There are  few toys that are truly timeless. I remember playing tirelessly with Mr. Potato head as a child and it’s so much fun to watch my little guy do the same and join him when he lets me! For years, Mr. Potato Head has provided countless hours of play for many children.  He encourages use of the imagination, helps toddlers to understand anatomy and is great for helping those developing fine motor skills along.

My little guy has gone from putting ears atop Mr. Potato’s head (in his artistic stage) to now fully assembling and disassembling Mr. Potato Head in various get-ups just for fun. He’s even tried on Mr. Potato Head’s glasses himself!

The Mr. Potato Head Family recently introduced 3 new members: The charming PRINCESS SWEET POTATO figure comes complete with tiara and frog prince for royal adventures, and Firefighter Spud tater is ready to squelch flames with his handy fire extinguisher.  Swashbuckling spud CAPTAIN POTATO CHIPS figurine has a peg leg, eye patch, and hooked hand…ARGH! You will find a Mr. Potato Head that’s perfect for every little imagination in your home!

Mr. Potato Head can be found at most major retailers. And retails for approximately $9.99. Each figurine is sold separately. Mr. Potato Head is and will continue to be a classic!

The opinions in this post are my own. Mr. Potato Head was provided to me by the fun folks at Hasbro in exchange for and honest review. No other compensation was provided!

Yogurt is a staple in our home. At any given time you can open our refrigerator and find 3-4 different varieties on hand. What’s not to love? It’s healthy, it’s quick and it’s YUM! We were very excited to have the opportunity to try out Yoplait’s new Greek Yogurt and tell our Tales of the Toot friends all about it!

If you like your yogurt smooth and creamy, this is a great pick for you. I loved the thicker, creamier texture of the Greek Yogurt and the flavors are all delicious. We tried the Strawberry, Blueberry and Vanilla Honey flavors and they were all a hit with me, my mother-in-law and of course the Tootster, himself! With a whopping 12 grams of protein, Yoplait’s Greek Yogurt truly nourishes you from the inside out!

Yoplait Greek Yogurt is a great way to satisfy the inner Goddess in all us ladies,  but the benefits don’t stop there! Yoplait and My Blog Spark want to help one lucky Tales of the Toot Winner Nourish their inner and OUTER Goddess with an awesome gift pack that includes: slippers, terry cloth robe, massage tool, towel and loofah and 2 coupons to try Yoplait’s New Greek Yogurt for free **I have to say that I absolutely love this robe and I know you will too!**

This giveaway will be open Friday, May 7, 2010 – Friday, May 14, 2010 at 8pm CST. One winner will be picked at random using random.org and will be notified on May 14th after the giveaway closes. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond to their notification before a new random winner is chosen.

OUR WINNER WAS #16, MIRANDA! CONGRATS AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!!

Here’s how to WIN:

Mandatory Entry: Please leave me a comment below telling me which flavor of Yoplait Greek Yogurt you will try if you win.

Additional Entries

For each additional entry, you must leave me a separate comment to receive credit. For example if you follow me on Twitter and Like Tales of the Toot on Facebook you must leave 1 comment stating, “I follow @aidenscross on Twitter.” and a separate comment stating, “I am a Fan of Tales of the Toot on Facebook.”  If you do first complete the mandatory entry, all other entries are disqualified. Thanks!

• Subscribe to Tales of the Toot by email. (3 extra entries)
• Follow Tales of the Toot on Google Friend Connect -right sidebar (1 extra entry)
• Follow me on Twitter (@aidenscross) (2 extra entries)
• “Like” Tales of the Toot on Facebook (3 extra entries)
• Tweet about this giveaway–must leave a comment linking me to the tweet. 2 Tweets per day limit. (1 extra entry per Tweet)

Thanks so much and good luck!

Yoplait Greek Yogurt product, prize pack, information, and giveaway have all been provided by Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

If you’re like me lip gloss is one of your must-have beauty products. I may not wear a fully made-up face each day, but I always wear lip gloss! I also always have too many things to keep up with: sippy cups, diapers, lists, cell phone, wallet and/or purse….and where in the world did my lip gloss go?

Enter YOYO Lip Gloss Minis. I am in love. These mini lip glosses are not only fun and flirty, but they come attached to a mini clip with retractable string. Clip it to the inside of your purse, onto your belt, to your tot’s diaper bag…you name it. Never lose your gloss in the bottom of your purse again! Now, why didn’t I think of this?

One of the best things about this gloss is the texture. I cannot stand a sticky, gooey lip gloss. YOYO’s Lip Gloss Minis pass that test with flying colors. They go on smooth, give plenty of shine, a hint of color and taste great. There are four flavors to choose from: Kissable Kiwi, Girly Green Apple, Cha-Cha Chocolate and Big Bounce Bubblegum.  Priced right at only $2.99 per retractable mini gloss, you can afford to try all 4 flavors!

I could keep telling you what I love about the YOYO Lip Gloss Minis or, even better, let you try them yourself! YOYO is inviting one lucky Tales of the Toot reader to win their very own set of (4) YOYO Lip Gloss Minis and the super-cute YOYO tank top!  Here’s how to win:

MANDATORY entry:

YOYO is not just limited to lip gloss! Check out their other goodies too! Visit YOYO’s website here and then leave me a comment below telling me what other YOYO product you’d like to get your hands on.

Additional Entries– 1 entry each

• Follow me on Twitter and leave me a comment letting me know you’re following. (@aidenscross)
• Vote for me in the Little Remedies Mom Blogger Contest (click on the button on top right sidebar) -Don’t forget to leave me a comment!! :0)
  
• Subscribe to Tales of the Toot by email (sidebar)–comment, comment, comment.
  
• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (see right sidebar) –Leave a comment letting me know.
• Follow Tales of the Toot on Facebook Networked Blogs (sidebar) — Leave a comment letting me know.
• Tweet about this giveaway (LIMIT 1x per day) — Leave a comment letting me know you’ve tweeted about the giveaway.
• Vote for Tales of the Toot @ Top Mommy Blogs by clicking on the button on the right side bar. — Leave me a comment.
• Become a fan of Tales of the Toot on Facebook-Leave a comment letting me know.
• Follow YOYO Lip Gloss on Twitter-don’t forget to leave a comment! (@yoyolipgloss)
  

You will see that each entry requires that you LEAVE a comment to earn credit. I do check the winner’s entry to make sure they are following where they say they are, so be honest . The winner will be selected by random number selection via random.org- I will be using the numbered comments to choose a winner. Don’t forget to comment!!!

Contest is NOW CLOSED. Winners will be notified by email/Twitter and given 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Best of Luck! You’re gonna love these!!

AND THE WINNER IS: NAOMI WITH COMMENT #63 AS PICKED BY RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations Naomi!!!

YOYO Lipgloss provided me with YOYO Lip Gloss Retractable Minis in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received.

Who doesn’t love a good pancake? Chocolate chip, blueberry, pumpkin….oh, my. For breakfast, for dinner – it matters not to me! My family loves pancakes. And if pancakes alone weren’t enough to inspire, Bisquick Pancake Nation has launched a national campaign to encourage folks to reach out to those in need by holding pancake breakfasts. From now through May 31st, you can apply for a $250.00 grant to help you in organizing your very own pancake fundraiser breakfast in your community. This is an excellent way to help your favorite qualified non-profit organization while inspiring your community and delighting your taste buds. Join Bisquick Pancake Nation today and get all the tools you need to help you organize your fundraiser. You can make a difference!

About that giveaway….

Here is your chance to win an awesome Bisquick Pancake Nation prize pack! This prize pack includes everything you need to make your very own fluffy goodness at home. Included in the prize pack:

• Lodge Logic Cast Iron Griddle
• Cuisipro Deluxe Mixing Bowl
• Cuisipro Pancake Turner
• Box of Bisquick

This GIVEAWAY is now closed! Congrats to our winner, Shanna (comment #20) who was picked randomly by random.org. Thanks so much to all who entered and helped make this GIVEAWAY a success! I truly appreciate you all!

These are all awesome products. We use them for all of our pancake-makin’ and much more! You must enter to win!!! Here’s how:

Mandatory Entry

** Subscribe to my blog BY EMAIL and leave me a comment on this post letting me know you’re a subscriber and tell me what your favorite breakfast is. ** Remember this is mandatory, NO OTHER entries count if you don’t do this one first! (If you already subscribe BY EMAIL just let me know that in your comment.)**

Additional Entries– 1 entry each

• Follow me on Twitter and leave me a comment letting me know you’re following.
• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (see right sidebar) –Leave a comment letting me know.
• Follow Tales of the Toot on Facebook Networked Blogs — Leave a comment letting me know.
• Tweet about this giveaway (LIMIT 1x per day) — Leave a comment letting me know you’ve tweeted about the giveaway.
• Vote for Tales of the Toot @ Top Mommy Blogs by clicking on the button on the right side bar. — Leave me a comment.

You will see that each entry requires that you LEAVE a comment to earn credit. The winner will be selected by random number selection via random.org, so I will be using numbered comments to choose a winner. Don’t forget to comment .

This giveaway is open until Tuesday, March 30th at 10:00 p.m. CST. Winner will be notified by email/Twitter and will be given 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.

Thanks so much for entering and GOOD LUCK!!!

** No monetary compensation was provided to me in exchange for this blog post. Product samples and opportunity were provided to me by Bisquick and BlogSpark**

You may recognize the name. Anothony DeStefano is the best-selling author of  A Travel Guide to Heaven and Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To(DoubleDay). Mr. DeStefano’s first children’s book, This Little Prayer of Mine, has recently been released and I am honored to have had the opportunity to preview it with my son.

The book, aimed at teaching young children about prayer, hits the mark with ease. In rhyming fashion, we learn valuable lessons about prayer. I was most impressed by the way Mr. DeStefano intertwined lessons about choices, fear, behavior and being thankful into the story, showing children that not only does God hear and answer our prayers, but is a very present help in our everyday lives.

I cannot say enough about the beautiful illustrations, by Mark Elliott. They truly draw the reader into the story and foster the opportunity for discussion with my toddler-aged son.

My son loves this book. We have read and discussed it many times over and I am sure it will be a favorite of both his and mine for many years to come.

I applaud Mr. DeStefano for this beautifully written book. It is never too early to teach our little ones about God and the importance of prayer and This Little Prayer of Mine gives us the perfect tool to help begin these important conversations with our children.

This Little Prayer of Mine was provided to me by the author, Anthony DeStefano, in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received.

I am an amateur golfer, at best. I tag along with my husband to the course, but am just as concerned with looking cute and being comfortable as I am with my score. Let’s face it, golf attire for women is somewhat limited, especially when shopping for footwear.

I was recently given the opportunity to work with the folks at SandBaggers and jumped at the chance to test their women’s golf shoes. If you take a look at what SandBaggers has to offer online, you will quickly see why.

SandBaggers not only offers the largest selection of women’s golf shoes in the industry-they offer cute golf shoes! Who ever heard of such?

SandBaggers has been serving women golfers of all talent levels for over 20 years and the company prides itself in providing fun, flirty footwear for every personality. Their most recent collection is inspired by old-time Vaudeville entertainers and you are sure to find something sassy to spice up your game.

 I tested the Victoria and was impressed from the moment I opened the box. First off, these shoes are extremely well-made and just as attractive in person as they are in the catalog/website. How many times have you ordered something online, and been disappointed by the quality or look of the product when it arrived?

The true test? Fit and comfort. Nervous about getting stuck on the green in a pair of new and uncomfortable shoes, I first wore mine around the house and even to the grocery store. From day one, I was impressed. The Victoria is made of a soft lycra that fit my foot like a glove.They weren’t stiff and didn’t feel like they needed to be “broke-in”. There were no painful blisters at the end of the day and the shoe allowed ample room for my wide foot. The TPR (thermoplastic-rubber) sole provides the grip you need for the course but with added comfort and functionality for everyday wear.

 Did I mention they were cute? 

Overall, I give SandBaggers an enthusiastic thumbs up.I may not have the best looking score-card at the end of the game, but I’ll definitely have the best looking (and feeling!) feet!

From ballet style to T-strap, sandal to lace-up – SandBaggers has a shoe to fit your personality. You can explore the variety of Sandbaggers Women’s Golf Shoes and Sandals or request a catalog by visiting their website @ www.hersandbaggers.com.

The women’s golf shoes reviewed in this post were provided by SandBaggers in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation has been given.

It was an exciting day at our house when we checked the mailbox to find 2 new DVD’s from the So Smart! Collection waiting for my our review. Aiden was ready and willing to be my little guinea pig for this project and promptly exclaimed “New movies for me! Can I watch them, mama?” So off to the DVD player they went.

We first watched “House” from the Babies First-Word Stories series. This series is created for toddlers, aged 1-3,  who are working on language development. “House” is aimed at children 1+ and introduces your child to words and names of objects found in your home as well as sounds the objects make and uses of the objects.

Although, Aiden knew most of the words covered in this particular video, he still enjoyed interacting with the characters/narrator as they would urge the children to recall the names of the items found in the home or playing hide-and-seek with the characters.

I loved the way this video encouraged interaction and not just mind-numbing vegetation in front of the TV! From calling out names of objects as they appeared on-screen to finding where Dee-Dee was hiding in the house, my little man was encouraged to be an active participant in learning as he watched.

Our second selection from So Smart is from the King Otis and the Kingdom of Goode series and is called “Lollybird’s Tale of Being Different.” This was a wonderfully imaginative story that teaches a valuable, universal lesson – it’s okay to be different! It is geared for children 3+.

Aiden (and myself!) loved the music in this story and followed along intently asking me questions about the story-line. This is a great DVD to sit and watch with your younger children so that you can engage in dialogue about what it means to be different.

Both DVDs are PC and MAC compatible and include bonus activities such as: printable activity sheets, music videos and on-screen tutorials.

Overall, I am impressed with the content of both So Smart! selections. They were both educational, entertaining and age-appropriate. It is obvious why the So Smart! Series is the winner of over 30 National Parenting Awards. If you are looking for quality, educational entertainment for your children, I would encourage you to consider the So Smart Series. These videos are a great educational tool and an investment into your child’s learning.

You can find more information and order your So Smart! DVDs by clicking here.

The DVDs reviewed in this post were provided by So Smart in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation has been given.