Giveaways

In my world, free stuff = great. Free stuff that I already think is awesome or has rave reviews from a trustworthy source = uh, where can I sign up. . .now?

I'm getting into couponing, and in my searching around the internet for good deals, I happened to find The Bragging Mommy, a reviews, features, and giveaways site. The head bragging mommy, Heidi, and her team talk about lots of great kids/moms stuff, and they're very thorough in their personal reviews. I aspire to be like them someday; in my own personal vein of things, of course.

Now for the cool free thing: their Strider Running Bike Review also has a giveaway of a Strider Running Bike. Heidi writes a detailed description of how her toddler son has used and loved his Strider Running Bike, gives you a bullet point list of brag-worthy features, and has a giveaway where your entries make you learn more about the bike and of course, her blog. A little time and effort for a chance to win? Yes. But, if you're wanting to research a great product and get the info on other helpful stuff, it's worth it.

The Strider bike itself is something I wish they'd had when I was little. It's just like a small bike, but with no pedals. The hardest thing about learning to ride a 'real' bike is learning how to balance, and the Strider gives a child the opportunity to learn that skill in a fun, safe and confidence-building way. With training wheels, a regular bike just acts like a tricycle, so balance doesn't develop until the child is actually riding on their own....lots of opportunity for falls. Check out the video to see more.



Hope you think this giveaway and the Strider bike are worth looking into. Wait a minute... do I want more competition for winning the bike? ;)

A sisterhood of mommies

So this past week I'm in the grocery store (Publix for all you Florida folks out there) picking up some last minute essentials. We're almost done and Samantha's just hanging out in the shopping cart, happily playing with a box of Frosted Flakes (buy one, get one free!). As I reach for a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, an urpy-sounding noise causes my head to whip back around. Samantha is vomiting all over herself, her pink shopping cart seat cover, her bunny, her sippy cup and Tony the Tiger. Very slight pause, then she does it again. And again.

She's crying, and I'm trying to help her without getting puke in even more places. A nearby store employee hands me two paper towels and flees the scene. Then two nearby moms, seeing our plight, spring into action. One wheels back to the produce section to get me some bags in which to put our contaminated belongings, and the other produces a handful of baby wipes so I can at least clean off Sam's face and hands.

They are both so understanding, practical and kind. They tell me they've both been there, and are helping the way that they'd want to be helped. I wish I could have thanked them even more than I got to in the store, but I don't have any way to get ahold of them. Two mommies, one with a teenage son, the other with a toddler, thank you for swooping in to save the day; you were definitely a Godsend.