When kids are young, they unfortunately do not have a good concept of time and don’t always adhere to our sleep schedule.  Who cares that  mom wants to sleep in late on the weekend?   Surely not your kids!  Just when you think you are going to enjoy a few extra hours of sleep, here comes the little one barging into your room. At 6am… On a Saturday morning… Demanding you get up and start your day.  Sometimes they just do not get it, but it is not their fault totally, they just need a little guidance. 

I was offered the opportunity to review a ZAZOO Photo Clock  recently and it is definitely a mommy must have.  My boys are old enough now to understand the difference between day and night but I could have really benefited from this when they were younger.  Now that they are older, it is still one pretty cool clock.  The ZAZOO Photo Clock is more than a photo clock. It’s a clock, a photo frame, a video and MP3 player all wrapped into one. It even comes with a remote ! Teaching kids the difference between night and day could not be more fun.  The ZAZOO Photo Clock is a contemporary multimedia accessory that teaches children the concept of “sleep” and “awake” while helping parents the opportunity to create healthy sleep habits in a fun, educational way.

The concept of the clock is really simple.   The clock has two pre-programmed image sets of “awake” and “asleep” photo options that help your child know when to stay in bed or get up and start the day. When a child sees the sun image on their ZAZOO Photo Clock, they know it is time to wake. If they see the moon photo, that lets them know they should stay in bed until the alarm picture changes.

The alarm can be set for both naptime and bedtime. You can even personalize the awake and sleep images by uploading  personal images of your kids sleeping or waking up.  For an even  more personalized touch, you can even download your child’s name in images to be used on the clock.  

The ZAZOO Photo Clock is amazing and brillant all at the same time.  It can grow with your child even up to their teen years.   My son really enjoys this clock and operates it fairly well on his own.  He has even showed me a few things or two.  His favorite part has to be all the features the clock  has to offer.  As I mentioned earlier, The ZAZOO photo clock is more than just a clock.   It comes with a USB cord and the option of adding a SD memory card so that you can upload pictures, videos and even music.  You can create a picture show of your kids favorite photos  and watch their excitement as the pictures scroll by while set to some of their favorite songs. In a nutshell, this little clock does a lot and can really grow with your kid for years to come.

If you could use a little help with getting your kids to bed and staying there until its time to get up, then the ZAZOO Photo Clock could really help.  I think it is really one of those products that is beneficial to both mom and kid and then maybe you can get those extra 2 hours of sleep on the weekend you all deserve.

PRICE: The ZAZOO Photo Clock from ZAZOO KiDS retails for $89.99
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Aquaphor products are amazing! Especially for those who suffer with very dry/sensitive skin.  Both my husband and I have dry skin and my boys have somehow inherited it.  I didn’t notice it so much when they were younger, but now it has become more noticeable.    They both have some of the driest skin and we have tried several products that just doesn’t seem to work  or stop working after a while.   Just when I think we’ve found that magic solution, we somehow end up back to square one.   Sometimes you have to go through a few to find one that works for you and your family.   

Something dawned on me recently when I was offered the opportunity to review a few products from Aquaphor.  A few years ago when my nephew was dealing with some skin issues, my sis mentioned to me about how she used the Aquaphor healing ointment and how it really worked.  He had a really bad case of Excema and she raved about the results, so I wanted to give this a try also.  No one in my household had excema but we did have really dry skin so figured this would work. It did and really well at that!    We used the product until it ran out and somehow, for some reason, didn’t purchase it again.  Our skin issues seemed to be more manageable for a period of time so I attributed that to the other products we were using at the time.  Thinking back, I don’t think that was the case.  Its my opinion that the effectiveness of the Aquaphor ointment kept our skin moisturized even after we stopped using it.

SO long story short.  We’ve been through several different products and I never thought it was the healing ointment that was what really worked for us until this opportunity arised.  So you see,  I’ve been a fan of Aquaphor products for many years, but I just didn’t know it.   When it comes to our skin, we want to keep it protected at all times, especially during the winter months.  So what I guess Im saying is that when you find something that works you should stick to it.  Irritable skin conditions such as dry, cracked and inflamed  skin can leave you feeling irritable-so imagine how that would feel on a baby whose skin is even more sensitive which is why you want to keep it protected.  Your babies skin–and yours is worth protecting.  Aquaphor wants to help which is why we have arranged a fabulous giveaway for my lovely readers.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment - The Baby Healing Ointment is a pediatrician-recommended formula that will soothe and protect your baby’s uncomfortable dry skin and provide effective relief for dry, cracked skin. .

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Reading is a lot of fun…especially if you are a part of the book. I am a licensed teacher and it’s very important for me to have books for my children to read. I had the pleasure of getting a book from “I See Me”–Personalized Books, and  it was a big hit.  What is so special about these books–is that  they are not just some random books with your child’s name in them. No, they are heavily personalized with a lot of fun added in.

My son’s 3rd birthday is coming up and I wanted him to have something special. He is really smart, can count to 15 and also say his ABC’s. He also just mastered the art of potty training, so this was the perfect gift to show him and get him excited about reading. The thing I love about my book and all the books that I SEE ME offers, is that they are  truly personalized. The whole story involves my son’s name and the story is very interactive. It’s hard to keep the attention of an almost 3 year old boy–but this book sure did the trick.

We had the pleasure of receiving, My Very Own Pirate Tale and I would highly recommend it along with any other book from I SEE ME. You can even take a virtual tour of a book before you purchase it. There are also many options to choose a book for like a baby or even smaller kids. There are also other personalized gifts available.

As a mom, teacher and wife–I was excited to get a book that taught so much about phonics, personalization and excitement. Kids need to be excited about reading and a personalized reading book really helps with that. These books are also nice because you can give them at any age. Mom and dad can help read them.

Whatever the occasion, these personalized books from I See Me will rise to the top!

Win It!

The folks over at I See Me has generously offered to giveaway one personalized book to one Cocktails with Mom reader.  Enter below for your chance to win a personalized book for your little one!

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When it comes to doing laundry,  it is definitely one of those chores that never seems to end.  Especially if you’re that person who cannot seem to overlook a basket piling up with clothes and just have to do it now and cannot wait till the weekend.  I’m that person.  I’d  rather just get it done and not be faced with washing 3 loads, instead ofe one, and have to spend my weekend doing laundry.      The problem with that is, there is not always enough clothes to make a full load… which brings me to two different categories you may fall in when it comes to doing the laundry.  First you have the type that will carefully take the time to separate the whites from the colors.  Then there’s the type, that will throw whatsever in the bin and hope for the best.  

I don’t know about you, but I have been guilty of the latter a few times and have my share of  pinkish colored socks and tinged blue t-shirts to prove it.  Let’s face it! Sometimes, you just want to get it done, but that can come with a nifty price in the long run.

 Thanks to Shout Color Catcher With Oxi, the worry of mixing darker colors with light fabrics may be a thing of the past.  Designed to absorb and trap loose dyes in your wash, you can simply toss one of the little pouches with Oxi Powder into the wash and it will protect your clothes against color bleeds and help preserve the original color.  I put these little pouches to the test and I was surprised at how good they actually worked.  Mind you, I was a bit skeptical at first but it has proven to work really well.  I was really surprised to see the whites that I combined in the batch of colored clothes to come as if they were washed separately.  What amazed me is that although the whiles were stain free, the color patch that was used while laundering came out tinged blue.  My guess is that it attracted all of the dye away from the clothing as the product claimed it would do.  Now that I know how the color catch patches work first hand, it gives me a sigh of relief knowing that if I ever accidently or purposely combine different colors in my wash, they will come out disaster free.  My only issue now is to actually remember to  USE the Color Catcher Packets!

What about you, are you looking for ways to simplify doing your laundry? Visit the Shout website for more information and find out ways Shout Color Catcher sheets can help you save time and money.   Shout is currently offering downloadable  coupons on their Facebook page for both Shout Color Catcher with Oxi and Shout Free.

I am giving TWO of my readers the chance to win their own samples of  Shout Color Catcher With Oxi.  Entering is easy. Simply leave a comment sharing with us one a laundry tip or one of your laundry disaster stories. 

Rules

Open to US

Winner will be chosen by random.  Giveaway ends 1/31/01 at   10a.m.  CST.

Winner will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected! Cocktials with Mom is not responsible for prizes not fulfilled by the vendor.

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Shout and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Welcome to Cocktails with Mom’s ….Thursday Giveaway Link Up Party!

Do you have a Giveaway going on? Feel free to join in on the party!

Share with us your Fabulous Giveaways and enter a few while you’re at it. Be sure to come back next Thursday, same time same place.

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Boys will be boys right?  Well, I’ve got two of them, a husband and a dog who all keep me very busy doing laundry.  I mean-it seems like they all take turns coming home each day with a new stain.  Whether it’s my youngest who seems to manage getting most of his lunch on his shirt rather than in his mouth or the oldest who like doodling on his clothes and some body parts but that’s another discussion another time. Then there’s my husband. Well his stains are a story in itself. His job requires that he gets dirty sometimes so there are some things we just can’t get around. Anyways, with that said.   I had the opportunity recently to try out the Shout Free and Shout Color Catcher with Oxi and wanted to share my experience with you.

Like I mentioned earlier, I am always fighting some type of stain when it comes to laundry.  You would think I have seen them all but I am always somehow surprised or trying to figure out a mysterious stain from time to time.  Grass stains, food stains, ink or liquids.  You name it, we have encountered it.  And, oh yes, let not forget the stains our dog has contributed to the mix. 

It is always nice to have a go to product when you need it and I have always liked Shout! products, so I was happy to hear they have come out with Shout Free.  Shout Free has zero dyes, zero fragrance, and 99% natural ingredients and works in all water temperatures.  It also has a convenient and easy trigger dispenser that makes using the product a breeze.  All you have to do is spray the stain, wait a few minutes and then throw it in with the rest of your wash.  For tougher stains, simply let them sit overnight before washing and watch the stains disappear.

The new Shout Free did not disappoint me.  Knowing that I have this handy little bottle of stain remover handy makes me happy knowing that it works and can save me money in the long run.  I’m pretty pleased, and I’ll continue to purchase it in the future.

Right now, Shout is offering downloadable coupons on their Facebook page for Shout Free and Color Catcher with Oxi! Head on over to print yours now. You can also head over to the Shout website to learn more and get more information on this product.

 I have been given the opportunity to host a giveaway here at Cocktails with Mom where two readers can win samples of Shout Free. Please see rules below to enter to win today.

How To Enter:

Subscribe to Cocktails with Mom by Email or RSS feed

Bonus Entries:

1. Like Cocktails with Mom and Shout on Facebook (2 entries)
2. Follow @MomCocktails and Shout on Twitter and tweet this giveaway or create your own. Leave your Tweet Link. (2 tweets per DAY is allowed)

Enter to win a bottle of Shout Free  http://bit.ly/tLWu4T     Ends 1/02 US only#Giveaway@MomCocktails

3.POST ON your Facebook page that you entered this giveaway, leaving a link back to this giveaway on the Facebook Page. Come back and post your FB entry link here (1 entry total)
4.Follow me on Stumble Upon

5.ADD the Cocktails with Mom text link or button to your blogroll or sidebar (5 entries)
6.LEAVE a comment on a non-giveaway post (Come back and let me know that you did!)(can be done up to 5 times)
7.BLOG about this giveaway and leave the link to your blog post in the comments. (5 entries)
8.SHARE this Giveaway on Facebook via the share button below ( 2 entries)

Rules:
Open to US

Include email address with first entry
Winner will be chosen by random
Giveaway ends 1/02/11 at 11:59 P.M. CST
Winner will be emailed and must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be selected.
Winners will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected! Cocktials with Mom is not responsible for prizes not fulfilled by the vendor.

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Shout and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Welcome to Cocktails with Mom’s ….Thursday Giveaway Link Up Party!

Do you have a Giveaway going on? Feel free to join in on the party!

Share with us your Fabulous Giveaways and enter a few while you’re at it. Be sure to come back next Thursday, same time same place.

Please RT so that others would be able to join in on the Party!

Not too long ago we welcomed our second son into the world. Well, here it is almost January and he will be 1 year old. We were looking for the most perfect outfit for him for his birthday. I heard about MyBabyClothes.com and had to check it out.

These clothes aren’t just plain old clothes for kids. No, these clothes are fashionable clothes for kids that make them look just plain snazzy. I was so excited to be able to try out this outfit for my son for his birthday. Of course, we had to get a sneak peak before then. It’s not every day my son gets to be the hottest-dressed-baby on the block.

Here is a quick picture of their cute baby model wearing the outfit

Make any fall day a bit more fun with this autumn inspired ensemble that is just perfect for cooler weather. A deep orange short sleeved shirt layers long sleeves of ivory, mocha, and chocolate horizontal stripes to create an open-colored shirt that offers both comfort and fashionable good looks, and a band of ivory at the hem is a cool and stylish accent. Pair this fun and functional top with chocolate hued pants and he’ll be the most dashing kid among those on the block vying for the big pile of leaves in the back yard.

I am really pleased with the quality of this outfit. We will be getting a lot more wear out of it, then just for his birthday. My son is still crawling so it’s important that the pants can withstand a good meeting with the rug every now and again. I personally am in love with the bright and bold colors. It’s hard to find clothing that outlasts your kids. I’m pretty sure the Good Lad Orange Stripe Shirt and Pant Set is just what we’ve been looking for to match our son’s feisty and outgoing attitude.

Lastly, I was most pleased with the service I received from MyBabyClothes.com. They genuinely cared about my order and getting it to me fast. Matter-of-fact I was shocked I got the outfit so quickly. I will be doing business again with them soon, very soon!

I have a niece that I cannot wait to buy for because the clothes from this boutique are just plain fabulous. Also, for once it was nice to find classy baby clothes for a boy from a boutique. Too often the clothes are only for girls. Overall, this is one happy momma! I’d say if you are looking for a great Christmas outfit for that little lad or laddette of yours….then hop on over to MyBabyClothes.com!

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On Cocktails with Mom reader will win a $25 gift code to MyBabyClothes.com!  To enter, Just enter via the Rafflecopter Form Below.

Personalized creations for your loved ones are more important than you might think. I like to see something personal engraved on a Christmas gift I get someone. It adds a little something special to the creation and gives it a special memory.

When I was given the chance to check out PersonalCreations.com, I could not believe the quality of their gifts. There is everything you need for holidays or birthdays. Last January I had my son and this will be his first Christmas season. I looked everywhere for something that would show my excitement for his first major Holiday. He’ll be a year old so it’s not like I wanted to get him just anything. As I scanned their website, I was tickled pink at all of the selections available.

Imagine my surprise when I came across the gorgeous Baby’s First Christmas stocking. I ordered it and it came to me really quickly. I didn’t waste any time opening the stocking from the package of course. I was simply amazed at the stocking when I pulled it out. I chose the Baby’s First Christmas Patchwork Stocking for our son. The detail of the patchwork is beautiful and I was also pleased with the way my son’s name came out on the stocking. Simply Beautiful! You can see for yourself how fabulous the detail is on this stocking.

The stocking is also not small by any means and it looks perfect on our mantel. Here is a close-up picture of our newest stocking addition:

A Personal Creations Exclusive! Soft colors, a pretty patchwork design and charming button detail make this the perfect keepsake stocking for your little one’s first Christmas. We embroider any name, up to 12 characters. Choose from pastel pink or blue. Made of polyester fleece. Measures 21”L.

The Baby’s First Christmas Patchwork Stocking also looked perfect on our mantel with our other stockings. 

Lucky for me, I also got the pleasure of picking out an engraved ornament for myself. The ornament I chose has special meaning because my husband and I will be celebrating five years together in 2012. The year of 2011 marks a special year of having two children together and still being in love. I’m glad we have the  Cozy Wedding Couple Ornament to make our Christmas just a little more special. You have to see for yourself how detailed and breathtaking this little ornament is. It is the perfect decoration for our Christmas tree this holiday season.

As you can see, the engraving is beautiful and adds the most perfect touch to our ornament! The ornament also fits perfectly with our other decorations. I’ve already ordered both of the kids ornaments for the holidays and I can’t wait to get them. I would say that any product you receive from Personal Creations is and ideal gift for anyone in your family. Personal Creations literally has it all!

If you would like to find out more about PersonalCreations.com, then make sure to visit their website.

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter!

Have fun picking out the most PERSONALIZED perfect gift for this holiday season!

How about a $5o gift code to get you started?  PersonalCreations.com is providing one Cocktails with Mom reader a $50 gift code to do some shopping of their own.  To enter, just following the instruction on the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!

Disclosure:  Product was received in order to do this review.

Welcome to Cocktails with Mom’s ….Thursday Giveaway Link Up Party!

Do you have a Giveaway going on? Feel free to join in on the party!

Share with us your Fabulous Giveaways and enter a few while you’re at it. Be sure to come back next Thursday, same time same place.

Please RT so that others would be able to join in on the Party!