Dyson Housewarming Giveaway!!!

Welcome to the Dyson Housewarming Giveaway event. This took months in the making and Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa Mom is proud to bring you this fantastic home essential and offer you the chance to win one too! Big thank you to our lovely co-hosts How to Have It All, Mark Your Savings and GiveAway Bandit.

 

Dyson DC23 TurbineHead Canister Vacuum

Delivering 220 airwatts of suction power, this canister vacuum cleaner features advanced Level 3 Root Cyclone technology to ensure thorough, efficient cleaning with no clogging or loss of suction. It also offers a TurbineHead brush bar that's ideal for cleaning medium and short pile carpets and can be turned off for hard floors. Certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the unit expels air that contains up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than common breathing air thanks to the vacuum's money-saving, lifetime washable HEPA filter. Plus, Dyson's Bactisafe screen traps and kills bacteria, mold and allergens on contact, preventing them from re-entering the air.

The Telescopic Wrap System allows the hose and wand to be compressed, and ensures that the Dyson DC23 can be stored away neatly and compactly, with no loose components or wires to get tangled. It comes with a stair tool for focusing on dust and dirt from stairs and stair carpets, a brush tool with long bristles to dislodge cobwebs and for delicate cleaning, and a high-velocity airflow crevice tool that's ideal for cleaning base boards, picture frames and in-between furniture. Other features include a clear bin with 0.44-gallon capacity, 21.6-foot cord length, and easy-to-maneuver fixed wheels. The vacuum measures 13.9 x 19.3 x 11.9 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 19.5 pounds. The Dyson DC23 TurbineHead is backed by a 5-year warranty.

Open to worldwide, ages 18+. Giveaway ends on June 15^th. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FREE Blogger event Dyson Giveaway!!

Here is an awesome giveaway coming up! Sign up is FREE for bloggers! 

Its a great way to gain more followers and participate in an amazing giveaway!

Mom to Bed by 8 is excited to present the Housewarming Dyson Event from June 1 to June 15. This is a free blogger event and accepting signups now.

Join the Housewarming Dyson Giveaway event today, grow your readership and offer one fantastic cleaning tool giveaway!

WIN $200 Paypal Cash Giveaway!

You have literally HUNDREDS of chances to win $200 Paypal cash from CouponTrade.com and The Ultimate Baby Shower!

CouponTrade.com is the newest and the hottest way to save because now, you can combine coupon savings with discounted gift cards for the same stores, plus sell all those unused gift cards and redeem whats yours, all in one place!!!

The Ultimate Baby Shower will offer MONTHLY diaper and Formula giveaways, as well as a seasonal NURSERY giveaway! That’s right- you can win the entire nursery, furniture, bedding, and all the baby gear you could need!

Entry is so simple, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter to win a Bumbleride Indie Twin at Baby Gizmo!

As you can tell my favorite stroller is the Bumbleride!

They are beautiful well made strollers.

You can head over to Baby Gizmo today only to enter to win the Indie Twin!

http://blog.babygizmo.com/2012/04/baby-gizmo-youtube-giveaway-extravaganza-day-28-bumbleride-indie-twin

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Sportsmanship: Winning Isn’t Everything Book Review

During a typical day I read around 4-7 books to my son.

He loves for you to read to him.

We love to read new books, I was extremely excited when I was contacted to review

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Sportsmanship: Winning Isn’t Everything!

by: Howard Binkow and Susan F. Cornelison

About the company

We create entertaining, educational books, animated books, songs, lessons, posters, games and activities to help young children be better listeners, deal with bullies and violence, learn important life lessons and feel good about themselves. Children who learn these skills will grow up better informed to resolve conflicts and will be empowered to change the world.

The We Do Listen Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) Non Profit Corporation. We are a group of writers, artists, designers, educators, therapists, parents and grandparents. Many of us volunteer our time. We share a vision of a kinder world with more harmony and peace and a better life for everyone to enjoy.

Howard B. Wigglebottom is an adorable rabbit, whom learns very important lessons in every book.

In this book, Howard learns about being a team player.

I like how the story was told, very easy to read.

It kept my 3 year old fully entertained with use of an entertaining soccer game and wonderful illustrations!

He loved it when Howard played soccer and passed the ball to other team mates.

My son pointed out that Howard did a great job sharing the ball.

This book has sparked other conversations with my son about being a good team mate.

He now loves to point out that Daddy is sharing the bat during his baseball games.

This a wonderful addition to our library and I encourage you to add this one too!

I really like the companies values and the beautiful books they write.

I'm already looking to purchase Howard B. Wigglebottom and the Monkey on His Back.

You can find other books about Howard B. Wigglebottom at We Do Listen

There you can print coloring pages, play many games, find lessons, shop, and look at other great books!

Also, follow Howard B. Wigglebottom on Facebook and Twitter!

*I would like to thank the Mom Blog Society and We Do Listen for allowing me to review this great book. I recieved no compensation other than the book to review and all my opinions are my own.*

Bloggers sign up for FREE at the Ultimate Baby Shower

Attention Bloggers!!

Sign up to promote a $200 rainy day facebook frenzy giveaway!

Here is an excellent way to promote your blog and facebook page.

Enter for FREE HERE!

Enter to win a BUMBLERIDE queen B stroller!

Click here to enter to win this stroller at Baby Gizmo!

I love Bumbleride and this stroller is gorgeous!

The giveaway ends at midnight so hurry!

What can $203.00 get you at a kids consignment sale?

I am here to tell you that nice clothes don't come in handy...

When you have an active 3 year old boy.

Paying full priced for a pair of pjs to sleep in makes me GASP!

$10 or $20 here and there really is expensive.

I think "well I'll save it for the next baby"

uh No, my son's clothing does not last that long.

Well I have a few things saved but not much, certainly not in NEW condition.

Anyways, I'm telling you this because consignment sales excite me!

Its like extreme coupon shopping without the coupons!

Yes, the clothes are used BUT you can find barely worn clothes for $2-5bucks!

I bought Nowee a shirt with the tags still on it!

*this was from my first trip, I bought lots more!!*

So, here is my grand total for this Spring

$203.00 was my total.

15 shirts

8 shorts

2 pj sets

1 pair of jeans

3 pairs of shoes

1 bag full of dinosaurs

1 clifford playhouse

1 lap table

2 foam floor puzzles

5 foam floor play mats

1 train table ($30!)

1 puppet house (its huge! $10)

1 Neat and Tidy Step2 Cottage ($40)

Yep thats 42 items for $203 buckaroos

I estimated the total to be over $700 worth.

I'm only bragging alittle :) but seriously I want everyone to take up this great opportunity to save!

Its not about being rich or poor, its about being logical!

It didn't seem logical to pay $20 for a pj set for my son to sleep in!

Plus, it helps me keep the clothes and toys under control.

How? well I'm glad you asked! lol

I consign with the churches every sale season,

so every 6 months I'm forced to declutter and get rid of toys and clothes Nowee doesn't use.

If only they had home consignment sales every 6 months!

I'd be clutter free!

Notes:

I went to three consignment sales.

Also I volunteered at one so I could get into the volunteer preview sale

so I could snag that train table and playhouse!

I use Consignment Mommies to locate the sales!

Nope, I wasn't paid to endorse Consignment Mommies, I just wanted to share my secret knowledge with ya!

The Power of Play by Mattel

My constant worry is that my son is watching too many movies, and not getting outside enough.

I'm constantly monitoring movie time, its a never ending battle with my 3 year old. He has toys, so many toys that every six months I donate and sell alot of them. My son even knows how to work his daddy's tablet better than me!

We are blessed to be able to provide him with everything he needs and wants. I'm proud to write about Mattel's Power of Play Program because it focus' on those in desperate need of financial support and yes toys too!

Mattel is actively helping the children in the world who are in grave poverty. They give 2% pre-tax donation every year, doesn't sound like much but how about last year that 2% totaled over $20 million dollars! Last year Mattel helped 5 million children in over 50 different countries.

In addition to, the Power of Play Program encourages play with others to be a learning social experience. Playing builds character, and imagination. I can't imagine a better way to teach a child about life, sharing, and kindness. The Power of Play Program wants every child to be able to experience the power of play.

About Mattel's Power of Play Program:
Mattel is creating the future of play! Mattel believes in the power of play as positive play increases imagination, development and joy and has developed the Power to Play program. Nowhere is that more evident than in their global philanthropic efforts. Manufacturing safe and innovative toys is their purpose, and their philanthropic efforts allow them to make a positive social impact on children across the globe. They endeavor to help all children around the world to experience play - including bringing moments of joy to some of the one billion children who are considered in need.

Mattel's Philanthropic Values
Mattel intends to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children in need around the world through our interactions - how we "play" - with our communities, our partners, and our volunteers.

• Play with Passion: By making a meaningful and lasting impact on children globally.
• Play Together: By forming deep partnerships to enrich the communities in which we work and play, and engaging Mattel employees in our efforts.
• Play Fair: By acting with unwavering integrity in all aspects of our work.
• Play to Grow: By striving to make long term differences in the lives of children in need and seeking continuous improvement.

Please check out Mattel's Power of Play Program!

Also they have a free Play Tip Coloring Sheet available for download!

I received compensation for this review through a promotional program from MomSelect.

All of my opinions are my own and 100% honest. Thank you MomSelect and Mattel for this review opportunity.

Great Deal on Amazon!! Fisher-Price iXL HALF PRICE!

If your looking for a great learning toy here ya go!

Click here to get the Fisher Price iXL for $41.79!

Thank you Raining Hot Coupons for sharing this great deal!

Katydid Updates!

Check out my recent reviews at Eighty MPH Mom!

Enter to win a Pride Bites dog toy!

http://eightymphmom.com/2012/02/pride-bites-dog-toy-giveaway.html

and I reviewed Discount Party Supplies Angry Birds set!

http://eightymphmom.com/2012/02/discount-party-supplies-angry-birds-review.html

Yep I made Angry Birds! The cake too!

It was yummy. Nowee wanted to eat the Angry Birds though.

I let him eat an eye lol.

Too much food coloring is never a good thing, plus they were made from fondant.

Next weekend I will be posting my first giveaway so be on the look out!

Love,

Katydid

Update: Weather

Just so you know,

the weather in NC is crazy

Sunday, it snowed.

by Wednesday it was 70 degrees and Sunny.

Friday from 9am til 3:30pm

75degrees sunny

Friday, now 4pm

Raining, nope not raining

ITS POURING!!

I love this state!

It is as indecisive as I am! lol

Love,

Katydid

Products I love: Recaro

It is a beautiful day in NC!!

My house is a disaster but don't worry I've stopped looking at it, lol.

Today is Friday, the weather is perfect, I get to go out to dinner, AND

my son's carseat is coming in today!!

This beautiful carseat is a Recaro Prosport.

We have the Recaro Signo G2 and love it dearly!

I've never seen a child love his seat more, its safe and comfortable.

Nowee has grown so much that he is at the end of his rope, literally!

The harness wouldn't adjust any further, and he bumps his head getting into the car.

He needed a seat that sat lower for our suv.

39.5lbs and 39ins tall

yep thats my 3yr old.

The Prosport is the ultimate seat.

It has a 5 point harness and can convert to using a lap belt!

Recaro did not pay me in any way to say this. I'm just an enthusiastic fan for life!

I love Recaro, this company is amazing.

The car seats go above and beyond standards.

It is a company that has been making safe racing seats for over 100years!

That is a company I can put my trust in.

Wanna Win $1000! Rafflecopter Giveaway!!!

Happy (belated) Valentines Day Everyone!

Look at the giveaway I found!!!

Some very lucky gal or guy is going to win $1000!

Yep $1000

This is not a typo!

Head over here and enter!

http://pawsitiveliving.ca/2012/02/the-grand-event-cash-giveaway.html

Giveaway ends February 29th!

Cash Giveaway and Kindle Giveaway Links

Hello Friday!

Yep thats my dog Riker with his new toy.

I'll be posting a review on EightyMPHMom about this great toy.

Anyways, here are some giveaways I noticed this morning that looked pretty awesome!

Check out this new Facebook page and you can enter to win $229 cash

www.Facebook.com/DealRound

Giveaway ends 2/29

Also, there is a February Kindle giveaway!

http://musingsfromasahm.com/2012/02/february-kindle-giveaway/

Giveaway ends 2/29

Angry Birds Birthday

This weekend was a whirlwind of adventure!

My son had his part one birthday party on Saturday.

Since we live four hours away from my family

we always have two birthday parties for my baby boy.

My baby boy is almost 3!

This weekend is his part two birthday party!

He is having an Angry Birds theme.

I'm going to try to make an Angry Birds cake.

Maybe not as fabulous as these but hey I'm going to try.

Blue Tuesday

Ombre Hair

Just a thought.

Ombre hair is the most popular thing for celebs these days.

BUT

I'm pretty sure some celebrity saw a woman walk into the salon

(a woman who has NOT had her highlights redone in a year), and said "THATS HOTT!"

thus making ombre hair popular

but all us poor folks know its just you couldn't get your hightlights redone until you paid off some bills.

Still I really like ombre hair. I'm just saying there is a story to it :)

My Christmas Eve Story (tissues required) Part 2

Part Two:

The Hospital.

Note: this may be a little to much details but I need to tell the story about how God was there for me in so many ways this Christmas.

Have you ever been to a pediatric emergency department as a mom.

Its heart wrenching. Children crying and screaming.

The nurses and doctors are hard and emotionless.

Which I guess they have to be to work there.

I laid with Noah on the bed.

He hardly let me be more than an inch away from him.

Or maybe it was the other way around.

They took his temperature(the awful way), he cried in my arms.

They gave him medicine to reduce his fever.

Then they wanted to put a catheter in. He's 2 years old!

They wanted to check for infection in his bladder, and since a 2 year old doesn't understand "go pee in a cup"

catheter it is.

They started the procedure.

Noah screams "Mommy, Mommy Mommy"

I had to stand there and watch.

It was the worst feeling anyone could have felt.

My child screaming out in pain and terror, for me to save him.

I've been through a car accident with 28 stitches in my knee, and child birth.

No pain in the world compares to my child calling my name in agony.

He was too strong for the nurse aide to hold him down.

They had failed, they started to try again when...

He peed

He peed on the nurse, she grabbed a cup and caught it.

I was so happy to have my son pee on someone.

I couldn't have handled it twice.

After that we went to get an Xray of his lungs.

To see if he had pneumonia.

My baby, my sweet baby, told everyone there "Merry Christmas!"

My little boy who was sick, was bringing joy to other people.

Like Christ

I know the story of Christ by heart, but becoming a mother has given me revelation, after revelation of the depth of its meaning.

I realized something that Sunday, I hadn't grasp the depth of God's sacrifice.

Sometimes I think we celebrate Christ sacrifice more than God's.

Christ said "Father why have you forsaken me"

Could you imagine God's face, God's pain that He felt when His Son cried out for Him?

Christ cried out, just as my son cried out for me.

I had to watch, and the pain of doing nothing killed me.

I wanted to swoop in and saved the day, but I knew this had to be done for the safety of my child.

Nothing can describe it, the feeling is overwhelming.

Christ cried out in pure pain, wanting only one thing, His Father.

God had to withstand an ultimate sacrifice, for us.

God sacrificed HIS ONLY SON

He felt the pain, the agony, while watching His Son die.

So that we might live.

God sacrificed His whole world, His love, His joy, His Son.

God felt more pain than Christ did that day.

That's what I learned this Christmas.

My Christmas Eve Story (tissues required) Part 1

Oh what a night!

Let me give you a timeline first

Friday 12/23: I worked until midnight

Saturday Morning 12/24: I had to be at work at 8am

Saturday Evening 12/24: At the hospital til 4am

Yeah, let me tell you it has taken me 2-3 weeks

before I could tell this story in details without tearing up.

Saturday evening, we were putting Noah to bed when I noticed he felt hot.

He acted fine all day, didn't think he was sick until I touched his forehead.

So I let him sleep with us, gave him some medicine, and took his temperature about 20times.

The thermometer was giving different readings from 100 to 102.

(never rely on tempera l thermometers)

11pm he still wasn't asleep, we were exhausted but Noah couldn't go to sleep.

Finally, I brushed his hair with my fingers and he started to fall asleep.

Then his back touched my hand. It was burning up!

I started taking off his socks and pants.

Then he started having a seizure!

My baby, my son.

Immediately my husband jumped into action, holding Noah on his side.

Letting Noah bite his fingers so that he could hold his tongue down.

I cried, I fell apart, I could barely speak to the 911 operator.

I'm crying now just from describing this scene.

The fire truck arrived seconds before the ambulance.

The seizure was only a minute, it felt like my entire life wrapped up into one moment, and it was, he is my entire life.

They strapped him into the ambulance, I held his hand the whole way and we cried together.

We stayed at the hospital until 4am.

His fever was 104

He is fine now, some children can have a seizure with high fevers.

It doesn't cause brain damage but you should still seek medical help regardless.

Christmas day, I woke up at 11am to my son and husband dancing to the Nutcracker on PBS. I cried again, we tried to act normal throughout the day.

Noah acted tired but normal. We were in a daze though, I hardly remember anything. We starred at Noah as if he were glass, breakable. Like when he was a newborn. I couldn't look anyone in the eyes, I know I would have fallen apart.

Throughout the week, I randomly cried, at work I could barely talk to customers.

If a child walked in, I would tear up.

It was a Christmas I will never forget.

I'm a mom, I do everything to prevent Noah from getting hurt, and that night I was helpless.

I was human, I realized I had no super powers. I could only wait for the seizure to stop.

Part 2 is about what happen during the hospital visit, and what I learned from it.