Tommee Tippee Sippy Cup Review

Have I ever told you just how particular Brynnleigh is?  She is a nut!  She will ONLY drink out of the soft spouted sippy cups.  Do you know how many different sippy cups I have bought...just in case she would drink out of them?  Yep, a whole cabinet full!  (And yes, I still have them just in case she changes her mind) and she won't drink out of half of them!

Tommee Tippee graciously send me a 2-pack of the Explora Lil' Sippee for Brynnleigh to try and review.  I do not recall these cups being around with Owen, so it was pretty new to me.

B was so excited when we got them in the mail...she was ready to try them out right away!

She didn't even let me take them out of the packaging or allow me to put any drink inside!!

I was so excited that we finally had a new cup we could use for her.  So we put it to the test...meal time!

And, it worked and little Miss Picky was happy!

So we decided we should say Thank you (her brother decided to jump in at the end!) - Sorry - the video won't work...it works fine from my memory card, but as soon as I upload to blogger & even youtube the sound is all messed up.  Sorry...it's super cute too!

Then...what happens next has nothing to do with the quality of Tommee Tippee's cups...but it's my child, who has figured out a way to turn her drink, into finger paints....

Here's what my little genius does....the cups don't leak....but she's figured out that if you press the "sippy" part of the cup on her plate, then it releases the valve allowing the "drink" to come out.  So she is purposely pressing it down, for the milk to come out.  So you could also see this as a cup and toy built into one (if your child can figure this out)! ; )

Just to make sure, I put more milk in her cup and physically shook it over the sink....yep, not a drop escaped!

So, I highly recommend these cups!  I just need to keep in eye on my "little princess" to make sure she's drinking and not finger painting!  These cups also come with nice hard plastic covers which are perfect for when you throw in your diaper bag or purse!

Wanna try some for yourself?  Please come back May 14-27th - Tommee Tippee has graciously given another pack of sippy cups for one of my readers!  Don't want to wait until the 27th, you can find Tommee Tippee at Babies R Us and Target and they have pretty much every type of sippy cup you could think of (as well as other cool baby products!)

** I received the Tommee Tippee cups for reviewing purposes. All my opinions are my own and not swayed by outside sources.

Sponsor Spotlight - Copy-Kids

What is Copy-Kids you ask?  Copy-Kids is by far one of the best products out there for Moms, Dads, Grandparents, caretakers, etc.  This video alone, had my super picky baby carrying broccoli around the house for HOURS, and this child eats NOTHING, doesn't even pick it up and put it in her mouth (hence being in the 15% for weight).  The video is broken into chapters based on the fruit/veggie featured, each video shows kids eating and laughing while eating the featured fruit/veggie.

You can read my review with pictures HERE, proof that this concept works.

And one quick comment before I start the interview...just this past weekend at a baby shower hosted at my house, I overheard a guest talking to another guest about how my kids bypassed the chips and m&ms and were eating cucumbers, carrots, and broccoli....so thank you Copy-Kids!

So lets get in with the interview shall we?  Meet Cai Dixon, Producer of Copy-Kids.

1) So, tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Cai. I have a 4-year-old daughter named Bella... She's featured in the Copy-Kids trailer, if you want to meet her: http://vimeo.com/24151268

Before Bella, I helped raise my niece, Jessica, from the ages of 5 - 14. Jessica is graduating from college next month! (So proud.) When Jess came to live with me (at the age of 5) she already had an aversion to fruits and vegetables... one that has lasted into her young adult life. That's why I know how important it is for children to form healthy food attachments when they are very young.

With Bella, I wanted to make sure that she started eating healthy from the start. So we have always offered plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. We spend time at Farmer's markets. She has books & toys related to fruits and veggies. But the one thing that I noticed is more powerful than anything else is peer influence.

Bella is more willing to try new fruits and vegetables if she sees another child eating them.

 

2) Can you tell us more about Copy-Kids and how it got started?

Observation led to my discovering the power of peer influence.

A trip to the Farmer's Market with Amelia, who eats cucumber, caused Bella to devour an entire cucumber.

A playdate with Esme, who loves raspberries, taught Bella to enjoy eating raspberries.

Eating bananas at RIE with her friends at snack time made Bella a banana devotee.

Organic strawberries served at Waldorf snack time, made her a great fan of strawberries.

Bella liked to copy.

I wondered if the experience had to be live, or if a video of children eating fruits and vegetables would also work? So I made a little test video... And it worked! Bella wanted to eat what she saw the child in the video eating!

That’s when light bulb went off. I knew I wasn't the only parent with healthy eating goals for my child -- I thought if I could find a way to create a high-quality video of children eating healthy foods and share it with others, it could be a revolutionary tool in the quest to get children eating healthy from the start.

I thought, what's the worst that could happen? If the video didn't work well for others... at least Bella would learn to eat healthier in the process of filming it. Which she did, of course... she learned to eat broccoli, bell pepper, tomatoes & avocado from watching Copy-Kids.

I was very happy to discover that this program's power is not just limited to my own child and her desire to copy. It works for most kids who watch the video. You know this, Amy, from trying it with your own children. Other reviewers have also been pleased with the results. You can go to our press page: http://copy-kids.com/press/ or our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/CopyKidsto read other success stories.

3) Are there any additional videos planned for the future?

We are currently filming Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables 2 & Copy-Kids Brush Their Teeth. We have plans for other titles as well -- all harnessing the natural inclination of children wanting to copy other children!

4)This sounds perfect for me, where I can I get a copy of Copy-Kids Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables?

It's available now through our website: http://copy-kids.com/buy-dvd/ We have a growing list of retailers who are also featured on our buy page, if you would prefer to support a local shop!
5) Is there anything else you want to tell my readers?

There is a hidden benefit of getting your kids to eat healthier. It causes you to eat healthier too! I cannot prepare a plate of strawberries for my child without nibbling a few myself. I also find my choices at the grocery store have changed -- I start in the produce section, because it has become the most important to my family & Bella loves to help pick out her own fruits and vegetables. 

And guess what???  Copy-Kids has graciously offered to do another giveaway of their Eat  Fruits and Vegetables just for The BOAT readers with a $30.00 gift card to Whole Foods so you can get all your fruits and veggies for the DVD screening!  This giveaway will take place during the Summer Splash Giveaway Blog Hop May 14-May27!!

Wordless Wednesday - The New Look

Brynnleigh is so ahead of the fashion curve!

We got some new clips in the mail the other day and Owen just had to put them ALL in B's hair...yes, all 25 of them!

Of course B sat still for O so we could put them in, take them out, and put them back in, all one by one.  On top of that, she kept them all in her hair for HOURS!  If I even mention doing her hair she runs away...and once I"m successful at putting in a clip that looks half way decent, she pulls it out and laughs at me!

I may put O in charge of B's hair from now on!  I'll just have to make sure there's only one clip around when I do it!

(Sorry the pics aren't the best, they are from my phone!)

Before ChaLEAN Extreme

So, remember awhile back I mentioned ordering ChaLEAN Extreme to get my body ready for bathing suit season? Well I finally did it, and I started my first video last night! So far....I LOVE it!

The first video was 35 minutes long, so not too long where I got bored. They do have "basic" videos that help you learn the exercise techniques and how to use the resistance band correctly....I think I'll go back and watch those tonight. I did have a few issues making sure I had the band correct to 1 get enough resistance, and 2 keep it from flying off and hitting me!

How the program works is you have 5 exercise days and 2 rest days.  Day 2 (which is today for me) and Day 7 are both rest days...so for me I will rest on Tuesdays (O's soccer practice day) and Sundays.  I do these videos around 8pm once my babies are asleep.

The book recommended that you take before and after photos through the course of the program...so one set before, one set at 30, 60, and 90 days. They also recommended that you take these photos in a bathing suit, or minimal clothing. Since most of my workout attire is shirts and shorts or pants, I did the swimsuit.

And yes, as I'm typing this, I'm trying to figure out a way to not post these pictures for the world to see. What I hope to do with these videos is to tone my mid section and tone up my thighs. Being a soccer player, and now a runner, I've always had large legs, so if I can keep them firm and tight, I guess I'll just have to deal. Before my babies....I had one heck of a stomach (or lack there of)...it was my favorite part of myself....and now it's gone and my least favorite part of myself...but I have two precious babies to show for it.

Okay....enough procrastinating....here's me, before ChaLEAN Extreme...

I don't expect to lose a lot of weight with this program, I expect more toning, but I would not be upset with weight loss either!

Before starting the program:
Weight - 134 lbs
Height - 5'7"
Waist - 28"
Hips - 37"
Chest/Bust - 34"
Clothes Size - 6

I cannot remember the other measurements....but those are the important ones, for me at least!

If anyone wants to see my friend Amy's results you can do so HERE and if you would like to order this workout for yourself (I did the basic at $89.85) you can purchase it HERE. 

The Clean Towel Giveaway (Ends 5/16)

Welcome to The Clean Towel giveaway hosted by Mom with a dot com & MamaNYC! This isn't your ordinary giveaway but it's just as sweet. We got together with some great blogs to give our readers the chance to win an awesome prize package!

The Clean Towel is an innovative, sustainable and eco-friendly product that will save you money. Imagine not having to spend so much for paper towels and helping our environment at the same time. Sounds great, huh? 

The Clean Towel's main goal is to get some opinions of consumers like you.

They have created a simple survey that will take you no longer than five minutes {they promised}. They are even sweetening the deal by offering an amazing prize package valued at over $300 - including an Android Tablet! Now, I don't want to tell you too much more about The Clean Towel or it might take the fun out of the survey.

One lucky winner is going to receive the following prize pack valued over $300!

 

*Please Note: Items may be larger than they appear*


*Camera & iPhone not included*

Check out all of these prizes that are included in this prize pack!

• Android Tablet ($100)
• Verizon Tablet Sleeve ($15)
• Scentsy Groovy White Plug-In ($20)
• Scentsy Bar / Cerise ($5) 
• Tenth & Final Season of Smallville ($40)
• The Knight Life: Chivalry Ain't Dead, book ($15)
• mark. Night Iris Eau de Toilette Spray ($24)
• Black Medium Collapsible Tote ($10)
• Two AMC Theatre Movie Tickets ($25)
• Giant Sidewalk Chalk Pencil ($11)
• Gary Fong Flip-Cage ($22)
• Gary Fong iPhone Tripod Adapter ($20)
• Beauty Grab Bag ($20) 

This giveaway is open to residents in the U.S. ONLY; 18+. Ends on May 16, 2012 @ 11:59PM (EST). Winner will have 48 hours to confirm prize before a forfeit is assumed. Each blog is using the SAME Rafflecopter. You only need to enter The Clean Towel Giveaway on ONE blog! 

Good Luck & Have Fun!

---

Wordless Wednesday - Some Things Never Change..

4 Years ago... (Owen @ 18 months)

This past weekend... (5 years)

That boy loves him some cheeseballs.....he gets it from his Daddy!



Copy-Kids Winner

I'm so sorry this took me so long to announce.....but since you've waited this long....you'll have to wait another two seconds while I share with you this great news!!  If you didn't win, their will be another opportunity to win 5/14-5/27 right here on my blog.  That's right, Copy-Kids has graciously offered to giveaway another DVD during the Summer Splash Giveaway Blog Hop!

Okay okay...onto the good stuff....the winner is...

Saturday Top Laughs (Blog Hop)

Linking up with The Mommyhood Chronicles.

5. While standing in line for the Easter bunny I was talking to the nice lady in front of me.  She told me how she's a substitute teacher & hoping to get a full time job in my county - she then asked how old my kids were - so I said 5 yrs & 18 months.  I asked about her baby - who was 6 months.  So I responded, oh is he an October baby...what day was he born?  She looked at me like I was crazy, but told me the day....(16th) so I responded, yeah she (Brynnleigh) was born October 4th.  Then just as serious as could be, she responded "Oh so she is like 1 year plus 6 months?"  Please please, don't let this lady teach at O's school...especially math.

4. O told me that he was going to marry his friend RG...then I heard him say to himself "well RG doesn't like touching (she hates it when O hugs or tickles her) a few quiet seconds pass, "Mom...can we get married without kissing...we should just hug...and no rings either".  (How in the world does he know all that happens at a wedding?)

3.Brynnleigh is learning how to count (you should see the looks we get when she starts) and it's soo cute.  I got a bit of it on video the other day...but if you say one, she says "choo", "twee", then goes back to "choo", and then one...then starts over again.  I'm working with her now trying to get to four...she's totally happy with her one, choo, twee!

2.We took the kids to the amusement park this week, and while I took B on a ride while waiting for the boys....everyone thought I was crazy letting this little itty bitty girl ride on the ride....until they heard her laughing the entire time and screaming "weeeee"...yep, she's going to be my little dare devil

1. O's new saying when you ask him to do something simple "Oh that is just Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezey" - don't ask, I have no clue where it came from.

Easter 2012

Easter...one of my favorite holidays...it's as great as Christmas, but without all the stress.  You don't have to worry about presents or making everyone happy.  Yet you get a whole day to spend with family and think back to the good ol days!

The Easter Bunny does come visit the kids each year, but we don't make it a big to do.  Normally the Easter bunny brings some flip flops, sunglasses, and a few pieces of candy (but not much).  This year our Easter bunny was a bit more practical...the kids also got toothpaste and soap to go along with their candy!

I love the simplicity in kids....I asked O what he wanted the Easter to bring him in his basket, and as I was trying to formulate a response to his crazy need/want...he replied "a chocolate bunny".  Yep that's my baby...for his birthday he asked for birthday cake, and Easter, a chocolate bunny.  The Easter bunny actually brought him 3 little chocolate bunnies, and he was soo happy!

The Easter Bunny has also started leaving eggs in the front yard for the kids to "hunt".  It's his personal sign to let the kids know he's come, before they see their baskets....O was so cute..."He's come he's come...I see the eggs out front!"

So once the kids checked out their baskets....

And tried a few things...

We got dressed for church and started our Egg hunt (#1 of the day).  As I said before, I was shocked that B knew what to do right away (I then later found out that MeeMaw had done a practice egg hunt with them earlier in the week...thanks for prepping them MeeMaw!).

Then it was off to church and straight to Nana's (my grandmother) house to visit with my extended family (on my Mom's side).  We had TONS of food, and have fun hanging out with the family outside.  Troy got a free pass to go watch Masters while I hung out w/the kiddos.  Don't worry...he wasn't glued to the TV and spent lots of time with the kids before it started!  Owen had Egg hunts number 2-5 with his cousins Austin & Laura while we were there...and a few of us walked the kids to the park 2 blocks down the street.  It was really neat seeing the kids climb on the same rocks we used to climb on as kids.  (Pictures to come...I didn't take my camera since I knew I'd be wrangling two crazy kiddos, so I have to get from my cousin Robyn).

From there, we went to Troy's parents house for dinner...and yes, another egg hunt.  I'm not sure my body needed anymore food, but we ate again anyways!  Troy also got to finish watching the Masters with his Dad...and maybe I watched the end too!!

The kids were told that there were two special eggs with a surprise inside...so of course we had to open them right away...

We didn't get home until late...so both kids went straight to bed...happy and exhausted from being outside all day!

I did learn on Easter, that Brynnleigh is very fluent in Easter talk...she has mastered Easter, Bunny, egg, and sucker on her ever growing vocabulary list (I'm very scared of the teen years).

We hope everyone else had a great Easter Sunday and weekend!!  (Oh yeah...I had some Pepsi on Sunday...the Easter Bunny had one waiting for me in the refrigerator!)