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Costume Supercenter

August 29, 2010 By Kailani Leave a Comment

Recently, we posted a review of an online costume shop called Costume Discouters. Well, they’re also a part of another cool site called Costume Supercenter where you can find quality costumes at affordable prices for everyone in your family.

Here’s what our member’s had to say:

E=MC2: Since I don’t intend to make this [Princess Wildflower] an actual Halloween costume, and plan on adding it to the dress-up trunk, I checked out the stitching and durability pretty carefully. Although there are lots of raw edges throughout the costume, the stitching is strong and it should last my very active, very creative girls a nice, long time. That’s what we like in this household: durability!

All Because Two People Fell In LOVE: [My daughter] FINALLY picked the adorable Wonder Woman Costume! I was amazed at all of the extras that this costume came with! I usually send more on all of the extras that I spend on the costume alone! This Deluxe Wonder Woman costume included her red and blue dress with a gold vinyl belt, a separate cape, boot tops, a PVC headpiece, and a set of cuffs.

A Mom of 2 Dancers Reviews: Once I had my selection,  I was shipped the costume speedy quick.  I was surprised at how fast it arrived.  It was sent just like how you buy them in the store, in the plastic hanging bag.  It was shipped in a tyvek envelope.  These are the best thing for shipping clothes in, they do not get wet and they are really hard to tear open. The costume is a great quality, that will last for years. Customer service is excellant.  Plus the huge selection and great pricing is hard to beat.  On top of that, they offer free returns and exchanges.  You can’t fail when buying from Costume Supercenter.

A Nut in a Nutshell: The costume fits in a flattering way without being too clingy or too short, which I was initially worried about because I like to be more modest on Halloween than many other young ladies. As far as sizing, I ordered one size up from what the size chart recommended. I wear a 2 or 3, which translates to an XS on their charts, but I ordered a small. The dress has an interesting boat neck/cowl collar and some gold detailing at the sleeves to make it more special. Although the fabric is definitely man-made, it’s not see-through, so I don’t have to worry about fussing with special undergarments.

Mommy’s Free Time: First, I loved the material the [Super Girl] costume was made of. It can be cold in late October and I loved that this costume was long sleeved and looked like it would keep you warm but not hot. Second, the boot covers were awesome. I remember last year I had the worse time finding shoes to match with my daughter’s outfit. These covers simply fit over your shoes.

Confessions of an Overworked Mom: This year I totally fell in love with this Asian Princess Costume.  Isn’t it gorgeous?  I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the quality of this costume.  The kimono costume includes the dress in a beautiful butterfly print, the pink obi (belt) and the pretty flower headpiece.  It’s available in sizes toddler, small and medium.  It’s made of polyester and looks so cute and authentic!  At $24.99 it’s very affordable and can be used both for Halloween or for dress up play. It would work wonderfully as a homeschool aid when you study Asian culture.

Cool Baby Kid: We tried out the Pink Punk Pirate Toddler costume after deciding on a pirate theme for the family.  More recently I purchased a 2nd pirate costume, this one for our toddler boy, and choose Costume Supercenter for the purchase for a few reasons:
Competitive Price and Sale! (Currently 15% off a $25 purcahse), Huge Selection, Free Shipping on Product Exchanges, Free Size Exchanges, Free Replacement on Shipping Errors/Damaged Goods, & Lots of shipping options including same day shipping.

Leslie’s Life: I have a lot of good things to say about this costume: It’s flippin’ adorable!!, it’s very light weight and breathable, which is perfect for layering clothes underneath dependent on the weather, it makes Haylee look JUST like Jesse with amazing details all the way down to Jesse’s hairbow, and the best of all, Haylee loves it! My only negative is, we had one heck of a time getting it off of her wrists. The holes for her hands are WAY too small and I have a feeling I’ll end up having to make some cuts in it for Halloween.

Tethered Mommy: [Our monkey] costume is made of a soft brown material.  It is almost like microsuede – really that soft.  I also love that this is not too heavy of a material as Halloween can go in direction weather-wise around here.  It’s lighter-weight but not too much so.  It’s also very well constructed – this costume could definitely hold up to many instances of dress up.

The B That Keeps Us Honest: Over all the quality of the costume is what I would expect, not something he would wear all the time but is built sturdy enough to withstand an active toddler. It should also be noted that the costume in the package differs slightly from the image on the package and on the website. Honestly, I like what is in the package better, it’s suited better for a toddler and actually looks to be a better quality than the image. Finally, the costume, with the except of the glasses, runs a little small so if you aren’t sure what size to get go one size bigger. Jude just turned 2 years old and it fits him perfectly.

Here are even more reviews by our members:

Filed Under: Family, Fashion, babies, kids, men, reviews, women

Costume Discounters

August 23, 2010 By Kailani

Can you believe that Halloween is just around the corner? My kids love to dress-up and start making their costume plans from the beginning of the year. Of course, they usually have a whole list of people they’d like to be and narrowing it down can be very difficult. For me, the easiest thing to do is just visit an online costume store and let them make their choices. This year, we’re going with Costume Discounters.

COMPANY GUARANTEE

We guarantee that Costume Discounters offers the lowest costume prices on the Internet. We’re so confident that we have the lowest prices, we offer our Lowest Price Guarantee. If you find the identical costume elsewhere within 10 days of purchase, we will match the costume price and take off an additional 20%.

OUR REVIEW

Some very lucky FRN members had the opportunity to review a costume of their choice from Costume Discounters. Here’s what they had to say:

Faithfully Frugal and Free: The quality of this dress really shocked me! Usually toddler costumes can look so cheap, but this looks just like the real deal! My two favorite things about this costume are; the wings (they are ultra soft, not hard and stiff like most wings), and the neck detail! It adds so much to the overall look of the dress! We could not be happier with this dress!

Misadventures in Baby Raising: If you know me IRL then chances are you know that I normally prefer homemade costumes to store bought, BUT Costume Discounters and my sons adorable Woody costume made my change the way I think about that! The Toy Story 3 Woody costume has got to be the cutest costume that I have ever seen, from the boots and gun holster to the most adorable cowboy hat ever! I was actually surprised by the quality of the fabric, it’s soft and not at all itchy and uncomfortable (like most seem to be) and it is incredibly durable.

Mommy Living the Life of Riley!: Our Deluxe Plush Elmo Costume from Costume Discounters was really well-made and of a very high quality. The short red fur looked very believable and there were no rips or tears in her costume. All of the seams were sewn securely and nothing appeared like it would begin falling apart once the costume was worn. I especially liked how heavy duty the zipper on the front of the costume was.

Thanks, Mail Carrier: Already a big fan of Clifford, she was more than excited to step right in to this plush outfit and take on being such a fun character. I was happy to see that the fabric was extremely soft and durable (and washable!) and the addition of the padded head and front paws made this much better quality than I have seen in the past.

The Mom Buzz: I have to say… I really like [my Jedi costume]. It’s a simple, brown, long, thin robe. I think the Jedis would approve. I wouldn’t want anything heavier for everyday play or a warm Halloween. I think Costume Discounters goes above and beyond to make sure you are happy with your purchase! Plus their selection is unbeatable for Halloween or just imaginative play clothes.

Night Owl Mama: The plastic is not cheap and it feels really sturdy not at all like the cheap plastic like when we were kids, or as my 4 yr old would say ” This is COOL, just like the racers use mom!” It only took him a brief 20 sec to get fully unclothed to try on the costume when I pulled it out of the bag. I swear I never saw him get undressed so fast. I was a little worried that the costume didn’t have a large enough area for him to step into but it was quickly proven wrong. Not only does it stretch but there was room to grow too. I’m very impressed with the costume quality.

Rockin’ Mama: Can I let you in on a little secret?  I had to put the costume away because my son wants to dress up as Buzz for school…and the grocery store…and at bedtime.  The costume is adorable and includes a jumpsuit with attached chest piece, hood, and shin guards.  It is made from 100% polyester, which means that it will keep kids warm during the fall.  I like the fact that it’s lightweight, since many costumes are bulky and uncomfortable.  The costume is an authentic Disney costume.  My son completed the look with his Talking Woody Doll.

A Frugal Friend: My 3-year old is always in the 90th percentile in height and we ordered a small, which fits sizes 4-6. It fits perfectly. It’s made of a heavier fleece type material which will be wonderful if it’s cold outside (I’m praying for Texas to actually have an autumn this year instead of skipping from summer to winter)! The quality – I have to give the costume a thumbs up as this is the best costume I’ve ordered so far for my daughter. It’s the best made, with secure buttons and all. No shortcuts here and no flimsy material either. I’m quite impressed.

So stop by Costume Discounters for all your costume needs. They have the widest selection at affordable prices.

Here are more great FRN reviews:

Filed Under: Family, Fashion, babies, kids, reviews

Family Review Network Continues On….

November 26, 2009 By Shannon

Family Review Network ImageFamily Review Network was established by Kailani (An Island Life).  I had the opportunity to join the review team a few months ago and was ecstatic when I was told there was an opening and I could now join!  I had the opportunity to participate in reviews and giveaways for some amazing companies!

I, along with the rest of the Review Team, received an email a few days ago from Kailani saying that she could no longer perform her duties as Executive Editor for Family Review Network and it was going to close down.  I was so sad when I read this.  I had just joined and it was closing down.  I talked to my husband about it and he suggested that I talk to Kailani about taking her place as Executive Editor.

I immediately sent an email to her and asked her.  She was happy to turn it over and was happy that Family Review Network would continue on.  Once the official email went out to the former editors and reviewers, I began making a few changes here and there to the site.

You’ll notice that you can now subscribe to Family Review Network via email – located in the right sidebar at the top.  This is a great tool and something I personally use on all of the blogs I follow.  It’s easy to sign up.  Each day, you will be emailed a listing of the posts written the day before.  You can click on the title of the post and you will be directed to the post itself.

We also have a new team of editors, including Caryn (Rockin Mama), Tammi (My Organized Chaos), and myself (The Mommy-Files)!  Plus, we already have 30 reviewers!  Wow!

There will be a limited amount of time where you can sign up as an editor.  Fill out the Contact Form and provide your name, email, blog name, and blog address.

If you are a PR Rep or Company Representative, we would love to work with you!  We have several confident and enthusiastic bloggers ready and willing to try out your products and write up a review on their experiences.  Please fill out the Review Request Form!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Welcome to Family Review Network!

Filed Under: Family, featured, reviews

Bed Bouquet

October 30, 2009 By Andrea

It’s not at all uncommon for folks nowadays to have many various home fragrance products in use in their house at one time. There are candles, of course, and room sprays, potpourri, sachets…name an area of your home and chances are someone has invented a product to make it smell good! And that includes your bed. While there are already sprays and other fresheners on the market that are made to scent linens, there’s a new product that is unlike anything ever seen before. It’s called Bed Bouquet, and it keeps your bed smelling fresh without having an overpowering scent, and also without any oils or chemicals touching your skin or your bed sheets! Sound great? There’s more! Bed Bouquet is really easy to use: just peel off the tabs on the front and back and stick it directly under your fitted sheet. You can place it near your head if you like a stronger fragrance, or near the middle or foot of the bed for a more subtle experience. This product is made specifically so that it won’t be felt by users when they lay on it in bed at night. I know I never felt mine!

Bed Bouquet comes in four scents: Citrus, Lavender &Vanilla, Linen Fresh, and Jasmine and White Rose. Each Bed Bouquet lasts for up to 30 days.

Several of our bloggers recently had the chance to test out Bed Bouquet for themselves. Here’s what they thought of the product:

Forgetfulone: I love anything with fragrance that will keep my sheets or room smelling fresh. I even put one on my son’s bed, and he hasn’t even noticed it’s there, but you can tell there is a subtle fragrance to his sheets.

Maria’s Space: I placed it near my shoulders and over the past two nights I can smell it. It is still subtle but the smell is there. I had actually forgotten that it was there last night. When I went to bed (it was late), I remembered when I got a whiff as I rolled over.

3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires: I think Bed Bouquet is a product for anyone from tweens to college students to adults. It is a good alternative to using fabric softener sheets on your bed and messy linen sprays. A Bed Bouquet packet would definitely make a unique stocking stuffer for the holidays.

A Simple Kinda Life: I love waking up to the Linen Fresh scent – it’s not too strong and it’s a great scent. I’m sure I’ll love the Citrus scent just as much, after the Linen Fresh scent wears out in 3 more weeks! (Each product lasts for about 30 days.)

Lisa Reviews: You put the Bed Bouquet unit above the top mattress and beneath the fitted sheets. It’s not anything you actually will notice once you are in bed (besides the wonderful smell).  We also tend to end up with a 5 year old and a 2 year old in our bed, and they haven’t been bothered by it either.

Nerdfamily Things: It is really rather simple to use. It is a thin little packet that has little vent holes on one side and an adhesive strip on the other. You just place it in between the mattress pad and the sheet. Then stick it to the mattress pad. The amount of smell you desire will effect the placement: more smell put it under your pillow, less down by the foot of your bed. We used the linen scent and it was very nice!

A Couch With A View: Though it wasn’t time for bed, I curled up in my spot to check it out and see if it smelled through the sheet… sure enough, it was the perfect strength and it smelled lovely! And lasting about 30 days, I won’t have to worry about it again for a few more weeks!

Robyn’s Online World: I did not read the instructions at first (that is honestly unusual for me) and I put it under his mattress pad and such. After moving it to just below his fitted sheet we finally noticed a very gently scent. Not overpowering at all.

A Nut in a Nutshell: I liked the idea when I set out to review this, but I was very leery about it because I’m sensitive to scents. If they’re too strong, I’ll get an instant headache. I tried the linen fresh scent first and put it at the foot of the bed. Surprisingly, I felt as if I wanted more scent. So I moved it up to the head of the bed between the two pillows.

Tara’s View of the World: The Bed Bouquet is quite easy to use- simply peel off the tab on the front exposing the fragrance vents and then peel off the back and stick it on your mattress, underneath your fitted sheet. Where you place the Bed Bouquet dictates how strong the scent will be- the closer to your head you place it the stronger the scent will be.

She Scribes: I just think that due to the fact that I always have something scented in my home that maybe I’m just accustomed to more stronger scents. Bed Bouquet is very light. Some people enjoy a hint of a scent where as I think I need a more bolder scent.

All Because Two People Fell in LOVE: The Bed Bouquet was super easy to apply! They really do smell great, and do a great job of keeping our sheets smelling fresh and clean. Our Bed Bouquet has been on for over a week now and our sheets still smell great! Since the Bed Bouquet makes no contact with the skin I knew it would be safe to use on my kid’s beds as well!

The Clan McLeod:  The scent is gentle and refreshing, yet not overpowering. Like a lot of scent? Place it about where your shoulders lay. Want a little less? Place about midway in the bed. I like mine a bit past midway but not quite to the shoulders. And, it really does last about 30 days. And, it really does stick and stay there! And, no, you can’t tell it’s there unless you are looking for it!

Something Snappy: I found that this worked best at the top of the mattress between the pillows. This allowed both DH and I to enjoy the Fresh Linen fragrance. I put the citrus one on Sierra’s bed and she too enjoyed the wonderful, but not overpowering aroma.

Angela’s Analysis:  I LOVED the fresh linen the best, it is wonderful!  Every night when I get in bed I have this fresh scent.  Life is so full of stress, bed bouquet is such a simple way to just pamper yourself a little.  There is no skin contact either so it elimantes skin irritations.

The Post-It Place: I started out with my Bed Bouquet near the head of the mattress. Well, that was a little too strong for me so I placed it in the middle of the mattress which turned out to be perfect. I think as the days go by and the fragrance pack isn’t as strong I will be able to move it up…but for at least the first week mine will always go in the middle.

Filed Under: Family, household, reviews Tagged With: bedroom, Family, home, home fragrance, household

Rummino

October 29, 2009 By Andrea

Does your family have a regular Family Game Night? Would you Like to? Would you like a fun game that the whole family can play? How about a game that costs less than $20? If the answer to any of these questions was yes, then you should definitely try Rummino from Marina Games! This game will provide hours of fun, competitive and otherwise, for any family who enjoys a great game!

Rummino is suggested for ages 8 and up, but many of our reviewers thought that kids even younger could likely play with a little help. If you’re familiar with Rummy, you should catch on to Rummino very quickly, but even those who have never played Rummy have a lot of fun with this game once they get the hang of it! Rummino requires two to six players, so it would be perfect for family gatherings or game nights!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Rummino is a whole new way to play Rummy! Combining the game play of Rummy with the strategy of word tile games, Rummino is a one of a kind master strategy game for the whole family. The object is to get the highest score at the end of the game. Each player draws 7 tiles and plays them off the sets and runs already on the table. Earn points for every tile you add-on to a run or set. Get a two way run and earn extra points. Finish off a run or set and double or triple your points for that play. The perfect game for family game night, Rummino is easy to learn and fun for the whole family to play! With its ease of learning combined with the strategy involved, this game keeps everyone entertained from the 8 year old learning to play games to the skilled adults desiring a challenge. Watch your opponents moan and groan as you use one tile to score 36 points! Gather your buddies, gather your family, gather all your gaming friends and play Rummino today!

Several of our reviewers had the opportunity to review Rummino recently. Here’s what they had to say:

Maria’s Space: Fun, easy to learn, and I am dying to play again! That basically sums up a good game to me. The only problem I had was that you really need a tile holder. You have to keep your tiles a secret from the enemy other player. It is nearly impossible to keep the tiles from falling over and letting your enemy friend see your tiles.

The Clan McLeod: We had a blast playing Rummino! It was hard to get started and we all had loads of questions, even after reading the rules of play, which we found a bit confusing and not quite clear enough. However, once we actually got going, we figured it out as we went and we all really enjoyed playing, from my 9 year old daughter to Grandpa! Kristin, my 9 year old, beat us all and loved it!

All Because Two People Fell in LOVE: I really appreciate that they included a bag for the tiles. We have a bit of a hard time keeping up with game pieces at our house so the bag is perfect! It also makes storage and transporting the game tons easier. We loved the big tiles, which made it easier for little ones to handle.

She Scribes: I’m giving Rummino a “two thumbs up”. It’s a fun game that engages both children and adults. I like that it’s challenging and does require some thought more so then skill.

Mama Sparkles: At first when I saw all the letter tiles, I worried that it would be too much like Scrabble. I’m a horrible Scrabble player because I tend to get too caught up in making long, creative words rather than focusing on making a lot of points. Thankfully, Rummino is nothing like that. There are no words to create, so I could just concentrate on getting lots of points!

Mudpies and Mary Janes: The game is for ages 8 and up, but my daughter, who is a little younger, picked the game up fairly quickly. The only problem that she had was keeping her tiles from falling down. We quickly remedied that problem by using our scrabble tile holders.

A Couch with a View: Rummino has been an awesome addition to our game collection and a must needed, well deserved break from the crazyness of everyday. Though it took us a minute to get used to the new rules and regulations of Rummino, we quickly caught on and before we knew it, we had played 3 rounds of it!!

Rockin’ Mama: The game is fun, challenging, and won’t get tiresome or boring. It’s relatively easy to learn yet provides enough challenge for my husabnd and I got get a bit competitive.  I like the weaving of a traditional card game that people know and love with a tile game.  There is a familiar yet fresh feel to this game that I really appreciate.

The Post-It Place: It took us a little while to get going good but once we did we all loved Rummino. The only bad thing I can say is that I wish they had a little clearer directions, other than that, it is tons of fun and your family will love adding this game to their Family Game Night. We did eventually figure it all out after a round or two, and after that it was all fun ahead. We have dragged some family friends in to play and now have them as addicted to the game as we are…but I figure that once they have the chance to beat me, they will forgive me.

A Nut in a Nutshell: We’ve never even played a game of Rummy, so I wondered if we’d have a clue what we were doing. It took us a bit to get the hang of it, but once we did, we really had a great time. In fact, we got pretty darn competitive in an I love you but I’m totally going to kick your butt in this game way.

The Power of Housewife Word of Mouth: Last weekend I had to work at the gym running a birthday party so the girls and two of their friends occupied themselves with their newest game of choice Rummino (…) They were more interested in playing several rounds than getting involved in helping me run the birthday party. I love that our family game night now has another game added in to our rotation and I know we will be playing it for years to come.

An Island Life: All you need to play Rummino are the actual tiles (and instructions with pen/paper to keep score as we highly competitive people like to do). You can actually store everything in the drawstring bag and toss the square box it came in if you lack storage (like we do). The drawstring bag makes it the practical and easy way to transport this game for game night with friends and family, or in the suitcase for a family vacation.

Angela’s Analysis: My husband and I have always enjoyed playing the card game rum,  so we were excited to try this.   It is a fun game,  it doesn’t take you long to really get into it and it is a game your older children could play with you for sure.  The tiles are a really nice size with big letters so they are easy to see.  I’m not sure the younger kids would get it all but some might.

Sassy Frazz: Scoring is a point per tile played, but you can score points either horizontally or vertically. It is possible to get over 20 points in one turn, and if you can use all your tiles, you get a Rummino (scoring an additional 20 points). This game is super fun, and I am happy to have it in our collection of games.

Wish List Worthy: Do you enjoy games in your home as well? If you do, this is one that is worth checking out. Don’t let the simplicity of play fool you though, it’s a game that can be both challenging and entertaining every time you play!

Something Snappy: Sierra doesn’t like to play cards much yet as her little hands have a harder time holding them but she dove right in to Rummino! and was a master in no time! The game is recommended for children 8and over but Sierra had no issues with understanding the concept and the numbers and letters on the tiles so I think kids even younger could play this with no problems. And dh and I have found that we can really get cutthroat playing it by ourselves – it’s a great strategic game for all levels!

Happy Healthy Families: Rummino, by Marina Games is kind of like a cross between Rummy and Scrabble. I found it to be challenging and fun, especially after we all got the hang of it. Rummino is recommended for ages 8 , but I have to say that my two munchkin boys have their own fun with the tiles matching and guessing the letters.

Nerdfamily Things: Here at the NerdFamily House we are huge gamers. To the point that NerdDad and I spend some of our date nights playing board games;). So I was excited when we received our copy of Rummino to review. It is a rummy dominoes game. This game is great because people of all different skill can play it and it can become as easy or as hard as you can make it. So everyone in the family can play it!

Just a Mom’s Take on Things: One thing I do really like about this game is that you can play it with as much or as little strategy as you want, depending on who you’re playing with. And it’s practically a new game every time you play, because you start off and build on new sets of tiles every time. Even my 3-year-old has fun drawing tiles and finding the matches to build sets – even if she doesn’t really know that’s what she’s doing.

The Angel Forever: We put all of the tiles back and started again. This time, we were a bit more competitive. We knew what we were doing and sat there trying to use major strategy to rack up our points. The game lasted for quite some time, but it was a lot of fun. Both TechyDad and I commented today that if we do indeed get rid of our cable television we will have more time to play Rummino and our other cleverly hidden games from the past.

Brimful Curiosities: At first, I thought Rummino sounded relatively simple, but it does require quite a bit of thought and strategy. My husband and I sat down one night and tried it out. It took us a few practice times and several glances at the rules before we caught on. Once you get the hang of it though, the game gets easier. Like they say, practice makes perfect.

The Mommy Files : The game is simple and fun!  The object of the game is to get the highest score.  Each player draws 7 tiles and plays them off the sets and runs already on the table.  Earn points for every tile you “add-on” to a run or set.  Get a two way run and earn extra points.  Finish off a run or set and double or triple your points for the play.

Filed Under: Family, entertainment, games, reviews Tagged With: board and strategy games, Family, family game night, games, reviews

K9 Cuisine

September 24, 2009 By Andrea

Nowadays, it’s common for pets to be treated just like other members of the family, which I think is just fine. Pets do so much for us, why not treat them as well as we can? If you’re in to pampering your furry friends, you’ll love K9 Cuisine!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTON

At K9 Cuisine, we know how you feel about your pet. We understand that you want to provide your canine companion with the healthiest food for a long, happy life. So we offer only the highest quality dog supplies.

When you order from K9 Cuisine, you can be assured you’ll receive not only quick, courteous service, but also healthy, high-quality food and treats. We do not sell products that contain additives or preservatives, or ingredients that may otherwise be harmful to your dog. Many of the brands we carry use human-grade ingredients.

We have a passion for dogs, and we want to share our knowledge. We fully explain each product and provide a complete list of all ingredients so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Only fresh, high-quality foods and treats are sold here, and we can tell you the benefits of each product. We love our pets as much as you love yours, and we only sell those brands that meet our highest standards.

If you’re looking to give your pet the best food for a long and happy life, you’ve found the right place. At K9 Cuisine, we’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.

PRODUCT REVIEWS

A few of our reviewers had the chance to test some great products from K9 Cuisine (along with the help of their four-legged family members, of course!). Here’s what they had to say:

Something Snappy: Customer service was super fast and friendly – when they were out of an item that I ordered, I received a phone call within minutes of placing my order with a suggestion for a substitution. I was so impressed at that as well as the fast shipping. AND they offer free shipping on all orders over $50! I am delighted to be a k9cuisine.com customer for life!

Sassy Frazz: Lena eats the food as if it tasted like candy. She anxiously waits by her dish each day to get more. What I love most about K9 Cuisine’s premium dog food is that it is made with natural foods, and not fillers or chemicals. K9 Cuisine cares about what our pets eat, and I appreciate that my dog gets the best with their products! It is a special bonus that Lena loves their food, too. She leads me to believe she is starving…because she eats the food so quickly.

Angela’s Analysis!: K9 offers FREE shipping on orders over $50 too! They even offer Gluten Free foods! Best of all 95% of more orders are shipped the same day, I couldn’t believe how fast my order came.

She Scribes: Another great think about K9 Cuisine that I really enjoyed is that they offer A LOT of FREE samples. That way you can “try before you buy”. Depending on your order size you can order up to 10 FREE samples. I am happy I was able to do that. The FREE samples seem to change too so if there is something you are wanting to try that is not listed as a FREE sample one week it might be another week so you need to keep checking back. You also need to place an order in order to get the FREE samples.

Moody Mama Says: Before this food Cassie Mae would let her food sit for days before eating it, she just didn’t like it. Now with the Orijen dog food she is eating one cup of food every day and that tells me that she likes it. Her fur is shiny and she seems to be a happier little dog. I like that this dog food is natural and healthy with no by products. It is a little bit pricey but to me it is worth it to feed my dog something she likes and that keeps her healthy. Afterall our pets are a part of our family and they deserve the best!

Filed Under: Family, pets, reviews, websites Tagged With: Family, pet food, pets, reviews, websites

Made Here, Baby!

September 23, 2009 By Andrea

With Christmas shopping season coming up, wouldn’t it be nice to have a guide that could tell you which products would make safe, sturdy, and reliable gifts for your children? Would you love to support the U.S. economy by purchasing products that are made in America? If your answer is yes to either (or both) of these questions, you should definitely read Made Here, Baby! by Bruch H. Wolk.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

After all the recalls of Chinese-imported toys containing dangerous chemicals, parents want to know where to get products they know will be safe because they have American manufacturing standards. Plus, in the current recession more and more people are looking to support their local businesses.

Author, product developer, and proud uncle and godfather Bruce Wolk tracked down over 400 U.S. companies that produce amazing children’s products from infant moccasins from Minnesota to cribs handmade in Memphis, sustainably-built wooden sleds from Colorado to Cotton Monster’s unique plush animals in Seattle. In addition to basic company information and interesting facts, he includes notes on eco-friendly companies, family businesses, and ones that make products for children with special needs, so every parent is sure to find a product that meets their home’s needs.

BOOK REVIEWS

Several members of Family Review Network had the opportunity to read Made Here, Baby for themselves. Here’s what they had to say:

Mama Sparkles: I loved how each listing included an interesting fact about the company, such as how it started, their philosophy, or a story about the owner. These facts were interesting to read and made each company personable. In addition, each section includes an entertaining introduction in the form of an enlightening interview or personal anecdote.

A Couch with a View:  I’m sorry, but the cheap, crappy, mass manufactured trinkets just aren’t cutting it for me anymore and Made Here, Baby is pushing me in the right direction to find quality items for my monsters. This is one of those books that rank up there next to the What To Expect books for every expectant mother.

All Because Two People Fell in Love: This is a well-organized resource for anyone shopping for the little ones in their life!! It is organized by states so it makes it simple to find stores close to you! It’s very helpful and timely resource for us busy parents. It lists over 400 companies that uses only materials sourced in the USA in their products. I found it very interesting to read the sections about how the companies were started and why the founders started their companies. We highly recommend this great book as a resource for finding high quality, locally made toys and products that will keep your kids happy and healthy!

Sage and Savvy: What’s really great about this book is how you can search for companies based on various criteria, such as by the type of product they manufacture, by state, those who are eco-friendly, woman-owned, and more.

3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires: I really like that the book includes both large and small companies. I think it is very important to point out that many of the businesses that produce safe wooden and fabric children’s

products are small mom and dad businesses. They really should be commended and deserve our business.

She Scribes: I also really like that there are web sites listed so you are able to check out each company online too. I think I have about a dozen sites bookmarked thanks to this MUST HAVE book for all parents, grandparents or anyone who cares for children. It’s a great resource to have an a “go to guide” the next time you want to make a purchase.

My Sentiment ExactLee: Made Here Baby is a book that will always be in arms reach in our home. I found it to be essential to helping our economy in a difficult time. Wolk makes it easy for parents to find quality, safe products for our children that are made here in the USA.

Brimful Curiosities: I noticed several familiar companies mentioned in the book including Louisville Slugger, Step2, K’nex, Big Wheel, and Britax USA. We own a Britax carseat, and I didn’t realize it was American-made until reading Made Here, Baby! I happily found a few companies I’ve mentioned on my blog listed in the book as well: Lindenwood, Inc (maker of Uncle Goose blocks) and Northstar Toys. I highly recommended this resource for finding American-made children’s products.

Homeschooling and Loving It: We have had so many recalls and dangerous things out there being sold, it truly can be scary!  This book wants to tell you about companies that are known to be safe and well-made.  The book also contains companies that are family run, companies that are owned by women and moms and companies that care about the enviroment!

The Way I See it Too: I rarely purchase a product before I research it. It’s important for us to know how Consumer Reports and J D Powers rate the product and more importantly what other consumers have to say. For these reasons, Made Here Baby is the perfect book for us and if you feel at all as we do about your purchases, I’d wager you will like this book too.

Chocolate Fingerprints: This book would be a fantastic baby shower gift, or a gift for parents or grandparents of young children; basically anyone who has the desire to buy high-quality, American made products for babies and children.

Filed Under: Family, books, kids, reviews Tagged With: American made products, book reviews, familly

Baby Toupee

September 23, 2009 By Andrea

bob2

Whoever said that being the parent to an infant can’t be both heartwarming and hilarious? Certainly not the creators of Baby Toupee! This fun new product is sure to provide lots of laughs, and definitely some very funny baby photos, during those adorable baby months.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The mission of Santa Barbara, CA-based BabyToupee and SmallHuman, LLC is to show that while parenting can be a great responsibility it can also be a source of endless amusement. The company’s
goal is to bring creative and fun products to market that make
parenting a little more fun, all while bringing a smile to the
face of their children. Life is too short to take seriously… have
fun with your baby!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Baby Toupee makes fun baby wigs for infants, ages birth to 12 months. They offer four fun styles: The Bob, The Lil’ Kim, The Samuel L., and the Donald, each hilarious in its own right. These would make great baby shower gifts or Halloween costumes!

REVIEWS

A few lucky members of Family Review Network recently had the chance to try  Baby Toupee for themselves. Here’s what they had to say:

My Organized Chaos: The Baby Toupee would be ideal for Halloween, it’s coming up quickly!! It would also be a hoot for pictures, birthdays and family gatherings. There is 4 toupees to choose from, The Lil Kim being the best one for girls. I chuckle when I see pictures of The Donald, what a crazy comb-over!! US customers will like that Baby Toupee offers free shipping!

Mom Fuse: The baby toupee was good quality, the only problem we had was with the sizing and my son has a small head. The toupee wouldn’t even fit my daughters head which is larger than my sons. It’s a cute and funny concept, especially if you’re little one will go along with it!

Momstart: An Excellent gift idea for an expecting mom or for a baby shower. It would also be great for an upcoming candy holiday we all know and love. I do at least. I love Halloween and always have. I’m on the search though for a boy’s Halloween costume. I think Baby Toupee should expand and make some for larger babies too. Just my two scents.

Filed Under: Family, babies, reviews

Barefoot & Pregnant

July 11, 2009 By Andrea

barefoot

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was very young and extremely confused. All first time moms, especially young ones, have advice coming at them from all sides. While all parties involved are well-meaning, it can be extremely confusing for a mama-to-be. Pregnancy and childbirth involve so many decisions! Hospital or home birth? Breastfeeding or formula? To circumsize or not to circumsize? The list is endless, and the questions don’t stop after baby’s birth. If anything, they come more frequently. That’s why I love Barefoot & Pregnant, a new website dedicated to answering new and expectant parents’ every question…and then some! Barefoot & Pregnant isn’t just a very informative site, it’s also an online community where moms, dads, expectant and adoptive parents, and even grandparents can connect with other like-minded individuals. They even have a great blog.

Although I wish Barefoot & Pregnant had been around when I was pregnant, I’m so happy it’s here now! With Barefoot & Pregnant on your side, you’ll never have to feel nervous that you don’t have the answer to one of the many quandaries that motherhood throws your way!

Just a Mom’s Take on Things- I’ve spent a bit of time browsing around and checking out the Barefoot & Pregnant site, and have to say that I’m definitely impressed so far. I like how there’s a community feel right from the beginning and each category includes links to forums and groups so that if you’re looking for more interaction than just reading an article or finding a piece of information, you know exactly where to go. Registering on the site was quick and easy (and free!) and I found it easy to navigate around using the menus.

Go Graham Go!- There is a brand new online community just for new and expecting parents that you should check out when you have a moment. Barefoot and Pregnant has forums and focuses on those who are trying to conceive as well. There are several articles written by parents as well as doctors. You can check out videos as well as submit your very own videos on different topics.

Mom of 2 Dancers Reviews- Are you pregnant or trying to conceive? If so, I found a great website for you! …There are great articles, blogss and you can even contribute. Plus sections for dads, when baby first arrives & parenting. Go check it out!

Happy Healthy Families- Barefoot and Pregnant.com offers information and support for mommies and daddies to be. It is like an online manual for pregnancy. They cover everything—from getting pregnant, to adoption to surrogacy to healthy recipes and exercise. There are support groups and forums as well.

Chocolate Fingerprints- There’s a compendium of information for expectant and new and expectant moms, as well as dads, adoptive parents, and couples who are trying to conceive. There are groups and forums where you can connect with other parents or post questions in the unlikely event that you don’t find the aswers just by browsing the site. If you’re a writer or blogger, you can even contribute articles to the site!

Filed Under: Family, pregnancy, reviews, websites, women Tagged With: baby, Barefoot & Pregnant, Family, online community, parenting, pregnancy, reviews

Dirty Bow Wow – Giveaway

June 18, 2009 By Cathi
I have always been a dog lover. An a child I had a Cocker Spaniel named Blackie. Over the years, our children had numerous dogs however our Rottweiler Tazy and our German Shepherd Hunter, stand out the most. We haven’t had a dog in recent years and I truly miss the canine loyalty I enjoyed in the past.

 Dirty Bow Wow is a delightful book about dogs and the objects of their affection like Semus in the above photo. The book is full of colorful photographs of dogs and their stories like adorable Malibu. She’s a Pit Bull Terrier, who was only three months old when she was left orphaned and homeless from Hurricane Katrina. Her new mom gave her a pink pig as a “welcome to your forever family” gift, and to this day, “Pink Pig” never leaves Malibu’s side.

The authors, Cheryl and Jeffery Katz, decided to put together this wonderful tribute to man’s best friend after receiving countless letters from fans of their first book, Love Stories: A Tribute to the Threadbare. Included in many of the letters were photographs of beloved pets with their own “dirty wow wows”. The book didn’t become a reality until a year later when Cheryl and Jeffery were walking by their neighborhood dog park and realized that nearly every dog had a stuffed animal, squeaky toy, dirty tennis ball, filthy Frisbee, or frayed rope toy in their mouth, that the idea for Dirty Bow Wow was born.

Our dogs always had favorite chew toys. Unfortunately for me, Hunter’s favorite chew toy was any one of my shoes he could grab. Tazy on the other hand loved to chew my son Brian’s shoes. I was on a first name basis with the local shoe cobbler as he was constantly repairing or more accurately, rebuilding Brian’s shoes!! As Tazy grew older she was obsessed with balls and believe it or not, rocks. She would fetch anything and everything we could throw. She preferred golf balls however if none were available, she would grab a rock and bring it to anyone who would “play”!! 

 

 

Join the Dirty Bow Wow Dog Toy Drive at bookstores across the country. It’s your chance to help shelter dogs find the toy of their dreams, and hopefully a permanent, loving home. Go here to see a list of retailers who are collecting dog toy donations. Drop off a new dog toy at the location nearest you, and aid a dog in need today!

Win your own copy of Dirt Bow Wow!

To enter this giveaway:

~Leave a comment here telling us about your favorite dog.

~This giveaway will close at midnight on June 25th.

Earn extra entries:

~Subscribe to our feed.

~Place our button in your sidebar.

~Please leave a separate comment for each entry. 

Wish List Worthy: The book is a great addition to the library of any dog lover. This book is more than just a fun tribute to dogs and their toys though, it is also part of a great toy drive for the dogs who are still waiting to find forever homes in shelters. We love this book, as we are familiar with the bond between dog and toy. Baby the Maltese has two favorites that are rarely out of her sight! So, if you love dogs too, here’s a chance for you to win a copy of this fun book!

Homeschooling and Loving It!: The pictures are colorful and vibrant and each one tells a small story about the dogs favorite toy, stories of how some of the dogs have endured hard times in their past and just heartwarming stories that tug at your heart strings.  This book would be loved by all dog lovers and makes a wonderful story book for the kids.  Each one of my children ages 10, 6, and 5 have loved this book.  They will look at it over and over trying to pick the cutest dog-they change their minds everytime they look at it.  They are all so cute!

 Just a mom’s take on things…: Dirty Bow Wow is an extremely cute book with amazing photos that almost seem to leap right off of the page along with their well-worn and so loved toys. It’s something that I can sit down with my girls and read together, or just look at the pages with my 3-year-old. I don’t think it’ll satisfy their desire to have a ‘real’ dog, but it’s giving them a way to learn more about dogs and what they’re like before we take that step.

Something Snappy: As a dog lover, I was thrilled to share this book with my daughter and read the short stories about all these lovable fur ballsandtheir favorite toys. With extraordinary photography (and you KNOW that’s a huge compliment coming from ME), I truly got the sense that I knew each and every dog on the pages of Dirty Bow Wow

Go Graham Go! This beautiful book would make a perfect gift for the dog lover in your life and would also be a beautiful table top book! My favorite picture is Halle and Frisbee! It is a great action shot of a fun loving dog catching her Frisbee in mid-air! And of course, there is a special place in my heart for Malibu, a rescue dog, and his pink piggy!

Therapeutic Reviews & Giveaways: My children have always feared dogs stemming back from an incident when they were toddlers. This heartwarming book was purely a delight and restored their love for the animals. Showing the softer, gentler side of all the dogs, my youngest squealed with delight at each picture. My youngest is also the only one of my 3 kids that has had a special “blankie” since she was an infant. I think she can relate! My son loved the golden retriever, Fiona and her “Bear: best, my husband and I got a good chuckle out of Daisy and her “Stick”! My youngest adored Beau Beau and “Big Red.”

Mudpies and Mary Janes: The dog’s stories range from humorous to touching, with all being fun to read together as a family. My kids have really enjoyed the book as well, asking the names of the different breeds and laughing at some of the unique objects to which some of the dogs have become attached. Their hands down favorite is Lucy, a Puggle, laying nose to nose with her stuffed dog Doggie. Even my fourteen month old sat on the couch completely enthralled as he flipped through each page, pointing and saying “doggie“. I love that Dirty Bow Wow includes dogs that are purebred to mixed breeds, as well as those found on the street and rescued from Hurricane Katrina. I think that Dirty Bow Wow is a terrific book for people of all ages, young and old.

Sheltered Not Shattered: My boys and I enjoyed reading this book and looking at all the adorable photographs of the dog’s with their favorite objects. It even opened up discussions about different breeds of dogs. Youngest is a true animal lover and he refers back to the book often. One of my favorite pictures was of Bugsy and Bear but my favorite story was of Belle and her quilt. Belle was a homeless dog that was adopted and finally found a home with Astrid.

Brimful Curiosities: A quick and enjoyable coffee-table worthy read, all dog lovers will find something to love when perusing Dirty Bow Wow. In my household, lots of books fall into my hands and my hands alone. However, this book managed to become a family favorite. My preschool-aged daughter immediately fell for the Toy Poodle named Annie Goodman odeling her beloved chic Pink Purse toy. My husband, the discerning reader (so discerning he hardly ever picks up a book) read Dirty Bow Wowcover to cover and remarked on a number of dogs. Puggle Lucy nose-to-nose with her stuffed, earless Doggie won him over.  

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Family, books, entertainment, giveaways, kids, reviews
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