Saturday, December 25, 2010

WINNER: Mothering magazine subscription

Mothering magazine cover assortmentA big congratulations to the winner of the Mothering subscription giveaway — #90!


Kim



Kim says:
"This interested me: http://mothering.com/education/does-adhd-even-exist." I have never had a subscription before.

Random.org winner Mothering 90This was a joint giveaway with Natural Parents Network, so entries were combined and one winner drawn. Kim entered at Hobo Mama Reviews.

Mothering magazine is the perfect parenting magazine for those interested in attachment values and natural living.

If you were not the lucky winner, Mothering magazine cover current issueit's easy to subscribe to Mothering online at Mothering.com. You can also find print issues for sale on newsstands at select brick-and-mortar locations, notably natural foods stores such as Whole Foods, major bookstore chains like Borders and Barnes & Noble, and Babies R Us. Mothering also has published inspirational and informative books, such as Having a Baby, Naturally: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth and Natural Family Living: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Parenting.

Print subscriptions start at $22.95 (U.S.) for one year (six issues) to the United States. Canadian and other international subscribers add $13 per year. Print subscriptions typically enter you into Mothering magazine interior spread river schoolgiveaways and can often include free gifts as well. If you sign up for the newsletter, you'll receive advance notice of any deals connected with subscribing.

Digital subscriptions start at $4.95 for one year and are available internationally.

Both forms can be given as a gift subscription with e-card, perfect for a last-minute holiday present.

Be sure to connect with Mothering.com:

Disclosure: I didn't receive anything
in exchange for hosting this giveaway.
See my full disclosure policy here.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Review: CARES Child Aviation Restraint System so kids fly safe

Have Kids Will Travel special giveaway event at Hobo Mama ReviewsHAVE KIDS, WILL TRAVEL special event: I am featuring a few special travel items for review that I was able to use on my trip with my three-year-old son and eight-year-old niece this summer and another trip with my family in the fall. Enjoy these fabulous family travel products!


One of the worst parts of traveling with kids by plane is lugging the car seat through the airport. Am I right?

When I saw the CARES Child Aviation Restraint System from Kids Fly Safe, I just knew I had to give it a try. The company graciously agreed to give me a harness for review, so I was able to use it with three-year-old Mikko on our flights, both to the East Coast and Midwest, this summer and fall.

Why is CARES better than a car seat for airplane travel?

CARES is a special harness that's been tested and approved the FAA as being safety-equivalent to using a car seat in an airplane for children age 1 and older who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds and are no more than 40 inches tall. CARES has also been certified in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland, and Oman. See the FAQ for specific airlines that have authorized the use of CARES.

Monday, December 20, 2010

50% off at Amy Adele for thank-you cards and other stationery!

Starting today, December 20, there will be a Thank You Card Preview sale at Amy Adele!

Thankful Christmas Kids Stationery Snowy Tree Stationery


For three days only, you can get 50% off any order sitewide with at least a $25 or more purchase:

Get 50% off any order with a purchase of $25 or more sitewide!
Use promo code preview50.
Shop now at AmyAdele.com!
(12/20-12/23)

You know you'll have plenty to be grateful for this season, so get your thank-you notes ordered now! The designs work for kids and the whole family.

A perfect idea for children's thank-you notes is a fill-in-the-blanks flat card, to make thanking the givers nearly as fun and easy as receiving the gift:

Christmas Tree Bulbs Flat Card Happy Daisy Christmas Row Flat Card


Charming and sophisticated designs can work for kids or adults:

Triple Christmas Border Stationery Red Christmas Ball Stationery


And even for holiday births!

Christmas Baby Stationery


You can also receive a sweet discount on select items through Christmas Day:

Get 40% off select items at AmyAdele.com.
Hurry — ends Christmas day, Dec. 25.

Use your holiday gift money to buy yourself some Christmas treats with that sale!


Disclosure: Amy Adele links are affiliate links.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.
See my full disclosure policy here.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

75% off $75 order at BabyLegs!

Order $75 worth of Clearance Items at BabyLegs and get 75% off! Shop now for the best selection.

Use coupon code WINTER75 at checkout.

You would pay just $18.75 for $75 of BabyLegs leg warmers, arm warmers, baby socks, and girls' tights!

Shipping is free on all orders.

Coupon rules: Clearance items only. This coupon only works if you have $75 worth of items from the clearance page in your cart when you enter the coupon code at checkout. This offer cannot be combined with other offers or coupons. While supplies last.

Disclosure: Babylegs links are affiliate links.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.
See my full disclosure policy here.

$10 express shipping at Destination Maternity

Last-minute maternity or nursing clothing purchases for you or someone special? Get it there by Christmas with discounted express shipping from the Destination Maternity Mothers Work, Inc.online stores:


Disclosure: Destination Maternity links are affiliate links.
See my full disclosure policy here.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Review: Prima Princessa Presents: The Nutcracker ballet DVD

Prima Princessa Nutcracker review legs in motion
Mikko's dancing feet in motion!
Prima Princessa sent me their new DVD for review, Prima Princessa Presents: The Nutcracker.

I was so excited to check out Prima Princessa's version of The Nutcracker, because my three-year-old son, Mikko, absolutely loves his original DVD from them, Prima Princessa Presents: Swan Lake. You can read my full review for that DVD here.

But to recap, what I liked about the Swan Lake DVD was how it combined a narrated and abridged filming of a real ballet production with simple ballet instruction for my little guy — with plenty of time to leap around.

What I was a little less enthusiastic about I had high hopes that Prima Princessa had fixed with The Nutcracker — and I was right!

First of all, The Nutcracker has what I liked about Swan Lakechildren get an Prima Princessa Presents the Nutcrackerintroduction to a real ballet production and a sense of the story behind it (narrated by the animated Prima Princessa); they get to hear ballet terms and see them demonstrated by talented students from the School of American Ballet; and they get time to dance around, freestyle.

And what it has in addition are the updates I was hoping to see:
  • Little boys are included in the children's scenes. All the kids are having a sort of Christmas gathering, and the little boys get to dance around with fake swords. The student demonstrators from the American School of Ballet and, of course, the professional dancers also include males among their ranks.
  • The professional ballet company, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, has a more ethnically varied cast, which we could also see with the little kids and the students from the American School of Ballet.

The reason I was so intent on showing Mikko boys doing ballet is, of course, because he's a boy! I love that he can see that dancing isn't only for girls (despite the pink and purple of the DVD cover), that it's something he can choose if he'd like as well. I take an adult ballet class, so he's interested right now in anything his parents do, so I love that I can share the magic and joy of ballet with him in this kid-friendly fashion! Here are some fun pictures of my little dancing guy while watching Prima Princessa Presents: The Nutcracker.

Prima Princessa Nutcracker review prancing
Mikko wanted to wear his "boy" ballet clothes this time, only unfortunately I couldn't find his black tights. He was willing to wear gray sweatpants instead — but only if I wore gray leggings as well. So I did. And he was willing to wear his white shirt — if I wore a white shirt. So I did! We matched, head to toe. He didn't want to wear his adorable ballet shoes (sigh), so we settled on stocking feet for both of us. And then we danced, danced, danced! (There are no pictures of me since I was wielding the camera, so I had to explain.)

Prima Princessa Nutcracker review pointing toe ballet
Pointing his toe while he watches. (Please ignore all the Christmas detritus in these pictures!)

Prima Princessa Nutcracker review stance

Prima Princessa Nutcracker review smile

Prima Princessa Nutcracker review passe from back Prima Princessa Nutcracker review passe ballet This is Mikko's version of a passé. I have to say I was really impressed that he was working so hard to duplicate what he saw on screen!

Prima Princessa Nutcracker review develope ballet
Here's his develope to the side!

Prima Princessa Nutcracker review pointing in Santa hat Prima Princessa Nutcracker review dancing in Santa hat
The Santa hat was a necessary addition!


The running time for the DVD is 60 minutes (up from 40 for Swan Lake). Bonus features on the Nutcracker DVD include easy holiday crafts to do with your kids, such as a paper chain and cut-out snowflakes, and extra dance party music. Mikko loved watching all the elements and boogying to it all!

Thank you, Prima Princessa, for another wonderful ballet DVD for little ones!

BUY IT!

Prima Princessa logoThe Prima Princessa DVDs are priced at only $6.99! This fabulous price was set intentionally so parents of most any income level can afford to give their kids the gift of a ballet experience. If buying one isn't in your price range, though, or you want to preview before buying, check to see if your library has it.

You can buy Prima Princessa Presents: The Nutcracker and Prima Princessa Presents: Swan Lake at Amazon for only $6.99 each, where they're eligible for free Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

The Nutcracker in particular would be a well-loved gift for any little enthusiast for tutus and tiaras. Just be aware of Amazon's shipping dates for holiday delivery: For the United States, the deadline for Super Saver Shipping is Friday, December 17, to receive your order by Christmas. Monday, Dec. 20, is the cutoff for Standard Shipping. Other options can be found here. Here's a link for information on international shipping.

Prima Princessa has also come out with a book for beginning dancers: Prima Princessa's Ballet for Beginners: Featuring the School of American Ballet, on sale right now for $10.97 on Amazon.

Also remember to connect with Prima Princessa for updates on new releases and special deals:


Disclosure: Prima Princessa sent me a free DVD for review.
Amazon links are affiliate links.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.
That's how I roll. See my full disclosure policy here.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Review: Tiny Prints holiday cards, coupons, & shipping dates

I was privileged to receive sample holiday cards from Tiny Prints to review.

They're as gorgeous as I was expecting!

Tiny Prints has a collection of chic, unique designs, and the printing was top quality.

Here's a look at what they sent me:


Tiny Prints card ornament
These photo cards serve a dual purpose as a festive ornament for a Christmas tree, sure to keep your family's smiling faces on display throughout the holiday season!

Tiny Prints card inside inscription
I even liked the inscriptions. They featured lovely fonts and delicate printing.

Tiny Prints card vintage look
Evocative vintage look

Tiny Prints card fan front
Wouldn't this dual-sided fan card be perfect to showcase a large family, or simply a generous collection of favorite photos?
Tiny Prints card fan back

Tiny Prints card folding fan front
This one I love. It has a clever flipping design that unfolds to display a new message and a photo on the reverse.
Tiny Prints card folding fan inside


Use these coupons and deals for your holiday orders:
Save $15 Off Any Holiday Product order of $99+
OR $20 Off $149+.
Use code AFFDEC.
Expires Wednesday, December 15!

Enjoy FREE shipping for all orders of $45 or more!
Prices have been reduced on ALL expedited delivery options.
No code required, limited time only.

Shop now to save 10% off birth announcement orders of $99 or more!
Use code 10BA.
Offer expires Dec. 15.

Last Day! Prices on holiday cards and party invitations reduced up to 10% PLUS Take an additional 15% off!
Use code 15HOL.
Offer expires Monday, Dec. 13, 11:59 p.m. (PST).
So shop fast!

Here's some information about ordering in time for holiday delivery. Assuming you want holiday cards to arrive to your home before Christmas so that you can send them out on their way, you can order Express ($9.95) by today, Monday, Dec. 13, to receive your order by Friday, Dec. 17. Prices have been reduced on all expedited shipping options, which is so lovely for us last-minute types. If you can wait till the next week, you can order photo cards, holiday invitations, winter birth announcements, and personalized gift tags by Tuesday, Dec. 14, using the free shipping option, to receive them by Dec. 24. You could also order Priority ($4.95) by Sunday, Dec. 19, or Express ($9.95) by Monday, Dec. 20.That's actually some astonishingly generous leeway for custom printed orders!

Tiny Prints also offers custom photo keepsakes that would be perfect for holiday gift giving, including photo books, photo calendars, and photo keychains.

To receive photo gifts by Christmas, order with Standard shipping ($3) by today, Monday, Dec. 13, or Priority ($4.95) by Sunday, Dec. 19. For photo books and calendars, Standard shipping ($3) requires orders in by Wednesday, Dec. 15, or Priority shipping ($4.95) by Thursday, Dec. 16.

See more details about holiday shipping dates at this handy chart, including delivery to APO addresses and delivery outside the United States.

So many choices, so little time? Check out Laura's Picks Page to help you home in on some of the most stylish choices for your holiday greetings and gift giving!

Disclosure: Tiny Prints links are affiliate links.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
See my full disclosure policy here.