Because It's Christmas - Group 5 UNWRAPPED - Chatterchix Starter Kit GIVEAWAY

*Girl* *Power* is the name of the game as we unwrap the next gift in the Because It's Christmas Kids and Charity Giveaway. A ChatterChix Starter Kit is the next gift and it is part of Group 5. What is ChatterChix? They are a new line of fun and educational trading cards designed just for girls ages 5 to 12 that YOU have a chance to win and the Relief Nursery of Collin County in Plano TX will receive, compliments of ChatterChix!

ChatterChix fits perfectly into our goals for Because It's Christmas as they apply to any and every girl aged 5 to 12 that embodies the timeless values of respect, responsibility and friendship. They are glossy cards that really demonstrate the diversity and personalities of American girl power across each of the 50 states. You'll meet girls like Rachel from New York who owns Labradoodle named Snickers, Elizabeth from North Carolina who makes paper dolls and Kaitlyn from Texas who's a swimmer.

Robyn Bard, inventor of ChatterChix, is a former teacher and mother of three who hopes to inspire a whole generation of young females to find a common ground in girls from every corner of the country who juggle homework, family, pets and after-school activities... just like them.

Beyond the original 50 ChatterChix trading cards - depicting one girl from each state - are ChatterPet™ cards and a fun looking website (www.chatterchix.com) that has places for diary entries, educational activities and some really great weekly chatter topics to help girls be able to support and uplift one another. With just-like-me topics including Buried In Homework and Privacy Please, girls share their best ideas to surviving horrible haircuts, piano lessons, little brothers and bathroom privacy - what I would not have given for someone to ask those questions to!

"There are many faces of normal," explains ChatterChix founder Bard who hails from Florida. "As a mother and an educator, it's important for girls like my daughter to see girls from coast to coast like Charity of California. Her entire family is vegetarian and lactose intolerant. As Charity so simply declares on her trading card, while holding up her surf board, it 'seems weird to some people, but it just seems normal to me!"

Collecting and trading the 30 ChatterPet cards are just as fun. There's Iowa's Patriot the horse, North Carolina's Rover the dog and South Dakota's Harley the bearded dragon. Florida's Coco the dog is the rarest must-have pet cards. Like all pets, these colorful critters teach girls about compassion, unconditional love and being a friend.

While girls will love reading about young people from various parts of the nation, they are actually getting a geography lesson, something they are sorely in need of. Each card lists fun facts about the ChatterChix's home state -- the capital, flower, bird and nickname - all kinds of things to make them fun and personable.

The trading cards come in packs of six random cards with limited edition cards like Emily from Florida, found in one out of eight packs. The cards are sold for $2.99 (US) per pack in national chains like Learning Express plus specialty stores from New Hampshire to Louisiana and beyond. ChatterChix™ is so terrific that it has been named Best Picks for 2008 from Dr. Toy!

My girls have yet to enter the world of trading cards but I have a strong feeling that after Christmas, they will be ALL Over them thanks to ChatterChix!

The items contained in a ChatterChix Starter Kit include a Trading Cards Binder, 3 packages of ChatterChix trading cards, a US map, and aset of sticks to help girls keep track of other Chix locations on the map. The binder is fun and functional, a perfect place to showcase and store your cards at home or on-the-go. The ChatterChix Trading Cards demonstrate that every ChatterChix represents a different U.S. state and she comes to life through her unique bio, appearance, personality and lifestyle. It will be impossible for your girls to not have fun!

ENTER TO WIN A CHATTERCHIX STARTER 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 a ChatterChix Starter Kit from ChatterChix, do the following:

• Visit ChatterChix 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 ChatterChix. (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

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

Lotus Bèbè brings Eco-Luxury for Babies

Collection of bamboo and soy baby blankets and accessories launched

Moorpark, CA - November 14, 2008-- Lotus Bèbè by Raulin Enterprises, Inc. recently launched a new collection of soybean and bamboo baby blankets and accessories to the eco-market.

The company, located in Southern California, was created by Kathleen Raulin, CEO and “Mommy-Entrepreneur”, in 2008 who says, “I couldn’t find stylish baby accessories that were also environmentally friendly for my own son. There were very few options out there, and what I found was pretty boring.”

The Lotus Bèbè collection includes luxury soy blankets, bamboo blankets, and petite blankies. The blankets come trimmed in 100% vibrant silk. For that sustainable luxury all little ones deserve. Each blanket comes tied with a ribbon and a tag printed on 100% recycled paper with embedded wildflower seeds. “We wanted to have the least amount of packaging of our products and also something that can be recycled.” says Kathleen. The tag can be planted in soil and in a few weeks wildflowers will sprout.

The chemicals used in the growing and manufacturing of conventional textiles can contribute to an overall decline in both our health and the environment, with sensitivities and health problems becoming more common. The many benefits of using bamboo and soy can help keep our children and our earth healthy.

The soybean fabric is produced by using the leftover dregs of tofu and soybean oil production and spinning the proteins into threads. Soybean is sustainable because it uses what would have been waste and turning it into something useful, namely soybean fabric. The production of soybean does not pollute the environment as the accessory and auxiliary agents are non-toxic and the residue after the protein is extracted can still be used as feed for livestock. The fabric produced by this process is light and smooth with a silky sheen. Some of the benefits of soy are:

· Naturally resistant to certain types of bacteria

· Wicks moisture away to help keep skin dry and comfortable

· Keeps out harmful UV rays

· Biodegradable

Bamboo is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass. Bamboo is by nature pest resistant and grown naturally without the use of pesticides or fertilizers and uses very little rain water. Bamboo also regenerates quickly and can be harvested repeatedly. The bamboo plants used for fabric is planted and grown on family-owned farms that have been in agricultural use for generations. The raw material bamboo is selected from a non-polluted region in the Yunnan and Sichuan province in China. The whole distilling and production process is a green process without any effect on the environment. The resulting fabric is light, almost translucent, and softer than cotton with a natural sheen that feels like silk or cashmere. In addition, bamboo fiber is a biodegradable textile material. As a natural cellulose fiber, it can be 100% biodegraded in the soil by microorganisms and sunshine. Some of the benefits of bamboo are:

· Naturally anti-bacterial

· Hypo-allergenic; won't irritate skin

· Double the absorbency of regular cotton

· Thermal regulating to keep the body cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather

· Keeps out harmful UV rays

· 100% Biodegradable

The Lotus Bebe collection is currently available at boutique shops including Juvenile Shop - Sherman Oaks, CA, Drool – Thousand Oaks, Ca, Baby Coo – Los Gatos, CA. The collection is also available online at www.peppyparents.com, www.organicbabygarden.com, and www.theglassbabybottle.com. The company is seeking retailers and wholesalers around the US to handle their line, please call 1(800)298-0803 for more details.

For more information please visit www.lotusbebe.com, or you may contact ARL Marketing & Public Relations at 954-376-8388 and via email at: Andrew@arlmarketing.com for media coverage, sample requests, and interviews.

More about Lotus Bèbè and Raulin Enterprises, Inc.

Lotus Bèbè by Raulin Enterprises, Inc. was created in Southern California, in 2008, out of a need for stylish baby accessories that were also environmentally friendly. They discovered the unique properties of bamboo and soybean fabrics and started looking for items made with either. Trying to find items made from bamboo and soybean was challenging, due to the fact that no one was carrying these items. So the idea of Lotus Bèbè was started. There product line was launched with hip mommas and poppas in mind, who want to give their children something natural, eco-friendly but at the same time luxurious.

About ARL Marketing & Public Relations, Inc.

ARL Marketing & Public Relations is a privately owned firm based in South Florida. The firm has clients across the US including New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. They also services clients in the United Kingdom. ARL Marketing | Public Relations is a firm that develops and executes programs that help companies achieve their sales and marketing objectives. For more information, please log on to www.arlmarketing.com

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!

Lotus+Bebe

It's the Sensible Thing to Do! (Sensible Sippers Review)

You should see my house after school (maybe you shouldn't!). It starts the minute I pick them up - "Mom, what's for snack!". Then we go through the usual litany of options ranging from pretzels with peanut butter to cheese sticks to granola bars. About this time, my 7 year old pipes up with, "Mom, those are all HEALTHY snacks. I want junk food!" And then we have that conversation for the umpteenth time.

Recently I was sent some of the R.W. Knudsen Family’s Sensible Sippers so one day I offered that as an option. You would have thought I had offered toxic waste so I gave one to her youngest sister who happily began to slurp it down. Next thing you know, the 5 year old wanted some and loved it. Seeing this, P1 was not about to be left out so she decided to try some. What do you know? She liked it! Hey, let's get Mikey! Seriously, all 3 girls were soon begging for more.

I, of course, was laughing all the while because, you see, the Sensible Sippers are actually good for you! They are 50% certified organic juice, 50% water to reduce calories and sugar, each contains 40% less calories than traditional juice boxes, and do not have any added sugar, artificial flavors or preservatives! Woohoo!

Now I use them in their lunches or when we need to grab a drink to go. The serving size is just about right at 4oz per box. They come in apple, mixed berry, tropical and banana and so far we have tried and love d both the apple and fruit punch. Another added bonus - they do not have a bunch of added coloring to stain or add problems for those with allergy worries. Seriously, these are real winners. And they are not hard to find either - you can get them at your local Whole Foods store. Their suggested retail price is $3.99-$4.49. for an eight pack - not too bad for something so good for you.

So would I buy them? Absolutely. All the time? Probably but to be used with discretion due to the cost. Would I recommend them? Absolutely! After all, it's the Sensible thing to do!:)

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

Once Upon a Time, Skin MD Was in the House: Product Review and Giveaway

Let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time, long, long, long, lo..(That is ENOUGH Longs )ago, I was born. I had the most fair and delicate skin. It was incredibly soft and almost velvety to the touch.


Time passed and this skin was exposed to the harsh realities of life - wind, cold, chemicals, heat. This skin that before was as velvet, often resembled a dry, cracked riverbed for it could no longer keep the right moisture balance.

One day, a new product arrived via special delivery, a product I had never before tried. It was not another cream. It was not another salve. It was Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion, designed to keep the harsh irritants out and moisture in. It was perfect for all parts of my body - face, hands, and body without leaving behind any sticky residue. Before long, great smoothness and softness had returned to my skin and there was rejoicing in the land.
THE END.

~~~~~

Okay, enough of the nonsense,

Here is what I found:

While the above tale may seem silly, it is entirely true. The product is a white, nearly odorless lotion, designed for use on all parts of the body. It is fragrance and colorant free, Dermatology tested, Non-comedogenic, Hypoallergenic, Paraben free and is involved with no animal products or testing. Natural products are used to create it, including Chamomile, Aloe Vera, and Vitamin E. It comes packaged in 4 oz. bottles, which is a 1 to 2 month supply with daily use.

Here is what I did like:

There were about a million things I liked about this product. When I put it on my hands, it readily absorbed into my skin, leaving behind no trail of greasy little fingerprints. It was basically odorless, meaning I could use it anytime, anywhere and use it on anyone, including my man (yes, you honey!)
Since it is a skin shielding lotion, it is perfect for my youngest with her dry Asian skin and winter-time eczema. I liked that when I used it on my face, I did not breakout, as I am prone to do. It provided a nice barrier of protection to put on make up over. And I really liked that a little dab'll do ya. Seriously, a dime-sized amount was more than enough for my entire arm. And my last and personal favorite? Instant gratification. (How sad is that?!) I can purchase it online or from any of a number of pharmacies near me, as I choose. Love it!

Here is what I didn't like:

I really have very little to say about what I did not like. It stood up to my rough, dish-pan hands and softened them and met all of my other requests at the same time. The only question that remains is if it is tough enough to take on my feet...but that is a topic for another time, trust me! lol

Here is what I say:

I am so glad that I tried Skin MD. Some of you know that I have really been concentrating on making myself feel better this summer and an all natural skin care product falls right in line with my new way of living. My skin is the largest organ I have and I probably give it the worst overall care but no more.

Take a minute and check out their website at www.skinmdnatural.com. It is sure to answer any possible questions you may have regarding this product. A 4 oz. bottle retails at about $18, however...

One lucky winner is going to be sent a 4 oz bottle, compliments of Skin MD and 3 P's Mama Says... so you can find out for yourself!

Here's How To Win:

~GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED~

To enter and win a 4 ounce bottle of Skin MD, please comment on this post with the ingredient found in Skin MD that most interests you. US readers are eligible.

The Giveaway Closes:
Tuesday, July 29th at Midnight (CST). I'll pick the winner using Random.org as soon as possible after that.

After the Giveaway:
Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a new site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

Good Luck!!



Don't forget to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
SkinMD+Giveaway