As a parent I am concerned about protecting my Children’s eyes from sun damage. Our kids have been wearing Real Kids Shades for several years and they are eye protection I trust and one that gives this mom peace of mind. Many times parents are diligent in using sunscreen on their children but forget to protect their eyes. Real Kids Shades works in partnership with Prevent Blindness America to educate parents on the importance of protecting their children’s eyes.
Children’s eyes are at special risk from the harmful effects of UV rays because their eyes are still developing. Their young eyes are much more vulnerable to sun damage. Real Kids Shades are designed to provide serious UV protection. Real Kids Shades is the leading maker of premium quality, 100 percent UV protective eyewear for infants and children up to age 12. Their award-winning design, intensive product testing, and patented construction makes their children’s sunglasses the best available on the market today.
Recently I ordered 2 pair of Real Kids Shades for my boys. They arrived with their own protective neoprene case and my little guys were thrilled. Ordering from the website is so easy and you can shop by age and there is a wide selection of styles and colors for boys and girls. We think Real Kids Shades make a perfect holiday or Christmas Gift so you will find them on Mommy Ramblings 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
Real Kids Shadesis sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a pair of sunglasses of their choice (subject to availability). Thank you to Real Kids Shades for the review sunglasses and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US and Canadian Residents. Good Luck!
Real Kids Shades Sunglasses Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
To celebrate the launch of their new shoe line Alterre is having a giveaway just in time for the holidays! If you ever had trouble just packing one shoe or finding a comfortable go-to for all of your outfits, this giveaway is for you. One lucky lady will get her pair before Christmas! I had a chance to preview these exact shoes a few months ago and they are gorgeous and so comfortable. I like that you can have a totally different look in the same shoe. It saves room when traveling for sure!
Ever carry multiple pairs of shoes to work? Have you ever struggled with picking only a couple of shoes to take on your next trip that would match everything? Alterre shoes were created with you in mind. Their patent pending technology, lets you mix and match your look to fit your lifestyle. With over 65 combinations, it is easy to transform your look from day to night and pack light for your next vacation. Customizable and comfortable, they are the perfect pair for any occasion. These shoes are as versatile as you are!
All of their shoes are designed in their New York Studio and made according to fair labor laws in Brazil. Alterre donates 5% of the proceeds to the women’s abuse shelter Restore NYC, so you get to do good while you look good.
Now for the giveaway! You can win a Black Heel Starter Kit which is the same kit I have and it is awesome! This kit has an ARV of $180 and includes a pair of black suede mules, mist grey Jackies, and evening sky Marilyns with a handy travel bag for the looks. For more information and to see the product details click HERE! To enter the giveaway just use the widget below! Good Luck!!!
Alterre Black Heel Starter Kit Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings:
The other day I received a very special basket in them mail. It is a festive red and white and fits right into the current Christmas season. I can imagine it filled with some colorful Christmas ball ornaments or filled with Christmas cards. It would also be a nice centerpiece for a entry table or coffee table. You may see this in my home and think it is pretty, but you would probably be surprised to learn there is so much more to this basket.
It is actually the Rwanda 10th Anniversary Medium Woven Star Basket. It is sold online and in Macy’s stores as part of the Rwanda Path to Peace program. These baskets, every single one of them represents a journey that they and the women who weave them have been on. The journey is one toward reconciliation.
Macy’s has carried the Rwandan Path to Peace baskets in store and at Macys.com for 10 years. It’s an amazing commitment for an American retailer to make to women in another country. Back in 1994, the tiny nation, no bigger than Rhode Island saw a genocidal mass slaughter. In three short months, nearly 1 million Rwandans were brutally murdered in a fury of ethic violence that is hard to even fathom.
After the massacre, a few women came together and did what women in Rwanda do. They talked, they cried and they wove baskets. These were women of both sides of the ethnic divide, practicing the skills of weaving they all learn from their mothers and grandmothers. When Macy’s began carrying the baskets in 1995, it was the first example of a major American retailer committing to a Trade-not-Aid product line in a substantial way. Macy’s has kept that commitment alive, despite the fact that Rwanda has largely disappeared from the news.
The baskets are available online and in stores and retail for $30-$50. Macy’s offers many 20% off coupons and the wonderful thing is, if you get this item for a discount it does not affect the price the weaver earns for the basket. I hope you take a look at the baskets HERE.
I have to admit I had never heard of this great commitment Macy’s has made to the women of this tiny nation. We are so blessed to live in America and it can be hard to imagine the plight of these women and what they lived through. I am sure they have very deep scars but what Macy’s has done and continues to do gives them a sense of hope, hope for the future, hope to women in Africa.
If you are looking for a gift that carries with it great meaning, these baskets would definitely fit that to a T. It truly is a gift that represents the wish and hope for Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Women. Do you realize that every basket that is sold will not only provide hope but economic sustenance for a woman in Rwanda. She will use the money to pay her children’s school fees, feed her children and perhaps buy a goat that will help improve her life. Can you imagine the kind of impact the purchase of a red and white basket can make?
Below I hope you will take a few minutes to view a video that shows the history of the Rwanda program.
Rwanda Path to Peace is now the longest-lasting program of its kind, impacting thousands of women throughout Rwanda, their families and communities. With their earnings, women can now send their children to school. They can buy everything from soap to land, malaria nets to health insurance. The income they earn from their handiwork has helped rebuild their communities. One of the first things a weaver does when she sells her first basket is buy soap. The next thing she does is buy shoes and pay school fees. Many weavers today have seen huge improvements in their lives. Below are powerful videos featuring such stories, click on the woman’s name to see a video about her life now.
Every Red and White Basket is the result of a weaving process that has been practiced for centuries in Rwanda. Each basket design is unique and they are painstakingly crafted from sisal and grass by women who learned to weave from their mothers, grandmothers and aunts. If you would like to see how the baskets are made in a special video, click HERE!
Ten years ago many of the thousands of children were malnourished and sick but through this program that has provided food, medicine and education they are now thriving young adults. Many of these young adults have completed school and are entering university. Macy’s commitment to the women of Rwanda means they can have hope for a future.
You will find the Rwanda 10th Anniversary Medium Star Basket on Mommy Ramblings’ 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
“This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.“
I don’t know if you ventured out on Black Friday or are surfing the Internet for Cyber Monday deals, but I will tell you that if you are looking for a meaningful gift, I may be able to help. In keeping with the sentiment, “It is better to give than receive.”, take a moment and check out the 2015 World Vision Gift Catalog. World Vision provides donors the opportunity to give a gift in a loved one’s name, making these the perfect presents to show family and friends love and to spread the joy of the holiday season across the world. And, as an added bonus, there’s nothing to wrap!
Donations of livestock like goats, fruit trees, soccer balls, education for girls and women and much more can be donated in a person’s name to make a truly unique and life-giving gift. When you think about the impact something like this can have on a life this gift truly is priceless.
In addition to the gifts above, World Vision operates the Where Most Needed fund, which provides for improvements in the quality of life for struggling children and families in the U.S. and around the world. Donors to this fund are eligible to receive beautiful artisan goods from Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, which make wonderful presents and stocking stuffers. Why not pledge your support and receive handcrafted gifts for yourself or a loved one, like the ones below:
Since 1996, the World Vision Gift Catalog has grown in popularity as a gift-giving alternative. Last year alone, more than 822,000 people were helped through funds generated by the Catalog. To order from World Vision’s Gift Catalog, call 855-WV-GIFTS or click HERE!
The handcrafted gifts are gorgeous. I was lucky to recieve the African Soapstone box and it is beautiful. It is just like the one below and I would like to extend a chance for you to win the same box courtesy of World Vision. The giveaway is open to US residents and you enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
This ornate hand-carved soapstone box is etched and designed by local artisans in Kenya. Using this sustainable resource these artisans are lifting themselves and their families out of poverty. Approximate size: 2 ½” x 5 ¼” x 1 ½”
Handcrafted African Soapstone Box Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Are you looking for a meaningful gift this Christmas and Holiday Season? I have a great idea, have you thought about charms? Charms and Charm Bracelets and Necklaces allow the wearer to wear charms that represent the special things in their life. Beautiful charms inspired by milestones, family, pets, hobbies, career, passion and more can be found at Soufeel! I have a beautiful Soufeel Charm Bracelet that holds very special charms that celebrate my life. I recently browsed their Christmas Charms and could not resist the urge to select a few for a Christmas inspired charm bracelet.
You can find charms to celebrate nearly everything at Soufeel, check it out now and take advantage of their great sales! They have a Black Friday sale at 90% off right now! You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram. You can also find Soufeel on Mommy Ramblings’ 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
I have always loved dolls and doll houses. I did as a child and as and adult, I am still an avid lover and collector of both. I am amazed at the number of adult collectors of Lundby Swedish Doll Houses. There are many groups on Facebook alone dedicated to long time and brand new Lundby Doll House Collectors. I have been collecting Lundby for a few years now. You may remember my previous posts about my Lundby Smaland Doll House.
I am here to show you some new additions to our Lundby doll house. First the biggest addition is really getting ready for Winter and swapping our Garden for the Winter Garden. We put away the trampoline and the race car because the garden is covered in sparkling snow. There is a small hill where the family has fun skiing and sledding. A snow-covered stone wall with a stylish gate surrounds the garden.
We added the Winter Family so that Mommy, Daddy, Sister and Brother are properly dressed for their winter activities. Then of course the Smaland Winter Accessories with backpack packed with two thermal containers, plus 2 sets of skis. The set also includes a sled, a snowman and a “snowball pile” with real light!
We added some new interior furnishings as well. A set of Nursery Baby Furniture with a crib, bedding and changing table/dresser combination. This collection includes an adorable Chest with 3 drawers, a Crib with bedding, plus a sweet Teddy Bear to cuddle at night or during naps.
We added the Lundby Smaland Aquarium Set as well. The realistic aquarium is filled with 3 colorful fish and a seahorse. The aquarium is pre-wired with a working light and looks wonderful when lit. Two potted geraniums are included to spruce up our Smaland house decor. To complete the look, a gorgeous painting by artist Lisa Rinnevuo is included. This exquisite work of art is reproduced from one of the artist’s real paintings.
For more than 65 years Lundby Smaland – pioneers in doll house lighting and design – has for offered high-quality collectibles, inspiring creativity to stimulate play and design. This accessory set is appropriate for children ages 4 and over, with adult supervision. Lundby gets its name from the Swedish village where Grete and Axel Thomsen first began creating and selling clever dollhouse furniture in 1947. Lundby continues to delight children and adults alike with lovely, high quality dolls houses, furniture, dolls, and accessories.
Lundby is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Lundby Smaland Winter Doll Family and Christmas Tree Set! Thank you to Lundby for the review products and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Lundby Smaland Winter Doll Family and Christmas Tree Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Are you are searching for the perfect gift for person who loves to cook and entertain or maybe you need a gift for a couple who just bought their first home? Maybe you are looking for something to make cooking for the holidays easier for you. I want to share a great product with you that I discovered recently. You may find it is just what you are looking for.
Every kitchen and every good cook needs a great cutting board and this natural bamboo wood cutting board really fits the bill. Made from 100% natural, organic bamboo it is ultra strong yet lightweight. It has a non-porous, antimicrobial & antibacterial surface that eliminates strong odors and bacterial growth. This reversible cutting board has rounded non slip silicone corners that come in blue or green and maximize safety. This cutting board makes a great cheese and serving board and is easy to clean with warm water and soap.
I was very impressed with this board. I loved the silicone corners and how even on my quartz counters the board remained steady with no slipping through my chopping and cutting tasks. It looks very nice and makes a nice addition to our kitchen. It was easy to cut and prepare food on and easy to clean after.
I like this board so much you will find it on our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. Mommy Ramblings’ readers get a gift too! Take 15% offthis great board when you buy it on Amazon. To get the discount just click HERE to add the board to your cart and enter the Coupon Code GOURMET2
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above in exchange for review from Giveaway Service website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Reference ID: pmdbd146a24e3bc24319bf07050e2ec9b9
Portable North Pole is a magical console used by Santa and his elves to send personalized video messages to the folks you care most about. In just a few simple clicks, you can provide Santa with all the information he needs to create a unique, tailor-made video message that would even bring a smile to Scrooge’s face!
Portable North Pole videos come in 2 main types: Christmas and Birthday greetings. And they’re free! Or you can upgrade to a Premium version, with more Santa facetime, extra personalization options, the ability to include more photos and truly incredible scenes from his village in the North Pole PLUS the long anticipated Santa’s Verdict, that lets your loved one know if they are one Santa’s Naughty or Nice list. Mommy Ramblings’ Readers Save 20%USE PROMO CODE: BLG20PNP , To redeem your promo code click HERE. Portable North Pole is also a favorite on our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. My children are amazed by the Portable North Pole and we visit every season!
As a lifelong doll lover, I really love this post. Why? It is about dolls of course. I think dolls are a classic toy of childhood that let children model loving and caring for a baby and teaches them how to nurture a small baby or child. Dolls can also help a child who will soon be welcoming a new sibling to the family. Before the new baby arrives the child and parent can talk about all the care and time the baby will need. Then when the baby arrives the parent can encourage the child to do the same things with the doll they are seeing them do with their baby sibling.
Now if you have a brand new little one that is your own or on your holiday list that you would like to introduce to dolls, the Babi Corolle soft dolls have sweetly expressive faces that will captivate and soothe baby. All Babi Corolle first soft dolls are designed with multiple “handles” so they are easy for tiny fingers to grasp and explore. Unique combinations of ultra-soft and supple materials and textures delight and intrigue little ones, and everything in the Babi Corolle collection is produced to meet all applicable mandatory and voluntary safety standards.
Corolle’s Babi Corolle first dolls’ soft vinyl faces (Lili dolls excepted) are delicately scented with vanilla so that the hugs your baby gives to her lovie are as sweet and memorable as the hugs you give her! A plus for parents: All Babi Corolle first dolls are machine washable (air dry naturally, please) and have a sewn-in label with space to write baby’s name.
A great gift set for ages birth and up is Miss Fresh Riviera & Blanket.Miss Fresh Riviera is an adorable first doll with a soft body that’s ideal for hugging and cuddling! The sweet expression on her vanilla scented, smooth vinyl face will charm and soothe little ones. Included in the set is a coordinating soft blanket. There are other styles in these sets so check out the Corolle Website to see them all.
Okay are you more in the market for a realistic baby doll? Corolle’s Mon Bébé Classique Dodo Baby Dollhas a soft body, blue sleeping eyes, and supple vinyl skin that’s delicately scented with vanilla — a Corolle signature and is an excellent for little ones 2 and older. This adorable 14-inch baby doll comes with her own soft lovey, blanket and mini booklet for complete mommy play!
Mon Bébé Classique Dodo Baby Doll features high-quality materials and careful details. Her soft body is lightweight and irresistibly huggable, and her sweet, authentically sculpted face will charm and captivate little ones. Her supple vinyl skin is delicately scented with vanilla and her blue eyes close when you put her down for a nap or at bedtime, just like a real baby.
Mon Bébé Classique Dodo wears any 14-inch baby doll fashion and fits comfortably in any nursery accessory from Corolle’s Mon Classique Collection. There is a nice selection of outfits and baby care accessories that can really extend the play with this Mon Bébé Classique Dodo Baby Doll.
Designed in France and part of Corolle’s Mon Classique Collection for make-believe moms ages 3 years and up, Mon Bébé Classique Dodo Baby Doll is the winner of a Platinum Seal Award from The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, the only independent consumer review of children’s media. Award winners are selected based on their quality, innovation, and ability to provide children with an engaging play experience. The Platinum Seal Award is The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio’s highest honor.
Need a little dolly for the stocking?
Looking for a stocking stuffer that is just too cute? One of the Mini Calin baby dolls is the perfect choice. They little dolls have cuddlly soft “bean”-filled bodies. Little hands can hold easily to the bean bodies of these tiny babies and they may be small on size but your little one will shower them with a huge amount of love. Very portable they are great to keep in a diaper bag or in the car to keep little ones busy. Even older girls love them and want to collect them all because one is cuter than the other. They are 8 inches tall and made for ages 18 months and up.
Corolle is a premium doll brand that is designed in France. Corolle dolls are designed to be the perfect look, size, feel and scent for little ones to love and cherish. Pretty, sweet faces are sculpted after real babies. Fashions are inspired by current children’s clothing and adapted for a young child’s dexterity so they are easy to dress. Corolle dolls’ supple vinyl arms and legs are smooth to the touch and delicately scented with vanilla, and their bodies have the ideal amount of filling for hugging and cuddling.
These dolls are all so nice and make great gifts for a child. They are all huggable and soft and smell so great. We love them so much we are adding all three to our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
Corolle is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Mon Classique Bebe Dodo Doll of their own! Thank you to Corolle for the review product and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
You know what they say about dynamite coming in small packages right? You can’t dismiss something small as weak and you certainly cannot dismiss the compact triangular Audiosharp Music Eyes Speaker as anything less than dynamite! This little speaker packs a powerful punch in features and sound. It is portable, has Bluetooth wireless capabilities, allows you to answer calls right from the speaker too! The dual drive unit speakers deliver incredible sound!
The internal rechargeable 650 mA battery is good for up to 5 hours of play time and 300 hours of standby time. The built-in microphone supports hands free calls. The connection range is up to 30 feet. You can also use the 3.5mm AUX cable to connect and it is included with this speaker.
We were so impressed with this metal speaker, it is drop resistant, dust proof and comes in red and black. It easily paired with both my iPhone 6 and my husband’s Note 4 with ease. The sound is awesome and it has a phenomenal play time. The speaker has big and clear sound that is truly full range. The bass hits low and the treble pops the highs out perfectly. It is hard to believe the awesome sound is coming from this little speaker. It is in pairing mode the first time you turn it on as noted by the LED blinking blue to red. After the initial time you turn it on you need to hold the multifunction (phone handset icon) for over 6 seconds until the blue red blink starts. All functions are announced audibly when engaged. For example, to turn it on or off, simply hold the multifunction button down until it audibly announces it is on…or off then release it.
Be sure to use the supplied charge cord or you may hit the multifunction with the plug as you are inserting it. Some plugs are too large for the small area around the charge port and can press the multifunction button in when inserted causing it to turn on or enter pairing mode, etc. It charges quickly. The speaker is very stable and will not tip over or move at all due to the shape and rubber strips on the bottom. The controls are on one side with the charge and AUX ports in the center under the attached rubber dust cover door. Controls are clearly marked with “+” & “-” for volume and the “|<” & “>|” for changing the track forward or backward, and the one with a phone receiver is a 9 function multifunction button (on-off-pause-continue-answer call-hang up-refuse call-redial last number called-pair).
We think this awesome speaker is the perfect gift for the music lover in your life this holiday season or you might want it for yourself so you can have your favorite Christmas music playing anywhere you are. Audiosharp has graciously provided Mommy Ramblings’ readers with a coupon code for 30% off this unit which you can purchase on Amazon at the link at the bottom of this post. Just use the code 6TE5NWK3 and save 30% on this awesome speaker! We like the Audiosharp AS0847 Music Eyes Portable Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker so much, you will find it on Mommy Ramblings 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above in exchange for review from Giveaway Service website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Reference ID: pm026c7c6e91742de037b84a407076cff0
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
