Cool Baby Kid » Mom

Mother’s Day Gift Pick: Spa Weekly Gift Card at CVS

cecelia — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:46:49 +0000

When I originally signed up to compete in a Tough Mudder obstacle course mud run, the date didn’t click. Just the other day I realized a morning of breakfast in bed and extra pampering was not to be this year for me. Instead I’ll be getting a different kind of “mud treatment” making a spa trip post-race a delightful prospect.

Spa gift cards are a go to gift for my own mother and mother-in-law each year; we make a ”Spa Day” an annual post-Mother’s Day event. Spa Week Gift cards, which can be remeemed for spa visits nationwide, can be found at CVS along with many other gift card options for mom. As we previously reported from our local CVS pharmacy, they have a vast array of gift card options ranging from restaurants to retail. So no stressing over Mother’s Day gifts this year. Head to CVS, grab a card and gift card, and try not to spend the day jumping into mud pools or carring logs up a hill!

My New Oral Care Regime with Crest & Oral-B

cecelia — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:04:36 +0000

I recently started using a new Crest and Oral-B Pro-Health Clinical Plaque Control regime which includes toothpaste, clinical rinse, pro-flex toothbrush and clinical protection floss. Using these products together, Crest and Oral-B claim to reduce plaque and even keep it from coming back! I plan a follow-up post to check in on those claims but want to outline the benefits and share my progress so far.

Hopefully my dentist isn’t really since I do have a hard time sticking to a floss routine. I’ve promised myself to floss once a day and can’t believe I haven’t discovered Glide floss before. Love it! I do use mouthwash periodically but committed to using every day as well to allow the program to work for me.

Every time I leave the densit’s office I promise myself I will floss more to maintain that clean-teeth feeling. As a tea drinker, some stains are inevitable since I refuse to drink hot tea from a straw. But I know there’s more I can do to take better care of my teeth which have to stand in line behind my hair, body, house and just about everything in my life struggling to maintain some semblance of balance. Now with a chance to get it right and a line helping me along the way, Crest and Oral-B Pro-Health Clinical Plaque Control is an opportunity to take control of one area of my life.

Maybe next month I’ll tackle Spring cleaning.

I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Crest and Oral-B and received product samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central Consulting sent me a promotional gift to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Cool Tip:

Crest and Oral-B invite you to enter the Pro-Health Clinical Olympic Games Sweepstakes for the chance to win trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games and also enter into a weekly drawing to receive the full product line (March 15-March 31st). No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

Say Hello Diamonds 60% Off Code

cecelia — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:30:58 +0000

Let’s be honest…I’m a teacher, and real diamond studs are not at the top of my purchase priority list. They would be nice, of course, but my ears aren’t likely to meet the real thing any time soon. (A new bedroom suite, carpets and landscaping are going to make the cut first.) As a review blogger I receive products in the mail nearly every day. But when these Say Hello Diamonds arrived, I was especially excited to see if they looked as nice in person as they did on the site. A sucker for anything As Seen In or celebrity-showcased, their Today Show appearance had me hooked. Figuring they should be shown and not talked about, I took nearly ten videos for this post and scrapped every one; none did them justice. Rather, I was able to snag an exclusive code for Cool Baby Kid readers for 60% off the Pantina earings pictured ($78, Reg. $195) so you can see them live and in person.

I could see becomming addicted to Say Hello Diamonds and how easily they may find their way onto my Mother’s Day or birthday wish lists. The Cruise Collection includes Amour bracelet (currently $47.70 at the time of publication on a flash sale). Also noteworthy are diamond rings for as little as $68 and the Solstice diamond necklace which I personally love. Whoever wrote their tagline, “The Look of Real, The Price of Faux,” should be congratulated…it’s a perfect fit.

A product sample was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% my own.

Cool Tip

Use code “CoolBabyKid” to receive 60% off Pantina diamond earings from Say Hello Diamonds.

Wordless Wednesday: Cafe Escapes Giveaway

cecelia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:07:09 +0000

Cool Tip:

Escape with my favorite Keurig drinks, Cafe Escapes Chai Tea or Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa or other varites of coffee, tea and cold drinks by using our exclusive coupon code “AM0016-3585″ for 15% off the entire GreenMountainCoffee site. (Includes free shipping and expires 2/29/12.) Follow Cafe Escapes on Facebook and Twitter.

Cool Giveaway:

For even more indulgence, Green Mountain Coffee is sponsoring a Birchbox giveaway! Birchbox members every month receive 4-5 hand-picked beauty samples and enjoy an online mini-mag filled with how-to videos, articles, and tips and more. Enter to win a FREE Birchbox subscription by commenting on this post with your favorite way to escape or indulge a bit. For extra entries:

Like Cool Baby Kid on Facebook

Follow Cool Baby Kid on Twitter

Like Cafe Escapes on Facebook

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 2/22/12.

Sample products were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Frownies: All Natural Anti-Aging Solutions

cecelia — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:20:07 +0000

The amazing before and after photographs of people using Frownies to virtually erase wrinkles intrigued me to want to review the product. While I received Facial Patches for Wrinkles and saw success with ones around my eyes, my favorite product are the Under Eye and Eye Lid Collagen Eye Gels. These re-usable gels help improve the appearance of bags, gine lines and dark circles. Once using for three times the first week, they can be re-used after storing in the refigerator. I’ve definately notcied a difference and am slightly addicted to the gels which feels so rejuvinating

Other Frownies products to consider include:

Cool Tip: Purchase Eye Gels (featured) which help reduce fine lines and dark circles for $29.95. Also be sure to follow Frownies on Twitter and Facebook for special deals and discount codes.

Lessons Learned As a “Temporary” Stay At Home Mom

cecelia — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:45:56 +0000

Loves Of My Life

Tomorrow ends my nearly 1 1/2 year journey into the world of playdates and learning time. After working for 12 years as an 8th grade Language Arts teacher, armed with a college degree in Education, Master’s in English and PhD in Curriculum, I decided it was time to stay home with my children. Made possible by my ability to take an educational sabbatical and a few less trips to T.J. Maxx, I ended the school year knowing an entire year would go by without seeing my classroom and colleagues with major changes in education taking place in my absence. (Unfortunately, not all for the better.)

This new world included somewhat scary forrays into A.C.Moore to find crafts to do with the kids, even though I don’t own a glue gun. Signing up for preschool snack times and school field trips, my briefcase stayed home housed in the closet with heels and suits I wore just a few months earlier while interning for my administrative certificate. For as many years as I could remember, one professional goal gave way to another, with just a few brief years since college that I wasn’t also a student. Then, abruptly, professional goals gave way to personal ones. Setting aside time for my childrens’ learning, enjoying watching them flourish and having the opportunity to pursue other creative outlets served as the hallmark of my life over the last year and a half.

Double Duty Divas @ Reviewer's Retreat 2011

At times I missed my colleagues and the daily routine of driving 1/2 hour to school and talking politics in the carpool. Missing work and getting up at 5:00 a.m. to squeeze in a workout? Preposterous. And yet I did.

Though I would not trade my year for the world, I had difficulty balancing my new professional endeavors. Cool Baby Kid, this review blog which was created in 2007 to share cool tips with families–Double Duty Divas, the consulting company created in 2009 with Experimental Mommy which seemed to flourish when given some attention–Reviewer’s Retreat at Great Wolf Lodge, a blog conference Bridgette and I hosted which was a fabulous success. Eventually, though, a new routine took shape. Breakfast with the kids, answering emails during Jake and the Neverland Pirates, learning time, fun time, nap time… Through it all I learned a few things about the working mom/stay at home mom (SAHM) conundrum:

Being a SAHM is more work than any job outside the home I’ve ever done including being a dishwasher at a convent.
Seeing your kids every single morning when they are at their snuggliest is worth not having a cleaning lady.
You can bring a girl to a craft store, but that doesn’t make her crafty.
Cliques and mean girls exist everywhere. At work, at the playground, online. Learning to stay out of the “fray” is a skill every young girl must learn since it will be a life-long endeavor.
Living on a tight budget means buying off the $1 menu rather than getting kids meals. And painting your own toes is possible.
Somehow, against all reason, it’s easier to teach 120 adolescents than two itty bitty preschoolers.
Both SAHMoms and working moms have “mom guilt.”

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have spent the last year and a half, all day every day, with the loves of my life. At the same token, I’m ready to become a working mom again. And if that oxymorn doesn’t seem to make sense to you, then join the club.

Cool Tip: Subscribe to Cool Baby Kid for more cool picks, tips and insights.

New Favorite Site for Unique Gift Ideas Giveaway

cecelia — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:11:07 +0000

Reviewing hundreds of products and websites since 2007, some stand out to make our Top Picks list. Others receive an Editor’s Pick designation because one of the Cool Baby Kid reviewers love it. A select few are listed in our annual Best of the Year post. Peter Pauper Press makes all three lists. As soon as I began perusing the site, I knew it was tailor made for me. With inspirational gifts, organizers for mom, a Little Black Disney book and other cool picks, I immediately bookmarked it knowing the site was a keeper.

I had the opportunity to check out The Little Black Book of Walt Disney World and The Little Sweet Book of Cupcakes. These are adorable and packed with information. As new Disney Vacation Club member, we recently visited Magic Kingdom for the day and used the pull-out map in Rona Gindin’s Little Black Book. We plan to use it to plan future WDW vacations as well. The most compact guide I’ve seen, it’s amazing how many ideas and tidbits are offered in just under 250 pages. And speaking of tidbits, The Sweet Little Books of Cupcakes by Nicholas Peruzzi with Courtney Forrester is filled with cupcake recipes and pictures to inspire even non-bakers like myself. It’s compact size and $10.95 price tag make the book a perfect pairing with other cupcake-themed items for a gift basket.

Filled with other unique gift ideas, Peter Pauper Press is a treasure-trove of unique finds. Some of my favorite include:

Little Black (and Pink!) Books
Memories for My Grandchild Journal
Mom’s Weekly Planners
Scratch & Sketch (for kids)
Bedtime Shadow Books (for kids)
Artisan Petites™ Mini-Book w/ Gift Card Holder

The last selection includes multiple book themes–Dream, Happiness, Believe and more–filled with quotes and a gift card holder (card not included) for $5.95. Stock up and give the best gift card on the block. LOVE these and love Peter Pauper Press.

Disclosure: A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% ours. Read our full disclaimer and frequently asked questions.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win two of my favorite Peter Pauper Press products–a little black (or pink) book of your choice plus an Artisan Petites™ Mini-Book.

Fan Peter Pauper Press on Facebook

Follow Peter Pauper Press on Twitter

Fan Cool Baby Kid on Facebook

Follow Cool Baby Kid on Twitter

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the contest rules and prize claim information as we announce winners on Prizey.net. Expires 5/19/11. To enter, just comment on this post after subscribing to CBK via RSSor email.

I’m a K-Cup Ambassador; You Get a Special Deal!

cecelia — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:30:08 +0000

Cool Baby Kid has a snappy new logo on our homepage that comes with some pretty cool perks. As a new K-Cup Ambassador, I’m proud to announce my family and I will be searching for and sharing our thoughts on finding the perfect cup. I feel compelled to spill the beans, however, that I myself am not a coffee drinker but am rather a tea fan. I’ve always felt a bit left out and have tried, on multiple occasions, to partake in the coffee-drinking club…to no avail. Luckily, my husband and mother who has a Keurig of her own both are coffee-club members and willing test subjects.

Since receiving a Keurig Special Edition Brewing System, I’ve used every morning to make Celestial Seasonings English Breakfast Black Tea K-Cup and my husband has found a favorite as well, Green Mountain Coffee Breakfast Blend K-Cup. We broke out the Keurig out for the morning of the Royal Wedding, and I absolutely love it! I just purchased some Chai Tea and Hot Coco from GreenMountainCoffee.com and am eying up the Iced Coffees which will be perfect for entertaining as the warm weather arrives. (Unfortunately for those in NEPA, it hasn’t quite come just yet this season.) So look for more K-Cup posts to come as we search for our perfect cup!

Disclosure: A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% ours. Read our full disclaimer and frequently asked questions.

Cool Tip: Good news! As a K-Cup Ambassador Cool Baby Kid will offer a new exclusive coupon code every few months. Use code AM0013-3585 for 15% off your order at GreenMountainCoffee.com. Follow Keurig, Green Mountain Coffee and Cool Baby Kid.

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Scout by Bungalow Diaper Bag & Totes Giveaway

cecelia — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:20:39 +0000

My biggest pet peeve with diaper bags is how messy they quickly became which is why the Pocket Rocket by Scout would have been ideal. Though I use the wipable bag for toting around groceries and even once on a picnic with the kids, I could see it’s appeal as a diaper bag which easily attaches to the back of a stroller. With three pockets on each outside to quickly grab essentials such as wipes or toys, it’s easy access and stylish designs make it a winner for new parents.

The whimsical Bungalow by Scout website entices users to click around, and here are some of my favorite finds:

If you’re browsing around yourself, by sure to check out the most original “about” page ever and the Deals Under $30 section with plenty of picks priced just right.

Disclosure: A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% ours. Read our full disclaimer and frequently asked questions.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a Scout Baby/Kid Superpack including a Junque trunk filled with small bins, pocket rocket, Super D Pooper pack, and matching overnight tote. Retail value $175! Just comment on this post with your favorite Scout product after subscribing to CBK via RSS or email.

Fan Scout on Facebook

Follow Scout on Twitter

Fan Cool Baby Kid on Facebook

Follow Cool Baby Kid on Twitter

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the contest rules and prize claim information as we announce winners on Prizey.net. Expires 5/17/11.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2011

cecelia — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:57:04 +0000

This year’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide is short and sweet, including three of our favorite items for mom (or yourself). Each of these items were hand picked just for you. Enjoy!

Cool Giveaway:

Need even more ideas? Visit our 2010 Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

Cool Baby Kid » Mom

Mother’s Day Gift Pick: Spa Weekly Gift Card at CVS

My New Oral Care Regime with Crest & Oral-B

Cool Tip:

Say Hello Diamonds 60% Off Code

Cool Tip

Wordless Wednesday: Cafe Escapes Giveaway

Cool Tip:

Cool Giveaway:

Sample products were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Frownies: All Natural Anti-Aging Solutions

Lessons Learned As a “Temporary” Stay At Home Mom

New Favorite Site for Unique Gift Ideas Giveaway

I’m a K-Cup Ambassador; You Get a Special Deal!

Scout by Bungalow Diaper Bag & Totes Giveaway

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2011

Mom’s Weekly Planner

Desk Calendar

Photo Locket

Cool Giveaway:

Cool Baby Kid » Mom

Mother’s Day Gift Pick: Spa Weekly Gift Card at CVS

My New Oral Care Regime with Crest & Oral-B

Cool Tip:

Say Hello Diamonds *60% Off Code*

Cool Tip

Wordless Wednesday: Cafe Escapes *Giveaway*

Cool Tip:

Cool Giveaway:

Sample products were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Frownies: All Natural Anti-Aging Solutions

Lessons Learned As a “Temporary” Stay At Home Mom

New Favorite Site for Unique Gift Ideas *Giveaway*

I’m a K-Cup Ambassador; You Get a Special Deal!

Scout by Bungalow Diaper Bag & Totes *Giveaway*

Mother’s Day Gift Guide *2011*

Mom’s Weekly Planner

Desk Calendar

Photo Locket

Cool Giveaway:

Say Hello Diamonds 60% Off Code

Wordless Wednesday: Cafe Escapes Giveaway

New Favorite Site for Unique Gift Ideas Giveaway

Scout by Bungalow Diaper Bag & Totes Giveaway

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2011