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Posts under ‘The Mommy In Me Review’

V.Reader by V Tech Review and Giveaway

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I’m so excited to be teaming up with VTech to let you know about the new V.Reader which just hit store shelves this week. The VTech V.Reader is available exclusively at Target and it’s a fun and exciting way for kids to fall in love with reading.

The V.Reader is a story-time system that allows kids to keep multiple books on one unit. You can download up to 100 additional stories online, including some free titles and you can also purchase additional cartridges which contain both games and stories.

Here are my 2 favorite features of the V.Reader by VTech!

Reading Skills:
The V.Reader teaches reading comprehension, vocabulary, phonics and word building, along with a story dictionary that describes word definitions in a manner that’s easy for them to comprehend.

Touch and Read System:
Kids have two play options – listen and follow along to the story as read by animated characters; or touch the screen and play reading games to learn each word or sentence.

I really felt like this reader was great for both young and older kids. I love that it’s almost like watching a movie only you are seeing and hearing the words all at the same time. It’s a perfect match for those kids who like to be in front of the TV rather than with their nose in a book.

I felt like the best way to give you a good feel for the V.Reader was to show you a quick Video Here’s a quick run through of some of my favorite things about the V.Reader. I hope it gives you an idea of what this product is really like. I think you’ll love what you see.

GIVEAWAY: 1 Lucky Passion For Savings Reader will win a V.Reader.  Here’s how you can enter to win!

1. Comment - Leave a comment letting me know what your favorite Childhood Book was.

2. Subscribe – You can either subscribe in a Reader to my RSS Feed or you can Sign Up for FREE Email Updates. Leave a separate comment and let me know you are a subscriber.

3. Tweet - Follow @Passion4Savings on Twitter. Leave a separate comment letting me know you are a follower.

4. Share – Make sure you “Like” Passion for Savings on Facebook. You can leave a separate comment for an additional entry once you are following our facebook page.

If you are reading this in a Reader or by Email then you will want to CLICK HERE to leave a comment!

Details and Disclosure: This Giveaway will end at Midnight PST  on Monday, July 12th. Winners will be selected at Random and notified by email. You will have 48 hours to respond to the email to claim your prize. I received both a sample product and product to giveaway in exchange for hosting this giveaway however all reviews and opinions are mine and are not influenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

Calculate Your Savings with Parent’s Choice Formula

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This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

I talk a lot about saving money, and a lot about my kids so I was excited to be able to share with you a way to save money if you are planning on, or currently using formula. Parent’s Choice Formula has a great website with a Savings Calculator that can help you figure out just how much you can save by using Parent’s Choice Formula over the Leading National Brands. I calculated how much you could save by using Parent’s Choice over Enfamil and here’s a screen shot of the estimated savings:

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Your savings in one year simply by using the Parent’s Choice brand is $634! That’s a lot of money that you could be saving by making one simple change. Now I know that a lot of babies have special formula needs, but I was surprised to learn that Parent’s Choice has 9 Varieties of formula, in fact you can even us this formula finder to figure out which formula is right for you. It said the Parent’s Choice Advantage would be right for my little girl. You can try the Formula Finder for yourself to see which formula is right for you.

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I would love to know if you’ve tried the Parent’s Choice brand and how it worked for you!
Visit my sponsor: PBM

Eleven Shoes: Summer Collection Review & Giveaway

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Can you believe that this weekend marks the Un-Official start of Summer? I’m having a hard time figuring out just where the beginning of the year  has gone. My kids are growing up so fast and with all that growing comes the need for new shoes. :) Recently we were given the chance to try the eleven brand of shoes for my son. I was excited that he’s finally big enough to wear these shoes because they have some great colors and styles in the new Summer Collection. Check out all these great looks that are a part of the Spring/Summer 2010 Collection.

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We got a chance to try out the Nolan Shoes for my 2 year old son and let’s just say I’ve put them through the best testing you can find (A Highly Active 2 year old boy). I know that while I initially shop for shoes based on style my ultimate goal is finding something that holds up well. I also want something that’s comfortable, easy to get on and off and easy to walk/run in.

To start of with my favorite feature the style, I instantly fell in love with the cute selection of the new Spring/Summer line from eleven shoes. I do have to say that I think the girls collection is very cute and I can’t wait for my little girl to wear these shoes, but I was disappointed that there wasn’t more variety in the boys collection.

I wanted to make sure these held up well because they aren’t the most frugal shoes that you can buy and I am a big believer in Quality so I can justify paying more for shoes if they are going to last. We’ve probably been wearing these shoes almost 2 months and I am impressed that they still look as good as new. They have a few scratches here and there, but overall they have held up well. I also love the Velcro closure which makes it easy for my son to get these on and off. One last feature that I love is the Grip of the bottom of the shoe. It’s got a great support as well as a good tread for easy and secure walking (or in our case running).

You can see the entire eleven collection here.

GIVEAWAY:

1. Visit The Eleven Shoes Website and pick out your 3 favorite styles. Leave a comment with your top 3 selections!  

2. Become a Subscriber to Passion For Savings either by RSS or Email Updates - Leave me a separate comment letting me know you are a subscriber.

3. Share this giveaway on Facebook, and don’t forget to “Like” Passion For Savings while you are there. Leave me a separate comment with the link to your post.

4. Follow me on Twitter @Passion4Savings and leave me another comment letting me know!

Disclosure: I was provided with a sample product and the giveaway prize. All opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway will end on Friday, June 4th and the winner will be notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.

Buckle Up America Week: Merino Sleep Bags Review & Giveaway

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Did you know that this week is National Buckle Up America Week? In honor of National Buckle Up America week BabySleepBags.com asked me to share the new Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag with you and they are even giving you a chance to win one of your own.

I know you are probably asking yourself. What do Sleep Bags and Wearing a Seat Belt have in common? Well, if you’ve ever tired to transport a sleeping baby then you know it can be difficult. The Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag has a unique travel friendly opening that allows you to safely buckle in your baby while they are wearing the sleep bag. This allows you to transport a sleeping child without removing the sleep bag.

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I’ve been using the sleep bag with my little girl since we stopped swaddling her a few weeks ago and I love knowing that she won’t suffocate from having a blanket over her face. The Merino Kids sleep bag is designed to safely sleep from newborn to 2 years of age in one bag. That means you save money because you don’t have to go buy a new sleep bag as often as you are buying new clothes.

542Here are a few of my favorite features of the sleep bag:

- Soft and Smooth Merino Fabric. You can’t beat the softness of this product, the 100% Merino lining helps to reduce moisture and regulate body temperature.

- Under Arm Size Adjustments. There are snaps under the arms of the sleep bag which allow you to customize the size of the bag. I love that I can have the security of a smaller bag by using the snaps located higher up. This helps to make sure that my little girl doesn’t fall down into the bag.

- Freedom to grow. Since the bag is made to fit newborn – 2 years of age you don’t have to buy multiple bags. The one size fits all is great for several reasons. First, I don’t have to invest in more than one high quality sleep bag. Second, I don’t have to find a place to store multiple bags. One bag is easy and efficient.

- Easy Care, Easy Access. This bag is Machine Washable which makes it easy to care for during the years to come. I also love the Full Zipper around the bag that makes it easy to get on and easy to get off.

- Unique Vent Function for Travel. Once again I want to emphasize that you can have your child in this bag while having them buckled in the Car Seat or Stroller. It’s the perfect lightweight accessory to outdoor events since your child can be warm and safe at the same time.

Make sure you visit BabySleepBags.com to check out all the great Merino Kids Sleep Bags. They come in some great colors and are the perfect baby gift for the expecting mom!

GIVEAWAY:

BabySleepBags.comhas offered to give one lucky Passion For Savings Reader their very own Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bpag. Here’s how you can win!

1. Visit BabySleepBags.com and take a look at the Colors of Merino Sleep Bags. Just leave a comment telling me which color you would love to win.

2. Sign up for the Baby Sleep Bags Newsletter or Connect with Baby Sleep Bags on Facebook. Each option will get you an additional entry just make sure you leave a separate comment for each.

3. Become a Subscriber to Passion For Savings either by RSS or Email Updates - Leave me a separate comment letting me know you are a subscriber.

4. Share this giveaway on Facebook, and don’t forget to “Like” Passion For Savings while you are there. Leave me a separate comment with the link to your post.

5. Follow me on Twitter @Passion4Savings and leave me another comment letting me know!

Disclosure: I was provided with a sample product and the giveaway prize. All opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway will end on Friday, June 4th and the winner will be notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.

The Mommy in Me: Baby Bond Review

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When it comes to privacy and feeding your baby there are all kinds of options out there, and I’m sure if you’re like me you have tried more than one yourself. Today I wanted to share a product that you might not have seen yet.

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Baby Bond is a unique type of Nursing Cover that gives you coverage without hiding your baby’s face. You can use this for Privacy while at the same time maintaining eye contact with your baby. I recently got to try out the Baby Bond nursing cover. Here are my thoughts.

Let’s just start off by saying that I was not a big fan of nursing covers with my first baby. Well, actually I wasn’t a fan of blankets, I found them hot and sticky, My son didn’t like having his face hidden and I just decided it wasn’t worth it unless I was over at a family members house or at church (You know, somewhere you would want to be more discrete) So basically it was an Only use when I have to kinda relationship.

With my second child I kinda feel like I need to be more discrete even at home. I know my Son is only 2, but it’s maybe just more of a personal comfort level for me. Here’s what I love about the Baby Bond Nursing Cover. It’s not hot and sticky and my baby doesn’t feel like she’s hiding. This is especially nice at Home where I want some privacy but I don’t want to deal with a blanket or nursing cover. It’s small and easy to just leave laying over the rocking chair arm rest and it’s ready to go when I need it.

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If you’re looking for a new alternative to nursing covers then you might want to check out the Baby Bond website. They have 3 different versions and several colors for you to choose from.

Giveaway: Bravado Nursing Tank

I’ve mentioned Bravado Designs before because of their great fitting nursing bras. However Bravado also has a great nursing tank. I recently had the chance to try the Bravado Tank in the New Lagoon Blue Color. You can see all the great colors here.

My Experience:

I was excited when my Bravado Tank arrived. I am at that point where I’m sick of my maternity clothes and not quite back into my pre-pregnancy clothes so let’s just say I was ready for something new! The first thing that caught my eye was the amazing color! Let me tell you, the new Lagoon Blue color is even prettier in person than it is on the screen. I immediately starting thinking of items in my closet that I could pair it with.

The Shape of this nursing tank is great, I love the shape of the neckline because it makes it look like more than a tank, and I love the extra design of the “Ruching” at the bust. This tank is perfect for layering with a sweater, or cardigan and I’m sure it will be great by its self when it gets a little warmer.

The Support provided by the built in bra is great! I love that I can feel comfortable and confident in this tank. I also love that the tank opens completely providing easy access for nursing. It has quickly become one of my favorites.

The Length of the tank might be a little short for my tastes, I typically like a long tank so that when I’m playing on the floor or getting in and out of the car it covers my jeans and doesn’t ride up. This tank does a good job of staying in place, and it comes to the top of my jeans, just not quite as long as I typically prefer.

Overall I really do love this tank, I love the support of the full bra and I love the shape and design of the tank. The possibilities really are limitless, I feel like I’ve given a little life to my post-maternity wardrobe.

Shopping:

You can purchase the Essential Nursing Tank on the Bravado Designs Website. The original tank starts at $45 and there is also a bamboo version available for $45 on sale right now.

Giveaway:

I’m giving one lucky Reader a Chance to win a Bravado Nursing Tank! Here’s how you can enter.

1. Visit Bravado Designs and take a look at the “Features” of the Nursing Tank. Come back and leave me a comment letting me know what one of them is.

2. Become a Subscriber via RSS or Email Updates  - Leave a Separate Comment letting me know you’re a subscriber.

3. Share this giveaway on Twitter, or Facebook and leave me another comment with the link!

Please use the Google Form to leave your comments! Thanks.

 

All Giveaways are subject to our Site Terms & Disclosure Policy. You must include your email address so that we have a way to contact you if you win. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. Giveaway will end on April 30th, 2010.

The Mommy in Me: Think Baby Review & Giveaway

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Make sure you check out my New giveaway over at The Mommy in Me – Right now you can read all about the Think Baby Products and enter to win a set of 9 oz. BPA Free Baby Bottles!

And of course don’t forget to Follow The Mommy In Me by Email or RSS to stay up to date on the best products and deals for Mom and Baby!

Here’s a sneak peak at what’s been going on this week:

The Mommy in Me: ERGO Baby Carrier Giveaway

Baby carriers are quickly becoming a “Must Have” on every registry. With so many carriers on the market it can be hard for new moms to know exactly what to try and where to begin. Recently ERGO sent me one of their Organic Carriers along with the Heart to Heart insert so that I could give you my opinion.

ERGO Baby Carriers are designed with a baby in mind. With a unique design to support a baby’s natural sitting position ERGO Carriers are stylish, comfortable, and practical. So many carriers do not provide proper support to a baby. The ERGOcarrier is designed to eliminate compression of the spine of the baby, while also distributing the weight and reducing stress on the parent as well.

My Experience:

I was able to start using the ERGO Baby Carrier with my newborn thanks to the Heart to Heart insert (I will talk more about this later). The first thing I noticed about the ERGO was the waist support. The other carriers I had tried did not have the same support features for the parent so I loved how secure and comfortable the carrier felt.

I also thought the ERGO Carrier was easy to get my baby into. I know some carriers require a lot of practice to use quickly, but I found when my little girl was crying or I needed a carrier I could quickly get this on and get her inside without any help.

The Ergo carrier is very versatile, you can use it as a front carrier or a back carrier, and I was surprised to learn there is even a positioning for the hip. The Ergo carrier has given me freedom to have my baby close while still accomplishing daily tasks; in fact, I have my little girl in the ERGO right now as I write this post.

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Review: Medela Freestyle Breastpump

For the past 25 years Medela has been one of the leaders and supporters of Breastfeeding moms. Medela’s devotion to developing products that excel both in quality and design have made them a company that Moms know and trust. With a wide range of products Medela has something for everyone from the mom who is working full time, to the mom who just needs to pump for the occasional time away from her baby.

There are a lot of great benefits to breastfeeding including the money that you can save. Medela products are known for their quality and dependability as well as the wide range of options their products provide. There is a style and model to fit every moms needs.

The Freestyle, Pump in Style, and Swing Breastpumps are three of the daily use pumps that Medela provides.

The Swing Breast pump is a mobile pump with 2 phase expression. This is a single pump designed to be the smallest and lightest pump that Medela offers.

The Pump In Style is designed for moms who pump several times a day. This is a portable and convenient way to express milk, and this style also includes Medela’s signature two phase expression system.

The Freestyle Breastpump is the first hands-free double electric pump by Medela. This allows you to use the exclusive two phase technology while maintaining the use of your hands. It’s the best in mobility, freedom and flexibility and perfect for moms who pump frequently.

My Experience:

Knowing that we were expecting a little girl, Medela was kind enough to send me a Freestyle Pump so that I could share with you my personal thoughts on this product.

Two Phase Expressionis a term that Medela uses a lot. I really think you have to have tried another pump and experienced this technology to fully appreciate the difference it makes.

Two Phase Expression is an exclusive feature of Medela pumps that is a close similation to the sucking of a newborn. Phase 1 is the stimulation phase that simulates fast and light sucking of a baby in the beginning and Phase 2 is a timed change over to the stronger and slower phase that delivers the most efficient milk production.

With my first baby I used a hand pump that was no where near as efficient as the Freestyle. I am amazed at how quickly and easily the milk is expressed. The expression phase automatically changes after 2 minutes, but you can also adjust the settings, or manually control the change to Phase 2. I also love that you can program in your own settings with the memory button!

Another great feature of the Freestyle Pump is the Hands-Free adapter. You can use the Hands Free set to pump while still maintaining the freedom to work on your computer, read a book, or talk on the phone. I have to admit I was a little intimidated by the look of the adapter, I wasn’t sure exactly how it would work just from looking at it, but after reading the detailed instructions it was a breeze to use.

I really think Medela has done a great job implementing all of the things that moms want most in a breast-pump. If you are planning to pump frequently then you will want to consider the freestyle since it’s Medelas only Hands-free system.

The Freedom that a Breast pump can provide might just be my favorite feature. As a nursing mom I love the convenience of breastfeeding, but there are still times that I need to be away from my baby, and having a good pump allows me the freedom I need on a daily basis.

I love being able to leave my baby with my mother when I need to knowing that I can take my pump with me and pump just about anywhere. The Freestyle pump is rechargeable so I can charge it at home and I don’t have to be attached to or find for that matter an outlet when I am ready to pump.

Accessories, Storage and Collectioncontainers are one of the ways Medela products set themselves apart. Originally I thought I would use generic storage devices or containers, until I realized that the Medela products are all designed to work together. I can take the storage containers and attach them directly to my pump so that I don’t have to transfer the milk once it’s pumped. I can also pump directly into the Medela bottles for feeding, or my favorite feature, I can pump directly into the freezer storage bags!

To Buy….

The Medela Freestyle pump is something you should look at as an investment. This is a product that you can invest in with your first child and expect it to last through multiple children. You also have to think about the time you are saving and the freedom you gain. To me, the freedom to provide for my sweet little girl, while still accomplishing the things that I need to in a day is a worth a little extra. I also realize the cost is minimal combined with the savings of breastfeeding.

Or Not to Buy….

I think the biggest hindrance is probably the cost of the products, but again Medela offers a wide range of products that are perfect for just about every one’s needs and budget so make sure you select a product that fits your lifestyle. If you need help selecting a product Medela has a great product selector on their website that will help you choose the right pump.

Where to Purchase:

You can purchase Medela products from Authorized Retailers or Medela Certified Nursing Centers. Also, I’ve found a few of the replacement parts and storage containers on sites such as Amazon.com for a great price.

*Product provided for review purposes. See our disclosure policy for more details.

Product Review: Bravado Designs

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Bavado Designs is giving away a gift basket worth $450! This amazing gift pack includes products from brands like Philosophy, Sephora, Godiva and 5 amazing products from Bravado! Click Here to Register to win this great gift pack!

BRAVADO REVIEW:

After my first son was born I spent almost a year in search of a nursing bra that was comfortable, had a great fit, and held up to constant use. I purchased nursing bra after nursing bra and just wasn’t satisfied. In fact, I ended up basically wearing nursing tanks most of the time because they were just easier and more comfortable than most nursing bras I could find.

The great people at Bravado took the time to help me find the perfect nursing bra! I am currently loving the Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra it’s the perfect combination of comfort and support. If you’ve been on a hunt for a great nursing bra, I suggest you give the Bravado products a try.

WHAT I LOVE:

Here are just a few of my favorite features of the Bravado Nursing Bras.

  • Comfort & Fit are two of the things that I have struggled with. I tend to have problems finding a nursing bra small enough to fit correctly. This is the first nursing bra I have had that actually fits correctly. In fact, this was my favorite bra to wear while I was pregnant because the soft, stretchy fabric made it one of the most comfortable bras in my closet.
  • Design is key when it comes to a nursing bra. Some don’t open far enough, others don’t close with one hand, it’s all about the design in my opinion. The Bravado line has a great closure system along with a full open panel. I love nursing in this bra becase of the ease the design provides.
  • Style is something normally lacking from nursing bras. I think Bravado has done a great job creating not only a functional product, but a stylish one as well. This is something you can wear with confidence, and if you have a wild side you can even find a Leopard Print bra to fit your style.

THE DOWN SIDE:

I think the thing that hindered me the most from trying these bras the first time is the price. Bravado bras are slightly higher than what you will find at the mall, but sometimes you can spend twice as much searching for the perfect inexpensive bra rather than buying 1 high quality bra to start with.

Another thing that I don’t like is that it’s hard to determine what size to order from the website. Bravado has a great size chart, but I’m kinda the type that likes to try things on before I buy them so I would much rather shop in a store for this type of product.

SHOPPING:

You can purchase Bravado Products On the Bravado Website, or you can purchase them in select retail stores. Prices range between $35 – $54 and you can also find some great deals on the Sale Page!

* Product provided for review purposes, All opinions are completely my own. See our disclosure page for more information.

Make sure you check out TheMommyinMe.com for even more great product reviews! You can also sign up for email updates, or follow us here.