2011 January — MomStart

Much To Look Forward To Happy New Year!

January 1, 2011 By Momstart 6 Comments

I’m excited for what the future holds for my family, friends and Mom Start. Last year was much more than I could have ever hoped for. I was a part of so many things, Brand Ambassadorships, Blog Trips, Blog Conferences, I mean the list goes on and on. I wanted to go through everything with my readers and remind you of all the fun we had together, but you know me.

I’m a procrastinator…

I’m a always exhausted…

I’m always behind…

But what you can always count on, what my kids can always count on is that I’m a mom. Doing the best that I can! Happy New Year from all of us at Mom Start!

Filed Under: personal

DKNY Be Delicious Core Club Fragrance Giveaway and NYC Sweepstakes

January 1, 2011 By Momstart 840 Comments

DKNY took over my house before Christmas….

As you may know, I helped organize swag, donations, and door prizes for the Seattle Charity event known as the Tweet Drive. DKNY was kind enough to send us BOXES of DKNY Be Delicious which made excellent swag in the swag bags. They sent us so much stuff, it took Zoe, Miles and I 3 hours to sort through all of it. (My husband and I just looked up the value of a bottle of DKNY Be Delicious and we think there was about 15,000.00 worth of product that was donated to the charity event) I suddenly find myself light headed and just amazed at what they did for us. I can not express my gratitude enough to everyone involved in helping us raise money and gather toys for the charity Treehouse!

I set aside a few boxes for myself and for a few readers! But first I want to share some cool information about Be Delicious, I mean, other than that it smells delicious, fruity but subtle, sweet and sensuous and that THEY ARE A SUPER GENEROUS COMPANY! About five years ago, DKNY took the beloved apple and bottled it’s deliciousness. The apple carries the universal symbol of seduction as well as the icon of New York City. To celebrate the future of the top-selling fragrance turning five years old, DKNY Be Delicious has cast supermodel Lara Stone as its new adverting campaign’s fresh face.

“Be Delicious and Lara Stone are both seductive and approachable, sweet and sophisticated,” says Donna Karan. “As a young modern icon, Lara Stone embodies the spirit of DKNY and Be Delicious.”

In addition to the new advertising campaign, in October 2010 Be Delicious introduced the Be Delicious Eau de Toilette Spray, a lighter, brighter, more refreshing version of the original core fragrance. The DKNY Fragrances’ Facebook page is full of apps where you can explore DKNY, DKNY Be Delicious, and pureDKNY to make a donation to empower women worldwide through CARE. You can also Enter to Win a Trip to New York City! Design a bottle, then get your friends to vote for you.

You Can Be Delicious in the New Year!

Enter to Win:

A Swag Bag and one large bottle (3.4 ounces AVR 72.00) of DKNY Be Delicious and one Small Bottle of DKNY Be Delicious EAU DE TOILETTE (1.0 ounces 45.00 AVR) Spray (3 winners)

To Enter:

Tell me what you like about DKNY.

Me, I have a pair of sunglasses made by DKNY, they are prescription and the frames are my favorite frames ever!! I should get a pair of regular glasses made out of them I like them so much.

Extra Entries:

Win @DKNY Be Delicious Fragrance @MomStart #Giveaway (AVR 120) and NYC Sweepstakes http://bit.ly/dMgRIE

Like DKNY on Facebook
Follow DKNY on twitter

Subscribe to my blog RSS, or e-mail
Follow me on twitter
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble or use any of the share methods below facebook included (just leave a link to this post wherever you share it)
Blog about this giveaway and link to this post (10 entries)
Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post

Leave a comment for every entry, This giveaway ends January 17th. I received products mentioned above to facilitate this review and to GIVE to Charity, Use as Swag, and Share with My Readers. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway, personal Tagged With: Be Delicious, dkny, Donna Karen, EAU DE TOILETTE, fashion, perfume

Fill Your Cup with Chicken Soup for the Soul Trio Giveaway

January 1, 2011 By Momstart 138 Comments

Ever need a good book to cozy up to? You know, the kind of book that makes you cry or laugh out loud. Then Chicken Soup is exactly what you need. Each Chicken Soup for the Soul is a collection of 101 stories matched by a theme and put into one book. Start off the new year with hope, a positive attitude and a little bit more Christmas Magic, just in case you need some!

Happy New Year!

I have three books for you to win:

Chicken Soup for the Soul Family Matters

Nearly everyone thinks their own family is "nutty" or has at least one or two nuts. With 101 stories of wacky yet lovable relatives, funny foibles, and holiday meltdowns along with more serious stories about abuse and outbursts, this book is usually hilarious and occasionally poignant. Readers will feel comforted, amused, and encouraged by these unforgettable stories about "nutty" families just like their own. This book shows readers that we all have the same family matters and what really matters is families. It is a quirky and fun holiday book, and a great bridal shower or wedding gift!

Chicken Soup for the Soul Chicken Soup for the Soul Think Positive

Every cloud has a silver lining. With its 101 stories of optimism, faith, and strength, this book will encourage readers to stay positive during challenging times and in their everyday lives. Readers will be inspired by these real-life stories from people just like them, taking a positive attitude to the ups and downs of life, and remembering to be grateful and count their blessings. This book continues Chicken Soup for the Soul’s focus on inspiration and hope and its stories remind us that each day holds something to be thankful for. A great start to the New Year.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Magic

Christmas is a magical time of year — a time of family, friends, and traditions. And all the joys, blessings, and excitement of the season are captured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic with its 101 new holiday stories covering everything from finding the perfect Christmas tree, being with family, and seeing the wonder in a child’s eyes to goodwill, love, and the true meaning of Christmas. This book will delight every reader, from the young to the young at heart, and bring back the magic of the holiday season. "Santa-safe" for kids

3 Winners!!!

To Enter:

Just leave a comment on this post.

3 Winners (3 Chicken Soup for the Soul Books) Pl RT. #Giveaway http://bit.ly/f6Motg

Leave a comment for every entry, This giveaway ends January 17th. I received the products pictured above to facilitate this review. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Christmas Magic, Family Matters, Think Positive

Beech-Nut Homestyle Steamies All Natural Gift Basket Review and Giveaway

January 1, 2011 By Momstart 160 Comments

Beech-Nut recently introduced Homestyle Steamies meals for toddlers made with natural ingredients and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The Homestyle Steamies are steam-cooked to lock in flavor and improve texture (a technology that’s new to toddler food) and each meal is packaged in re-sealable, re-useable tubs that are microwaveable and BPA-free. My Reviewer Summer received a Gift Basket from Beech-Nut to review and this is her review:

In my busy life I sometimes find the time slips away from me, but not my 1 year old. He’s trusty like an alarm clock; right on a schedule. This, of course, includes meal times! Beech-Nut sent me some samples of their Homestyle Steamies and I have been using my samples for those toddler meals-in-a-crunch. They offer these six flavors:

· Cheesy Lasagna*
· Chicken & Cheesy Potatoes*
· Chicken Vegetable Stars*
· Macaroni & Cheese*
· Spaghetti Rings in Meat Sauce
· Turkey Rice Vegetables

*we tried these varieties

Beech-Nut Steemies are rated Stage 4 for more experienced young eaters – older babies and toddlers. Beech-Nut Steemies are natural; containing no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, and no artificial preservatives. The plastic tubs which contain the food are microwavable, resealable, and BPA-free. (Though, I recommend not microwaving in any plastics.) Steamies only requires 30 seconds to heat up then you should stir it, test it for temperature and serve it to your toddler.

Beech-Nut makes foods for Stages 1-3, as well, and my sons enjoyed these foods as they learned to eat solids. Beech-Nut products, including Steamies, are currently available at grocery stores. Steamies have a suggested retail price of $2.49 per twin pack. That’s about $1.25 per 6 ounce tub (prices may vary by retailer).

Beech-Nut Homestyle Steamies are a great healthy product for at home use, but I would also recommend stowing some in the diaper bag and a spare in the glove box for those times on the go when you NEED to feed your older baby/toddler. When I’m under prepared I find myself relying on fast, unhealthy foods even for my toddler. Steamies can also be a great quick solution for older children as they are real foods; you can see the pieces of vegetables, meats, and noodles.

Besides the food quality I also like Beech-Nut for who they are as a company. Though Beech-Nut was, in their words, “adopted” by Hero Group (an international brand-focused consumer group) they remain to be a family owned company located in upstate New York. Beech-Nut’s newest facility there is LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certified, which means it is an international recognized “green” building. Beech-Nut also partners with nonprofits feeding the United States’ hungry, such as City Harvest.

Enter to Win:

Each Beech-Nut All Natural Holiday Tote is valued at $70 and will include:

· An organic cotton tote
· A roll of “plantable” holiday gift wrap and gift tags
· Organic cotton fruit & veggie toys
· Samples of new Beech-Nut Homestyle Steamies and coupons
· Feeding tips for toddlers (how to make meal time fun, etc)

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling us what your favorite Homestyle Steamies product is.

Extra Entries:

Tweet:

Beech-Nut Homestyle Steamies All Natural Gift Basket Review & #Giveaway (70.00) Value http://bit.ly/giQbSX

Subscribe to my blog RSS, or e-mail
Follow momstart on twitter
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble or use any of the share methods below facebook included (just leave a link to this post wherever you share it)

Leave a comment for every entry, This giveaway ends January 17. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Disclosure:

Summer was supplied with the samples listed above and coupons for free product in order to review Beech-Nut Steamies for the writing of this review. Used containers have since been recycled and my coupons were used to purchase product which she donated to our local food bank. Thank you, Beech-Nut.

Filed Under: giveaway, green, Summer Tagged With: baby food, Beech-nut, certified organic, giveaway, Homestyle Steamies, organic, review, toddler food

31 Green and Eco Friendly Tips and Ideas

January 1, 2011 By Momstart 13 Comments

My friend Summer helped me put together 31 posts about living green and eco friendly tips to live by. Thanks to her help, I’ve compiled a list of 31 Green and Eco Friendly Tips and Ideas to help you turn your life more green. Here are those 31 tips!

1) Buy Chemical Free Products