Graco Blossom Highchair Review

Your baby's highchair needs are going to change radically over the years. Your infant needs to recline and your bigger baby needs to be strapped in tight and well supported. Your toddler is going to want to sit in a booster, not a highchair, and your preschooler, well, let's not even go there.

What if I told you that Graco had designed a single highchair system that fulfills every single one of those roles? Nope, no kidding, they have. The Blossom 4-in-1 Seating System is hands down the most versatile highchair I have ever seen or had the luxury of trying out.

The infant insert turns the impressively reclinable chair into a cushy haven for even the tiniest baby. Set up the chair long before your baby will even try his first solids so that he can enjoy sitting at the table with the family.

When your little one is ready to try finger feeding herself, put the seat in it's upright position and put the really large and easy to clean tray to work. The five point harness and padded sides will help even wobbly sitters sit up properly.

Toddler tired of the tray and wants to join the family at the table? No problem, remove the tray and pull up the chair. The six height adjustment options mean that you'll be sure to find the perfect position for your baby to eat comfortably with everyone else.

Ready to graduate to a simple booster? Need an extra chair for a visiting toddler? No problem. The Blossom 4-in-1 Seating System comes with a booster. Yes, a second seat. Meaning that it's the only chair on the market that can be used by two children at once. Trust me, until you have a second child and are faced with needing to buy a second highchair you won't quite grasp the awesomeness of this feature.

Preschooler shunning all things highchair or booster related, but can't quite reach the table? The Blossom turns into a youth chair that your child can use comfortably until he's really ready to graduate to a grown-up chair.

The Blossom 4-in-1 Seating System is an amazing product that was easy to assemble and easy to clean. We're obsessed with it and we're telling all our friends to put it on their baby registries.

Graco Blossom 4-in-1 Seating System Seating System Pros:

- Easy to assemble.
- Insanely versatile - useful from infancy through childhood.
- Comes in 3 classy patterns.
- Safe, sturdy, and great looking.

Graco Blossom 4-in-1 Seating System Cons:

- The footrest was a bit tricky to install, something that I'm confident was just a fluke with out model because I haven't heard of any other users complaining from that issue.
- The section of the tray that goes between the child's legs is a bit big and if the child is slouching when you put them in it can compress their crotch area a bit uncomfortably. Making sure the child sits up properly resolves this issue. Great for posture! Not so great for sensitive children.

If you're looking for a highchair/feeding system you really can't go wrong with this product. It's made by Graco so you know it will stand up to the test of time and you will be able to really appreciate all its versatile options.

I was in no way compensated for this review and I am only affiliated with Graco as a Brand Ambassador which is a non paying position.

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Sandisk Micro SD Memory Card Review/Giveaway

Odds are if you have kids you don't have a shortage of photos or video of your precious little ones. However, I bet you frequently run out of storage space for all that footage.

The little camera I carry around everywhere can barely hold a couple hundred pictures before I have to empty it out. That's fine for a day out here and there, but when we're on vacation it's nowhere near enough.

Of course I could try to take a couple fewer pictures, but where's the fun in that? Instead I'm going to turn to SanDisk for help. See, SanDisk knows that we mamas and papas have a little trigger finger issue and they know we're craving for space. Not just personal space (though if they could fix that too we'd be forever indebted!), but storage space.

See that picture up there? Yeah, so, the actual SanDisk MicroSD card is actually 1/8th of the size of that thing. It's pretty much the size of the fingernail on your pinky finger. But don't be fooled by it's size! It can hold 16 gigabytes of information. That's room for 4,000 songs, 14,000 photos or 16 hours of video.

Now, if you're not techy at all like me, that doesn't mean a thing to you. You might even be wondering where you would even stick that tiny card. Well if you have a smart phone odds are it already has a MicroSD card, albeit one with a much smaller capacity. And if you don't have a device that can support a MicroSD card you can get a handy little converter that will allow you to use your SanDisk 16GB MicroSD card instead of your usual smaller memory card.

Before you head off on your summer vacation consider upgrading your memory card. You'll be able to pre-load tons of entertaining tv shows to keep your kids happy on the way and still have room to spare for the photos and video you want to capture once you arrive.

Win a SanDisk 16GB MicroSD card!

To enter:
1) Leave a comment telling me about a time you ran out of storage space on your camera/music player/anything.
2) Leave a comment telling me what you would do with 16GB of storage.
3) Visit the SanDisk website and tell us about a product that might make your life easier.
4) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
5) Subscribe to my other blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
6) Tweet, email, blog about this giveaway.

That's a grand total of 8 ways you can enter! Please remember to leave me a way to contact you. And please, please, please, leave a separate comment for each of your entries. I can't credit you for each of them if you don't.

Giveaway ends Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 10pm PST. This giveaway is now closed. Please visit my other giveaways for more great prizes!

I received a SanDisk 16GB MicroSD card for review, but I was in other no way compensated for this giveaway. All opinions included in this post are mine and mine alone.

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Kohl's Cares for Kids Ducky Review and Giveaway

We are a Kohl's family. We go there all the time for M's clothes, kid clothes, toys, house stuff. You name it, we can probably find it there and have a blast in the meantime.

I didn't need any help to love Kohl's more, but they've gone and done something extra special anyway. They've come up with a neat way to get kids reading this summer. As part of the Kohl's Cares for Kids program, until the end of June you'll find two awesome books by Jackie Urbanovic (New York Times best-selling author and illustrator!) for sale along with their coordinating plus toys for just $5 each.

Duck Soup and Duck at the Door are hilarious books that you and your kids will get a kick out of reading. The coordinating plush toys are really high quality and surprisingly funny and cute.

For just $5 you can get a fun treat, or a nice birthday present for a friend. You and your child could pick out a couple gifts for less fortunate or hospitalized kids, you could even start a pint sized book club for your child's friends! When the price is right and the money goes towards charity it's hard to resist!

Duck books and coordinating plush toys pros:

- Jackie Urbanivic's Duck books have adorable whimsical pictures that will delight even the youngest children and great lessons about caring for others that will interest older ones.
- The stuffed animals are wonderful quality toys - incredibly soft with the greatest facial expressions.
- $5 for a book or a stuffy! Can't beat that!
- Helping others by getting yourself a treat! Even better.

Duck books and coordinating plus toys cons:

- You people are going to stop believing me, but what can I say, I can't think of any negatives here.

Win your very own Duck book and coordinating plush toy!

To enter:
1) Leave a comment telling me about something charitable you and your child have done.
2) Leave a comment telling me how you are going to get your child to read this summer.
3) Visit the Kohl's website and tell me about something you just have to get.
4) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
5) Subscribe to my other blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
6) Tweet, email, blog about this giveaway.

That's a grand total of 8 ways you can enter! Please remember to leave me a way to contact you. And please, please, please, leave a separate comment for each of your entries. I can't credit you for each of them if you don't.

Giveaway ends Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 10pm PST. This giveaway is now closed. Please visit my other giveaway for more great prizes!

I received two Duck books by Jackie Urbanovic and two plush coordinating toys for review, but I was in other no way compensated for this giveaway. All opinions included in this post are mine and mine alone.

*Through the Kohl’s Cares for Kids program, 100 percent of the net profits from sales of the Duck books and plush toys will benefit children’s health and education initiatives nationwide. Since the Kohl’s Cares for Kids program’s inception in 2000, Kohl’s has turned $5 merchandise into more than $126 million that has made a positive impact on the lives of children across the country.

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EarCheck Giveaway Winner

The winner for the super cool EarCheck monitor is...

Michelle of Honest and Truly! Congratulations! I hope that this nifty little device comes in handy. Thank you to everyone who entered and don't forget, if you didn't win you can still use the discount code TWEET20 for a 20% discount if you buy your EarCheck on the EarCheck site.

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Web Solution Stylist - Big Bloggy Makeover Winner!

And the winner of the Web Solution Stylist Big Bloggy Makeover is...

Which translates to... The Nyes! Congratulations Deric and Jamielyn! I'll be giving Elizabeth your email address so she can be in touch with you about your big redesign.

Ah... uh... if you wanted to... uhm.... thank me.... I'd take some of those ridiculously yummy looking Andes Brownies. Mmmm. Nom. ;-)

Thank you to everyone who entered! Be sure to check out the other exciting giveaways!

Didn't win? You can still get a blog makeover! Check out the Web Solution Stylist designs and prices.

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EarCheck - Review & Giveaway

It's the middle of the night and your baby is clutching her ear and screaming. It could be her teeth, or it could be yet another ear infection. There's no way to know.

Or is there?

In the past you would have had to wait until morning to call the doctor and bring your child in so they could get a quick look at your child's ears. Now all you have to do is grab your very own EarCheck and you'll instantly know if you really do need to go in and risk exposing your child to all the other germs lurking in the waiting room.

Modeled on a tool used by pediatricians all over the country, EarCheck simply, quickly, painlessly, and effectively monitors the amount of fluid located behind your child's ear drum. If it detects fluid - indication that there might be an infection - EarCheck will tell you to contact your doctor.

Now, I know that winter is clearing out and hopefully taking with it it's pesky germs and viruses. But it will be back and if your kids are anything like mine, the arrival of summer means the arrival of summer germs and viruses. So don't wait until the fall to get your hands on one of these. You won't regret having it in your medicine cabinet!

EarCheck Pros:

- I've tested this out on my own ears. It's quick and painless, really.
- Small and portable. This is no bigger than an ear thermometer, and a ton more accurate!
- Last time I took my child in to have her ears checked for signs of an infection they used the same monitor. 'Nuf said.
- Affordable! The EarCheck retails for $49.95 (see below for a discount code!) and will save you hundreds in co-pays or doctor's bills.
- Has magical properties. Ever since we got this in the mail both children have been ear infection free. OK. Might not really be magical, but I'll take what I can get.

EarCheck Cons:

- I'm sorry, but I can't find any. And you all know how hard I usually try. This little tool will save you money, give you peace of mind, and help you care for your children more effectively. I can't think of anything bad about it!

EarCheck Discount Code:

Can't wait? Use the discount code TWEET20 for a 20% discount if you buy your EarCheck on the EarCheck site.

Win your very own EarCheck!

To enter:
1) Leave a comment telling me about a time you weren't sure if your child had an ear infection.
2)Tell me about a time you took what turned out to be a healthy child to the pediatrician's and came home with a sick kid.
3) Visit the EarCheck website and tell us about something you learned about ear infections.
4) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
5) Subscribe to my other blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
6) Tweet, email, blog about this giveaway.

That's a grand total of 8 ways you can enter! Please remember to leave me a way to contact you. And please, please, please, leave a separate comment for each of your entries. I can't credit you for each of them if you don't.

Giveaway ends Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10pm PST. Contest only open to US residents. Sorry!
This giveaway is now closed, but please check out other giveaways currently running.

I received an EarCheck monitor for review, but I was in other no way compensated for this giveaway. All opinions included in this post are mine and mine alone.

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Chic Tots Travel Blanket/Bag Review

If you hadn't noticed yet, babies come with stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. You can never just pick up your child and jet. No, instead you have to gather boatloads of supplies before you leave. Just to go to the park you have to remember the blanket, diapers, wipes, toys, snacks, drinks, hats, sunscreen, and even maybe a lovey. It's a pain. Literally.

No, what if instead of having to carry a bag and a blanket you could carry a bag that was a blanket? Brilliant, right? The people at Chic Tots thought so! They designed a nifty little bag that doubles as a small blanket.

While the bag wouldn't probably ever double as your regular diaper bag - it doesn't have the kinds of pockets you would probably want to stash all your usual baby paraphernalia and it doesn't close all the way - it's the perfect sidekick for a trip to the park or the beach.

Throw your diapers, toys, and snacks onto the blanket, grab the straps and pull the bag closed. When you arrive at your destination, place the bag on the ground and open it up to reveal a soft fuzzy blanket for your baby. Brilliant.

Go the extra mile and invest in the matching diaper Wristlet, which can hold a couple diapers and some wipes, and you're set for a ton of fun outings!

Chic Tots Travel Blanket/Bag Pros:

- Snazy patterns that you won't mind carrying around.
- Practical combination of blanket and bag, leaving you free to carry one less item on your outings.
- Super soft fake fur lining that will keep your baby cozy and warm.
- Can be used as a back pack, shoulder bag, tote, or stroller bag.
- Fully machine washable.

Chic Tots Travel Blanket/Bag Cons:

- The blanket is not very big, just 29x38 inches. So it's big enough for a baby to sit and play on, but not big enough for any other member of the family to share.
-The straps a bit tight, so it's not all that easy to transform the blanket into a bag. I would think that it would get easier as the bag loosens up with use.
- This isn't a one handed transformation product. You need both hands to convert the blanket into a bag or vice versa. By the same token transforming the bag into a shoulder bag or a back pack requires the use of both hands.
- The bag doesn't close completely, making it impractical as a day to day diaper bag.

As the weather warms up and the trips to the park multiply you'd do well to invest in this handy little bag. I guarantee you'll get a lot of use out of it! Chic Tots products are just about to hit the shelves at some major retailers, but in the meantime check out all their other fabulous products here.

Disclaimer: I received both the Chic Tots blanket bag and wristlet for review, but I was in no other way compensated for this post. The opinions listed here are all my own.

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Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat Winner!

The winner for the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 car seat giveaway is....

Which translates to Melanie, who likes the Reese pattern and is a big fan of the Graco DuoGlider stroller and the Baby Einstein Activity Center.

Thank you to everyone who entered! Stay tuned for lots of exciting upcoming giveaways!

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Momfluence Mother's Day Gift Guide

In case you hadn't noticed Mother's Day is just a couple days away. Now, I'm not saying that you have to rush out and get that special Mom in your life a mind-blowing present or five! But in case you were looking for a little something, the wonderful bloggers at Momfluence have compiled a nifty little Gift Guide, which I am excited to share with you here.

Featured Products

Chic and Carry Wristlet - Make mom’s quick trips out with baby much easier with this great product.

Miessence Organics Mothers Day Set - Every mom deserves to be pampered once in awhile, and these organic body products allow her to do just that.

Sara Lee Simply Sweets Pies - Sara Lee’s Simply Sweets line gives you a delicious way to treat Mom this Mother’s Day with a fast, easy and delicious dessert.

Children Should Come With Warning Labels - Patti McKenna offers a humorous take on motherhood, giving mom a chance to laugh, cry, and identify with her tales.

Roundhouse Designs Desktop Mobile - Roundhouse Designs origami mobiles and wall art are handcrafted creations that make a unique Mothers Day gift.

Roundhouse Designs Jewelry - Roundhouse offers a wonderful selection of handmade jewelry, with styles that are perfect for every mother on your list this Mother’s Day.

Heart of A Mother - Heart of a Mother is a gift book filled with touching tributes to Mothers and Grandmothers, inspirational short stories, poems, proverbs and quotations.

Protect-A-Bed - Protect-a-Bed waterproof mattress covers provide protection from allergens, dust mites, and bedbugs, helping to extend the life of your mattress and mom to sleep a little sweeter.

Ultimate Woman Vitamins- Make sure that mom is getting everything she needs to stay healthy and active with the Vitamin Shoppe's Ultimate Woman vitamins.

More Great Gift Ideas

April Cornell Shoulder Bag

BabyPlus System

Not Just Any Old Day Keyrings

Menu For The Week Subscription

For My Mother Reflection Journal

Vintage Body Spa

No Throw

Me Time Sportswear

Peek-A-Boobs

Kind Notes

Aventine Hill Bath Products

Treadlight Eco Snack Kit

Name Your Tune CDs

Things Remembered Charm Stories

Diaper Clutch

HJ-112 Pocket Pedometer

Lia Sophia Riverside Necklace

Lia Sophia Beaujolais Necklace

Lia Sophia Mandalay Bay Necklace

Lia Sophia Athena Necklace

Lia Sophia Love Dust Set

More Great Gift Guides
The Mom Maven

MomECentric

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

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Web Solution Stylist - Big Bloggy Makeover Giveaway

My good friend over at Web Solution Stylist just wants one thing - to help you make your blog look the best it can.

Have you been lusting after other people's fancy unique blog designs? Have you always wanted to spruce your place up, but never thought you could afford it?

Well, think again. Getting a blog makeover doesn't have to break the bank. And for one of you lucky readers, it's even going to be free. Yes. Free. Because Elizabeth rocks.

Web Solution Stylist is giving away a "Middle of the Road Design," (valued at $85) which includes:

Custom Header

Background

2-3 Customized Columns

Custom Signature

Installation

To enter:
1) Leave a comment letting me know how long you've wanted a redesign.
2) Leave a comment letting me know which of the three sites listed in the Web Solution Stylist portfolio page is your favorite.
3 )Leave a comment letting us know about your absolute favorite blog designs ever.
4) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
5) Subscribe to my other blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
6) Tweet, email, blog about this giveaway.

That's a grand total of 8 ways you can enter! Please remember to leave me a way to contact you. And please, please, please, leave a separate comment for each of your entries. I can't credit you for each of them if you don't.

Giveaway ends Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 10pm PST.

This contest is no closed. Thank you for stopping by, please be sure to check out all the other giveaways that are open.

I was in no way compensated for this giveaway.

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Mamapedia - Where Parenting Questions Get Answered

It's 2:00 a.m. and your three month old is crying...again. You're a first time mother, and while you've got a ton of questions, you called your mom at 2:00 in the morning last night about that crazy looking diaper, your best friend the night before about the weird rash on your baby's back, and all your Twitter friends seem to be off line, so you really need to get through this one on your own.

But where can you turn?

The brilliant people at Mamapedia took the wisdom of thousands and thousands of moms and made is searchable! You can head to the computer with that screaming infant in your arms and type,

"Why does my baby cry so much at night?"

And this is what you'll find - an article about a mom who asked a question titled "Sleepless Nights with a 13 week old" and the responses of forty-four moms. You can read those forty-four answers while bouncing your baby, and with a little luck by the time you are through your infant will be fast asleep and you will feel better.

To launch this new mom resource, the Momfluence network and Resourceful Mommy are throwing a party. Join them on Twitter this Friday, May 8th, from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. eastern time. They, along with mom experts in a variety of parenting areas, will be discussing multiples, kid crafting, health and safety, potty training, home schooling, and a ton more parenting topics.

During the party, details about a "What Can I Learn Today?" contest will be revealed...along with an incredible grand prize.

Join in on the fun by RSVP'ing here!

This event and this post brought to you by Momfluence: rocking the cradle and shaping the world.

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For My Mother - Reflection Journal - Review

The best gift you can ever give your mom is memories. Pictures of favorite moments, beautiful Mother's Days, or, even better, a journal compiling stories, thoughts, and reflections on your relationship.

Now, not all moms are into sentimental stuff. My mother for one might possibly roll her eyes if I ever sent her something as touchy-feely as a journal filled with reflections on our relationship. But I know quite a few moms who would cry over this adorable book created by Lil' Angels Gifts.

Each page of the For My Mother journal features a writing prompt like "I'm proud to have you as my mother because..." or "A hard lesson you've taught me, but I'm thankful for..." and plenty of space, three whole pages of space in fact, for you to write in the answer. It won't take you just five minutes to fill out this journal, but when you're done you'll have a lovely book compiling all the positive aspects of what might be one of the most complex relationships in your life.

For My Mother journal pros:

- The book is made with lovely quality paper - smooth and thick.
- The writing prompts are basic, but cover everything you'd ever want your mom to know, but probably never get a chance to say.
- The table of contents located at the front and the numbered pages make it easy to quickly skip to the section of your choice.

For My Mother journal cons:

- I wish that the book weren't just spiral bound. Even though it's a thick substantial spiral, I feel that a journal like this would benefit from having a real book binding.
- This really is a very sentimental look at the mother-child relationship, some funny prompts might have made it a bit more palatable for moms like mine who get a bit uncomfortable when stuff gets too touchy-feely.

Where you can find the For My Mother journal:
This journal is sold on the Lil' Angels Gifts site for $23.99.

Disclosure: I am not affiliated with Lil' Angels Gifts and I was not paid for this review though I did receive the product for free. I won't be sending it to my mother. She'd roll her eyes. But I might be sending it to my mother-in-law. She won't roll her eyes, instead she might cry. They're different like that.

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