The Morris Bunch

HELLO!

2009-11-07T17:40:00.002-07:00

If you are here, then you are probably looking for me! I have moved. I have been on my own domain for awhile now and having lots of fun! Why not come over and check it out! Click the button and you'll find me.

Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Program Winner

2009-04-26T07:24:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Staci!

Random.org pulled #7 and this is what Staci said:
Our favorite kids books right now are the Little Critter series.

Partylite Giveaway

2009-03-23T09:07:00.002-06:00

A blogging friend is having a partylite giveaway! Click that link and go check it out! You could win this: Coconut Cove Mini barrel jar ($12 value) These jars have a 35 hour burn time.

Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Program LIVE GIVEAWAY

2009-04-22T08:14:00.009-06:00

CLOSED
CHEERIOS SPOONFULS OF STORIES
Big Books in Little Hands

When I was younger, I remember begging for the "cool" cereal that had the coolest toy in it. As a parent, I was excited the first time I seen a book inside the box of cereal! Not just a cheap and corny book, but a quality educational book!

Cheerios has given away more than 35 million children's book in cereal boxes. Cheerios has also donated almost $3 million to First Book, their non-profit partner, which provides books to low-income families.

Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories New Author Contest

In its third year, Cheerios is looking for anyone interested in writing children's books. This is to encourage previously unpublished, up-and-coming children's book authors and to nurture a love of reading. Entries will be accepted until July 15, 2009. Entrants will be judged on appropriate story and content for children ages 3-8, emotional connection, writing quality, uniqueness, and read-aloud potential. For more information go to Spoonfuls of Stories Contest.

Cheerios has sent the Morris Bunch a Spoonfuls of Stories gift set. This included all four of these books that you see. Two of the books are in English and Spanish! All of the books have something great to offer our children.

The favorite in our house is definitely Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett. My girls love monkeys! We tell them all the time that they are monkeys. They also love books about animals which is what this book is about. I love that I can read the book in Spanish or English to them.

Cheerios has also offered 1 lucky family their very own Spoonfuls of Stories gift set.

To Enter:

For the first entry, you MUST post a comment answering this question:

If you could be a character from a children's book, who would it be?

After that as long as the comment meets qualifications then you can continue entering!

To Qualify:

This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address. If you enter anonymously without providing an email address, then I will choose another winner.
You must post a comment about your favorite children's book, favorite Cheerios, or the Spoonfuls of Stories program. (UNLIMITED ENTRIES)
Twitter this contest and you can also receive an extra entry. (UNLIMITED ENTRIES)

You can enter as many times as you would like andyou can post twice in a row!
I will pull a winner sometime at 12AM EST on 4/25. I won't be telling you how far I will let it go, so keep posting! You can post consecutively.

Good luck!

Jenna needs you at blogher!

2009-04-10T09:29:00.004-06:00

Jenna over at For Love of a baby is on her way to Blogher! She is looking for great companies and products that she can help promote! Check out her post and get in touch with her!

http://www.loveofbabyonline.com/2009/03/do-you-need-unique-face-for-your.html

Saying Goodbye

2009-03-30T08:48:00.005-06:00

As you know, my husband is attending the police academy. He is gone from Sunday through Thursday. This isn't the first time he has been gone like this. He attended the correctional academy after Sydnee was born. But he said this time is so much harder than before. Sydnee was still newborn while he was gone so he knew he wasn't missing out on much. Now he knows that Sydnee is missing him like crazy all week. She won't leave him alone during the week and goodbyes are really hard. So I wanted to capture this moment with my new vado (thanks newbaby!)

Fruitabü Fruit Rolls Review & giveaway

2009-04-14T08:54:00.011-06:00

Are you a fruit statistic?

10% of Americans do not eat fruits and vegetables at all.
(What color is your diet? David Heber, 2001. 1st Edition, HarperCollins, New York, New York.)

Did you know that the daily serving is different depending on age, sex and level of physical activity?

Stretch Island Fruit Company began in 1976 when a family wanted to make life simpler, sweeter and healthier. They created Fruitabü Organic Smooshed Fruit to make it easier for families to get the fruit you need. Smooshed fruit is a fun and portable way to keep a busy family healthy.

I'm not a big fruit roll fan. But I have three little girls that live for fruit roll ups and fruit snacks. I am happy to provide them as long as they are good for them. As a mom, I know that it isn't always easy because a child thinks healthy is another word for gross. I was excited to try these fruit snacks when I found out they were healthy and organic. The real test is to get the girls approval. Well it passed! Don't just take my word for it, take a look at this video. It will tell you more facts and includes the opinion of my girls!

You can buy your own Fruitabü Organic Smooshed Fruit! Check out their store here. Buy an 8 pack of fruit flat for $3.43! They also have other products worth checking out!Stretch Island Fruit Company has offered a lucky reader to win their own box of Fruitabü Organic Smooshed Fruit to try out for themselves!

For Main Entry go to Fruitabü and check out their products. Tell me the flavor you want to try! REQUIRED

For additional entries:
please leave a comment for each additional entry you complete. (current followers and subscribers count as well if you already have my button)

follow me
Follow me on Twitter and Twitter about it (earn unlimited entries everytime you twitter about the giveaway!)
Subscribe to my email list (2 additional entries)
blog about the giveaway and link back (4 additional entries everytime you blog!)
grab my button
Add me as a favorite on technorati (3 additional entries)
Refer a friend! (Just have a friend come in and leave a comment with YOUR email. Then they can leave a comment that said they were referred so you both get an entry!
Post a comment of something you learned from the Fruitabü site. (UNLIMITED entries)

For the entries that you received an extra entry, please leave one comment for each entry. For example (blog entry 1, blog entry 2, subscribe 1) this will ensure your entries are in!

The winner will be chosen via random.org on Tuesday, April 29!

Skin Free Review

2009-04-19T10:17:00.010-06:00

What is the one thing you look forward to in the summer months? I look forward to wearing shorts and flip flops. But there is one thing that actually makes me dread it. DRY SKIN. No matter how much moisturizer I slather on, I still have a scaly look.

My legs look like this! I an handle the vampire white legs that I have. But I want them to look smooth and not like I'm half fish! I can't carry a bottle of lotion with me and put it on every ten minutes. I've tried the oils right after the shower while my skin is still wet. But I continue to look like a dried up lake bed.

ABOUT SKIN FREE

Skin Free was formulated by a pharmacist after she realized the lack of effective and affordable skin products. Skin Free is made for delicate, sensitive and very dry or damaged skin.

All Natural, Vegan Ingredients
No Perfumes
No Petroleum Products
No Harmful Chemicals
No Steroids
No Colorants
No Greasy feeling
No Animal Testing, Cruelty Free

THE MORRIS BUNCH APPROVED

Skin Free offered me a sample of the Extra Moisturizing Soap and the After Shower Moisture Spritz. To say that I was skeptical, would be half the truth. I've tried so many different products vowing to do the same thing for my legs. So I put a bar of the soap in my shower and spritz on the counter. I stopped using anything else but the Skin Free products for about 2 weeks. I immediately noticed a difference in my skin but not enough to scream HALLELUJAH! But after 2 weeks, I'm confident that I will be forgoing any other moisturizers and soaps. The best part is that I no longer have to purchase separate soap products for my girls. I will continue to use my smelly lotions from time to time but not on my soon to be ready for summer legs!

TO BUY SKIN FREE

One of the biggest advantages to skin free is the price. You can purchase the Extra Moisturizing Soap for $3.99 or the After Shower Moisturizing Spritz for $11.99. Using the spritz daily, I don't need a lot so I am pretty sure this bottle will last me about 4-5 weeks. Skin Free is also sold at many different retail stores around the country. If you would like to know where you can find a bottle close by look here. Currently, Skin Free is offering free shipping on orders $25 and over. Feel free to check them out!

*Skin Free provided their product for review and this is my own personal experience and opinion.

2 Award-Winning Children's Albums Giveaway!

2009-04-20T08:24:00.007-06:00

Music is an important part of our lives. It's everywhere! With little ones, I want to make sure that they have quality music that is entertaining. I don't want to have to worry about the lyrics and the messages that the music they are sending.

I recently received 2 Award-Winning Children's Albums. I started turning them on when we were hanging out and having fun. Both of these albums have something remarkable to offer your children!

FUNKY KIDZ

Funky Kidz was produced by Lauren Singer and her 10 year old son, Jake. It has 12 of New Orlean's finest artists including Nevilles, The Radiators and more. It includes songs like Hokey Pokey, This Land is Your Land, and Zip A Dee Doo Dah. A portion of their proceeds goes towards fostering music education in New Orleans!

AMERICAN HEROES #3

Jonathan Sprout is a NAPPA and Parent Choice award-winning artist. His latest release is American Heroes #3.
He turned a history lesson into an entertaining CD. He has included songs about Jane Addams, Elizabeth Blackwell, and George Washington Carver. My girls didn't even know they were learning while they enjoyed this CD! It really makes learning fun!

My girls have all enjoyed listening to these CDs and learning from them. I recommend these CDs for your own children! Both websites offer an opportunity to listen to these CDs. Definitely worth checking out!

TO BUY:
You can purchase your own CDs by visiting FUNKY KIDZ or Jonathan Sprout's website.
Both CDs are $13.99.

TO WIN:
You can win your very own set of CDs. Just visit either FUNKY KIDZ or Jonathan Sprout's website. Come back here and tell me a song that is on one of these cds!

For additional entries:
please leave a comment for each additional entry you complete. (current followers and subscribers count as well if you already have my button)

follow me
Follow me on Twitter and Twitter about it (earn unlimited entries everytime you twitter about the giveaway!)
Subscribe to my email list (2 additional entries)
blog about the giveaway and link back (4 additional entries everytime you blog!)
grab my button
Add me as a favorite on technorati (3 additional entries)

*The Morris Bunch was provided a product for review and this is my own personal opinion.

Eebee's Review!

2009-04-08T22:37:00.006-06:00

We recently received a set of DVD's from Every Baby's Eebees adventures. I love educational DVD's and television shows. But trying to find something that meets my needs and my child's needs isn't always easy. I am always on the look for videos that are fun and educational. I need something that is going to hold a small child's attention for more than 5 minutes. But I don't want to plop them in front of the tv and let them watch shows that aren't going to benefit them.

I was excited to try these videos but I wasn't sure what to expect. I was surprised to find that Eebee captured the attention of not only my 9 month old but it captured my 3- and 5-year old's attention. I am now able to get some much needed mommy time to finish dishes, cook or just shower!

Finding playtime activities can be hard when you are trying to find something that all the kids can do. Eebee's provided some fun activities that even my 5 year old enjoyed as well as my 9 month old. This video shows the girls interacting with some of the ideas that they got from Eebee's.

Eebee's believes that through play, a child is figuring things out about objects and people.
Questions begin to form and through play, they can find answers. As the child develops, the questions, theories and solutions continue to evolve. Play also helps them master a variety of physical, social and intellectual skills.

I think Eebee's would make great gifts for children 5 and under. I would highly recommend them! Help your child grow and learn with Eebee's adventures. Use these adventures as you and your children interact with each other as well! Bring them home and prepare yourself to have a lot of fun watching your children explore.

TO BUY:
Eebee's adventures can be found right on their site. Each DVD is $17.95 or you can buy all three for $48.45.

Eebee's also offers many different products to help your children develop. Hop on over to their site and share your favorite products right here!

Frecklebox Review

2009-04-11T13:06:00.010-06:00

I loathe shopping for kids these days. It seems like children have everything! I’m always trying to find affordable yet unique gifts. I recently stumbled upon a company that provides personalized, unique products. I took the plunge with the thought that these will probably show up on my doorstep and I’m going to hate them. After all, is it really possible to get a personalized
quality product without spending a fortune!

Frecklebox is on a mission to provide educational and entertaining gifts that are still affordable. Frecklebox makes the process of personalizing items very easy and quick. It’s also fun! It also allows you to preview the personalized products with your own personalization. They design their items to please your children and moms.

When we opened the box, the girls were jumping! We were all incredibly excited. In the box was a journal for Ashley. The journal is Tween approved! It is personalized with her full name on the cover. It also has her name on every page as seen below. Now she can write little notes and feel special with each page!

We also found several other items that were both mom and kid approved! The quality was over and beyond anything I expected. I was more than satisfied with not only the superior customer service but the products. The names look like they belong on the products. I ordered Sydnee the zoo book. She is my little animal and I knew this book would fit her so well. This is now her favorite book because it not only has her name on the outside of the cover but throughout the story. Not only does the book have a great story but it has a fun I spy game to help the child look for their name in the picture. This will help her learn to recognize her own name and make it fun for her!

Here are some other products we received from frecklebox that got The Morris Bunch approval. Miss Isabelle was definitely not left out! She was so happy to be able to see her name on the stickers! She can use them to personalize everything that she owns with these cute sturdy stickers. I was expecting the stickers to be on the smaller side but was very impressed with the size and the durability of these stickers! I highly recommend Frecklebox for all your gifting needs!

Frecklebox provides growth charts, placemats, posters and more. Personalized books only cost $19.95-$34.95. Puzzles are only $12.95. These are just samples of the affordable prices! Hop on over to frecklebox and get your own personalized items!

CHANGES COMING!!!

2009-04-24T17:49:00.002-06:00

Hello Everyone! I am super excited to tell you that I'm in the midst of making some changes around here! Hopefully it can all be done and ready in a few days!

So what is changing??

I'm moving on over to Wordpress! this will allow me to make my site even better for you! I'm also getting a new look. So for this weekend, I'm going to put a hold on regular postings like "The Cloth Craze". I will get back with you next week on it!

During the meantime, if I'm MIA you can catch me on http://twitter.com/themorrisbunch. Contest winners may take a little longer. When the switch is over, if you are a follower, I will need you to re-follow but we will make it a contest!

Thanks everyone!

Help me win with leg huggers!

2009-04-24T15:35:00.003-06:00

HELP ME WIN $100!

Go to MamaCheaps and leave a comment that THE MORRIS BUNCH should win with the cutest video!

If you do not know what leg huggers are they are worth checking out! Kam is modeling them in this video. I like to keep them on her to protect her legs while she crawls along the floor. It also keeps her legs warm when we are outside! Besides they are just too darn cute!

Misikko Giveaway

2009-04-24T14:10:00.003-06:00

If you are like me, I have always bought the cheap hair accessories at the store. They all work the same right? Is it any wonder I can't get my hair straight like the celebs and other gorgeous people out there? So when I was given the opportunity to give one of my readers a quality flat iron, I said DEFINITELY! Keep in mind that I haven't personally tried this iron, but after reading about it, I think I need to!

ABOUT THE INFRASHINE

The UNIL Infrashine 1" ceramic flat iron features:

Heats up in 5 seconds to 5 temperature settings from 170-400 degrees F
On/Off Switch light pulsates when heat setting is reached
Even distribution of heat with no cold spots
Extra long 9 ft heavy duty UL approved cord with flexible swivel
120 volts, 35-75 watts & 60 Hz
Made in Korea

TO BUY
Misikko is having a Mother's Day sale! Lots of products worth checking out at great prices! Treat your favorite mom with something they probably wouldn't buy on their own!

TO WIN INFRASHINE

Misikko has generously offered one of my lucky readers to win their own Infrashine flat iron. Retailing at $130.

REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit Misikko and tell me a different hair product that you could use. Then leave me a comment about it!

Follow Misikko on Twitter
Retweet Misikko's Tweet about this giveaway
Blog about the giveaway on a personal website
Comment about another product from Misikko that interests you.
Subscribe to Misikko TV, Misikko's YouTube Channel.
Follow me on Twitter and tweet about giveaway (unlimited entries)
Follow me
Add me to your blogroll (4 extra entries)
Subscribe VIA email
Provide LINK back to this giveaway (let me know where link is located)
Favorite me on Technorati (4 extra entries)
Post on NON contest post on my blog (UNLIMITED ENTRIES and comment must be AFTER this giveaway was started)

Winner will be chosen VIA random.org on Saturday, May 9.
I will email winner ONCE and winner has 48 hours to claim before I re-pull.

Crib Diaries Day 4

2009-04-24T08:21:00.004-06:00

Guess what! Daddy actually put Kam into her crib last night. Of course he looked like I just broke his heart when I told him that she was sleeping in there. This is definitely not the same man I met 4 1/2 years ago. The one that said NO babies in the bed, NEVER seen a cloth diaper or a breastfed 10 month old. Now here he is bending like a willow tree for a 10 month old little girl that can't even talk yet! What about Miss Sydnee and Miss Isabelle. When they look up at him and say "PLEASE" in their quiet little mouse voices. He is the first to cave! How can a 200 lb Tough gun toting man be taken down by a 20 lb little girl. So what if she has big brown eyes and the longest eye lashes. So what that she already has that puppy dog look down!

However, mama didn't give up on her mission to tackle the crib! He did put her in the crib. When she woke up at 10:30 though, he was the one that jumped up to get her. I can see now that this little girl is playing dirty. Time to get the big guns out and invest in a sound machine!

Aloha Friday

2009-04-23T22:06:00.000-06:00

It's Friday again!

Did you know that in Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the same thing as Casual Friday. So on Fridays, I like to keep it short and sweet. I will ask a question and you can answer with a short response. Don't worry about writing a book of a comment. We wouldn't want you taking time from your weekend plans!

What is your favorite summertime activity to watch?

I love watching the little kids play Tball and Softball. Tball is probably my favorite! I get a good laugh everytime!

For more Aloha Friday go to Island Life.

Crib Day 3

2009-04-23T15:18:00.000-06:00

Well let's just say that Kam hit the jackpot last night. I was a NICE mama and let her stay in my room. It was actually my own laziness that played a role. Sydnee went into the room and messed it up. So I didn't want to clean it up or trip over everything. But Kam slept ALL NIGHT. Daddy will be home tonight so hopefully Daddy can be strong and not feel bad for her.

It's All About the Mutsy!

2009-04-23T13:30:00.000-06:00

Charlie Sheen, Halle Berry , Tobey Maguire, Tori Spelling, and Tiger Woods have something in common? Do you know what it is? THE MUTSY!

Mutsy, originally founded as Mutsaerts in 1935, got its start building traditionally styled prams. Initially serving the Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, the idea of portability and comfort were critical given these countries’ emphasis on walking. The result was larger than normal wheels to provide improved maneuverability and a smoother ride for baby. Currently, their vision is to create an aesthetically pleasing and technologically advanced frame as the basis of a distinctive new line of innovative baby transport products.

The basis of the Mutsy range is three frames, each with its own specific features. This allows parents to easily design or modify their own stroller. Various components fit into the clean and modern Mutsy frames such as a travel cot (bassinet), a stroller seat, a car seat (with adaptr), and a fun seat for toddler. An intelligent click mechanism allows for components to be easily interchanged with a single movement.

THE MUTSY 4RIDER

Mutsy 4Rider, featuring Mutsy’s signature modern profile with edgy, single-spoke wheels.

4Rider Light, the superior features of the 4Rider in a lighter weight version

4Rider “Next”, the extraordinary functionality and minimalist look of 4Rider with the addition of a luxurious leather handle

The 4Rider is available in these colors.
Active Coffee, Active Black, College Black, TeamCollege Lime, TeamCollege Navy, TeamCollege Ocean, College Orange, College Red, College Pink, Team Brown and Dark Kakihaki (both new for 2009).

Price range: $199 up to $870 for strollers. From $19 to $199 for accessories and other items.

Need More Room in your Dining Room?

Mutsy also has a FABULOUS booster seat, Grow Up seat. It has a sleek design that will make it look great in even the fanciest settings! The harness will keep your child safely secure during dinnertime. It will fit a child up to 4 years of age! It comes in raspberry, blueberry (shown), nut, mandarin, aqua and apple. Retails for $59.99

DISCOUNT CODE!
Mutsy is giving my readers a discount code for 10% off any Mutsy order at Goores. Use Code "tmbmu" at check out for your discount!

A Thousand Words Thursday

2009-04-22T23:01:00.003-06:00

For more thousand words Thursday check out TheMomJen.

Take the WAT-AAH Challenge!

2009-04-22T13:04:00.003-06:00

Do you know why kids normally reach for sodas, juices and other sugar drinks instead of soda? Let's just say it! Water is boring! It's not aimed for kids. Wat-aah! created a challenge to prove to parents that kids will choose water over soda. Are you up for the challenge?

As you can see my girls PREFER the water and the bottles! The colors really attracted them!

What do you think your kids would choose?

Azur Skin Review

2009-04-22T09:36:00.007-06:00

With summer fast approaching, it is time to start busting out the sunscreen! With so many options out there, you need to be able to make a wise decision! Did you know that ingredients in your common sunscreens contain endocrine disrupting chemicals? I did not know this until I found Azur. How can a product that is supposed to protect my family be bad for me? Well I decided to do my own research. I was shocked at what I found!

I am not going to tell you what the dangers of these ingredients are but highly recommend that you put some research in and check them out! Here are a few key ingredients found in your sunscreens that you should be aware of:

Azur Advanced Pro Cellular Sunscreen is designed to naturally protect your endocrine system while it protects you from UV radiation and sunburn. Azur sunscreen contains natural, mineral-based ingredients that provide instant protection against UVA, UVB, and UVC wavelengths.

Azur sunscreen is currently offered in SPF 30 and SPF 40 and is very water resistant. It also has no waiting period unlike other sunscreens that require 15-30 minutes between application and sun exposure. The sunscreen is the first of many products to come with the goal of providing your family with safe ingredients.

I chose to put the sunscreen to the test against our own sunscreen, Banana Boat Baby. I was shocked to find the results. I will be the first person to admit that I didn't read the directions on the sunscreen. Seriously how hard is it to spray some sunscreen on? I know that if I didn't read the directions, then other moms probably didn't either. I wasn't aware that there was a waiting period! When I'm done slathering on sunscreen, I don't have time to wait 15-30 minutes. There are times I slather it on when we are on our way out the door. If this is what you do, then Azur is definitely for you!

I will definitely be switching to Azur for my own family. Between the research that I found and the protection that Azur offers, I feel that this is the best protection I can get for my girls.

Azur is offering a 3 pack of 4 oz tubes for only $49.99 or one bottle for $19.99. Keep in mind that you can use this sparingly. A little goes a LONG way!

*Please note that this is my own findings and opinion.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-22T07:13:00.002-06:00

Crib Diaries Day 2

2009-04-21T19:35:00.004-06:00

So last night I put Kam to bed at 10 in her crib. It went smoothly! Then I walk in and sit down on the computer prepared to get some work done. Then I hear WAAAAH!!! Not from Kambree but from Sydnee! So I get up to check on her. She's walking around screaming holding herself. So I knew right away that she had to go to the bathroom and was confused. She wouldn't calm down though and had an accident. That's when Kam woke up screaming. So now I have two screaming kids. I just wanted to curl up in the fetal position and cry. But I push that thought aside and put a finally calm Sydnee on my bed while I get Kam. She goes right back to sleep so I lay her down for a minute while Sydnee begins screaming again. I walk two feet and Kam's up and at it again. Seriously what did I do to piss someone off! Why can't they just go to sleep! By 11pm, I managed to get Sydnee calmed down and in my bed. Then I got Kam back to sleep and to her bed. Of course she was back up at 1am. She slept like crap since she didn't have a very good nap that day! Here's hoping to a better night tonight! I will conquer the crib!

DOT GIRLS WINNER

2009-04-21T12:06:00.003-06:00

CONGRATULATIONS!

Sheila is the winner with comment 21. :) I will be emailing you shortly! You will have 48 hours to claim!

LIVE CONTEST! Who's Watching Me Geico!

2009-04-01T09:08:00.006-06:00

CLOSED

Watch this video and read the rules underneath!

THE PRIZE PACK!- a Geiko Gecko bobblehead doll
- a plush gecko
- a gecko neck pillow

To Qualify:

This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address. If you enter anonymously without providing an email address, then I will choose another winner

2.The comment must be a complete sentence about geico, geckos, geico's commercials or dance moves! .

To Enter:
Watch the video and leave a comment on the video. MUST be done or you will be disqualified!

You can enter as many times as you would like andyou can post twice in a row!
Once the comments get to 200, I will pull a winner with random.org!

Good luck!