2008_09_01_posts : Classy Mommy Blog

Wordless Wednesday: Vlog of Kenzie Feeding Kyle

Kenzie and Kyle are stinking cute in this video. Kenzie naturally plays the perfect role of the motherly "Big Sis" in her personalized apron from the Diaper Wrangler as she pretends to feed Kyle imaginary food - which he so graciously accepts time and time again. The poor little bugger probably thinks one of these times he will actually get a taste!

Mommyblogger Highlights!

I love my mommy pals from across the web. Take a minute and visit all these fabulous posts! And you might just find some killer giveaways too!

Boston Mamas: Art at the Right Level Your kid will appreciate the view (and will love playing curator) with this cool home decor solution.

Clever Parents Healthy Home Tips: Cleaning Can Make Things Worse Did you know that a conventional vacuum cleaner may spew out allergens in its exhaust, or that a sponge or mop contaminated with bacterial growth can make the broom closet or surfaces you wipe stink? Read these 10 tips to help you clean without “dirtying” the air.

MomFinds: Win a $125 Shopping Spree from PictureMyPurse.com Win $125 and get a head start on your holiday shopping.

One Chic Mama: A Good Bag Is Hard to Find Rosetti makes stylish handbags that won't breaking the bank. Three winners will receive a Rosetti bag for themselves.

Full Mommy Giveaway: Munchie Mug Leeanthro found a snack cup eliminating the trail of Cheerios her toddler was leaving behind.

Jodi at The Mindful Moms discusses how to mind your budget at Target or Walmart

Martha, Martha, Martha New Jersey/New York Mom Bloggers Visit the Martha Stewart Show!

Mom Generations is giving away a one year supply of Scott towels and bath products!

Win a Leapfrog Tag Reader by submitting your Halloween Money Saving Tips

Thanks to Leapfrog, Classy Mommy has the opportunity to giveaway my daughter's favorite new educational toy - the Leapfrog Tag Reading System. Value $50. And if you read my review of the Leapfrog Tag Reading System, you'll see both my husband and I are huge enthusiasts as well.

And since I covet the Leapfrog Tag Reader like I do, I'm asking my readers to get a little creative with their entries as I'm putting a Halloween spin on this one.

Halloween and the autumn season, cooling temperatures, brilliant foliage, and festive decor that come with it have been my favorite since I was a little girl. I think this stems from the fact that my birthday is the day after Halloween - and as a kid I can remember anticipating my birthday during the Fall as both my birthday and Halloween inched closer and closer.

For your chance to win, please submit your favorite money saving Halloween tips n tricks. Think craft ideas, recipes, decor, or costume inspirations. I can't wait to see you ideas. I will compile a list to share with everyone after the contest ends. You can enter as many comments as you like. Please only put 1 tip per comment. Winner must be a US Resident. All entries must be received by midnight October 1st. Note: include your contact email if it is not visible in your profile - otherwise I can not contact you if you win. Your email will not be used for any other purpose but to notify you if you win!

Video Tour of the Wynn in Las Vegas

Thanks to Walmart's 11 Moms campaign, I was sponsored to attend the Blog World Expo 2008 in Las Vegas. Jenn from Frugal Upstate and I had shared this insanely gorgeous and luxurious room at the Wynn. Take a tour of our crazy fabulous room with a view from the 54th floor!

Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary DVD Giveaway

Win it! Thanks to Walt Disney Home Entertainment, we're giving away 3 copies to 3 lucky winners of the 50th anniversary Platinum edition of Sleeping Beauty which will be released on October 7th, 2008.

Kenzie is obsessed with all kinds of princesses as she is almost turning 3 and Sleeping Beauty is no exception. She actually has a 1 official princess costume -which just happens to be a Sleeping Beauty velour and satin dress - and she is ADDICTED to it. We actually have to set limits on when and where she is allowed to wear this get up...... if she had her way she'd wear it 24/7 - and the real issue here is that I must admit - when dressed as a Princess she sometimes adopts a bit of a princess persona as well! Needless to say, we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of Sleeping Beauty on DVD and I know we will love comparing our storybook version to the movie!

To win, leave a comment on this post by September 30, 2008. US RESIDENTS only. Note: Include your email address if you do not have visible contact information in your profile. I won't use your email address for anything or share it with anyone - but if you don't leave it I can't contact you as a winner! Lately this has been happening again and again, and I have to pick another winner....

Ode to the Gods of Separation Anxiety

I'm about to embark on a trip to Las Vegas to attend Blog World 2008 and I couldn't be more excited. Walmart is sponsoring me and I'll have a fabulous time networking and learning. Unfortunately, I also couldn't be more nervous about leaving this little Mama's boy behind. In the last 5 days he seems to have developed defined separation anxiety. He'll do fine with Daddy for the next few days, but I know I am his comfort. And today I even need to leave him with our new sitter so I can depart for the airport. I wish I could tell you how I felt my heartbreaking 20 minutes ago when I put him down for his nap - knowing that he will wake up with no clue why Mommy is away. No words can describe it.

So please let him do okay without me today. Please. Please. Please. If I was a praying kind of girl I'd say a prayer. But I'm not. So instead, I'll hope the gods of separation anxiety will go easy on this little boy and let him quickly forget that Mommy is absent.

When I hold him he sucks his little thumb - and when he is playing on the floor or at a playgroup - he will explore and then crawl back to my lap for reassurance - along with doing a head dive into my lap along with a quick cozy thumb suck. Then as quick as he found me he'll be off again crashing over blocks and perusing new treasures from the toy bin.

I know Kenzie will be loving my time away as I'm sure Daddy will treat everyone to the playground, fairs, ice cream, pizza and the joyous Chuck E. Cheese adventure! My daughter never seemed to have this "dependence" on me - even as a baby. Maybe it was because she was such a Daddy's girl or maybe it was just her nature to rely on me less. It is fascinating to see the differences in my two children as they hit their developmental milestones comparatively and as they develop their own quirks and personalities.

I feel like Kyle's need for Mommy comes from the sheer fact that as baby # 2 I feel like the both of us were thrown into this ocean of life together since everyone else is so occupied with the games, jokes, fun, drama, and endless conversations with his vivacious older sister. My intuition is that from Kyle's first days, he has sensed that I am his safety net - his life jacket - his comfort - his mother. Such is a mother's love. I suspect that he senses the world around him does not revolve around him - but that he has one person who will stop the world as best as she can - to feed him, to hold him, to play with him, to worry about him, and to kiss his endless boo boo's as he stumbles about while always trying to do more crawling, climbing, or cruising, than he is quite ready for in his efforts to keep up with his exuberant sister.

I wonder if other Moms with more than one child - or even a half a dozen feel the bonding is dependent on the birth order? Or is it something else entirely?

Wordless Wednesday: Splish Splash

Giveaway: 102 Dalmations LIVE starring Glenn Close

And here is Classy Mommy's FINAL Dalmation giveaway. Enter all 3 below!

Win it! We're giving away 3 copies of the recently released 102 Dalmatians LIVE dvd starring Glenn Close. Value $ 22. The kids will be watching this dvd this weekend when I'm away at Blog World - I think Kenzie will adore the real doggies but be pretty nervous about Cruella De Ville!

To win, leave a comment on this post by September 22, 2008. US RESIDENTS only.Note: Include your email address if you do not have visible contact information in your profile. I won't use your email address for anything or share it with anyone - but if you don't leave it I can't contact you as a winner! Lately this has been happening again and again, and I have to pick another winner....

Giveaway: 101 Dalmations LIVE starring Glenn Close

I promised lots of Dalmation giveaways! Here's another!

Win it! We're giving away 3 copies of the recently released 101 Dalmatians LIVE dvd starring Glenn Close. Value $ 22. We are very excited to see how we all enjoy the "LIVE" version of 101 Dalmations as compared to the original animated version. I think Kenzie will adore the real doggies but be pretty nervous about Cruella De Ville!

To win, leave a comment on this post by September 22, 2008. US RESIDENTS only.
Note: Include your email address if you do not have visible contact information in your profile. I won't use your email address for anything or share it with anyone - but if you don't leave it I can't contact you as a winner! Lately this has been happening again and again, and I have to pick another winner....

Cupcake Club Alarm Clock Giveaway

Classy Mommy is excited to share this hip and retro giveaway with you to celebrate the launch of the Cupcakes Club. Cupcakes are hip, Cupcakes are happening, and now Every Girl Is A Cupcake at The Cupcakes Club!

Sign your kids up for FREE membership to a website that is wholesome and girl friendly, with a sweet center bursting with fun and games, contests, advice and regular updates on what’s happening to the girls from The Cupcakes Club book series. It’s all safely monitored for parental peace of mind and the best part–it’s free!

To thank you for signing up and to help you wake up with a smile, The Cupcakes Club along with Classy Mommy is giving away this fun Cupcakes Club Clock with "Deeeelicious" alarm voice. Clock face approx. 4″ in diameter, body approx. 7″ tall. $19.99 value.

Classy Mommy and the Cupcakes club will giveaway 1 clock to a lucky winner who leaves a comment here by Tuesday September 23rd, 2008. US Residents Only.

Giveaway: 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure DVD

Win it! We're giving away 3 copies of the 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure animated dvd. Enter for your chance to win 1 of 3 copies of this dvd. Value $ 22.

Kenzie adored 101 Dalmations so we can't wait to see this latest adventure in London. Right now there are 3 varied versions of the beloved 101 Dalmations hitting the street - and we are anxious to see all of them - and we're going to be giving away copies of all 3 dvds - so be sure to enter each giveaway if you are fan of these beloved canines!

To win, leave a comment on this post by September 21st ,2008. US RESIDENTS only.

Note: Include your email address if you do not have visible contact information in your profile. I won't use your email address for anything or share it with anyone - but if you don't leave it I can't contact you as a winner! Lately this has been happening again and again, and I have to pick another winner....

Kenzie's 1st Road Race!

Appears Kenzie is anxious to follow in the footsteps of her parents - with her recent decision to run the Kiddie race for those 4 & under (she is 2 !) at her Dad's race last weekend. She loved hanging with her girlfriends and the race number along with the medal at the end of the race was thrilling - although it looks like she might be a bit competitive as she seriously got nervous and utlra quiet before and after the race. Quiet is not her personality - I admit she takes after me in the talkative category! She was a bit confused about the entire "Run to the cone - and then run around it and come back to the finish line" instructions. She continued to pass the cone and head down the alley towards a McDonald's - the race director had to physically chase her down and turn her around. Good times!

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Abby in Wonderland DVD Giveaway!

Win it! We're giving away 5 copies of Sesame Street's Abby in Wonderland DVD to 5 lucky Classy Mommy readers.

We fell in love with Abby Cadabby the very first time we saw her on Sesame Street - and now we are sooooo very anxious to see her and Elmo have a fantastical fairy tale adventure in this new DVD, Abby in Wonderland, to hit the street on 9/30/08.

To win, leave a comment here by 9/30/08 - and you must be a US resident to win. NOTE: Please include your email address in your comment if it is NOT visible on your profile page so I can contact you if you win. The email will not be used for any other purpose but to let you know if you win! I can't tell you how many times we pick a winner - only to realize we can't contact them so I need to select another lucky comment.

Wordless Wednesday: Mini Ice Cream Cone Delight

We love these mini ice cream cones! Nana introduced us to these after seeing them at our local grocery store. Totally amazing for kids as they are just the right size and only 5 calories. Kenzie devours and delights in every single bite! I'm crazy for these mini cones too!

Save 20% on Ringling Bros Circus Tickets with Coupon Code!

Hooray the circus is coming to town! And I've got a 20% coupon code for Ringling Bros. to share with my readers thanks to Mom Central.

I can remember going to my first circus when I was about 3 or 4 years old - peanuts, flames of fire, and elephants seem to stick out in my mind! I can't wait to take Mackenzie and Kyle in the next year when the circus hits the Philadelphia region again.

Right now, you can save 20% on Ringling Bros. Circus tickets with the code MCC in the following cities.

The code MCC is valid for the circus shows in the following cities:

Indianapolis, IN - Sept. 4-7, 2008

Kansas City, MO - Sept. 10-14, 2008

Grand Rapids, MI - Sept. 18-21, 2008

Denver, CO - Oct. 2-13, 2008

Boston, MA – Oct. 8-13, 2008

Cleveland, OH - Oct. 24 - Nov. 2

Chicago, IL - Nov. 6 - 30, 2008

St. Louis, MO - Nov. 6-9, 2008

Auburn Hills, MI - Nov. 12 - 16, 2008

Highland Heights, KY - Feb 27 - Mar. 1, 2009

Cincinnati, OH - Mar. 4 - 8, 2008

Weekly Web Round Up

These top posts from across the Mom Blog world highlight some hot giveaways, product reviews, advice, tips and more.

Mom Generations is giving away 2 Essie "Cocktail Hour" nail polish bottles! !

Boston Mamas: Poufy Perfection If you've got a girly girl in the house, she'll be sure to love the stylish balloon skirts at hip & tickle.

Mission: Dinnertime Now that schedules have kicked into high gear, moms need a little help getting dinner on the table. Relish is an online resource that helps you save money as you plan a week's worth of meals, as well as provides grocery lists, recipes and more!

MomFinds: Win a $200 Shopping Spree at PicStreet.com Choose from home décor and fashion accessories such as photo pillows, photo jewelry, photo handbags, photos on acrylic and more.

Moms Buzz: Checking Homework - PNP Method Here is a quick tip about checking homework. If you did not know, PNP stands for “Positive-Negative-Positive”. Learn how it works.

Jodi from The Mindful Moms explains how to create a balance sheet.

Kick-butt Vacuum is a Big Hit! Christine and her family review the Dyson DC25.... "Vacuuming is fun!"

Savvy Housewife America At Home Custom Book Cover Contest Great contest for a beautiful custom cover photography book that is the mastermind of TIME and National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan.

Sweet! Leeanthro was stunned to see the new campaign claiming that HFCS is good for us.