Friday, April 30, 2010

The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 1 Revie & Giveaway




Being a New Jersey housewife myself, minus the big hair, I was very excited to get the chance to review Season One of The Real Housewives of New Jersey which was just released on March 30th.  This awesome series was new to Bravo this year and was filled with the kind of drama you can expect from us Jersey girls. 

One of the most interesting things about this show was that for the first time in reality housewife tv, there were two sisters on the show who were actually married to two brothers, plus one sister-in-law.  This leads to some cat fights that only family could pull off.   Some of my favorite scenes take place in Atlantic City because that is a place I visit at least twice a month. My ex-husband who is a chef in the casinos, was actually there for some of the filming and witnessed that the ladies are pretty much the same off camera as they are on camera.

The DVD itself offers a lot of bonus footage and director's cuts that you won't see anywhere else. And of course its great to get to skip the commericals. There are also interactive quizzes for the hard core fans. Its lots of fun for me to watch this show since the girls are from my home state, but even if you live somewhere else, you won't want to miss the shopping, decorating, dating, and of course the fighting of the Real New Jersey Housewives.  Here is a little info on the DVD set:

DISC 1 (approx 157 min): Season Preview / Thicker Than Water / Mama Knows Best / Not One of Us / bonus – Text Bios

DISC 2 (approx 135 min): Black & White & Read All Over / Casinos and C-Cups / The Last Supper (Finale)

DISC 3 (approx 180 min): The Last Supper Director’s Cut / Reunion: Watch What Happens, Pt. 1 / Reunion: Watch What Happens, Pt. 2 / The Lost Footage / bonus – Quiz

If you woud like to purchase this DVD you can find it at great low prices at Amazon or Walmart.   But one lucky New Age Mama reader can get their own copy for free! To enter, tell me who is  your favorite housewife from the series.  For additional entries, you can do any of the following, but you must complete this initial entry first. Any entries that do not follow these guidelines will be deleted.

1) Subscribe to my blog by email
2) Subscribe to my feed
3) Follow my blog on friend connect
4) Blog about this giveaway with a link to New Age Mama (5 Entries)
5) Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway-Include @gabbylowe and leave the link in your commnet (Once a day)
6) Become my friend on face book
7) Become my friend on myspace
8) Comment on any non-giveaway post (1 entry per comment)
9) Enter one of my other giveaways (You can enter as many as you want, but only one bonus entry)
10) Grab my button and tell me where I can find it
11) Sign up for sponsored tweets using my referrel link (10 entries-leave username-I will check)



This giveaway will end at midnight on 5/19/10 and is open to the US only. The winner will be chosen via a random number generator. Thanks again to A & E Home Entertainment for offering this great prize!






***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***


Ever After Store Review & Giveaway




With Mother's Day right around the corner, many of you may be scattering to get some last minute gifts. But with the way things are with the economy, you might not know where to look for something affordable. Well, at Ever After Store you can find hundreds of gifts for moms or anyone else at prices starting at just $10. If you need wedding gifts, birthday gifts for even gifts for the kiddies, its all here in one exciting online gift shop.



For review,  Ever After Store sent us this adorable Webkinz Pink Poodle.  You might think this would be easy enough to get in any store, but my daughter collects poodles and we have been looking for this one for at least a year and were never able to find it because they sell out so quickly. If you aren't familiar with Webkinz, they are more than just a stuffed animal. They also come with a code that allows your kids to play online in a safe and  secure enviroment.



This is only one example of so many wonderful gifts you can find at Ever After Store.
From tea sets to candles, its all here at below average prices.  Right now, they are even offering some great shopping cart discounts in honor of Mother's Day:

• $5 off any order from $25 to $50.


• $10 off any order from $50 to $100.

                              • $30 off any order over $100!
 
 
 
But that's not all! One lucky winner is going to get a Webkinz Pink Poodle just like the one that I received.  To enter, please visit Ever After Store and tell me another item you would love to own. For additional entries you can do any of the following but you must complete this initial entry first. Any entries that do not follow these guidelines will be deleted.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1) Subscribe to my blog by email
2) Subscribe to my feed
3) Follow my blog on friend connect
4) Blog about this giveaway with a link to New Age Mama and Ever After (5 Entries)
5) Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway-Include @gabbylowe and leave the link in your commnet (Once a day)
6) Become my friend on face book
7) Become my friend on myspace
8) Comment on any non-giveaway post (1 entry per comment)
9) Enter one of my other giveaways (You can enter as many as you want, but only one bonus entry)
10) Grab my button and tell me where I can find it
11) Sign up for sponsored tweets using my referrel link (10 entries-leave username-I will check)
12) Become a fan of Ever After Store on Face book


This giveaway will end at midnight on 5/18/10 and is open to the US only. The winner will be chosen via a random number generator. Thanks again to Ever After Store for offering this great prize!







***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Bebe au Lait Review






Bebe au Lait is known for its sophisticated and elegant designs for nursing covers. But they have extended their line to include lots of other wonderful products as well, including bids, hooded towels,  and something you can never have to many of--burp cloths.  All of their items come in a variety of styles and colors that will go with any layette.


For review, I received the burp cloths in parfait. They are not only  practical but also very pretty. What I love about them is that they are so much thicker than most burp cloths. Anyone with  a baby knows what  its like to walk around with a formula stained shoulder from drippy, drooly babies. But the Bebe au Lait cloths soak up any excess drippings with no problems. And another use I've discovered for burp clothes, especially soft, thick ones like these, is to line the inside of my cloth diapers with them. When I use them, I find I barely have any leakage.




Right now is a great time to shop at Bebe Au Lait because in honor of Mother's Day, they are having a fantastic sale! You can get two free burp clothes with the purchase of any nursing cover. Find the details here. And for a limited time only, they are also offering free shipping.  If you perfer to shop in a retail store, check their store locator for a shop near you.





To keep up with future sales and events from Bebe au Lait, you can subscribe to their newsletter (bottom right hand side), follow them on twitter, or become their fan on face book.  You should also check out their blog. If you have a baby or will be attending a baby shower anytime soon, this is a great place to find the perfect gift.








***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

SeaPak Shrimp Review





I live at the Jersey Shore so of course I love sea food. But I don't always have the time to prepar it fresh.  So its great to find frozen foods that taste as good as home made. And SeaPak shrimp is so good you'll think you got it fresh off the boat.







For review, we tried out the popcorn shrimp. It must have been great because I had barely put them on the table and they had disappeared. I didn't even have time to take a photo!  By the time I came back with my camera there were only two left. So I had to grab those two up so I could try them for myself. They were nice and crisp, and tailless so you can just pop the whole thing in your mouth. The blend of spices they use are tasty and they have 135 mg of Omega-3's and 65 IU of vitamin D per serving.  Plus they are ready in minutes so they are a quick, fun snack at any time.



In addition to the popcorn shrimp, SeaPak also offers shrimp scampi, butterfly shrimp, specialty shrimp and more. Check out their website for great recipe ideas. You can also enter their sweepstakes to win a coastal getaway. To find a store near you that sells SeaPak, check their store locator. To keep up with the latest news, become their fan on facebook.





***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***
 

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Brilliant Bows Review




I love having a little girl. They are so much fun to dress up. I especially love having a baby with hair. My older daughter was bald until she was two! But the first thing every one says when they see Willow is always, "Look at all that hair!"  And since she has hair, or course I need to have a pretty bow to go with every out fit she wears. To find the best selection of hair bows for infants and toddlers, Brilliant Bows is a great place to shop.




I have bought a lot of bows since Willow was born. Most of them are sitting in a drawer because the plastic clips are next to impossible to get on  my squirming infant. The clips on the bows from Brilliant Bows are differnt. They attach easilly by snapping open the metal. Then you just press them closed once you have them in place, even if your baby has less hair than Willow. Best of all, they slide out easily without yanking on the baby's hair and making her cry. Plus, they are absolutely adorable.





Brilliant Bows has bows in all sizes and shapes for any occassion.   They even have a great section on holiday bows.  They offer a  referrel prpgram where you can earn a $15 by referring three friends. And at these low prices $15 will go a long way.




 Right now you can take advantage of a very special offer.  Any New Age Mama reader who makes a purchase of $10 or more at Brilliant Bows will receive one free "Classic" bow. You just need to mention in the comments that New Age Mama sent you to the website and tell them which desegn you want.  To keep up with future sales and specials, sign up for their newsletter.



***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Free Sample of Pull Ups





Get a free sample of pull ups by filling out the form here. Happy Potty Training!

Green Golly & Her Golden Flute Winner




The winner of the Green Golly CD is #3

Linda Kish said...


Old MacDonald (I am old)

April 5, 2010 8:52 PM

Moonjar Review-Help Teach Your Child the Value of a Dollar




My kids, like most children, don't really understand the value of a dollar. They get annoyed whenever I tell them they can't have something, whether its the stereotypical pony or an extra pack of cookies at the grocery store. But thanks to Moon Jar, they are starting to understand that money doesn't grow on trees.





The Classic Moon Jar is a three-sided bank that has a section to spend, to save, and to share. It also comes with a family guide and passbook to track transactions so your kids learn how to save up their allowence for the things they want. It gives them a goal to work for and keeps them from nagging you for it:)  My kids are loving the challenge of saving  up for a video game, while still having candy money. They even decided that the share section was going to go to the relief efforts in Haiti.



We also received a game called "Conversations to Go"    This is a lot of fun for kids and adults, whether they are family you've known forever or new friends.  You get to pick a question out of the box and you have to answer it honestly. One example of a questions is "Rich can mean many things. In which way do you feel rich?"  My seven-year-old's response was "'I'm rich 'cause my mom is gonna win the lottery."  Hope he's right!  Anyway, its a great way to get to know people and when you're playing with kids, it can be a lot of laughs.






Lastly, we received the hard cover book "Noom & Raj Start a Business: The ABCs of Money".  This fun story book teaches children how to use their money to start a business by using the ABCs. It goes through all the steps leading up to opening a lemonade stand.  It also comes with a card board version of the Moonjar.






The items I mentioned are just a few example of the educational books and games available at Moonjar. All of their books and games teach valuable lessons that help your children learn responsibility. If you need a gift for the child in your life, you should consider visiting Moonjar.





***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Hurry Up! Dice Game Review & Giveaway

Random Line is a great little company that makes fun games for children.  Hurry Up! is their newest addittion. Its a  fast-paced dice game  for ages 8 and older.  This game has six challenges that you need to complete before the timer runs out. The challenges include things like rolling a straight and rolling three pairs. If you get the challenge done in the alloted time, you earn points. If  you don't get it completed then you are out of luck on that turn.



My family and I had tons of fun playing this game.  I did have to help my son out a little with some of the tougher challenges, but it was a very exciting game. We found ourselves shouting "Hurry up!" again and again as we tried to roll the dice to get our challanges complete. The game comes complete with six dice, including a special blue dice that can either be wild or have to be a specific number for a certain challenge, a score pad, and six challenge cards.



How would you like to have Hurry Up! for your family game night? One winner is going to receive a game of their own. To enter, please visit Random Line and tell me something you like or something you learned about the company. For additional entries, you can do any of the following but your must complete this initial entry first. Any entries that do not follow these guidelines will be deleted.



1) Subscribe to my blog by email
2) Subscribe to my feed
3) Follow my blog on friend connect
4) Blog about this giveaway with a link to New Age Mama and Random Line (5 Entries)
5) Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway-Include @gabbylowe and leave the link in your commnet (Once a day)
6) Become my friend on face book
7) Become my friend on myspace
8) Comment on any non-giveaway post (1 entry per comment)
9) Enter one of my other giveaways (You can enter as many as you want, but only one bonus entry)
10) Grab my button and tell me where I can find it
11) Sign up for sponsored tweets using my referrel link (10 entries-leave username-I will check
12) Become a fan of Random Line on Face book
13) Follow Random Line on twitter
14) Comment on the Random Line FB post. Comments can be as simple as "great idea" or you can write a paragraph (5 Entries)
15) Post the Random Line link on your website page
16) Visit RandomLine and play their of the online demos (Located next to the buy buttons on each page)



This giveaway will end at midnight on 5/16/10 and is open to the US only. The winner will be chosen via a random number generator. Thanks again to Random Line for offering this great prize!









***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

20% off for Mother's Day at Elliott Lucca



Still looking for that perfect gift? Shop Elliott Lucca’s Mother’s Day Sale at www.elliottlucca.com and receive 20% off the ENTIRE site with promo code: ELMD2010. Today is the Last Day for Ground Shipping! Sale ends 5/6.



Also follow Elliott Lucca on Facebook and Twitter -Tell them New Age Mama sent you.

Devilishly Delicious Dips Review & Giveaway





The only way I can get my kids to eat fresh vegstables like carrots and broccoli is to have a great tasting dip to go with them.   I am always on the look out for tasty new dips to try out. So we were excited to sample some of the different flavors from Devilishly Delicious Dips


We received three flavors to try--Onion, Bacon & Taco.  Even if you're not good in the kitchen, these dips are simple to make. You just take the packet of pre-mixed spices, add in some sour cream and your good to go.  And they sure are tasty! We used the onion and bacon  both as vegstable dips and with potato chips.  My kids loved them and I thought they were fantastic as well.  For the taco dip, we tried something a little different and topped off some tacos with it. It added lots of flavor without being too spicy.  All in all, we had a great experience with our Devlishly Delicious Dips.

If you're not that into dipping, there are lots of other uses for these pre-mixed spices. You can add them to mashed potatoes, top off your popcorn, even spice up for cream cheese for your bagels.  With both sweet and savory dips to choose from, there is defintely something for everyone.




How would you like to try out one of these awesome dips for yourself?  One winner will receive a party size dip of their choice.  To enter, please visit Devlishly Good Dips and tell me which flavor you would choose if you were the lucky winner. For additional entries you can follow Devilishly Good Dips on twitter and/or become their fan on face book. These will be the only entries for this one. Giveaway will end on 5/16/10 at midmight.




***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Swaddle Designs Review & Giveaway






Every new baby needs to have at least a dozen receiving blankets in their layette. There are many to choose from, but one of my favorites are the beautiful blankets available at Swaddle Designs. Whether you need blankets for boys, girls, or something unisex, Swaddle Designs has a large selection of printss and even offers organic blankets at affordable prices.

I've never been very good at swaddling. No matter how many times the nurses at the hospital showed me, I just couldn't get it right. But the Swaddle Designs Blanket comes with easy to follow instructions attached right to the blanket. So even if your half asleep in the middle of the night you can eaisly wrap up your baby in three simple steps. Plus the material is made with soft cotton so its gentle against your baby's skin. Willow had a wonderful nights sleep bundled up in her Swaddle Designs Blanket.





In addition to the receiving blankets, Swaddle Designs also offers hooded towels, bids, burp clothes, stroller blankets, gift sets and more. If you are looking for a shower gift, this would be a great store to check out.   New Age Mama readers can save 10% off regualrly priced items by entering the code MadeinUSA at checkout.

One New Age Mama reader is going to receive a SwaddleDesigns Certified Organic Cotton Ultimate Receiving Blanket of their own. The winner may choose either Pink, Blue or Kiwi Mod Circles. To enter you MUST either Follow Swaddle Designs on Twitter  and tweet about your favorite product including @SwaddleDesigns or Become a Facebook Fan  and state your favorite SwaddleDesigns print or product on their wall. You can do both for two entries. These will be the only entries for this giveaway.  Any entries that do not follow these guidelines will be deleted.  Giveaway will end  midnight on 5/15/10.




 ***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Monday, April 26, 2010

Some Mail



1) Free sample of Welch's Fruit Snacks & coupon
2) Coupon for a Free Turkey Hill Ice Cream
3) Coupon for a Free Vitamin Water

Free Sample of Aveeno Shampoo




Get your free sample of Aveeno Nourish Shampoo by filling out the form here.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Dreaming Tree Soapworks Review & Beltane Giveaway

I love fantasy, enchantments and magick--not stage magic,  the real magick that comes from nature. That magick's essence can be captured  in things like herbs and oils. That is why I have always loved handmade beauty products that use natural ingredients. The soaps at Dreaming Tree Soap Works not only vitalize my senses, but inspire my imagination with their fanciful names and ingredients. The Dark Goddess, The Green Man, The Harvest Moon--these are soaps that smell so wonderful and are made with such wholesome ingredients, that when you're using them, you might just find that you've stepped through the mist into the world of fairy.






For my review, I got to try out Dreaming Tree's brand new baby line. It's still a little chilly here in South Jersey most days and Willow's cheeks were getting a little chapped. The baby balm worked wonders for this and cleared it up after just a few applications. The Pure of Heart soap is frangrance free and hypoallergenic so its safe for baby's sensitive skin.



I also received some grown up soap samples that made my skin just as soft as the baby's! Plus the scents are heavenly. I received two samples to try out--the Just Right, which is scented with oatmeal, honey and milk as well as the Celestial Rain , made with real shea butter. Using this soaps is like a day at the spa and the scents will lift up your spirits.







And now for the Beltane giveaway! May 1st many people, including my circle of friends,  will be celebrating Beltane, a festival that has been around for centuries. The most well known activity is the dance around the May Pole. Another old tradition was to leap over the Beltane fires with the person you hoped to marry. It was and still is a day to celebrate the coming fertility of the land and our bodies. What better way to celebrate than with a luxurious ritual bath using the intoxicating scented soaps from Dreaming Tree Soapworks!  Cleanse your soul along with your body.


One New Age Mama reader is going to receive a sampler pack of soaps in honor of Beltane.  To enter,  please visit Dreaming Tree Soapworks and tell me which thing you'd love to try the most.  For additional entries you can do any of the following but you must complete this initial entry first.  Any entries that so not follow these guidelines will be deleted.


1) Subscribe to my blog by email
2) Subscribe to my feed
3) Follow my blog on friend connect
4) Blog about this giveaway with a link to New Age Mama and Dreaming Tree Soap Works (5 Entries)
5) Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway-Include @gabbylowe and leave the link in your commnet (Once a day)
6) Become my friend on face book
7) Become my friend on myspace
8) Comment on any non-giveaway post (1 entry per comment)
9) Enter one of my other giveaways (You can enter as many as you want, but only one bonus entry)
10) Grab my button and tell me where I can find it
11) Sign up for sponsored tweets using my referrel link (10 entries-leave username-I will check)
12) Become a fan of Dreaming Tree on Face book
13) Follow Dreaming Tree on twitter


This giveaway will end at midnight on 5/13/10 and is open to the US only. The winner will be chosen via a random number generator. Thanks again to Dreaming Tree Soap Works for offering this great prize!










***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Organically Grown Review & Giveaway




Organically Grown, a brand that is dedicated to organic and eco-friendly clothing at affordable prices,  has just launched their adorable new 2010 spring line of infant and toddler clothing! With low prices, a great selection, and certified organic materials, even actress Tiffany Amber Thiessen, who is expecting this May, loves the selection available at Organically Grown.

For review, we received this adorable unisex two-piece set.  Willow looked adorable in it, and its something I can save for my next baby whether its a boy or a girl.  The soft cotton material is extra soft and gentle enough for delicate newborn skin, and its just the right weight for early spring. My baby was nice and cozy in it and we received lots of complients while at my son's soccer practice. And because it organic, I now its not only the best thing for her, but also for the enviroment.






In addition to their beautiful clothing line, Organically Grown also has a wonderful selection of nursery decor, including blankets, crib sheets, mobiles and more. Shipping is free on all orders over $100 and right now you can also get a free organically grown utility bag with every order, so its a great time to check out their selection. To keep up with the latest news, sign up for their newsletter (bottom right hand side), follow them on twitter, or become their fan on facebook.



***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***