BJ's Spring Clothing Line: REVIEW

We have been members of several warehouse club stores in the past, but our favorite has been BJ's. We like that BJ's accepts manufacturer's coupons in addition to their own coupons, carries brands you will find in the grocery or discount store, and accepts major credit cards. And their store brand diapers are great (and cheap)!

Recently, I was contacted by BJ's regarding their new spring line of clothing. According to my contact, you can dress a family of four for under $100.

Spring highlights include:

• Men’s IZOD Short Sleeve Polo – 100% cotton. Available in a variety of colors. Small – XXL. $14.99-$16.99 ($50 Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP))

• Men’s Nautica Jeans – Assorted washes. Sizes 32-42. $19.99 (Compare to more than $49.50 at department stores)

• Women’s Liz Wear Knit Top– Short sleeve chiffon trim mixed media top. Available in various colors. Small – XL $14.99 ($39.99 MSRP)

• Women’s Liz Wear Crop Pant – Available in black, khaki, chocolate and olive. Sizes 4-18. $19.99 (Compare to $65 at department stores)

• Girl’s Nicole Miller Knit Tops & Capri Sets – Charmeuse and knit tops with capri bottoms in various colors and patterns. Sizes 12-4T. $12.99 (Compare to $38)

• Boy’s Wes & Willy T-shirt & Short Sets – Graphic tee and nylon short sets in various colors. Sizes 3-8. $12.99 (Compare to $39)

= $98.94 BJ’s pricing, $291.49 value

BJ's offered me a $25 gift card to try out some spring things for the girls. There were a bunch of cute choices:


But as soon as Sydney saw the Dolly and Me outfits, we were sold.

Too cute, girls!

If you are not a member of BJ's, you can print out a free 60-day membership pass, which must be activated by July 5, 2010.

BJ's provided me with a gift card to try out their new spring line. All opinions are my own. Pricing information provided by BJ's.

Lamaze Play and Grow Doll: REVIEW

I was recently sent the Lamaze My Friend Emily Doll to review. My little ones always liked Lamaze toys as infants, we have owned several over the years. This Emily doll is equally fun, with bright colors, crinkles, rattles, textures, and jingles. She has a nice big link on her hat to hang her from the stroller so she won't get lost and she has a friendly smile to keep baby's attention.

Ebeanstalk is a website that sorts toys by age and includes many categories of kids toys. There are educational toys for all ages and even a nice assortment of books.

Ebeanstalk sent me the Lamaze My Friend Emily Doll to review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post, and the opinions expressed are my own.

Introducing Ebeanstalk

Recently, I was contacted by a website called Ebeanstalk to review a few baby toys and other items. Joel will be helping me when he makes his grand appearance in a few weeks.

I took a look around their website, where they also sell a variety of toddler toys and learning toys for many different ages. You can search by age of child, gender, or brand. One thing I thought was unique was their "Gift Series" program, where you can purchase a pack of four toys and they will send one to your child every three months, specifically tailored to your child's age at that time.

Joel and I look forward to reviewing some of the products from Ebeanstalk!

Enfant Pediatric Vision Testing

*Disclaimer: This is a compensated post, sponsored by Enfant Pediatric Vision Testing.

I first got glasses in second grade and wore them until I finally was allowed to get contacts in seventh grade. My vision is horrible; without my glasses or contacts, I can't even see the big "E" on the vision chart. So I have always wondered about my girls and how their eyes will turn out to be.

Somehow, my husband has better than perfect vision (I don't know how that's possible, but there you go). Although I will say that my night vision is far better than his. So far, it seems that our girls have inherited his eyesight. And I hope that continues!

I was recently made aware of a new technology in vision testing for children. The Enfant Pediatric VEP Vision Testing System is, according to their information, a "non-invasive, child-friendly medical device that tests for visual deficits...in preverbal children, ages six months and older." When testing young children, the system is able to assess vision without requiring a response from the child.

The Enfant is also able to test for amblyopia, or "lazy eye," in addition to several other vision disorders. The company has also developed an online assessment tool to help parents understand some of the red flags that may indicate a vision problem in their child.

Being able to see clearly is so important for children, and often they are unable to articulate their difficulty in seeing. I remember the first time I got my glasses in second grade and put them on. On the way home, I kept saying, "I can see the leaves on the trees!" I just couldn't believe that it was possible to see so well. Hopefully the Enfant can help many more children be able to see clearly.

*Disclaimer: This is a compensated post, sponsored by Enfant Pediatric Vision Testing.

Lil Boo and Co. GIVEAWAY!

Do you know someone who is having her second baby? Are you planning a road trip, taking your kids to the doctor's office or a wedding? I have the perfect toy that is adorable and quiet, courtesy of Nicole from Lil Boo and Co.


Check out this cute Color Caboodle (TM) crayon roll:





It is made out of soft felt and comes with eight Crayola crayons, although you could easily fit two crayons in each slot if your child wanted more choices. There are several different fabrics to choose from, and each roll is only $7! Pair it with a coloring book and you have a great birthday gift. My girls wanted to color as soon as they saw the Color Caboodle. It will be the perfect thing to bring when we go to the shore next weekend. We won't have any crayons rolling around in the car!



Nicole has a variety of sweet and well-made products in her Etsy store, including hair clips and Boo Boo Cubes:





These "ice" packs are made of soft flannel and also come in a variety of patterns. They are filled with rice and can be frozen for a cold pack or warmed quickly in the microwave to give heat.



Since we received the Boo Boo Cube, my girls have wanted it every time a boo boo was even hinted at. It is so soft, and when frozen it is not painfully cold like some gel packs. Even 2-year-old Sydney was able to keep it on her bumped head without protesting. Well, without protesting the cold at least! These cubes go for just $4.



And it gets better! Nicole has graciously agreed to give away one Color Caboodle and one Boo Boo Cube to one of my readers. To enter, just go to Lil Boo and Co.'s Etsy site and tell me which pattern you would choose for the Color Caboodle and the Boo Boo Cube. Contest ends Monday, 5/25. US addresses only, please.

The Greatest Show on Earth

On Wednesday night, Rich and I took the girls to the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus at the Spectrum. Thanks to Mom Central and the Feld Family Activators, we were given seats in the first row. We were happy to see the winner of my giveaway, Courtney, with her husband and son, Double L.

We took Audrey and Georgia to the circus three years ago, and we weren't that impressed. But WOW, did they improve it since then! We had an incredible time!

Our seats were amazing. The ringmaster stopped by for a pose:

And the elephants and horses paraded right in front of us! My favorite parts were the elephants and the zebras dancing. The big girls were amazed by the acrobats, while Rich loved the high wire act.

And Sydney? She talked about the tigers for the rest of the night and is still talking about them. "Kai-gers! Raaar! Raar! RAAAAAAR!"

If you can get there, I highly recommend "Zing! Zang! Zoom!" And when you call for tickets, use the code "MOM" to get four tickets for $44, and any additional tickets at $11 each.

Florastor Kids: GIVEAWAY

I don't know about you, but my kids have had a sick, sick winter. I feel like we should just rent an apartment above our pediatrician's office. When one of them gets sick, I know that we will be returning to the doctor with the other two in a matter of days.



And often, they have strep throat, an ear infection, or another sickness that requires antibiotics. When my middle daughter, Georgia, was an infant and toddler, she used to get terrible diarrhea every time she was on antibiotics. The only thing that helped was to give her Florastor Kids with every dose of her medicine.

According to the company,

Florastor Kids is a clinically-tested, natural, yeast-based probiotic that aids in the growth of good microorganisms in the intestines, while destroying and removing disease causing microorganisms to help maintain or restore optimal intestinal health. Unique because it can be safely given to babies and children from the age of two months, Florastor Kids is a great-tasting powder that can be dissolved in beverages, including infant formula, or soft foods, such as applesauce.

Georgia hasn't had a problem tolerating antibiotics lately, but Florastor Kids really got her through some discomfort.

Florastor Kids is usually available at the pharmacy counter. Your child does not need a prescription, but in our area it is stored behind the counter. The retail price for twenty packets (good for twenty doses, or about one course of antibiotics) is $21.95. Yes, it's pricey, but in our experience it was totally worth it.

I have one box of Florastor Kids available for a giveaway. Just leave a comment on this post to enter! (US addresses only, please.) Giveaway ends on Sunday, April 26.

Tilty: "a better sippy cup" GIVEAWAY

The other day, Sydney got her first review product in the mail--Tilty, "a better sippy cup." Usually, Sydney would rather use a regular cup like her sisters, even though she is not yet two. But when she saw these new sippies, she wanted to try one out right away.

The Tilty is BPA free and dishwasher safe. It has a "snap on lid without a valve--as recommended by the ADA, American Dental Association." The cup also claims to have "ergonomic design [which] makes drinking easier and more comfortable."

The main difference I can see between the Tilty and our other go-to sippy, the Take-N-Toss, is the way the cup is angled to make it easier for babies to drink without tilting their heads back too much. Other than that, both cups are valve-less, which is good because children don't have to suck so hard to drink. The drawback is that cups without valves are DRIPPY. But that doesn't really matter if children are just drinking at mealtimes or snacktimes, when they are at the table anyway.

Sydney likes drinking out of her new cups. Since she is already used to drinking out of a regular (lidless) cup, it hasn't made a huge difference for her, but I can see how it would help a younger baby. A young baby would get a much more realistic drinking experience and would probably have an easier time transitioning to a regular cup after using the Tilty.

There was one minor problem I had with the Tilty--it is dishwasher safe (top rack) and due to the open bottom design, water pooled in the bottom of the cup extensively. Not a big deal, but it might be better to close off the bottom in future designs of the Tilty.

Tilty cups are available at select retailers or online at the Tilty website for about $6 for a two-pack. If you would like to win your own pack of two Tilty cups, please leave a comment. US addresses only, please. Contest ends Sunday, April 26.