moms, and so many more. The best part is that when I comment & contribute to these groups & conversations, I earn points! Gift Cards are so useful and I am loving that I can earn them while connecting & enjoying people's conversations! The more I chat with people, the more points I get! Very easy!

I am looking forward to exploring this community even more, and earning some great gift cards in the process!!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog and giveaway campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gather. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Counting Down to blog Design!

Can you tell I am excited LOL?

My blog design is getting closer & closer!! It's almost finished & I am super excited to get it here for everyone to see!

I want to send out HUGE thank you to So Dazzling Blogs who has been wonderful through this whole process! She knows her stuff & has been very patient with me & my ever changing mind LOL!

Check out her site for great tutorials on how to jazz up your blog! She also has some free 3 column blog designs you can use too!

Snog Lip Balm Winner Is...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

86

Timestamp: 2009-07-27 19:01:03 UTC

Congrats Jackie! You have got yourself some Snog Lip Balm!! Please email me within 72 hours to claim your prize :)

Winner of Teeny Tanka from Organically Hatched!

I have the winner of the Teeny Tanka Stainless Steel Cup! From random.org...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

58

Timestamp: 2009-07-27 18:47:09 UTC

Congrats to Anne! I am emailing you right away, please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Kellogg's Cinnabon Snack Bars

Have you ever been at the Mall and walked by Cinnabon? The smell is enough to make my tummy growl & my mouth water! Of course I hardly get out to the mall anymore, and I don't exactly want to indulge in them too often because of all of the (yummy) calories! But now thanks to Kellogg's there is a brand new way to enjoy the taste of a warm, gooey Cinnabon!

Kellogg's has created the Cinnabon Snack Bar - an on the go bar that is packed with cinnamon and drizzled with frosting. There are only 150 calories per bar...and no trans fat. There are six bars in one box. The bars can be eaten straight from the box or warmed up for a few seconds in the microwave (instructions are on box).I was sent a box of Cinnabon Original to try out for myself and my family. I actually really enjoyed them! I thought the filling was delicious, and the frosting was so sweet, and the ends had this cinnamon crunch to them that I just loved. I like that they are so convenient - anything that I can throw in my purse is a good thing! In addition to a snack on the go, I think these bars would make a great family dessert!

Kellogg's Cinnabon Snack Bars were a really great treat!

Thanks to Mom Central for inviting me to review these as part of the Kellogg's Cinnabon Snack Blog Tour!

Resourceful Mommy Site Warming Party!

The Resourceful Mommy is having a Party!! She is celebrating her one year bloggiversary with a Site Warming Party....and tons of giveaways!!!

You can check out all of the details on her website....including ways to enter & how to RSVP to the Twitter Party tonight! Giveaways will close tonight at 10pm EST.

Some of the great prizes include

• Razor Rip Rider 360
• iPod Shuffle
• Zoobie Pets
• Leap Frog Tag Junior Book Pal
• Toys from Hasbro
• Much, much more!
  

Two giveaways Ending Tomorrow (7/22)

Two giveaways will be ending tomorrow! If you haven't yet, go enter these before 10pm Wednesday night!

Organically Hatched Teeny Tanka Cup

Snog Lip Balm

Good Luck!

Nimli Review & Giveaway

When looking for new products to buy for myself or as for gifts, I am often drawn to the companies that are doing their part to be environmentally friendly. I see it as an added bonus to getting a great product. Nimli is definitely one of those companies. They bring their customers products that are organic, natural, recycled, sweat shop free, and cruelty free. And the selection of stylish, useful, hip items is huge. They have something for everyone here...men, women, home decor, kids, and even pets!! All from designers that share the same organic beliefs as Nimli. Nimli sent me the Azuri Cashmere Pashmina Shawl to try out for myself. This shawl comes in an amazing 110 Colors! That is incredible...it really allows you to choose the color that fits you best. The first thing I noticed about this shawl was the material...it is very soft and silky. It is made out of 70% Pashmina and 30% Silk. It is very long in length, which makes it perfect to wrap around yourself on a cool evening. I originally thought I wouldn't have too many uses for this in the hot summer months...but I was wrong! It has been unseasonably cold this month, even highs at 60!! So this shawl was my best friend on those days. It kept me pleasantly warm without overheating me.

I am also going to love this for formal events! This would be perfect to wear over a strapless dress for an evening out or a wedding. I know I'll be wearing it next June when I am in sister's wedding! It'll look gorgeous! These shawls are also great for me because I tend to get cold very easily. Have you noticed that during the summer most businesses and restaurants just crank up their central air? Yeah, I tend to totally freeze in places like this so this is a great solution!! Problem Solved!

PURCHASE: These shawls normally sell for $150 but is currently on sale for only $34!! What a deal!!
GIVEAWAY: Would you like the chance to win an Azuri Cashmere Pashmina Shawl of your own? I thought so!!
TO ENTER: Please visit Nimli and then leave a comment with your favorite product!

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

1. Follow My Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Fave me on technorati
4. Add my button
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway! You can do this once a day!
6. Blog about this giveaway
   

Giveaway ends August 10th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. US Residents only.

Winner of SwitchFlops!!!

Need a new pair of shoes??? Well here you go :) From Random.org...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

64

Timestamp: 2009-07-20 19:51:00 UTC

Congrats rrshep (Rita)!!

I'm emailing you right now, please respond within 72 hours to claim this awesome prize!!.
Everyone else that did not win, thank so much for entering! You can check out SwitchFlops & all of their fun strap design HERE

Involving Your Toddler & Making Chores More Fun

Chores are a given for any household, and it's a good idea to get your kids used to this at an early age. Helping out around the house can be fun for young children (good luck moms with teens LOL!) and it teaches them important skills & values.

I have started to have my daughter help me with some little chores - just some easy things that need to get done during the day. Here are some examples of things your toddler may like to help with:

Folding the Laundry: Now obviously, they won't be able to actually fold it. But I have my daughter put all of the socks together in a group, or put the kitchen towels in the drawer. These little tasks are fun & keep her involved in the work that I have to get done during the day.

Picking Up Toys, Games, Puzzles, Etc: My daughter is a big mess maker :) I am teaching her to clean up after herself. Easy enough. We take a game out, play, then put it away. Putting books away can be a good one too. I am always willing to help her with this (for now) , because she is only two and it can still be a challenge at times. But as long as she tries, that's what is important.

Cooking: To include your child, you can create little tasks for them in the kitchen while cooking. It has to be something easy, and NOT around the oven or stove tops. I like to have her add ingredients to a bowl, help me space food onto a cookie sheet, or stir up some food. Just little things that make her feel important and included.

Wiping Counters, Etc: When I will be using a washcloth (in bathroom or kitchen, wherever) I like to give her one that is barely wet with water so she can 'help'. She's actually pretty good at it!

Now that you think I work my toddler day & night, I must remind you that I make it fun, and it's not a constant thing :) When I have a lot of cleaning to do, I turn on the radio and we dance around together in the kitchen while I get the dishes done. Being a stay at home mom means you always have a little on at your feet (especially when a certain 2 year old no longer naps!!). Sometimes things need to get done, and this is a great way to make sure it's fun for your kid & you! Well as fun as dishes & laundry can get anyway ;)

Do you have another way that you involve your child in housework to make it more fun? Or is there something your kid loves to help with? I'd love to hear it!

Snikiddy Snacks ~ With Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED***


Snacks are totally my thing. Especially cheese puffs. I will admit it, I love the things. Apparently my daughter has taken after me in that area...because she loves them too! Of course I am not too happy about giving her those as a snack though, because they are loaded with fat, salt, and who knows what else.

But thanks to a company called Snikiddy, there is a healthier way to enjoy these snacks! Snikkidy offers your family a new way to munch - without any trans fat, fewer calories, less fat, no preservatives, and so much more. They have created a fun, wholesome choice for busy moms out there!

Here's another thing about Snikiddy...their products are actually delicious. My two year old is very picky. Of course she loves the sweets (big surprise right!?) but I haven't had much luck getting her to eat the healthier kinds of cookies. So when they came in the mail, I will admit I didn't think I'd get much from her.

But here's the shocker...she loved them! I thought for sure she'd be able to tell the difference between these cookies & the 'other' kind, but she couldn't. Neither could I! They were rich with chocolate flavor & we both enjoyed them very much! I will admit that the Cheese Puffs were my favorite. Speaking a s a semi-professional cheese popper, they were So good. Great cheese flavor, nice and crunchy, and no cheesy mess left over on my hands! Perfection! Here are some other great reasons to love the Grilled Cheese Puffs:

• All Natural
• Made With Real Cheese
• Low in saturated Fat & Cholesterol
• 30% Less Fat than other Leading Brands
• 20% Fewer Calories than other Leading Brands
• Gluten & Wheat Free
• NO Trans Fats, NO Hydrogenated Oils, NO Preservatives

These snacks are great for children that are on gluten free diets . Snikiddy was even featured on The View by Elisabeth Hasselback while promoting her new book about Gluten Free Diets!

BUY IT: Sniddy Snacks can now be found at Babies R Us & Toys R Us!! I am so excited to pick more up next time we are out that way! To find other locations near you that sell Snikiddy, visit the site to search by your area code!

COUPON: Everyone that completes the Snikkidy Contact Form will receive a free $1 off Snikiddy coupon!! Also, the first 5 people to put 'ladybugsoup' in the comments will also receive a Snikiddy Art Kit!!

GIVEAWAY: Snikiddy has very generously offered to send some snacks to one lucky reader!! Winner will receive

• Grilled Cheese Sharing pack
• Mac N' Cheese Sharing Pack
• Nacho Cheese Sharing Pack
• Chocolate Chip Sharing pack

TO ENTER: Visit Snikiddy and tell me which product you are most excited to try!

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

1. Subscribe
2. Follow My Blog
   
3. Add My Button
   
4. Blog About It - 5 Extras! Leave 5 Comments!
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this Giveaway - you can tweet once a day - leave an extra comment every time you tweet!
6. Favorite me on Technorati!
7. Sign up for the Snikiddy Newsletter!
   

Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Contest will close July 31st at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be emailed & announced on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Blog Makeover Coming!!

Well the time has finally come......



For Blog Makeover!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I am so SUPER excited!! This layout has been great for me in the past, but it's time to get it more organized. 3 Columns, Nav bar, Sidebar Labels. It'll all be mine soon! I can't wait to declutter! Not to mention get a whole new design look...new colors, new header, new button. YAY!!

It's coming soon...so keep checking back!

CVS...Rookie Mistake

So remember how I was going to try to start going to CVS & getting some deals?

Well I went to get my card on Sunday. I was in a hurry though so I left without buying anything.

Then I forgot about it.

Yesterday I happen to think of it so we went to shop. But guess what?

The deal items were all sold out. Yup. My first attempt at using the ECB Card and I didn't even get started!

So my advice is to go early!! Don't wait until the last day of the sale to try to buy things. Because chances are the really great things will be gone.

Maybe next time!

Frecklebox ~ Personalized School Supplies!

Hard to believe, but school days are just around the corner. Summer is half over already! Can you believe it?? Why can't the winter months go by this fast...that would be much nicer!

With school days comes the school supplies. If you are looking for a something special for your child, you definitely want to check out Frecklebox. Frecklebox has personalized products that are perfect for back to school.

They have Folders with tons of different designs to choose from. You can even pick out a matching notebook! I also LOVE the Personalized lunchboxes!! These are a great choice for parents - no more wasting brown paper bags everyday for school lunches! And the kids are sure to love the designs available.

Maybe you have an older child or teen that loves to write in their journal. I know I used to love that when I was younger...back when I had the time to write! It would be a great back to school gift!

DISCOUNT: Frecklebox would like to offer 10% off to their customers! Just use Promo Code FBSCHOOL when checking out! Offer expires July 31st.

SwitchFlops Giveaway Ends Tomorrow!!

Just wanted to remind everyone that the SwichFlop Giveaway will end tomorrow (7/15) at 10pm CST. So if you haven't gotten your entries in yet, hurry over & enter!

Also I am on technorati now...so if you fave me you get an extra entry! Woo Hoo!

Enter HERE

Weekend & Zoo

It's been a busy couple of days! Sunday my husband went fishing. He left at 3:30 in the morning to get there by sunrise...so I stayed home of course! When he got home we went to the zoo!

We have a zoo that is (almost) free to visit. It was a beautiful day and it was pretty crowded. Really the worst thing was finding a spot to park in. Oh and guess who was driving? Yours truly....the worst car parker ever LOL! I love to drive, but I hate to park the car. And forget about parallel parking...I don't even bother anymore :)

So here are my favorite pics from the zoo. I realize that none of them have animals in them, but that's okay!

Some of my favorite pictures are her with her Daddy. I love that he teaches her so much, and they have this special bond. I think she is the perfect mix - she can be very girly. She loves pink, loves tutus, dolls, play food. But at the same time she likes to 'fix' things with her play screwdriver & hammer, loves fish, and loves to splash in mud puddles. We both teach her and she has become quite the well rounded little girl already!

CVS & Walgreens...Thinking About Giving it A Try!

I am thinking about starting to use CVS & Walgreens to get great deals on my purchases. I subscribe to a lot of frugal blogs & coupon blogs, and have always gotten confused when they start showing the deals from these 2 stores.

But I think I will just start small, and go sign up for a card at CVS today. (That's an easy first step right!?) Then just try my best to keep up with what they list :) I am just going to start with a couple of items, and keep transactions small & prices low. We'll see how it goes!

Money Saving Mom has a great layout of some deals from CVS. And she also recommends reading a post from Fishmama - a CVS Primer. I read it, and think I can do it!

How about you? Do you use CVS or Walgreens Cards? Does ECB mean anything to you? LOL! I'd love to hear if it works for you, and it it was hard at first!

Today's Favorite...Fun Game!

Today my favorite thing is this new card game my daughter has! We went to Barnes & Noble yesterday with my awesome mom & she picked this up for her at 1/2 off (about $5) . Not bad!!



It is called The Rainbow Fish Lotto. This game is perfect for her. She loves fish & sea creatures (thanks to our salt water tank & Daddy!) so she already knows the names of the creatures on the cards. I lay out the 4 boards, and put out all the small cards face down. Then she gets to pick one out & place it on the correct matching space on the board. I don't really know if we are playing it according to the 'rules' but it works great for us! I'm super impressed that she can match the pictures so well!

She is still a little too young for most board games, so this was the perfect choice for us. Memory games & flashcards are her absolute favorite. She could spend all day doing flashcards & doing search & finds books!

You can find The Rainbow Fish Lotto at Amazon, or at Barnes & Noble if you want to check it out for your toddler.

Joined Technorati!

I have just joined Technorati!!

I would love it if you could add me to your favorites (if you use Technorati)!

If you are entering my giveaways & add me to your favorites, I will give you an extra entry into the giveaway! So go add me, then leave a comment into each giveaway telling me you did so!

Yay for extra entries!!!

You can click the button on my sidebar to add me :) I'll also be adding people to mine now that I have an account set up!

Winner of Piggy Paint!

Here is the winner of the $20 Gift card to Piggy Paint!! From Random.org...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

32

Timestamp: 2009-07-10 16:56:00 UTC

Congrats to Kristy!! I am emailing you right away, please respond within 72 hours to claim this prize :)

Thanks to everyone that entered!

Great Giveaway To Check Out!

Money Saving Tips For a Keeper at Home is having an awesome giveaway!!

It is sponsored by All Children's Furniture...and offers the chance to win a table & chairs set for your child!!

Choose one of three designs - Cars, Dora, and Disney Princesses!!

I am going for the Disney princess table & chairs...my little girl would love it!



This giveaway ends on July 24th! Hurry over & enter!

3y5ag6ksj7

3y5ag6ksj7

Daily Favorite!

Here is my daily favorite! It's a dress from Old Navy! I bought this dress last weekend. This is the first dress I have owned in YEARS. The only other dress I won is my wedding dress! I figured it was time for me to get one, and with the week I had (the teeth issue) I thought I deserved it. HA!

It's very comfy! It kinda falls below my knees, which I don't like because I am short & it's not the best length for me. But after shopping with my toddler for an hour, I picked the thing that looked the least awful & got out of there :)
I had to force myself to wear it on the 4th of July. Since I never wear skirts, I felt kind of stupid. But I told myself that it is a casual summer dress, and I am a woman. I can pull it off. And I did :)

Daily Favorite!

I decided last night that I am going to try to make a post everyday on this blog about something I am loving at the moment. It could be a food, website, a comment from my daughter, an activity, anything! Just a fun way to share a good part of my day or something I enjoy :)

First I wanted to share a quick story. My daughter is growing up. Fast. I know, she's only 2 :) But the things that come out of her mouth never cease to amaze & please me. I can't believe this little tiny person has such an opinion, such a vocabulary, so many thoughts to share with us.

She likes to describe things. "That's heavy!!" or "Oh, that's cute" It always makes me smile. She also says she 'likes' things, and 'loves' things. I love to hear what she likes...and I love to hear what she wants to talk about with me. We start the day with conversations, and they don't stop until she is asleep!!

Last night we were all in the kitchen together...my husband was making dinner. We were nearby chatting & taking pictures (she had a cute outfit on!)

He was standing at the stove, cooking some ground beef in a frying pan. She looked at him and said...

"Daddy.....you making eggs???"

It's a simple question, but we laughed & laughed. It was such a casual question...but it also showed how smart she was :) She saw the pan, and knew that we usually cook eggs there. It just happened so fast! She can tell us almost anything now, she really has grown up so much.

I don't know how she become such a little person, and not a little baby anymore. But I will say that I am loving every minute of our little conversations! They make me laugh EVERY SINGLE DAY, ALL DAY.

Last night when I layed her down in her crib, I told her I loved her.

She whispered "I love you, Mommy"

Best. Words. Ever.

Loving These Crafts!

I LOVE going to Michaels to look for fun crafts to do with my daughter (& husband!) They have so many different things...and a few different dollar sections for a cheap find! They have some great cards, recipe books, magnets, calenders, coupon holders, pens, and SO much more all for only $1.

The Kids section includes stickers, little toys, crafts, puzzles, activity books, flash cards, and little instruments all for about 1-3 dollars each. I like to go here & let my daughter pick something out for real cheap...she loves it! We also got some of her b-day gift bag items here.

This past weekend we made a stop at Michaels and got a couple of things. Pom Poms for my daughter (so she can be a little cheerleader!) and a bird house & frame.
We wanted to get unfinished wood so that my daughter could paint them! She loves to paint, and it makes for a great activity for us!

Here's our little birdhouse! We have a ton of birds outside, with a lot of trees. We have feeders that see cardinals, wood peckers, finches, and many others I can't name :) Oh and some brave squirrels who like to swing on the feeder & spill the seeds everywhere! I am not sure if the birds will use this house, but it will look SO cute hanging up outside!


The second thing we bought was a wooden heart frame..for only $1!! We painted it today and gave it to Daddy when he got home from work :) We ordered some pictures from Snapfish, so once they get here we'll put a picture in there & he can keep it on his desk at work!

Michaels also has some great coupons! Right now if you sign up on their website for their newsletter, you'll get 50% off one item! These come out periodically in the mail too, so watch for them! It's a fun place for both children & adults!!

Also I just found a link on their website to The Knack...this site is filled with fun projects and cool tips & ideas. I am going to enjoy looking around!

Snog Lip Balm...With Giveaway

"Have you had a snog today?"


I am happy to introduce to you my new favorite lip balm! Snog Balm...the pocket size lip balm! This is a miniature sized lip balm that fits in your teeniest pocket (you now the one!) Snog Balm comes in Cheeky Mint, Naked, Virgin Cherry, and Strawberry Tease (coming soon).
I think the whole idea behind Snog is so much fun. The name Snog comes from a British slang word referring to caressing, cuddling, and/or kissing. Each package of Snog Lip Balm comes with a little story on the back...a little witty tale about a Snog moment...which come from the customers themselves! I think we have all had a little 'snog' moment in our lives, and I love that this company celebrates that!

Each lip balm is packed with Vitamin E to keep your lips silky smooth. I have the Mint & Original, and I really love them both. Not only do I love the sleek silver look of the mini stick, I also love that this lip balm works SO well. I smooth it on before I leave the house, and keeps my lips soft for hours. The Mint is lightly scented and refreshing. Snog definitely works great for me!

GIVEAWAY: One winner will get to try their very own Snog Balm!

TO ENTER: Simply leave a comment telling me which Snog Balm you would like to try!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave a comment for every additional entry you complete!

1. Leave a comment with a funny/memorable snog moment! Can be first kiss...etc. Keep it clean LOL!
   
2. Subscribe - 2 extra entries
3. Add my Button
4. Blog about it - 3 extra entries
5. Follow my Blog
6. Follow me on twitter & Tweet this giveaway (you can do this once a day!)
7. Add me to your Technorati Favorites!
   

Contest will end on July 22nd at 10pm CST. US Residents only. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be contacted by email & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks so much for entering!

Wordless Wednesday...4th of July

WW: Fourth Of July




This is my little sweetie enjoying the parade!! This was her very first parade, and she did SO well!


When the dance schools went by, she got up & danced right along with them! I cannot wait until she is old enough to join a class, she loves to sing & dance and is a little performer!

Here she looks a little worried....I am thinking it was taken when the fire trucks went by. They had VERY loud horns & sirens and she was not a fan. But I love that she is holding her two little suckers in her little hands...adorable!

She also did really well with the fireworks that night. She wasn't scared at all! Every time one would go off she would yell "Boom!!" right back at it :) It was such a great holiday weekend for our little family!

One Week Later...

It's a week later! I am finally starting to be able to function normally after getting my wisdom teeth out. I didn't have to worry about being put under anesthesia...I just had the nitrous oxide. I was really mostly worried about that so it was a huge relief to go there & have the surgeon agree that I didn't have to go to sleep for it.

I didn't feel any pain during the surgery...it all felt very fast thanks to the nitrous LOL! It was kinda scary when he busted out the overly loud drill thing...But I got through it.

Really the worst part was the recovery. Everyone is different so I don't want to freak anyone out...but I was in a TON of pain. I was swollen, couldn't talk well, couldn't sleep, and spent my second day throwing up & being dizzy.

I still can't open my mouth very wide without getting a pain in my jaw, and I am not able to chew with my molars yet either. I had surgery on both sides of my mouth, so I don't even have one side that doesn't have stitches.

Let me tell you...eating with 4 teeth & barely being able to chew is horrible. The food doesn't taste as good when you can't chew it properly! I am also really sick of mushy food and have been slowly adding other foods into my diet, just taking small bites & being careful.

All in all I'm SO glad it's over with. I can now go to the dentist without having those teeth hanging over my head...they always liked to bring it up! I am done, and it is great just knowing that I won't have to ever do it again :)

Organically Hatched Review ~ With Giveaway

Organically Hatched is your one stop shop for organic products for you and your child. They do all of the work for you...helping to eliminate the confusion and the time it takes to research which products are safe for your baby. As a mother, BPA and other harmful chemicals are a huge concern for me and my family. I want to know what I am purchasing and using with my daughter and completely safe. And Organically Hatched makes this process a whole lot easier!

At Organically Hatched, you will find a huge selection of everyday items that every family needs. There are baby bottles, bathing items, toys, and so much more. Their maternity products would make a great gift for an expecting mother..I definitely could have used this site when I was pregnant! That was a time when I wasn't sure what was safe to use, and it would have helped so much knowing what things were gentle enough for me and the baby.

Now that my little girl is two, a big issue for us is the safety of sippy cups. This is the one thing she uses everyday, many times a day, so I was interested in something that was sturdy, would be easy to use & hold, and one that was completely safe for her to drink out of. The Teeny Tanka seemed to fit my needs perfectly!

These cups have some great features like:

• Stainless Steel
• BPA Free
• Ultra Light
• Compact
• Can be used with an Avent Sippy Cup Lid for toddlers
• Can be used with a Sports Cap Lid for older kids or adults!
• Keeps your beverage cool for longer than a regular cup
• Always a clean & fresh taste!

My daughter just loves to use this Teeny Tanka. It is very easy to for her to hold and isn't too heavy for her little hands to carry. Sometimes I like to carry a little something to drink for myself when I go out, and with the Teeny Tanka I can easily switch out Avent Sippy Lid to my Sports Cap Lid so I can use it too! This is a great product for kids & adults alike!

PURCHASE: The Teeny Tanka can be purchased online at Organically Hatched for $22.95

GIVEAWAY: Organically Hatched would like to offer one reader a Teeny Tanka of their own!

TO ENTER: Please visit Organically Hatched and look around at their selection of products! Then just leave a comment telling me the name of another product you liked!

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 and Tweet this giveaway - you can do this once a day!
5. Blog about it or email 2 or more people about this giveaway (CC me at ladybugsoupblog at hotmail dot com)
6. Add me to you Technorati Favorites
   

Giveaway is open to US & Canadian Residents. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be emailed & announced here on Ladybug Soup. Giveaway will end on July 22nd at 10pm CST.

Thanks so much for entering & be sure to have an email address somewhere in your profile or comment so that I can contact you if you win!

Thanks to Organically Hatched for this generous review & giveaway!

Updated Tres Sleek Giveaway!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have added another shape wear piece to the Tres Sleek Giveaway! It's called The Shrinx, and it is amazing!!

I have also added more ways to get extra entries into this giveaway, so even if you have already entered, head back to the post & get some extras in!

Thank you, thank you, thank you :)

Enter HERE!!