25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight: PlasmaCar Review

We all know kids have tons of energy. Why not let them use it in an exciting, innovative way? The PlasmaCar from PlaSmart is a great, battery-free, ride-on toy car for your kids!

This is an award-winning product for many reasons. It's extremely durable, quiet, interactive, and gives your kids the controls to all the fun. It's free of gears, pedals or anything electrical and is assembled quite easily with the directions provided. Even my 2 year old has it all figured out, but it can hold an adult up to 220 pounds! Seriously, it works for any family, regardless how young because the adults can use it too and get a little workout and a fun thrill at the same time. All you have to do is turn the steering wheel and off you go!

 Buddy will frequently just use his feet to ride along on his PlasmaCar like you see on the left, but on the right he demonstrates the proper position to use the PlasmaCar as intended. He completely understands how to steer side to side and how to use his body to sway as a means to gain momentum and speed but it's important to note the pebbled concrete sidewalks he was riding on. The PlasmaCar definitely works best on a completely smooth surface, unlike what he was riding on above. The front wheels, controlled by the handles, tend to slip when on a rough surface. The wheels are plastic, not rubber, so they don't grip the rough surface enough to effectively steer in a side to side motion to get going. That's why Buddy tends to just use his feet unless we go to a school playground or some other place that has a flat, smooth asphalt surface. Otherwise a slight decline with your feet up while on a rough surface is fun will get you going too!

Yep, even mom got in on the action with this one! It's super fun and is actually quite the exercise for your arms once you get going. I've never seen anything like the PlasmaCar! One thing I noticed is that it makes really tight turns which is great for small areas. On our tiny patio I can successfully go around in a circle, completely self-propelled by my body and turning the handles of the PlasmaCar. Just be careful not to tip over (almost happened)!

Buddy calls the PlasmaCar his "ladybug", presumably because of the black and red colors. It's pretty cute. :) Anyway, he likes to "work" on his ladybug with his wooden tools. He has certainly used, abused, and tried to destroy his PlasmaCar to no end. That being said, I can assure you the ABS plastic the PlasmaCar is made of is very sturdy, and will withstand a child like mine and still work and look great! PlasmaCar actually doesn't recommend riding on hardwood or laminate floors because the plastic is THAT strong and could potentially damage them. The PlasmaCar is practically indestructible!

Connect with PlasmaCar on Facebook and Twitter!

Price: $69.99

The Verdict: We totally love the PlasmaCar and would definitely recommend it to parents looking for a ride-on toy that will work for all ages and last a long time. The way it moves is completely intuitive for even Buddy at age 2, so anyone can get the hang of it!

Buy It:  Check the store locator to find a retailer near you!

**Come back to my blog during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event from November 1-25 and enter to win your own Plasmacar!**

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product(s) to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Winners Announcement!

Here are the winners of a few group giveaways I was recently part of!

Flip UltraHD Video Camera Giveaway - Rachel C.

 $100 Christmas Cash Giveaway - Christy A.

Radio Flyer Classic Bumper Car Giveaway - Linda D.

Don't forget to check on the right for current giveaways! AND, come back in the morning for the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz event that includes over 400 participating blogs, each with their own giveaway! It will be tons of fun!

(Closed) "Thanks For Following" Giveaway! Win a 2-pack of gDiapers! Ends 11/10 #Clothdiapers

I just realized I still have a few NEW gDiapers gPants 2-packs sitting around here and I thought I'd share the love and give one 2-pack away to one of my wonderful readers! Since we're just a few followers shy of 2,000, I figured this was a great time to tell you...THANK YOU for continuing to support my blog! I appreciate you all so much!

(I have 2 more identical 2-packs for sale if you want to make an offer! thereynoldsmom @ gmail.com)

Win It!

One NEW gDiapers gPants 2-pack as shown. Size small in the orange and cream color combo. Open to the US and Canada!

Plum District: $5 Sign Up Credit & 30% Off = *HOT* Deals!

Get a $5 credit when you sign up for Plum District (limited to my first 5 referrals from what I can tell now. The pop-up will say if you are getting a $5 gift from me before you sign up)! AND, get 30% off any deal with code SPOOKY30! This code is valid through Monday, 10/31.

Check out these 3 HOT online deals you can score today! Start your holiday shopping now! Be sure to check your local deals too!

$20 for $40 to OnlineShoes.com & FREE Shipping!

**With your $5 sign up credit and 30% off code SPOOKY30, this deal is only $9 for $40!**

About OnlineShoes.com

OnlineShoes.com doesn't strive to be trendy. They're in the shoe business because they know shoes! A family company who’s been serving customers for over 40 years, OnlineShoes.com is more than just a shoe store. It's a place where you’re always welcome, you’ll find all your favorite brands (plus a few new ones!), and comfort is always in fashion—for your feet and your entire shopping trip. So come on in and, well, make yourself comfortable!

 

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$20 for $40 of Boutique Kids' Clothing, Shoes & Accessories from Cuddleboutique.com!

**With your $5 sign up credit and 30% off code SPOOKY30, this deal is only $9 for $40!**

About Cuddle Boutique

(They carry Teething Bling pendant necklaces!)

Cuddle Boutique offers fun, funky and unique clothing, shoes, accessories, and gifts for babies and children - items that make you smile when you see them! Like many busy moms, the owner of this boutique has multi-tasked project after project, and this company is no exception. She spent over a year compiling a list of all her favorite clothing lines and accessories for children, including Luna Luna clothes, Joes Jeans, and Deglingos, just to name a few. Cuddle Boutique carries over 35 of the cutest, best-loved brands for babies and kids!

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$20 for $40 to Lil Honu Organic Children's Blankets, Bedding, and More!

**With your $5 sign up credit and 30% off code SPOOKY30, this deal is only $9 for $40!**

About Lil Honu

The concept of Lil Honu® was inspired by the close friendship between two professional/working mothers, Erin Park and Emiliza Tan, who felt the need to provide their young daughters with chemical free, pesticide free, and dye free bedding and bath linens without compromising the desire for luxury, softness, and timeless fabrics and style.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight: Rive Glass Water Bottles Review

Eco-friendly meets fashionable and fun with Rive glass water bottles. Glass as a drinking vessel is quickly becoming not only a trend, but also known as the safest material to drink from. I know I certainly prefer to drink out of glass as much as I can. No leaching chemicals, no strange flavors, and completely reusable. Using glass no longer means you have sacrifice style and limit your options either. Rive has lots of stylish options for you!

This is Rive's Botanical Bliss design from their Savoy Designer Series. It's definitely my favorite one! This tall, skinny and sleek bottle is pretty lightweight for being glass. It holds 16 ounces, is made from 100% pure glass, and is also BPA free. The design on the bottle gives it a frosted look that is really neat! All designs are made from organic enamels and are also 100% lead free which is really important too. The wide-mouth lid allows for even large ice cubes to easily work with this bottle. Although the lid is plastic, it is food-grade ABS plastic, and has no BPA, phthalates or PVC. It is also only in contact with the water when you tip the bottle to take a drink so it's still better than the whole thing being plastic. I found that this bottle really seemed to keep water cold for longer than in plastic or other glass, and I actually didn't notice a lot of condensation either.

One of the features I like on this bottle is actually the shape of the lid. Sometimes when you go to drink from a small opening on other bottles it creates an undesirable suction that makes it hard to actually drink. With the heightened lip on the Rive bottle lid, the water comes out of the bottle and runs into your mouth without any seal at all. It's a deep lip. I was worried how well this would work, but it works very well. It's almost like drinking off of a normal cup.

(The color on these photos turned out almost blue and way brighter than the bottle actually is. It's definitely a medium purple.)

The gray part of the lid is what screws onto the bottle. You get a nice leak-proof seal from the silicone (I think that's what it is inside there!). You can turn the purple part of the lid 180 degrees to open and close the mouth opening to drink. While I found this to work like it should, it took a little practice! Sometimes I would end up unscrewing the lid (unknowingly) instead of just opening the lid. The lid still stayed on when I did this the first time, but it leaked like crazy since I had unscrewed it ever so slightly. So, just be sure you aren't actually taking off the lid when you go to take a drink! Also, the nice part about being able to open and close the lid like this is that you can adjust how open you want it to be. Want just a sip? Then just open it half way or less!

If you're worried about putting down this glass water bottle too hard, don't worry! The base has a removable silicone piece that cushions the impact and won't harm the glass. It slips on and off with ease when you intentionally want it to, but will stay on snugly without falling off while in use. I like that this little part is removable so you can clean the bottle fully when necessary. Which brings me to the fact that the bottle is dishwasher safe (top rack) although hand washing is recommended.

I also received the Birdie design from the Savoy collection. It's so pretty too! My sister-in-law was in need of a new glass water bottle, so she was the lucky recipient of this bottle. She'll be one stylish new mom very soon! There are many beautiful designs in the Savoy Designer Series, but if you aren't interested in any designs you can order a plain bottle from the Elan or Lynx collections.

  

Connect with Rive on Facebook and Twitter!

Price: All Savoy collection bottles are regularly $25 each, but are only $20 each through January 1st! Also, choose any 2 bottles from the Savoy and Elan collections, and receive free shipping from RiveUSA.com!

The Verdict: I really, really like the fashion-forward designs and style of these glass bottles. I'm horrible at drinking enough water so I need something exciting like this to make it more fun! Rive really focuses on their smart design, and making the consumption of water a safe, fashionable luxury for all to enjoy. As Rive suggests, their bottles really are hydration made elegant.

Buy It:  Check out RiveUSA.com or find a retailer near you!

**Come back to my blog during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event from November 1-25 and enter to win a glass water bottles from Rive (2 winners will each receive one bottle in one of the designs shown below)!**

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product(s) to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Sponsor Spotlight: Sprig Toys Eco Blocks Review

Sprig Toys is an eco-friendly, socially responsible company that is dedicated to bringing your kids high quality, affordable, and entertaining toys that are made to last. And not only all those great points either. With Sprig Toys, you can rest assured that your kids are playing with SAFE toys. 

Sprig Toys are made primarily from their signature Sprigwood material which is a blend of recycled plastic and reclaimed wood. By re-purposing these materials, Sprig Toys has created a long-lasting, bio-composite, green, 100% recycled material to create their line of toys. Sprigwood is also dyed during the production process using pigments that have no heavy metals, no phthalates, and no endocrine disruptors. What you get is an awesome, chemical-free toy! With very little packaging, and recyclable at that, you can see that Sprig Toys clearly seeks to make an impact on the environment by lessening their carbon foot print.

Sprig Toys sent us a 75-piece set of Eco Blocks to review for Buddy. Can you tell he was excited?? He rarely strikes a pose for a photo but he knew that would be the fastest way to get me to open the box! :) Your kids are going to love the new Eco Blocks from Sprig Toys!

We have a couple other blocks sets at home, but these are by far my favorite. The Sprigwood is very study, and feels like a very hard plastic. Not only do I really like the safe material these are made of, but these stack together nice and snug too. A few other bonuses are that Eco Blocks are dishwasher safe, they are perfect for small hands to hold, they come in 6 bright colors and 6 shapes, and the creativity is endless for hours of open-ended fun. Inside the box was a basic reusable bag to store the blocks in too. The blocks are best for ages 12 months and up, and are plenty large to be safe and not pose a choking hazard to your youngsters.

Buddy loves building various "towers" and "garages" for all his cars with his new Eco Blocks. His motor skills are getting lots of great practice when he plays with these, and he certainly learns lots of patience and how to move slowly when he builds a tall tower. Buddy will sometimes get frustrated with other blocks if they aren't sticking together well, but we don't have that problem with Eco Blocks. I practically jump for joy when I find an toy that is a learning opportunity too. Also, if you have a kid that is tough on toys like Buddy, you'll love the durability of these. They can withstand lots of abuse and still look brand new!

Connect with Sprig Toys on Facebook and Twitter!

Price: $48 for the 75-piece set of Eco Blocks

The Verdict: Blocks are definitely a classic necessity for kids, and Sprig Toys Eco Blocks takes that to the next level by making them safe, colorful, and high quality. I highly recommend putting Eco Blocks on your shopping list this holiday season!

Buy It: Find a local or online retailer today!

**Come back to my blog during the 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Event from November 1-25 and enter to win your own set of Eco Blocks!**

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product(s) to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

(Closed) Basa Body Skin Care Review & Giveaway! Ends 11/6

Basa Body is an all-natural skin care company that will be launching it's entire updated signature product line and website next month. The coconut oil used by Basa Body is produced in Mombasa, Kenya by hard-working Kenyan women trying to become self-reliant and better the lives of their families. As a socially conscious company, Basa Body is committed to improving the economic opportunities of these women by using the coconut oil they produce at Coast Coconut Farms. Basa Body also donates 10% of all profits to humanitarian projects in Africa.

NO Parabens
NO Artificial Fragrances
NO Artificial Preservatives
NO Harsh Irritating Chemicals

Basa Body products are all-natural and the key ingredient in each product is Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. They love to describe themselves as coconut oil obsessed! As you may know, coconut oil is extremely good for you, and works especially well on your skin. It absorbs easily and offers you a very natural, antioxidant-rich approach to skincare. Virgin coconut oil is known to be naturally anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and also age-defying. 

The first product I received to review is the Basa Body Coconut Oil Body Lotion. It has a wonderful coconut scent that reminds me of a Hawaiian tropical oasis! It smells absolutely delicious, and also has a great, thin texture so it doesn't take forever to absorb. This hypo-allergenic lotion is perfect for sensitive skin, and those with eczema and other skin conditions.

My hands are very dry most the time. I'm horrible at using lotion regularly, but I made the effort to use this lotion on my hands every day for a week. My young hands are back! Each day my hands looked more healthy, moisturized and vibrant. I also noticed that each day my hands absorbed the lotion faster than the day before. My skin clearly loved it and I also love the short list of natural ingredients.

I also received the Basa Body Stick. This product is a natural coconut oil healing balm that is great for protecting and healing dry, irritated skin. The only 2 ingredients in this product are 100% Virgin Coconut Oil, and beeswax. The minimal amount of beeswax keeps the coconut oil from liquefying, and allows you to glide the stick across your skin to apply unlike a liquid product. It almost melts on contact with your warm skin, and you can massage the balm into your skin from there. I like the large surface area of the product in the stick. It really makes it easy to apply over a larger area of skin like my knees. While it does absorb well into your skin, it is a little greasier than the lotion. I really felt like it was protecting my skin though and it does eventually absorb completely.

I found the Basa Body Stick to be absolutely effective in soothing my dry skin. However, I did not like the scent at all. I could smell the coconut oil a little, but the beeswax really made for a stinky combo that I did not enjoy. I will still use it because the coconut oil is so good for you and that's worth tolerating the scent.

The only suggestion I have would be that I'd like to see the ingredients list on each product actually say "organic" coconut oil. Neither product actually listed the coconut oil as organic, although their site states that all Basa Body products use only Virgin Organic Coconut Oil.

The Verdict: I'm a total coconut fanatic so I love the natural benefits of the coconut oil and scent of the lotion specifically. I love that the use of coconut oil is helping Kenyan women improve their lives. I'm looking forward to working with Basa Body in the future to check out more of their products!

Price: Basa Body Coconut Oil Body Lotion - $13.95

Buy It: Check out BasaBody.com to stay up to date on their website launch and to order soon!

Win It!

One winner will receive a full-size Basa Body Coconut Oil Body Lotion! (RV $13.95)