Because It's Christmas - Group 5 UNWRAPPED - Indoor Gardening Kit from Green Toys GIVEAWAY

The next toy in our Because It's Christmas Kids and Charity Giveaway, Group 5, has the honor of being awarded the Dr. Toy Green Toy Company of the Year, the Oppenhein Toy Portfolio Gold Award, and Parenting Magazine Toy 25 Toys of the Year! Created by Green Toys (who else?), YOU have a chance to win and the Relief Nursery of Collin County in Plano TX will receive an Indoor Gardening Set!

With this environmentally friendly indoor gardening kit from GreenToys, young green thumbs can watch nature at work by growing an indoor garden in just days. The set is complete with organic seeds and soil. Includes three yellow planters, one green planter tray, orange trowel, three packets of organic seeds (teddy bear sunflower, zinnia and basil), and three expandable soil disks. The pots, trowel and tray are all made from recycled milk jugs, right here in the USA.

The product is indicated for ages 5 and up but I imagine with a little supervision, there absolutly NO reason why our younger friends could not enjoy this as well. The boxed set measures 6 x 16 x 5 inches, a great shipping and wrapping size.

Of course, all of you ECO/GREEN friends out there will love what Green Toys strives for.

From the manufacturer:
We use recycled milk containers as the main ingredient in creating our toys. Yes, the exact plastic milk jugs that you and your family drink from every day. When you finish your milk and toss the container in the recycling bin, these milk containers are collected at your curb by a local recycling company, who then sorts them from all the other types of plastic. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. Our toys are truly local creations. Every step in the process, from milk container recycling to toy production to final assembly, occurs in California. Our raw materials and toys aren't shipped from overseas, which saves a lot of energy and reduces greenhouse gasses. It also guarantees your toys won't get seasick before they get to your home! We strive to minimize packaging, and all of our boxes use as little material as possible. All products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. So, not only are they earth-friendly and ready for your recycling bin, they are really easy to open for those little fingers just itching to get at the toys!!

Plus they are super duper safe! Green Toys products are tested by nationally recognized, independent, third-party labs (located, yes, in the USA.) They contain no traceable amounts of Phthalates or BPA. They are also designed without any external coatings, eliminating the fear of lead paint.

Green Toys products pass a plethora of tests, including:

Consumer Products Safety Standard Specification, ASTM F963

California Prop. 65 restrictions on lead & cadmium

FDA regulations for food contact

California regulations prohibiting phthalates in toys

Voluntary testing for no BPA (Bisphenol-A)

I just love this garden set. All the parts are really strong and high quality, it's amazing they are made from recycled milk containers. The seeds are all organic, and it comes with compacted soil that looks like a hockey puck but fluffs up into a full pot of soil. Very cool!!! And my 7 year old is all about finding out how things work and giving things a try. She will LOVE it!

ENTER TO WIN AN INDOOR GARDENING KIT

Note: by entering this giveaway, you are actually entering to win all the toys in Group 5. The more individual posts you enter, the more of a chance you have to win the Group prizes. The entries will be combined from all posts and a winner selected, so you have a chance to win the Group prizes even if you only enter on one post.

To enter to win an Indoor Gardening Kit from Green Toys Inc., do the following:

• Visit Green Toys Inc. and look around.
• Come back here and leave a comment telling us what you like best about the site.
  

That’s it!

To earn extra entries:

• Post our Because It’s Christmas button on your site (you can find the code for it on the middle right sidebar) - 5 EXTRA ENTRIES


• Blog about this giveaway and link back here and to Green Toys Inc. (the links must be active/clickable) - 5 EXTRA ENTRIES


• Subscribe to our updates. - 1 EXTRA ENTRY


• Enter a Because It’s Christmas giveaway over at What's That Smell? and come back here and tell us which post/giveaway you entered on. - 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER POST/GIVEAWAY ENTERED


• Enter a Because It’s Christmas giveaway over at 3P's in a Pod and come back here and tell us which post/giveaway you entered on. - 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER POST/GIVEAWAY ENTERED

Please leave separate comments for each additional entry, ie: if you blog about this, leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will run through Nov. 30th at noon central time and is open to the USA.



Because It's Christmas began Nov. 10th on my blog, 3 P's in a Pod and you won't want to miss a minute!

Christmas+Giveaway

Are YOU MISS-Matched Material?

Ever seen LittleMissMatched and their to-die-for cute leg warmers? Yeah, I KNOW! Well, if you have a way with words LittleMissMatched just launched a Tagline Contest on their site, that runs now through November 12th.

The Winner takes home $1,000! And there is even an award for Fan Favorite - $500! Woohoo!!

It's open to all ages with no limit to the number of times you can enter.

Go to LittleMissMatched for official rules and to actually enter. Good luck!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod...You just NEVER know What Might Happen There!!
Kids+Clothing

How Cute is This???

I have mentioned previously how fabulous I find the offerings at Notes from my Nest to always be in such fabulous taste. Well, she has done it again - Enter to win this darling hand-crafted little girl's cotton skirt with flower applique from Bella Blu Boutique! Visit Notes from my Nest to find out the details!



Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
Bella+Blu

And We Have a Trendy Winner!

Well, it is past time to draw for the lucky winner of the Trendy Tadpole contest. I do apologize for the delay so without further adieu, the results are:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

90 

Timestamp: 2008-08-07 02:26:59 UTC

Kelli!!!

She said..."I like the Panda!"...

So Ms. Kelli, just send me your mailing address and shirt choice including size and color if applicable so I can let Julie know over at Trendy Tadpole.

Congratulations!!

Thank you again to everyone who played...you just made me smile at all of your fun comments!

Watch for my next giveaway(s) to be posted either tonight or tomorrow so y'all come back now, y'hear?!:D



Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
Trendy+Tadpole

We are Starting a GREAT Trend -Trendy Tadpole: Product Review & Giveaway

Earlier this year, I was the lucky winner of this adorable t-shirt. It was from a brand I had been hearing a lot about but not tried and was excited for the opportunity. When the shirt arrived, I was in love - simple as that - and my romance with Trendy Tadpole products had officially begun.

Recently, Julie, the mastermind behind these hip and often hilarious products, was in need of a product review and you can believe I happily jumped at the chance. When the playful Panda shirt arrived, I was not the only one excited about it - P3 could not wait to try it on!

Here is what I found:

From the website:
What is Trendy Tadpole? Fun tee shirts on super quality fabric that is made in the good ol' U.S. of A. It all started in 2004 when I decided it was time to work for myself. My therapist says I am running a sweatshop but I am the only one in it! Yikes. My inspiration came from the students I was teaching and the kids I was babysitting and I love challenges. Trendy Tadpole and it's owner, me (Julie Pruitt), are a work in progress. I am bringing pop culture, a hint of nostalgia, and a pinch of fun to the table in every tee shirt. I am constantly changing designs, styles, and ideas to meet the needs of, well, um, you!...

The shirts, pants and hats are made from soft, breathable cotton and come in a variety of sizes from 3-6 mo and up. They are made in 4 distinct styles: Snapsuit (Onesie), Long Sleeved Lap Tee, Long Sleeved T-shirt, and Toddler Raglan.

The shirts run from $11 to $37 plus they often runs sales.

Julie repeatedly points out that they run small and shrink so to order with that in mind.

Trendy Tadpole happily ships their products to both the US and International addresses.

They donate to multiple philanthropic causes, in part from the proceeds from any and all purchases made through them.

Here is what I did like:

As mom to both Caucasian and Asian children, I really appreciate the diversity in the designs as well as the simplicity - they can be worn with so many things! Not only do they have some of the most precocious and fun designs but their products come in the softest cotton I have ever felt! I love putting them on P3's sensitive skin because I know they will not chafe or itch. And they wash like a dream! I simply turn them inside out and wash them with a load of cold items and they come out, looking as good as new.

Here is what I didn't like:

Once again, there really is not much of anything I did not like about them. The only thing I found to be challenging was the sizing. Julie cautions you repeatedly on the site that the sizes run small which is helpful knowledge. It is difficult however, to know what size exactly to order if you know they run small but are unsure of what size they are exactly. Thankfully, as a t-shirt, they are very forgiving and were actually truer to size than I expected. Other than that, everything was perfect!

Here is what I say:

I would not hesitate to buy these shirts and clothes one minute. Julie has been a breeze to work with and I have been so pleased with the products. Above all, the softness of the shirts is completely incomparable and something that should be found in every child's closet. Just ask P3. She says...

"Buy More Trendy Tadpole Shirts!!"

And the best news of all is that Julie has graciously offered to let one of my readers win one of her delightful shirts so they can find out for themselves!!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This Giveaway is Now Closed. Thanks!

What they're giving away:
One winner will receive their choice of one shirt from the Trendy Tadpole site. Remember, they have fun shirts like this

and this

among many others.

How you can win:

Go to the site, look around and decide which design is your favorite then comeback here and leave that information in your comment below. Easy!

Who is eligible:

You must have a US mailing address. You don't have to be a blogger to win, just supply a valid e-mail address. Make sure to leave me that email address though because if I cannot get ahold of you, you cannot win!

When the giveaway ends:

The giveaway will run now through next Sunday night, Aug. 3rd at midnight CST. I'll pick the winner using Random.org as soon as possible after that. you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a new site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

Good Luck!!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
TrendyTadpole+Review

Oooh, A Chocolate Lolipop (slurp!)

Kait Emerson Designs is giving away a darling Chocolate Lollipop Dress to one lucky winner. The giveaway is being hosted by Notes From My Nest. To enter, visit http://notesfrommynest.blogspot.com/2008/07/week-of-july-19th.html, for details. Deadline to enter is noon (EST), 7.30.08. Open to US residents only.

And if you think this dress is cute, wait until you see the Euro Dress in Sky Blue Lotus, the Euro Tunic in Pink Lotus, and the China Dolls Luxury Blanket! To die for!!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!

Homeschoolers Need Love Too!!!

**This was a recent review I did for fun on my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod.**

I saw this on The Girl Indie Blog and had to laugh. This actually touches on one of my pet peeves. See, I have many friends who Homeschool their kiddos and while it is not something we do, I can see a lot of merit to it. My pet peeve though is the folks who do it but do their kids a huge injustice by not socializing them, not keeping up with their studies and basically raising illiterate children. (I'll now step away from that soapbox:).

This shirt is just one of many cute items the Homeschool Boutique sells allowing families to show their Homeschool pride. They have one that says "100% All Natural Homeschool Chick - No Preservatives Added" and a cute Mom shirt with a 'Survivor'-style logo saying "Mom Survivor Homeschooling Tribe" not to mention many others.

Their products look to be good quality, created by a Homeschooling family themselves. They accept Paypal as well as many different credit cards as forms of payment and they ship the products within 48 hours of purchase.

So for all of my Homeschooling buddies, those I don't know or any Homeschoolers that you know, stop by the Homeschool Boutique and see how many creative and fun products they carry because, after all, Homeschoolers need some love too!!

Homeschool+Shopping