ChicTots Wristlet review and giveaway

***UPDATE 5-12-09***
Winner of the ChicTots Wristlet is....Lollie!
Congratulations!!
********************
The opportunity to review an item from ChicTots came to me via my roll as editor of the twins/multiples section at TypeAMom.net.

After looking at all of the products online I chose an item that is great for a mom with children in diapers, but that I just might be able to use as a mom with 2 almost-6 year olds. I chose the Chic&Carry Wristlet.

The Chic&Carry Wristlet would be the perfect new-mom gift

Infact, I'm about to buy one for my friend who just had her 4th child and now has 2 kids in diapers. There are 2 versions of the Chic&Carry Wristlet.

• One holds 2-4 diapers, the other holds up to 6 disposable diapers or 2 cloth diapers plus have a separate zippered front pocket for your phone, money, etc.
  
• Both have the wrist strap and oval hook so they can be worn on a beltloop, attached to another bag, or hooked onto a stroller if you don't want to carry it.
• Both also come with a wipes holder (you'll see below how I used this) and the newer version's is PVC, Phthalates, & Lead free. NOTE: you can buy additional wipes holders separately!
  

ChicTots has lots of great items for mom and baby but I know the wristlet is something that can be used as the kids grow.

What I have in my Chic&Carry Wristlet

I have been using the Chic&Carry Wristlet now for a few weeks as a summer clutch. It's perfect for a trip to the playground with the girls. It can hold my phone, a small wallet, my sunglasses, and the wipes holder which is perfect to hold emergency playground items like:

• sunscreen
• Neo To Go (Neosporin)
• bandages
• bug spray
• and, of course, wipes!

Giveaway-enter to win your own Chic&Carry Wristlet from ChicTots!

Rules:
You can choose from any of the wristlets she has available.
Contest ends Monday, May 11, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Leave a separate comment per entry with links as needed.

How to Enter:
1. Visit the ChicTots website (www.chictots.com) and tell me what OTHER item looks like something you would buy
2. Leave a comment telling me what you found
3. Tweet about this contest: "Enter to win #ChicTots wristlet from @Twincident http://tinyurl.com/d3xyka "
4. Mention and link to this giveaway on your blog
5. Email 5 of your friends a link to this giveaway and cc me: scarytwins [at] yahoo [dot] com

Winner will be chosen by random drawing.

Be sure to follow Michele (@ChicTots) on Twitter as well. She is a local DC mom, inspiring Mompreneur, and new friend.

Janine

The What-did-they-do-before-breast-pumps? Evenflo Giveaway

***UPDATE 5-9-09***
Winner of the Evenflo Comfort Select breast pump and nursing pads is....Rusti!
Congratulations and thanks everyone for entering!
****************

This is not a ‘product review’ as I am not currently breast-feeding and I have not actually tried this product. I do, however, know a little something about breast pumps.

What I know about breast pumps.

I pumped a lot.
I pumped 4 times a day for 45 minutes at a time.
I pumped in front of people. Men even.
I pumped driving up the New Jersey Turnpike racing to get to my father before he died.
I believe I remember pumping IN the hospital as I waited to give him my last goodbyes but those memories are fuzzy and all I know is that I was in that hospital all day and so I would have HAD to pump at some point.
I then pumped before and after my father’s funeral.

You see, my twins did not take to breastfeeding. Oh, I tried. I tried, then I cried. I tried, I cried again, I went to a lactation consultant. The lactation consultant was very nice. She told me at least one of the girls had a strange sucking thing that meant she could latch on all day and NOT get and ounce of breast milk. She told me I could work at teaching the babies how to suck correctly, but as I mentioned before, my father died. I had a lot going on.

I remembered thinking, “What would I have done if I didn’t have a breast pump? Would my twins have just perished?” So pumping is one reason I did not go completely insane those early days, because while I was an emotional mess, at least I knew they were getting breast milk.

Evenflo Comfort Select Performance Breast Pump

The Evenflo brand was definitely one that I trusted. Infact, I think I JUST tossed out the leftover Evenflo nursing pads that prevented many a wet spot for me. The Evenflo Comfort Select pump really seems to be made for moms who are on-the-go. The carrying case is much smaller than the one I had, and it has dual motors. That might have cut down on my pumping time! I like that all components are made without BPA and contain less than 0.01% phthalates. But what really caught my eye is the base – you know, the part that holds the bottle...so when you are done pumping what little breast milk you can get after 45 minutes it won’t tip over and spill all over the place!

For more information on the Evenflo Comfort Select pumps visit www.Evenflo.com and check out www.MomCentral.com as well where you can read breast feeding tips and enter to win your own Evenflo breast pump.

Enter to win an Evenflo pump for yourself or win one as a gift!

Thanks to Mom Central I have one Evenflo Comfort Select Performance breast pump AND two boxes of Evenflo Comfort Select nursing pads (one with Lanolin) to giveaway to one lucky reader!

Here’s how to enter: Leave a comment telling me who the pump is for and either why they(you) need it OR your funniest breastfeeding / pumping story! Winner will be chosen by random drawing.

Extra entries (the more chances you have of winning) – be sure to leave a separate comment for each!

• Tweet this giveaway (include link): " Win an Evenflo Comfort Select breast pump --> http://tinyurl.com/dm9vee "
  
• Blog about this giveaway and link back (I need link for this too)
• Subscribe to this blog (need your email to verify)

Contest ends Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 11:59pm
Good luck and I'm looking forward to some funny stories,
Janine

Aller-Ease Giveaway - you need this more than you know!

Let's talk for a minute about....

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Dust Mites

A single female dust mite lays 40 to 100 eggs, creating more than 100 new dust mites and 8,000 fecal droppings per month. Dust mites multiply so significantly, that unprotected pillows will weigh 10 percent more after just two years – and unprotected mattresses will double in weight after 10 years.

How about...

Pet Dander

Pet dander consists of the flakes of dead skin shed by cats, dogs, hamsters, and guinea pigs...even those called "hairless"

and

Mold Spores

Molds are tiny organisms that float through the air, often settling in soil, vegetation and rotting wood outside, and enter a home through open doorways, windows, vents, and through heating and air conditioning systems.

Here's what they all have in common:
1. They are gross.
2. They are the most common causes of allergy and asthma
3. They can be prevented simply by using Aller-Ease protective products

Stop whining and Enter to Win!
Now that I've completely grossed you out, stop whining about your loss of appetite and just do something to take care of your dust mite, mold, and dander problem!

Enter to win an Aller-Ease Deluxe pillow AND queen cotton pillow protector!

The Aller-Ease Deluxe Pillow offers superior allergen filtration in a 100% breathable fabric. Plus, it comes with a washable bonus cover, so your pillow stays cleaner longer.

The Aller-Ease Cotton Pillow Protector is 100% cotton so the fabric breathes to give you a good night's sleep while still protecting you from the most common household allergens.


To Enter:
Visit the Aller-Ease site and leave me a comment with one tip to reduce allergies in your bedroom.

Extra Entries (require separate comment for each with links as needed)

• Subscribe to this blog (leave your email in comment)
• Blog about this giveaway and link to this post
• Tweet this giveaway: Suffer from allergies? Win Aller-Ease Pillow and Cotton Pillow Protector --> http://tinyurl.com/cw9x77
• Email this giveaway to 5 friends and cc me: scarytwins [at] yahoo
• Grab the Twofer Thumbs Up button for your blog

Contest Ends Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 11:59 PM

Covering my pillows as we speak...
Janine

Bringing me to tears...Haagen-Dazs Five Review and Giveaway

**UPDATE** Winner is Mike & Jill (comment #17)
Thanks for playing!
____________________________________

Today is a very sad day.
For a week now I've had something in my kitchen that has become a great source of comfort.
For a week I have had something that allowed me to take a moment, to reflect, and even smile.
For a week this little something motivated me, encouraged me, and rewarded me to get more work done.

I am, of course, talking about the containers of creamy, all-natural, delicious Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream that Mom Central sent me to sample.

The last of the Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream has been consumed.

I. am. crushed.

Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream has just five ingredients:
1. skim milk
2. cream
3. eggs
4. sugar
5. flavor*

*Hold onto your taste buds here because HDFive gives new meaning to flavor with
Ginger, Passion Fruit, Vanilla Bean, Mint, Milk Chocolate, Coffee, and Brown Sugar.

Here's what the Twofer thought:

The magic of Haagen-Dazs Five

These container of goodness encouraged me to get more done...."OK, one more blog post and I can have a spoonful of HDFive Mint!"
And I found the creamy, sweet-but-not-too-sweet flavors gave me that little afternoon lift I needed.
Plus, the HDFive ice cream seems to have fewer calories and fat than regular Haagen-Dazs premium ice cream so there was no guilt (I can convince myself of just about anything).

Win FREE Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream

Now YOU have the chance to win 3 of your own Haagen-Dazs Five!
To enter just leave me a comment telling me which HDFive flavor you want to try the most (or if you already have tried one) and you'll be entered to win 3 coupons each good for one free container of HDFive!

Contest ends Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 11:59pm.

Extra entries (leave a separate comment for each) include:

• Grab the Twofer Thumbs button for your blog (include url in comment)
• Tweet this post (tip: click on the "2 minutes ago" below your tweet to isolate and grab that url to leave in comment here)
• Email link to this post to 5 people and cc me (scarytwins[at]yahoo[dot]com)

Be sure to check out the pictures of the ice cream arriving on dry ice from Mom Central and read about our dry ice experiment too at Twofer the Price of One!

Missing my HDFive {sniff},
Janine

Take Stock in Your Girlfriend and Enter to Win a Chocolate Spa Getaway at Hershey!

The Hotel Hershey Hershey, Pennsylvania

It’s time to take stock in your girlfriends, celebrate your friendships, and reflect on the support you’ve given each other. Now think about a friend who could really use a Chocolate Spa Getaway at the Hershey Hotel… That’s what entrepreneurs Lorrie Morgan Ferrero, Shannon Cherry and Joanie Winberg thought about when they joined forces and pooled their resources to develop the Girlfriend Getaway Contest!

How to Enter
Tell us in 300 words or less why YOUR FRIEND deserves a Chocolate Spa Getaway Weekend. Has she had some struggles, challenges, or just plain needs a break? (The contest is for all women- married, single or single again.) Then COPY and PASTE your essay into an email (no attachments accepted) and send it off to chocolatespacontest@gmail.com by midnight April 17th.

Winners will be announced April 24. Best of all, if your story is chosen, you get to go, too!

More details and FREEBIES

Have questions? You can find more information at www.GirlfriendGetawayContest.com and check out the freebies offered by some of the sponsors! The winner will receive a Chocolate Spa Weekend Getaway at the Hershey Hotel from May 15-17, 2009 including:

• Air fare
• Limo service to and from the hotel
• Poolside room for three (3) days/two (2) nights at the Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
• Over $400 worth of Spa Treatments
• Admission to the Hershey Gardens
• Dinner at the 4-start Circular Dining Room

Good luck and spread the word to all your girlfriends. Who knows, maybe they'll write about you!

Janine
Special thanks to JessicaKnows and Buzz Cooperative for the heads-up on the contest!