Written By Mama

Archive for May, 2012

Here’s the moment all of you have been waiting for – Okay, I have been impatiently waiting also! Acadiana’s Thrifty Mom has teamed up with American Family and an awesome group of bloggers to bring you our most massive giveaway yet! One lucky reader will win a Disney Cruise for a family of 4 valued at $3000! That’s right, a Disney Cruise ♥ This awesome giveaway is brought to you by American Family and Acadiana’s Thrifty Mom, and hosted by Frugality For Less, and Debbie Does Coupons. GOOD LUCK!

*This giveaway is opened to U.S. residents only. You must be 18 years of age, at the time of entry, to enter to win. The winner will be responsible for transportation to and from the port of departure. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook, Google, Pinterest, or Twitter in any way. Please read HERE for complete rules.
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I was recently given the opportunity to review Tropical Mango Shea Extra-Rich Moisturizing Lotion from Tree Hut.

I love when I come across a product that started out in Texas. Tree Hut started out in a town called Farmers Branch – just about 3 hours North of me!

Everyday when I get out of the shower, I have my bottle of Tropical Mango lotion with my bath towel and robe.
I figured that would be a good way to remember to use it daily – after all, being mama doesn’t leave much time for beauty.

After using it for about a month, I have noticed my skin is much softer and smoother.
The smell is just awesome! I didn’t think I would be fond of the mango scent. I thought it would smell too sweet and strong. However, that isn’t the case at all.

I received many compliments on how nice I smelled when wearing my Tropical Mango Tree Hut lotion. Even my mom, who doesn’t like sweet smells, thought it was a nice smell. “Very subtle” is what she said.

There really isn’t much I don’t like about my mango lotion from Tree Hut. The smell is nice, the lotion actually moisturizes and I stay soft & smooth for hours.

Really, I could only find one thing about Tree Hut’s Tropical Mango Shea Extra-Rich Moisturizing Lotion that I wasn’t fond of. For about 5 minutes after applying it, my skin did feel a little greasy. When I held things, they didn’t slip – so it’s not like it was actually greasy and slippery. I just felt like it. After about 5 minutes though, the greasy feeling was gone – and I had nice smooth skin.

I’m sure you’re wondering what’s in Tropical Mango Shea Extra-Rich Moisturizing Lotion.

Ingredients:

Water
Glycerin
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)
Isopropyl Palmitate
Dimethicone
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Cetearyl Alcohol
Cyclopentasiloxane
Cyclohexasiloxane
Butylene Glycol
Stearic Acid
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Polyacrylate
Glyceryl Stearate
PEG-100 Stearate
BIS-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Sorbitan Stearate
Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit
PEG-32,
Polysorbate 60
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Laureth-7
Fragrance
Triethanolamine
Phenoxyethanol
Benzoic Acid
Dehydroacetic Acid

A few facts:
- Not tested on animals – yay!
- Made in the USA
- Made with Certified Organic Shea Butter
- Available online & in many local stores (depending on state) You can find a local store by clicking here.

Overall, I love Tree Hut’s Tropical Mango Shea Extra-Rich Moisturizing Lotion. The next product I’m going to try is their Tropical Mango Scrub. For sure though, I have to go out soon to get a new bottle of the lotion before this one is all gone.

Since I love Tree Hut’s Tropical Mango Lotion so much, I’m allowed to giveaway one bottle to three different winners! You can enter my Tree Hut giveaway now!

If you haven’t already, please read my Tree Hut review.

Before entering please read all the rules. By entering the giveaway, you are agreeing to each and every rule, no exceptions!

This giveaway is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Twitter, Facebook or any other social media site.
You must be 18+ at the time of entry. You must enter via the Rafflecopter form to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US only. You must complete the first entry in order to be eligible. All entries are verified before a winner is emailed. If you put in a false entry, all of your entries will be removed. If you ACCIDENTALLY submit a false entry, please let me know. The winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be drawn. The prizes will be sent from Naterra – the sponsor.

Here is the Rafflecopter form…GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I didn’t have a hard life growing. My mom spoiled my brothers and I the best she could. She couldn’t afford the “cool clothes” but she did what she could. She was the best mom a girl could ask for.

Today, I was making pancakes for Landon and I. Have you ever dropped a little bit of batter on the skillet? Those, are baby pancakes.
When my mom would make pancakes for us, she would also make baby pancakes. Every time we sat down to eat, there they were – baby pancakes.

Today, I made a baby pancake for Landon – it made me think of my childhood – I cried a little lol.

What are some of your fondest childhood memories?

Okay, so remember when I told you I FINALLY was accepted into the Neilson Home Scan Panel and I got an awesome scanner? You really should sign up too! They accept new zip codes all the time. Trust me, this is something you should be a part of. I haven’t had any problems scanning or transmitting since I started.

“Earn valuable points, which are redeemable for electronics, household items, jewelry, toy, gift cards, and more.(no landline required with this homescan signup).”

Have you ever wondered how bloggers got started? Want your voice heard amongst hundreds of Written By Mama readers?

Well I am currently looking for a guest to post once a week. If things work out, I would be willing to offer a spot once a week every week – maybe more.

What I want/expect:

- Family friendly posts only
- No foul language please (:
- I have the right to accept or deny any post prior to posting
- You can be a blogger already or you can be someone that has never written anything a day in your life
- Good grammar, spelling etc… I don’t have time to proof read – so double check before sending me your post (:
- I would like a short bio & pic to add at the end of your post – so my readers can get to know you better – this is not mandatory

What I will “allow”:

- A link back to your site if you’re a blogger
- 1 affiliate link – providing it fits with the post

Types of articles:

- Parenting tips
- Crafts ideas
- Product reviews that I haven’t already done or don’t have lined up
- Family stories
- Recipes
- Rants about family – because we all do it (:

What I will do:

- Promote on Facebook
- Tweet it on Twitter – with your choice of hashtag and your Twitter handle
- Your post will remain for as long as my blog is running
- I will not charge you to post – it’s free!
- I will not pay you to post

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, feel free to email me ([email protected]) with the subject as “Guest Posts” – so I don’t mark you as spam. Any ideas not mentioned are welcome!

Woohoo! It’s FINALLY Friday! For some lucky readers, it’s payday. Maybe just the end of the work week, and for some…a day to go out and party.

Trinkies thought it would be a great day to have a Feeling Frisky Friday $20 Paypal Cash Giveaway! Just enter on the rafflecopter below.

You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway is, in no way, affiliated with Facebook. You must have a PayPal account to enter this giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was recently given the opportunity to review the Bright Starts Having A Ball Pop And Roll Roadster.

I was super excited when I was given the opportunity to review the Having a Ball Pop and Roll Roadster. Landon is at that age where he loves to push around and ride on push along type cars. Cody however, was not so excited at first. Landon already has 3 push along cars. I didn’t tell Cody that I was reviewing one, I just let it arrive.

Landon loves this one more than his others!

When I opened the box I saw there were only 3 parts to attach. Score for a simple assembly – or so I thought. :-/

The assembly:

The parts are really hard to snap into place. I had to put all of my weight into it, and then some. The gearshift was also difficult to get on. You have to snap the gearshift onto a plastic “pole” and then screw them together. I couldn’t get my screwdriver to fit very well between the ball housing and the shifter itself.

Also, the tail light stickers seemed a little warped, like maybe they got wet. The one peeled off the same day we got it ):

For assembly, I give the roadster 3.5 out of 5 stars. I really had a difficult time putting it together, but maybe I’m just a weakling (:

The toy:

Other than the assembly, I found absolutely nothing wrong with the Having A Ball Pop And Roll Roadster. The wheels move very well, the battery compartment is easily accessible, the noises are cute and fun.
The volume isn’t too loud so the toy is annoying, but it’s loud enough to hear and know what noises are being made.

The buttons are located on the dashboard of the car. They’re really big and easy to push.

When you put one of the 3 balls into the steering wheel, it also makes fun noises.
I love how the sides of the car are curved in – it makes it easier for Landon’s legs to fit comfortably without leaving red marks.
The seat is big enough to fit Landon’s big booty.

It took a while for Landon to learn that the gearshift is what makes the ball pop out of the front. Once he figured it out though, he became a pro (:

Each ball comes in a different color – red, blue & yellow. Each ball is textured and has the shape of an animal on it.
It’s hard to tell in the picture, but it’s a pig. The back also has a curly little tail.

No matter where Landon goes, he has to bring his Having A Ball Pop And Roll Roadster with him. Really. Whenever I go pee and he has to sit in the bathroom with me – you know how kids are – then the Roadster is there. Bath time, it’s sitting outside the bathtub waiting for him to get out. Bedtime…well you get the idea.

I don’t want you to be scared off by the assembly, because they toy is great.

For fun and learning I give the Roadster 5 stars.

Overall, I give the Having A Ball Pop And Roll Roadster 4 out of 5 stars.

Bright Starts is letting me giveaway, to one luck Written By Mama reader, a Having A Ball Pop & Roll Roadster!
You can enter my Bright Starts giveaway (:

If you haven’t already, please read my Bright Starts Having A Ball Pop And Roll Roadster review.

Before entering please read all the rules. By entering the giveaway, you are agreeing to each and every rule, no exceptions!

This giveaway is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Twitter, Facebook or any other social media site.
You must be 18+ at the time of entry. You must enter via the Rafflecopter form to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to the US only. You must complete the first entry in order to be eligible. All entries are verified before a winner is emailed. If you put in a false entry, all of your entries will be removed. If you ACCIDENTALLY submit a false entry, please let me know. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be drawn. This giveaway will end on June 7th at 12pm CST. The prize will be shipped from Bright Starts.

Here is the Rafflecopter form….GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was recently given the opportunity to review the Race Cars set from Green Toys.

A few facts:

- Made in the USA
- Made from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- No BPA, PVC, phthalates, or external coatings.
- The bottom, unlike most toy cars, have no metal axles.

My opinion:

Green Toys was kind enough to send me a racecar in red, blue and pink! It’s not often I find “boy toys” in “girls colors” so was super excited when I got a pink racecar.

The race cars are made of 100% plastic. They aren’t made with any metal so they’re really really light.

I love how big they are. Each racecar is the size of my hand! It’s good for children, because they can’t fit it in their mouth.

I think because there aren’t any choking hazards they’re good for kids 1+ (like the website recommends), but because of their size I don’t think their hands are big enough for their small hands.
Landon plays with them okay, but he has big hands – being big for his age – I do see though that sometimes he has a little trouble holding them when they’re “flying.”

I absolutely love how they’re packaged. Between diapers and product reviews I have a lot of trash. Well, Green Toys packs their Race Cars in almost no wrapping – almost no recycled cardboard!

Each of the Green Toys Race Cars have awesome detail. There is a steering wheel, radio, hand break and gear shifter – you can’t see the gear shifter and the hand break in the pic though.

I love all the detail Green Toys puts into their toys.

Green Toys is letting me host a giveaway for a Green Toys Race Car. The giveaway will be with the Green Toys Salad Set giveaway.
Please read my Green Toys Salad Set review before entering my Green Toys giveaway. Thank you (: