Check out Perricone’s Products and Win!

Whether you’re interested in cleansers, moisturizers, or some of the best under eye wrinkle creams, you’ll find it in the Perricone line.  Want to win one worth up to $150?

Here’s how to enter . . .
1. Check out Perricone's website and then leave a comment telling us which Perricone product (valued at $150 or less) you want or need and why. (1 entry- mandatory)

Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Bonus entries! (Current subscribers can join in the fun too.)
Please leave a separate comment for each entry. You can simply list the letter to make it faster! Just be sure to include your e-mail too if that’s how we’ll find you.

L- Post about this giveaway using this link- Mommy’s Idea. Please leave your blog url in your comment. 4 entries
B- Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site. 2 entries
E- Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
M- Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
S- Share this post via Stumble, Digg, etc.
TF- Follow us on twitter @elliebags
T- Tweet about this giveaway- copy & paste the tweet below or click “tweet” above. (You can add an extra entry every day that you tweet it!)

Mommy's Idea: Win a product from Perricone MD!  #giveaway

Open to residents of the US.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Friday, February 10, 2012.

Deals & Savings Sites

If you’re an online shopper, and love deals, here are a few of my favorite sites to check out.  Some require a free sign up and some give you a sign up bonus too!

 

Ebates.com

As long as you start from their site and click on the link to the store where you want to shop, you’ll get credit.  They offer different percentages for cash back, which change based on specials and promotions.  It’s also a good site to find coupon codes.  You only get checks at certain points in the year and you have to have a certain amount in your account, but it does add up.  Get a $5-$10 sign up bonus right now! (The fine print- you’ll have to make a qualifying purchase of at least $25 through one of their links in the next 3 months to use the bonus.)

 

Zulily.com

This site has daily bargains for moms and kids, including toys, clothes for kids and moms, and things for the home.  You have to be a member to shop. but it’s free to sign up.  Sign up for e-mails to see what they have each day. 

 

Woot.com

This is a deal-a-day site which has some really good finds.  Be sure to check out the Kids Woot page too!

 

Retailmenot.com

If you haven’t already gotten in the habit, always check for coupon codes or promotional codes before you shop online.  As I mentioned above, Ebates.com is a good place to start or you can do a search for the store you’re looking for and “coupon codes.” 

Sites like Retailmenot.com make it really easy.  It lists the current codes and specials for lots of different stores.  You can sometimes find printable coupons here too.

Win a HALO Cotton Sleep Sack!

I love HALO Sleep Sacks because they are easy to use and I always knew my little one was all set for bedtime. They look so comfy and cozy in them too.  HALO is giving away a cotton Sleep Sack to one lucky Mommy’s Idea reader.

(More info on safe sleep for babies below!)

Here’s how to enter . . .
1. Leave a comment telling us why you’d love to win. (1 entry- mandatory)
3. Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers- you must have a public profile and listed e-mail for us to find you.

Bonus entries! (Current subscribers can join in the fun too.)
Please leave a separate comment for each entry. You can simply list the letter to make it faster! Just be sure to include your e-mail too if that’s how we’ll find you.

L- Post about this giveaway using this link- Mommy’s Idea. Please leave your blog url in your comment. 4 entries
B- Add our Mommy’s Idea button and/or Ellie Bags button to your site. 2 entries
E- Sign up for our Mommy's Idea feed or e-mail feed. (Over to the right.)
M- Become a follower of Mommy's Idea.
S- Share this post via Stumble, Digg, etc.
TF- Follow us on twitter @elliebags
T- Tweet about this giveaway- copy & paste the tweet below or click “tweet” above. (You can add an extra entry every day that you tweet it!)

Mommy's Idea: Win a HALO Cotton Sleep Sack! http://bit.ly/sezGjP #giveaway

Open to residents of the US and Canada.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
 

Hip Dysplasia is one of the most common conditions among newborn babies, affecting about 1% of North American newborns (about 75,000 per year). According to a recent survey conducted by HALO Innovations, 82% of parents choose to swaddle, and swaddling improperly can lead to Hip Dysplasia or dislocation. Treatment ranges from wearing a harness or brace to undergoing surgery. These condistions can get worse with age and are linked to early adult arthritis and hip-replacement surgery.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is urging Pediatricians to watch for signs of hip dysplasia and dislocation and to warn parents not to extend their baby’s frog-like legs straight when swaddling. There’s a temptation to stretch the legs out and that needs to be resisted. They need to be able to straighten themselves out naturally and gradually. Parents should allow for room in the swaddle – or sleepsack – for baby to bend at the hips.

Dr. Charles Price, Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, has recorded the following video about Hip Dysplasia and how to swaddle safely. http://www.youtube.com/halosleepsack#p/u/5/j5M6FK3f0PI

Dr. Tanya Altmann, Pediatrician and Mother, provides tips for swaddling safely in this video, specifically about avoiding suffocation. http://www.youtube.com/halosleepsack#p/u/4/gOTGuUJmMk8

HALO’s SleepSacks and Swaddles are the only products on the market approved “hip healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

My Latest Etsy Discovery

For those of you who love handmade items with that personal touch, etsy.com just might be the place for you.  If you haven’t heard of it until now, be prepared for some shopping.  :)

My daughter has three dolls that absolutely must go everywhere with her.  While we can convince her to keep a couple of them home when we go out, they still go upstairs for naps and bedtime, and downstairs for the rest of the day.  Three babies, along with her favorite blanket, and whatever else needs to go downstairs, gets to be a little much to carry.  So, I went in search of a baby bed/basket for the babies. 

I found such a cute basket, although I was looking for something in a more pink/purple print.  Spring Rain Dreams came through for me, with this beautiful baby bed!

The quality is great and it is the perfect size.  I just love the cute little coordinating pillow and blanket too.  She is going to love it.

Spring Rain Dreams has more products coming soon, so be sure to check back often.

A Great Place to Shop for the Holidays!

I recently learned about an online store called Red Envelope and I had the chance to give them a try.  Their tagline says, “unique and personalized gifts” and they deliver on the promise.

I decided on the cubist chip and dip set when I went shopping at Red Envelope and I am very happy with the experience and the product.  The website is easy to navigate and it’s simple to find what you’re looking for.  Of course, if you’re just browsing, that’s fun too.  :)

This particular set came in handy during Thanksgiving dinner.  Or more specifically, during appetizer munching time!  While there are a bunch of configurations you can make with the glass bowls, we put ice in the bottom of the big dish and put the two smaller bowls on top so they could stay cold.  We put homemade hot pepper jelly in one, with pita chips on one side, and homemade salsa in the other, with tortilla chips on the other side.  (Thanks Mom!)  It worked out great and looked nice on the table.

I love that you can also shop by occasion on the website and that there are plenty of choices for personalized gifts, like scarves, jewelry, and Christmas stockings.

Black Friday deals are going on now through Monday!  Have fun shopping!

 

 

*I received a product to review. Opinions are always my own.

So Much to Do Online

I’m pretty good with computers.  My toddlers know how to run a computer.  My husband does it for a living.  My parents, who think they don’t know what they’re doing, are actually ahead of the game for their generation.  But sometimes, I can’t believe how much there really is to do online.

We can pay bills, watch videos, send e-mails, go shopping, and play games.  We can get organized, plan a get together, and chat with friends that are hundreds of miles away.  Everything is built right into new computers these days too.  Web cams make it easy to Skype and the SD card slot is one of my favorite conveniences.  Whether you’re watching the latest sales or playing bingo online, you probably have your own set of favorite things to do when you’re tapping away on your keyboard.

Right now, it’s holiday shopping for me.  I love the daily e-mails that keep me up on all the sales and of course, there are plenty of ipod apps that are super helpful as well.  And while I’m not someone who shops six months ahead of time, I do like to get everything done before the holiday rush.  Stay tuned for some products you might want to put on your list and sites that will help you find those great gifts!

 

*This is a sponsored post, but opinions are always my own.

Are You Ready for Halloween?

Whether you’re super organized or a last minute shopper, you’ve probably been getting ready for Halloween.  Time to decorate the yard, buy the candy, and find the perfect costumes for your little ones.  The really little ones let you dress them up in pretty much anything.  When they’re a little older, they may not like things on their heads or the frilly little dresses you want to buy.  Pre-school age means they have their own opinions of what they want to be.  After that, well, I’m not there yet.

My son decided he wants to be an astronaut, both as a career and for Halloween.  So I went in search of an astronaut costume.  He chose the orange one and also wanted a pair of astronaut boots to go with it.  Now he’s all ready to begin his adventure toward working for NASA.  And until he gets his official outfit, this will work great.

The astronaut boots came quickly from Costume Discounters and my son wanted to put them on right away.  They’re designed to fit over your child’s sneakers, with elastic straps on the bottom to hold them on.  This works well for us, since there’s a good chance it will either be rainy or wet when it’s time to go out trick-or-treating.  They’re good quality- for Halloween purposes, probably not for official NASA business - and they make the outfit complete.  There’s also an astronaut backpack, helmet, and gloves if you want to go all out! 

Whatever you’re looking for, you will probably find it at Costume Discounters.  And if you have no idea what you’re looking for, this is a great place to start and get some inspiration! 

*I received a product to review.  Opinions are always my own.