Archive | February, 2014

Keeping Track of Your Pet’s Schedule Made Easier (@PetterPlanner REVIEW & #GIVEAWAY)

20 Feb

My girls have asked for a dog for a while now! It started when my oldest daughter went to a pet store on Christopher Street and fell in love with a black French Bulldog, she named Frenchie.  My parents have always had a dog.  First, it was Lucy an English Bulldog, who passed and then they got Harley.  Both of my girls LOVE Harley but my youngest has a special bond with him.  Over the Holidays he spent time with us!  The girls loved walking him through the streets of New York City, snuggling with him and my youngest shared stories on the floor with him.  The day Harley left was a sad day!  My youngest still cries for him, but it got my oldest asking for her “Frenchie”.

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In all our visits to Harley and while he was here, the girls (and I) got a glimpse of what owning a dog is like.  They took him to vet appointments, watched him take his regularly scheduled medication when he was having skin issues, fed him, and took him for his daily walks! There is so much to keep track of!   Recently, we received a copy of The Petter, the ONLY planner (& scrapbook) for pets. While we aren’t Pet owners yet, I used The Petter to talk to the girls about all the responsibilities of owning a pet.  It will also come in handy if we ever watch Harley or my brother-in-laws English Bulldog, Max!

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The Petter retails for $26.99.  It is great for:

  • Keeping track of Vet and Grooming appointments
  • Leaving messages to dog walkers or pet sitters
  • Keeping important information and contact numbers (also handy for Dog Walkers and Pet Sitters)

Includes:

  • Folder to keep loose papers, photos, or vet bills
  • Multiple Notepads for taking or leaving notes.  The larder, lined pad is magnetic and can easily be placed on the refrigerator for a dog walk or sitter to see.
  • Important websites for adopting a pet, reporting animal cruelty or abuse, reporting a stray or injured animals, medical resources, pet supplies and traveling with your pet.
  • Animal Holidays
  • Calendars: the year at a glance, months at a glance, and daily calendar with cute animal quotes at the top of the page.
  • Pet Information pages: microchip information, registration information, allergies, special needs information, age, dob, breed, and more detailed descriptions of your pet
  • Contact information for friends, family, or other pet services
  • Pet Scrapbook for pasting favorite photos of your pet.

The Petter Planner will make keeping track of your pet’s life easier!  One lucky reader will win a copy of The Petter.  Contest begins today and ends 3/6/2014 at 11:59 pm.  ENTER TO WIN HERE!

To learn more visit http://thepetter.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter (@PetterPlanner)!

Walking Max!

Walking Max!

Disclaimer: I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received a copy of the Petter for the purpose of this review! All opinions expressed are my own!

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Create a Refreshing Look with Minted’s Art Prints

16 Feb

While I was stuck inside during the recent snow storms, I glanced around my apartment and realized it needs a little updating!  We’ve been in the same apartment for almost 5 years and have had the same decor and furniture so a little refresher is overdue!  In an online class with Jill Vegas, I learned you don’t have to get rid of all your furniture and start from scratch to change the look of a room.  You can do something as simple as adding flowers, using a piece of art, or changing the color of your throw pillows.

I was excited to learn one of my favorite sites, Minted, launched limited edition art prints created by independent artists and printed on archival paper.   I plan to do a little refreshing during my upcoming Spring Cleaning Project by adding new pieces of art to my walls.   I’ve found several limited edition prints I LOVE! It’s so hard to choose. Minted offers a Style Your Walls page to help find inspiration and ideas to get you started in creating a look for your walls you’ll love.

Christy Turlington Burns' inspiration for a simple and light design! Prints start at $28 for this gorgeous look!

Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts, created a simple and light design! Image from Minted, click to get the look for your wall! Prints start at $28 for this gorgeous look!

One of the biggest challenges I’ve had in the past when I’ve looked for art work is finding the print in a size that works for my space.  Minted offers  various sizes  in 5″ x 7″, 8″ x 10″, 11 “x 14″, 16″ x 20″, 18″ x 24″, 30″ x 40″ and 44″ x 60” vertical prints and vice versa for horizontal.  Select prints have multiple color scheme options to choose from.  Framing options are also available so you don’t have to go to a frame shop and it can go straight on your wall!

The first space I hope to revamp is my girls room.  They have a play kitchen area that could use a little revamping and I would love to include other prints around the room! A few of my favorites are pictured below:

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Love the Tea Cozy print to go above their kitchen sink!

Language of Love

Language of Love Typography Art.  Image from Minted!

Customizable Prints are available to include birth and name information!

Custom Art Prints are available to include birth and name information!  Something I’ve yet to do for the girls. Image from Minted

Heart Snapshot Mix Custom Photo Art: My two girls share a room! A great print to showcase photos of "sister love" over the years!

Heart Snapshot Mix Custom Photo Art: My two girls share a room! A great print to showcase photos of “sister love” over the years! Image from Minted

Love these prints for my living room or bedroom:

A City at Night! Image in Midnight with Distressed Indigo Frame

A City at Night! Image in Midnight with Distressed Indigo Frame.  Image from Minted

Serene Forest in Taupe!

Serene Forest in Taupe! Image from Minted

West Elm collaborated with minted to support independent Artists. I love this Waterscape Color block! Image from and available at WestElm.com

West Elm collaborated with minted to support independent Artists. I love this Waterscape Color block! Image from and available at WestElm.com

Escape

Escape image from Minted

Not only did I find several gorgeous prints, I learned 2 percent of the proceeds from sales of Minted’s art will benefit Every Mother Counts, an advocacy and mobilization campaign founded by Christy Turlington Burns in 2010 to increase support for maternal mortality reduction globally (learn more here)!  Getting ready for your Spring Cleaning and/ or refreshing project?  Check out Minted’s limited edition prints that will add freshness to any wall in your home!

The Minted Design Challenge: From now until March 14, 2014 submit a design.  The minted community will vote and choose a winner whose design will be sold on Minted.  Learn more here.

Minted is also a wonderful site for stationary, gifts, and party supplies.

Disclaimer:  I received a credit towards minted for the purpose of this post however this did not alter my opinions. As always opinions expressed are my own.  Images and information about the prints came from Minted.com!

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Happy Valentine’s Day and Last Minute Snack Ideas for After School #ValentinesDay

14 Feb

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My girls were so excited for today! They have been making Valentine’s for weeks now and trying to figure out what they were going to get their dad!  The girls woke up to a Frozen themed Valentine’s Day gift, Anna and Elsa swimsuits, and FunBites Heart Pancakes!  Then off to school the went for endless lollipops, candy and treats from the school bake sale, what’s not to love!

During the week, the girls and I tried different Valentine’s snacks for after school!  They are so simple, you could run out or pick up the ingredients on your way home but you probably have them already!

“Berry Banana’s for You” smoothie:

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  • 1 plain non-fat Fage Greek Yogurt
  • 1 Banana
  • A handful of Strawberries, cut
  • 3 Strawberry Peeps Marshmallows (I got the idea to use Peeps in a Smoothie after a Holiday event I attended!)
  • a handful of ice

Blend all ingredients but only use 2 peeps  until consistency you like.  Slide the third Peeps Strawberry Heart trough a straw, use gel icing to write a message! Serve and enjoy!

Valentine’s Fruit Tray

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  • Grapes
  • Driscoll’s Strawberries
  • Cabot Sharp White Cheddar Cheese Single

Use a gel icing writer to outline the shape of a heart on a serving dish!  Place grapes on the gel icing!  Once the heart outline is complete, fill with strawberries.  Finish by using a knife to cut an XO out of a piece of Cabot Sharp White Cheddar Cheese single!

Add A Little Sparkle To Your Valentine’s Day With Anna de Codornίu #AnnaSparkling

11 Feb

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My husband and I have always preferred staying in on Valentine’s Day enjoying a glass of wine, watching a movie and making a nice dinner or ordering take-out.  We gave cards and exchanged small gifts. Not much changed on Valentine’s Day when we had our girls, except the movie choice has become a Disney or family movie to watch with the little LOVES of our life.  Mommy still enjoy a glass of wine on the couch!  This year my glass will be filled with Anna de Codornίu Sparkling Wine!

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My first  taste of Anna de Codornίu was at the Momtrends Holiday Event!  Every sip I took was, crisp, refreshing, and delicious!  At the event, I won a gift basket and received a sample!  Over the holidays, I shared Anna de Codornίu with friends and family at various gatherings and celebrations! Everyone I have shared it with has expressed equal enjoyment and asked where they could find it!

How to add a little sparkle to your Valentine’s Day:  If you’re making a special dinner this Valentine’s Day, the Cava Brut pairs well with shellfish and whitefish!  It’s also a suitable accompaniment to sushi and sashimi! The Rose Brut is ideal for apéritifs or sipping with friends!  After the kids go to sleep, have a toast to celebrate all the love in your life!

Anna de Codornίu launched a new look for the new year! The gorgeous new labels make Anna de Codornίu a perfect gift, not only for your loved one on Valentine’s Day, but for engagements, new moms, house-warming, or a host/ hostess gift.  They are also perfect to display and serve at bridal showers and baby showers! The bottles are beautiful on their own but if you want to add a personal touch for someone special, the new labels work well for decorating and writing a sentiment (try using colorful sharpies)!  An empty bottle would be perfect to up-cycle and use as a vase in a dining room or bar area!

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Toasting with Anna is an effortless way for friends to add charm and excitement to life events, from girls’ night out to movie night, casual brunch, or an elegant soirée. Anna Brut and Brut Rosé retail for $14.99 and are exclusively distributed by Aveníu Brands based in Baltimore, Maryland. Find out more at facebook.com/AnnadeCodorniu.US!

Anna de Codornίu Brut NV

  • Producing Region: D.O. Cava- Penedes
  • Varietal: 30% Parellada, 70% Chardonnay

Anna de Codornίu Brut Rose NV

  • Producing Region: D.O. Cava- Penedes
  • Varietal: 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post, all  images and opinions expressed are my own.  Information in italics came from a press release!  I received samples but that did not alter my opinions!

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Introducing the #StokkeSteps

7 Feb

We’ve been huge Stokke® fans for quite some time! Every night when our girls bathe, they wash with their wash cloth glove and dry off with their matching hooded towels! The Stokke Scoot has gotten us around the streets of NYC and is a wonderful single stroller! Our Stokke Tripp Trapp has become a staple in our home. Not only does it get used for daily meals, it’s also used for hair salon in the morning (the only way I can get my girls to brush their hair), when they get their nails done (the bottom foot rest is perfect for pedicures), and when they create their masterpiece art projects! We’ve got so much Stokke®love, I couldn’t have been more excited when I heard Stokke® was launching a new product!

StokkeLOVE

I was lucky to attend an exclusive preview and launch celebration of Stokke’s® newest innovation, Stokke Steps, with Momtrends, Stokke® and other bloggers. The celebration took place at Gary’s Loft. The space was absolutely gorgeous! The Momtrends team did an amazing job decorating to transform the space into a homey, loft-like feel. I was ready to move in! After admiring the beautiful space, mingling with fellow bloggers over a glass of wine, and snacking on delicious passed Scandinavian hors d’oeuvres we received a demonstration on how to use the new Stokke Steps.

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The Stokke Steps was designed with the US market in mind. They created a four-legged chair that grows with your child and suitable from approximately 3 to 10 years. Stokke® goes above and beyond in their craftmanship and design, making a chic, stylish and compact high chair that can go with any decor (rustic, playful, or contemporary). The chair ($279) is available in walnut brown or natural, both with a white seat and footrest. Not only does it look fabulous but it’s multifunctional and practical-no more buying a million seats for every stage, it’s all in one!

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Image from Stokke

When my girls were infants eating was difficult with baby in one arm and fork in the other. The only time I ended up eating was when I put them in their crib, in the swing, or left them on the play mat on the floor. I felt guilty leaving them but it was much easier to eat. With the Stokke Steps, you can now bring your infant from the living room, bathroom (for breakfast after the morning shower), or bedroom to the kitchen table in a mater of minutes with the integrated free-standing bouncer that collapses and fits on the chair. The footrest slides up and down so the chair can grow with you. Accessories are available for each stage of your child’s development.

Accessories available:

  • Bouncer ($199): Available in 4 color choices. Glides with natural movements (side to side and back and forth), several recline positions, an infant insert is used until your child has better head control and neck support, and attaches to the chair. A detachable toy hanger is included to promote motor skills. Birth- 20lbs.
  • Baby Set ($99.99): Transforms your chair into a high chair when your baby is ready to taste his/her first foods. Wipe clean
  • Baby Cushion ($49.99): Added cushion for extra comfort. Available in 4 colors.
  • Tray Attachment ($49.99): There were many times I left my daughter in her high chair with some Cheerios so I can finish cooking meals. The Tray Attachment makes it easier to bring your child to another room while they have a snack or play. Wipe clean, not dishwasher safe.

The Stokke® Steps is available now! Stokke® offers a 3 year warranty if you register online at stokkewarranty.com. For news, updates and more visit http://www.stokke.com/en-us/, like on Facebook, or follow @stokkebaby on Instagram and Twitter!

To learn more about Momtrends visit: www.momtrends.com

Disclaimer: I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own! Any information about the product was received from the event or the Stokke website! I will receive a Stokke gift bag for attending the event. Thank you Momtrends and Stokke for a wonderful evening.

A Heartfelt Valentine’s Day (@Teleflora #Giveaway)!

4 Feb

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Valentine’s is a little over a week away!  My daughter has been hard at work handwriting and decorating cards for her friends close to her heart.  I was sitting with her while she was decorating and she asked “do you get presents on Valentine’s Day too?”  I told Valentine’s is about showing someone you love them.  You can give flowers, chocolates, jewelry or just say I love you and show an act of love.

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Image from Teleflora

Flowers are personally my favorite.  Flowers can brighten up a room and also put a smile on a face, especially when you aren’t expecting them.  Make your Valentine smile and enter to win A Heartfelt Bouquet (pictured above) from Teleflora, a $69.95 value.  Enter HERE! Giveaway begins now and ends Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 11:59 pm!

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Congratulations, please e-mail your information to tastefullychildish@gmail.com! Thank you to everyone who entered, followed, and tweeted about the giveaway!  Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Image from Teleflora

Image from Teleflora

This Valentine’s Day, Teleflora has teamed up with the NBA for a “Send & Score Campaign“.  When you purchase one of Teleflora’s participating bouquets, you will be entered in a sweepstakes for the chance to win a trip for four to an NBA playoff game and a year of Teleflora flowers! learn more here.

About Teleflora: At Teleflora, we’re proud to have been connecting customers with the nation’s best florists for more than 78 years. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Teleflora has over 16,000 member florists throughout the U.S. and Canada, with an additional 20,000 affiliated florists outside North America. This extensive network, coupled with our commitment to exceptional customer service, means that when you send flowers from Teleflora, you can be confident that you’re sending the best.  

Teleflora flowers are fresh and gorgeous.  They have gifts for every occasion, not just Valentine’s Day.    Make sure to visit their site for and follow on twitter, facebook, pinterest and Instagram.

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  Information in italics is from Teleflora.com.  All opinions expressed are my own.  A Heartfelt Bouquet was given for the purpose of this giveaway!

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