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Continuum Games Review and Giveaway!

The holidays are quickly approaching, and as such, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to test out two great games from Continuum Games: Lumps, and Family Talk 2.

As you all know, my own daughter is a bit young for organized games, but luckily the older children that I nanny for are not, and had a blast playing with me while I tested out and reviewed them both.

First, we'll start with Lumps, as the holiday theme is appropriate to the time of year. To play Lumps, you gather the pieces of coal (dice) in your hands, give them a lucky shake and let them fly. The goal is to score the most points in three rolls by rolling pairs. What makes Lumps exciting is that there are four different types of dice and only a few of them have high numbers on them. After your first roll, you have to decide which dice to keep and which dice to roll again. Though the preschooler I watch found this game a bit complicated (as she should have - it's made for children 6+), she did pick up on the excitement, and I loved that I was able to make her feel included and modify the rules a bit to fit her developmental stage. The third-grader was far more capable of playing along, and particularly loved the little stocking that the game dice came in. For those who do not celebrate Christmas, or are interested in a less seasonal edition, Lumps comes in a year-round edition as well. This would make a great stocking stuffer for a school-aged child!

I also reviewed the game Family Talk 2. The game cards come on a portable key ring, great for traveling or taking in the car on those holiday road trips! The game is made for 2 or more players, ages 3+, though you'll likely be able to play longer and ask a wider range of questions with the older kiddos, who have the added benefit of being able to read the cards themselves.

The questions start off simple enough - such as "What is your favorite flavor of cake?" - and grow increasingly probing - for example, "Have you ever had a crisis of faith when your faith was tested?" While a lot of these questions could be great for school-aged children who are increasingly interested in their family members and history, the single best age group for this game seems to me to be tweens, who may be increasingly isolating themselves from their families and need conversation starters. Whatever age your child is though, learning more about each other as a family is sure to be a wonderful experience!

Both Lumps the Elf Coal game and Family Talk 2 are available at Hallmark Gold Crown stores, Books-A-Million,
Go! Games and 100s of specialty toy stores in the US, as well as on Continuum Games' website.

Now, thanks to Continuum Games, you all have the opportunity to win copies of these games for yourself!

As a mandatory entry, hop on over to Continuum Games website and leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite product/game on their site is! Also, make sure you're following me on Google Friend Connect :) That's it!

For additional entries (one entry per action - leave a separate comment for each!):

"Like" Continuum Games' Facebook page
Follow Continuum Games on Twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Tweet about the giveaway with the following text: Enter to win two Continuum Games on @unexpexpectbaby blog http://bit.ly/vbnsui (maximum of once per day)

Good luck, and happy gaming!`

*Disclosure: For the purposes of this review and giveaway, I was provided with both games free of charge. The opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.

And The Winner Is...

Comment #21:

gatdy said...
i commented on your post about black friday. i can't believe it's almost here. lord! :)
November 16, 2010 9:57 PM

Congratulations! Email me to claim your prize!!

Giveaway Time!

Hey laaaadies! It's Thursday. As in, nearly Friday. And this week has gotten better with each passing day. So, to celebrate, let's have a little giveaway, shall we?

Who wants to win $45 dollars to spend at CSN stores? I sure would, so I'm guessing you might! CSN Stores has been gracious enough to offer one of my lucky readers a $45 certificate to any of their over 200+ stores. Just head on over to check out their amazing shops, which sell anything from modern furniture for a little mommy splurge, baby gear for any upcoming first (or second, third, etc) Christmas gifts you may need, or quality briefcases for the handsome man in your life!

So, let's get started, shall we?

To enter, just head on over to CSN stores and leave me a comment letting me know what you'd like to spend your $45 on if you win! It's that simple.

For additional entries (leave an additional separate comment for each!):
-Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
-Follow me on Twitter - @unexpexpectbaby
-Follow my Celeb news on twitter - @brijtaylor
-Leave a comment on any of my Gather or Pampers posts - 1 entry per comment!
-Grab my button!

That's it! Good luck, ladies!

This giveaway will close on 11/17 at 5PM CST. For disclosure information, click here.

And The Winner Is...

Entry #28:

Devan @ Accustomed Chaos said...
I follow you on twitter @AccustomedChaos

Congratulations! Email me at unexpectedlyexpectingbaby (at) gmail (dot) com, and I'll set you up with Emily to claim your prize :)

Magic Wands, Hair Clips & Drool Bibs - Oh My! Uff Da Review & Giveaway.

G'morning ladies!

In honor of hitting 100 followers, I'm partnering with the ever-so-lovely Emily behind Uff Da Designs for a giveaway!

First, though, let me tell you a bit about her fantabulous Etsy shop! Since I've started blogging, I've had the good fortune of running across many beautiful and homemade boutiques via Etsy. That being said, none have offered such whimsical and uniquely crafted pieces as Emily does over at Uff Da Designs. So what can you expect to find?

Hats, like this adorable owl hat perfect for the fall & winter:

A fantastic selection of bandana-style drool bibs:

Beautiful (and incredibly reasonably-priced!) dresses, like this mod dot creation:

And a vast array of hair clips for your adorable little lovebug, such as this:


Another great creation that Uff Da Designs specializes in is magic wands! I was fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of one of these adorable creations, and let me tell you how absolutely adorable it is. I had meant to give it to S (the three-year-old I nanny for), but A is enamored by it, and it's quickly becoming her favorite (supervised) toy! Perhaps I'll order a second for S?? Check it out:




Aside from what a hit it's been with A, I could not say enough positive things about Emily, her customer service (and absolutely positive, cheerful nature!), and the quick shipping!

More about Uff Da Designs:
* unique, whimsical creations that are hand-sewn with love by a work at home mom
* environmentally friendly, as she uses vintage/re-purposed materials whenever possible to make a whole new creation
* custom orders are always welcome so that people can get a product that is truly perfect for them
* all non-custom listings are ready-to-ship, and will be mailed within 3 days (usually next-day!) so fast shipping is guaranteed (this is very true - my order was here within 2 days of shipping!)
* fabrics are purchased in small batches so products are unique & really special
* large selection of unique products perfect for boys, girls, babies, toddlers or older children

So what does this mean for all of you? Well, one lucky reader will be receiving a $10 Uff Da store credit!

To enter, simply head over to her Etsy shop, Uff Da Designs, and let me know which item you'd most like to apply the credit towards! That's it!

For extra entries, you can:
-Follow me via GFC and leave me a comment stating you do (1 entry)
-Follow me via Twitter @unexpexpectbaby and leave me a comment saying so (1 entry)
-Follow Emily's blog and leave a comment stating you do (1 entry)
-Follow Emily via twitter @emilybilbrey (1 entry).

Ta da! Best of luck, lovelies!

This giveaway will close on Sunday, September 19 at 5PM CST. A winner will be chosen using random.org.

For disclosure information, click here.

Great Cakes Soap Giveaway!

Interested in winning some great handmade soaps? Head on over to Adventures of the Domesticated Mama to enter her giveaway!!

Who Doesn't Love a Giveaway?!

Bummed about not winning my Boogie Wipes Giveaway?? Feel like winning something else?? Head on over to Lil Butterbean's blog to enter a giveaway for a $25 CSN gift card!

Consider yourself warned, though, that I am really wanting to win this one...

And The Winner Is...

This probably won't surprise anyone, seeing as how I'm a total space cadet sometimes, but I nearly forgot to draw the winner of the Boogie Wipes giveaway! Oops...

Anyhow, the lucky winner is #17, A. Lee!

Contact me at unexpectedlyexpectingbaby@gmail.com to redeem your prize! :)

On a side note, if you all want to feel like winners today, head over to my other (extremely neglected) blog to check out this hilarious video :)

Poo, Giveaways & A's First Cold.

Alright, folks. Consider yourself warned. This is going to get dirty.

Ava has had two black-ish poo diapers in the past few days. While she recently ate some blueberries - and they were quite dark having been homemade - I'm concerned. Anyone with experience with this type of thing that can tell me if this is normal. I know for formula fed babies sometimes their poo is darker from the iron supplementation, but A is still breastfed only, so I'm not sure what to make of this.

Ick. Now that that's out of the way...here's some more less-than-good news :( T-21 hours until our flight leaves for our vacation, and A is certifiably sick. I'm talking snot everywhere, coughing, sneezing, sick. Thankfully (seriously God I cannot thank you enough!) she's still in good spirits, if a little sleepy, but I'm hoping she feels better soon. *Crossing fingers*

Speaking of snot, though, boy am I glad to have been sent Boogie Wipes to review - they're really coming in handy these days!! And the good news? You can have some also, if you enter my giveaway here. Remember to leave a separate comment for each :)

This is probably going to be my last live post until Sunday, when I give you the rundown on traveling with a sick 7.5 month old. Until then, I've got some posts scheduled, including a guest post by my real-life (and blog) friend Butterbean! There'll still be a Wordless Wednesday post, as well as a sneak peek into my gorgeous, family-friendly city and a review that should help you get the energy boost you need!

Have a great rest of your week, and I'll see you when we get back!

Boogie Wipes Review & Giveaway!

I recently (read: not as recently as it may seem, but I've only now caught up with reviews thanks to life having gotten in the way - sorry!) received a fantastic package from the uber nice folks over at Boogie Wipes. In it was a sample of their Simply Unscented Boogie Wipes, as well as samples of the Great Grape Scent and Fresh Scent Boogie Wipes.



While A's not the snottiest kid just yet, S & P seem to have no limit to the amount of snot they can produce, particularly in the upcoming months when cold and flu season hits the ground running, and so I was eager to try out these gentle saline wipes.

So what's so great about Boogie Wipes as opposed to a regular tissue? From their website:
Boogie Wipes are made with saline to dissolve boogies (mucus) caused by the common cold, allergies or otherwise booger-filled kid moments. Extra soft, alcohol, phthalate and paraben free, Boogie Wipes are available in Great Grape, Fresh Scent, Magic Menthol and Simply Unscented. Recommended by pediatricians as a gentle, effective alternative to a dry tissue.

Now you all know how much I love a nice, "green" product, making Boogie Wipes an obvious choice for me. Not only did they work as promised, they were soft on the girls' tender noses, keeping them free of any redness and dryness that ordinary tissues previously caused. Not only that, but they worked double duty the day I realized I was out of wipes for A's epic dirty diaper, and left her skin clean and fresh without any harsh chemicals.
Bottom line? I would 100% recommend Boogie Wipes, regardless of your child's age!

Now for the good stuff! Boogie Wipes will be giving away two packs of 30-count Boogie Wipes to one of my lucky readers - here's how to enter:

*Mandatory entry: Visit their website at Boogie Wipes and tell me which two scents you'd be most interested in trying in a comment.

Additional entries:
-Follow Boogie Wipes on Twitter and leave a comment letting me know you do.
-Follow Boogie Wipes on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you do.
-Follow my blog or leave me a comment letting me know you already do.
-Follow me on Twitter and leave me a comment letting me know you do.
-Add my button to your blog and let me know that you do!
-Add my blog to your blogroll and let me know that it's there.

That's it! Good luck! This giveaway will end on August 15th at 12AM CST.

For disclosure information, click here.

Dyson. Giveaway.

Dyson Giveaway at The Bewitchin' Kitchen!

Need I say more?

If you need any convincing that Dysons are the single most amazing cleaning product in the world, let me tell you how I feel the vacuum lines that Dysons leave on my carpet is like mommy porn. Seriously.

On a sidenote, I'm 26 and just referenced a vacuum cleaner as mommy porn. Wowwww.

Giveaway Winner & A Great Big Thank You!

First things first, without further ado, the random number generator chose #2, Rene, at Just Jack. I'll get the book sent out to you by Monday morning!

Second, I just wanted to say a great big thank you to all my awesome blog friends out there. All of your comments about Ava's accident the other day made me cry. I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends in Blogland with such kind, encouraging words. I've been feeling really down since Thursday, despite Ava being a-ok, and I just can't shake it, but as I read your comments, I truly felt so much better. The amount of "well when (insert child's name here) was a baby, I..." stories I've been told recently as well, from everyone ranging from readers to old friends to my boss, who I idolize in so many ways, has been helpful also.

Since you guys rock so much, I'm very excited about the upcoming reviews and giveaways! Truth be told I'm not entirely certain what's being shipped my way, but I'm very excited to pass some things along to you guys as a huge thanks for all of your comment love and support.

Happy Saturday, everyone! Go hug your babies nice and tight :)

Precious Giveaway!

Ooh, do I love me a giveaway! That's why you should head over to The Souders' Saga to enter her great giveaway - perfect for girls, boys, and/or mommies! That's a nice plus!

Just know - I'm planning to win this one ;)

Speaking of giveaways, mine ends tomorrow night, so head on over and click here to enter!

One Slight Announcement...

I'm extending the book giveaway through this Friday, July 9th, because, well, I haven't finished the book yet! Due to some unforeseen events (aka life as a mother), I can't get my act together enough to finish it. So far, though, it's been very good :) Click here to enter.

Exciting Happenings!

First off, head on over to Boston Baby Mama where my birth story is being featured today!! How awesome is that?

Second, if you haven't already, head over to this post to enter my giveaway/read it forward event featuring a great beach/summer read!

And last, but not least, I'm in the process of working with two great companies, Soapwalla Kitchens and Boogie Wipes, to review their products, and share a giveaway with one lucky reader! Can't wait!

Happy Tuesday everybody!

9 o'clock Dance of Joy!: Target GiveAway

It's a Target gift card giveaway - enough said.
9 o'clock Dance of Joy!: Target GiveAway!

A Giveaway of My Own!

Three months ago (wow has time been flying by!), I entered the Read It Forward book giveaway over at Confessions From A Working Mom and, much to my surprise, won!

One of the stipulations of entering the book giveaway, however, was that once I was finished with it, I had to write my name and blog address on the cover page, and then pass it on to one of my lovely readers, who will then be bound by the same rules. Easy enough, right? While I'm not officially finished, I will be by the end of the holiday weekend, and so now I'm looking for one lucky reader to pass my book along to.

Book Details:

The Last Summer (Of You and Me) by Ann Brasheres

If you've read any of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, you'll surely recognize the author's name. This book, however, is aimed at adults as opposed to teenagers, and delivers as such. It's the story of two sisters, their journey into adulthood over summers at Fire Island, and how their lives intertwine with a neighbor, Paul. Great summer beach read, one that I'm excited to now pass along to one of you.

Here's how to enter (all via comments):
1. Mandatory entry: Follow my blog, or let me know that you're already a follower.
2. Additional entry: Add my blog to your 'blogroll', or let me know that you already have it there.
3. Follow me on twitter - brijtaylor - for an additional entry.
4. Tweet about this giveaway for three entries. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you're entitled.
5. Blog about this giveaway for an additional five entries. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you're entitled.

*Remember - make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry you're entitled.
**This giveaway will close on Wednesday, July 7th at 11:59PM. The winner will be chosen using Random.org**

That's it! Good luck, ladies (and gents, if there are any male readers!)!

Hopefully this will be one of many future giveaways, seeing as how I've been fortunate enough to win not one but TWO giveaways in Blogland!

A Fancy Schmancy Sort of Giveaway!

I know this is my second giveaway feature this week, but having a little girl, these are just too precious to pass up!

Fancy Schmancy Etsy shop is giving away a free personalized shirt to a reader of Three Kids, A Minivan & A Lot of Love (Aren't her giveaways awesome??)! Click here to enter :)

Baby Flair Gift Card Giveaway!

Love to adorn your precious little girl's head with beautiful headbands and other accessories? Then head on over to Three Kids, a Minivan & a Lot of Love for a fabulous giveaway!

Although I'm TOTALLY hoping to win this one, so consider yourself forewarned :)