Help a Mom in Need

Recently Jessica from MomFuse contacted me about a woman in her community suffering from breast cancer while watching the financial security of her family crumble around here. Jessica writes this at Momfuse.com:

Hello my Mom Fuse Family…
I like to believe that we here at Mom Fuse are all about helping moms, usually we post topics and articles on different parenting related issues but this post is more special and dear to me than any post I’ve ever done.
Recently a good friend of ours, Stacy, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and their family is in desperate need of some financial assistance. She was employed as a nurse and brought in most of the money but she’s recently had to quit her job because of the cancer and chemo treatments. Now that she’s no longer working they are having a terrible time keeping up with the bills and things for their 7 kids. Her husband is working his butt off trying to support the kids, pay rent, pay bills, and trying to keep their car while maintaining the house, making sure the kids are fed and taken care of, taking care of his wife who, and so much more.

Their rent alone is $800 per month and that’s not even counting all the other bills they have, including a car payment. Now, with the trouble of keeping a roof over their head and food on the table, they may have to sell their car in order to get some extra money, but then they won’t have a reliable way to get to treatment and other appointments. Can you imagine having no car with 7 kids during the summer with tons of doctor appointments to try and make it to?

It’s been extremely sad around here with everyone trying to figure out what they are going to do and how to help. I know money is tight everywhere but if you could spare a $1 or even ten cents by using the Donate button below, every little bit will help. My husband and I are donating as much as we can afford, but that’s not enough to cover hardly anything, and I would love it if our wonderful Mom Fuse community could come together and help this awesome family and support them in their time of need.

To learn more about how you can help and to find out how tweeting on Thursday, July 30th may make all the difference in the world, please go to:
http://momfuse.com/2009/07/family-in-need-mom-of-7-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer/

Community SiteWarming This Friday!

This Friday is the first ever monthly Community SiteWarming on Twitter. In order to give back to those bloggers who are so supportive of the SiteWarming community, once a month I will choose ten blogs to SiteWarm in a free for everyone community event. Please visit the following ten blogs and join us...

Friday, July 31st from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. eastern on Twitter. Tweet with the hashtag #community and be sure to follow @slpowell, who will cover in case my vacation Wifi isn't cooperating!

@RealLifeSarah - Real Life Blog - I am Sarah. I am a 33-year-old Don't-Stay-at-Home Mom of 3 beautiful girls (6/4/2), and I teach private voice and piano lessons. I've been ecstatically married to the most awesome guy for 10 years. I am also the founder and editor of the High Country Mom Squad!

My blog is called Real Life for 2 main reasons: 1. I have found "real life" in Jesus Christ. Well, actually, He found me. I want to share the joy and hope I have in Him! (Psalm 40:1-3) 2. Life is not perfect, and neither am I. You won't find many stories about how my house is perfectly decorated and cleaned, my children are dressed to the tee and behaving like angels, and I have a four course meal ready for my husband when he gets home from work; and you can, too, if you just do what I do! I want to get real and talk about all the issues we know we deal with! And add in some meaningless silliness while I'm at it, to help me get through the day! Leave a comment if you stop by!

Sarah also host a MomTV show called 'Get Real' at 1pm est on Thursdays at http://www.momtv.com/getreal.html.

Door Prize : ChicBuds and $20 Amazon Gift Code

@PainterMommy - Painter Mommy - I am Dawn, a mother of 3 little ones (ages 5, 3, & 9 months). I am also 4 months pregnant with #4. Prior to starting Painter Mommy, I blogged for a few years but only about mural painting and faux finishing for my NY based decorative painting business, Surfaces with Paint. Once I started building virtual relationships online with other moms through social networking, I was introduced to the world of mom blogging. I immediately fell in love, and from there, Painter Mommy was born.

I really wanted a place to be able to share about my life as a busy mom, multiple business owner, and entrepreneur. I really had no idea that it would grow so quickly and that people would actually find interest in what I wrote about. It has been so exciting to share about my life's experiences, my triumphs and struggles, and then receive awesome words of advice, compassion, and encouragement from my readers.

Door Prize - Custom Blog Button

@JusticeFergie - Mama Law - Mamalaw is a group blog about three moms and wives who just happen to be lawyers too. We have seven kids between us which means that we have no shortage of funny stories, touching moments, reasons to rant and the occasional kernel of parenting wisdom. Our lifestyle blog chronicles our daily struggle to find work-life balance, as well as everything else under the sun including hot social issues, politics, celebreality and health. In our "spare" time we are also planning Blogalicious - a conference for women of color bloggers which will be held on October 9-11 in Atlanta.

Door Prize: We will be giving away a Nokia 5320 XpressMusic phone to one lucky winner who becomes a follower and leaves a comment on our post tomorrow -- http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices/nokia-5320-xpressmusic/specifications

@cutestkidever - Cutest Kid Ever - Cutest Kid Ever is a mommy blog maintained by Christina Gleason, who recently joined the ranks of mompreneur when she formed Phenomenal Content LLC, which provides SEO copywriting, editing, and blogging services for companies and Internet marketers. But back to Cutest Kid Ever. It was originally started as a personal blog to help Christina document the life and growth of her son TJ. As time went on, she began adding parenting articles, writing product reviews, and hosting giveaways. What wonderful possibilities opened up when Christina discovered the great mom community on Twitter! Cutest Kid Ever is home of the Dear Kid Saturday meme, where participants write letters to their kid(s) every week, which can be saved and presented to them when they get older.

Christina has been happily married to her husband Tom for nearly nine years, and TJ is now almost four years old! Her family has met with some challenges over the years - she has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and TJ was recently diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Christina will be speaking at Blogsville in October 2009 and she is attending both the Type-A Mom Conference and BlogHer'10... she hopes to meet you there!

Door Prize - Tupperware Prize Pack - 10 pcs, including Smidget, Keychain, Citrus Peeler and more

@carogonza - Carolyn In Carolina - I started blogging in Jan. 2009 to keep myself sane since the town we moved to in NC has no jobs for a professional fundraiser/special events coordinator. That is how Carolyn in Carolina was born. The idea behind it was that I am a Latina City Girl (born and raised in L.A.) now living in country and actually loving it. I began writing random musings and stories about my daily life with Tom and my two kitties, Scout and Shawn. For me, the blog was a place to journal my life, share my memories and a place for my family and friends to see what we doing. Soon I noticed strangers visited my blog and kept coming back. Those strangers are now friends. While Carolyn in Carolina is relatively small, I have very loyal followers and I love that.

The creation of my second blog, The Art of Random Willy-Nillyness (and yes there is a story behind the name blogged on Carolyn in Carolina) came after I hosted a giveaway on Carolyn in Carolina and decided that I did not want it to become a review blog. I really mulled it over because I love entering blog giveaways so it made sense to open a new blog just for reviews and giveaways. In less than 4 months, my review blog has grown and I was also able to keep kept the integrity of my other blog. I found it’s just a matter of balancing what feels right on each blog. It’s still weird to me that my life took this turn but I always believe we end up where we need to be. So here I am excited to see where my journey takes me next.

Door Prize - "The Office" prize pack: The Office Trivia Game, The Office t-shirt, The Office mouse, The Office post-it notes, The Office magnets, a non-Office coffee mug and a $5 Starbucks card.

@workoutmommy - Workout Mommy - Workout mommy is a blog about health and fitness for moms. Being a mom requires that you work 24/7 for someone other than yourself, so finding time to exercise and stay healthy is a challenge. Workout Mommy is here to help you with that challenge and to keep you motivated and on task. It CAN be done!

Lisa is a busy mom of two boys (with another on the way), who used to be a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. These days she is juggling play dates, preschool, and diapers and does not have a lot of time to devote to exercise. Fitness is important to her though, both for health and sanity reasons, so she started Workout Mommy as a way of keeping herself and others motivated to stay active. Her motto is: "Never underestimate the power of a workout!"

Door Prize - four $15 Subway gift cards

@OhMariana - Riding With No Hands - Hi, I’m Mariana! If I could compare my life – motherhood, marriage, and everything it entails – to anything, it would be to riding a bike with no hands. Teetering along, having little control over what happens makes me a little nervous sometimes, but I think I’ve found a good balance and it just feels right.

Sure, sometimes I feel like I’m headed straight into a hedge and I’ve come across more than my fair share of potholes, but I just hold my breath, take it all in, and enjoy every second, because life is passing me by way too fast.

‘Riding with no hands’ I’m free to reach for the things I really, really love and am having so much fun along the way.

Door Prize: Steve Songs 'The Marvelous Musical Adventures' DVD plus a bonus music CD

@FeelsLikeHome - Feels Like Home Blog - When I was growing up, my family moved all the time. It felt like we got settled in to a new home and new town, and then we had to move. No place I lived ever really felt like home to me. When I graduated from college, I was determined to build a home for myself and never move again.

At that point, I was a young woman who intended to be a single professional forever and aspired to be known as the neighborhood cat lady. But then I met my soul mate, and I quickly became his wife and the mother of a baby girl.These days, my daughter is a precocious toddler, and I am a busy working mother, and my life feels like home. I know that I’m right where I belong.

Feels Like Home is all about helping you make your life and your home more enjoyable. Because everyone eats, about half of my posts are devoted to food and cooking. The other half of my posts are on parenting, craft and sewing tutorials, activities to do with your family, ways to simplify home management, and, of course, my own adventures in parenting.

Door Prize: Pillsbury Bake Off prize pack - a Pillsbury DoughBoy Giggle Doll and a Pillsbury Bake Off Prize Winning Recipes 2009 cookbook

@HighImpactMom - High Impact Mom - High Impact Mom is written by Amanda and occasionally Jon...but rarely Jon. We cover a variety of topics including home life, green living, personal finance, and community awareness. Our main goal is to equipp people, parents, grandparents, aunt, and uncles to set the best example and live the best life possible while never forgetting the less fortunate. We also feature topical reviews and giveaways. Amanda likes sweet tea and PBS Masterpiece movies, while Jon likes his computer. A lot.

Door Prize - Math Blaster in the Prime Adventure for Nintendo DS

@blueviolet - A Nut in a Nutshell - I started blogging in October 2008 after stumbling across blogs and becoming friends with some of the bloggers I was reading. I was convinced to start my own blog and off I went.

My blog name is self-explanatory as any of my readers will tell ya. I love to tell personal anecdotes and make observations in my own quirky, lighthearted, and playful style. I also love to do reviews and giveaways! I'm a giveaway enthusiast!

I'm just recently back from a 2 month blogging break during which I closed my blog. When I came back, I put my blog into its own domain and gradually people are finding me again and I'm finding them. I love reading comments and I spend entirely too much time visiting other blogs and commenting. :) I'm very happy to be back and look forward to whatever the future holds! Come hang out with me. I make a great bloggy friend.

Door Prize: Summer Party Essentials Pack - margarita glasses, paper drink umbrellas, and a string of lights with paper lanterns.

RSVP:




Contest: To enter the Community SiteWarming contest, please visit any one of these sites and do any or all of the following...

1. Comment on a blog post

2. Subscribe to the blog feed

3. Follow them on Twitter

BONUS:

1. Tweet about this event!

2. RSVP above with Mr. Linky

Every time you enter (with five ways to enter and ten sites you have thirty-two chances!) please leave a comment on this post telling me what you did. Prize information will be posted by Friday.

Good luck!

The Fruits of My Labor

Okay. So they're actually vegetables. And let me just admit up front that this post is far less about food and far more about life.

Two months ago my husband built my gorgeous Oasis garden and we planted chic little seedlings and seeds. We followed the rules about spacing and planted neat little rows of carrots, cucumbers, cantaloupe, string beans, and peas.

I'm not going to show you a picture of my garden now.

The peas and string beans grew straight up creating a jungle that hid the weeds, which enjoyed the fertile veggie soil. Little did I know that both the cantaloupe and the cucumbers are vine plants that wind around the garden, up the netting, and over the other side. Today I went to harvest the first cucumbers of the season. They are gorgeous - even without the bright pink flower. They're also delicious having gone straight from my garden to my plate with just a matter of moments between.

But the peas have died. The carrots, small and shriveled. I had so much going on in that garden that some plants were sacrificed, lost, choked out.

Here's where I hit you with the heavy-handed metaphor on life. Having just returned from BlogHer, I am among the 1500 bloggers who are re-evaluating the way way we blog, why we blog, how we blog. I have taken on many things - crowded my garden - and I fear the resulting shriveled carrots. I am proud of those cucumbers. I hope to only produce bloggy goodness as well.

Happiest City for Families Announcement!

Last month I wrote about the Happiest City for Families contest that McDonald's was running as part of the 30th birthday celebration for the McDonald's Happy Meal. While walking the Expo floor at BlogHer I came across the McDonald's booth and was happy to find out not only which city won the contest, but also what Happy Meal Toys will be used to celebrate the big 3-0!

Congratulations to Minneapolis, Minn.! You are the Happiest City for Families! I was so pleased to see that both Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD, made the top 10 list because I am situated cozily between those two great cities.

And which toy was chosen to celebrate all of the toys that surprised children over the last 30 years? The Ty Teenie Beanie Babies are back! My personal favorite is Grimace, that purple fella' from my own childhood, but they are all lovable and available until August 13th.

Time to Play at BlogHer '09

Last night I returned home from my weekend at the BlogHer '09 conference where I spent four fast-paced days and three wild nights with 1500 of my online peers, all thanks to the generous sponsorship from Jim Silver and his team at TimetoPlaymag.com. In between informational sessions, sometimes intense discussions, and cathartic parties that every stay-at-home mom should get a chance to experience, I spread the word about Time to Play's guest blogger program as well as the fun picture contest I told readers about in the week leading up to the conference. If any of you blog and are interested in guest blogging at Time to Play, please indicate that in the comment section of this post! I'm happy to pass your information on to the appropriate contacts.

Maybe it was just the fact that I was viewing the BlogHer Conference through the eyes of Time to Play goggles, or maybe companies have aptly discerned that the way to a woman's heart is through her children, but it appeared that toy companies were out in full force! In fact, I was so impressed with the #kidswag (and this is truly the tip of the iceberg of possible items to snag) that I took this photograph:

I like to refer to these items as my ticket back into my home. A couple of dollies and some Play-Doh in my children's hands and my absence was forgiven.

My favorite booths in the Expo Hall were far and away those with a kid focus, and I loved checking out the new toys. I entered to win a new Mickey Mouse Club House electronic toy from Disney and Wild Planet called Mouse-ke-Tag because I know that my Pluto-obsessed three year old and his sister who is a fan of all-things-Disney would get up and run around the room playing this game, which is precisely the idea. Anything that combines buttons, fun sounds, and physical activity works in my family.


The real highlight came when I sat down to chat with Sharon John, the General Manager of Hasbro's Playskool brand and Jodie Neville, Playskool's Senior Marketing Manager. While I was clearly in the company of accomplished and powerful women, my time with them felt like a conversation between moms discussing our children and our cute red pumps. Their sincere belief in the importance of placing not only fun, but educational toys in the hands of our children was clear.


Sharon shared with me Playskool's rich learning heritage and the fact that the company began 80 years ago with two former teachers hoping to create toys that encouraged learning. While I tend to note the brain development that occurs when children play because of my own educational background in psychological services in education, anyone who has watched their child manipulate the flow of air in the Busy Ball Popper or take their first steps using the Walk and Ride knows the developmental value of Playskool toys. To hear that this was Playskool's intention from day one was reassuring as both a parent and a purchaser.

While I was with the folks from Playskool, I was honored to receive the first public demo of Playskool Kid's new website for kids. My children are allowed computer time a few days a week as part of their daily allotment of screen time, and while I have found wonderful educational and fun sites that they can enjoy next to me while I work, the sites have for the most part not been child-intuitive in their instructions. The Hasbro site uses clear visual instructions rather than word commands to guide children through the activities, making them feel self-sufficient and far less frustrated. Watch for this site to launch sometime in September!

I also got a sneak peek of a toy that I love simply because it is so much fun. While I love having a son, I do not love boy toys. I find many of the dinosaurs to be scary and the superheros to be at best not appealing and at worst inappropriate. However, my son and I do love his Kota and Pals Hatchlings and now I also love this big guy, Monty Rex. He's at once ferocious and disarming, and if you growl at him, he'll growl right back. His soft "skin" is fun to pet and he not only reacts to your touch...but he walks towards you! This guy will be on my son's Christmas list this year partly for him, and partly for the entertainment value of watching my dog and cat react to a walking T Rex named Monty.



Now I just have to hope my daughter doesn't read this post, or next year she'll want to attend the BlogHer Conference with me...

Bloggiversary Winners

Congratulations to tonight's winners! If you won, please fill out this form: http://tinyurl.com/partywinner Thanks for helping me celebrate a fabulous year.

Kubit2Me - @sumrthyme @sprmama www.MyLilGuyz.com
Feed the Kitty - @sparksfley
Too Many Monkeys - @ThriftyMamaB
Sleeping Queens - @tribeca
Boochie - @prncsspurdylily
Connect 4X4 - @JoeyfromSC @kiddiescorner @brandyellen
Boggle - @ahensnest @christiS @serenemoments2
Card Game 3 pack from Hasbro Games - @Iam_KeonteS @learningmama @susieqtpie
Perlabella pearls serum - @jenncfig
Cocotier Gift Certificate - @Shopaholic_Mama
Good for the Kids - Frantic Holly
Childhood Clothing - @paisleyponders
Alex Casey Baby prizes - @twoofakind @DaisyToad
Hershey's USB from Jazwares - @Debbie858
5-in-1 Thermofocus - @Zealandsmom
Medicine pacifier - @3KidsandUs
"B is for Bob" CD - @matt0701 @mannabsn @pediatricsafety @carogonza @pricousins
Jon & Kate DVD - @organizersandy @googoobuybuy @dreamer08
The Color of Magic DVD - @kris10chumley @parkermama @pennyb95
Avon gift pack from @princesshaley - @DreeG
iPod Shuffle from Big Honcho Media - @apsychmommy
Your Baby Can Read Deluxe - @5kids4now
Hershey: A Guide to the Town Built on Chocolate - @bkokc00
Gift Certificate from My Good Greetings - @RobynsOnlineWorld
Magazine subscription to Hybrid Mom Magazine - @1sttimearound @JennatFFP @scienceesl @MyChaos @MomMaven @TwinHappyJen @nicolle_b2 @poshnicole @Leanne_Campbell @LilyBeanDesings
A2Kick Scooter from Razor - @teachmama
Razor RipRider - @mommadjane
6 month subscription to Picnik Premium - @nafyboocs
$100 gift card to Grocery Outlet - @aMOMfor2
Tag Junior from LeapFrog - @slpowell
FurReal Friends Patter Pup - @paintermommy
Super Soaker 50 - @diyfather
The Shred Sled - @frugalgirl
Cherry Blossom Market Collection - @HandsHouseHeart

CONGRATULATIONS! And thank you so much to our wonderful sponsors.

Bloggiversary SiteWarming This Wednesday!

This post has been updated again! 60 prizes, well over $1500 in swag...it's time to enter and win!

It's my one year bloggiversary, and I'm going to share my presents...

It was one year ago that I met a mom at a MOMS Club meeting named Jessica who told me about her son, her concerns about pre-school, and her website. A couple e-mails and one long phone call later and Resourceful Mommy was born.

This site developed from my own need to find personal and professional fulfillment beyond parenting, but not outside of my home. I knew immediately that I wanted to not only share a piece of myself, but also pieces of information that might help other parents. I never guessed then that one year later I would not only still be here, but also be writing for Type-A Mom and Blissfully Domestic, introducing Twitter users and readers to great new sites and businesses through my SiteWarming SM Parties, and working with clients to create fun blog campaigns for the Momfluence TM network.

July 22, 2008, I wrote my first two blog posts: One about my couch, Fernando, and one about the my Mustang, Sally. Both posts speak to what I was facing at the time - dealing with letting go of my own youth in the face of the responsibilities of parenthood.

Since then I have blogged about anything from letting go of anger, to letting go of gender stereotypes. I've passed on housekeeping tips and Disney travel advice and given away thousands and thousands of dollars worth of prizes. Through it all I have enjoyed sharing my life and my two growing businesses while finding a creative outlet and passing on fun opportunities to all of you. Now it is time to celebrate!

Join me Wednesday, July 22nd from 8 to 10 p.m. eastern time on Twitter as I throw a Bloggiversary SiteWarming Party! Many of us will be heading to BlogHer the next day, so what better way to kick off an exciting weekend then with a great party...with even better prizes?

It's time to RSVP, grab the button, and get ready to party #resourcefulmommy style. Check back often for prize listings and ways to win.

Grab an RSVP Badge <a href="http://www.resourcefulmommy.blogspot.com/2009/07/bloggiversary-by-resourcefulmommy-on.html" title="bloggiversarybutton by ResourcefulMommy, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/3693494236_9e03c05006_m.jpg" width="150" height="240" alt="bloggiversarybutton" /></a>
Grab an RSVP Badge <a href="http://www.resourcefulmommy.blogspot.com/2009/07/bloggiversary-by-resourcefulmommy-on.html" title="bloggiversarybutton1 by ResourcefulMommy, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/3693372756_ba6af8fb59_o.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="bloggiversarybutton1" /></a>

How to Win:

Choose any or all of the options below. Be sure to leave a comment for each entry. Enter often for your best chance to win! Prizes will be announced this evening. This contest ends Wednesday, July 22nd at 10 p.m. eastern. All prizes will be awarded during the Twitter event. You do not need to be present to win.

1. Subscribe to the Resourceful Mommy feed in e-mail or reader (already subscribe? tell me!)

2. RSVP using Mr. Linky (above)

3. Become a member of the Facebook "SiteWarming Party-Goers" Group

4. Follow me on Twitter

5. Tweet about this event/contest

6. Blog about this event/contest

7. Put the badge on your site

8. Tweet with the word #resourcefulmommy any time Wednesday!

9. Answer questions during the event.

10. Comment on any other blog post from my last year of blogging then come back here and tell me you did.

11. Visit the website of any of the sponsors below and come back and comment here.

12. Visit any of my "friend" sites (right sidebar) and come back and comment here.

13. Use Facebook? Tell your friends about my site and come back and comment here.

14. E-mail your mom/dad/grandparent friends and tell them about my site, then come back and comment here.

GOOD LUCK!

psst! Here's a secret (shhh!). If you're the 100th person to RSVP or the 150th person, you will automatically win a prize. :)

This just in! RSVP #300 is going to automatically win a prize as well!

The Bloggiversary Presents

Thank you so, so much to all of the PR and marketing firms as well as the many businesses, both big and small, who have contributed giveaways, review products, and sitewarming prizes over the last year.

Sponsored by Litzky PR and their clients:

The very first SiteWarming prize offer I received came from Catherine at Litzky PR, and I've enjoyed working with them every since. Thanks, ladies!

- Super Soaker 50: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Super Soaker, the retro look is back! The Super Soaker 50 is better than ever with it's modern high-powered performance. To learn more go to http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/. (value: $14.99)

- FurReal Friends Lil' Patter Pup: The latest edition to the fun FurReal Friends collection, the Lil' Patter Pup cannot wait to get moving! He loves to walk around and wag his tail, and if you show him his bone, he'll sniff it and make eating noises! The Lil' Patter Pup loves to be petted and will respond to touch by walking and barking happily. To purchase go to http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/. (value: $24.99)

- Hershey's Miniatures Memory Sticks & Sweet Assortments: These Hershey's Miniatures inspired memory sticks are the perfect way to store and share your photos, files, music, and more. Now you can add personality to your every day memory stick. when you're finished, simply clip the stick onto your bag. Go to http://www.jazwares.com/ (value: $14.99 - $29.99)



- Shred Sled: For ages 8 and up, the Shred Sled is the next generation of caster board. The first 4-wheel, dual-deck inline caster board, the Shred Sled makes it smoother and easier to start carving up the streets. How it works: Shred Sled's two boards and flexible connector allow both boards to rotate around the vertical and horizontal axes so it's easy to maneuver the board. The best part is you don't even have to push off! For better control and traction, each deck has a grip surface to maximize traction and stability while the concave decks make for better foot control. Great for strengthening the legs and waist muscles, Shred Sled encourages kids to get off the couch and get active outdoors. For more information go to http://www.theshredsled.com/ (value: $119.99)



- Cherry Blossom Market and accessories: Playskool's Cherry Blossom Market line of the Dream Town collection was a top holiday gift last winter season and continues to be a favorite of little girls everywhere. After shoppers peruse the market and visit the "pass-through" ice cream window, they can check out - the shopkeeper can "ring them up" with the cash register that has a real working drawer, a mechanical "ding" and a slot to swipe a play credit card; the shopper can pay with the credit card, paper money, or coins. The beautiful printed fabric shows the store interior on one side and the cherry blossom tree and exterior on the other. Included in this prize pack is the Cherry Blossom Produce Stand and Cherry Blossom Food Assortment, including fabric fruit and stand, a reusable shopping bag, and either the Fruit 'n Cheese Please set or the Scoop 'n Smile Sweet set. Check out the whole collection at http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/ (total value: approximately $95)

Sponsored by LeapFrog:

- LeapFrog Tag Junior Book Pal: From the makers of the wildy popular Tag Reading System comes the brand new reading system for children 2 to 4 years to inspire an early love of books. Designed with the littlest book lovers in mind, the Tag Junior brings board books to life with sounds and pre-school activities. The Tag Junior book pal is easy for parents and children to use. Parents can download audio for up to five books to the book pal, then let their toddlers explore. Each Tag Junior board book introduces a different preschool skill - such as the alphabet, counting or social play - through 24 playful activities and more than 130 audio responses. Open-ended questions and fun sound effects encourage children to take charge, as they touch any part of any page to bring words, pictures or activities to life. After their child has played, parents can connect the book pal to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path to see their child's progress and get printable activities to expand the learning! (value: $34.99)


Sponsored by Kubit2Me:

Developed by Mary Kay Russell, mom-inventor-business owner-friend, the Kubit2Me line of games have brought the power of conversation to families everywhere. Lil' Scholars gets the youngest members of your family talking and learning while Truth or Dare is perfect for your tween slumber party or girlfriend gathering. Now Your Talkin' is perfect for the whole family to enjoy together, and be prepared, your family will become addicted to the open lines of communication that this line of games will inspire. For more information visit http://www.kubit2me.com/ (3 winners, 1 game each- value: $24.99 per game)



Sponsored by @RazorUSA

- Razor RipRider 360: This three-wheeled razor for children age five and older was a winner of the iParenting Media 2009 Excellent Products Award and the National Parenting Center 2009 Seal of Approval. For more information go to http://razor.com/ . (value: $129)





- Razor A2 Kick Scooter: Can you believe that 2010 will mark the 10th anniversary of the original Razor kick scooter? For nearly ten years children everywhere have placed the Razor kick scooter on their wish lists. Will you win one for your child? http://razor.com/ (value: $49)



Sponsored by Gamewright Games:
My family discovered Gamewright when my now five year old daughter chose Rat-a-Tat Cat card game as the way to spend last year's birthday money. Since then we've fallen in love with their unique and entertaining games for all ages. Gamewright has been gracious enough to let Emma choose her top four games to give to four winners Wednesday night.



- Feed the Kitty: Feed the Kitty is as simple as a cat's life. Mice are on the menu, and as they move from place to place, it's anyone's guess who will end up hungry and who will get to have a full belly. Will you be caught catnapping or will you pounce into the lead? The answer is all in the roll of the dice. (value: $14.99)



- Too Many Monkeys: Primo the Monkey was fast asleep until his friends swung by for a surprise pajama party. Help Primo chase away the primate pranksters by flipping and swapping cards in numerical order. Watch out for elephants and giraffes who want to crash in on the fun. And if you're lucky, draw a wild monkey card to clear out the room in one clean sweep. The first player to stop the monkey mayhem and get Primo back to bed wins. (value: $9.99)


- Sleeping Queens: A Royalty rousing Card Game. Rise and Shine! The Pancake Queen, The Ladybug Queen and ten of their closest friends have fallen under under a sleeping spell and it's your job to wake them up. Use strategy, quick thinking and a little luck to wake these napping nobles from their royal slumbers. Play a knight to steal a queen or take a chance on a juggling jester. But watch out or wicked potions and dastardly dragon! The player who wakes the most queens wins. (value: $9.99)
- Boochie: There's a new name in indoor and outdoor games Boochie. Whether you¿re hanging out in the back yard, or heading to the park or beach, we guarantee you¿re going have a blast playing this game. There are so many things to love about Boochie: from the active-play element, to the unique 12-sided rolling target, to the amazing variety of throwing challenges packed inside. No two games will ever be the same. Take note that all of the wrist trackers have completely different sets of challenges so be sure to try them all. Get out and play. (value: $29.99)


Sponsored by Hasbro Games and Hunter Public Relations:


3 winners! Connect 4X4: Take the challenge of the only 4-in-a-row game for 4 players. Doubling the grid and doubling the number of players creates more challenge and more fun! Take turns dropping a checker into the grid to create a line of 4 checkers horizontally, vertically, or diagonally… just like the original Connect 4. The double-sided grid allows you to make a line on either side, or by weaving through from one side to the other!




3 winners! Boggle (updated edition): Just shake up the lettered cubes, drop them into the grid and start the timer. Then race to see who can list the most words - with the highest point value - among the random letter assortment in the grid!





3 winners! Card Game Set: This fun set of card games includes a new twist on some old favorites. Each winner will receive Scrabble Slam, Monopoly Deal, and Littlest Pet Shop Go Fish.






Sponsored by Cocotier Boutique:

- $25 Gift Certificate: Cocotier Boutique offers a fun selection of unique and stylish children's and baby clothing, shoes, and more. Their selection includes fashion from US and European designers such as Daily Tea, Appaman, Deux par Deux, Morgan & Milo, Little Twig, BabyLegs, and ToobyDoo.


Sponsored by KidzMed:

- 5-in-1 Thermofocus no touch thermometer: This is one of my favorite review products from my entire year of blogging because it not only works precisely as it claims, but it helped us to take our son's illness seriously when he had pneumonia last winter. This no touch thermometer uses a sensor to take your child's temperature without touching their skin, thus erasing the need to wake a sleeping, sick child or implore them to sit still for a long period of time. (value: $69.99)

- Medicine Dispensing Pacifier: Never worry again about your infant spitting out part of their medicine. Using this pacifier to dispense liquid medicine to your little one takes the guess work out of medicating your sick child. (value: $9.99)

Sponsored by Big Honcho Media:

new! - iPod Shuffle: Listen to your favorite tunes while working out, going for a walk, or just going about your daily business! This cute iPod Shuffle is sure to keep you rockin'.

new! - 5 winners!! B is for Bob: It's Bob Marley....for the kids!! B is for Bob is a collection of original Bob Marley songs re-imagined for kids and fans of all ages!!
The international musical legend's eldest son, four-time Grammy winner Ziggy Marley, executive produced the album, which bridges the gap between the timeless Bob Marley and a new generation of kids.
Bob Marley's music touches people of all ages. With children in mind, Ziggy has transformed 8 of his father's songs while leaving 4 of Bob Marley's other masterpieces untouched.
Released just in time for summer, this is the perfect album for the entire family to enjoy!


Relax with DVD's from Bender/Helper Impact:


- The Color of Magic - 3 winners! - For all those wizards in training who love Harry Potter, be sure to stay up to date with all wizardly and whimsical tales and keep the kids happy with The Color of Magic, from Genius Products and RHI Entertainment. Based on the first two books in best-selling author Terry Pratchett's popular Discworld series, the sorcerous story begins in the magical realm of Discworld when an incompetent student is expelled from the university and is tasked with guiding a naive tourist through a city state.





- Jon and Kate Plus Eight Season Four, Volume 2: The Big Move - 3 winners! - Remember the easier times in the life of the Gosselins when America's favorite family made the big move from their small home to the their large estate with room enough for everyone - even their new four-legged friends!





Sponsored by Angie at Good for the Kids:

One lucky reader will win a $50 gift certificate to Good for the Kids, the one stop shop for everything from sippy cups to Melissa and Doug toys! Angie is always looking to find everything out there that is Good for the Kids.


Sponsored by Alex Casey Baby:
In the early days of SiteWarming Parties, Jill Notkin of Alex Casey Baby graciously volunteered to be a panelist in this strange new world of paneled discussions on Twitter. She has once again graciously offered to contribute to this celebration by donating these lovely prizes.

2 winners! - Zoobie Pets: A Zoobie Pet is a 3-in-1 friend that transforms from a stuffed animal to a pillow to a snuggly blanket. The perfect companion for any child, this award winning plush is incredibly simple to use. The durable easy fasten Velcro latches are child friendly and easily transform the animals into cuddly pillows. The durable zips located on the bottoms easily unzip, exposing the inner blankets (which can also be detached from the animals for easy washing). (value: $30 each)


Sponsored by Childhood Clothing:




- Choice of One Bottle Pet: These adorable bottle pets make feeding fun! Choose from a cow, octopus, turtle, pig, monkey, frog or lion. (value: $22)





Sponsored by Avon representative Haley Quarles of Love, Life, Family and Then Some:

- Footworks Watermelon 6 Piece Set: This scrumptious prize features 2 exfoliating foot scrubs, 2 cooling foot lotions, foot spray gel, and a deluxe toenail clipper. With the summer coming to a close, isn't it time to treat yourself...and your feet? (value: $30)








Sponsored by Your Baby Can Read:

One winner will receive the Deluxe Kit of the wildly popular Your Baby Can Read learning system. Use the DVD's, eraser board, easy to follow instructions, and other materials to introduce your little one to basic sitewords and reading. (value: $199)






Sponsored by Sara Bozich:
Hershey: A Guide to the Town Built on Chocolate:

Having grown up in central Pennsylvania, I spent quite a bit of time in Hershey, PA, attending musical performances, enjoying the HersheyPark, and touring the chocolate factory. But there is so much more to Hershey than just chocolate and roller coasters. Learn more about this amazing town and what it has to offer your family this summer travel system with this new guide by Harrisburg native and blogger, Sara Bozich. This book goes into detail about dining, attractions, and accomodations. It also features sections on recommendations, sample itineraries, and day trip ideas to Harrisburg, Lancaster, York and Gettysburg. (value: $13.95)

Sponsored by My Good Greetings:

- $50 Gift Certificate: MyGoodGreetings.com features beautiful, high-quality, customizable birth announcements, photo cards, invitations, and stationary printed on 100% recycled, FSC Certified papers in an eco-conscious way.

Since launching last September, they've had their first official Eco-Audit and learned that they - and their customers - have saved the following resources: 12 fully grown trees, 2,531 gallons of water, 5 million Btu's of energy and they've spared mother nature 554 pounds of solid waste and 936 pounds of greenhouse gasses. To learn more go to http://www.mygoodgreetings.com/Article/Why-Buy-Green.htm.

Sponsored by Hybrid Mom:


- Ten Hybrid Mom Subscriptions - each valued at $11.95:

Hybrid Mom is committed to helpign each Mom nurture her own ambitions, in a world where so much is demanded of her. They understand her needs. They believe in her ability. They see her potential. They proudly provide her the inspiration, tools,a nd opportunity she needs to succeed. It is not about whether you are a WAHM, a SAHM, or a WOHM. Everyone has their ideal balance and their own ambition. Hybrid Mom just wants moms to come together as a community to support and empower one another!

Sponsored by Picnik:

- One 6-month premium subscription to Picnik: I use Picnik to create all of the graphics that I use on my site, in my e-mails, and with my personal photos! The chance to use the premium features of this online photo program open up a whole new world of options. You won't believe how wonderful this service truly is until you've tried it!

Sponsored by @GroceryOutlet:

- One $100 Grocery Outlet Gift Card! - Grocery Outlet Bargin Markets offer extreme bargains on brand name merchandise, with prices often up to 50% less than conventional grocery stores. Stores are all locally owned and operated with locations in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Idaho. To find a store near you visit the store finder at: http://www.groceryoutlets.com/storefinder.aspx .

Sponsored by Perlabella:

- 30 Day Supply of Perlabella anti-aging serum: Just in time to counter-act the effects of the sun, this prize will bring you 30 days of anti-aging skin treatment to help you looked refreshed and ready to go!

Win with Momfluence at BlogHer

Are you headed to BlogHer this week? Keep an eye out for members of Momfluence carrying these cute little blue or white bags and you could win an 8 megapixel digital camera or a 2GB Flip Ultra!

Throughout the conference, the ladies carrying the bags shown above are available to give you Momfluence pens and temporary tattoos.

One lucky person spotted at the end of the Friday sessions either using a Momfluence globe pen or wearing a temporary tattoo will be handed this gorgeous digital camera!

At the end of the sessions on Saturday, one person spotted using the pen or wearing the tattoo will be handed this 2GB FlipUltra!

That's it - it's that easy. So grab your tattoo, use your pen, and keep an eye out for me. I'll be carrying the swag. :)

This contest is sponsored and run by Momfluence(TM) and in no way implies sponsorship or relationship with Kodak or Flip. You must be present to win. Winners will be chosen at random.

Win Big During BlogHer

As promised, there are many opportunities for you to win big during BlogHer regardless of if you will be attending or if you're even a blogger!

1. Christmas in July on Twitter: Tomorrow (Monday, July 20th) you can enter to win a prize pack that would make Santa blush just by tweeting with the hashtag #LitzkyPR between 9 a.m. eastern time and 9 p.m. eastern time. That's it!

The lovely ladies of Litzky Public Relations would like those of you staying home this week to have a chance to join the fun! One winner will be chosen at random tomorrow night to receive the following:

* Nerf Wall to Wall Basketball Set
* Nerf N-Strike Wii Bundle
* Super Soaker 50
* Littlest Pet Shop Playful Paws Daycare Center
* My Little Pony Newborn Cuties Little Rainbow Dash’s Room
* Baby Alive Better Now Baby
* FurReal Friends Lil Patter Pup
* FurReal Friends Teacup Pup
* The Shred Sled
* A full Cherry Blossom Market set
* Playskool Busy Ball-tivity Center
* Playskool Clipo Creativity Table
* Martian Matter Alien Maker

This prize pack is valued at hundreds and hundreds of dollars, and it's all going to one lucky winner, just for tweeting tomorrow! Good luck!

2. One Month of Free PR from Litzky Public Relations:
If you are a blogger, a small business owner, an Etsy shop owner - this is for you! To enter, add "Litzy Public Relations" as a friend on Facebook then post on their wall a.) what product/blog/biz you would like to promote and b.) what your favorite 3 p.m. snack is (for the record - mine is a banana and a Dr. Pepper). The winner will be randomly selected and win a free consultation plus one month of free PR ($15,000 value). Run, don't walk, to Facebook!
This contest runs from Thursday, July 23rd to Saturday, July 25th.

3. Where in the World is...Resourceful Mommy - Find ME and Win!


<-------------------- This is me! Now, find me at BlogHer when I'm wearing this shirt and win! While I'm meeting and greeting, learning and attending parties, I'll also be spreading the word about the great things going on at Time to Play. If you find me and take your picture with me, you could win a Target gift card! Here's how:

a.) Find me Friday or Saturday in my snazzy TTP tee.

b.) Take a picture of us together!

c.) Upload that picture to the Time to Play BlogHer microsite and tell them, "What's one toy you had as a child that you wish was still around for kids today?"

Everyone who enters a photo of themselves with me will automatically be entered to win one of five $50 Target gift cards. However, if you're one of the first 10 people to find me and upload your photo, you will automatically win a $20 Target gift card!

And this is top secret: If you're one of the first ten people to just find me on Friday, you'll win a prize on the spot...

The deadline to upload your photo and enter to win is Saturday, 7/25 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

If you are not attending BlogHer, you can still win!

- Visit the TimetoPlayMag.com/BlogHer microsite and tell them one place you have visited with your family that you think every kid should experience.

Comments posted on Friday will be entered to win a $25 Target gift card or a Girls Prize Pack featuring the following Hasbro Toys:

FurReal Friends Lil Patter Pup

FurReal Friends Teacup Pup

FurReal Friends Newborn

Baby Alive Better Now Baby

Littlest Pet Shop Playful Paws Playset

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Cafe Playset

I-Turtle

Comments posted on Saturday will be entered to win a $25 Target gift card or a Boys Prize Pack featuring the following Hasbro Toys:

Nerf Weather Blitz football

Nerf NFL Vortex

Nerf NFL Pro Grip

Mr. Potato Head Fryer Fighter

Playskool Easy Dunk Basketball

Tonka Bounce Back Racer

All comments must be received before Saturday, 7/25 at 11:59 p.m. ET to be eligible to win.

Whether you'll be with us at BlogHer or watching the fun from home, best of luck winning these wonderful prizes!

It's Time for BlogHer!

Last year I entered the blogging world right as roughly a thousand women were flying across the country to meet at something called "BlogHer." I was utterly confused as I watched "BlogHer," "swag," and "boo-hoo party" fly across the screen on Twitter.

What was this BlogHer, and why did everyone care?

A year later I am headed to BlogHer under the very generous sponsorship of the folks at Time to Play, the home of toy experts that bring over 100 combined years of experience to you via articles, giveaways, and videos.

I want to tell you all about how I'm going to wean myself off of high fructose corn syrupy soda, how the EA Sport Active 30 Day Challenge went, and why you absolutely, positively need to consider staying at the Pop Century for your next Disney vacation. I've also got some tips for how to decorate your children's room using your creativity not your credit card, and you know I have some cute pictures of the new dog to share...

But it's BlogHer week! So hang on for the ride because it's going to be one crazy week! And I'm bringing the swag to you.

Wondering like I was a year ago what I'm talking about?

Swag: the great free stuff you pick up at conferences....and I've got some for you...

Good luck!

Resourceful Organization

Just when you thought that the days of large, plastic toys were the most overwhelming obstacle to your attempt to keep order in your home, the land of the little toy emerges. Little People and Weebles turn into Matchbox cars and Barbie shoes and the next thing you know you're on crutches because you stepped on someone's something and broke your ankle.


While bins are great in general for organization, the smallest of fun things tend to get lost inside such big compartments. Digging through bins to find a coveted treasure can also be a bit overwhelming for the pre-schooler set.



The best way that I've found to organize small toys is using an over-the-door shoe organizer. The mesh pouches make the toys easily visible, and while the lower half of the pouches are within kiddos reach, the upper pouches are useful for toys you need to keep away from a younger sibling. We have one in our family room over the guest room door and one in our daughter's room as well for her stuffed animal menagerie and growing doll collection.

While I still love my bins, shoe organizers are very resourceful and affordable.

Giveaway Update

There is still time to win with four exciting contests here at Resourceful Mommy.

Join us this Friday for the AllYou.com SiteWarming from 9 to 10 p.m. ET on Twitter. To learn more about prizes and how to enter, head over to the SiteWarming post.

There is still time to win the Wii Fit from Dr. Joanna Dolgoff's Dr. Weigh weight maintenance program for youth. Don't forget to visit Dr. Dolgoff's weekly #KidsWeigh chats on Twitter on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. eastern! To enter to win the Wii Fit, check out the contest post.

Did you enter yet to win the iPhone? Don't forget to fill out the secure form at this post about the iPhone contest sponsored by Packetel and brought to you by Momfluence.

And don't forget that CookiesKids.com is giving away four laptops from now through September. Enter now!

Wordless Wednesday - My Firstborn

"Much ado about the new dog. Much ado about the kids. But I was here before them and it's my house. Glad to have cleared that up..."

All You: You're Invited!

Are you ready to enjoy life...for less?

Meet the Site:

This Friday join us at 9 p.m. ET as we SiteWarm AllYou.Com in honor of their relaunch. All You - the go-to site for value-driven consumers - has been known for some time as not only a great source of trusted, money-saving content both online and in print, but also as a provider of exclusive, high-value coupons, daily discount offers, and more!

Now All You is rolling out an extensive coupon database showcasing coupons only found on AllYou.com.

All You marries real-life advice with savings-focused tips to empower women to save money in every area of their lives. New elements of the site include:

• 
  
  "Coupons and Deals" - Powered by my most recent couponing find - Coupons.com - this channel not only highlights money-saving coupons available at Coupons.com, but also features high-value coupons exclusive to All You. Also be sure to check out the Daily Savings blog!


• 
  
  "Food" - Are you a budget-minded cook? Look here for recipe ideas with an emphasis on low cost per serving.


• 
  
  "Supermarket Smarts" - This original video series provides tips on cooking with inexpensive ingredients and more!


• 
  
  "Budget Home" - Low-cost decorating ideas, inexpensive crafts, cleaning for less


• 
  
  "Style for Less" - Budget beauty tips, affordable products and fashion options


• 
  
  "Diet and Fitness" - At-home workout and walking plans as well as nutrition informatoin to stay fit and healthy without spending a bundle


• 
  
  "Community" - Offers user-generated advice from over 23,000 Reality Checkers, highly engaged All You readers who share how they save money in a range of areas.

Meet the Panelists:

Erin at @5dollardinners - Erin focuses on budget cooking, something we all need in these money-strapped times.

Andrea at @mommysnacks - With a focus on couponing and finding great grocery deals, Andrea blogs at Mommysnacks.net.

Dianna at @budgetbabe - Dianna is all about minding the budget while keeping an eye on fashion and style!

Join us as we discuss the new AllYou.com as well as how to cook, shop, and keep with the latest styles - all while saving money!

Win Great Prizes:

- All You magazine - available at Walmart and by subscription - five winners will receive a one year subscription

- 2 $25 gift cards

- 1 $50 gift card

- Grand Prize: 1 $100 gift card

Enter to Win:

1. Sign up for an AllYou.com newsletter

2. RSVP below

3. Tweet about the SiteWarming

4. Tweet any time between now and Friday at 10 p.m. ET with the hashtag #AllYou

5. Blog about the new AllYou.com

All prizes will be awarded during the SiteWarming party on Twitter between 9 and 10 p.m. ET. Winners do not need to be present to win.

Frugally Fabulous Fashion

I love to be able to buy the little things in life that make me happy - a Misto from Rita's, a stuffed animal for my kids, a closer parking space at the theme park - but as they say, the devil is in the details.

Paying for the little things in life can often leave you with little money.

The way that I justify spending money on what some would call frivolous luxuries such as matters of convenience or treats is by saving money everywhere else that I can.

Last weekend I set out to find a dress or two to wear to the BlogHer conference next week. I found this cute little black and white number for $19 - just my price range.

I could have bought the spicy blue cocktail dress for $79, but that's just not me. So instead I ran to Payless and bought some fun shoes on sale for $10, stopped by Michael's and bought a couple of yards of coordinating ribbon to replace the black ribbon at the waistline, and pulled out an old necklace from Target that I picked up for a few bucks earlier this summer. The result? Just a little more money, but a lot more fun!

By limiting my spending on what some would deem necessary, I am able to spend guilt free on the finer things in life...such as a small coke pick-me up at the McDonald's drive through.

It's fun to be frugally fabulous.

A PR Black Out?

The PR Black Out:
I got a call today that went a bit like this,

"What do you know about this Mom Dot thing?"

(gasp!) "I don't know! I've been to the park, and then I was working - a lot. Dooce was on GMA."

"No, no, the Mom Dot thing. The PR Black Out...buh, buh, bummmm"

"What? (looking around to make sure no pr reps are in my living room, hiding behind the couch or under the coffee table) What's she thinking??"

"I don't know, but I bet it won't mean pulling down her ads for the week or not working on those social media marketing projects."

"Yeah, girlfriend. True dat. Word to your mommy blogger."

Okay, so it didn't go exactly like that, but you get the idea. The air was thick with controversy, my stomach definitely churned once or twice, and then I ran to the computer as fast as I could without my husband realizing what I was doing.

I prepared to face the post with righteous indignation. PR Black Out!? But she loves to work with companies...except for the ones who don't like when she curses. But still! What's she thinking?

What she's thinking is what I've been thinking. A lot of us are burned out. We're tired. We say yes to a lot of fun (free) projects that leave us exhausted and clawing to find time to work on the (sometimes) fun not free projects. And blogging about things that we love just because we love them? Well, that doesn't happen very often for many of us.

The suggestion was this: take one week in August and stop working with PR. Don't host a giveaway. Don't write a review. Don't e-mail the PR reps back or take their calls. Hold a PR Black Out.

Here's the problem with this for many of us - a week off of PR is like a week away on a tropical island where there is no WiFi, no mobile service, and possibly even no technology.

It's just not going to happen. It would be not only biting the hand that feeds me - it would be gnawing off the hand that feeds my children.

The Mommy Blogger Hybrid:
Apparently the battle rages on between the purist mommy bloggers and the "PR Friendly" button wearers - like myself - who get just as big a thrill learning and blogging about the best new thing as we do blogging about the crazy experience we just had with our children on the playground after school.


Let's just end this battle now and get something straight. I am a Mommy Blogger Hybrid - MB2.0 - available now everywhere blogs are read.

Like Trisha at MomDot and many others, I blog about my life, my kids, my family...the products I love, the products I'm trying, and the products I'm giving away to you. For some old school bloggers and blog readers, this is an unlikely partnership that leaves many feeling awkward and uncomfortable, much like when you find yourself sitting next to the 70 year old grandpa and his 25 year old girlfriend at your cousin's wedding. You just need to look the other way.

But for many of us this is a natural fit. We were already e-mailing other moms to tell them how much we loved our Graco strollers and going on local Yahoo forums to find out if anyone could recommend the best diaper. Bringing this aspect of our lives online along with the proud mama, angry wife, motivated woman ramblings just comes naturally. And then some figured out that there was money to be made, and not just in sidebar ads. Is that the straw that broke the camel's back? Perhaps.

Now imagine the conversation happening in PR firms around the country as MB2.0 began to pick up steam...

"Did you see that Mommy Loves Stuff for Moms has been writing about the latest tech sites for kids?"

"Yeah, and we've got that client we just brought on - Our Sites for Kids Rock - and they could totally use that kind of exposure."

"Oh, I know! She's got 245,983 pageviews a day! Let's e-mail her..."

And so it began. Some PR firms are better than others about the ways in which they reach out to bloggers and the ways in which they offer compensation. In my experience, I have refused pay for post, but I certainly enjoy a good giveaway for my readers. Other bloggers prefer ad revenue opportunities, while still others are happy simply to receive the product. The problem in the world of Mommy Blogger Hybrids - and I think this is what Trisha was getting at - is that these offers are coming at many of us from all sides, all the time.

We are MB 2.0 because of our natural inclination to love this type of blogging, so refusing fun offers and choosing to not tell our readers about an interesting new site or product is a very tough call. And so along comes the PR Black Out.

I love this idea. I love the idea of some time off. I love the idea of taking a week to write all of the ideas that litter the white board on my wall, clutter the sticky notes on my desk, and swirl in my head in the quietest times of the day.

But again - dance with the one who brought ya'. I care for and respect the PR firms and brands with whom I work and a black out just doesn't make sense for me.

So I have a counter offer for you, Trisha.

Let's have a Brown Out.

For every Mommy Blogger Hybrid who has been working just a little too hard, riding the wave just a little too long, let's commit to finding a day every week to blog about nothing. Or anything. But not because a company's suggested it to us...

Or how about this - let's unplug and take a few days to not blog at all. A vacation, even.

I won't be blacking out with the Mom Dot ladies because it just isn't a fit, but I applaud the sentiment behind the idea. Balance is important - and so is moderation - so I will approach my opportunities with a judicious eye moving forward because the last thing I want to do is burn out...and have to black out.

PostScript: One of the comments brought up the notion of having many blogs to suit many needs, which is an idea that went around the mommy blogging community more than once recently, with ladies seemingly divided on the topic. The whole "disclosure/carpet baggers" debate led me to add a new button to my nav. bar giving me a feeling of permission to write about, well, just me. But I still wonder if a completely separate blog is a way to not feel the need for black outs, brown outs, or freak outs of any kind? I'd love to hear your thoughts...

#TypeAMomfluence Party at BlogHer

What happens when Kelby Carr from Type-A Mom and I both mention to each other the idea of having a kick butt party for the ladies of BlogHer who love to build buzz, get weak in the knees for technology, and want the chance to network in a smaller space?

We join together for the first live SiteWarming party, of course!

The folks at Hewlett-Packard loved the idea, too, and jumped right in to sponsor the big bash (thanks, HP!). And the prizes are, in a word, UNBELIEVABLE.

If you're going to be attending BlogHer, join us in person: RSVP now!

Not going? Join us on Twitter! It is a SiteWarming Party, after all, so we'll be livetweeting the entire event with the hashtag #typeamomfluence. Please follow @typeamom, @mamikaze, @resourcefulmom, @slpowell and @angelaathp

Now to the swag...

- The first 100 guests to arrive will receive an HP sponsored swag bag loaded with goodies.

- It's a SiteWarming, so of course there are Door Prizes! Get ready to swoon...

HP 10.4-inch df1000 Series Digital Picture Frame

Enjoy and share favorite pictures with family and friends, all without a computer! It's easy with our 10.4" df1000 Series Digital Picture Frame, which also has 512MB for storing lots of photos.

Logoworks Silver Logo Design Package
Logoworks’ Silver Logo Design Package is valued at $299.
Within three business days of completing your online creative brief you’ll receive four original logo concepts from two of our award winning graphic designers. You’ll have two more rounds of revisions with the designers to get your logo right. After that you’ll have a professional logo in as little as a week!

HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless All-in-One: for the DIY CEO

Just because your company is classified as a small business, it doesn't mean your marketing can't rival that of a Fortune 500 company. The Wireless HP Officejet Pro 8500 delivers professional quality COLOR printing for up to 50% less cost per page than laser and is eco-friendly – it uses up to 50% less energy than comparable laser printers. Use the Wireless HP Officejet Pro 8500 with the HP Creative Studio for Business, Logoworks and other key HP partners, you can affordably create, customize, and print agency-quality marketing materials yourself.

HP MediaSmart Server LX195 - Starts at $399
o Easy-to-use, low-cost, all-in-one solution for protecting, organizing, sharing and enjoying digital content
o Central repository for automatically backing up and accessing digital music, videos, photos and other documents
o Designed for use with both Windows and Mac computers
o Landing Page: www.hp.com/go/mediasmartserver

GRAND PRIZE...Make a statement with...

HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Special Edition
· Starting Price: $699
High fashion meets high tech with the world's first digital clutch by award-winning designer Vivienne Tam

A perfect accessory for any fashionista, at just 2.45-pounds and less than 1-inch thin

Ideal for email, IM, and chatting face-to-face with built-in HP Mini Webcam

Other fun door prizes include the Vivienne Tam for HP mouse and scarves as well as free prints from Snapfish!

And for the techies who'd like to dabble with some gadgets...

The HP Photosmart Premium with Touchsmart Web - The first web-connected home printer just announced on June 22nd and not yet shipping!

The HP DV2 Notebook

The HP Creative Studio

Come play. Connect. Win!

Support for the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk!

One of the most fulfilling aspects of working and socializing online is the ability to reach out to folks all around the country. Most "online moms" are also very active in their communities, and many work very hard for charitable causes.

One such online mom is my friend Angela, who has bravely taken on the challenge of walking the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk in Cleveland with her mother who is a breast cancer survivor. Last year she and her mother not only walked the 60 miles in three days, but also raised $6,000.

This year times are tougher for everyone...including charities.

Angela's friend Margey of Bella Strada Studios is running a promotion with one of her beautiful products in order to help raise money for the Breast Cancer 3 Day. To help Angela and her mother in their efforts, 20% of the proceeds from the Flying Wish Paper sales through Tuesday will be donated to the walk.

Want to help Angela's team directly? Head to her Donations Page.

Coupon Cave Update

After writing about how I was living in a coupon cave and had stumbled across some great couponing sites, I heard from other coupon sites who wanted to know - Hey! Where are we? - so I would like to share one more great site with you that has been mentioned everywhere from Mashable to the Wall Street Journal. I've updated my original post, and added the new information here. Clearly I need to brush up on my frugal living, and I'm happy to take you along for the ride!

CouponChief.com is a beautiful site - always a nice bonus - where you can do everything from signing up to receive discount news as it hits to actually including your own store to increase traffic and exposure. What's incredibly unique about this site is that if you find and share coupons, you can actually make money when others choose to use those coupons. To find current deals, sign up, or watch the video tutorial, head to http://couponchief.com.

Also, my friends at Eco Store USA already knew about Coupons.com (was I the last to know?), and they shared with me that if you go to the left navigation bar and click on Household, you can print out coupons for their eco-friendly cleaning products.

Being a bit of a Peter Pan, I didn't notice the great offers on cleaning products, only the Hasbro games. Enjoy!

Thank You, Jessica (aka: the post where I cry)

I've been asked many, many times how I came to start this blog, and while I've told my story to a couple of folks in interviews or late night ramblings, I've mostly only hinted at it here and on Twitter. Now the person who came abruptly into my life and turned it upside down is moving to the opposite side of the country, so I think it's time to not only tell the story, but thank her properly and publicly.

To explain where I was in my life when I met Jessica Smith, I'm going to recap five years in just a sentence or two:

• I loved children, wanted to be a parent, made a misguided decision to become a teacher when really I just had an over-developed maternal instinct that needed to be satiated.
• I had children, stayed home, was more fulfilled than ever in my life, and knew that I'd do anything to find a way to stay home and still provide income to meet my family's needs.
• I had a creative energy that needed an outlet other than my children/MOMS Club/community anything and yearned to find like-minded moms!
• I wanted to write. And I wanted to write something that someone would read. Willingly.

Then one Sunday I was sitting in church, minding my own soul, when the pastor showed a video about becoming who you were meant to be. Now the music was moving, the images stirring, so through no fault of my own I teared up. But then the tears began to stream quietly down my face. I realized that it was time to make a move and figure out what more I was meant to be and I prayed right there, "Dear God, either show me the way to fulfillment or take this desire from me." I wanted peace. I didn't know where it would come from, but I wanted it. Now.

And then I offered Jessica Smith a muffin. Now I know I am going to alienate some people with this post. "You go to church? You like Jessica Smith? You eat white flour?" Yes. Yes. Yes.

Just a couple of weeks after sitting in church that Sunday, I was in the social hall of the very same church with my local MOMS Club. It was my first meeting as Administrative Vice President and also my first meeting with our newly merged club. Trying to be social and nosy at the same time, I mingled in with the ladies from the "other club" and offered them some muffins. One of those moms happened to be Jessica Smith from Jessica Knows. Somehow while talking about our sons, who we discovered would be starting pre-school together in the fall, Jessica mentioned that she had a website. I listened half-heartedly and nodded. Then a week or so later I checked it out. Then I started to check out the other folks she wrote about. That led me to Kelby Carr. When you first check out Kelby's personal site and read what she writes, the word "mom" does not come to mind. Instead, the words "powerful," "smart," and "frank" come to mind. I liked this world. I wanted in.

All it took was one e-mail to Jessica with a cry for help for her to call me for the most fast-paced 20 minute conversation I've ever had. I can still remember the feeling of sitting at my dining room table, frantically taking notes on the kitchen message pad. I knew that I was recording foreign words that would need to be translated later - "Blogger" "Typepad" "Wordpress" "Twitter" - but that conversation changed my life.

Just a couple of weeks later I owned URL's (!!), had a Twitter account, and a hastily created new identity, which I oddly now answer to. "Resourceful Mommy?" "Yes." The rest is history...

Thanks to that moment with God and that meeting with Jess, I've had one of the most exciting years of my life, and I can clearly see the potential to stay at home indefinitely and find fulfillment in all aspects of my life.

Now Jess is moving to California to return to the marketing world full time. We don't meet for coffee once a week or hang out over the grill every weekend - I'm not that social, and she's way too busy - but knowing that she's just down the road has been such a comfort to me. I'll miss that. I'll miss her. I know that she'll probably save some other mom like myself from the despair that is gripping her life. In her new capacity she'll have the opportunity to reach so many more...

So Jessica, thank you. And I'll miss you. Best of luck, and God bless...

Let the Busy Begin...

(photo credit: Marshall Astor)

There will be a lot going on at Resourceful Mommy over the next two weeks, so grab your monitors and hang on for the ride...

This Week:
Fun reviews - Hear what I thought of my time with EA Sports Active for Wii, how Plate Pals 4 You is helping out around the house, you'll find out what a Smooshie is, and how I'm going to kick my sugary sweet soda habit...

Great giveaways - The prizes for my Bloggiversary SiteWarming will be announced this week and you'll be able to enter to win in multiple ways. I've also got a birthday surprise from 1-800-Flowers and more! Don't forget you can still enter to win an iPhone, a laptop, and a Wii Fit. Just click on the "Resourceful Giveaways" tab. And if you're headed to BlogHer, I've got some swag for you!

Resourceful tips - Want to travel to Disney, but don't want to spend a ton while you're there? Need a fun idea for those sad mini-blinds in your kids' room? I've got some tips coming your way!

SiteWarming Party - It's not Friday if there's not a SiteWarming! Keep your eyes open for more information about the great site we're helping to re-launch as well as the prizes you can win.

Resourceful Me - And as always, there's a little bit of Just Me mixed in...

Wii Can Be Fit with #KidsWeigh - Learn and Win!

As you know, this Friday we are SiteWarming Dr. Weigh by Joanna Dolgoff, MD, as well as Dr. Dolgoff's weekly Twitter conversation, #KidsWeigh.

You know that for an hour we will be able to ask Dr. Dolgoff our toughest kids' nutrition and exercise questions as well as share tips and concerns with fellow parents - aunts & uncles - grandparents on Twitter.

But did you know that you have a chance to win a Wii Fit?

Maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle is difficult for many parents. Helping their kids do the same can be nearly impossible, but programs such as Dr. Weigh and fun fitness tools like the Wii Fit certainly help!

To Enter:

To enter to win the #KidsWeigh Wii Fit contest, check out client testimonials and fabulous Dr. Weigh success stories then fill out this secure contest form telling us which story was your favorite!

Form: http://tinyurl.com/kidsweighcontest

One grand prize winner will receive a Wii Fit. Two runners-up will receive a free one month membership to Dr. Weigh. This contest ends Friday, July 24th at 11:59 a.m. ET.

Are you ready to win Door Prizes?

Ten SiteWarming Party winners will receive gift cards to eat fresh at Subway! One SiteWarming Grand Prize winner will win one free month of membership to Dr. Weigh.

Complete any or all of the following steps and leave a comment on this post for each entry.

1. RSVP here for the SiteWarming.
2. Comment on the Dr. Weigh Blog.
3. Tweet about Friday's SiteWarming on Twitter.
4. Blog about Dr. Weigh and comment with a link to your post.
5. Blog about the #KidsWeigh Wii Fit contest.
6. Enter the Wii Fit Contest - yes, entering to win a Wii Fit can help you win door prizes!
7. Tweet any time between Noon and 10 p.m. ET with the hashtag #KidsWeigh

Good luck!

Big Party, Big Changes!

To get ready for my Bloggiversary on July 22nd, I've decided it is time for a little remodel. I took a day to myself last November and created my header and then...didn't touch it again.

Today I took just a little bit of time and tried something new. Now I need to hear from you.

What do you think?

Want Another Chance to Win an iPhone?

Give Us Your Conference Call Blooper and Win an iPhone 3G from Packetel!

Have you ever said the wrong thing to a client? Have you ever been caught not paying attention on the line? Have your kids screamed something crazy during a call...

If so - Packetel wants to hear about it!

If not - try out Packetel's Web Conferencing services FREE for 30-days and tell us about your experience!

Packetel Turbo Meeting makes web conferencing simple and easy to do. Here are just a few of their web conferencing features:

- Share screens/desktops with multiple participants
- Assign and acknowledge meeting roles of presenter and controller of keyboard/mouse
- Allow an unlimited number of users to host a web conference
- Schedule meetings and webinars
- Hold ad hoc meetings and webinars and use verbal meeting invitations without resorting to e-mail
- Integrate with Outlook for sending e-mail invitations
- Optimized for different internet connection speeds ranging from broadband to 28KB dial-up
- Annotation over the entire screen/desktop
- Whiteboard and chat functionalities

Win an iPhone for my misdeed on a conference call? Yes! Here's how you can win:
1. Fill out the form below, including your blooper story

OR

2. Try out Packetel's Web Conferencing Service for FREE for 30 days, fill out the form including your experience with the server

Entry form: http://cli.gs/PsvX9W

Bonus Entries! After you've completed 1 or 2 above and filled out the form you can also...

- Blog about Packetel's Online Fax Service and link the text "packetel's web conference service" to: http://www.packetel.com/web-conferencing-turbo-meeting-main.asp

- Become a Fan of Packetel at their Brand New Facebook Fan Page here: http://facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=121265230239#

Contest ends 7/31/09 at 11:59 AM ET. This contest brought to you courtesy of the Momfluence network.

Win a Laptop from CookiesKids.com

Is your current computer stalling and giving you blue screen nightmares? Would you love to be able to have one that the kids could use (alas, staying off of yours)?

CookiesKids.com feels your pain and has come to your rescue!

Sign up to recieve the Cookies Kids Newsletter via e-mail and you're automatically entered to win one of 4 brand new laptops!!

Simply fill out the form below to be entered into the Laptop Giveaway Sweepstakes. Please be sure to read the Giveaway Sweepstakes "Terms and Conditions" before entering your information.

Entry Form: http://cli.gs/6dGhsh

Contest ends 9/30/09 at 11:59 AM ET. This contest brought to you courtesy of the Momfluence network.

Mark Your Calendars!

In the next three weeks I will be hosting four SiteWarmings - including #typeamomfluence live at the BlogHer conference! - and not only will we be getting to know some truly resourceful sites, but there will of course be prizes...

Mark your calendars now for this Friday's #kidsweigh party!

This Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. eastern we will be chatting with Dr. Joanna Dolgoff who many of you already know on Twitter as @JoannaDolgoffMD.

RSVP Here:

#Kidsweigh is a weekly information discussion on Twitter where parents can ask Dr. Dolgoff questions about their children's nutrition and weight issues. Not only is this Friday that official launch of these already popular conversations that occur every Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. eastern, but we will also be SiteWarming Dr. Dolgoff's site, Dr. Weigh. Children today are at once blessed with resources not even dreamed of by previous generations, but at the same time face debilitating deficits in nutrition and exercise.

As her site explains, Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. has created a simple traffic light-based system which allows children to lose weight safely and easily. With Dr. Dolgoff's Weigh, kids learn which foods are healthiest without counting calories or fat. Dr. Dolgoff has divided over one thousand foods into green light, yellow light, and red light categories with appropriate serving sizes. Each child is allotted a certain number of colors for each meal and snack. No food is off-limits. Dr. Dolgoff’s flexible program allows kids to be kids. Your child will lose weight safely with a program designed by a Board Certified Pediatrician. 96% of kids following Dr. Dolgoff's Weigh have already lost weight!

Comment here with your questions for Dr. Dolgoff and check out her success stories, patient/parent testimonials, and information about Dr. Dolgoff's media appearances for ideas on what you can learn from Dr. Dolgoff this Friday. Another great place for conversation ideas is Dr. Dolgoff's blog.

Be sure to check back as we launch a special giveaway campaign later this week that officially begins during this Friday's party!

Update: Enter here to win door prizes and a Wii Fit!!

One Year Bloggiversary - Come Celebrate and Win!

It's my one year bloggiversary, and I'm going to share my presents...

It was one year ago that I met a mom at a MOMS Club meeting named Jessica who told me about her son, her concerns about pre-school, and her website. A couple e-mails and one long phone call later and Resourceful Mommy was born.

This site developed from my own need to find personal and professional fulfillment beyond parenting, but not outside of my home. I knew immediately that I wanted to not only share a piece of myself, but also pieces of information that might help other parents. I never guessed then that one year later I would not only still be here, but also be writing for Type-A Mom and Blissfully Domestic, introducing Twitter users and readers to great new sites and businesses through my SiteWarming SM Parties, and working with clients to create fun blog campaigns for the Momfluence TM network.

July 22, 2008, I wrote my first two blog posts: One about my couch, Fernando, and one about the my Mustang, Sally. Both posts speak to what I was facing at the time - dealing with letting go of my own youth in the face of the responsibilities of parenthood.

Since then I have blogged about anything from letting go of anger, to letting go of gender stereotypes. I've passed on housekeeping tips and Disney travel advice and given away thousands and thousands of dollars worth of prizes. Through it all I have enjoyed sharing my life and my two growing businesses while finding a creative outlet and passing on fun opportunities to all of you. Now it is time to celebrate!

Join me Wednesday, July 22nd from 8 to 10 p.m. eastern time on Twitter as I throw a Bloggiversary SiteWarming Party! Many of us will be heading to BlogHer the next day, so what better way to kick off an exciting weekend then with a great party...with even better prizes?

It's time to RSVP, grab the button, and get ready to party #resourcefulmommy style. Check back often for prize listings and ways to win.

Grab an RSVP Badge<a href="http://www.resourcefulmommy.blogspot.com/2009/07/bloggiversary-by-resourcefulmommy-on.html" title="bloggiversarybutton by ResourcefulMommy, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/3693494236_9e03c05006_m.jpg" width="150" height="240" alt="bloggiversarybutton" /></a>
Grab an RSVP Badge<a href="http://www.resourcefulmommy.blogspot.com/2009/07/bloggiversary-by-resourcefulmommy-on.html" title="bloggiversarybutton1 by ResourcefulMommy, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/3693372756_ba6af8fb59_o.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="bloggiversarybutton1" /></a>

Disney Condolences

My children's first trip to Walt Disney World last December was magical for so many reasons. The "snow" on Main Street following the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party fireworks, the conversation my daughter had with Crush in Turtle Talk, the look on my son's face the first time we rode It's a Small World...

But one of my favorite Disney memories was the day we rode in the front of the monorail with the driver.

Many people are not aware that just a simple request and good timing will earn you the chance to ride in the front car of the monorail with the driver. And many who are aware of this Disney perk are either too shy to ask or never hit the lines at the right time. It is well worth the effort to ask because it is a once in a lifetime experience.

At the end of our first day of touring Epcot, we chose to return to our hotel a bit early and in doing so entered a nearly empty monorail station and watched as the doors opened on an empty train. We asked the cast member if we could ride with the driver, and he kindly showed us to the front where we took our seats just to the left and right in front of the driver, a quiet young lady who stoically took her post and remained hidden behind her mirrored sunglasses.

We had barely pulled out of the station when my then two year old son waved his arm around, high-fiving the air as if pressing the horn of a car and making beeping noises. When he raised his arm and pressed for the third time something magical happened....the monorail honked. Again, Noah pumped his little hand into the air and again the monorail honked. My husband and I erupted into fits of laughter along with our four year old daughter as the driver kept pace with my son who now believed he could move mountains with a motion of his chubby little hand. The whole time, the driver kept a poker straight face, her eyes no doubt glimmering with joy behind those sunglasses.

Disney does not hire staff. They choose cast members - men and women who not only take seriously the safety of those in their charge, but also fully appreciate the weighty responsibility of holding little imaginations in the palms of their hands.

I was heartbroken this morning to learn of the monorail accident at Walt Disney World and the loss of cast member Austin Wuennenberg. In the 38 years that the monorail system has transported families around the World, this is the first time that a fatal accident occurred. Austin Wuennenberg has been described by friends as a responsible, safe young man who loved his job at Disney and took the safety of the guests very seriously.

My hope is that Disney will continue to offer families the magical experience of riding in the front of the monorail despite this tragedy. It is difficult for any of us to imagine that such a terrible accident could occur in the Happiest Place on Earth. Tonight, my thoughts and prayers are with Austin's family and the Disney community. Thank you for all you do for our children, and may your hearts heal quickly.

Recipe for a great Fourth...

Sunset over the Appalachian mountains...

Meeting my best friend's 10 day old princess...

Watching my mom light the sparklers far away from my children and their over protective mother...

My nephew's blueberry pie mustache...

My crazy new rescue dog finding peace among family...

Watching my son wash dishes with his Pappy...

And seeing my city boy husband chasing stray chickens out of my parents' yard.

Only in Pennsylvania!

I hope you and yours had a fabulous holiday weekend and found some time for peace, quiet, and fun with family in this great land of the free...

Momfluence Summer Guide - Happy Fourth!

(photo by G Viciano)

Looking for some great products to make your summer that much more fun and enjoyable? Looking to pamper yourself while the kids are off at camp? Or maybe you're dealing with summer bumps and bruises. Momfluence has collected some reviews of great products that you need to know about! Check out what our reviewers had to say about these great summer finds. And don't forget to stop by the Momfluence member giveaways listed at the bottom for some summer winning!

Featured Products

FishBites Swimmies - Spending time in the water is one of the most fun and exciting parts of summer. FishBites Swimmies by Swimways is a great solution to give the little ones the extra security they need in the pool, in a fun and exciting way.





Delsey Helium Fusion Carryon - If you are hitting the road or flying the skies this summer for your family vacation, the Delsey Helium Fusion carry-on offers a lightweight solution for packing your travel essentials.





Do Something Daily Calendar - Tired of hearing the kids say they have nothing to do? The DoSomethingDaily Calendar offers fun and exciting suggestions for things to do on each and every day of the year. Make memories with your family, every day!





Perlabella Pearls - Want to combat some of the wrinkles cause by sun damage? Perlabella's Retinol solution helps to fight the signs of aging, that can be caused by excessive sun exposure and other factors.

More Summer Fun

iTurtle

Playdoh Spaghetti Factory

Submergency

Nerf NFL Progrip Football

SuperSoaker 50

Boochie Game

Good For The Kids

Talking To Toddlers


Two Belles and A Bead Engraved Necklace

Cardstore

Jumeau Handbags

Staphaseptic

Member Reviews/Giveaways

Bonggamom - $50 Tiny Prints Gift Certificate

IceFairy's Treasure Chest - KiNeSYS, Purex 3-in1, and more

Eccentric, Eclectic Woman - Bra Barrette, Skipping Hippos

Riding With No Hands - 20 Piece Rubbermaid Set

Consumer Queen - FurBuster

PlusSizeMommy - Giant Hershey Bar, Zensoy, and more

MommyNotGuilty - KidBanz Sunglasses

Robyn's Online World - Kodak Digital Frame

Simply Being Mommy - EA Sports Active

Lattes and Life - Oscar Meyer Hot Dogs & Parent's Choice Formula

Motherhood Moment - Summer Fun

A Simple Kinda Life - Summer Soiree of Giveaways

From Cribs to Car Keys - EcoStore $25 Gift Certificate and more

Miscellaneous Finds 4 U - Tiny Prints and more

All Momfluence guide reviews are product-provided, featured positions were purchased by vendors. Member reviews and giveaways are not associated with Momfluence.