Written by Kathryn Cloward and Jody Duhamel
Illustrated by Christine Winscott

“Kathryn the Grape – Just Like Magic!” is a recently published vibrantly illustrated 40-page children’s picture book. The KathryntheGrape.com website is full of helpful information about the book, the story behind the book, and symbolism of characters.

POOF! Just Like Magic! That’s how easy it is to fall in love with Kathryn the Grape and her magical butterfly friend, Maggie! These inspiring characters teach that each of us has our own magic within. As your children read along, they will discover their own inner strength and fearlessness, learn about making new friends, and learn the importance of helping others. Kathryn the Grape takes the reader on a journey of discovery and spreads the message that everyone is magical! [40 page 10" x 8" hardcover picture book, ages 3-8]

-$1 of from every book sold on KathryntheGrape.com is directed to the Kathryn the Grape Foundation whereupon we partner with non-profit agencies focused on at supporting education, empowerment and sustainability. Learn more by visiting : http://www.kathrynthegrape.com/index.php/ktg_news/pages/the_kathryn_the_grape_foundation

You can also visit the entire behind the scenes story of Kathryn the Grape HERE : http://www.kathrynthegrape.com/index.php/ktg_about

-Connect with us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kathrynthegrape

-Connect with us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathrynthegrape

My REVIEW :

My girls are ages 5 and 2 and they both loved this book. They especially loved the animals in the book, and their favorite was Maggie the butterfly. I loved the fact that this book helps build self-esteem and inner self worth for children. A lot of children these days do not get these messages. This book does a great job getting children to learn this. My girls were pretending to be Kathryn after reading this book. The illustrations in the book are bright and cheerful. And they couldn’t have chosen a better color for my 2 yr. old, cause her favorite color is purple. Kathryn had a magical imaginary butterfly and a magic wand that she used to get through situations like having a monster under her bed, talking to new people (like a little boy), making new friends, and going to a new school. I think that this would make a super addition to your child’s library. Be prepared because your kids will want to read it over and over again (like mine) and soon they will basically be able to read it to you. What a brilliant, fun, and magical book!

Now you have a chance to add this book to your child’s collection by entering to win a copy HERE :

Follow me on Twitter, I am @plussizemommy = 1 entry (comment and tweet me, and tell me you are)

Follow Kathryn The Grape on Twitter here : @kathrynthegrape – leave a tweet letting them know that @plussizemommy asked you to follow them = 5 entries (separate comments please)

Follow me over on Networked Blogs, look over in my right sidebar and just click follow = 1 entry (comment and let me know you are)

Follow me over on Facebook, I am “The Plus Size Mommy” , please “Like” me and leave a comment on my wall about the Kathryn The Grape book, tell me who you would give it to and for what occasion ? leave me another comment here = 4 entries (separate comments please)

Leave a comment on the Kathryn The Grape Facebook page here :http://www.facebook.com/kathrynthegrape (let them know The Plus Size Mommy sent you) come back and leave me a comment telling me you did this = 5 entries (separate comments please)

This giveaway is for a copy of the book “Kathryn The Grape – Just Like Magic This giveaway is for continental USA winners only. This giveaway starts NOW and ends on 3/29/2011 at 9 PM EST. Winners WILL NOT be notified. Winners will be chosen via random.org and then listed in a separate post (so please look for it on the 30th). Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize. Prize will then be shipped from the company directly. Winners who do not reply within 48 hours of winner post will be disqualified and new winners will be chosen.
PLEASE LEAVE separate comments for each entry. Otherwise you will only receive entries based on how many comments you leave.

Thank you for entering and GOOD LUCK!
The Plus Size Mommy

Disclosure – I was sent a copy of this book to review as with my relationship with Tomoson.com The winner will receive their book direct from the company. I am not responsible for lost or damaged products. It would be up to the company to replace it at their discretion. All of my opinions on this product are 100% my own.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Speck Products is the maker of colorful and stylish cases for consumer electronics. Some of their newest products are cases for the iPad. Below is an image to get an idea of what some of the products look like:

I was sent an iPad candy shell case in blue (like the photo at the top) and my husband loves it. He loves the tight fit on the iPad, the lip around the surface, because the iPad won’t get scratched or harmed if you put it onto a table. He likes the flap that allows it to be opened to plug it in. He says, “It feels sturdy and I like the way it feels”. He likes the volume button, which makes it easier to use than the iPad without the case on it. He feels more secure with a hard case to protect such an expensive electronic.

The only thing he didn’t care for was the headphone hole. But he said that it isn’t a huge problem because he doesn’t use it much anyways. When plugging in the headphones, he said it was hard to push in.

Overall, my husband gives the Speck iPad candy shell case a 9 on a scale of 1-10 where 10 is the best score.
This to me, is a wonderful score, because he is picky when it comes to things like this

You can see all of the Speck Product cases and learn more by visiting : www.speckproducts.com

Now for the Giveaways!!!
2 of my lucky readers will win a Speck iPad case!!! This makes a great gift, or just for your own iPad to protect it. (Value is $39.95 – $49.95)
Here is how you can win :

1. Follow me on Twitter, I am @plussizemommy = 1 entry (comment and tweet me, and tell me you are)
2. Follow me over on Networked Blogs, look over in my right sidebar and just click follow = 1 entry (comment and let me know you are)
3. Follow me over on Facebook, I am “The Plus Size Mommy” , please “Like” me and leave a comment on my wall about the Speck giveaway, leave me another comment here = 2 entries (separate comments please)
4. Follow @SpeckProducts over on Twitter, Tweet them and let them know @plussizemommy sent you, then leave me a comment letting me know you did = 2 entries.
5. Visit Speckproducts.com and browse around the site, come back over here and let me know what your favorite product is = 3 entries. (separate comments please).

This giveaway is for a “Grab Bag” iPad case, winners will not be able to choose which case they would like. This giveaway is for continental USA winners only. This giveaway starts NOW and ends on 2/20/2011 at 9 PM EST. Winners WILL NOT be notified. Winners will be chosen via random.org and then listed in a separate post (so please look for it on the 21st). Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize. Prize will then be shipped from the company directly. Winners who do not reply within 48 hours of winner post will be disqualified and new winners will be chosen.

PLEASE LEAVE separate comments for each entry. Otherwise you will only receive entries based on how many comments you leave.

Thank you for entering and GOOD LUCK!

The Plus Size Mommy

Disclosure – I was sent a Speck iPad case at no charge to me for this review to be conducted. All opinions of mine and my husbands are own own 100% own. Opinions may vary for anyone. Both winners will receive their cases from the company. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged products.

Staying on track with your healthy lifestyle can be hard between work, gym trips, school, sports and busy family schedules. To help you step away from the “diet” food and toward foods that’s not only good, but good for you, Healthy Choice introduced 11 new products to its Café Steamers, All Natural Entrées and Select Entrées product lines.

With four new varieties of Café Steamers, four new All Natural Entrées and three new Select Entrées, consumers can eat great tasting food every day of the week.

New Mediterranean-Inspired Café Steamers

Building on the popularity of the Grilled Basil Chicken recipe, the new Mediterranean Inspired Café Steamers such as Lemon Garlic Chicken and Shrimp and Balsamic Garlic Chicken add fresh-tasting meals options to your daily routine. And with Healthy Choice All Natural Entrées Tortellini Primavera Parmesan and Select Entrées Spicy Caribbean Chicken, consumers can enjoy delicious foods, while maintaining their healthy lifestyle.

More Information

All new meals are nutrient-rich, contain no preservatives and are available NOW at grocery stores nationwide for a suggested retail price range of $2.00 to $3.29. Please see below for a complete list of new entrées and a press release announcing these new meals. You can also visitwww.healthychoice.com for more information.

Healthy Choice All Natural Entrées:

• Tortellini Primavera Parmesan (new recipe)
• Lobster Cheese Ravioli (new recipe)
• Roasted Red Pepper Marinara (new recipe)
• Creamy Basil Pesto (new recipe)

Healthy Mediterranean Inspired Choice Café Steamers:

• Balsamic Garlic Chicken (new recipe)
• Grilled Vegetables Mediterranean (new recipe)
• Lemon Garlic Chicken and Shrimp (new recipe)
• Grilled Basil Chicken

Healthy Choice Asian Inspired Café Steamers

• Chicken Pad Thai (new recipe)

Healthy Choice Select Entrées:

• Pineapple Chicken (new recipe)
• Ravioli Florentine Marinara (new recipe)
• Spicy Caribbean Chicken (new recipe)

FROM ME : I am officially in love with Healthy Choice Meals. I eat them ALL the time, and I am so thankful I was introduced them.  In my mission to eating more healthy and also living a more healthy lifestyle all around, they have helped me IMMENSLEY to stay more on track. The meals are low in calories and have so many great vitamins in them. I love that I can eat good food and it is so healthy for me, and a cinch to cook!

My favorites from the new dishes are the Pineapple Chicken, Balsamic Garlic Chicken, and the Lemon Garlic Chicken and Shrimp. The flavors in these meals just blow me away! They taste like fresh from the farm! Seriously! who would’ve thought a frozen meal or any microwaveable meal could be so good!  But you don’t have to take my word for it, now you can have a chance at winning a  VIP coupon to try a meal on me!!!

Here is how you can WIN!!!

1. Comment and let me know what Meal from the list above catches your eye and makes your mouth water that you would love to try FREE on me ?  = 1 entry

2. Fave my site on momfaves – comment and let me know you have = 1 entry

3. Fave  Healthy Choice or Conagra  on momfaves – comment and let me know you have = 1 entry per fave

4. FAN my Facebook page : you can do that by clicking on “Follow this blog” over on my sidebar or by going to Facebook and following The Plus Size Mommy.- Comment and let me know you did = 1 entry.

5. Use stumbleupon, technorati, digg for this site/post. – comment letting me know which you have done = 1 entry per way.

6. Tweet the following on Twitter – ” Win a Healthy Meal from @HealthyChoice on @plussizemommy ’s Blog here :http://twurl.nl/vs2rp2    ” – Tweet up to 3 times per day = up to 3 entries per day. Please comment leaving tweet thread, and please leave separate comments for each entry.

This giveaway starts NOW and ends on St. Patty’s Day ! Luck o The Irish to ya my friends ! This will end at 8PM EST.

3 Winners will each receive a VIP coupon for a FREE Healthy Choice Meal  Winners will be posted to this site and not emailed directly, so if you enter, please check back, I have been getting a ton of unclaimed prizes lately.

Winners will all be chosen via random.org. Winners must be subscribers to this blog to win. Winners must reside in USA.

Thank you all for entering and Good Luck!

The Plus Size Mommy

* I was sent some free meals to try thanks to Conagra, also the prizes for the giveaway are all provided to me free of charge from Conagra. I am however paying postage to the winners on my own expense. All thoughts and comments about Conagra Healthy Choice Meals are my own unbiased opinion.

Congrats to the 3 winners of  The Fantastic Mr. Fox dvd :

1. Cheryl W.
2. Patti Bright
3. Tania

Also, congrats to the 2 winners of the Smoky Eye kits from CoverGirl :

1. Cat @  3 kids and us
2. J

To claim your prizes, please email me your addresses to plussizemommy@gmail.com  within 48 hours of now. After 48 hours new winners may be drawn. Thank you all for entering and Congrats again to the winners.. Enjoy!

The Plus Size Mommy

*Fantastic Mr. Fox and CoverGirl Smoky Eye Kits are being sent to the winners at no charge to me.I was sent a gift card from Covergirl and Collective Bias to shop for the Smoky Eye Kits, and also for my time. My opinions and anything I say about the Kits is my own. I always give my honest opinions on anything I review. Fantastic Mr. Fox dvd was also sent to me at no charge to review.

I would love to introduce to you Tommee Tippee. What is Tommee Tippee you ask ?

It is a Brand New product that is hitting the store shelves in Babies R Us and Toys R Us stores near you!

I have had the great honor of trying their Sippy Cups and Baby Bottles on my daughter, and I wish they would’ve gotten to the USA sooner!

Here is some details of the “‘truly spill-proof first sips cup” -

• unique soft-flex spout
• advance flo- technology for easy drinking (Active Sensor valve system)
• BPA FREE
• Leak Proof
• have been around for 50 years in the UK
• Supports Natural Oral Development
• Progressively Staged

What I thought about these Sippy Cups (My personal opinion) -

Upon first glance of the sippy cups, I immediately noticed the handles. I really like the soft handles that make it easy for my daughter to hold the sippy cup. After opening it, I noticed the creatively designed spout. It is different than any other sippy cup I have ever used with my children. My daughter  seems to like these sippy cups very well. They are easy to clean and also I truly have not had any problems with accidental leakage. Other sippy cups still tend to leak occasionally when turned upside down. The only trouble I had at all with the cup was getting the lid off for the first time. It is really smooth and takes a little getting used to. On the other hand I really like this about the cup, so my daughter cannot get the lid off and spill it every where. And once you get used to the lid, it is a piece of cake.

The Tommee Tippy Cup holds 5 fl oz. of liquid, and retails at Toys R US and Babies R US for approx.  $4.99.

To learn and see more, please visit here : http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3918812

Tommee Tippee Baby Bottles

Upon first glance at the Tommee Tippee bottles, I noticed the wide mouth top, making them so much easier to fill with milk than other bottles. I also love the nipples on the bottles. My daughter took to them right away, with no troubles at all. I love the caps too, they do not fall off like other bottles I have used.

Here are some more specific details on the bottles :

• BPA FREE
• 3 packs cost about $17.99 at Babies R Us/Toys R Us, which to me is a GREAT price for a 3 pack of bottles
• 9 oz bottles instead of typical 8 oz ones
• soft, naturally flexing nipples – making them more natural for babies
• natural shape for babies to latch onto easier
• ultrasensitive anti-colic valve lets babies feed at their own pace with reduced risk of gas and colic
• very comfortable to hold

You can purchase them, read more, and see more photo’s of them, and more reviews here : http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3918819

Right now if you visit www.tommeetippee.com  you can follow them on twitter, and also on Facebook. If you Fan them on Facebook you will have a chance at winning gift cards to Babies R Us

But you can also have a chance to win RIGHT HERE , here is how :

1. Fave my site on momfaves – comment and let me know you have = 1 entry
2. Fave Tommee Tippee on momfaves – comment and let me know you have = 1 entry
3. FAN my Facebook page : you can do that by clicking on “Follow this blog” over on my sidebar or by going to Facebook and following The Plus Size Mommy.- Comment and let me know you did = 1 entry.
4. Use stumbleupon, technorati, digg for this site/post.  - comment letting me know which you have done = 1 entry per way.
5. Tweet the following on Twitter –  ” @plussizemommy is introducing @tommeetippeeUS on her blog, you can WIN  thanks to @BabiesRUs  http://is.gd/8QLxu   ” = up to 3 entries/tweets per day, please leave separate comments for each.

One winner will be chosen via random.org. Winner will win a baby Tommee Tippee gift pack containing a 3 pack of bottles and 2 sippy cups.

This giveaway begins NOW and ends on March 2, 2010 at 7PM EST. Winner will not be notified via email. Winner’s name will be posted to this site by March 3, 2010. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize. If prize is unclaimed another winner will then be drawn after the 48 hour period. As with ALL giveaways on this blog, winner MUST be a subscriber to this blog in order to win.

Thank you for entering and Good Luck!

The Plus Size Mommy

*I was sent the Tommee Tippee sippy cups and baby bottles to review on this blog. The review of the bottles is my own personal honest review. All comments made by me are my own personal views of these products. The products were sent to me on behalf of Babies R Us to review at no charge to me. Also the prizes will be sent to the winner at no charge to me. – full disclosure

Celebrate the New Year and a new you with Progresso Light and 100 Calorie Soups because from January 4 through March 15th, you can visit www.Progresso.com/SouperYou to enter the Progresso “Souper You Debut” contest for the chance to win a full makeover in New York City. Three grand prize winners will be awarded a trip for two to New York City from May 21st-23rd. The prize includes roundtrip airfare, a two-night stay in a NYC hotel, a full makeover, a $1,000 wardrobe shopping spree and personal consultation at a New York department store. To enter, you´ll need to do the following:

• Go to www.Progresso.com/SouperYou to learn more and enter the contest
• Submit your essay (200 characters or less) telling Progresso why you love Progresso Light or 100 Calorie Soups and why you would like a makeover
• In addition, please submit a photo of yourself that visually reinforces the theme of your essay

Once you enter, you´ll have the chance for your photo and/or an excerpt from your essay to appear on www.Progresso.com/SouperYou, so be sure to check back frequently! Once the 10 finalists are announced, you can visitwww.Progresso.com/SouperYou from March 29 through April 12 to vote for your favorite. In addition, throughout the duration of the contest you can visit www.Progresso.com/SouperYou to download a coupon for $1 off any three varieties of Progresso Soup! With surprisingly hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, corn and rice, and flavor-packed vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and peppers, Progresso Light and 100 Calorie Soups offer varieties with a good source of fiber and a full serving of vegetables. Satisfying your taste buds, Progresso Light and 100 Calories Soups can help curb your hunger, making it easier for you to stick to your weight management plan. FROM ME : During my recent weight loss challenge I have been eating a lot of soups for lunch. The Progresso soup I was sent for doing this post has definitely been a help. It is about 100 calories per can (each can has 2 servings) but even if I eat the whole can, I am still on track for my 500 cal. per meal diet  (1500 cal./day). The soups are very good. I was sent  several cans, so I haven’t been able to try every flavor yet. I have tried the chicken noodle and the vegetable and I liked them a lot. My children have been eating these too after school, the soup keeps them filled until dinner and it definitely beats junk food. On the recent cold days we have been having there is nothing like a nice hot cup or bowl of soup to satisfy! NOW YOU CAN WIN and try for yourself!!! : This is a GREAT prize pack to win, you will love this It consists of a Progresso Soup Mug, it is like a ceramic material, a Progresso jump rope that counts the # of jumps and other info.!! (kids and I love this),  and  2 cans  of soup from Progresso. This giveaway starts NOW and ends on 2/11/2010 at 7PM EST. Winner will not be notified, but WILL be posted to this site by 2/12/2010. Winner will be chosen via random.org. Winner MUST be a subscriber to this blog. Here is the ways to get an entry :

1. Tweet the following = ” Win a Progressive Soup Prize pack from @plussizemommy  ’s blog here :          ”        you may tweet up to 3 times per day = 1 entry per tweet, separate comments please.
2. Follow me on twitter = 1 entry  (I am @plussizemommy)
3. Use stumbleupon, technorati, digg for this site/post.  - comment letting me know which you have done = 1 entry per way.
4. Fave my site on momfaves – comment and let me know you have = 1 entry
5. What flavor of Progresso soup is your favorite? – comment and tell me = 1 entry

Good Luck to everyone !

The Plus Size Mommy

*The Progresso Soup, gift pack, information, and giveaway were all provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.)

Last night our family went to McDonald’s for dinner. Now, I know all of you are thinking, this girl is on a diet, and in a fitness challenge and she is eating at McDonald’s?! Well, Yes I am, and Yes I did. But what you may consider is, I didn’t eat a burger and no fries. Oh Yes, I love McDonald’s food, but being a part of my new lifestyle, those don’t always fit in. And well, McDonald’s has this GREAT new product, a snack wrap, that is less calories than a Big Mac, but has the same taste!

I wanted to share this New Snack Wrap with you so you can use it, like me, as another option, for when you want a healthier lifestyle, but also get those cravings for a Big Mac!

This is the latest addition to their already great Snack Wrap line. Basically they are wrapping the same taste as a Big Mac, secret sauce and all, into a flour tortilla. And the cost $1.49 at most locations!

It has 1/2 the quarter pound meat as a Big Mac 100% Beef Patty, the same secret sauce, fresh lettuce that is shredded, American cheese, Crispy pickles, chopped onions, and it is all wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla shell.

This is the evolution of a Big Mac that we have all loved and enjoyed for the past 40 years!

I love that it is a lot less messier than a Big Mac, is a healthier choice than a full Big Mac, and taste just as good to fulfill that craving, and speaking of fulfill, it fills your tummy just the same as a Big Mac.

Now, you too can share the taste and try a Mac Snack Wrap by being one of 9 (yes NINE) winners from my blog. And even if you don’t win, they are only approx. $1.49 and for a meal, this is a GREAT deal!

Here is how you can win your coupon to try this first-ever beef option in McDonald’s snacking category :

• Write a post on your blog about your favorite McDonald’s memory or your favorite McDonald’s product link your post to this post = 5 entries per post! comment and let me know the link to your post, so I can visit it.
• use stumbleupon, technorati, digg for this site/post.  - comment letting me know which you have done = 1 entry per way.
• Tweet the following ”  Fulfill your Mac Snack Wrap attack on  @plussizemommy  ’s blog ! Win lunch on her here :  http://is.gd/71WDq     ”  = 1 entry per tweet, up to 3 total per day (separate comments please)
• comment and tell me what your favorite McDonald’s product is = 1 entry
• comment and tell me your idea for a Snack Wrap that you would share with McDonald’s if you could come up with a new wrap = 1 entry per idea

This giveaway begins NOW and ends on Feb. 4th, 2010.  9 winners will each win a “Be Our Guest Card,” good for a free Mac Snack Wrap at any of the participating restaurants. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Winners will be announced on this blog by Feb. 5th. No winners will be emailed. So please check back to see if you win if you are entering. As with all of the giveaways on this blog, you MUST be a subscriber to win.

Thank you to everyone who enters and GOOD LUCK !

The Plus Size Mommy

**McDonald’s  has provided you with a “Be Our Guest Card,” good for a free Mac Snack Wrap at any of our participating restaurants. This  review reflects my personal opinion and  McDonald’s has not influenced the editorial nature of your review in any way.**

Due to the previous winner not claiming her prize I had to redraw this prize :

Congrats to …..   Ty  ! You are the new chosen winner of the Squeeball’s for Wii party game.

Please email me at plussizemommy@gmail.com to claim your prize within 48 hours of now.

Thank you again to all who entered and to the winner  ENJOY !

The Plus Size Mommy

Q-tips® cotton swabs has teamed up with Celebrity Nursery Designer, Wendy Bellissimo, to introduce the newest addition to the Q-tips® family – Q-tips® Baby Packs.  Wendy, who is no stranger to designing perfect nursery spaces, has worked with celebrity moms like Brooke Shields and Kelly Ripa.  She has great tips and tricks to create a nursery that is both beautiful and practical … to care for any baby with style!

I was sent a nursery pack with the following included :

o   NEW Q-tips® Baby Packs in two designs (safari & farm animals)

- The new Q-tips® Baby Packs are a stylish nursery essential that are functional and finally cute enough to keep out in the baby’s room

-  In two adorable nursery animal designs, these space-saving packs make it easy for mom to keep Q-tips® cotton swabs at her fingertips and feature a sliding drawer that helps keep Q-tips® clean for use in baby care

o   A chic, silver elephant bank to display in baby’s room – another nursery design essential

o   OH BABY!   Wendy Bellissimo Shares Her Tips on How To Create The Perfect Nursery

The Q-tip nursery boxes are simply adorable. When the Q-tips are gone I am going to re-purpose them to hold my daughters little jewelry and hair accessories. They are too cute to throw away. I love how they slide too. There are 285 Q-tips in each pack. (will be coming to Walmart and Target and will retail for about  $3.19 per pack).

The little silver elephant bank is simply gorgeous. It has pastel colors on it too. It is a heavy little bank and will make my daughters nursery even more complete. Every little baby needs a bank to keep their money from birthdays and holidays. Or for potty time rewards when the time comes.

TIPS from Wendy Bellissimo :

1. Be Your Own Designer: Go through magazines, catalogs and visit baby & furniture stores to see the looks available. Choose a style that feels most natural to you so the nursery can become an extension of your home. Then create your own book or board of clippings, fabric samples and photos for inspiration. Start the design process well before your due date so that you have time to relax before the baby’s arrival.
2. Save the Paint for Last: Select your nursery furniture and fabric before you paint. It is easy to find a paint shade to match your furniture/fabrics and not always the other way around. Keep in mind, furniture and fabrics do not all need to match – a great mix of textures that complement each other can add a truly custom, “designer” feel.
3. Don’t Sacrifice Style for Functionality: It is easy to create a beautiful, organized space in the nursery to care for your baby (without the piles of diapers and a mess of toiletries). Place a basket or fabric covered box (from an arts & crafts or paper store) on the changing table or shelf above and fill with diapers, Vaseline® petroleum jelly, diaper cream and rubbing alcohol. One nursery essential you won’t have to hide is the new Q-tips® Baby Pack! They are available in two adorable nursery animal designs and are functional (with a new sliding drawer that keeps Q-tips® cotton swabs protected for baby) so they can always be within arm’s reach.
4. Add a Personal Touch: Give your nursery a personal touch by adding framed covers of your favorite childhood books or classic black & white or sepia photos of you and your significant other when you were babies.
5. Create A Sleepy Time Sanctuary: We all need our beauty rest, so it is important to create an environment that’s peaceful for your baby to sleep. Create a calming atmosphere with soothing colors and softer tones rather than bright or harsh colors. Then, use accents to add pops of color without being too overwhelming. Be careful not to make the room too dark or too quiet at nap time. This way your child will be able to fall asleep in any environment, which is great when you are traveling or when new siblings arrive! You can also play soft, soothing music or lullabies to help the baby fall asleep.
6. Room to Grow: Choose design options that can grow with your child – consider color palette, furniture style, storage options and a play/reading area. Look for a dresser with drawers and cabinets, rather than a standard changing table and simply secure a changing pad on top. Once your child outgrows diapers, you will have a beautiful piece of furniture with drawers for clothing and cabinets for toys that are within reach for your child.
7. X vs. Y: Not finding out the sex of your baby? No worries! Design a gender-neutral nursery with yellow, green, white or crème and simply add touches of blue or pink accessories when the baby arrives – these simple changes can be made to anything from the receiving blanket to the changing pad. These color options also give you the flexibility to use the bedding over again for a new sibling.
8. To Theme or Not to Theme: Nursery themes such as safari, princess or transportation are a great way to create a fun, lighthearted statement. A themed nursery can still be done tastefully if the items are selected in moderation. For example, if you are doing a safari-style mural, keep bedding and fabrics neutral so the room doesn’t look overdone.
9. Accessorize: A few must-have accessories for any nursery are books, books and more books! You can also add a silver piggy bank and a few irresistibly soft stuffed animals that will quickly become your child’s best friends! Even my celebrity clients still go for the traditional accessories – they bring us all back to that magical time of childhood.
10. The Essentials: When designing your nursery (large or small), you should always keep these essentials in mind – a crib, rocker, changing table/dresser, light dimmer switch and books within the little one’s reach. If you do not have enough space for a bookcase, a basket for the floor will do the trick perfectly. Your little one will be crawling around before you know it and handing you their favorite book at bedtime!

NOW you can WIN  a fantastic nursery pack which includes the 2 packs of Q-tips (one in each style) and the adorable elephant bank !!! (winners MUST be subscribers to this blog)

HERE IS HOW :

• Tweet the following on twitter :  ” WIN Q-tips and Elephants on @plussizemommy ‘s  blog      http://bit.ly/5fOMS3      ” – every tweet earns an entry up to 4 tweets accepted per day!
• Join us at the Twitter Party on January 28th from  8-9 pm EST.  #QtipsBaby  sponsored by Q-tips. Hosted by @MomTalkRadio (Maria Bailey, Founder of MomSelect and Mom of 4)
  while at the twitter party TWEET ME (@plussizemommy) and say, I am here = 2 entries. comment and let me know you tweeted me. (separate entries please.)
• Comment and tell me what your MUST HAVE nursery accessory is = 1 entry per comment up to 3 total.
• Comment and tell me which Q tips box you like the best, Safari or Farm animals = 1 entry (total of 1 allowed)
• use stumbleupon, technorati, digg for this site/post.  - comment letting me know which you have done = 1 entry per way.

• fave my site on momfaves – comment and let me know you have = 1 entry

This is a fabulous prize that I know the winner will just love.

This giveaway starts NOW and ends on Feb. 1, 2010 at 9pm EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org. Winners name will be posted to this site on Feb. 2 . Winners will not be emailed so please be sure to check back to see who wins

Good Luck to everyone and thank you so much for entering.

The Plus Size Mommy

*I was sent a nursery gift pack which includes the Qtips and the silver elephant bank. The winners prize will be sent from Mom Select on behalf of Qtips to the winner at no charge to me. Thank you to Mom Select for asking me to work on this campaign with them.

Are you looking for a healthy way to fit essential nutrients into your diet? Yoplait wants to help! The antioxidant-rich fruit in Yoplait smoothies can be a great way to help you get all the important vitamins and minerals your body needs.

Did you know seven out of 10 Americans do not consume the daily recommended amount of fruit? Every Yoplait Smoothie contains a full serving of fruit as well as real Yoplait yogurt pieces with live & active cultures. Yoplait Smoothies are a good source of calcium when prepared with milk according to directions, and an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin C.

Simply add milk to a Yoplait freezer package, blend, and in less than two minutes you can enjoy a nutritious and delicious smoothie guilt free! At 110 calories per serving, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies make creating the at-home smoothie convenient, simple and worry free.

FROM ME :

I have had the chance to receive and try a Yoplait Smoothie and they are a wonderful help to my curb my need for something tasty to drink while I am on my diet. I love fruit and in the winter here in PA, my favorite fruits like berries and melons are not too good or nowhere to be found. So this is a great alternative to the tasty fruits I love. These smoothies are so easy to make, I love the convenience of them.

In addition can visit:
http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=60253&ci=1&c=GM&p=TNg7HrGO to save $1.25 off one package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies today!

OR you can WIN a Yoplait Smoothie gift pack (which includes a personal blender and a VIP coupon for a pack of Yoplait Smoothie fruit) HERE IS HOW :

1. Comment and tell what your favorite smoothie is to make at home ? = 1 entry.
2. Tweet the following : ”  Win a personal Blender and Yoplait frozen smoothie mix @plussizemommy  ’s blog http://is.gd/6znNf   ” – comment with tweet thread, up to 3 times per day (separate comments please)
3. use stumbleupon, technorati, digg for this site/post.  - comment letting me know which you have done.
4. follow me on twitter, I am @plussizemommy – comment letting me know you have = 1 entry.
5. fave my site on momfaves – comment and let me know you have = 1 entry.

This giveaway begins NOW and will end on January 30th 2010. Winners will be posted to this site, no emails will be sent out, so please check back for winners posting. Winners will be chosen by random.org. Winners will have 48 hours to contact me to claim their prize. As with all of my giveaways, winners MUST be subscribers of this blog, and must be residents of USA  in order to qualify(unless otherwise noted).

*This coupon offer  is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

Thank You for entering and Good Luck!

The Plus Size Mommy

* Yoplait provided you with the free product, information, and gift pack through MyBlogSparkTM.