Back to School Giveaway Bash – (GIVEAWAY ENDED)

It’s starting to feel like fall around here and I’m totally ready for school to start back up again.  To make it just a little bit easier on both you and your tots how about winning some awesome stuff from the Back to School Giveaway Bash!  Check it out and enter below!

Coupon Crazy Mommy is proud to present the Back to School Giveaway Bash!

Sponsored by:

KooleezChicken Soup for the Soul” books,
Skylanders Swap Force,
Dividing by Zero, Barbara’s Beat,and Coupon Crazy Mommy!

One luck winner will receive the following items:

1) 4 pack of Kooleez (ARV $16.00)

These are great for yogurt in lunch boxes! They keep them cool all day! They can also be used for ice pops.

2) A copy of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Multi-tasking Moms Survival Guide” (ARV $14.95)

This was such a great book! Any Mom would love to read it. Laugh and learn with 101 inspiring and amusing stories for moms who do it all.

3) $25 Amazon Gift Card for Back to School Shopping! ($25.00 value)

4) Skylanders lunchbox or back pack (ARV $19.95)

5) World GeoPuzzle (spanish) (ARV$15.99)

Award-winning GeoPuzzles make geography fun. With pieces shaped like countries, and groups of countries, children learn geography by putting the puzzles together. See the full review from Dividing by Zero here. This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18+. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to the email and supply mailing address or another winner will be chosen. Good Luck to all those who enter!

Disclosure: I have not been compensated for this post. The Coupon Crazy Mommy blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. We will only recommend products or services that we feel are of benefit to our readers. Coupon Crazy Mommy is not responsible for prize fulfillment of Kooleez and Skylanders; sponsor will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. If you have any questions, please contact me couponcrazymomblog {at} gmail {dot} com. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Top Five Favorite Board Books to Read Aloud With My Toddler

There are so many children’s books on the market and I’ve got a nice sized bookcase at home dedicated to my toddlers board books. However, not all board books are created equally. When it’s time for bed I cue my boy to relax by giving him his “goodnight milk” and reading a few books in the rocking chair together. Sometimes I cheer inwardly at his selections for the night and often I cringe at the thought of having to power through a boring board book one more time.

This post is dedicated to the books I love to read him.  The ones that have character and wit, who’s wording slides smoothly off my tongue and that I can get excited to read time after time.

**This post contains Amazon links which support Sly Spoon when you purchase through them, yet don’t cost you anything extra. See Disclosure Policy for more information. 

5. The Mixed up Chameleon – Eric Carle

This is a good introduction to colors, and not only does it have Eric Carle’s vivid and playful illustrations it’s also got a silly story with a nice message about being comfortable being you (a message that I have no doubt is lost on my little guy, but it’s still nice).  It’s fun to read this one while trying to get my boy to point to different things in our room that are each of the color’s of the chameleon.  I’ve only met marginal success with this game, but I’m hopeful that he’ll catch on.  This and pretty much any of Eric Carle’s books are a welcome addition to our home.

*If you’re buying this one online make sure your getting the board book version because it also comes in paperback.




4. Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes: A First Book All About You – By Judy Hindley and Brita Granstorm

As you might expect this books leads you through your eyes, nose, finger and toes and many of the body parts in between.  It has cute little snippets asking you to do differently things as it goes through the body, like counting your fingers, and wiggling your toes, so you get a chance to connect the word with the body parts.  The story, rhythm and pacing are all good, but my main reason for including it on this list is how nice of a guide it is for learning where and what your body does.  

3. Little Blue Truck – By Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry

We actually got this book as part of a book exchange and it took me a read or two to realize how much I liked it.  The book is written in rhyme and I feel like it should be read with a little bit of a southern drawl.

“Horn went ‘beep’ engine purred.
Friendliest sounds you ever heard.

Little Blue Truck came down the road.
‘Beep,’ said Blue to a big green toad.”

It’s a good one to practice your animal sounds, and the story is about helping others and being a good friend (though I think my little guy is too young to understand all that).  He’s just happy to copy the sounds I’m making for both the trucks and animals.  I’ve probably read this one over a hundred times now and I can still read it with out cringing inside, so I’d say it’s worth checking out.  There is also a series based off the book, “Little Blue Truck Leads the Way” where the truck goes to the city, and “Little Blue Truck’s Christmas”.

2. Dr. Seuss

Okay, I know for this one I just have an author, but I realized that I couldn’t pick one single book to put up here because I love so many of his.  We read “There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!” for it’s sheer ridiculousness, “Dr. Seusses ABC’s” for an into to the alphabet, “The foot book” for opposites and I’ve already got a whole book shelf of paper backs ready for when my little boy is able to handle those nicely. Pretty much any Dr. Seuss book you pick up is going to be a winner so I’m including them all.

1. Happy Hippo, Angry Duck – By Sandra Boynton

This is my favorite board book of all time. Honestly I love all of her books.  The are perfect for little hands, the rhythms and silliness is just plain fun.  My boy loves them and after a year of reading them to him I can still enjoy them.

My current favorite is “Happy Hippo, Angry Duck”. It’s ten pages about moods, “Are you happy as a hippo? Or angry as a duck? Or maybe sad as a chicken. (Can you sadly say ‘cluck, cluck’?)”

We love reading this one and voicing each of the emotions as we read it.  We say “Happy as a hippo” as happily as we can with big similes.  We say “Angry as a duck” with a low voice and a scowl.  It makes the book a blast to read and it’s fun to see my little guy mimicking my face as I read. Hopefully when the terrible two come into play we’ll and at least able to name the crazy toddler emotions he’s feeling, and wait for him to again be “happy as a hippo”.  

Do you agree with this list?  Or do you have any you think should be added to it?  Then leave a comment, I’d love to hear about them!

*This list of Top 5 list is based purely on personal opinion, it has not been verified or backed up by marketing research or consumer interest.  

Havit Bluetooth Speaker Giveaway! – (GIVEAWAY ENDED)

~2 Winners~

Sponsored by:  Havit

Hosted by:  Gloriously Green Gal & Savory Savings 

It’s likely that your family has different tastes in music – so why not give them each a way to listen to their music in their own space?  Havit offers an amazing line of portable bluetooth speakers that can fit your budget and give everyone their personal freedom for music!  Krista over at Gloriously Green Gal recently had the chance to review a portable bluetooth speaker from Havit and shared her thoughts on this affordable and portable bluetooth speaker!

How would you like to a PortableBluetooth Speaker from Havit?  If you would like a chance to win, enter with the Giveaway Tool below.  If you have won a Havit giveaway anytime from another blog in the last 12 months, you are not eligible to win this giveaway.  The giveaway will run from August 22 through September 12, 2014 at 11 PM CST and is open to US residents, ages 18 and older.  Entries will be verified.  Winners will be notified via email (consider adding gloriouslygreengal@gmail.com to your safe list) – winner will have 48 hours to respond and claim prize or another winner will be selected.
Good Luck!

Krista from Gloriously Green Gal and Savory Savings received products from this sponsor to facilitate her review, no other compensation was received. All participating blogs are not responsible for prize fulfillment.  This giveaway is in no way associated with social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Top Ten Tricks to Surviving Flying Alone with a Baby

I realize this is a Top Ten, rather than a Top Five, but you’ll have to work with me here. There were simply too many tips for me narrow it down to only five.

While living in Boston, my husband and I had our first child, which also happens to be the first grandchild on my husbands side. The bad news is that our families live across the country from us in Utah, which has resulted in many airplane trips home. Since my husband is a full time MIT student he can’t always leave his schooling to accompany me, and I often end up flying alone with my baby for these visits.

Since I’ve got a few flights worth of experience I thought I’d jot down my tips in hopes of saving you some headaches if you’re ever in a similar situation.

**This post contains Amazon links which support Top 5 Friday when you purchase through them, yet don’t cost you anything extra. See Disclosure Policy for more information. 

  1. Pack light and check as much luggage as you can.

    It might be worth that $25 baggage fee to not have to watch, haul, or maneuver your suitcase while trying to keep your little one calm or when your trying to get settled in your seat.

  2. Make sure you can handle everything you’re bringing by yourself before you’re standing helplessly at the TSA check point.

    I ended up pushing my baby in a stroller, which I had tied the car seat to the back of with a little strap, while carrying a backpack (which I opted for in place of my diaper bag). Thankfully I had been able to check all my luggage. I also brought a baby carrier with me so I could transition my boy to when I needed to collapse and check the stroller, but I knew my back would kill me if I tried to carry him and a backpack around all day.
     

  3. Have all your liquids in a plastic bag on the top of your diaper bag to speed up going through security.

    Strollers, car seats, diaper bag, and everything else you can image have to go through security, which will probably mean a little bit of unpacking and repacking. Make it as easy as possible on yourself; having all your liquids in a plastic bag on the top of your diaper bag is a lifesaver. (You can bring all kinds of liquids for babies and kids, so pack up that milk and bring ice packs if you need them to keep it cool. Most airlines will let you bring 70 oz of liquid, but double check with yours.)
     

  4. Bring your car seat, stroller and baby carrier.

    Most airlines will let you bring both a car seat and a stroller at no extra charge, they consider them an assisitive device (but double check with your airline, a few of them will let you bring one or the other, but not both). Bring the stroller you want to use for your whole trip, don’t bring a light one just to conserve space.

    I would also highly suggest bringing a baby carrier. They have so many varieties of these (Hotsling, BabyBjorn, Infantino, Baby K’tan, Moby Wrap, Padded Sling) find one that works for you. Having one gives you the option of freeing up your hands for a few seconds, and can work wonders to calm an over stimulated baby. They are also extremely useful when trying to get situated after going through security or while collapsing a stroller, for a gate check, before getting on the airplane.
     

  5. Don’t check your car seat.

    Even though it’s a pain to haul around, I would highly suggest not checking your car seat. You don’t know what’s going to happen to it between being check and getting it loaded on the plane (micro cracks from it being dropped or dirt from it falling out of the transport vehicle etc.) and you definitely don’t want to get to your destination and have your car seat lost along the way. You can gate check it when you get on the plane, and if you’re lucky, and if they have an extra seat, they might let you bring it on the plane for your baby to sit in at no extra charge.
     

  6. Ask if there are any extra seats on the flight.

    If you’re traveling with a lap child ALWAYS ask if there are any extra seats on the flight. If there are, the airline will often move people around so you can have the extra seat. More space for you and your baby makes the flight go so much better.
     

  7. Change a diaper before you board.

    Having to change the diaper of a squirmy baby in that tiny, gross, motion filled airplane bathroom is an experience to avoid. I always change my baby right before boarding and hope that if he has a dirty diaper it will be contained enough that I can change him on my lap.

  8. Opt for a window seat, near the back of the airplane, and bring the supplies you need for hours of confinement. *sigh*

    Go for the back of the plane because the noise of the engine muffles your baby’s crying so you’re not disrupting the other passengers, and it also muffles the noise other passengers might be making from waking your baby.

    I always try to get a window seat because I think it offers the most privacy. Bring a light blanket and some safety pins and pin a little curtain between you and the seat next to you. This gives you privacy for nursing/feeding, changing a diaper on your lap, and it might keep the extra stimulation down, which will hopefully result in your baby falling asleep.

    If you’re going to be nursing, opts for something that buttons up with a nursing tank under it. This has worked the best for me when I want to feed my baby without exposing myself. Nursing covers also work great, but my boy hated being under one.

    I also stuff a nursing pillow into the top of backpack. I know it’s huge, but it wrapped around me nicely while sitting, kept my baby off of the hard armrests, and allowed my boy to recline on it while flying. That made him so much more relaxed, which made the flight much better for me.

    Bring a change of clothes and a bunch of empty gallon sized plastic bags. Use the gallon sized bags to hold dirty diapers and possibly dirty clothes.

    Bring sanitizing wipes. You may not be able to sanitize everything, and you may not be able to keep your baby from licking the armrest, but at least it helps a little bit, right? You’ll also want them for your hands if you do end up changing a dirty diaper on your lap.
     

  9. Bring something to drink or to suck on for takeoff and landing so your baby’s ears pop.

    My boy hasn’t had a problem with this so far, but other babies on the flights have, and it seems miserable. A pacifier, bottle, nursing or anything that encourages your baby to swallow can help your baby avoid this particular misery.
     

  10. Unfortunately, you should just plan on your baby having a melt down (you can be relieved if it doesn’t happen).

    It may be unavoidable, and that’s okay. It’s okay for your baby to cry, and to be stressed, overstimulated and uncomfortable. Heck everyone else on the plane is too, your baby is just young enough to voice it. Know that you and your baby have as much of a right to fly as anyone else, and the rest of the passengers can rest assured that they will be free of the noise when they exit the plane. 

Take a deep breath, tell yourself you can do it, survive the fight, and enjoy the destination.

Do you find these tips useful, or do you have any others you would add to the list? Let me know in the comments, so all of our flights can be that much easier.