Fiddledeedee.net Reviews

Please note: if you posted a comment for this giveaway on July 1st, that comment may have been lost in cyber space due to technical difficulties.  Please check and comment again.  I apologize for all of technology.

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I haven’t had anyone around here that I can legitimately call my baby for about 4 years.  Although that doesn’t stop me.  I tell Jensen, who is 4 (28 in Dog Years), that even when he’s taller than mommy he’ll still be my baby.

His reply is simply, “AND YOU’LL STILL BE MY MOMMY!”  Because Jensen-speak is all caps.

When my babies were babies, I went through at least 5 different diaper bags. (I only have 3 children.)  And hated them all.  Especially the ones that the hospital generously donated after a restful stay in the maternity ward.  Anyhoo.

I recently was made aware of some changes in diaper bag fashion.  This one in particular is FANCY and speaks loudly to my finely tuned organizational skills.

In fact, I am so enamored with the Skip Hop Studio Diaper Tote that I would consider having another baby.

HAHAHA. Just kidding Fiddledaddy!  Wanted to see if you were still reading my blog.

Well.  I wanted to tell you about this tote, and for that, I will turn this over to the very nice people at All Modern Baby.
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The Skip Hop Studio Diaper Tote:

When we start making purchases as a parent, it’s always important to keep safety, versatility, and family budget in mind. The trendiness of a certain item seems to take a backseat all to often either because the designer look significantly increases the cost or it just doesn’t provide the basic functions we look for in that particular product.

The great thing about this giveaway is that Skip Hop’s diaper tote combines comfort, convenience, and style all in one great bag. All Modern Baby, a dependable source for quality items such as Stokke Tripp Trapp high chairs and Bugaboo strollers, is offering the tote to one lucky Fiddledeedee Reviews reader in their choice of four stunning colors.

Complete with 14 interior pockets perfect for storing small items such as car keys and pacifiers and an eco-friendly, PVC-free diaper bag construction, this is certainly one item you don’t want to miss out on!

The great part about Skip Hop’s tote is that it doesn’t even resemble a diaper bag. Instead, you’ll be carrying around a stylish designer tote that satisfies all of your storage needs. Skip Hop was founded by Ellen and Michael Diamant of New York City, a young couple that wanted to develop a children’s accessory collection that’s great for an on-the-go, active family.
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The Giveaway:

To enter for your chance to win one Skip Hop Studio Diaper Tote, simply make a comment on this post telling me the most interesting item you’ve ever stashed in your diaper bag. (For me, it was a large package of Oreos.  And they weren’t for the baby.  That’s all I’m sayin’.)
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The Rules:

•  One entry per household.
•  Contest open to U.S. residents only.
•  Winner will be selected via random draw, and notified by e-mail.
•  You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

I’ll leave comments open until Sunday, July 5th, 9:00 PM, EST.

Good luck!

The winner in the Stonyfield YoBaby Yogurt giveaway is #5, Julie.  When I was e-mailing back and forth with her, we realized through a set of weird circumstances, that we sort of know each other in real life.  Because IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL!!!!

Yogurt is a staple in our house.  In fact, when I check out at the grocery store, the bottom layer of my cart is lined with yogurt containers.  Big and small.

My kids grab a yogurt for breakfast, or on the go.  And yogurt is a great anytime pick-me-up.  It is even disguised as a dessert, with a dollop of cool whip on top, and some pastel colored marshmallows.

So when the folks at Stonyfield Farms asked me to try their YoBaby Organic Yogurt, I didn’t hesitate.  Oh Stonyfield, you’ve met your people.

We’re already fans of Stonyfield Organic Milk.

The kids saw me stashing the little cartons of yogurt in the fridge.  Neatly stacked.  And color-coded and arranged in alphabetical order.

Because I’m a lunatic.

Who is just trying to get a little ORGANIZED!

The kids knocked me down and toppled my neatly arranged array of Stonyfield yogurt to sample them.

“MOM!  This tastes like pudding!”

And indeed it did.  Which I think is a whole lot about the fact that they use whole milk for that rich and creamy taste.

Which is what I want for my kids.

And it’s a treat for me.

And btw, I’m partial to Pear Raspberry, justsoyouknow.

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The Giveaway:

If you’ve got a baby at home, listen up!  The folks at Stonyfield Farm want to give YOU a prize package that includes a YoBaby bowl with lid, an organic YoBaby bib, and a bundle of 5 Free YoBaby coupons so that you can try their yogurt as well.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite lullaby that you sing to your baby.

And btw, my baby is 4, and I still sing “Close to You” to him.  I know it’s not an official lullaby, but I grew up with a mother who sang “Go to sleep my little ********.”  I still don’t know what a ********* is, but I fear it wasn’t a good thing.  (UPDATED TO ADD:  a reader educated me on what that word meant so that accounts for the editing, and OH MY WORD, it’s no wonder I need therapy!)

I figure you just can’t go wrong with the Carpenters.

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The Rules:

•  One entry per household.
•  Contest open to U.S. residents only.
•  Winner will be selected via random draw, and notified by e-mail.
•  You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

I’ll leave comments open until Saturday, June 20 at 9:00 PM, EST.

(COMMENTS HAVE CLOSED)

I have 3 winners for the Little Debbie Muffin Giveaway!  They are #60 (Jen), #5 (MJ), and #33 (Jeni).  Congratulations!  And don’ worry, like me, you’ll find that pants with an elastic waist aren’t so bad!  (Just kidding…sort of.)

If you were to ask my 9 year old daughter want she wants to be when she grows up, she will tell you “a blogger.”

Especially when her mommy receives a nice big box in the mail that reads “LITTLE DEBBIE SNACKS.”

She thinks her mommy has the coolest job in the world.

The nice folks at Little Debbie contacted me recently and asked if I’d be interested in doing another review and giveaway.

I snickered.

Would I be interested?

Oh Little Debbie, you do know my love language.

The box arrived, and it was a rather attractive box.  I’d love to show you a picture, but the box was compromised in the frenzy to free the contents held within.

I live with savages.

When the dust settled, my eyes beheld 5 boxes of assorted Little Debbie Muffins.

FIVE BOXES.

Little Debbie wants to announce a new muffin flavor, Lemon.  And for a limited time, a Double Chocolate muffin.

The “for a limited time” I take great issue with.  Because I may be somewhat addicted to the Double Chocolate muffin.

The flavors that I was sent to sample besides Lemon and Double Chocolate, were Cranberry & Orange, Chocolate Chip, and Blueberry.

I wish I could tell you what the Lemon Muffins actually taste like.  Alas, I cannot.  My children mowed me down each time I announced, “Hey, let’s review another muffin!”  I went to try the Lemon Muffin just today, and was greeted by an empty box.

And btw, my children rated the muffins on a scale from 1 to 100.  100 being the best tasting muffin.

They gave all flavor varieties a 100.

The next box to go was the Double Chocolate.  And that was entirely my fault.  Surprisingly, I did limit myself to just one muffin a day (with the exception of one day due to hormonal issues), because I’d like to at least PRETEND that I possess will power.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

The muffins are almost all gone now.  Sadly.  And the only reason there are any left at all is because I may have squirreled a couple away in my secret hiding spot.  A spot which is way higher than my children can reach.  A spot which is known only to me.

I’d tell you where, but then I’d have to kill you.

I can honestly say that all the flavors were wonderful.  And they make a nice snack to throw in the kid’s food bag when we’re running around town.  The same food bag that sits next to ME when I’m driving.

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The Giveaway:

And guess what?  Little Debbie is letting me giveaway THREE promotional sampler boxes containing all five varieties of snack muffins.  All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post telling me which flavor most appeals to your heightened sense of taste.

• Lemon
• Double Chocolate
• Cranberry & Orange
• Chocolate Chip
• Blueberry
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The Rules:

•  One entry per household.
•  Contest open to U.S. residents only.
•  Winner will be selected via random draw, and notified by e-mail.
•  You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

I will leave comments open until Monday, June 8, at 9:00 PM, EST.

Good luck!

(COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED)

The winner of the Select Comfort pillow is #16, Mary in AZ!  Congratulations!

I have been a customer and fan of Select Comfort for the last 10 years.  We now have 4 of their mattresses in our home.  (And yes, they can even be used on bunk beds.)

I had the good fortune to review Select Comfort and offer a Pet Bed for one of my readers last year.  To read that review, click here.

Select Comfort contacted me again in April, and asked if I’d like to review their “Create Your Perfect Pillow” pillow.  WOULD I? Little did they know that I’d been coveting one of those pillows for a good two years.

The idea behind “Create Your Perfect Pillow” is that the customer can design a pillow that meets their own particular sleep need.

I don’t know about you.  But I’m a little obsessive about my pillow.

There are three parts to this pillow:  The Outer cover, the inner support, and the protector.  And there are many choices within the three parts.  The one you chose has everything to do with criteria such as for example 1) are you a side or back sleeper, 2) do you suffer from allergies, 3) how much support do you look for in a pillow.

I was able to talk to Jill, who is a sleep expert at Select Comfort, and together we designed the perfect pillow for me.

I wish I could be called a “sleep expert.”  I’m more of a sleep deprived expert of nothing in particular.  But I digress.

My pillow arrived a couple of weeks later.

Let me just say.  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

And choruses of angels sang me to sleep.

I’ve banished my old favorite pillow to the floor.  My new Select Comfort pillow is wonderful.  And I’m one of those people who takes their pillow with them on trips because I don’t sleep without it.  (I’m also not so fond of sleeping on nasty old hotel pillows.)

A good nights sleep is imperative for a busy mommy who juggles homeschooling, a job, 3 high strung children, and a household.

If I could just convince my 4 year old that his mommy really would be SO much nicer if she were able to sleep all night, everything would be AWESOME.

Since that particular son has allergies, I found the following article by Pete Bils, Director of Clinical Research and Sleep Innovation at Select Comfort extremely enlightening.  I want to share it with you in its entirety, because there is some REALLY good information therein.

Bedroom Tips for Allergy Sufferers

The spring and summer months bring sunshine, but also a lot of grief to the estimated 50 million Americans who suffer with allergies. And, of these 50 million, seventy-five percent of people with seasonal allergies report sleep disturbances because the sheer discomfort makes it hard for them to sleep. Their body is constantly waking or shifting positions to alleviate fluid build-up, plus the tendency to snore increases, which can result in up to 40 percent more subtle sleep disturbances and, ultimately, diminished quality of sleep.

Unfortunately, the bedroom is one of the most “polluted” rooms in the house and presents some especially difficult and sometimes overlooked challenges for allergy sufferers. For example, we spend long, uninterrupted hours in the bedroom, breathing in the same air. Many bedrooms are closed off and can become stagnant, away form better circulation and ventilation. Additionally, there are many opportunities for allergens to thrive in bedding, upholstery, carpeting, draperies and clothing. Also, while sleeping, we are in close, constant contact with our beds, a particularly active environment for allergens.

If you’ve woken up with congestion, watery and itchy eyes, or simply want to reduce the effects of allergens, consider the below tips to help rid your bedroom of allergens.

1.    Clean your bedroom weekly. This includes floors, furniture, tops of doors, window frames/sills, etc. with a damp cloth.
2.    Vacuum carpet and upholstery regularly.
3.    Vacuum bed upholstery. Better yet, get a bed, like the Sleep Number bed which allows you to actually open and vacuum the inside of your bed too.
4.    Wash curtains often and bedding weekly at 130+ degrees to kill dust mites.
5.    Use allergen barrier covers for your mattress and pillows.
6.    Undress in another room to avoid bringing outside allergens into the bedroom.
7.    Keep pets out of the bedroom.
8.    Keep room at humidity below 50 percent to reduce dust mite population and mold growth.
9.    Regularly launder stuffed animals.
10.    Use a high quality HEPA air filter in the bedroom.

If you need a new bed, consider the Sleep Number bed by Select Comfort which offers numerous advantages for allergy sufferers. Sleep Number mattresses use the latest anti-microbial treatments in all foams, and all bed covers are treated to be anti-microbial and anti-fungal.  Additionally, unlike traditional innerspring mattresses, the Sleep Number bed has a unique zip-open design that allows you to easily open and view the inside of your bed, and ventilate or vacuum, if you choose.  A complete line of hypoallergenic Sleep Number bedding accessories is also available, including bed pillows, pillow protectors, mattress pads, blankets and comforters. For more information visit www.sleepnumber.com.

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The Giveaway:

Now for the really fun part.  Select Comfort has offered a predesigned standard pillow (valued at approximately $130.00) for one of my commenters.

All you have to do is go here, design a pillow, and come back and tell me about your dream pillow.  (This is really fun to do, and I ought to know because I’ve done it enough over the last year or so.)

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The Rules:

•  When you leave a comment, you are agreeing to let me share your e-mail address with Select Comfort so they can send you occasional promotional information.  (I’m on their e-mail list, and they absolutely do NOT bombard me with info, nor do they sell my e-mail address.)
•  One entry household.
•  Contest open to U.S. residents only.
•  Winner will be selected via random draw, and notified by e-mail.
•  You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

I will leave comments open until Saturday, May 23, 9 PM, EST.

Sleep tight!

(COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED)

There are some very fun giveaways going on over at 5 Minutes for Mom through the Mother’s Day weekend!

The winner of the beautiful Teleflora Mom’s Butterfly Bouquet is #8, Rachel.  And pssst, she’s giving the flowers to her mom. 

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

The winner of the Things Remembered: Charm Story giveaway is #14, Sandra in Phx.  Congratulations!