chaos simplified :: the womans planner {giveaway}

I am a list maker. I think this is actually a category of people. You know -- free spirits, athletes, tall people, list makers... In my constant quest to check things off my list I am always looking for the best way to keep my lists and schedule organized. I have used index cards (they easily get lost or mixed up), empty spiral notebooks (a lot of energy to create your own calendar) and any number of store bought planners. The biggest issue I have with store bought planners is that they don't really align with my life.

Well, I can FINALLY put a giant check in the box next to "find perfect planner." The Womans Planner from Chaos Simplified was designed with active women and moms in mind. Really, it was designed by a mom who couldn't find a planner that met all of her needs -- so she made her own. And I am glad she did.

Here is a list of just some of the highlights that make The Womans Planner so fantastic:

• 8x10 coil book -- it can lay flat and ALL the way open on a table (no loosing your page)
• 3" fold over page marker -- you can turn straight to the page you want
• A monthly 'budget page', 'birthdays page', 'yearly finance page' and 'social planning page'
• A half page format -- so you can see the week AND the month in the same glance
• Contacts -- no need for two books for this
• Notes -- you will never need a random scrap of paper to write something on
• Pocket dividers in between each month to hold all those bills, cards, school notes etc. -- this is not to be ignored... a pocket for EACH month!

My life is complicated enough without having to throw multiple half-functioning planners into my daily juggle. And now I no longer have to. Thank you Chaos Simplified!

The Womans Planner from Chaos Simplified :: $28.95

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!
One SIMPLE reader will win The Womans Planner from Chaos Simplified. Here is how to enter:

• Visit Chaos Simplified and come back here to tell me in a comment something else you learned about The Womans Planner (Required)
• "Like" SIMPLE on Facebook
• Facebook :: Daily - Leave a link :: Post a status on your facebook hyper linking SIMPLE and this giveaway
• Twitter :: Daily - Leave a link :: #Win a fantastic Chaos Simplified planner over at @simplereviews: http://tiny.cc/1lp3b #giveaway
• Sign up for our daily emails
  Publicly follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Connect
  
• "Like" this review on Facebook below (make sure to leave a comment telling us you did)

Winner will be randomly chosen on June 22, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering.

*I was provided The Women's Planner show above to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*

right on time:: itzbeen baby care timer {giveaway}

One of the best items that I put on my baby registry was the ITZBEEN Baby Care timer. After reading a couple books on multiples, and the importance of keeping the twins on a schedule, I knew I wanted to try out an ITZBEEN timer. The girls are now almost 11 months, and we are still using it religiously.

It is so easy to use! Once you have fed or changed baby, you simply push the designated button on the timer, and it starts the timer. The timer will then display how long it's been since you changed or fed baby. There are a total of 4 timers that count up for you, a nightlight, a display backlight that helps you read times in the dark, and it even has a nursing reminder that helps you remember which side you nursed from last.

This has been one of my favorite baby items and I highly recommend it to anyone who is expecting or has a brand new baby (or babies!) at home.

ITZBEEN baby care timer :: $24.99

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!

Two SIMPLE readers will win the ITZBEEN Baby Care Timer! Here is how to enter:

• Tell me one (or more) things that you like about SIMPLE Reviews (Required)
• "Like" ITZBEEN and SIMPLE on Facebook
• Post a status on your facebook hyper linking SIMPLE and ITZBEEN. In order to hyperlink, you need to be following both companies you will be hyper linking. Then enter the "@" symbol and start typing the name you want to hyperlink and choose it from the drop down that will pop up.
• Follow @simplereviews on Twitter and send some twitter love. Tweet something like this (daily tweets allowed) :: #Win an ITZBEEN timer over at @simplereviews: http://tinyurl.com/3rz7u4h #giveaway #contest Please RT!
• Sign up for SIMPLE updates - enter your email address in the left sidebar on SIMPLE
• Publicly follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Connect

Winner will be randomly chosen on May 9th, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering. Good luck!


*I purchased this product on my own accord and the opinions expressed are my own.

the stuffed animal for stuffed animals :: My STUFFIE

With two girls we have an abundance of stuffed animals here at our house.  I had been looking for a good way to organize these furry friends when I came across My STUFFIE.

I'm a firm believer that products created by moms are the best solutions to many of those everyday 'problems' we encounter as parents.  My STUFFIE was created when mom Patricia was laid off as a Special Education teacher.  Her decision to make lemonade out of her new batch of lemons led her to start Lemonade Innovations, Inc. the brand behind the My STUFFIE.  The My STUFFIE was her solution to the mess of stuffed animals cluttering her home.

The best way I've found to describe the My STUFFIE is as a big un-stuffed stuffed animal.  There is a velcro opening in the back for your kids to stuff their My STUFFIE with approximately 50+ stuffed animals in your house making their own My STUFFIE into a giant stuffed animal puppy.

The My STUFFIE is having a limited time offer where your purchase comes with a FREE Red Gable Gift Box ($3.95 value) and a FREE Booklet "Cleaning Up is FUN With My STUFFIE" written and illustrated by Patricia's own daughter.  Right now Michaela is reading this booklet to her My STUFFIE Puppy and I thinks it's just another great reason to support this mompreneur.

My STUFFIE :: $39.99 :: sensible solution to stuffed animal clutter

*I was provided with a complimentary My STUFFIE  in order to conduct this review. The opinions provided are my own.

momAgenda :: school years {giveaway}

School Years by momAgenda is a simple, effective way to archive items and information related to your child’s school career, from Pre-K through 12th grade.
•Organizing your child’s school milestones should not have to be an overwhelming task!

•momAgenda did the work for you by creating a separate folder for each year in school. Each folder is 7 x 9 and holds a report card, a class picture, maybe a writing sample or an art sample if you are so inclined.

•Each grade-level folder has writing space for information like your child’s age, height, and weight, plus extras like friends, sports, and activities for that year. There’s also space to attach your child’s school picture. Write in as much or as little as you want – it’s up to you!

•Just one book for an entire school career makes it easy to keep an archive of all your most important and treasured school memories, all in one place!

•High quality, durable construction means these books are designed to last a lifetime. Preserve it now, and later, pass it on to your son or daughter. In between, pull it out and enjoy with your child.

School Years :: $18.71 :: Get one for each child. Perfect for all the memories through out the years.

{*GIVEAWAY CLOSED :: CHECK THE WINNERS PAGE TO SEE IF IT WAS YOU*}

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!
FIVE (5) lucky SIMPLE reader will win a School Years album. Here is how to enter:

• Comment telling us who you would use this for? (REQUIRED)
• "LIKE" momAgenda on Facebook...Give them some love telling them SIMPLE sent you!
• Follow momAgenda on Twitter and Send some twitter love and tweet something like the following (daily tweets allowed and leave the link to your tweet):: Enter to win a School Years Agenda from @momAgenda on @simplereviews: http://tinyurl.com/3jeqp74 #giveaway #contest #win Please RT!
• Sign up for SIMPLE updates! (Enter your email address in the left sidebar)
• Vote for us in the Top Mommy Blogs. Just go to our home page and click on the blinking logo...that's it! (vote daily for more entries)

Giveaway ends on April 23, 2011. Good luck!

giveaway rules apply

*I did not recieve a product for review*

Custom Hardware for Anywhere {Ghost Nest :: Giveaway}

I am always looking for ways to make our home special. I love the way rooms look in catalogues, but in reality I want something that speaks to who we are as a family. Every detail counts, and I just found the perfect, must-have detail to customize home decor in a really unique way.

Ghost Nest is a company that custom creates hardware with whatever image you would like. While they offer any number of really amazing designs to choose from, you can also provide your own images (anything that you can upload -- even straight from Facebook and Flickr). The images are then built into one of three shape and finish options to create custom and truly unique pulls. This is good quality hardware too.

Don't under estimate the impact of switching up hardware -- and think of the possibilities! Upgrading a nursery to a toddler room? Use new hardware to showcase your child's name. Need a new coat rack? Use new hardware with each family member's image to hang your coats. Helping your child learn where to put things away? Use images to help label drawers. The possibilities are endless (and super fun).

I took the challenge and upgraded our bathroom cabinet with two images of my little guy. Using the Dreamerator it took just a few minutes to design my very own knobs. Within a short time they were at my home and on the cabinet (it took less than two minutes to put them on). These knobs were the exact touch of "us" the room needed. I smile every time I walk in and see my son smiling right back at me.

To get similar knobs to mine (remember yours will be customized exactly for you!) click on the Dreamerator and choose the Satin Yuba finish for $9.50 per knob (there is a discount the more you purchase).

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!!!

One very lucky SIMPLE reader has the opportunity to win a $25 gift certificate to Ghost Nest to create amazing hardware of your very own. Here is how to win:

• Go check out Ghost Nest and then come back and post which design(s) from the gallery space you would choose if you chose not to create your own design. (REQUIRED)
• 'Like' Ghost Nest on Facebook and make sure to come back here and let me know.
  

Winner will be randomly chosen on April 13, 2011. Good luck!

*I was provided with two Ghost Nest knobs to conduct this review. These opinions are my own*

Organized? {Glow Baby}

Glow Baby has just released their 2011/2012 Organized Family School Year Calendar for pre-order! This calendar is the ultimate tool to keep every family member on schedule from week to week and month by month. Keeping track of everyone’s busy days has never been this easy with the help of this unique calendar that won't add clutter to your home.

The Organized Family School Year Calendar contains a 12 month calendar running from Sept 2011 to Aug 2012 with an additional 52 specially designed, removable, weekly planner pages so the family can view the entire month at a glance and still have a detailed weekly plan all in the same place. When the week has gone by, simply tear-off to reveal the next week’s planner page. The weekly planner pages are perfect for keeping track of extra-curricular activities, work and social calendars and accommodates up to 6 individual schedules to keep even the busiest families organized. There is also an extra column to write down and check off weekly chores and separate areas for to do lists and notes. The stylishly designed pages open to an overall size of 14” x 21.5” and it is easy to hang up in your kitchen or on a bulletin board to avoid clutter.


The calendars are available to order now for shipping in May and Glow Baby is offering a 23% discount! The calendar’s retail for $26 but are available now for $20!







*I just wanted to share this great deal with you*

It's TIME to rumba!!

Do you wear a watch everyday? I do! I have to for work.

I was looking for a simple watch that I could just slip on. Rumbatime watches are just that. They are soft silicone watches that you can easily slip on.

They have so many different styles and colors. I got the Lafayette style from Rumbatime. I needed a second hand for work and was excited to see that it had one on it.

I am loving this watch and wear it every day. BE sure to check out there other great styles and the kids watches.

GET YOUR OWN!! Big Apple (Lafayette) - Price: $35.00
Lafayette Street runs through Chinatown, Little Italy, Nolita, and NoHo, a fact alone that makes it awesome, as these are some of our favorite parts of NYC. But it also boasts some of the most beautiful old buildings in the city. So in homage to that history, it was only appropriate that the analog version of our Original watch be named after such a gorgeous part of NYC.
> Silicone Unisex Watch
> Analog Movement
> Ultra Lightweight at only 15 Grams
> Water Resistant (ensure that the crown is screwed in tightly)
> Luminous Indices
> 23mm

Shopping with Blue Avocado

Amazingly, I only have two hands but am somehow able to carry way more than I would have thought humanly possible before kids.  You probably do it too, a diaper bag, a purse, a kid (or two!), plus those 'incidentals' that come with running errands or shopping...  I just love to see the faces of non-parents when they see what a balancing act I can manage!

With this being said, I can honestly say that I am always on the lookout for any type of bag or organizational product to make my life easier, especially when running errands.  After using it for about a month I am absolutely in LOVE my new Starter Kit from Blue Avocado!

Besides for the absolutely adorable color (mine came in plum-doodle, pictured left), I just love how sturdy and versatile these bags have been for me.  Having been long-standing member of the 'reusable bag' club from my local grocers, I know that those bags do have a few flaws:

1. they can't handle as many groceries in one bag as I'd like
2. they don't fold up very small
3. they get dirty and you can only surface clean them (Can you say gross?)

My new Blue Avocado bags fix all these problems for me!  No only does the Pak bag from my kit really hold the grocery equivalent of 3 other bags, it folds up so small that I actually still have use of my SUV's cargo space!

Plus the bags are machine washable, so I can throw them in the washer to get clean and not worry about mold, mildew and everyday dirt getting on my food. (Machine washable + me = LOVE)

Another thing I love is that these bags are sturdy!  The Starter Kit alone can hold up to 50 lbs of groceries and I don't have to worry about it ripping open while I'm trekking up two flights of stairs with 2 gallons of milk nestled on the bottom of all my other groceries! 

GET YOUR OWN: Visit Blue Avocado's online shop to stock up on your own shopping essentials.  Plus, our lucky SIMPLE readers can use the coupon code "goodkarma30" for 30% off any purchase through 1/31/11!!!  I'm thinking I need to add all the Grande Kit bags that I don't have... maybe I should just get another kit huh? :)

*I was provided with a Blue Avocado Starter Pak free of charge to conduct this review. The opinions provided are my own.a
 

greentainer :: reusable + reliable stainless steel containers

Greentainer is a healthier way to carry a lunch or snack where ever you need to go.
There is a huge concern for the health of my children and the amount of plastic they were exposed to everyday and the environment, so to have an alternative option that is not harmful is a huge plus.

These containers are quite large and hold alot. You can get many different uses out of them. Not just for food but for storage or getting organized.

GET YOUR OWN!! Greentainer with Clips - Round container with clips - for little ones as the lid is not as tight and hard to remove, great for solid foods, Holds 20 ounces, 14 cm (5.5 inch) diameter, 6 cm (2.4 inch) deep, Removable inner tray, 2.5 cm (1 inch) deep, Smooth rolled edges, Lid fits snuggly, Highest quality food grade stainless steel - $22.95

Greentainer Snack Set - Compact Greentainer with smallest Greentainer included, Ideal for vegetables, dip, hummus, crackers, fruit, yogurt, etc., Compact Greentainer holds 7 ounces,12 cm (4.7 inch) diameter, 4.5 cm (1.8 inch) deep, Includes one smallest Greentainer which fits neatly inside with its own lid, holds 2 ounces, Highest quality food grade stainless steel - $20.95

A SIMPLE COUPON!! Free shipping til Dec 8th enter code SIMPLE10 (Good for US residents only)

WIN YOUR OWN!! I have a greentainer for one lucky Simple reader. You get to chose your chose of greentainer. To enter, visit their shop, come back here and tell us which greentainer you would like.

Extra entry: (leave a separate comment)

Tweet: Visit @simplereviews to enter to win a greentainer

Winner will be randomly selected and notified on December 2nd, 2010.

*I was sent these greentainer's free of charge to help facilitate my review*

Baby's First Foods

Okay, anyone else have trouble keeping track of what foods your baby has tried already?  With my first baby I had this giant whiteboard in our kitchen that I kept a running tally on.  Not very convenient when I needed to go grocery shopping, travel, or send her to the grandparents for the night.

This time around I knew I would NOT get that whiteboard out again and that we needed to find a more efficient way to keep track of the foods we had tried.  That's when I found Baby's First Foods from Glow Baby.

Baby's First Foods is my new organizational BFF when mealtime comes around!!!  It has tabbed sections to let me quickly find all the vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins, dairy or snacks that we've already tried and each page is for a separate entry allowing me to keep track of all the important info you want to know as a parent.  For example,  it was important to know that green beans were tolerable when cold and completely horrid when warm or room temperature.   Take a look at the sample log page below or click here to see a larger image.

Because Baby's First Foods is small (5.5”x7.5”) and flat, it easily fit into my diaper bag when we went to the doctor's office for  my baby's latest check up.  I loved that I was also able to have an impromptu dinner out with a friend and our kiddos last week without sacrificing the scheduled feeding for my daughter since Baby's First Foods was tucked in the diaper bag.

I can now easily communicate with my husband, sitter or other family members what foods we have already tried and are okay to feed my baby without having to actually be there.  I have yet to fill in any entries on the "Allergies & Sensitivities" page at the front of the book, but I am glad it is there for "just in case."

GET YOUR OWN!!! Visit Glow Baby online to purchase Baby's First Foods and check out all of Glow Baby's other organizational items for parents, including their Baby's Firsts Journal (I wish I had found this before I had my babies). 

*I was provided with Baby's First Foods free of charge in order to conduct this review.  The opinions provided above are my own!*

Ecozuri...Go Green

Who doesn't love reuseable bags now a days? You can never have too many. Ecozuri has out done themselves with these bags...they are fantastic.

I love the material they are made out of...very soft and lightweight.

Ecozuri bags are:
• Made from 100% recycled plastics collected and processed in the U.S.
• Machine washable
• Protected with a water proof coating
• Folds easily and elegantly to small pouches attached to the individual bags
• Strong enough to hold 50 pounds in each bag

GET YOUR OWN: Ecozuri Forget-me-not Complete Set - $38.95

WIN YOUR OWN: Ecozuri would like to giveaway a set of these fantastic bags. Following are the ways you can enter. Remember, leave a separate comment for each and EACH ENTRY WILL BE VERIFIED - if not, the entry may be removed.

Additional Entries: (comment once for each)

• "Like" Ecozuri on Facebook


• "Like" SIMPLE on Facebook


• Tweet this giveaway - (just copy and paste!) Come enter a giveaway for Ecozuri bags from @Ecozuri on @simplereviews!
  

For complete rules/instructions on our giveaways, check out our GIVEAWAY RULES page. Be sure to leave your email in your comment(s) so we can contact you if you win!!

Winner will be randomly selected and announced October 4th, 2010. Good luck!!

Expand your Traveling Style with reisenthel!

We sure do a lot of traveling. I am always looking for cute, functional bags that have style to travel with! Most of the time I can either get cute, but not function. And other times I can get functional but definitely not cute! Well I found both with the reisenthel expandable travel bag pictured in this review.

Not only does this bag look super sweet, but it is like two bags in one! My husband and I went to Chicago for a long weekend, and all we brought was packed into this bag. We didn't need another bag! It was just perfect! If you don't like the color shown, it also comes in plain black and plain red.

One additional feature that I thought was great are the handles. There are two handle options on this bag - one like I am carrying in the picture to the left and another which is a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap feature was great as we were going from the car to the hotel room, but the handle was great for those tight spots like in the elevator.

Follow reisenthel on Facebook to hear about specials as well as featured products!

GET YOUR OWN! You can get your own reisenthel expandable travel bag and may other reisenthel products HERE! This travel bag retails for $29.99.

WIN YOUR OWN!! SIMPLE has the opportunity to giveaway a reisenthel travel bag to one lucky SIMPLE reader! In order to be entered to win, you must visit this shop and take a look around at all their reisenthel products (click on this link to see the products through this designated shopping site). You will be amazed at all they have to offer! Come back here telling us your favorite item!

Extra Entries: (leave separate comment for each and EACH ENTRY WILL BE VERIFIED - if not, the entry may be removed)

• Blog this giveaway linking back to SIMPLE and reisenthel
• Tweet this giveaway
• Follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Finder
• Become a new fan of SIMPLE on Facebook
• Become a Facebook fan of reisenthel
• Invite your friends to be "fans" or like SIMPLE on Facebook - comment telling us how many you invited!
  

A little info about giveaways:

• NON-Bloggers, please leave your email address in your comment as we have no way to contact anonymous users.
• Blog-Owners, please be sure your contact information is in your profile or blog somewhere, or leave it in your comment.
• Winner will be contacted via Email. If no response in 1 week, another winner will be chosen.
• Winner MUST be in the continental US.

Winner will be randomly selected and announced July 16, 2010. Good Luck!

*I was provided with the travel bag pictured above free of charge.*

Here's the "in"....Innobaby!!

One thing that I just love about SIMPLE is meeting some of the greatest companies with great products! Here is YET another example of my findings!

This is for all you parents and caregivers out there. Have you ever been stuck in a position with a hungry child and nothing to feed them? That happened to me ONCE...and that was the last time. Not only was it miserable for me, but completely miserable for my child and all the other people around. Ugh! My problem was I didn't have anything to carry the food in that I liked.

Packin' SMART Stackable Snack Containers are THE answer! Head on over, take a look around and you will see what I am talking about. These items are all GREAT quality as well as a genious, simple design! Not only do I love these products, but check out some of the other people that do too by clicking HERE!

I have tried many, many items for food storage "on the go". Nothing compares to Innobaby! I LOVE their items!!

The possibilities are endless with these stacking containers! Formula, cheerios, fruit snacks, etc.

When it is full, it can be used as a musical instrument as well!! Ha Ha!

When we were using our stacker I was with some friends and one of my girlfriends just had to know what I was using. I told her, she bought one and I LOVING it! So, it's not just me.

Does this image just make me smile, or does it make you smile too. This just screams SUCCESS to me when I have a hungry child!GET YOUR OWN! Summer is just around the corner, which means you will probably be running from the park to the zoo and play day to play day. You NEED one (or more) of these!!! :) Plus, Innobaby has given all our awesome SIMPLE readers a 10% discount on their purchase! Just enter SIMPLE10 at checkout. This code will be valid from 6/15 to 8/15!

*I was provided with the Packin' Smart Containers free of charge from Innobaby.*

Room It Up - Giveaway!

What do you have on your lap? Well, over here when we are surfing the net or doing a little reading, we have a new favorite item in our house! We received it from Room It Up. Have you heard of them? Well, I think you are going to love what they have to offer!

Their lap desk is what caught my attention! I am in the market for a new net book and I wanted something that was going to make surfing the net or doing a little work a little more comfortable. A very cool feature that they have on their lap desk is a cup holder. You are place beverages in this cup holder or we even use it for our cell phones. That way when we get comfy on the couch with our computer or book on our lap desk, we don't have to get up to answer a call should we get one. Perfect!

Here are a few more of their fabulous products:

GET YOUR OWN! Head on over to Room It Up to do a little shopping of your own! Oh you are going to love it! From their lap desks, to their overnight duffle bags, you will absolutely love the products and all the color! You will have a hard time choosing only one thing you want! Don't forget to check out their outlet as well while you are there!

{ * GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED * }

WIN YOUR OWN!! One lucky SIMPLE reader will win a $30 gift card to be used at Room It Up! In order to be entered to win, you must visit Room It Up and come back here telling us your favorite item! (Be sure to leave your email address...you can't be contacted as a winner if we don't have your email address!)

Extra Entries: (leave separate comment for each)

• Blog this giveaway linking back to SIMPLE and Room It Up
• Tweet this giveaway (you can tweet daily for extra opportunities to win!)
  
• Become a new fan of SIMPLE on Facebook
• Become a fan of Room It Up on Facebook
• Follow Room It Up via Twitter
  
• Follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Connect
• Suggest SIMPLE to your Facebook friends and comment telling us how many friends you invited

A little info about giveaways:

• NON-Bloggers, please leave your email address in your comment as we have no way to contact anonymous users.
• Blog-Owners, please be sure your contact information is in your profile or blog somewhere, or leave it in your comment.
• All anonymous or posts that have no contact information in it, will be deleted. Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you!
• Winner will be contacted via Email. If no response in 1 week, another winner will be chosen.
• Winner MUST be in the continental US and/or Canada.

Winner will be randomly selected and announced May 21, 2010. Good Luck!

*I was provided with the sample mentioned in this review free of charge.*