Modern and Classy Designs Review & GIVEAWAY!

It’s coming. As much as I have wished September would never get here it is just around the corner. So, as we prepare to send our wee ones back to school (no matter the age) let’s continue to have a little fun with this Back To School Review and GIVEAWAY Event!!

I have been a Facebook fan of Modern and Classy Designs for some time now – though I can’t remember how that came about (* the wonders of social networking!). Modern and Classy Designs offer a number of unique, PERSONALIZED items for all purposes and occasions.

I had been searching for a personalized pencil box or pencil case for the Back To School Event, but hadn’t seen anything that really jumped out at me. Although Jennifer at Modern and Classy Designs didn’t carry anything like that, I contacted her with this special request because I had been admiring her designs for some time now. She immediately agreed and whipped up this fabulous pencil box…

As I have mentioned before, I am a teacher headed back to work this fall after an extended Maternity Leave. This is a perfect box to take with me! It has a fun design that does not come off easily as one might expect – no need to worry about fidgeting hands with this one! It also holds all my ‘teaching essentials’.

Don’t have a little one headed of to school next month? This personalized box would suit many purposes – holding hair clips and a brush, ‘treasures’, a snack, you name it!

Personalized items are so popular nowadays, and Jennifer has a little something for everyone! For the Moms with young babes check out these personalized wipes cases, baby bottles and pacifiers. She also offers piggy banks, bibs and bags!

For those of you planning a wedding and are looking for that perfect item to give you wedding party, how about personalized wine glasses – in your wedding colors?!

Jennifer at Modern and Classy Designs has such a wide array of products from store signs to vinyl decals to embroidered items to mirrors to key chains to cups!! Here are a few of my faves…

BUY IT!

Head on over to Modern and Classy Designs and pick up a truly personalized item at a fantastic price point!

WIN IT!

Jennifer at Modern and Classy Designs has offered one lucky Take A Mom’s Word For It reader a Personalized Pencil Box!!

Mandatory Entry

As always, please leave your email address with every comment (unless it’s in your profile)… you don’t want to win and then have me not be able to reach you!

Simply "like" Modern and Classy Designs on Facebook - yup, that's it!

Bonus Entries

2 Entries: Visit Modern and Classy Designs on Facebook and have a look through the many, many products Jennifer offers. Comment under your favorite and then come back here and leave me your FB name.

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It via Google Friend Connect.

2 Entries: Follow AMomsWord on Twitter

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use this sample tweet:

“#Win a Personalized Pencil Box from Modern and Classy Designs on @AMomsWord Ends 9/10 #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/2cr6nkc"

This can be tweeted up to 3x day (at least an hour apart)!

2 Entries: Post my button on your blog.

1 Entry: "Like" Take A Mom's Word For It on Facebook.

2 Entries: Sign up for Email Notifications from Take A Mom’s Word For It

10 Entries: Make a purchase from Modern and Classy Designs and tell me what you bought and when.

Good Luck! Ends September 10, 2010

Giveaway is open to Canadian and US Residents

Disclosure: I received a personalized pencil box for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Girl Gotch Review & GIVEAWAY!

There’s no way around it… we ALL need underwear! ;) And with 3 girls in underwear now (yay! for successful potty training!) I feel like I am forever buying underwear (and socks – but that’s another story!)!

I was recently introduced to a Canadian company called Girl Gotch – and guess what?! They specialize in underwear for girls, “that’s too cute to be boys’” – right up my alley!! For review I was sent 2 boxes of gotch – size 2 and size 6… all my girls got to give it a try!

Little S who is a tiny size 2 was sent the boxer-style to try… this underwear is SOO cute – like little ‘boy cut boxers’! And in fact, when I opened the package we had a few people over that totally thought they were great!

First of all, I love the non-traditional colours. It’s always refreshing to see products for girls that are not pink or purple.

The boxers fit Little S great! As I mentioned, she’s a pretty tiny girl so although the boxers were a little roomy they offered great coverage in a super soft fabric.

Miss A and Miss H received the brief-style which was inspired by the original “tighty whitey”.

The big girls LOVED these! The 3 colours are vibrant and girly – which was a hit! They offered great coverage and what’s more, the band at the top does NOT have a seam on the side(s)! Often times I get complaints about other underwear digging into their sides with certain pants or while sleeping – not the case with these!

One other feature I wanted to note was that Girl Gotch is made of 95% cotton and 5% spandex so they’re sure to fit great and retain their shape!

Here’s a little on how Rebecca founded Girl Gotch, “One afternoon, we were at my sister’s house. My daughter and nephew were playing outside and were so wrapped up in their fun that my daughter had an accident. I didn’t have a change of clothes, so I borrowed a pair of my nephew’s gotch. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but as the day went on I noticed that she wasn’t complaining about her underwear hurting. I also watched her jump and play around and they stayed in place. The gotch covered her whole bm, which was something her panties never managed to do.

That got me to thinking…why don’t they make gotch for girls? And so, Girl Gotch was born and that brings me to today. I have been working with designers and manufacturers to get what I believe are the best girls’ underwear on the market!”

Girl Gotch is a little more expensive than I’d usually pay for underwear, but in this case you definitely get what you pay for!!

BUY IT!

Head on over to Girl Gotch today and cover your little girls’ fannies in a great product!

WIN IT!

Rebecca from Girl Gotch has generously offered one Take A Mom’s Word For It reader 1 box of Girl Gotch a week for 3 WEEKS! That’s 3 whole boxes – what a great way to start back to school!

Mandatory Entry

PLEASE leave your email address with every entry (unless it’s in your profile).

Rebecca and Girl Gotch are entered into the Savvy Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Go HERE and vote for Rebecca and Girl Gotch. Be sure to leave a comment on the Savvy Mom page (for contest tracking) AND then here on this post to be entered to win 1 box a week for 3 weeks!!

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: “Like” Girl Gotch on Facebook and tell her I sent you. Please leave your FB name so I can verify your entry.

1 Entry: “Like” Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook. Already like me?! Aw shucks! Please tell me!

3 Entries: Update your Facebook status telling all your lovelies about this great giveaway. Please tag “@take a mom’s word for it” in your post.

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It Blog through Google Friend Connect.

1 Entry: Follow me on Twitter HERE.

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. You can use this sample tweet:

“Win 3 boxes of Girl Gotch – it’s too cute to be boys’! @amomsword ends 9/8 #giveaway #win http://tiny.cc/dmxnh"

This can be done 3 times a day max(at least one hour apart) for 2 entries each time until the giveaway closes. Be sure to include the permalink to verify.

3 Entries: Post the Take A Mom’s Word For It button on your blog. Please leave me the link.

3 Entries: Sign up for email notifications from Take A Mom’s Word For It. Don’t forget to confirm your subscription through Feedburner.

10 Entries: Make a purchase from Girl Gotch. Leave me your name, what you purchased and when.

Good luck to everyone! Open to Canada & US only.

Giveaway ends September 8, 2010

Disclosure: I received 2 boxes of Girl Gotch for review purposes. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

CSN Stores - Happy Shopping!

Ok people... need lights, need handbags, need shoes, need a car seat?! CSN Stores is your one-stop shop to SHOP! I hadn't heard of the CSN family of online sites until I started reading a few great blogs, and now?! Who hasn't heard of them? They have fantastic customer service and thousands of products to choose from!

If you're in the market for, well, just about anything, be sure to check them out - you wont be disappointed!

Happy Shopping!

My Dandelion Wishes GIVEAWAY!

Yes, get ready for a little shameless self-promotion... ;)

I have officially opened my own etsy shop! I had been thinking about it for some time and finally thought, “What am I waiting for?” So, to generate a little buzz and celebrate my opening, I’m doing my own giveaway!!

My shop is called "My Dandelion Wishes" and has a pretty similar feel to my blog – calm, serene. I just love the image of dandelion seeds blowing in the breeze. My girls and I call them wishes. When some people are suffering from allergies we’re out there blowing wishes and having a great time! J

As many of you already know, I am currently a stay-at-home-mom, but not for too much longer! I’m headed back to teaching this fall and anticipate the household being crazy busy! As a result, most items in my shop are ready made. That being said I am always open to special requests and questions – never hurts to ask right?!

My Dandelion Wishes carries items for Mom, child and babe. Check out this super funky and unique crocheted Rainbow Splash Necklace for Mom.

It’s super light weight and totally safe for babes to chew or pull!! And at only $4 it’s a total steal for the statement it makes!

I have also been busy crocheting luxurious baby blankets – these blankets are made from a pattern that was passed down to me (taught only, never written down) by my Grandmother and have such a great bubble-like texture.

With 3 girls at home it’s only natural that I’m drawn to all things girly and pretty – these Large Boutique Flower Hair Clips certainly fit that bill!

I can make these in virtually any color combination! They’re great for attaching to hats and also get great reviews when included in birthday party loot bags!

My current fave item in my shop are these totally irresistible Crocheted Owl Hats. I can make them in any size from NB to adult! My girls just LOVE theirs!

These hats would also look super cute on a babe for his/her first Halloween!

BUY IT!

Head on over to my shop My Dandelion Wishes and make a purchase – every order over $20 (before shipping) will receive 2 FREE Boutique Hair Clips!! Not only that, but scroll down and you’ll see it will also get you a few extra entries into the giveaway!

WIN IT!

One lucky reader will win a Crocheted Owl Hat! You choose the size, up to 12 months and whether you’d like it for a boy or a girl!

Mandatory Entry

As always, please leave your email address with every comment (unless it’s in your profile)… you don’t want to win and then have me not be able to reach you!

Visit My Dandelion Wishes, have a look around and choose your favorite item then come back here and tell me what it is.

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: Heart My Dandelion Wishes on etsy and leave me your username.

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It Blog through Google Friend Connect.

1 Entry: “Like” Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook. Already like me?! Aw shucks! Please tell me!

3 Entries: Update your Facebook status telling all your lovelies about this great giveaway. Please tag “@take a mom’s word for it” in your post.

1 Entry: Follow me on Twitter HERE.

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. You can use this sample tweet:

“Win a super cute, hand Crocheted Owl Hat @amomsword ends 9/14 #giveaway #win #crochet #etsy #handmade http://tiny.cc/rpkry"

This can be done up to 3 times a day (at least an hour apart) for 2 entries each time until the giveaway closes. Be sure to include the permalink to verify.

3 Entries: Post the Take A Mom’s Word For It button on your blog. Please leave me the link.

3 Entries: Sign up for email notifications from Take A Mom’s Word For It. Don’t forget to confirm your subscription through Feedburner.

10 Entries: Make a purchase at My Dandelion Wishes. Leave me your name, what you purchased and when.

Good luck to everyone! Open to Canada & US only.

Giveaway ends September 14, 2010

Disclosure: I am the owner of My Dandelion Wishes. All opinions are my own.

3 WINNERS!

3 Giveaways ended in the last few days... check to see if YOU are one of the lucky winners...

All winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond before another winner is found.

Congratulations!!

Diana Couture Review & GIVEAWAY!

If you are a Facebook fan of mine – and you should be ;) you’d know that I have recently dabbled in my lost past time of crocheting. My Grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was a tween and I have only recently begun to experiment with different patterns and yarns.

During all of my ‘creating’ it became increasingly apparent that I needed some form of organization for the project(s) that I was working on. I needed a bag that would be functional, have pockets and a place for my hooks, easily transportable, and lastly – fashionable! Being an etsy lover I immediately did a search for project bags. There are a lot of shops out there offering project bags, but none compare to the bags I found in Diana Couture.

Diana from Diana Couture is a knitter, teacher and designer. In her shop she offers not only practical solutions for the knitter/crocheter, but also highly stylized and hip items. I received this Serena Project Bag for review…

Doesn’t it just scream classic handbag?! The print is great, and so too is the inside…

The bag offers a number of envelope-style pockets perfect for hooks or needles, small pattern books, measuring tape, and the like. This bag measures 8”wide, 6”deep and 8” tall and is perfect for those mid-sized projects – not to mention a few extra items like my small container of buttons!

The bag is so versatile too which is a total win for me – the more bang for the buck the better! Since the bag is sturdy, when open, it stands like a basket which means no wasted time fiddling! It also spots a good length handle for easy transport!

Before finding this bag, I was using an old, larger sized handbag. While crocheting I found my yarn looking a little fuzzy – from the zipper! My yarn was actually rubbing on the zipper as I pulled at it! You will not have that problem with this bag! Your yarn can rest safely inside while you pull the strand through the small opening in the front of the bag – genius!

Diana Couture also offers this bag in a larger version for those larger knitting or crocheting projects. LOVE Damask!

And how about these super cute and funky Owl Yarn Holders offered in a couple different sizes?!

And for all the knitters and aspiring knitters out there, Diana Couture offers these great Stitch Hoodies! Here’s what Diana Couture says about them: “These unique on-needle project holders keep stitches from falling off the needles, keep needles stored together and help protect needles from damage”. I think these would also protect your hours of work from curious little hands!

BUY IT!

Head on over to Diana Couture and pick up a little something for your crafty-self. Don’t crochet or knit? Each one of the items in Diana’s shop would make a perfect gift for the knitter or crocheter in your life! Yes, Christmas isn’t that far off! ;)

WIN IT!

Diana from Diana Couture has generously offered one Take A Mom’s Word For It reader this set of 3 Stitch Hoodies!!

Keep curious little fingers from ruining hours of work!

Mandatory Entry

As always, please leave your email address with every comment (unless it’s in your profile)… you don’t want to win and then have me not be able to reach you!

Visit Diana Couture on Etsy and add the Stitch Hoodies to your favorites (“heart” them!). Then come back here and leave me your etsy user name – simple, right?!

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: “Heart” Diana Couture’s shop and leave me your etsy user name.

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It Blog through Google Friend Connect.

1 Entry: Check out Diana’s Blog HERE and make a comment on one of her posts – just wait til you see the wedding dress she made!! Just let me know which one you commented on.

1 Entry: “Like” Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook. Already like me?! Aw shucks! Please tell me!

3 Entries: Update your Facebook status telling all your lovelies about this great giveaway. Please tag “@take a mom’s word for it” in your post.

1 Entry: Follow me on Twitter HERE.

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. You can use this sample tweet:

“Win a set of 3 Stitch Hoodies from Diana Couture. Protect your work @amomsword ends 9/8 #knit #giveaway #win http://tiny.cc/w0wwz"

This can be done 3 times a day (at least 1 hour apart) for 2 entries each time until the giveaway closes (to a max of 3 times a day). Be sure to include the permalink to verify.

3 Entries: Post the Take A Mom’s Word For It button on your blog. Please leave me the link.

3 Entries: Sign up for email notifications from Take A Mom’s Word For It. Don’t forget to confirm your subscription through Feedburner.

10 Entries: Make a purchase at Diana Couture. Leave me your name, what you purchased and when.

Good luck to everyone! Open to Canada & US only.

Giveaway ends September 8, 2010

Disclosure: I received the above Serena Project Bag for review purposes. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Today is my Birthday!!

Yup! Today is my birthday!! I already enjoyed a lovely dinner with my family last night - surprise guests and a RED cake included! I was also spoiled with gifts :) Today we're headed off for the weekend... hoping to get a few bloggy-issues tidied up and posted. Stay tuned for 3 great new giveaways!!

Have a great weekend - I know I will! :)

Piggy Paint WINNER!

The winner of the $15 GC to Piggy Paint (as chosen by Random.org) is...

Congratulations to Britney!! I just need to confirm your purchase and you're ready to go!

If you weren't as lucky as Britney you can still save 10% (until September) with the code MOMSWORD10L. Happy piggy polishing!

Little Sprout Baby Review & GIVEAWAY!

Let’s face it – we could all use a little organization in our lives. Whether it’s a few baskets in the bathroom drawer (lifesaver in our house) or a 12 month, color-coded deluxe calendar, different things work for different people at different stages of their lives.

With two 5 year olds and a 2 year old, my household organization is a work in progress – and so too is my van! Although we have 2 vehicles, the van is our only means of transporting all the girls at one time. As such, (despite my best efforts) there are often hair bands, toys, books, hats, and miscellaneous items strewn about!

Enter Little Sprout Baby. Amy from Little Sprout Baby describes herself as “a traveler, a runner, a wife, a teacher, a gardener, a new Mommy and a sewist.” She says that “life is a fabulous journey with all of its twists and turns. My sewing is inspired by my everyday needs and wants – oh and fabulous fabric!” Amy handcrafts everything found in her shop. I was fortunate enough to review a Car Toy Organizer from Little Sprout Baby and I have to say, I’m a BIG fan!

This is the organizer I received for review:

The Organizer is considerably hefty – something you really can’t appreciate from any of the photos. The seams are top-stitched and the loop is made of durable webbing. The colours co-ordinate beautifully and add a nice visual touch. It is definitely *the* most attractive thing in my van!

Unfortunately (or fortunately) I was so pumped about giving the Car Toy Bag a try that I never took a before photo! Gah! But I will say it has alleviated nearly all of the toy clutter!

Now, despite the Organizer being able to hold – a lot, I like to just put a few things in at a time and roll the edge down just a little so Little S can reach everything. That way I can switch the things out and it keeps her interest.

Little Sprout Baby offers a number of “adorable products for practical uses”! Just check out this super sweet child backpack. I’m always hearing about how most children are lugging around bags that are much too big for them.

Amy also carries diaper bag organizers – where were these when my twins were smaller?!

If you’re in the market for a little something for yourself, be sure to check out Little Sprout Baby’s Messenger Bags. There's no reason why us Moms need to be last on the purchase list EVERY time!

This little number is one of my favorites - Linen and Poppy Wristlet.

BUY IT!

Head on over to Little Sprout Baby and check out their range of super cute, super functional wares. BUT WAIT! Amy from Little Sprout Baby has generously offered all Take A Mom’s Word For It readers a 15% discount!! After you’ve made your purchase, just write in the “Comments to Seller” that you found her shop through Take A Mom’s Word For It. You’re discount will be refunded!

WIN IT!

CLOSED

Enter to win a Car Toy Organizer from Little Sprout Baby and say good-bye to your clutter!

Mandatory Entry

As always, please leave your email address with every comment (unless it’s in your profile)… you don’t want to win and then have me not be able to reach you!

Visit Little Sprout Baby, browse around and choose your favourite item (good luck choosing only one!) and come back here and tell me what it is.

Bonus Entries

2 Entries: Add Little Sprout Baby to your Favourites (please leave me your etsy username)

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It via Google Friend Connect.

2 Entries: Follow AMomsWord on Twitter

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use this sample tweet:

“#Win a Car Toy Organizer from Little Sprout Baby on @AMomsWord Say good-bye to clutter! Ends 8/31 #giveaway #handmade http://tiny.cc/qvbg2"

This can be tweeted up to 3x day (at least an hour apart)!

2 Entries: Post my button on your blog.

2 Entries: Sign up for Email Notifications from Take A Mom’s Word For It

10 Entries: Make a purchase from Little Sprout Baby

Good Luck! Ends August 31, 2010

Giveaway is open to Canadian and US Residents

Disclosure: I was provided with a Car Toy Organizer for review purposes. All opinions are my own.