Monthly Archives: December 2013

December 19, 2013 · 2:21 am

Dress First is the First and Last Place To Shop For Special Occasion Dresses of Every Kind!!!

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I think New Year’s Eve is not only about the start of a new year but a new season for dresses. If you think about New Year’s Balls, you probably envision women with gorgeous full length ball gowns dancing and ringing in the new year with class and style. The new year seems to transition effortlessly into one formal event after another. The start of spring brings with it college formals, high school proms, graduations and of course full speed ahead into wedding season. Sometimes it can be overwhelming the amount of functions we’re invited to and the decisions on what to wear coupled with the expense of buying several different dresses. All those decisions can be stressful on your mind and your wallet!

I recently found out about Dress First and I have to share it with you! DressFirst.com is the global leading online retailer for wedding gowns, special event dresses, wedding party dresses, and accessories. Dress First takes great pride in providing their customers with high quality garments at affordable prices and exceptional customer service. Their enormous selections of dresses can be tailored to your exact specifications.

Wedding Dress

I could not believe the Wedding Dress collection and how low the prices were! I was married way more than a few years ago, and my gown cost at least 10 times more than most of these dresses! Imagine the savings for the parents of the bride! But it does not stop there, you will find great styles for mother of the bride or groom, bridesmaids and junior bridesmaids. They also sell a full line of accessories including wedding veils, shoes, jewelry, evening bags and more. The even carry maternity bridesmaids dresses.

Wedding Veil

Jewelry Sets

Short Wedding Dress

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Are you a guest at a wedding? They have gorgeous evening dresses of all types, lengths and styles. Need a little black dress? You should probably pick up a few with this selection and pricing. If you have daughters heading to the prom, head on over to Dress First to see all the great styles. Your daughter will love them and you will not have a heart attack when you check the price. You might even consider doing a trash the dress photo shoot with the money you save!

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Little Black Dress

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The site is so user-friendly, you can shop by dress length, neckline, back and strap style, fabric, color, embellishments, season and more. So do yourself a favor and keep Dress First in mind when the invitations start flooding your mailbox. Follow Dress First on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest updates and news on new inventory, sales, specials and more. It may be cliché but you don’t need a million to look like a million.

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This is a sponsored post that I was financially compensated for on behalf of a PR agency, influencer network or company. As always the opinions, views, writing and ideas are 100% my own.

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Tagged as Accessories, Bridesmaids, Dress First, Dresses, DressFirst.com, Jewelry, Mommy Ramblings, Prom Dresses, shoes, Veils, Wedding Dressed

December 18, 2013 · 11:16 pm

Holiday Travel Essential Package For Baby Giveaway With Tortle & 2 Red Hens Diaper Bag!!!

Did you know that 1 out of 2 babies develop flat head syndrome and that it is totally preventable? A pediatrician developed a product called Tortle, this lightweight baby beanie can prevent flat head and even treat babies who have developed flat head. Target.com will carry three Tortle designs; Blue Elephant, Pink Flowers and Solid White. The Tortle beanies are available in medium and large sizes at a suggested retail price of $19.99. You can follow Tortle on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to stay up to date with all the latest product news.

Developed by Dr. Jane Scott, a Board Certified Pediatrician and Neonatologist, the Tortle beanie is an FDA-cleared patented Class 1 medical device that promotes proper head and neck movement which is essential for appropriate development. Tortle helps prevent and treat early stages of flat head syndrome: plagiocephaly (the flattening of the baby’s skull) & torticollis (unbalanced neck muscles). Tortle works by gently deflecting a baby’s head from side to side when they are sitting or lying on the back of their head. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular head repositioning of babies younger than six months.

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The incidence of Plagiocephaly and Torticollis (or Flathead syndrome) has increased to epidemic proportions since 1992 with more than a million babies being diagnosed with the condition each year in the U.S. alone. This is due to their lack of movement and the amount of time infants spend on their back (the safest place for them to be). If left untreated, there can be long-standing problems. Treatment is frequently expensive and can be somewhat uncomfortable for a baby. Plagiocephaly and Torticollis are almost 100% preventable with repositioning and Tortle makes this safe and easy. It is recommended that all newborns wear a Tortle for the first 6 months of life to support healthy development.

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Dr. Scott, whose specialty is Pediatrics and Neonatology, is recognized as an expert in the areas of Plagiocephaly and Torticollis. In her nearly 30 years as a practicing physician, Dr. Scott has counseled and educated hundreds of parents to help prevent as well as treat the many problems associated with Flathead Syndrome. Dr. Jane’s mission is to prevent Flathead Syndrome-an epidemic affecting the babies across the world. Please visit tortle.com for more information.

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Traveling with baby is a breeze with the 2 Red Hens Studio Rooster Diaper Bags! These custom designed bags give mom all the style and sass she had before baby, and all the functionality she needs now that her precious little one has arrived.

Features include:

• Interior zipper pocket, bottle holder and 2 elastic pockets

• Convertible stroller straps

• Attached key fob

• Magnetic snap and button closure for easy access

• Extra long changing pad in 2 Red Hens signature red dot pattern.

Available in 5 custom designed, vintage-inspired patterns:

• Chevron Stripes, Grey Damask, Peacock Mum, Pink Lemonade and Owl Dots

Recommended retail: $50

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Based in Denver, Colorado, the 2 Red Hens Studio collection of Vintage Chic Inspired Items for Modern Mamas include diaper bags, the Toy Nanny, Shopping Cart Nests, and a range of accessory items. Limited edition handcrafted one-of-a-kind diaper bags and dolls are also offered. For more information visit 2 Red Hens.com. Follow 2 Red Hens on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and visit their blog.

Tortle and 2 Red Hens are sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Tortle and 2 Red Hens Rooster Diaper Bag in their choice of style! The value of this giveaway prize packages is $69.99! Thanks to Tortle and 2 Red Hens for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US and Canadian residents.

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Tagged as 2 Red Hens, baby, bag, Doctor, Essentials, Flat Head, giveaway, Mommy Ramblings, new, Rooster Diaper Bag, Tortle, travel

December 17, 2013 · 11:48 pm

HomeRight, SteamMachine Multi-Purpose Power Steamer Review & Giveaway #CurbAppeal

I am so excited to share the HomeRight SteamMachine Multi-Purpose Power Steamer with you. This great steamer will be a lifesaver around the house and whether you are getting your home spic and span for the holidays or are in the middle of renovations like myself ,this little buddy will be your best friend! It comes with lots of accessories to help you get in every nook and cranny, to do your floors, windows, even remove wallpaper. It’s so simple to get started right out of the box, all you do is add water and plug in. When the on board light signals it’s ready, you are good to go. I have to warn you though, you may get addicted once you see how great it works and want to steam clean everything!

SteamMachine included in box

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I use it on my quartz countertops to sanitize them prior to rolling dough out on them, to clean my cabinets, stainless steel cooktop, sink, refrigerator and so much more. I’m thrilled to have this steamer to care for my brand new shower doors! It will be a breeze to keep them looking great with this trusty machine. It has safety features that parents with little ones will appreciate, if you have to step away, you can lock the steam gun and the lever cannot be pressed. There is an onboard compartment that stores a variety of attachments so they are secure and handy. That gives me great peace of mind. Use the attachments to extend the arm and attach the brush head with the floor cloth that will let you easily mop your floors. The germophobe in me appreciates that you can sanitize and clean so easily.

Looking for a quick and easy way to remove wallpaper? The SteamMachine is the absolute fastest and easiest way to remove wallpaper, plus its chemical free! Simply use the steam plate to apply steam and peel the paper away. Get the most out of this multi-purpose steamer by using the attachments to sanitize and clean floors, stovetops, ovens, bathrooms and grills. The SteamMachine leaves behind no chemical residue and kills 99% of all germs and bacteria.

Use the steam mop to sanitize your hard floor surfaces; such as tile, vinyl and linoleum. The high pressurized steam blasts the surface clean and the cleaning pad wipes the surface clean. The canister comes equipped with two wheels to move with the attached floor steam mop as you clean.

The SteamMachine uses pressurized, high temperature, steam to loosen and dissolve dirt, grease, grime and kill bacteria. Its many uses include; kitchen counter tops, ovens, stovetops, bathroom fixtures and barbecue grills.

SteamMachine HomeRite 3

SteamMachine HomeRite 2

SteamMachine HomeRite 1

HomeRight is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own HomeRight SteamMachine Multi-Purpose Power Steamer . Thank you HomeRight for the review steamer and for sponsoring this steam-powered giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

HomeRight SteamMachine Multi-Purpose Power Steamer Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Tagged as clean, Curb Appeal, curbappeal, giveaway, HomeRight, Mommy Ramblings, Power Steamer, review, Sanitize, Steam, SteamMachine, Wallpaper Removal

· 4:36 pm

Tile Update & Picking The Perfect Toilet For Our Bathroom Rennovation!!!

Well, I heard from our tile store that they’re just waiting on our tile to clear customs as it shipped right from Italy! So, it looks like it will be full speed ahead on our master bath very soon. We are still finalizing the vanity. I can’t tell you how much stress it’s creating for me. I have the bottom the way I want it, but cannot find what I want on top. The company I am working with is fabulous, but the renderings never match what I have in my head and keeps sending us back to the drawing board. I have to finalize today or tomorrow or we will have a big set back.

Good news is the toilet we decided on will be arriving tomorrow. I went with American Standard since they are the brand I have right now for all of the toilets and sinks in our bathrooms. We knew we had to have certain features. We needed a 1.6 gallon per flush, elongated bowl, had to have a trap size of 2-3/8 in, but the most important thing is the flushing power. I wanted one of those toilets that you see them dumping everything down and it just flushes without a problem, I am talking ping-pong balls, dog food etc.

So working with the good folks at American Standard they recommended the Champion Series. I was very impressed at what I saw. There were fewer choices with the 1.6 gallon that we needed, but we found a one piece with everything we wanted and even had the soft close toilet seat with quick release hinges as an available option. The only thing I could not get was the concealed trap area. It’s not such an issue since it’s our master and our little ones usually use the other bathrooms. The Champion 4 Right Height Elongated One-Piece 1.6 gpf Toilet we choose also comes with the EverClean Surface, Power Wash Rim that cleans the bowl with each flush and it’s a chair height which they call right height.

We chose the flush lever in the brushed nickel to match our faucets, shower panel, and sinks. The reviews we read on the model we chose were excellent and that made us feel really good with our choice. I had to laugh when I read a review about the right height feature, one guy said it was so comfortable he could sit there all day, lol!!! So, we’ll let you know more when we receive it and get to the installation in the next couple of weeks. It’s getting exciting but now I must run and finalize the vanity.

Marika, Balance Collection For Yoga Review!!!

My daughter has recently become very passionate about Yoga. She is in graduate school and it is a major stress reliever and keeps her in great shape. She goes as many as 6 times a week. She has been expanding her Yoga wardrobe and recently tried out some items from the Marika Balance Collection. She chose the Marika Tek – Artificial Reality Galaxy Print Leggings and Marika Tek-Solid Intuition Tank. She remarked immediately with the softness of the tank and how it was softer and felt better than a brand she buys that is much more expensive. She loved the leggings too, they were comfortable and fashionable and stayed put no matter the pose. She even found they were nice to wear outside of class paired with a different top. If you are looking for multi-sport active wear you should check out Marika. Use Promo Code BRIGHT40 to get 40% off all bottoms. Get 30% off your Balance order with code RELAX30.

Marika Tek Legging Artificial Reality Galaxy Print

Marika Tek Legging

Solid Intuition Tank Marika

Marika Solid Intuition Tank Back View

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You can follow Marika Fitness on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on sales, promotions and all the latest news.

I received the above pieces at no cost from Marika in order to facilitate my review. As always the opinions and views are entirely my own.

The Green Glass Co., Oversized Glass Tumbler “Re-Bottled” Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

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I remember one Christmas my older sister received a kit made for kids, that turned glass bottles into drinking glasses. When I think about what was involved and the potential danger to kids, I can say it would never make toy of the year by today’s standards. I remember you would put the bottle in this device and it would score the bottle and then some how you would crack the scored top off. Next you would smooth and polish the raw edges of the glass with from what I remember required putting it through the flame of a candle. Sounds like fun for kids, right? Either that or a trip to the emergency room.

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You can’t argue that it’s a neat idea to recycle bottles into drinking glasses. Well, The Green Glass Company has done all the work for you, their Oversized Glass Tumbler is made from a reclaimed chardonnay bottle. This glass holds 20 ounces of liquid and is the perfect way to ditch one time use plastic cups and plastic bottles.

If you are still looking for gift ideas the Oversized Glass Tumbler is a perfect choice, especially for the tree huggers on your list. My four-year old noticed that the recycled carton the tumbler comes in makes a great sounding drum, perfect for his rendition of The Little Drummer Boy. You can find the Oversized Glass Tumbler from Green Glass on our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide!!!

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The Green Glass Co. is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Oversized Glass Tumbler! Thank you to The Green Glass Co. for the review tumbler and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

The Green Glass Co., Oversized Glass Tumbler “Re-Bottled” on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, giveaway, Green Glass Co., Holiday Gift Guide, Mommy Ramblings, Oversized Tumbler, Re-Bottled, review

December 16, 2013 · 3:44 pm

A Place For Everything & Everything In Its Place AKA A Girl Can Dream!!!

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Organization is something so many of us struggle with. I know there are people who have no issues with having a place for everything and everything in its place. If you are like me, you often have the best of intentions, bought the label maker, various sized bins and baskets and poured over Pinterest for inspiration. Somehow, though it just never seems to come together the way it should. I know two areas I struggle with are my walk in closet in the master bedroom and my studio/craft room.

I see craft rooms with such beautiful storage for ribbons, buttons, paints, brushes, papers and more. Everything neat and easy to find. I seem to end up with various baskets, totes, containers and boxes full of my craft and sewing supplies. Then when I want to start a project it is difficult to find what I need.

Photo from California Closet Website

My studio needs major help with prop organization. I am thinking a wall unit of storage with lots of cubbies for the smaller props, maybe a hanging area for the colorful throws I use under my subjects as well as storage for the rolled back drops, extra bulbs and other supplies. Something like that would save me so much frustration and stop wasting minutes and hours of my time searching for something that’s misplaced in a sea of bins that are just overflowing with no rhyme or reason.

I would also love to see something similar for the craft/sewing side of the room with an eye-catching way to store all my notions that will just inspire me to create! A nice crafting table with high stools and more storage would be ideal and allow me the room to cut fabric, pin patterns, paint, decoupage or work with the kids on projects. Again, what a time and sanity saver that would end the futile searching and wasted money spent to buy supplies over and over because I can’t find what I need.

Photo Courtesy of California Closet Website

The other area I am in desperate need of an intervention for, is our walk in closet. When I built the house I thought I had enough built-in shelves but I am seriously lacking in the closet design area. I have lots of room to hang things but I need closet organizers, more shelves, cubbies and drawer units to store things properly. I would also like some cabinets on the top of the closet above the top shelves for seasonal items and things that I need to store but don’t want to gather dust. Shoe storage is also something needed as what I have is not sufficient.

Photo From California Closet Website

Photo From California Closet

Photo From California Closet Website

I promise myself I will tackle all this and as we approach the New Year, I would like to think that this year will be the year I finally do it. How about you? Are you struggling with some of the same issues or are you a place for everything and everything in its place person? Leave a comment and let us know.

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Tagged as California Closet, Closet, Crafts, Curb Appeal, Ideas, Mommy Ramblings, Neat, organization, Sewing

· 12:09 am

Manhattan Toy, Motorworks Customizable Wood Vehicles Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

ManhattanToy_Logo

My boys love monster trucks, cars and trains as most boys do. We recently had a chance to experience Motorworks from Manhattan Toy. Motorworks vehicles are able to be detailed by your child and they can swap wheels and parts from vehicle to vehicle creating new looks for their race cars, monster trucks and cars anytime they want. My boys went to town with the stickers and had so much fun decorating their cars and trucks. After that they were off and playing, stopping for tire rotations and then right back in action.

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Motorworks Race Pace

Motorworks Atomic Rider

Mommy Ramblings thinks Motorworks from Manhattan Toy would be a huge hit for the little guys on your holiday gift list. We are adding Motorworks to our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide!!!

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Mahattan Toy Motorworks

MOTORWORKS is the only line of customizable wooden toy vehicles, accessories and play sets. The collection includes three different vehicle trim levels: Street Series, Speed Series and Extreme Series. It also offers vehicle accessory kits, custom car decals and play sets. Experience MOTORWORKS today!

Manhattan Toy is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win the same Motorworks toys that I reviewed (their own of course!). Thank you Manhattan Toy for the review toys and for sponsoring this revved up giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

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Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, Cars, Custom, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Manhattan Toy, Mommy Ramblings, Motorworks, review, Trucks, Wood

December 15, 2013 · 12:02 am

Dinosaur Rescue! By Penny Dale Book & Limited Edition Print Giveaway!!!

I am so pleased to bring you a very special giveaway of Penny Dale’s book Dinosaur Rescue! and a limited edition print from the book! This great book is full of Dinosaurs that are rushing in vehicles to help out their fellow dinos. The illustrations are beautiful and my little guys just love the story and to see the dinosaurs driving buses, fire engines and police cars! Dinosaurs and vehicles, two of most little boys favorite things so how could this book be a miss?

Dinosaur Rescue

All of your favorite dinosaurs from Dinosaur Dig! and Dinosaur Zoom! are back, but this time they are busy saving the day! Children will be enthralled by the wonderful illustrations as the dinosaurs rescue one another. But don’t worry, there’s a happy ending for everyone!

There’s an emergency! Call the fire engines, ambulances, police cars — and the dinosaurs, of course!

Candlewick Press and Penny Dale Prints are sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win Dinosaur Rescue! and a limited edition print from the book! Thank you to Candlewick Press and Penny Dale Prints for the review book and for sponsoring this dino sized giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.

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Tagged as book, Candlewick Press, Dinosaur Rescue!, giveaway, Limited Edition, Mommy Ramblings, Print

December 14, 2013 · 10:44 pm

Adobe Premiere Elements Review & Giveaway For 2 Winners!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

Adobe Premiere Elements empowers your creative vision with video editing that’s so easy, it almost makes the movie for you. Use automated options, special effects, and in-app guidance to turn your video clips into entertaining movies that will wow family and friends. And now, take your Elements videos with you, wherever you go, on your smart phone or tablet. Do the same with your photos and make awesome slide shows, set to great music with your choice of transitions and effects!

I recently had the chance to upgrade from my older version of Adobe Premiere Elements to Premiere Elements 12. The newest version comes with great new features. I have only skimmed the surface and made one short video but I really like the updated version because there is so much more you can do like add new film looks, spotlight your subject with motion tracking and the auto smart tone feature allows the software to get to know your style.

One of the things I like best about Premiere Elements is that anyone from novice to expert can use this software to create great movies, it is so user-friendly. When you have made your move it is easy to share to Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and all the other leading online sharing services and social media sites.

The Guided Edits can help you learn and master editing techniques to make your videos pop. Have you ever wished you could create great looking videos but were intimidated because you thought it was way too difficult. Well, now it is like you have your own instructor with you, showing you just how to do things. Learn the ins and outs of editing your videos and soon people will be wishing they could create videos like yours.

Mommy Ramblings thinks Adobe Premiere Elements 12 makes a great gift for anyone that takes videos and wants user friendly software to organize, create and share their one of a kind movies with. We are adding Adobe Premiere Elements 12 to our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide!!! Open to US and Canadian residents.

Adobe is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Two lucky blog readers will win their own Adobe Premiere Elements 12! Thank you Adobe for the review software and for sponsoring this creative giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!

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Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, 2 Winners, Adobe, Create, Editing, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Mommy Ramblings, Premiere Elements 12, review, Share, Video