Win $50 Shopping Spree from Kangaroodle!

Sheena over at Sophistishe.org is having a super giveaway for one lucky winner to receive a $50 gift certificate to Kangaroodle! They have the most adorable baby items including shopping cart covers, carseat covers, and the neatest little binksters (adorable handmade pacifier clips!)




I love all their items, but perhaps my faves are the Happy Sit and Spit Cloths! Check out the fun at Sophistishe, and get your entry in today!

Huggies Wipes (Shea Butter)

Ok, so I'm all over the Huggies thing lately. First there was my review on the Disposable washcloths (still a huge lover, I am) and might I add, that I found another great use for them:

I tucked a baggy of the disposable washcloths into my 8-year-old's backpack when she went away to summer camp. It was great! No worrying about spilled liquid soap, no slimy bar soap to worry about someone else sharing with her, and no stinky washcloths at the end of the week! Just use and toss! And her friends had no idea they were "baby" washcloths. (Just go with a mango scent for girls!)

Back to my new best friend: the Shea Butter variety of Huggies Wipes. These things are powerful! I have wiped the most potent bottom stink from my boys' behinds with no trace of the poop that was there before. Seriously.

Usually when you have a very messy diaper, no amount of wiping makes them smell clean. And it isn't always feasible to plop them in a bath. These wipes smell terrific (kind of sweet, very fresh), and my hands are left feeling soft and sweet too! I use the wipes for faces, arms, and bottoms! (Please go in that order, folks.)

Huggies wipes come in many varieties: Extra Sensitive, Supreme, Natural Care, Naturally Refreshing, Lavender and Chamomille (also awesome!), Shea Butter, and Nourishing!

Now until June 30th, join Amazon's Subscribe and Save, and get these wipes for 37% off! That's only $22.24 for a case of wipes! Huggies Baby Wipes in Pop-Up Tub, Shea Butter, 72-Count Tubs (Pack of 8) (576 Wipes)

Let Freedom Ring!

Loveshakbaby wants to celebrate our freedom to choose, by hosting ANOTHER FABULOUS GIVEAWAY. This time they are giving away not one, but TWO $100 Gift Certificates to TWO winners to be used in the fabulous Chittypulga online boutique. Just go to Loveshakbaby for more details!

Avent Isis IQ Uno

My hubby broke down with this last baby and decided to let me buy a nicer new electric breast pump. Because I was staying at home with the kids, I thought that a single pump would do fine. And because we were lucky enough to choose the Avent Isis IQ Uno, I was right!

The amazing feature of the IQ is the "memory." You start to manually pump, and when you feel that you have gotten the perfect rhythm to your expression, just hit the memory button. The pump then replicates your tempo, and you are hands-free!

Pros: There are many. The pump is quiet compared to most pumps (although I wouldn't use it in church.) It comes with everything you need to get started (bottles, storage lids, etc.) I absolutely LOVE that it comes with both AC adapter and a battery pack. (Do you even want to know how many times I have used it in the car with someone else driving to help get an extra bottle ready?) It is easy to clean, and simple enough to store.

Cons: This sucker uses power - keep in mind that if you do use the handy battery pack, you will need several. (4 AA each time) The massaging insert for the pump was nice, but in my case useless (I don't know that it does much to stimulate "let down"). Lastly, it is kind of pricey..

Definitely worth the cost! A great buy after trying several pumps over the years.

StrollerMama Wants You to Win!

One of the most ingenious baby products was introduced to me today -- The Royal Heinie. A new take on the diaper bag, this clever pouch is a changing pad and dispenser in one. Adorable and functional, it was invented by two moms at StrollerMama.com.

Would you like a chance to win one? Stephanie over at Adventures In Babywearing is giving one away to a lucky winner! Go check it out!

LilyPadz Nursing Pads

Like most nursing Mamas, I've been there with the constant leaking that can occur during the first few months of breastfeeding. I also know that you will only have a leak at the worst most possible times: during a job interview, posing for a family portrait, talking to the mailman, in the grocery check out line.

Heavy cloth or disposable nursing pads are bulky and hold moisture against your body, causing bacteria and yeast to thrive. LilyPadz nursing pads are very different! They are a soft silicone rubber pad (think giant rubber contact lens) that stick to your breasts, not your bra. They use a kind of suction force to keep close, preventing milk from ever coming out in the first place!

One of the best things about LilyPadz is that they can be worn alone during the night, meaning "Bye-Bye heavy nursing bras!" They wash up easily, and they can help to prevent that "headlight" look that can come from wearing thinner blouses.

One pair lasts about 2 months with proper care (although I've had mine longer.) After that, they kind of wear out and don't stick well. But if you compare the cost of one pair of LilyPadz with the boxes of disposable pads you would have to buy, they are a great deal!

And with summer coming up, many of you may be wondering, "How am I going to swim in my nursing pads?" This is the solution you really need to consider! Weaning time can also be much easier knowing that you are not going to produce an embarassing flood that everyone will notice. LilyPadz are cool and keep milk in its place.

I give this product two very enthusiastic thumbs up!

Boppy Infant Pillow

What does "Boppy" mean to you? In our house, boppy can mean a pacifier, or it also means the original Boppy pillow.

Bought for me as a gift for my first son, the Boppy pillow is a true lifesaver. A very funky u-shaped pillow, Boppy can be used to position an infant in just the right way to nurse. As a matter of fact, I type almost all my blog posts with a nursing baby boy in my lap (on top of the Boppy, of course). This allows for perfect positioning, and my hands are free for work!

Boppy is great for you gals that have had a c-section, too. With the pillow on top of your incision, you can cradle your new bundle without fear of him kicking the incision. I wear it as a protective belt for when the older kids are on my lap, too! I also have the younger siblings wear Boppy for extra support when they want to hold the new baby.

Boppy is great for cradling the baby when you want to set him down for a bit. Boppy makers caution that it is not intended for the little one to fall asleep in, but as most of us Boppy users know: It happens. It helps keep them supported as they lay, and also makes a great aid when they start to sit up on their own.

Boppy's come in all kinds of new designs these days. There is a Boppy Luxe that has very plushy fabric, Boppy in the nude (a bare-bones pillow that you can cover how you like,) and a playcenter Boppy with toys attached. Different covers are available to match your nursery or your living room.

I don't know a mom who has used Boppy and doesn't fall in love. We hear, "Get the Boppy" or "Where's the Boppy?" at least a few times a day at my house. It's all about Boppy love, people.

CVS and Playskool - Now That's a Team!

NOTE: Please be aware that there has been a recall issues for some models of the Playskool sippy cups. Click here for more information!

You all know Playskool for their toys. ( Think Mr. Potato Head, GloWorm, Sit n' Spin, Weebles )
Now there is an entirely new line of baby and toddler necessities that are hitting CVS stores nationwide, and it is made by Playskool!

Available only at CVS pharmacies, you can find new diapers, wipes, bibs, pacifiers, sippy cups, bottles and grooming items featuring the Ages and Stages system. Found on all the product packaging are ideas for age appropriate ways to have positive, interactive connections with your child during everyday activities.

Sound interesting? You can win one of two gift baskets from the new CVS / Playskool line! Just go to 5 Minutes for Mom to enter! And for more information on the products, check out CVS.com.

Hyland's Homeopathic C-Plus Cold Tablets

Does your little one seem to always have a cold? Are you continually wiping their drippy noses? Sometimes cold medicine seems like a very strong approach to a very small cold. If you are like me, and would like another option to potent over-the-counter cold medicines that may make your child drowsy, a homeopathic remedy may be for you.

A fan of Hyland's for years, I had yet to try their C-Plus Cold Tablets. They looked alot like all their other tablets -- tiny, white dots that dissolved easily under my son's tongue. Hyland's claimed that the C-Plus formula was "a homeopathic combination for the temporary relief of symptoms of runny nose and sneezing due to common head colds in children."

My little Bubba had a clear runny nose for a day or so, and seemed to by whinier than usual. I decided to give him the Hyland's and see what would happen. Less than 30 minutes after giving him the tablets (3 per dose, every 15 minutes for the 1st hour) he was sound asleep with no signs of a runny nose! I continued to give him the C-Plus tablets over the next 30 hours to help ease the symptoms of his cold. They really seemed to help him breathe and got him to calm down and go to sleep much faster than the stronger meds I usually give him.

Formulated for ages 1-6, 125 tablets per bottle contain:

Eupatorium Perfoliatum 2X HPUS - for headache, vomiting, cough, sneezing

Euphrasia Officinalis 2X HPUS - for runny eyes and nose

Gelsemium Sempervirens 3X HPUS - sneezing with stuffy nose, difficult swallowing, swallowing causes pain in ear

Kali Iodatum 3X HPUS - headache, runny eyes & nose

In a base of Lactose (milk sugar) NF.

Available in bottles of 125 quick dissolving tablets.

I'd give this product a try! And if you haven't seen the other items Hyland's offers, you can visit their website at Hylands.com. Also available at retailers online.

RC2 Corp. Recalls Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Products: Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys

Units: About 1.5 million

Importer/Distributor: RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill.

Hazard: Surface paints on the recalled products contain lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None.

Description: The recall involves wooden vehicles, buildings and other train set components for young children listed in the chart below. The front of the packaging has the logo “Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway” on the upper left-hand corner. A manufacturing code may be located on the bottom of the product or inside the battery cover. Toys marked with codes containing “WJ” or “AZ” are not included in this recall.

More info on the recall can be found at the CPSC website.

Coupons & Deals!

Lille Punkin' has some exclusive offers and savings just for you! Check back often to see what kind of neat deals we have...


Amazon.com

Baby Items at 50 - 90% off! (Robeez, Cloud B, CozyMe and more) - LINK
Grocery Items at 50-90% off! (Celestial Seasonings and more) - LINK
Toys 50-90% off! - LINK


Drugstore.com

Free One-Touch Glucose Meter After Rebate - LINK
Save 25% on Mucinex - LINK
New customers get $5 off $30 or $10 off $50! - LINK


Gotta Go Mitts

Readers who mention that they saw this product on our website will be able to take advantage of a Buy One Get One Free offer -- good until May 31, 2008. Just put that you heard about it from Lille Punkin' Reviews in the comment section when placing your order! LINK


mVelopes Personal Budgeting Software

Free 30-day Trial - LINK

Mustard Sprout Diaper Bag Giveaway

Please check out my diaper bag giveaway at my family blog Facipiers and Stinky Toes! One lucky winner will receive a Mustard Sprout Marshall bag set worth $120!

Simplicity Recalls Infant Cribs

Name of product: Nursery-in-a-Box Cribs

Units: About 40,000

Manufacturer: Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa.

Hazard: The assembly instructions provided with the cribs incorrectly instruct consumers how to attach the crib’s drop side. If improperly installed, the drop side can disengage from the crib, posing fall and entrapment hazards for the child. Additionally, the metal locking pins on the drop side can pop off, presenting a choking hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC is aware of an incident in which the crib’s drop side, which was installed upside down, fell from its upright position and the metal locking pins became dislodged. Simplicity received a report of wrong instructions being packaged with the crib.

Description: The recalled cribs are part of the Nursery-in-a-Box furniture set which also includes a changing table and clothing organizer. The cribs are cherry, white or natural in color. Only model numbers 8910 and 8050 with serial numbers 3005 HY through 0806 HY are included in this recall. The model and serial numbers are printed on an envelope permanently attached to the mattress support. “Simplicity,” model and serial numbers are also printed on a label on the bottom rail of the headboard.

Sold at: Department stores and children’s product stores from August 2005 through May 2007 for about $200.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately check the crib to make sure the drop side is securely fastened and correctly installed. Contact Simplicity to receive correct assembly instructions, or consumers can download the assembly instructions at the firm’s Web site, www.simplicityforchildren.com. Consumers can view a video on the firm’s Web site showing the proper assembly of the drop side. If the drop side is not properly installed, consumers should stop using the crib until it is assembled correctly.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Simplicity at (800) 784-1982 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.simplicityforchildren.com

Fisher-Price Aquarium Bath Center

I should have known that something was wrong with my baby Moses. He was squirmy and whiny, and his little chubby legs were pulling up as if he had a stomach ache. And then he let me have it ---- 2 nursings (about 16 oz.) of milk came pouring out of his face. We were both soaked. Grossed out, but not sure who to bathe first, I had the idea to do double duty and shower while I let him sit in his baby bath at the other end of the shower. He was delighted and we both got clean!

I give many thanks to the kind person who gifted me with the Fisher-Price Aquarium Bath Center. Perhaps the most versatile of infant tubs, this baby bath has been perfect for my little guy. Born at only 6lbs, Moses made good use of the hammock feature of the tub (which holds infants snugly in the tub up to 10 lbs.) Now that he is a growing little guy, we have released the end of the hammock to allow his little bottom to sit comfortably on the cushioned ledge. His head is cradled in the pillow-headrest, and the tub easily air-dries after each bath! When he gets old enough, we can remove the hammock altogether for a nice sit-up tub experience.

For birth up to 2 years, this is a tub you can get alot of use out of! Retails for $29.99.

While you're here, enter to win a Mustard Sprout Marshall Bag for Daddy! Just visit Facipiers and Stinky Toes for more details!

Fisher-Price Rainforest Swing Recall

Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, NY, has recalled about 112,000 of its Rainforest Open Top Take-Along^TM Swings. Infants can shift to one side of the swing and become caught between the frame and seat, posing an entrapment hazard.

This recall involves Portable Rainforest Take Along Swings with a palm tree mobile and two hanging plush toys. The swings are approximately 23-inches-high and have two carry handles on the left and right sides. Model numbers K7203, K7192 and K7195 are included in the recall. Model numbers are located under the right handle on the swing. No other collection of Rainforest swings or products are included in this recall. The swings were sold at discount department stores and toy stores nationwide from November 2006 to May 2007 for about $65.

Consumers should immediately stop using the swing and contact Fisher-Price for instructions on how to return it to receive a voucher for a replacement product. For additional information, call Fisher-Price toll-free at (888) 303-5631 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.service.mattel.com

Tales From the School Cafeteria: Food fights? Unrequited Love? Pizza Friday? Stand-Off with the Lunch Lady?

How many of you remember your first lunch in the school cafeteria? Was it a brown bag? Hot meal from the lunchlady? Who did you sit by, and what did you talk about?

While it is unlikely that you remember all of the details of your school lunch experience, it is fairly likely that you remember ONE story from your school lunch days. I quite accurately remember being one of the last kids to be excused from the table because I talked far too much, and never really took the time to finish my food. But the food was excellent! Homemade cinnamon rolls, chicken and noodles, orange cups, mashed potatoes, a lovely salad bar.... school lunch to me was a time to fill up and really get to know my friends.

So now that you're grown, you send your kids off to school each day, knowing that they will get lunch. But how much do you know about the food they will be eating? What is on the menu for that day? And how can you become more involved in the eating choices that will be available for your child?

School Menu, a website designed to encourage nutrition through school lunches, offers games and fun for kids, while offering parents the opportunity to preview their school's menu. Your kids can dance along with a music video, print out fun sheets to color, or even learn some fun new riddles! For even more parent resources, Family Everyday provides informative articles, parenting quizzes, an interactive Q & A memo board, and facts about the nutrition your kids can count on when they choose school lunch. Family Everyday also shows parents how they can get involved with their school lunch program, and it even offers a newsletter so that you can get quick parenting tips in your inbox!

Check out School Menu and its parental counterpart Family Everyday, two sites that work together with School Food Services Directors to provide and promote healthy eating and physical fitness for kids and their parents.

Coppertone Kids QuickCover Sunscreen Lotion Spray

We burn. My family, that is. With the exception of my olivey-red skinned husband and eldest son, we burn, blister, and peel within minutes of being outside. I specifically get toasted along the part of my hair right down my scalp. I get little red bumps that itch, burn, and sting. And I don't always like wearing a really lame hat.

So I looked into sunscreens for my head. And that led me to the world of aerosol spray lotions and sunscreens. And then out of the blue, I get invited to join a Bzzcampaign to review new Coppertone Kids QuickCover Lotion Spray! Perfect timing!

So I spray it on my head. It comes out nicely in a very fine mist. But, remember, kids that this is lotion. So you need to kind of rub it in a bit. (And on hair that can be difficult.) I spray it on my arms and neck, the kids' legs and tops of their ears. It's kind of fun, and I have to force myself to stop spraying.

2 hours later we are chopping away at the weeds in the garden, and I start to wonder why my scalp doesn't feel like it's 105 degrees F. The Lotion works! An SPF of 50, it protected me against UVA and UVB Rays. It was waterproof, so it didn't drip all over after I put it on. And it did finally absorb, so I wasn't left with the icky white speckles that first came out of the bottle. All-in-all I would say it was a success!

At almost $10 a bottle, it is a little pricey. But, my kids sat still while I sprayed it on, and since it really required very little rubbing in, I felt that it was a very convenient way to get myself and my kids protected!

Oh, and the best thing:
The cap actually twists to a "lock" position. I love this, since my boys love spraying everything all over the house: hairspray, AXE deoderant bodyspray, you name it. And I don't have to worry about it getting all over the inside of our diaper bag.

Who Likes Shoes?

Hello All! I love baby shoes, and they just seem to get cuter all the time! My favorite shoes that I've seen lately are these Vincent soccer shoes for toddlers.

It's just too bad my boys don't play soccer yet. (Unless you count kicking their sister's Bratz doll from the dining room to the living room across the laminate floor.)

If you like shoes, you can enter to win a $50 Vincent GC so that you can buy some cute shoes, too! Just visit Adventures in Babywearing to see how to win. And while you're there, check out her cute blog. You'll feel right at home!