>U Mom Knows Best: October 2017

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway

Mommy Scene Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway!

We are excited to share Mommy Scene's Holiday Giveaway packed full of gifts for babies, kids, and moms! Get inspired for gift giving this year with interactive gift ideas for creative kids, practical gift ideas for baby's first Christmas, and luxurious gifts for yourself or the new mom in your life. One lucky winner will receive this entire gift collection!

There are lots of wonderful prizes in this huge awesome giveaway! 

2017 Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway gift collection for babies, kids and moms - Mommy Scene

Check out all the wonderful gifts that you can win!

Gifts for Babies

Crane Drop Humidifier - Grey
Pacific Baby Hot-Tot 9oz Insulated Toddler Bottle
aLoo Bottle Valve
Revelae Kids Cozy Baby Sleepers
Bonjour Baby Baskets $50 Gift Card!
lulujo Baby's First Year blanket & cards set
Button Diapers One-Size Diaper Cover and three pack of Daytime Diaper Inserts of winner's choice
Toofeze baby teether

Featured in Mommy Scene's Gift Ideas for Babies.

Gifts for Kids

Piggy Paint natural nail polish for kids
Sleep Zzz Pillow for kids ages 3 and up
Wild Things Animal Blankets
Interactive Map of the World by Lil'ollo
Soft'n Slo Squishies Sweet Shop squeezable collectibles
The Shrunks Indoor Tuckaire Toddler Travel Bed
Morph by Orb Toys
Window Jammers low-tech collectible characters
Ocean Exploration Discovery Box by Revelae Kids
Wizard Roll board game of magical spells!

Featured in Mommy Scene's Gift Ideas for Kids.

Gifts for Her

Back Buddy Support Pillow
PeachSkinSheets
Aurorae Aqua Microfiber Beach and Swim Towel
Aurorae Hawaiian Island Afternoon Coconut Pineapple Aromatherapy Spritz
Mama Strut Postpartum Care System
Fresh Wave Kitchen Kit
Rachel's Remedy Breastfeeding Relief Packs
Covered Goods Original 4-in-1 Cover
Kindred Bravely Davy Nursing & Maternity Pajamas (Pant Set)
Moody Sisters Mommy Deserves It Gift Set (Eye Cream & Nourishing Serum)

Featured in Mommy Scene's Gift Ideas for Her.

Enter to win this fabulous gift collection of prizes for babies, kids, and moms!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is coordinated by Mommy Scene and is open to US entries ages 18 and older. No purchase required to enter. One (1) winner will be randomly chosen and contacted through e-mail, and their name displayed on the giveaway widget after the giveaway ends on December 15th, 2017. Mommy Scene and the participating blogs are not responsible for fulfilling brand-sponsored prizes. Prizes will be shipped directly from each brand.

Enjoy The Taste Of Italy With Nonna Box


It is like a care package from grandma!


  I love receiving packages and ones with food in them are the best. I recently received a box of Italian comfort food from my Nonna. Alright, I confess, it was not from my Nonna but it sure did make me wish that I had a grandma who sent me a care package from Italy. My box was packed with love from a local grandma in Italy who made me feel like she was my own. This box contained a variety of food along with recipes so I could make a wonderful Italian dinner.

Each box includes 5 to 7 full-size, imported, and hard-to-come-by Italian products. A local nonna will share her story and her favorite recipe which will use the box's products.

                                 I received a Nonna Box to facilitate this post.

  When my Nonna Box arrived, my son and I had a great time discovering what Italian foods where in this monthly subscription box. We loved reading about the region that our Nonna lived in and about her culinary traditions. The box included many recipes that I could use the food items in and there were also cards that described each food item in detail.

It's like traveling through Italy without leaving your kitchen!

   My son loved that the box included a dessert and a drink to go with our Italian meal. My box included a package of rice and dried mushrooms so I could make a mushroom risotto. It also included a  jar of local honey and a jar of wine cream (this was a new item for me and I was excited to try it.) I really loved the detailed recipes with pictures.


Your box comes with cards that detail regional culinary tradition, the box's products, and their local importance, as well as serving suggestions. As you eat your way through Italy, you'll learn about authentic regional culture and cuisine.



  The box of unique food items will help you create an Italian meal for 4/5 people. If you make all the included recipes, you will have to buy some other ingredients. The box even gives you wine suggestions. It is so easy to order this monthly subscription box. You can start with one box or choose from several other plans.

Nonna Box is a monthly subscription or a one time adventure of carefully curated gourmet Italian products that highlight a different Italian theme each month. Your box will ship between the second and the third week of the month (usually on the 11th of each month), and be at your door and in your kitchen in just a few days later.


  My family enjoyed trying some new food items and making an Italian meal. The recipes were easy to follow. I really enjoyed the bit of history that my boys learn about as we enjoyed our meal. I only made one of the recipes that were included in the box and that was the mushroom risotto. The dried mushrooms gave an amazing flavor to the risotto. My boys said that the cookies were so yummy. My son used the honey later in the week when he made some peanut butter balls and the honey was very sweet and flavorful.

The Nonna Box website includes many recipes from other boxes and has plenty of pictures of other boxes so you can get an idea what is included in these delicious monthly boxes. Want to know more?

                                                          https://www.nonnabox.com/



Monday, October 30, 2017

Santa Shops At Best Buy

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

                                                     Best Buy is where Santa shops!


   Santa is a very busy person this time of year and needs all the help when it comes to buying gifts for my boys. I confess that I am Santa, but don't tell my boys as I want to keep Santa real as long as possible. Now that my younger boys are getting older, it is harder to buy gifts for them. I think it is easier to buy for the teen and my two adult children as they love gift cards. The younger buys still love toys and the thrill of opening presents. So when it comes to figuring out what my boys want for Christmas, this mom has to be sneaky so I don't blow my cover of being Santa.  

  I was very happy to see the Best Buy Holiday toy catalog in my mailbox the other day. I left it on the table so the boys could look at it. The boys were super excited to look at all the toys in the Best Buy catalog. As they were looking at the catalog, I was carefully listening to them talk about which toys that they like. I was also taking notes on my computer, the boys thought that I was just working. I wrote down which toys that they liked the best so that later I could visit Bestbuy.com and look at them. I could then also order their favorite toys online and get them shipped to grandpa's house so the boys would not see them.

Recoil Laser Tag Starter Set SKU: 5966503

I was amazed at the selection of toys that Best Buy carried. I really love that they had toys for all ages. It was easy to shop by age or price on their website. My boys really loved the Recoil Laser Tag Starter Set. I knew this would be a great gift for them as it would get them off the couch. I could just see the boys having fun with their older teen brother and dad as they turn the house into a laser tag battlefield. This awesome toy uses the Wifi and a smartphone app to keep track of the ammo and stats. Since it lets up to 16 players participate at a time, this awesome toy would be a hit at my son's birthday party next year.

LEGO - Star Wars Rebel Trooper Battle Pack SKU: 5854200

          It just is not Christmas without a Lego set or two under the tree. Best Buy had so many sets to choose from, this Santa(mom) had a hard time choosing which one to buy. I finally selected the LEGO - Star Wars Rebel Trooper Battle Pack and the LEGO - Star Wars Yoda's Jedi Starfighters as the boys are big time into Star Wars. Thes sets will be a great to let the boys know that Santa left them tickets for the new Star Wars movie that is being released in December. For the past couple of years, Santa has left tickets for the whole family to go see a Star Wars movie in the theatre and they are always thrilled to see those tickets!    

LEGO - Star Wars Yoda's Jedi Starfighter SKU: 5854201

I was so happy that Best Buy made my holiday shopping so easy. You need to take a look at the huge selection of toys that Best Buy has. They have everything from classic toys, to learning toys, to tech toys, from babies all the way to big kid toys. You might even find the perfect tech toy for your teen or husband. The best part is you don't even have to leave the house. So start your holiday shopping early this year and head on over to Best Buy!





Friday, October 27, 2017

Nugeni Helps Kids With Chores

       Kids are never too young for chores!



  My younger boys have been doing chores since they were two. Now that they are older, they have many jobs around the house. My teenage son also helps around the house when he is able to but he does his own laundry. The teen is a senior in high school so I want him to focus on his school work and other things that will help him get into college (like all the many scholarship applications.) My thinking about kids and chores is you are a part of the family so you help out. I also do not pay my kids for chores nor give them an allowance. I know that my kids doing chores will help them when they move out on their own.


             These are the youngest at 2 and 3 years old


  The very first chores that I can remember my youngest doing is folding laundry. My oldest daughter was tired of having to fold clothes so she taught the boys how to fold. I am all for passing the job to someone else as long as it gets done. My boys use to climb into the dryer to get the clothes out.


  My boys now are capable of doing many things around the house and have chores like taking out the trash, unloading the dishwasher, folding all the clothes, and putting away the groceries. The youngest is always willing to vacuum but he has a hard time using my big vacuum. So I decided it was time for his own vacuum so he can get all those crumbs off the kitchen floor. He is the one who makes all the crumbs! One would think that by nine that he would stop making messes while he eats but I guess he has to live up to his name Messy Jesse. I joke with that boy that I should have named him Pete (neat Pete.)

I received a Nugeni to facilitate this post.


     Jesse was so excited to get his own vacuum and I do really mean that. This is a boy who likes tools and things that make noise. When the Nugeni arrive Jesse had a blast vacuuming all around the house. His brother just could not understand why Jesse was having so much fun. Jesse said, " I love vacuuming!" His new Nugeni VACPAC+ is very lightweight and comes with a bunch of tools so he can vacuum up all the mess in the kitchen. I love that the VACPAC+ is rechargeable so my boy cannot vacuum up the cord or tangle it up around the furniture. This vacuum may be small but it is powerful and has a big storage for all those crumbs. The VACPAC+ can be used as a handheld vacuum and Jesse loves using this to get the crumbs off the kitchen counter. When he wants to get all the crumbs off the floor, he just adds the extension wand and the hard floor tool to the VACPAC+. I think his favorite tool is the crevice tool so he can get all those hard to reach places. 



  My boy gets very excited when he sees how full the dustbin is. He then empties all his treasure of crumbs into the trash can and plugs the vacuum back into the charger. The VACPAC fits perfectly in the corner of my laundry room so Jesse can access it anytime he makes a mess in the kitchen. The teen also enjoys using this lightweight vacuum as it is so easy to take upstairs to clean up all his hair after he gives himself a haircut. For now, Jesse just uses the Nugeni in the kitchen but I think his next chore will be vacuuming the stairs.


The nugeni VAC+ is a powerful, lightweight and cordless handheld or upright vacuum with our patented 3D Turbine Motor.  Featuring our AllergyAware filter with Dual Layer technology, the nugeni VAC+ helps reduce allergy and asthma triggers for whole house health. Reach inaccessible places high and low with the power of an upright and the ease of a handheld. With the wide range of included accessories, you can customize your cleaning needs for any space. 



                                                https://www.mynugeni.com/



Huggies Instant Savings at Sam's Club

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #nothinglikeahug #CollectiveBias

Parents, we know what you are thinking - this time of the year can be expensive. Between preparing for the holidays, more family gatherings, and just stocking up on everyday essentials, your wallet may be feeling a little stretched by now.

Huggies and Sam’s Club want to make things easier. Right now, when Sam’s Club members purchase any two qualifying Huggies products at Sam’s Club, you can get $8 in Instant Savings. And as a bonus, you can use the Ibotta offer on this site for an additional $4 dollars off. That’s $12 in TOTAL SAVINGS so you and your family can make the most of this season while still getting the Huggies items you depend on daily.

Visit this link for more info on how you can score your Instant Savings at Sam’s Club!




FREE Mtn Dew Kickstart


FREE Mtn Dew Kickstart Receive ONE (1) FREE Mtn Dew Kickstart, any variety (12 or 16 oz.). Available in most stores.

Exp 11/12/2017



This Friday, October 27th, 2017– ONLY, you can load a coupon to your Kroger (or Affiliate) Plus Card for an FREE Mtn Dew Kickstart
Although 10/27/2017 is the only day that you can load the coupon, the coupon offer is redeemable through 11/12/2017

                                    https://kroger.softcoin.com/programs/kroger/freefri/

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Natural Beauty Starts With A Healthy Lifestyle

                                           A healthy lifestyle helps with beauty.

I was sent the Lumene Klassikko Collection to facilitate this post.

I like to think that my healthy lifestyle has something to do with my young looking skin. It only seems reasonable that taking care of one's body can give results like healthy skin and a nice looking body. Yes, it can be hard work to have to exercise and eat healthy food but the results are what keeps me motivated. I get frustrated when people say to me that I am so lucky to have nice looking skin and a nice body. I always think to myself, it has nothing to do with luck. This nice skin and body all have to do with eating healthy food, drink plenty of water, and exercising. My nice skin also comes from using creams and lotion on my face. In my quest to get away from chemicals in my life, I am slowing changing out beauty products. The one beauty product that is the hardest for me is my face products. I like my retinol face products as my use of them may be the reason I have no wrinkles. Then there is the part of me that thinks, "are they safe for me to use? What about the side effects?" So I have been trying more natural face products to see how they make my face feel and look. I have not said goodbye yet to my retinol products just yet though. I have been using them less though. 

One of the new natural face products that I have been trying is a unique one. These face products contain Nordic Cotton grass in them which moisturizes and helps to nourish the skin gently. The Lumene Klassikko makes me think of soft skin. I was sent some of the Nordic Cotton that grows in Finland along with the New Lumene Collection. This cotton is super soft and contains antioxidants, sugars, and minerals that help to nurture, calm and moisturize the skin.


I like that these face products have more than 80% naturally-derived ingredients that also includes Pure Arctic Spring water. I also like that they have no sulfates, parabens, or formaldehyde.


The Lumene Klassikko products had a nice scent to them and felt nice on my skin. My skin felt soft and had a nice glow to it. I like when I can have a natural beauty look with just lotion and not have to fuss with makeup. 


Lumene is also designed for the price conscious consumer and can be found at Walmart and Walmart.com

Discover more


Win 1 of 500 Nintendo Switch Prize Packs

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PrizesWithPost #CerealAnytime #CollectiveBias

Post Consumer Brands are bringing on the fun this fall! Family time is set to become even more fun with the chance to Win 1 of 500 Nintendo Switch Prize Packs, each including a Nintendo Switch system and a Super Mario Odyssey game.


With a great taste, your family will love, you can now find specially marked Post boxes in-stores for a limited time.

In order to enter, Find your code inside your cereal box and enter at the Postsweepstakes.com/nintendoswitch site. The Promotion has started and ends on 3/31/2018. It is only open to legal residents of the 50 US states and Washington, DC, 18 years of age or older.

This is something to get excited about!

Nintendo Switch combines the power of a home console with the mobility of a handheld. So you get more time to play the games you love, like Super Mario Odyssey, however you like.

Post cereals include Honey Bunches of Oats®, the perfect combination of crispy and sweet flakes, plus crunchy clusters, plus a touch of honey. With over 35 flavors, Malt-O-Meal® cereal has something for every taste bud in the family. Honeycomb® is made with honey and the big pieces are as perfect for snacking as they are in your cereal bowl. Sample the big honey taste! Golden Crisp® is a satisfyingly sweet and crunchy puffed wheat cereal that puts the fun in Breakfast. Post Alpha-Bits has the great taste and alphabet delight that kids and moms L-O- V-E. Grape-Nuts® has been a morning staple people love. It’s power-packed nutrition with a satisfying crunch. It is also whole grain, non-GMO, an excellent source of fiber and a vegan product.

Head to your local Walmart and grab these specially marked boxes to enter for a chance to win these exciting #PrizesWithPost!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Grandbox Is a Perfect Gift For Grandparents

This box is perfect for the holidays.


  I am always looking for gift ideas for my mom and dad. It seems like they have everything so buying them a gift is always hard. I discovered a wonderful gift that I know my parents will enjoy. It is a box of goodies that even my boys enjoyed.

  Do you have trouble coming up with a gift idea for grandma and grandpa? I have a perfect gift idea for you and it is a gift that will bring a smile to them year round. GrandBox is a delightful box of goodies that grandparents would love to receive. Every month your grandparents will receive a box of goodies that they can use. The GrandBox can also be personalized with a letter and photos of your family. Grandma and grandpa will be delighted when they receive a box of goodies, photos of the grandkids and a letter that your family wrote. I know when I send my mom photos she always passes them around at the senior center for all to see.


  I was able to receive a Grandbox to check it out before I sent one to my parents. My boys were excited when the box arrived at our house. The Grandbox was filled with items that my boys and I enjoyed. My youngest son grabbed the pouch of apples and said they tasted so good. My other son and I shared the pouch of cornbread crisps as they were plenty in the pouch. The crisps tasted like cornbread crackers with honey on them. My favorite item in the box was the maple cookies as they had a nice maple flavor to them. The room spray had a nice light scent that would be good for a pick me up spray. The boys were excited to play the dice game. So all the items in the box made us happy and I knew that my mom would love this box.


  I am glad that I checked out Grandbox and now I will be sending one to my mom and dad. I love that I can send them one box at a time or choose a 3, 6, or 12-month plan. My mom loves receiving gifts so this box will brighten her day and the goodies will be enjoyed by her and dad.

Would this be a gift that you would send to your mom or dad?

Find out more at the below link.
http://www.mygrandbox.com

Born To Shred Post Shredded Wheat Cereals ibotta Deal

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BornToShred #ShredTheDay #CollectiveBias



Adventure is out there and waiting for you!

We were born to play. We were born to move. We were born to laugh and seek adventures both big and small. We were born to live a full, flavorful life. We were Born to Shred.

Now you can earn $3 cash back on ibotta with the purchase of Shredded Wheat Cereals.

Whatever you’re into and gets you moving, fuel yourself with 3 new flavors of Shredded Wheat cereal at Walmart! It’s as easy as celebrating that born-to-shred lifestyle of yours and chasing after your next pursuit



Wholesomeness and happiness go hand-in-hand, so stay energized and don’t miss out on this great deal packed with flavorful goodness!

Don’t forget! You were #BornToShred and live a flavorful life.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Simple Mills Crunchy Cookies Are Made With Simple Ingredients

      Healthy cookies? Yes, please.






  I love cookies but don't keep them in the house as I know they are not the best thing for me to eat. So when Simple Mills asked me if I wanted to try their feel good about snacking cookies, I, of course, said yes. I just could not turn down these delicious looking cookies. I really liked that these cookies had simple ingredients, ones that I would use if I made them myself. I also like that these cookies were made with plant powered, nutrient-dense ingredients. That means that I am getting some nutrition while I enjoy a sweet treat.


  When these cookies arrived, I could not wait to try them. The list of ingredients sounded so yummy. I really loved that the cookies were made with a nut flour blend and coconut sugar. The younger boys were around when I opened up the boxes of cookies so I had to share with them. We decided to have a cookie taste test to see which flavor was the best. All the cookies had a crisp texture to them and awesome flavor. The Chocolate Chip cookies were my favorite. I loved that the chocolate was not gooey. My family thinks that I am strange as I hate warm melted chocolate. My chocolate chip cookies need to be crisp with hard pieces of chocolate and these cookies were perfect. My youngest son like the Cinnamon Crunchy cookies and the other one liked the Double Chocolate Cookies. Their favorite part was that mom was letting them eat cookies. How could this mom say no to cookies when they contained wholesome simple ingredients.


   11 SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: Nut Flour Blend (Almonds, Coconut, Tigernuts), Tapioca, Organic Coconut Oil, Chocolate Chips (Cane Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter), Organic Coconut Sugar, Arrowroot, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt, Baking Soda, Konjac Root, Rosemary Extract (For Freshness)



 For moms that have kids with food allergies and ingredient sensitivities, you will be happy to know that the Simple Mills Cookies are certified gluten-free and non-gmo project verified. They are also Paleo-Friendly, Grain Free, Soy Free, Low Carb, and gluten-Free.



Simple Mills sells many other products like Pizza Dough, crackers, baking mixes, and frosting.



Click here to learn more about Simple Mills



You can find Simple Mills on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest



Monday, October 23, 2017

Better For You Halloween Treats

   Looking for some better for you treats to enjoy on Halloween?


  Eat drink and be scary this Halloween with goodies you will absolutely be batty about! I have some wonderful suggestions of better for you treats and snacks that you can feel good about offering to the kids on Halloween. These delicious treats are made with ingredients that better quality and some are even organic and free of common allergens.




 You don’t have to worry about kids with allergies when you hand out Enjoy life foods Halloween Minis. These delicious bite-size minis don’t contain the 8 most common allergens. No scary ingredients, just scary good chocolate.  They are always free from Gluten, Wheat, Dairy, Peanut, Tree Nuts, Egg, Soy, Fish, Shellfish, Casein, Sesame, Sulfites, and Potato.



  My favorite spooky treat is Alter Eco Truffles. These perfectly poppable chocolate truffles are organic and fair-trade. You will love that are made with sustainably-harvested Ecuadorian and Peruvian cacao that’s expertly-finished by Swiss chocolatiers. These truffles are made with pure organic coconut oil and I just love that the truffle wrappers are completely compostable.



Bare Pie Spice Apple Chips are a healthier twist to traditional Halloween candy. This new flavor of Bare apple chips is a guilt-free indulgence that is made with real apples and a fragrant blend of cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and a dash of sea salt.



  Keep it salty and sweet with PopCorners Sweetly Salted Caramel. These caramel flavored popped corn chips are sure to satisfy those ghosts and goblins. It does not get better than caramel. These chips are smooth and sweet. You will love that they contain no gluten, no trans fat, and no GMO’s. A new take on a classic taste in just one bag.

So which delightful treat will you enjoy on Halloween?



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