Educational Insights ~Smens~ Review and Giveaway

*There were 261 entries. The winner is Tina.

Thank you for entering*

Do you remember having things like smelly stickers and markers growing up? I certainly do and these pens I received from Educational Insights reminds me of them. These are actually called Smens which is smelly and pens put together (I bet you already figured that out =)). There are also smencils available as well.



The Smens come in a set of 10 or 50. I was sent the set of 10 gourmet scented pens which includes the scents:

• Red Licorice
  
• Creamsicle
  
• Aloha
  
• Mystery Scent
  
• Banana FoFana
  
• Mocha
  
• Passion Fruit
  
• Ninja Berry
  
• Pink Lemonade
  
• Black Licorice

Not only are these pens super cool but they are environmentally friendly too! They are made from recycled newspapers and biodegradable plastic. Each pen comes in its own little tube to insure the scents last at least 2 years.



We had a lot of fun guessing the different scents when this set arrived. In fact, my boyfriend was using a pen that was sitting on the desk when he said, “Wow! Something smells good!”. He started sniffing around trying to figure out what it was. I knew that it was a Smen he was using but I was laughing so hard it took me a while to tell him that. Needless to say he was impressed.



Some of the scents are ones that I do not particularly care for, but those could be used as a gift if you know someone that might love that scent. All of these pens write in black ink but I would personally love if they wrote in the same color as as their packaging!  How cool would that be?

Giveaway 

Educational Insights has generously offered one of my readers their very own set of Smens.

HOW TO ENTER 

Tell me which Smen scent you would most like to try/smell! 

(Click I did this - then put the scent you'd most like to try in the "Extra Info" section. ) 

Please use the widget below for your entries (comments do not count as entries):

Original Sprout Review and Giveaway

*There were 109 entries. The winner is Melissa.

Thank you for entering*

The founder of this company delighted in her newborn daughter's thick hair. Wanting to use the safest bath products led to her trying natural baby shampoos. To her surprise, all the shampoos wreaked havoc on her daughter's hair and sensitive skin. To remedy the problem Inga created the first of it's kind, ultra moisturizing natural baby bath & styling products. The benefits of being a master stylist with professional experience & a mother with real life experience culminated into Original Sprout, a globally trusted natural family brand.

Original Sprout Products are Biodegradable, 100% Vegetarian (Vegan), Free of PhytoEstrogens, Soy, Parabens, Gluten, Dixoanes from Sulfates, Phthalates & Formaldehyde.

I was super excited to try these products out. I love that they are all natural, vegan friendly and overall safe to use on even the youngest of family members.

I was sent a few products from the Worry-Free Luxury Collection which includes their best-selling Miracle Detangler, Natural Shampoo, and Scrumptious Cream.

I love all the products I was sent but the Miracle Detangler is my favorite. I love the smell, it is a very clean shampoo type smell.
My oldest daughter has curly/wavy hair and this has made her hair so soft and healthy looking. It really takes the frizz out and puts some bounce into her hair.

The Scrumptious Baby Cream  I received has a clean scent to it. It was very gentle on our skin, even my girls who have a lot of trouble with skin products really like this lotion. It absorbs well and isn’t heavy or sticky. It also includes rosemary to help calm sensitive skin and naturally repel insects.

The Natural Shampoo I received has a nice clean smell. It is thin and a little goes a long way. It made our hair feel squeaky clean.
The only thing I wish is that I had the chance to try the Deep Conditioner.

There is a long list of why these products are top notch. Everything from ingredients to what is not put in these products.

Our regulated, European Directive Compliant products are:
• Are made by a master stylist and mother, so they are safe and natural, but perform as good or better than high-end salon brands.
• Free of phthalates, phytoestrogens, soy, gluten, animal products, parabens, and propylene glycol with no added dioxanes or formaldehydes.
• Free of skin penetrators & photosensitizers (plasticizers & nanoparticles).
• Extracts are certified organic. The majority of ingredients are plant derived & from natural sources.
• E.U. Directive Compliant with full label disclosure of ingredients.
• Fragrances are made with naturally derived ingredients & are certified FREE of phthalates, lavender, tea tree, PG, DPG, parabens, dioxanes, benzenes, formaldehydes, acetaldehydes, styrene, toluene, chlorobenzene & glycol ethers.
• Products are vegetarian/vegan & biodegradable.
• Can be purchased online at http://www.originalsprout.com/ or at a variety of health food stores & salons worldwide (not found in conventional grocery & drug store chains or big box stores).

If you are interested in purchasing these awesome products or any other Original Sprout products check out Original Sprout’s website and use the code FIRST_ORDER_10-U to get 10% off your first order.

Giveaway
Original Sprout has generously offered a $50 gift certificate good for any online purchase at www.originalsprout.com for a giveaway.


HOW TO ENTER
Visit Original Sprout and comment back with your favorite item! Please use the widget below for your entries

(comments do not count as entries):

Educational Insights – Review and Giveaway

 

*There were 114 entries. The winners are Audrey and Tiffany.

Thank you for entering*

My girls have been playing with E-Z as ABC Game Set almost daily. They have matched up the puzzles pieces, put the items in alphabetical order and made up games to play. They have even matched the words to the pictures using small word cards that came with this game. I love that there is so much variety in play style with this set. This puzzle has been played with quite a bit and the pieces are very sturdy. You can tell that this has been made to last.


We also received Chime With Rhyme and it has been just as loved.

My 6 yr old has had some trouble grasping rhyming words. She gets some but has trouble with others. This game is really helping her to grasp the concept. Each section has 3 pictures that rhyme but there are also letter cards to help you think of more words that rhyme. There are also small word cards you can match with the pictures in this game as well.

Both games have been well loved and held up well with no bent pieces. My oldest has enjoyed teaching her younger sister with these games as well.
If you are interested in purchasing these awesome products or any other Educational Insights products check out Educational Insights website.
Also follow them on facebook where they hold a variety of promotions, as well as interact with their fans regularly.

Giveaway

Educational Insights has offered a copy of each game for a giveaway. There will be 2 winners. One of my readers will receive E-Z as ABC Game Set and another reader will receive Chime With Rhyme. You can enter by filling out the form or leaving a comment, include all of your entries at once. Please leave your email with your entry so I can contact you, entries without emails are disqualified.

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me which game you would prefer if you won.

Earn Extra Entries (not required):
Like Educational Insights on Facebook – Let them know I sent you.
Like Valerie's Reviews on Facebook
Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.
Subscribe to this blog via email. 




This giveaway will end on June 17th and the winner will be announced within 24 hours.
The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is limited to residents in the US and Canada only - 18 years old and above.
Winner will be chosen at random.


Good Luck!

Radius Toothbrush Review and Giveaway

*There were 134 entries. The winner is Vanessa.

Thank you for entering*

Radius is changing the way we brush our teeth with unique toothbrushes designed to make the toothbrush comfortable, enjoyable and effective. With a mass of very soft bristles, a large head area for low pressure brushing and a comfortable handle, this toothbrush would let you brush lightly and accurately.

 
We were sent 2 toothbrushes to review, a Kidz Toothbrush and an Original Toothbrush.
About the Kidz Toothbrush (ages 6 and up):

• Thumb grip and big, easy to hold handle designed just for children. A pint sized version of the Original
• Three times more very fine bristles with wide oval format, massage gums gently
• Lasts 9 months
• American Dental Association “Accepted” for prevention of gingivitis and removal of plaque
• Non-aligned bristle layout to avoid tooth erosion
• Beautiful Award-winning design

 
My 6 yr old has 3 toothbrushes, a regular toothbrush, a spin brush type toothbrush and this Kidz toothbrush. Ever since we received the Kidz toothbrush it is the only one she wants to brush with. She loves the cool design with a special place for her thumb and she says it is more comfy than her other toothbrushes (her words). Anything that makes children more willing to brush their teeth is fantastic in itself. I also feel that she is doing a better job of getting her teeth clean with this toothbrush. I think the larger head makes it easier for her to clean all areas of the mouth.



About the Original Toothbrush:

• Three times more very fine bristles with wide oval format, massage gums gently
• Lasts 9 months
• American Dental Association “Accepted” for prevention of gingivitis and removal of plaque
• Right or left ergonomic handle ensures dentist recommended 45 º angle of bristle to teeth
• Handle made of wood-based cellulose, sourced from sustainable yield forests
• Non-aligned bristle layout to avoid tooth erosion
• Beautiful Award-winning design

I was worried that I wouldn’t like this toothbrush due to the larger head. I thought it would be uncomfortable to use and make brushing my teeth more of a chore. Well, I was pleasantly surprised that this toothbrush is not only comfortable to use, I like it better than my old toothbrush. I also love that it lasts 3 times as long and I only need to replace it every 9 months.

Radius also carries a Pure Baby toothbrush designed for babies 6 – 18 months and a Totz toothbrush designed for children 18 months and up.  There are also other designs of toothbrushes on the site. As well as cases for toothbrushes, razors and more.

You can purchase Radius toothbrushes on their website or you can check their store locator for stores near you that carry them.

Giveaway (CLOSED)

One of my readers will win one product of their choice from Radius.
You can enter by filling out the form or leaving a comment, include all of your entries at once. Please leave your email with your entry so I can contact you, entries without emails are disqualified.


Mandatory Entry:                                                                                       
Go to Radius and tell me which product you’d choose if you won.


Earn Extra Entries (not required):                                                              
Like Radius on Facebook.                                                                            
Like Valerie's Reviews on Facebook                                                     
Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.                                            
Enter any other open giveaway, let me know which ones. (1 entry for each)


This giveaway will end on June 3rd and the winner will be announced within 24 hours.                                                                      
The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.                                                                                                          
This giveaway is limited to residents in the only - 18 years old and above. 
Winner will be chosen at random.


Good Luck!

CreaClip Review and Giveaway

*There were 96 entries. The winner is Allison.

Thank you for entering*

Have you ever cut your hair yourself? Maybe even just trimmed your bangs? I trim my own bangs as well as my girls bangs. Honestly, they never come out that great. I only get my hair cut about once a year and I just can't find the time to get it done more often. But, if I let my bangs grow out they start doing their own thing and I hate it. So I was stuck living with uneven bangs and long hair (which I also hate).

In comes the CreaClip. At first, I was really nervous about cutting my own hair. The thing that got me through it was if this works think of all the money and time that will be saved. Also the clips have a level on them to ensure that they are straight. So I watched a ton of video reviews on CreaClips youtube channel, some more than once.

Once I thought I was ready I headed to the bathroom to try this out.

Just Clip, Slide, and Cut!

1. Section the hair following the easy step-by-step instructions.

2. Clip the CreaClip on the hair and slide to desired length.

3. Check bubble on rotating leveler to ensure the clip is level.

4. Cut along the guide.

Now the instructions say to use this product on dry hair. I tried it on dry hair and didn't like it too much. So, I used it on damp hair and it worked way better for me.

Here is how long my hair was:

Now, I cut a little at a time then looked at it and cut some more until I was happy with the length. I really suggest you do this so you don't overdo it and aren't happy with the results. Here is the end result from the back. To be totally honest, I love it. It has layers and a face frame, it is exactly what I would expect to get from the salon.

Here it is from the front:

 

I have had many compliments on my haircut and people are amazed when I tell them I cut it myself. 

I have also used it on my 3 yr old, she went to the salon not too long ago and she had a very plain haircut. I think the stylist was scared to do too much to her hair in fear that she would mess it up. Using the CreaClip, I was able to cut her hair with a face frame and some layers. I have also used it to trim her bangs as well. I am so excited about the money and time I will save since I will never have to go to the salon again!

To purchase the CreaClip head over to the website.

Giveaway (CLOSED)

One of my readers will win a set to include 1 small and 1 large CreaClip. You can enter by filling out the form or leaving a comment, include all of your entries at once. Please leave your email with your entry so I can contact you, entries without emails are disqualified.

Mandatory Entry:

Like CreaClip on Facebook. (Leave a comment if you'd like)

Earn Extra Entries (not required):

Have you ever cut your own hair? Who would use this product? 

Like Valerie's Reviews on Facebook

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.

Enter any other open giveaway, let me know which ones. (1 entry for each)

This giveaway will end on June 2nd and the winner will be announced within 24 hours.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is open to US residents as well as International - 18 years old and above.

Winner will be chosen at random.

Good Luck!

*I purchased this product with my own money and I was not compensated for this review.

The giveaway is sponsored by CreaClip and they will ship the item to the winner. 

Educational Insights - Playfoam Review and Giveaway

*There were 193 entries. The winner is Jenny.

Thank you for entering*

Preschoolers are free to express their creativity — with no mess to clean up afterward! Just squish up the Playfoam®, shape it however you like, squash it back down, and start all over again. Playfoam® never dries out so the creativity never ends — and the secret no-stick formula means you can take it anywhere for creative fun on the go!
 

I was sent the Playfoam Combo 8 pack. This comes in a variety of colors and some of them had glitter added for extra sparkle. Each color comes in a separate compartment so if you wanted to keep each color separate you could. The first thing my girls did though was take all the colors and mix them together. It is like this tutti frutti color now not like playdough which turns an ugly brownish color when mixed together. Also it is sticky enough to mold but doesn't stick to hands, the table or anything else. How fantastic is that?

My girls have played with this over and over, dreaming up new things to make. They have made birthday cakes complete with candles, cookies, snowmen and more. So much imagination has gone into their play using this product. And the thing I love the most, I do not have to worry about making sure this is in a sealed container. I have it in a gallon size plastic bag that my 3 yr old has left open multiple times and it is still in the same condition as the day we opened it. I love this product!

If you are interested in purchasing this awesome product check out Educational Insights website.
Also follow them on facebook where they hold a variety of promotions.

Giveaway (CLOSED)

One of my readers will win a Playfoam pack. You can enter by filling out the form or leaving a comment, include all of your entries at once. Please leave your email with your entry so I can contact you, entries without emails are disqualified.

Mandatory Entry:

Like Educational Insights on Facebook.

Earn Extra Entries (not required):

Go to Educational Insights and tell me your favorite product.

Like Valerie's Reviews on Facebook

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.

Enter any other open giveaway, let me know which ones. (1 entry for each)

This giveaway will end on June 1st and the winner will be announced within 24 hours.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is limited to residents in the US and Canada only - 18 years old and above.

Winner will be chosen at random.

Good Luck!

PowerCapes Review and Giveaway

*There were 121 entries. The winner is Tami.

Thank you for entering*

About PowerCapes

PowerCapes is a team of Moms, Dads, Customer Service Heroes, Web Ninjas and Passionate People who have dedicated their lives to helping kids be real super heroes.

Started by Holly Bartman as a way to provide children with personalized super hero capes, PowerCapes has become the #1 destination for authentic super hero wear for kids (and adults, too!)

I received a custom superhero cape for my girls to review. The first thing I noticed was how many options there are to make the cape your own. I made our cape purple with a raspberry sparkle heart and a purple S.

This is a combination of my girls' favorite colors. What does the S stand for you ask? Well, since my girls would be sharing one cape I told them it stood for "sisters". It has also been heard as standing for sharing and superhero.

Now before receiving our superhero cape, the girls were using a piece of fleece material and tying it around their necks. They were so excited when we received this in the mail. Now they were real superheros (in their minds anyway). They loved that this cape was made out of their favorite colors and boy did they love the sparkles on the heart. I love that it is so light weight and silky just as you would expect from a real superhero cape. The velcro used to fasten the cape around the neck is strong enough to not come undone during play and is much safer than a knot if caught up on something.

These capes come in 3 sizes: Sidekick (ages 2-7), Hero (ages 6-10) and Adult. They also sell extra accessories to make your superhero costume complete. These include blaster cuffs, masks and even a custom superhero t shirt. I am thinking blaster cuffs will make a great birthday gift for a certain little girl.

Wouldn't these make fantastic Halloween costumes? The whole family could be superheros!

Custom superhero capes take about 3 weeks to complete as each one is made by hand, one at a time, in the USA. If you need your cape in a hurry they sell ready made capes and have quite a selection of those.

Purchase one on their website or enter to win one right here.

Giveaway (CLOSED)

One of my readers will win a custom or ready made sidekick size cape. You can enter by filling out the form or leaving a comment, include all of your entries at once. Please leave your email with your entry so I can contact you, entries without emails are disqualified.

Mandatory Entry:

Like PowerCapes on Facebook.

Earn Extra Entries (not required):

Go to PowerCapes and tell me something you learned.

Follow PowerCapes on Twitter.

Like Valerie's Reviews on Facebook

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.

Subscribe to this blog via email. 

This giveaway will end on May 31st and the winner will be announced within 24 hours.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is limited to US residents only - 18 years old and above.

Winner will be chosen at random.

Good Luck!

Babylegs Review and Giveaway

*There were 190 entries. The winner is Eliza.

Thank you for entering*

About Babylegs

In April of 2005, a young mom was confronted with a diaper rash that just wouldn't quit. The rash needed some fresh air to heal, but she was also concerned about keeping her daughter warm. In a moment of inspiration, she snipped the feet off of a pair of socks and fitted her daughter from hip to ankle with a cool set of leg warmers. These leg warmers not only kept her daughter warm, but also protected her from the elements, made diaper changing and potty training easier, and protected her soft knees while crawling. With some fun designs and some grassroots marketing support, the functional and fashionable leg warmers that began as a solution to keep little legs warm quickly became much more.

BabyLegs® leg warmers quickly became a parenting essential across the world because of their utility, practicality, and stylish appeal. Our continued desire to provide products that provide style and protection for little legs and feet eventually led us to expand into children's hosiery with the introduction of baby socks and girls tights.

 I received a grab bag of items from Babylegs that included 2 pairs of leg warmers, 1 pair of tights and a set of socks (2pairs). I don't have a picture of the items from when I got them because my kids ripped into them right away, they were so excited.

Leg Warmers

I received the sweet pea and sprinkled hearts legs warmers. I love the ruffle edge on the sprinkled hearts and the bright colors on the sweet pea. These were perfect for the transition from winter to spring, when it was cooler in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. My kindergartener was able to wear skirts and could take the babylegs off if she got too hot. She could also wear them on her arms with short sleeve shirts. These actually fit well on both my 3 and 6 yr old.

 They carry a variety of prints that seems to be updated regularly.They are also launching a Hello Kitty Line of baby legs this summer and you can vote on your favorite design.

Babylegs also carries a line called Cool! Kids that is made of a cooler mesh like material and offers UPF 50+ protection, which will help block a majority of UV rays. These would be great for a day at the beach or even just poolside! 

Girls Tights

I received a pair of Sweet Violet tights in size 2 - 4T. They actually fit both of my girls but won't fit my 6 yr old too much longer. These are perfect when wearing dresses and skirts. They held up and washed well. They also have a cute little heart on the bottom that looks so cute especially for the smaller babies and toddlers.

These tights have feet but Babylegs also sells footless tights that are super cute and I would love to try.

Baby Socks

I received these adorable Seeded Love baby socks in size 2-4T. These fit my 3 yr old perfectly and don't fall off like some of her other socks do. These would be perfect for the baby whose socks are constantly falling off. This is something that I will most likely purchase more of in the future. They would even make a great baby gift!

The only thing I wish about Babylegs is that I knew about them when my kids were younger. The socks would have been so nice when they were babies and their socks would always fall off. Also the leg warmers would have made potty training so much easier.

Check out Babylegs on facebook, I am constantly seeing specials and promotions over there. Also check out their website if you are looking to purchase from them.

Giveaway (CLOSED)

One of my readers will win a grab bag of BabyLegs in their choice of gender and size. You can enter by filling out the form or leaving a comment, include all of your entries at once. Please leave your email with your entry so I can contact you, entries without emails are disqualified.

Mandatory Entry:

Like Babylegs on Facebook.

Earn Extra Entries (not required):

Go to Babylegs and tell me which product you'd most like to try.

Follow Babylegs on Twitter.

Like Valerie's Reviews on Facebook

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.

This giveaway will end on May 30th and the winner will be announced within 24 hours.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is limited to US residents only - 18 years old and above.

Winner will be chosen at random.

Good Luck!

Plum Crazy Gourmet Giveaway

*There were 125 entries. The winner is Holly.

Thank you for entering*

 About Plum Crazy Gourmet

Our family owned gourmet food mix company specializes in dip mixes, soup mixes, muffins mixes, and a large variety of dry food mixes. Our food mixes contain no MSG and we use only real fruits and vegetables in all our gourmet food mixes including our bread mixes, scone mixes, soup mixes and more. 

If you entered the giveaway on Valerie's Reviews facebook page for the set of 2 dips and did not win, here is another chance!
Plum Crazy Gourmet wants to offer 1 winner a set of dips: Spring Spinach and Lime Cilantro. They look so yummy!

Spring Spinach Dip Mix

Spring spinach dip mix is a tantalizing blend of summer herbs and real spinach leaves. Just add sour cream and serve with fresh vegetables, chips, or crackers.

Lime Cilantro Dip Mix

A baja sensation! Zesty lime and spices make this a fun dip for a fiesta dinner. Lime Cilantro Dip Mix, Just Add - sour cream, makes 2 cups of dip.

And for another chance to win make sure you like them on facebook, they giveaway a free mix at
every 50 fans! 

To purchase from Plum Crazy Gourmet, head over to their website. 

Giveaway (CLOSED)

One of my readers will win a set of dips: Spring Spinach and Lime Cilantro. You can enter by filling out the form or leaving a comment, include all of your entries at once. Please leave your email with your entry so I can contact you, entries without emails are disqualified.

Mandatory Entry:
Become a fan of  Plum Crazy Gourmet on Facebook

Earn Extra Entries (not required):

Go to Plum Crazy Gourmet and tell me what you'd most like to try

Like Valerie's Reviews on Facebook
Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.

This giveaway will end on May 27th and the winner will be announced within 24 hours.
The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is limited to US residents only - 18 years old and above.
Winner will be chosen at random.

Good Luck!

*I was not compensated in any way for this blog post.