Birthday Fun Plus Some New Furniture To Keep Us Organized!

First I want to thank everyone for the sweet Birthday Wishes so many of you left for me yesterday! I really appreciated every single one...they all made me smile!

I had a really great birthday. It started like every other day of course, but about 3pm my Mom called and invited me over for cake after my Husband got off work. So we got there about 7pm, and she had a few presents waiting for me....and a delicious cake from our favorite bakery!

She got me a GREAT set of pots/pans/etc that was really needed badly. I just threw out one of my last saucepans because it was getting so old and the non stick stuff was coming off the bottom. Not good!

Here's a picture of the box:




She also got me a SUPER soft bathrobe, which I also needed! I used to have a robe that I loved years ago, but I lost it somehow when I moved and haven't had one since. She gave me a really cute shirt too that fit perfectly! I can alsways count on my awesome Mom to go out of her way to make me feel special :) She made it feel like a party, which I truly appreciated!

Then after we left we got Chinese food to go - from my favorite place by my Mom's house. It was delicious! I've been off my diet since Valentine's day, but I am okay with that. I am getting back on soon and starting again, but I wanted to enjoy the Holiday and my Birthday without worrying about what I was eating.

Today we went shopping which is always fun! In my daughter's room, we've been using these bookshelf things that are red & blue, and ultra clunky. I liked them at first only because that was the first storage we had in her room. But I have grown to really dislike them. So I wanted to freshen up my daughter's room and get some new storage that was clean and actually utilized the space better. She has a small room so we are tight on space in there. And the old storage was free, so it wasn't like I invested money into them.

Small pics, but you can see they are very clunky and really aren't shelves at all. I think they were part of a toddler bed before we got them! They HAD to go! I wish I would have taken before pictures so it would show you just how clunky they were in her room.

Plus, the part that was holding books pretty much sucked. It's under the yellow part, it folds up and that's where we kept her books. She'd pull on one and they would ALL come out! LOL!



I got her a bookshelf at Ikea for only $25. It's a little small, but that's what I wanted. Just a few shelves to store her books, not too tall and not too wide. And not too expensive!




The second piece I added to her room was something I have been wanting for some time. I got it at Target today for about $59 and it already has been the answer to our organizing problems! I always kept her little toys in buckets, like (Halloween buckets) boxes or tins. Everything had a place, but there was no neat way to keep them in her room, looking tidy.



Now everything has a place! These bins are perfect for smaller toys, and even some bigger ones are thrown in too! Bins are sorted by Kelly Dolls, My Little Ponies, Little People, Dollhouse Pieces, and much more!

She has been playing with everything in a whole new way now that all of her toys are out and easily accessible. Plus I plan on putting picture labels on each bin so that she can help keep her room clean and organized too!

My Husband commented that her room looks much less pre-school now, more like a big girls room! He's right!

My Husband was off work today, and is off again tomorrow. I must say that I love when he has days off during the week. My daughter loves the extra time she gets with him, and it's nice to get out of the house and do something fun during weekdays, as a Family.

Old Navy Shopping Trip

I went shopping On Saturday to get myself some cute clothes for my Birthday & use that $50 off a $100 purchase coupon I won from a blog Giveaway!

I threw a bunch of stuff in my cart, keeping track of the total in my head. Then I went into the dressing rooms to try stuff on & eliminate the bad & the really bad....

I think when it was all over I had $37 worth in my cart! Hmm...it seems I am not used to spending $100 on myself all at once like that!'


So I headed out into the aisles again. This time being a tad less picky, and sticking to the Basics that I could use this Spring/Summer.

I ended up with some cute pieces, and a couple that did NOT look as cute when I tried them on at home! What is UP with that? LOL!

I got this Women's Linen-Blend Split-Neck Tops for $15 which I LOVE! the light colors give me Spring fever, majorly!




Flip Flops are 2 for $5, so I grabbed these pretty colors....





This Striped Henley is also super cute and was $12




I picked up this tee & one in a pretty Blue...they were only $5 each and are a great basic tee to have in your wardrobe! Super comfortable too!




I also got a Pair of Jeans, a Pair of Black Pants, and a Pair of Shorts. I didn't try the shorts on at the store...big mistake. They are going back. TOOOO Small.

Throw in some more tank tops, an adorable 3/4 sleeve top that was on Clearance, and a Pair of Sunglasses for my daughter, and that was pretty much it! I actually thought I bought more than I did...I was hoping $100 would go a little further. But I guess I still got a really great deal, since I only spent $50 but got $100 worth!

Flirty Aprons: 30 Percent Discount Coupon Code!!

Flirty Aprons is having a great offer for all of their customers!




As a thank you for all of the support they have gotten, they are giving everyone a 30% Off Coupon!

Just use the code 30Coupon when checking out!

Coupon code will end on February 28th at Midnight, so you only have a coupl eo fdays left to take advantage of this great offer!

I LOVE my Original Pink Chic Apron that I reviewed late last year...and I spotted many new styles that are perfect for Spring and Summer! They make great housewarming gifts and great gifts for new Brides!!

They have some great sales going on right now, so pair it with this 30% off Code and you have an amazing deal!

Head over to Flirty Apron Website to take a look!

Giveaway Going On At Ayelet - Win Products From My Favorite Bath/Body Shop!!

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to pass along this great contest going on over at my Friend Ayelet's Blog! She is the owner of my favorite shop on Etsy called Ayelet... I have worked with her a few times on reviews and Giveaways here at Ladybug Soup, and have had the BEST experiences with her products!

Head over and show your support for her first blog giveaway! Winner gets an Emulsified Sugar Scrub and a Whipped Body Souffle in your choice of scent available at her Shop!




I sure could use a good scrub & body souffle right now! We are still stuck in the super cold temps, and my skin could use some pampering!

Go HERE to enter!!

Happy Birthday To Meeee!

Today is my Birthday!

I am now 26 years old. That will take some getting used to, LOL!

Nothing much planned today. I am hoping my Husband can some how make it feel like my Birthday when he gets off of work, cause right now it's just another day!

I am about to start on heaps of laundry and do the dishes....those chores should just be banned on days like today, don't you think? ;)

Baby's First Phone Call: Helping You Share The News of a New Baby! 6 Winners!

The arrival of your bundle of joy is one of life's true miracles but it's also a breathtaking and hectic time for any family. Notifying your friends and family of the birth of your baby can be stressful, especially when you're exhausted and focused on caring for your newest family member. Let Baby's First Phone Call help you with that happy chore.

Baby's First Phone Call is an automated call tree that you set up ahead of time, allowing you to notify friends and family with a single call.

Here's How Baby's First Phone Call Works:

First, you set up your account before you give birth. Especially if this is your first child...this may be the moment you have to yourself for a longtime, LOL!

Enter in all of the names and phone numbers of the individuals you want to notify when the Baby arrives.

Then, after the Baby is born, you make ONE single phone call and leave your own personal message with any of the details you want to share! The message can be any length, so feel free to add in those fun details like how much hair he or she has or what you are naming them!

Baby's First Phone Call will then place a call to everyone on your original account list. If the person answers the phone, they get to hear your message! If they don't answer, the message is played into their voice mail or answering machine.

In either case, there is an option for them to leave you a return message that you can pick up at your convenience!

MY THOUGHTS:

I think this is a genius idea! When I was pregnant with my daughter, I can remember people requesting that I call them with the details as soon as I had my Baby. Honestly, I got tired just looking at the list of people to call with the good news. Of course there are people you will want to talk to directly, like your Mom, Siblings, etc. But for the long list of co-workers, Lamaze group friends, people from your Church, or more distant relatives, I think that using Baby's First Phone Call makes perfect sense! It will be one less thing you'll have to worry about doing, which gives you and your Partner more time to spend together as a new little Family!


BUY IT:

Baby's First Phone Call is available to buy in different packages, depending on how many people and phone numbers you would like them to call for you.

Package prices range from $20-$50

When you order you are mailed a Luggage Tag that you can bring along to the Hospital with you. The Luggage Tag has the phone number you'll need to call to record your special message!

They also have an add on feature that lets you add 5 Numbers to your package for only $2.50. This is a great feature if you buy your package and realize you left a person off accidentally!

WIN IT:

Baby's First Phone Call is generously offering $50 Gift Cards to six Readers!

TO ENTER:

Please leave a comment telling me who you would be winning this Gift Card for!

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

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Button to your site/blog
4. Become a fan of Ladybug Soup on Facebook
5. Follow Bay's First Phone Call on Twitter!
   
6. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet about this Giveaway

Giveaway will end on March 8th at 10pm CST. Winner will be emailed and announced here on Ladybug Soup. Winner has 72 hours to respond to that email or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US & Canada.

Disclaimer: No monetary payments were received for this post. I received a gift certificate to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own and different people may have different experiences with company and/or products.

Weekend Plans!

Tomorrow (or today...it's almost midnight!) I am going dress shopping again with my sister! She is getting married in early June, and she still needs to pick out dresses for her 2 bridesmaids.

I got my dress back in May....it really doesn't feel like that long ago! Wow, I just realized that, LOL!

I am going purely for support...just to do my duties as maid of honor and all of that fun stuff. At first I thought it would be slightly boring since I am not actually trying anything on.

But then I thought about it again...

I am NOT trying anything on! Woot! Dresses are my least favorite thing to buy, because I think they all look terrible on me. Self esteem issue? Probably, but it's too late at night to go into that, LOL!

So no pressure on me! I just get to help others pick stuff out and don't have to worry about what size dress I am or anything. Sounds like an easy day!

I got super brave the other week and tried on my dress I am wearing for the Wedding. Thank Goodness it still fits! Yes!

SIDE NOTE: Real quick diet update....I lost about 2 more pounds...but the last week I have been much more relaxed about my diet. Valentine's Day I ate a lot of good food, and it was so worth it. I haven't seen the scale go up at all, so I am hoping I reached a new comfortable weight I can stay at. I do plan to keep portions small, not eat butter, etc and start working out again soon. But for right now my motivation is wearing thin, and I am pretty okay with where I am sitting right now. I believe my total weight loss is about 8 pounds...I'd like to lose about 4-5 more though to be really pleased.

THEN...

Tomorrow night we are going out for an early BIRTHDAY DINNER! My actual birthday is not until Wednesday, but since it's a work night my family and I will celebrate early. It will be me, my daughter, my husband, my Mom, my sister, her Fiance, my nephew, my brother, and his girlfriend. Hopefully it will be fun and we will all get along. Sometimes when we all get together it can get a little tense (ahem..Christmas...) crossing my fingers for no arguments, LOL!!

Then on Sunday I am going shopping! I won a $50 off a $100 Old Navy purchase from 3 Kids And Us and that will be my present to myself :) I am crossing my fingers that they still have some clearance items so I can get more stuff!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Tommee Tippee: New Feeding Products Now Available in US!

Britain's #1 Feeding Brand has recently become available in the US! It's called Tommee Tippee and provides Moms with everyday baby/toddler essentials like bottles, sippy cups, bowls, and more! And best yet, it's BPA Free so you can feel comfortable knowing that your Child is eating and drinking out of a safe product.

Their products are designed to work with a progressively staged feeding range, promoting seamless transitions from bottles, first tastes out of sippy cups, to older toddlers learning the ways of a real cup! They have a leak proof/spill proof design that is great for learners and reduces the amount of spill, something any Mom will appreciate!

I was able to try a couple of sippy cups from Tommee Tippy, both the Spill Proof Trainer and the Spill Proof Sippy Cup. The trainers were a little too young for my daughter, since she will be 3 in April. But I could definitely see that they would have been perfect for her when she was about a year old and still getting used to a sippy. They have comfortable handles that the baby can easily grip, and a soft flexible spout that is gentle on your babies teeth and gums. There is also a handy hygiene cap that you can flip down when the cup is not in use, which helps keep the spout clean while you are out and about. And of course, it's BPA Free!


The Explora Truly Spill Proof Sippy Cup was great for my daughter...she is currently using them both very happily! The colors are fun and the little designs grabbed her interest right away. It also has a soft flex spout so it's extra gentle on her mouth. It's spill proof and BPA Free too. I like that the hygiene cap folds back and fits easily into the lid. When I first saw it I thought it might hit her in the mouth when she drank, but then SHE was actually the one who snapped it into place, LOL! What a smartie! So that feature has been a favorite! These cups are about $7,99 for a pack of 2.



BUY IT:

Tommee Tippee Feeding Products are now available at Babies R Us! They have a great looking truly spill proof drinking cup that I think would really help my daughter with learning how to use a cup. That is next on my to buy list!

Trainer Cups: $4.99 for one
Sippy Cups: $7.99 for 2


MORE INFO:

For more info on Tommee Tippee you can visit their website! They are also on Twitter & Facebook too if you'd like to Follow them there!

Disclaimer: I received the mentioned products free of charge from Tommee Tippee as part of a review opportunity from the Mom Bloggers Club.

Johnson's Baby Products: Give A Baby Shower Gift Any Mom Will Appreciate!

Throwing a Baby Shower can be so much fun, and is also a great opportunity to give the expecting Mom some gifts that will really help her to be prepared for her new addition! I remember my own shower like it was yesterday! I got so many great things, products I used almost daily with my daughter.

Getting a new Mom something she can actually use is easy and affordable thanks to Johnson's Baby Products! They have all of your essential baby items covered..like the PINK Baby Lotion, Gold Baby Shampoo, Head to Toe Wash, and Desitin...just to name a few! Johnson also expanded it's Bedtime Line with Bedtime Bubble Bath & Wash formulated with Naturalcalm essences, a unique blend of soothing aromas to help babies sleep better. Something any new Mom will appreciate!!


We regularly used Johnson's Baby products when my daughter was a Baby. We ended up buying the Johnson's Thick & Curly Shampoo/Conditioner because my daughter's hair would be impossible to brush without it. It made her hair so soft and manageable! We still exclusively use Desitin, it is the best in clearing up diaper rash and being a protective barrier to keep her skin dry at night.

Mom Central sent me some Johnson's Baby Products to review and it came at the perfect time! I recently threw a Baby Shower for a Friend who is due next weekend with her very first baby! It's such an exciting time for her, and I was happy to pass the items along to her! I know she will get so much use out of them, from day 1. She will be prepared for baths, diaper changes, and dry skin...and the Bedtime Bubble Bath & Wash will hopefully help the baby relax and get ready for sleep!

When giving these products as a gift, you can buy them in a pre-made gift basket that Johnson's sells...it is so convenient and has the cutest packaging! Or you can make your own gift basket, adding in your favorite Johnson items and choosing your own basket or storage Bin that the Mother can keep using! You can even throw in some bath toys for a fun extra touch!

Johnson's also has a great website that Mom's can check out to get advice and tips! Also there are some coupons you can print to save money on your next Johnson's Baby purchase!


"I write this review while participating in a blog Tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Johnson's and received samples of Johnson's Baby Products to facilitate my review"

Loving the Winter Olympics!

Anyone else totally enjoying the Winter Olympics??

I find myself really getting into it! On Tuesday I watched the Men's Figure Skating, and became an instant fan of Evan Lysacek. I thought he did an amazing job, and his excitement when it was over was contagious! It really had you rooting for him!

Tonight he skates again and I hope he can do well enough to beat the guy who is #1 right now, a guy from Russia (who is good) I'll be cheering him on tonight!
And did anyone see Snowboarding last night? I saw that the Olympics beat American Idol in the ratings race last night....and it has to be in part because of this guy!


Shaun White put on a spectacular show last night, and totally deserved that gold medal he won! The height he got was insane and the tricks he did were incredible. I also like his positive attitude, you can tell he really loves what he does!

Lindsay Vonn also won gold yesterday, which is really cool because she is from my State! I get scared just watching her zip down the mountain! I have skiied only once in my life, and it was a lot of fun but very hard! I had one HUGE wipe-out after I accidentally went down the wrong hill. It got confusing at the top of a long hill and different levels went different directions own the hill. Of course I followed my husband because I was lost, and went down a hill that gave me too much speed and too many turns.. I wiped out going so fast, and it was lucky that I stopped short of hitting a metal fence. It was funny after the fact though, LOL!

How about you? What have been your favorite sports to watch this Olympic Season?

Creativity For Kids: Our Valentine Fun & A Giveaway (Winner's Choice Of Kit!)

One of my favorite companies to work with has to be Creativity For Kids! They make a huge selection of kids crafts & activities, all in a convenient kit that comes with all of the necessary supplies. My daughter and I have had the chance to try out a couple of different kits, and they have each been so much fun! My daughter loves to do crafts and enjoys seeing what we can create together.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, earlier in the month we got to make the Shrinky Dinks I Heart You Cards. This adorable Kit came with everything we needed to make friend's & family some cute Valentine's!


Kit Includes:

12 Cards
Envelopes
Ribbon
Colored Pencils
Shrinky Dinks Film

We have made Shrinky Dinks together before, and my daughter remembered the steps to making them. First we colored the Shrinky Dink Film, which had designs like hearts, butterflies, candies, flowers, and sweet sayings like 'I Love You' Then we baked them in the oven for a few minutes, and my daughter watched them 'dance' and change size! This is always a fun part for the kids!

Then we got to decorate our cards! I let her choose what color card she wanted to do first, and which ribbon we should pair with it. Then I stuck the Shrinky Dink in the middle of the card, and she colored the inside.

MY THOUGHTS:

I thought this kit was a really fun way to celebrate the Holiday! 12 cards was just enough for a kid her age, we made them for members of our family. She was so excited and so proud of herself when she handed them out!

As a Parent, I appreciate that Creativity For Kids actually gives you everything you will need to crate the project. When our Colored Pencils got wore down, I found that they had included a pencil sharpener in the Kit! They thought of everything! The directions are also very clear and easy to follow, which is great when you are reading them to older children.

Now that my daughter is closer to three, she is becoming more involved with the crafts that we do. And Creativity For Kids has such a huge selection of activities, I know we will be using them for years & years to come!

CHECK OUT A FEW OF THE GREAT PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT CREATIVITY FOR KIDS!

These Kits are great for everyday craft/play time to use with your kids...and they also make a great Birthday Gift! Some of the kits also include projects that could be done with a group of Kids, so they would be great for a Playdate or for a Party Activity!

BUY IT:

Kits start at about $10.00 and can be purchased online or you can use their store locater to find a retail location near you!
WIN IT:

One reader will win their choice of any kit from Creativity For Kids!
TO ENTER:

Please visit Creativity For Kids and then leave me a comment telling me which product the Child in your life would enjoy!

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

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe By Email
3. Add my Button
4. Blog about this giveaway (leave the link)
   
5. Become a Fan of Ladybug Soup On Facebook
6. Follow me on twitter & Tweet about this giveaway (leave the link)

Giveaway will end on March 4th at 10pm CST. Open to US & Canadian Residents. Winner will be announced here on Ladybug Soup and emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond to this email or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: NO monetary compensations were given for this post. I received the mentioned product free of charge to facilitate this review. All opinions given are 100% honest and my own. Different people may have different experiences with products and/or company.

New DVD Release! Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Bow-tique!

My daughter and I both are huge Disney fans, and some of our favorite characters are those featured on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! On February 9th a new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD was released....and it stars our favorite girl Minnie Mouse!


Here is some more information about this new DVD:

For the first time ever, Minnie Mouse will star in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Bow-tique when it comes to Disney DVD on February 9, 2010.

This new release features four Minnie-themed stories including a never-before-seen episode and a fun Minnie magnet bow frame. Two episodes, ‘Minnie’s Pajama Party,’ and ‘Minnie’s Bee Story,’ include Disney’s Adventure Mode – an interactive game using the remote control with multiple play levels.

It's the grand opening of Minnie's Bow-tique, a store jam-packed with every kind of bow and bowtie imaginable. The selections include: the "Glow-Bow", a bow that changes color with every mood; the "Grow-Bow", a bow that grows to tremendous size by just adding water; flying "Butterfly-Bows"; and a "Photo-Bow" that snaps instant pictures. Problems arise when Pete, embarrassed about buying a lady's bow for his favorite aunt, causes a few accidental mishaps in the new store.

However, super salesperson Minnie finds the perfect bow for Pete. The Bow-tique's grand opening is a success - and it all ends in a Big Bow Show with the Clubhouse gang modeling the latest fashions under the biggest bow of all, a colorful, sky-high Rain-Bow. In a never-before-seen episode, Minnie’s Pajama Party Minnie and the girls set up a fun Pajama Party sleepover for the day – but it’s not as easy as it sounds, especially with the addition of Pete and Willie the Giant!

Click the 2 videos below to see a preview of Minnie's Picnic and Minnie's Pajama Party!

MY THOUGHTS:

My daughter has seen the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes before, so I knew she would love this DVD! I love that the animation is so bright and colorful, it makes it so much fun to watch! Minnie is my daughter's favorite character from this series, so she was thrilled that the episodes were all about her adventures. She has some stuffed Minnie dolls that we found before watching this movie, and she sat with them on her little couch and watched with them :)

This DVD includes some cute magnets that your Child can play with. She liked putting different bows on the Minnie Magnet, and I put the magnetic frame on our fridge to hold up one of our pictures. I like when DVD's come with a little extra something for the Child, it makes it that much more special! I would definitely recommend this DVD to parents with Children that enjoy Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and the whole gang!

EPISODES INCLUDED:

Minnie's Bow-tique
Minnie's Bee Story
Minnie's Picnic
Minnie's Pajama Party (never before seen episode until 4/6/10)

RUN TIME: 96 Minutes


BUY IT:

This DVD is available now and currently is sold for only $12.99 on Amazon!

Wordless Wednesday: My little Artist

Check out my 2 year old's newest talent! She can draw faces! The first time she did it, it was totally on her own....I didn't tell her how to do it. When she showed me I was so excited, LOL!

She'll draw them on paper or on her little magna doodle type boards too. She does the eyes, nose, mouth, and hair. When she draws her Daddy, she also includes his beard LOL!









She used to do the cute little eyes, but lately they look more like the last picture (above). We are working on ears too, when she masters those I'll be sure to share!

Hershey Kiss Candy Dish From Rock Concepts: Review & Giveaway!

Before I was a stay at home Mom, I worked in an office as a receptionist. I was stationed right in the front of the building, and happily greeted the frequent visitors we had everyday. At my desk, I always had a candy dish full of treats for the guests or the employees when they wanted a quick taste of some chocolate! It was a fun and easy way to brighten people's day and let them know it was a friendly environment.

I was recently introduced to a really fun and unique candy dish from Rock Concepts that I would have LOVED to have at the office!! It's a Singing Hershey Kiss Candy Dish and it is so much fun! The candy dish is in the shape of a giant Hershey Kiss, and when you lift the lid to take a piece of candy, the dish actually plays a clip of a real song! It plays the 1980 hit "Kiss On My List" written by Daryl hall and Janna Allen!

(Click Image Above to Visit Rock Concepts and Hear The Song This Candy Dish Plays!)

This candy dish is perfect for the office, if you like to set out treats for your coworkers...it is sure to make them smile when they get surprised by the tune playing! It is also great for parties or for an adorable place to keep your treats on your kitchen counter. It's actually a great product for Moms...you will always know when your Child is trying to sneak a treat from the dish, LOL!

MY THOUGHTS:

We were sent a Hershey's Singing Candy Dish to try out for ourselves. Before I even put candy in it, my daughter was immediately taken with the fun of opening and closing the dish, and listening to the song play. I honestly did not know the song before I got the dish, but I quickly learned the words, especially after my daughter played it over & over! Even she sings along now too!



I put some Hershey's mini candy bars in the dish and it fits about 1/2 the bag. It's not the largest dish, but that can be helpful if you don't have a lot of space at work or if you don't want too much of your counter taken up at home. I just put the other half of the bag away and will fill it as needed. I think this product is useful, fun, and something original that not everyone has. It's been great as our new treat jar!

OTHER PRODUCTS AVAILABLE:

At Rock Concepts, you will find this candy dish and other really fun novelty gifts that are great for your home & great for parties! They have some fun Football shaped chip bowls, and even a Singing Dog Treat Cookie Jar that plays 'Who Let The Dogs Out' which is hilarious!

The Baseball Glove Chip and Dip Holder would be a great gift for your Husband, since baseball season is almost here! The Chip Dish is shaped like a baseball glove and plays 'Take Me Out To The Ball Game' and the baseball opens up into a little dip dish! What a fun way to entertain your guests while watching a Game!

BUY IT:

To purchase your own candy dish ($14.99) or to see what other products are available, you can visit the Rock Concepts website!

WIN IT:

One reader is going to win their own Singing Hershey's Candy Dish!

TO ENTER:

Please leave me a topic related comment telling me one of these things:

Why you would like this product...Where would you keep it? What treats would you put inside of it? What's your favorite feature of this product?

You only have to answer one of those questions :) Just leave me a topic related comment to enter!

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

1. Follow My Blog
2. Subscribe to my blog by Email
3. Add my Button
4. Become a Fan of Ladybug Soup on Facebook
5. Follow me on Twitter
6. Tweet about this Giveaway

Giveaway will end on March 3rd at 10pm CST. Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond to that email or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received the mentioned product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and experiences are my own...other people may have different experiences with product and/or company.

3 Winners: Triaminic, UPrinting, and Cookbook

Today & all this week will be a major catch-up time for me! I have been sick for a week, and my daughter was sick even before that....so this house has been in sick mode for too long! Of course that means that blogging got behind, so I will be working on getting some things posted today & tomorrow.

Now that I am feeling a little better, I can finally form a clear thought :)

Here are some winners of a few giveaways that recently ended. I will be emailing everyone as soon as I choose them, so if you see your name watch for the email from me (check spam folder too!)

TRIAMINIC THIN STRIPS WINNER:

momtoem



UPRINTING POSTER:

Kim


Make Ahead Meals For Busy Moms Cookbook

Trixx



Congrats to all of the Winners!

Walgreens Gift Card Winner

Winner of $25 Walgreens Gift Card

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

253

Timestamp: 2010-02-11 00:25:17 UTC

Congrats Carolpie!!

I am emailing you right now, please respond ASAP to get your prize!

Thanks to everyone that entered! I enjoyed reading everyone's Valentine's Day gift ideas, it sounds like people are going to have a great day with their families!!

Winner of Evenflo Big Kid Amp Booster Seat!

Here is the winner of the Evenflo Booster Seat!


#142 Jaime


Congrats!!


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

Winners of EcoSmart Giveaway and Elvis 4 CD Box Set Giveaway!

Elvis 4 CD Box Set

#56..Carolyn Sharkas!

Congrats!

(confirmed)


EcoSmart Giveaway

#39 Jennifer!

Congrats!!

(confirmed)

More winners coming soon!

Let Walgreens Help With Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts! 24 Hour Giveaway!

THIS 24 HOUR GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!



Valentine's Day is just 4 days away? Do you have your gift bought yet? Or maybe you are having trouble deciding what to get the person in your life?

I can definitely relate to that! My husband is very hard to buy for...I am always a last minute shopper when it comes to his gifts. He just doesn't give me any ideas to go on! I ask him what he wants...and he gives me the vague answers we have all heard before. "I don't know.....Surprise me.....you don't have to get me anything (yeah right LOL!).

But this year there is help for those last minute shoppers like myself who need a little help picking out something great. At select Walgreens locations, this Thursday - Saturday, Walgreens beauty advisors will be transformed into Personal Gift Advisors to help you with all your shopping needs and questions! They will be there to answer your questions and help pick out something perfect for the special love in your life!

Personal Gift Advisors will:

• Identify Your Crush's (or Husband, Wife, etc) Unique Personality

• Suggest Gifts They Will Love

• Package Everything In A Special Ready To Give Gift Bag! (additional charge for bag)

I love shopping at Walgreens because they have such a great selection of unique gifts, cards, wrapping paper/bags, treats, and so much more...all at an affordable price! You'll also find cute plush toys for your kids, and even fragrances for your Husband! There really is so much to see at Walgreens, you will definitely want to check them out to find the perfect affordable Valentine's Day gift!

PERSONAL GIFT ADVISORS HOURS:

Thursday 2/11 - Friday 2/12: 4PM-8PM
Saturday 2/13: 10AM - 5PM

Be sure to check with your Local Walgreens to see if this special event is taking place near you!

WIN IT!

I have a special 24 hour Valentine's Day Giveaway! One lucky reader will win a $25 Gift card to Walgreens to help you with your Valentine's Day expenses!

Because this is a quick giveaway, please be sure to leave your email address in your comment or have it easily accessible in your Profile.

TO ENTER:

Please tell me what you plan on giving your Spouse/Significant Other/Kids this Valentine's Day! Or tell me what you are hoping to get FROM someone special!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

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

1. Follow my Blog
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4. Become a Fan of Ladybug Soup on Facebook
   
5. Follow me on Twitter & send out a Tweet about this Giveaway! You can do this 3 times in the 24 Giveaway period! (leave a comment with each tweet link) (If you click on SHARE below this post, then click on twitter, it will allow you to share this link easily & quickly)
   

Giveaway will end WEDNESDAY 2/10 AT 6PM CST. Winner has 24 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is open to US Residents only.

Disclaimer: I will receive a $25 Walgreens gift card to facilitate this review and to thank me for my time in writing this Valentine's Giveaway.

*********************************GIVEAWAY CLOSED**************************************

New OxiClean Stain Fighting Boost & Pre-Treater Tackle Toughest Stains!

As a Parent and Wife, I have seen my fair share of clothing stains. When my daughter was a baby, spit up would stain anything white. Now it's mostly foods like chocolate, red sauces, juice, Desitin (who knew about this one??) paints, and markers that I have to battle in my laundry room. Don't forget about my the messes my husband brings home like grass stains or oil stains from a car he fixed for a Buddy after work.

Normally I just use my main detergent for stains, and I really don't have much luck getting out the tough stains that set in quickly. This results in a lot of clothes that get wrecked, or becomne 'play' clothes only. Luckily the company OxiClean, who is a trusted and familiar stain fighting brand, came out with two new products to help us Moms save our clothes from permanent and garment wrecking stains.

First up is the OxiClean Max Force Power Paks that you can add to your regular load of laundry to give it a big stain fighting boost. This product is very easy to use...I just threw a pouch into my laundry machine that was already ready to go with with detergent and water. Then the machine and OxiClean did the rest! The great thing is that it works on whites OR colors, so it's the perfect solution for all of your laundry needs. If you have teen boys that play sports it's a great product to just toss in those loads for the extra (and needed!) help.



The second product is called the Max Force Gel Stick Pre-Treater and is great for applying right to your tough stains. The stick was very convenient to use, I didn't have to get my hands dirty and didn't have to worry about adding water. I had a chocolate stain on my daughter's shirt, so I used the Gel Stick to pre-treat the stain. I just threw the shirt in my laundry later that day, and it came out looking as good as new! You can actually use this Pre-Treater on stains that are up to a week old! Maybe you have a teen who likes to throw their clothes on the floor instead of putting them in their hamper...then you have to come around a few days later and discover that they had a nice grass stain on their jeans that normally would have stayed there forever. With OxiClean Max Force Gel Stick Pre-Treater there is hope yet in getting that stain out!

Each of these new products contains OxiClean's "4-in-1 stain fighting power" so whether grease, oil, blood, or dirt, appears on clothing, you know that dabbing with OxiClean will leave the garment looking new again after just one wash.

These new products from Oxi-Clean will be available for everyone to buy this month, so watch for them at your local stores!

"I wrote this review while participating in a Blog Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of OxiClean and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Celebrate Valentine's Day With Build-A-Bear! (Review & Giveaway)

If you are looking for a fun activity to do with your Children to celebrate Valentine's Day, you will definitely want to check out Build-A-Bear! Their newest stuffed friend is the adorable Be Mine Dalmatian, complete with a cute red heart on his collar, perfect for Valentine's Day!



The thing I love most about Build-A-Bear is how much your Child is involved with making their new friend. They really go out of their way to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone, and something your Child will always remember! How exciting is it to actually make your own stuffed animal?! So fun! For this review, I was provided a gift card to make our own Dalmatian, something we were very excited about!

When you first get to Build-A-Bear, you get to choose which animal you'd like to create. There are a lot of different creatures you can choose from..not just bears! I also saw bunnies, puppies, polar bears, and so much more! The prices start at just $10. After you pick your animal, you can select a little sound box to place in your Friend for an additional cost. There are lots of cute sayings, like giggles or barking, and you can listen to them before you choose them. You can even record your own sound to place inside your bear, which would be SO cute and fun!! I know my daughter would love to hear her own little voice when she squeezed her bear!

After you have your animal and have chosen your sound, you can go to the stuffing station!

My daughter isn't quite 3 yet, so she still gets a little shy/clingy when we stuff our bears. I think it's a combination of the noise and seeing someone new. She won't stand on the peddle to help stuff him, but she will happily pick out a little heart for her friend! I love this part, it makes it so sweet and special! They let you pick out a little red heart and place it in your animal before they tie him closed!

Here she is picking out her Puppy's heart!

After you place your heart inside, they tie your animal up real tight!



The friendly Girl that worked at Build-A-Bear even offered to take our picture together! This was fun because we are hardly ever in a picture, the three of us! One of us is always taking the picture!


Then you head over to give them a little 'bath' complete with brushes, cleaning spray, and big hair dryers :) My daughter liked brushing her Puppy's hair & paws!

Then comes the really fun part! You get to look through all of their adorable outfits and accessories!! Half the fun of these special animals is the fun of dressing them up in something great. They have pretty much everything you can think of...and more. I loved the Vikings outfit, complete with a helmet hat!! LOL!! My husband loved the Star Wars characters, and I will admit that I did too. Perfect for little boys who don't want the frilly tutus and dress up shoes :)

Here we are looking at outfits!

For this Puppy, we picked out a cute little red & black top and a black ruffle skirt that matched her perfectly. I thought it worked great in staying with the Valentine's Day theme. My daughter also picked out a little BONE accessory because she wanted to be able to feed her Puppy :) To complete the outfit, we picked out two little red bows to put around her ears, which were free!

After we picked out our outfit, we sat down at a computer so that we could print out a Birth Certificate for the Puppy! My daughter named him Max...pretty much every dog gets named Max these days! That is the name of my sister's dog that she adores :)




Overall, we had a wonderful time at Build-A-Bear! It is something that the whole family can enjoy together, and kids of all ages will love! Visiting Build-a-Bear is a great way to make Valentine's Day memorable and special for your Children!




BUY IT:

If you don't have a Build-A-Bear location nearby, you can still surprise your kids with one by ordering a furry friend online! They have a huge selection of animals, accessories, outfits, sounds, and some great Sale items too! Gift cards can also be bought online or redeemed online!

COUPON:

All of my readers can enjoy this Build-A-Bear Coupon! One for In-Store and one for Online! Click to enlarge. Expires Feb 14th 2010.



WIN IT:

One reader is going to win their own $25 Gift Card to Build-A-Bear!!

TO ENTER:

Please visit Build-a-Bear and then leave me a comment telling me the name of an Animal you think your Child would love, or an outfit they'd like to dress their Animal in!

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

1. Follow my Blog
2. Subscribe to my blog by Email
3. Add my button
4. Become a Fan of Ladybug Soup on Facebook
5. Blog about this Giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
   
6. Follow me on Twitter
7. Tweet this Giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
   

Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Giveaway will end on February 19th at 10pm CST. Winner will be announced on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a Build-A-Bear Gift card to review the mentioned product(s). All opinions and experiences are honest and 100% my own, and different people may have different experiences with product and/or company.

Neosporin Lip Health - 3 Day Challenge Blog Tour!

Mom Central recently introduced me to a new Lip Health Line from Neosporin, which is used to help repair and protect lips from the harsh cold-weather elements! I was excited about this opportunity because Minnesota winters are filled with freezing temperatures, wind, snow, and ice...most days this cold air leaves my lips feeling dry and chapped, which doesn't look or feel very good! Also Neosporin is a trusted brand that we go to when we have small cuts or scrapes, so I was curious to see how their new lip care would work for me.

The Neosporin Lip Health line consists of two products, the Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy and Neosporin Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy. Both are clinically shown to restore visibly healthier lips in just 3 days!




The Neosporin Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy includes these great features:

• A patented combination of antioxidants and essential lipids
• SPF 20 to protect against sunburn
• Peptide and emollients to help strengthen lips
• Glycerin to attract and retain lip moisture
• Lightweight formula absorbs quickly
• No parabens or other preservatives
• No artificial flavors

And at night you can use the Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy:

• A patented combination of antioxidants and essential lipids
• Peptide and emollients to help strengthen lips
• Vitamins and moisturizers to repair and nourish as you sleep
• Occlusive formula designed to hydrate lips overnight
• No parabens or other preservatives
• No artificial flavors

I had a chance to try out both of these products, and really test out the 3 Day Challenge! I was actually very pleased with the results! I use the Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy during the day. I love that the feeling is not greasy, and it absorbes quickly so I don't have to worry about the balm just sitting on my lips, looking obvious to everyone else! If I have chapped lips when I use it, it makes them look healthy and smooth...pretty much instantly! The tube is very convenient to use as well!

The Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy is definitely my favorite of the two! It comes in a little tub, and I quickly found out a little goes a long way! This product is definitely going to last me a long time, which tells me you are getting a lot for your money! It instantly makes my lips feel smooth and soft, before I even fall asleep I can feel the difference. I have also noticed that when I wake up in the morning, my lips are not chapped! I keep the Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy right on my nightstand, so that I can remember to use it at night. Very convenient!

Overall I was very pleased with this new Neosporin Lip Health line! I would say that my 3 Day Challenge was a success!

Visit the Neosporin Lip Health Website to learn more about these new products

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Neosporin and received a sample of the Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy and the Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy to facilitate my review and a $20 thank you gift certificate."

Why February Is A Great Month!

January is NOT one of my favorite months. At all. But now that boring, cold month is OVER! And it's February! One of my favorite months!

Here's a few reasons why February Rocks!

1. It's my BIRTHDAYYYYYY Month!!! I am turning.....25......again......this year, LOL! Okay, I lied. I will be 26 and I am not too happy about that. 25 was hard. But it still wasn't technically over that mid 20's hump. Now I am on my way down a slippery slope to 30 and it's not pretty, LOL!
2. Valentine's Day! Sure it's not the most exciting Holiday out there, but still a Holiday nonetheless. We will probably just get take out and watch a movie at home together. That's become our new date night :) I saw some super cute pj's & nighties at Target, so I am hoping for one of those as a Gift. Exciting right? LOL! I tend to let presents on this day slide because my b-day is shortly after....I prefer to get a nice b-day present instead!
3. Lost Season 6 Premiere!! Bet you didn't see that one coming! It starts TOMORROW NIGHT!! I am so, so excited for this, I have waited for so long to see this season. It's the final season of the show, and I am looking forward to seeing how they tie everything up at the end. But at the same time, I am sad to see it end! If you haven't seen this show, I HIGHLY recommend it!!

February will be a fun month!

What are you looking forward to this month??