Mission Mommy: Chronicles of a Mom Blogger

Strider Running Bike Giveaway

Learning to ride a bike is not easy for most kids. It can take years of practice on a tricycle, then a bike with training wheels. Kids will eventually want to have a "big kid" bike. With the Strider Running Bike, kids will no longer have to go the long, drawn out (and painful!) experience of learning to ride a bike. Designed for children, ages 1 - 5, the Strider running bike holds several advantages over ordinary beginner’s bikes. This bike is designed without pedals to teach little ones to balance a bike. And, that is the hardest part of the whole experience.

Naturally, the earlier you start, the better. Kids will have more time to learn the ropes, and will be on a "big kid" bike well before his preschool pals. Learning to balance a bike without having to pedal first enables them to actually figure it out naturally. Learning to balance takes more practice and is hard enough without having to coordinate pedaling to get around.

If your child can walk, they can ride a Strider bike. Strider Sports sent us a pink Running bike for Allie to experience. The bike comes ready to assemble, including its own wrench. Allie is a little cautious with all she does, but she eventually got on her new bike and was ready to go! The seat is height adjustable, so it'll grow with her. Practice makes perfect, and soon she'll be able to get the Princess bike she wants. We told her she would get one once she's able to ride a "big kid" bike like her brothers. She is more than ready to learn with that incentive!

Of course, learning to get to the point of riding a bike without training wheels takes time. But, I'm anticipating she will be there well before her brothers were able to. Srider's first test rider- after riding a Strider prototype for only six months -- was riding a two-wheel pedal bike without training wheels at age three. Maybe Allie will be able to in a few months, but even at age 4 that is still a great head start!

Buy it: To purchase, visit Strider Sports (US) or Strider Sports for Canada residents. Strider Running Bikes retail for $98 US dollars.

GIVEAWAY

One Mission Mommy reader will win the Strider Running Bike. Here's how you can enter to win.

Required Entry: Visit StriderSports.com and tell me something that you've learned or found interesting.

Extra Entries:

Blog about this giveaway(3 entries)
Subscribe to Mission Mommy by email/RSS
Follow Mission Mommy blog
Enter any of my Holiday giveaways
Stumble this post
Add my button to your blog
Follow me on twitter @bkkihega and tweet about this giveaway with a direct link back to this post

This giveaway is open to all US residents and will end December 15. The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Nerf Vortex Football: Hot Holiday Gift

My boys play football constantly. Whether it be a game with Papa outside, playing Madden '10 on the XBox, or just them two playing touch football in the house, they are crazy for pigskin play. For Christmas, something football related is on both boys lists.

Nerf has an amazing line of footballs that are made for outdoor play. The Nerf Weather Blitz football is designed with a weather resistant surface and finger grips so the ball won't slip from your hand, the Weather Blitz football actually plays better in wet weather! I like it because it's soft, so they won't get hurt when a ball is thrown at their face. We've all had that happen, and it doesn't feel good. In fact, one of my boys had a bloody nose once from getting hit in the face with the standard football we used to use. It also comes with gripers so their little hands won't lose a catch.

Nerf also has created Vortex footballs featuring many of your favorite sports teams. One is a Mega Howler and one is the Pocket Vortex, which is perfect for Allie's little hands. She's a girlie girl at heart, but when the boys are around, you wouldn't know it! She likes to get down and dirty in any sport the boys play. The Pocket Vortex fits perfectly in a toddler's little hands. And, make for a great stocking stuffer!

Mega Howler: Allowing for ultimate performance, a three-fin tail provides long distance aerodynamics and finger grips help you get a solid grasp on your game. As you watch your pass sail through the air, the cool whistling sound will let everyone know your team is on its way to a touchdown. (Retail Price: $9.99)

Pocket Vortex: These awesome footballs take your game to the next level with a special-designed tail to send the ball the ultimate distance. The mini version of the classic Vortex is perfect for a pickup game with friends, featuring the same three-fin tail and NFL styling as the NERF NFL Vortex Howler football. (Retail Price: $3.99)

Both Vortex footballs are now available in the following teams- Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dallas Cowboys, the New England Patriots or the Indianapolis Colts.

You can purchase Nerf footballs at most major toy retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

Mr Potato Head New Additions Make for a Perfect Holiday Gift

The classic Mr. Potato Head will never get old. As the years pass, more accessories are added for kids to make and create any Spud they can imagine. Even if your kids have Mr. Potato Head, there will always be more creative concoctions added so they'll never bore of their potato pal.

The newest members of the Mr. Potato Head family offer tons of imaginative fun for playful toddlers and preschoolers . The Fryer Fighter tater is ready to squelch flames with his handy fire extinguisher. Swashbuckling spud Captain Potato Chips figurine has a peg leg, eye patch, and hooked hand and is eager for action-packed expeditions.

I still have the Mr. Potato Head that I had when I was a child. Caleb and DJ played with him for many years, and he will continue to live throughout many generations. That shows how tough this little spud is living through my boys. :)

My kids love the newest additions to the Potato Head family. Having accessories that transform the classic tater into a fire fighter or pirate provide for a new play experience for my boys who have had the original for years. Allie is at the age where she just loves to stick his body parts into the holes, which is a great activity for her age group. She doesn't care how he turns out, she just loves that she made it!

Just in time for the holidays, Hasbro is offering a new deal a day on the hottest toys and games of the season.
Where to buy: Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com. Classic Mr. Potato Head can be purchased for $7.99. Captain Potato Chip and Fryer Fighter are valued at $9.99.

The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Deals and Steals Black Friday Edition

Target's Black Friday ad has just been released. The Frugal Find has all the deals listed here.

Clothes as low as $3
Chefmate products $3 ( slow cooker, sandwich maker, toaster and coffee maker)
$5 Board Games
Select Video Games $7
DVDS & Blu-Rays $8.99

Walgreens has a great 3-day sale this weekend. Common Sense with Money has all the details and best deals to snatch!

Black Friday Deals Only (11/27 Only)

Ben & Jerry Ice Cream $1.99 Limit 2
Red Baron Pizza $1.99 Limit 2
$1 RR wyb (2) M&Ms 12.6oz; 2/$3 Limit 4

Aeropostale Black Friday Sale
Aeropostale is offering 50% to 70% off everything from 11/25 to 12/2/09! (excludes already clearenced items)

KOHLS After-Thanksgiving Sale
From November 25 – 28, you will earn $10 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 you spend! To learn the details on this offer, visit KOHLS.COM. If you prefer to stay home the day after Thanksgiving, you can use code TURKEY15 to save 15% through Sunday.

Night At the Museum 2: Pre-order Special
If you pre-order the DVD on Walmart.com it’s only $9.98 AND there is FREE shipping. Since the retail value is $29.98 – it’s 20 bucks off and you don’t even have to step into a store. For more details visit http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=12531383

KMart Bluelight Specials
The weekend's Bluelight Specials will run from Thursday through Sunday this week!

Bluelight Specials for 11/26-11/29 THURSDAY to SUNDAY from 1PM-6PM!

* Kids Route 66 Graphic Tees $3.99 (Reg. $7.99)
* Essential Home 7.5′ x 9.5′ Rug in a Bag $34.99 (Reg. $69.99)
* All Multi-Roll Wrap 50% Off (Reg. $7.99)

Don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day!

KLUTZ.com Big Holiday Sale
25% off your entire order (no minimum!)
The coupon code is HOLIDAY25 and expires on 12/16

Onetime use coupon per email address/user
Not to be combined with other offers
Expires 12/16/09
Valid only at Klutz.com

I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! We're busy today spending time with our family, and I'll be back Friday. I want to say thank you to everyone who has showed me support and offered advice. Thank you for letting me vent my frustrations! And, thank you to all who enter my giveaways! I have grown so much this year, and it's all because of you guys! If you have a blog you'd like me to link to, stumble, tweet about, leave me a comment and I'll get around to it throughout the holiday weekend.

I also want to wish a great Thanksgiving to the many PR and companies I have worked with and currently work with. You are awesome! Thanks for letting a little mom like me have opportunities I never would have imagined myself taking a year ago.

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday Allie Then And Now

Allie at 1 years old. Everyone said she had a lazy eye back then, and I never really noticed. But, you can really see it in this picture!

And, this is Allie about 3 months ago at the fair. She's going to have to get a haircut soon, and I hope the curls will survive!

Holiday shopping season is here again and the Global Influence network has some great gift ideas for you, tried and tested by real moms. Click on the links to check out what our team of reviewers had to say about each of these gift ideas, and then take a moment to enter our fun giveaway and take a chance at winning some of these fabulous products.

Featured Reviews

Pouchees -

Busy moms need all the help they can get to stay organized and keep life as simple as possible. The Pouchee is the perfect solution to keeping all those little things together, putting everything you need, right at your fingertips.

Duck Hunter -

Duck Hunter turns the excitement of the hunt into an activity the whole family can enjoy. Launch the duck in the air and try to hunt it down with the toy shooter as it flies freely in the air. A fun choice for those who love outdoor sporting.

CardStore cards

-Personalized holiday cards are an important item on everyone's to-do list and often a hassle to create and print. Cardstore.com has everything from family photo cards to invitations for your big holiday party, simplifying your holiday season.

Great Holiday Gift Ideas Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry Just Elfin' Around Card Cubby Harumika By Bandai Harumika Runway Showstopper Harumika Style Starter Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo Strawberry Shortcake Playset Kota Monty Rex Wall to Wall Basketball Nerf Pocket Vortex Busy Ball Popper Talking Chuck Truck Leapfrog My Pal Scout Leapfrog Tag Jr Leapfrog Scribble and Write Animal Planet Polar Land Playset Animal Planet Dinosaur Playmat Onionhead Adult/Teen Feelings Pack OnionHead Children's Feelings Pack Onionhead A-Z Feelings Magnet Set FotoboxPlus MeTime Tees

Global Influence Member Guides

Need more ideas for this holiday season? Check out the guides that some of our Global Influence members have put together on their own sites! Thrifty Jinxy, Happy Healthy Hip , And Twins Make Five , Because Two People Fell In Love, Mommy Musings , Lipstick to Crayons , Bargain Briana , Mommy PR , Shop With Me Mama, Santa Picks, Rave and Review, Connected 2 Christ , 3 Boys and a Dog, The Classy Closet , Contest Corner, Lisa Reviews , A Giveaway Every Day, HulaHoopinMom, Spalibrations, High Impact Mom, From Cribs to Car Keys

All reviews listed in the Global Influence gift guide were product provided. Featured positions were purchased by sponsors. Member gift guides are not affiliated with Global Influence.

Wen Healthy HairCare System Giveaway

Say Bye-Bye to Bad Hair Days! Wen Cleansing Conditioner, which was recently awarded Shecky's Beauty at it's Best" Award, was developed by celebrity hairstylist Chaz Dean to eliminate ordinary shampoo without sacrificing the beauty of your hair. The Wen Cleansing System is created with the perfect balance of ingredients including herbs and natural ingredients to not only cleanse your scalp and hair but to also moisturize, soothe, strengthen and add shine and style to normally dull, lifeless hair.

I was a bit skeptical of this product actually working, especially since I have extremely dry, unruly hair. Sometimes it's curly, sometimes wavy, or on my worst days just a frizzy poof. When first putting it in my hair, it gives me a minty freshness that reminds of how my teeth feel when I brush my teeth. It was an instant pick-me up! I wash my hair in the evenings, and let it air dry. The next morning, my hair turned out smooth and shiny, not dull and flat like many conditioners I've used to manage my wild hair. I was quite pleased, and surprised, with my results. And, since it's just one step, I have save time not having to shampoo then use conditioner.

Chaz says even some of his own clients find Wen a tough sell at first – the idea of giving up shampoo for a one step cleansing conditioner that doesn’t lather – but he finds that even the most reluctant clients become dedicated and loyal fans after trying it – including celebrities like Jennie Garth, Finola Hughes and Melissa Gilbert.

Wen Hair Care products include:

Wen Cleansing Conditioner (12oz) cleanses hair thoroughly with astringent and antibacterial properties but without lathering and all the harsh ingredients that may be found in ordinary shampoos.

Wen Styling Crème (2oz) is designed to help promote moisture, shine and body all in one formula. It also manages split ends and is formulated to provide texture improvement and frizz control.

Wen Re Moist Intensive Hair Repair Mask (2oz) is designed for use before and after any chemical treatment or when hair has been stressed. It is designed to add ultimate moisture, body, and shine to restore your hair and it’s strengthening action to extremely damaged hair.

Wen Texture Balm (10g) is the ideal finishing touch for creating looks with definition, separation and texture. It’s designed to provide hold and shape for either long or short hairstyles.

Wen Wide Tooth Shower Comb is a hand finished, saw cut, wide tooth shower comb specially designed to evenly distribute the Wen Cleansing Conditioner through your hair.

You can find more information as well as tips on using Wen products at WenHaircare.com.

Where to buy: Wen Healthy Hair Care System can be purchased online for $29.95 for a 30 day supply. (60 day money-back guarantee as well)

GIVEAWAY

Wen Hair Care has offered me the opportunity to give away one Healthy Hair Care System to my readers! Here's how you can enter to win. {Required entry is mandatory and should be your first comment before any extra entries!}

Required Entry: Visit Wenhaircare.com and tell me something you've learned about the pr new hair cleansing products from Wen.

Extra Entries:

Follow me on twitter @bkkihega AND tweet about this giveaway
Subscribe to Mission Mommy by RSS Feed, Email, or Follow my blog.
Blog about this giveaway and link back to this page (leave your post url).
Become a fan of Mission Mommy on Facebook
Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
Grab my button and put it on your blog.
Enter any other giveaway here at my blog. Leave a comment with the one you have entered.

This giveaway is open to all US residents and will end December 11. The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

KNEX Creations Featuring Elmo and Friends

Blocks are fun for any age, from toddler to adult. You can create anything you can imagine, which makes it a great toy for kids who spend most of their day, hollering "I'm bored." Kids are born with imagination, but they seem to lose sight of it once their little hands get on controllers. Sometimes, as parents, we need to find something that will spark their creativity.

KNEX building kits can be great for any age. The multi-building sets are great for my boys, who are 5 and 7, to create vehicles. Allie adores her Elmo Ice Cream truck which are for preschoolers and toddlers.

I never actually knew KNEX had products for my toddler, Allie. They are alot like MegaBlocks, which makes them super easy for her to build with. And, being in her favorite Sesame Street characters makes them even more fun.

KNEX currently has 4 Sesame Street neighborhood kits:

Ice Cream Truck – Elmo and wheels to roll ($9.99)
Police Station Building Set – Elmo and Ernie($19.99)
1-2-3 Brownstone Building Set – Elmo and Cookie Monster ($19.99
Police Car Building Set – Elmo and wheels to roll($9.99)

KNEX also has a video contest going on where you could win $1,000 of KNEX products. To enter, simply submit a video of your child showcasing their building skills using any of the KNEX products. Official rules are posted at KNEX.com if you would like to enter.

The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me from Team Mom for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Winning Moves Cirkis Game Giveaway

Board games are the perfect gift for kids of all ages. When you buy a game, it's not for just the kids, but you can play as well for a great family activity at any time. Winning Moves provides a variety of games for all ages, that make you use your noggin. We recently spent one of our family game nights playing Cirkis. Cirkis requires you to complete circles and stars on the eye-catching game board to score, get free turns, and ultimately win.

You can actually play Cirkis as well as other Winning Moves games online. This provides the perfect opportunity to try out the game before you buy. Because, in my opinion, games are more fun when played with others!

Caleb is the only one who can actually play this game by the rules with us. It does require skills that are beyond DJ and Allie. The shapes are more complex than what DJ could handle, but Allie and him like to pretend play and make shapes as they go. I personally like this game alot because it is so different from the other traditional board games we have. As adults, we had to really think to play as well, which makes it more fun than many games we've played that are built for my children's age group.

Winning Moves games are also created by four highly esteemed game industry professionals. Tom Kremer,Europe's most successful game agent. Tom's greatest claim to fame is having found and licensed the Rubik's Cube® from behind the "Iron Curtain."Phil E. Orbanes, The long-time head of research and development for Parker Brothers and the leading expert on the game Monopoly®. Mike Meyers, The long-time head of research and development for Milton Bradley.
And, Alex Randolph, Europe's most distinguished game inventor. No wonder these games are so great!

Where to Buy: Cirkis can be purchased online at Winning-Moves.com for $25.95. The suggested age is 8+, and 2-4 players. Included in the game: Dimensional plastic game board unit, 4 sets of 20 colorful playing pieces, 4 scoring pegs and illustrated instructions.

GIVEAWAY

Would you like to win the board game Cirkis from Winning Moves? We've got one to give away! Just visit this post at our Holiday Gift Guide to enter!

This giveaway is open to all US residents and will end December 10. The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

The Curious Chef Kids Holiday Cookie Kit Giveaway

Curious Chef has created the first line of real cooking utensils just for kids. All uniquely designed kitchen gadgets and kits from Curious Chef are geared specifically for kids ages 3-10. With the holidays drawing near, Curious Chef would be a great way to get your kids involved in preparing for the holiday feast with your family.

The Holiday Cookie Kit would be perfect in preparing cookies for Santa's arrival. You'll find everything you need in this 26 piece kit to make cookies with your children this Christmas Eve, all you need to add is your favorite cookie recipe to please Santa.

Nylon cookie turner
Non-stock rolling pin
6-piece measuring spoon set
6-piece measuring cup set
4 cookie cutters( star, tree, angel, and gingerbread man)
set of 4 party hats and aprons

My kids had a blast this week making cookies for our family. They loved dressing up as chefs and rolling and cutting the cookies out. The utensils are perfect for their little hands, so even Allie could help in the preparation. I am very surprised in the quality of the kitchen utensils in our kit. They are made just like regular utensils, just in the smaller form. In my opinion, these will last for years to come.

Where to Buy: You can purchase Curious Chef products online, or you can search for a local store near you here. The 26-piece Holiday Cookie Cutter set can be purchased for $39.99.

Drawbacks: DJ's apron broke after 30 minutes of wearing it. He pulled to hard to get it off. No biggie, just wanted to let that be known.

GIVEAWAY

Curious Chef would like to offer you the chance to win the Holiday Cookie Cutter set here at Mission Mommy! If you'd like to enter, head over to our holiday gift guide Curious Chef giveaway!

This giveaway is open to all US residents and will end December 8. The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Blog of the Week: Charitable Creations

This week's featured blogger is Shelly. Not only is she a blogger, she also has her own jewelry business. Shelly blogs at Charitable Creations, and you can see her designs online at CharitableCreationsJewelry.com.

Tell me a little about yourself and your blog.
I am a mother of four wonderful boys. I have two sons of my own and two stepsons. For the last 5 years I have been a stay at home mom and well as you can imagine living with all men, I needed something to feed my need for femininity. That's where my blog comes in. I have always had a love for creating and putting things together and not too long ago I started creating jewelry. My blog Charitable Creations, though fairly new, is my place to write about my jewelry creations. I also wanted to help other mom owned and hand made businesses gain more exposure, so I started a weekly Etsy shop feature and I post about giveaways I may find around the web. My blog is basically an extension of my business and the communities I have found while trying to build a successful business.

You also own a business. Tell, Tell!
I started Charitable Creations Jewelry in August of this year. I love making jewelry and for a while it was just a way for me to pass the time and make jewelry for family and friends. Then this summer my sons gave me the idea to turn into a business. As I'm sure most people do, I always wanted to own my own shop, be my own boss but at the same time was a little scared to. Finally I just did it and I love it. I make all kinds of jewelry. I just love so many different things that I could not stay with just one type of media or design. I create personalized hand stamped jewelry and sterling silver and copper designs as well. I love to do custom orders so that is always an option for customers. I only use the highest quality materials in my designs and I try to keep my prices very competitive. I enjoy what I do and take a lot pride in my work and want people to be able to afford what I have to offer without sacrificing quality or craftsmanship.

I chose the name Charitable Creations because I decided that while I obviously wanted to make a living from it, I also wanted it to help others in some way. I decided to donate 10% of all sales to charities. But I wanted the funds to go to more than one or two charities that chose. I wanted it to go to charities that meant something to everyone; to my customers. So I searched and researched many different charities and organizations to come up with a starter list of charities that my customers can choose from. There are hundreds of charities out there and I could not possibly list every single one, so I have a form that visitors or customers may fill out to have a charity added to the list if theirs is not listed already. This way everyone has a choice as to where the 10% of their order will be donated.

What charities do you donate to?
So far there are 30 charities on the list. I'm hoping as my business continues to grow, that the charity list will as well. So far we have the following charities to choose from:

* Action Against Hunger
* Air Force Aid Society
* American Humane Association
* Army Emergency Relief
* ASPCA
* Autism Speaks
* Breast Cancer Research Foundation
* Cancer Research Institute
* Child Find of America
* Christian Foundation for Children and Aging
* Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
* Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
* Habitat for Humanity
* International Peace Institute
* Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
* Make a Wish Foundation
* MSPCA
* National Alliance to end Homelessness
* National Canine Cancer Institute
* National Childhood Cancer Foundation
* National Federation of the Blind
* National Organization for Rare Disorders
* Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
* Operation Shoebox
* Ronald McDonald House
* Shriners Hospital
* St. Judes
* The Conservation Fund
* The Hunger Project
* United States Fund for UNICEF
* William J. Clinton Foundation
* Wounded Warrior Project
* YMCA of the United States

What do you do in your free time?
Free Time? I wish! I do steal some now and again. When I do I spend it with my family. We like going to the movies, sporting events, concerts and relaxing at home baking or watching a movie. Yes, my boys love to learn to cook and bake. Things are a little hectic right now with my two oldest getting ready for college. They just grow up so fast!

What are your goals for next year?
My goal for next year is to have a thriving business that raises lots of money for charities.

Want to be Blogger of the Week?
Would you like to be featured here as Blogger of the Week? Simply fill out this form and I'll contact you when it's your week!

Stay tuned for next week's blogger, Mommy Loves Giveaways!

Little Diva Tutus Giveaway

{CLOSED}

Located in Southern California, Little Diva Tutus caters to the little princesses of the world. They create a wide range of styles and sizes to fit any and every little girl. Little Diva Tutus also carries fairy wings, hair bows, and pirate gear for little boys. The creator, Melissa Jones, has appeared in ABC's Extreme Makeover, Oprah, and Access Hollywood, and has appeared in several newspapers and magazines such as People, Elle and the International magazine Up Close.

Tutus make for great photos. We recently took professional photos in our hometown that I will be publishing once I get them in. Allie was taken in another tutu, and they are just gorgeous. Nowadays, I think every little girl has had a tutu at least at some point in her life. Tutus can be made for any occasion such as Halloween and now Christmas. Here's Allie in the tutu and bow Melissa made for Christmas-

There are a variety of styles and colors to choose from at Little Diva Tutus, or you can create your own. Tutus start at $19.99. They ship in 2-3 days, so you can get one just in time for holiday picture taking!

Tutus come in 2 different styles:

Classic: Some call 'cheeky' style. This tutu is made with a single layer of fabric.
Diva Deluxe: Made with two or more layers of fabric. Popular style for photographs and special occasions.

How to Care for you Little Diva Tutu
Unless ordering more than one, each Little Diva Tutu
arrives flat in a gift size box.

If your tutu arrives or becomes wrinkled, the best solution
is to hang it in your bathroom while showering.
The steam will help in removing the wrinkles.
To keep fluffy, hang on a hanger.
For best results spot clean your tutu with
cool water as needed.
DO NOT dry tutus in the dryer!
All tutus must hang dry.
Prevent static cling by placing a dryer sheet over the tutu while hanging.

GIVEAWAY

Little Diva Tutus has offered to give me the opportunity to give away a tutu here at my blog. (Winner will get to chose size and style.) Here's how you can enter to win.

Required Entry: Visit LittleDivaTutus.com and pick out the tutu you'd like if you win.

Extra Entries:

Follow Little Diva Tutus on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway
Follow the Little Diva Tutus blog
Become a fan of Little Diva Tutus on FB and write on their wall about this giveaway
Subscribe to Mission Mommy by RSS Feed, Email, or Follow my blog.
Blog about this giveaway and link back to this page (leave your post url).
Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
Grab my button and put it on your blog.

This giveaway is open to all US residents and will end December 9. The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Giveaway Winners This Week

Nickelodeon Animal Friends DVD
Baby Signs
sprague.liz at gmail dot com

Dean's Dip
plb8156@aol.com

A Century of Flavor Cookbook (3 winners)

The Happy Runner-felicehalf@yahoo.com
Anonymous-bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Monica-detroit.mommy (at) gmail (dot) com

Anti-Monkey Butt Powder
Marie
mccataquet(at)comcast(dot)net

Softlips Stocking Stuffer Assortment
Susan Heim
smhparent@hotmail.com

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE GIVEAWAYS

The Popcorn Factory
LittleEsMomma
fbksgirl at gmail dot com

I will be sending an email shortly to the winners. Please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize. CONGRATS!!

Home of the Crazies

Our home is a madhouse. There's hardly ever a moment of silence. Just the other day, I was having a conversation with a family friend that had stopped by for a visit. During our talk, I realized it's been a long time since I've done anything without any of the kids with me. I'm in need of a break!

I know many of you can relate to what I'm saying. Even being a stay home mom, my life is just filled with chaos. I wonder how moms with more children than me can do it. My kids wear me out most days, I couldn't imagine life with any more than what we've got. I've been extremely stressed this week. More so than usual.

Allie has been, well, a big bratty ball of fire. She has been so demanding and bossy, more so than usual. Everything is a constant battle lately from getting her clothes on to what she's going to eat( her preferred choice would be candy), to her bathtime. She's always been pretty outspoken, as my other kids are, but this is just beyond that.

Caleb and DJ are their typical selfs. But, since Allie is been such a booger, their rowdiness is just irking me. They can't seem to play quietly at all. They've actually been pretty good compared to normal, but by the time they get home from school I'm just exhausted from my day with Allie.

We had a great time at the park this morning though. It was quite enjoyable to get out of the house and have a good time. No fighting or bickering, and Allie only threw one little fit. DJ is with his dad this weekend, so Caleb stays pretty calm with just Allie here. DJ seems to be doing okay with this, but his relationship with Brandon has changed. He's been acting weird towards him, and won't even say "I love you" to him.

Last Sunday I finally had my IUD taken out. I've felt so much better with it out, and my bleeding stopped the next day. I've decided to switch doctors, just because I don't really like this one. I was told at the ER that I shouldn't have been bleeding for as long as I did. And, my doctor gave me Naproxen for the pain, which seems a little stupid considering I was bleeding so much to begin with.

The kids are out the whole week for Thanksgiving. I'm cooking for my side of the family, and we'll be visiting my husband's family this week as well. So, I plan to be pretty busy. What are your plans?

Deals and Steals Weekend Edition

Shop it to Me is giving away Louboutins! For rules and how you can enter to win visit this post.

To enter on Twitter:

Follow @ShopItToMe
Tweet: “Follow @ShopItToMe. Win Louboutins! http://bit.ly/1UyAqp”
Tweet once each day between Nov. 17th and Nov. 20th for an extra entry each time!

Want even more entries?

Tell friends! Each friend that signs up for Shop It To Me before November 20th counts as another entry to win. www.shopittome.com/refer_a_friend

What mak

es the perfect holiday gift? Dancing Deer wants to know! Leave a comment at this blog post, and you'll have a chance to win free cookies! Their favorite responses will win Dancing Deer Molasses Clove Cookies and Holiday Shortbread Cookie Tin.

In celebration of their birthday, See Kai Run is offering free shipping on all orders shipped within the US. Hurry, this deal ends today!

Amazon.com will start having their holiday sales starting Monday, November 23. Why wait til Black Friday? Shop online to avoid the crowds! They'll be adding new deals daily.

Printable Shopping Coupons

Gap: 20% off good through 11/30
The Limited: $15 off $15 good through 11/23
JCPenney: $10 off $25 purchase good through 11/23

Get 10% off at The Tots with the code PR10 now through the end of the year AND Free Shipping on all orders over $50!!

11/21-11/22 KMart Bluelight Specials!

Home/All Frames 50% off (reg range $1-$29.99)
Boys and Girls Basic Edition turtlenecks $2.99 (reg.$7.99)
Home/All Cookware 40% off (reg. $6.99-169.99)

Don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day! Good luck!

Old Navy is having a Gobblepalooza dress rehearsal. Visit their site and create a band name and logo. Take it into the store tomorrow 11/21, and you’ll get 50% off any one item of your choice! Thank you Deal Seeking Mom!

I'm sure most of you will be shopping for food over the next few days to prepare your Thanksgiving dinner. Why not use coupons to help save money? Money I'm sure you'll be needing for all the great deals after Thanksgiving!

Get $15 worth of coupons from Campbells, which include: (Saving Cents with Sense!)

$1/4 Campbell’s Condensed soups
$1/2 Swanson Stock
$.50/1 French’s Fried Onions
$1/2 Pepperidge Farm Stuffing
$1/4 Campbell’s Gravies
$1/1 Pepperidge Farm Cookie Collection
$1.50/3 Campbell’s Chunky Soup
$1.50/3 Campbell’s Select Harvest Soup
$1/2 Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Turnovers
$1/2 Pepperidge Farm Frozen Bread
$1/2 V8 Splash
$1/1 V8 V-Fusion Juice
$.50/2 Campbell’s Condensed Tomato
$.50/2 Campbell’s Condensed
$1.50/3 Campbell’s Healthy Request soups

Butterball Turkey: Save $2/1 and save w$2/1 when you buy 5 Stove Top Stuffing or Heinz Homestyle Gravy.

HoneyBaked Ham:
$7 off 8lb. or larger ham
$10 off 8lb. or larger ham

PlanToys Blocks Giveaway

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Wooden toys are the original "old school" toys everyone has played with at least once in their lifetime. The simplest toys can provide hours of endless play. Boys and girls alike love to build things, whether it be a fort for their soldiers or a house for their dolls, blocks provide imaginative play that you can't find in all the electronic gadgets your children own.

My kids we

re provided with a set of 50 blocks from PlanToys to create whatever their little hearts desired. They've created football goals, houses, and towers so far, and keep on coming back to build more. As moms, that's what we want. A toy our kids will actually play with more than once!

All products from PlanToys are made clean, natural rubberwood and completely safe and non-toxic. PlanToys are created to improve fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination. They've also got specific toys for children with disabilities including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and those with vision impairments.

Priced at $20, PlanToys 50 block set would make the perfect holiday gift that will last a lifetime.

Where to Buy: You can purchase a set of 50 blocks from PlanToys at their website.

GIVEAWAY

PlanToys has given me the opportunity to giveaway one set of 50 blocks to you guys! Here's how to enter.

Required Entry: Visit PlanToys and tell me another product you would love to have.

Extra Entries:

Follow PlanToys AND Mission Mommy on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway(can be done up 2X daily)
Become a fan of PlanToys on FB and write on their wall about this giveaway
Subscribe to Mission Mommy by RSS Feed, Email, or Follow my blog.
Blog about this giveaway and link back to this page (leave your post url).
Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
Grab my button and put it on your blog.

This giveaway is open to all US residents and will end December 4. The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

PlayDoh Burger Builder Giveaway

No matter what age, any one can enjoy making their own creation with Play-Doh. Play-doh can spark fun, imaginative play that lasts for hours and is affordable. That's the kind of toy I look for for my children when I'm shopping. With 3 kids under 7, I want something inexpensive since pricey items tend to get broken in the careless hands of a toddler. I've got rowdy, rough, and tumbling boys, so you can imagine what happens to many of their toys.

Often, the toys I buy are just thrown in the closet after a few days of excitement never to be brought out again. No matter how cool or tech advanced a toy can be, I've found my kids really enjoy the simple items that get their creative mind running. At our house, the kids love Playdoh. I typically have containers of it at all times, but since Allie gets into everything, most of our Play-doh has been left out to dry out on the carpet, couch, any where you don't want it to be.

Allie fell in love with the Play-doh commercials, and we recently had the opportunity to experiment with the new Burger Builder from Play-doh. I know many of you don't like Play-doh because kids are careless with it and they tend to get it over everything. In the dining room, I have a special section just for arts and crafts, and this is where we play with Play-doh. When we aren't making something, I have our Play-doh kept on a high shelf in the closet so no one can get it without me knowing it. That way, I can almost always keep the dough on our tile floor, which makes it much easier to clean than the carpet!

I love Play-doh myself, as do my kids. It's a toy they always come back to, and I just can't say no to that. The smell when you open a new can of Play-doh, squishing it into balls, and rolling into whatever our hearts desire is what makes it so fun. And, if course, you can use it over and over again. With the Burger Builder, we pretend we're at the McDonald's drive thru and take orders from our customers. Or, we get out Allie's play dishes and the kids serve Mom and Daddy dinner. We actually have one night out of the week set just to play with Play-doh. That's how much we enjoy it!

The Play-doh Burger Builder retails for just $14.99. It would make the perfect gift for your kids this Christmas!

GIVEAWAY

You can enter to win the Play-doh Burger Builder at our Holiday Gift Guide here. We're also giving away the Play-doh Ice Cream Shoppe playset here as well!

This giveaway is open to all US residents and will end December 6. The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Gotta Catch Santa Claus DVD Giveaway

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Funky music, holiday magic and a supersonic sleigh are all wrapped up in this CGI–animated family adventure starring William Shatner as the voice of Santa! Trevor is a true believer in the holiday spirit, so his skeptical best friend, Veronica, challenges him to show the world actual proof that Santa is real. Trevor and his friends embark on the adventure of a lifetime to catch Santa in action and reveal the true magic of Christmas.

But they’ve got to find Santa before LeFreeze — a dim-witted monster who is carrying a serious 100-year-old grudge — and his snowman minions put Christmas on ice forever! Join the race to save Christmas in Gotta Catch Santa Claus, the jolly, jammin’, modern-day holiday classic destined to become a family tradition!

This DVD is great for any age. As the boys get older, they will begin to doubt the truth of Santa. This movie can confirm that Santa is really real, even though others may doubt his existence. Allie loves to sing-along with the group on their search for Santa. This movie is sure to be a new holiday classic your family will enjoy year after year.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
• Deleted Scenes
• Santa Behind-the-Scenes Footage
• 2 Sing-Along Songs

Where to Buy: You can purchase Gotta Catch Santa Claus at Amazon.com for $9.99.

GIVEAWAY

You can win the Gotta Catch Santa Claus DVD here at Mission Mommy. Here's how you can enter to win.

Required Entry: Leave me a comment with your favorite holiday movie.

Extra Entries:

Enter any other giveaways here at my blog and leave a comment letting me know which one.
Follow Kim @bkkihega on twitter and tweet about this giveaway
Subscribe to Mission Mommy by RSS Feed and/or via email.
Blog about this giveaway and link back to this page (leave your post url).
Stumble this post (the post, not the site). Leave a comment with your Stumble name and/or URL.
Grab my button and put it on your blog.

This giveaway is open to all US residents and will end December 5. The product(s) featured were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Clarisonic Mia Giveaway

While cleansing is the first step in any skin care regime, it is often overlooked. I know personally, as a busy mom, that I have let my skin care routine go. And, for many reasons. Some routines can be time-consuming with little results, others too harsh that I have no reason to use again. Many times I find myself washing my face in the shower or just splashing water to freshen up in a hurry.

But, with typical manual cleansing, dirt and oil are not as effectively removed and may become trapped in your pores and fine lines. Whether it is sun damage, drying detergents, harsh pollutants, or oil and bacteria, they are all doing their part to wreak havoc on your skin. Being young, I want to keep my the skin the way it is for as long as I possibly can.

You've more than likely heard of or use Sonicare. The lead inventor of Sonicare revolutionized the oral care market and is now redefining clean, healthy skin with Clarisonic. Clarisonic is the sonic technology proven to gently yet effectively loosen dirt and oil to clear your pores.

Clarisonic offers a gentle, effective way to clean skin without harsh chemicals. It leaves your skin feeling clean and fresh. Some products I've tried like this are to hard on my skin and leave my face feeling raw and puffy. Clarisonic is quick and fast, just what a busy mom needs. And, it does the job!
Benefits:

6X more makeup removal
Skin is soft and smooth
Cleanses so well that products absorb better
Gentle for use twice daily
Reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
Reduces the appearance of visible pores
Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

I have fallen in love with the new Limited Edition Clarisonic Plus. My favorite feature is the inter-changeable brush heads that allow me to go from a face cleansing brush to the body brush in a flash. The brush is ultra-soft, but durable. It's great for your chest, elbows, knees, feet, wherever you have rough, dry skin. And, it doesn't hurt!

Body Brush Benefits:

Fewer dry patches
Gentle exfoliation for softer, smoother skin
Firmer skin with improved texture
Great prep before applying self tanner

Taking care of my kids and hubby all day, I am a slacker when it comes to taking care of my own needs. I'm a minimalist mama, and Clarisonic has shined a new light into my skincare routine. My husband has said my face is as smooth as Allie's, and that is not a bad thing at all!

Hot Deals For the Holidays:

Make a “skinvestment” for the New Year with the new stocking-sized MIA. Well suited for travel or everyday use, Clarisonic is offering free personalization and free gift ($65 value) with purchase if you order through Clarisonic.com.
Clarisonic Skin Care Pairs! - now you can afford to get a little something for yourself while crossing off Clarisonic wish lists for other loved ones.
Calling all Clarisonic Super Fans! - Tell Clarisonic why you love your Clarisonic and you may be one of 100 lucky Super Fans selected to win one of the FIRST Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion Systems – a new sonic skinnovation that shows an immediate reduction in fine lines & wrinkles. For more information visit http://clarisonic.com/us/specialoffer/superfan/.

Where to Buy: Clarisonic Limited Edition Plus is available at Clarisonic.com for $250.

Drawbacks: The only bad thing I have found is the cost. I know many of us simply cannot afford an item like this. I myself would have never been able to afford one on a daily basis. But, the Clarisonic is worth every penny. Often you will spend a hefty amount on a product that fails leaves you disappointed. From my perspective, it is well worth it if you care alot about your skin.

GIVEAWAY

We're having a give away for the new Clarisonic Mia over at our Holiday Gift Guide here. Please stop by to enter to win!

Strider Running Bike Giveaway

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Mr Potato Head New Additions Make for a Perfect Holiday Gift

Deals and Steals Black Friday Edition

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday Allie Then And Now

Momfluence Holiday Guide

All reviews listed in the Global Influence gift guide were product provided. Featured positions were purchased by sponsors. Member gift guides are not affiliated with Global Influence.

Wen Healthy HairCare System Giveaway

KNEX Creations Featuring Elmo and Friends

Winning Moves Cirkis Game Giveaway

Monday Madness Link Up Your Giveaways

The Curious Chef Kids Holiday Cookie Kit Giveaway

Blog of the Week: Charitable Creations

Little Diva Tutus Giveaway

Giveaway Winners This Week

Home of the Crazies

Deals and Steals Weekend Edition

PlanToys Blocks Giveaway

PlayDoh Burger Builder Giveaway

Gotta Catch Santa Claus DVD Giveaway

Clarisonic Mia Giveaway

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