Printcopia Canvas Review & Giveaway

You know what I love right now? Canvas prints! I have been wanting one for a long time, but 1) didn't have any professional or current pictures that I thought we were worthy of turning into a canvas and 2) wasn't sure where to start in the realm of canvas prints!

I was approached by Printcopia to do a review and giveaway of their awesome canvas prints and was sold! We had professional pics taken in November by the amazing Capri Photography by Meg.  Would you believe we've NEVER had professional pictures taken of our family until now?! And can ya'll believe we're ALL looking AND smiling?! Holy smokes I was over the moon for this photo and I couldn't WAIT to turn this picture into a canvas!

(it's not hanging crooked, I just take crooked pictures!)

I received an 11x14 canvas and I love it! The website is super simple to navigate and our canvas arrived in the mail about a week later. You can choose from several different options for the fit/wrap - I went for a mirrored wrap on ours. I also chose the standard thickness .75" and the standard wall hanging. 

I could talk all day about how much I love mine and how I can't wait to fit it into the new wall decor we're planning for our living room, but I'd rather you check out Printcopia and enter to win one of your own RIGHT HERE! 

One winner will win an 11x14 canvas and receive a code to upload the picture of your choice. Giveaway for US Residents only. Must be 18 years or older to participate. 

To enter: Simply visit Printcopia and then leave a comment (with valid email address) telling me what you plan to do with your canvas!

Winner will be chosen on January 24th, 2013. Winner will be contacted via email - please provide a valid email address to be considered.

FTD Disclosure: I received this product free of charge from Printcopia in order to conduct an honest review. I was not compensated in any other manner to review this product. The thoughts and opinions in this post are my own and may differ from other users of this product. Photos and images in this post are owned by me or provided by Printcopia.

Simply Spray Project Paint Puppet Theater & Giveaway

A few weeks ago I was asked to review a pretty awesome product and I'm excited to share it with you today! Simply Spray Project Paint is a non-toxic, aerosol paint that is safe to use on all kinds of crafts projects, including kid projects! Although it's safe for kiddos, the company does recommend the product for kids 8 years old and up. 

I wasn't sure what we were going to make with our paint, but then I saw these AMAZING puppet theaters from Teach Preschool and my mind was set on making one for the kids. The Farmer had several display boards from student presentations so I grabbed one and got to work!

I received 3 bottles of Simply Spray paint in red, blue and purple. Although the paint is safe to use indoors, it does spray out and I recommend doing large projects outside. We took ours outside and started spray painting. In hindsight, I thought one bottle would go a bit farther so I ended up using all 3 bottles on the theater. It sprays out evenly and covered the cardboard really well. I left it outside for about an hour to fully dry. 

I had a bit of trouble with one of the bottles and although I followed the instructions for a stuck nozzle I wasn't able to make it start working again. I ended up putting the nozzle of one of the empty cans on the nozzle I was working with and got it started again.

The colors are super vibrant, which I love and while I love our puppet theater, I really wish I'd made a t-shirt, too! Simply Spray Project Paint is simple to use, safe for the environment and comes off easily from your hands with soap and water. 

Once it was finished I cut out the stage with a box cutter, used a glue gun for the curtain and rounded up our puppets. I also made a few new ones! 

Simply Spray Project Paint works on fabric, wood, cardboard, poster board and foam pieces. Sold exclusively at Wal-Mart, Simply Spray Project Paint comes in 8 colors: black, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and white. 

Want to try it yourself? Enter to win 2 cans of Simply Spray Project Paint in the colors of your choice! Giveaway is open to US residents ages 18+. Winner chosen August 20th.  

Mandatory Entry: Visit Simply Spray, then leave a comment telling me what YOU would make with Simply Spray Project Paint!

Additional Entries: You are eligible for additional entries once you've completed the mandatory entry (please do this as your first comment). Please come back to leave a comment for each additional entry. The winner will be chosen from blog comments.

• Visit The Iowa Farmer's Wife Facebook page and comment on a post (1 entry)
• Visit Simply Spray on Facebook (1 entry)
Follow Simply Spray on Twitter
• Follow The Iowa Farmer's Wife on Twitter AND tweet this giveaway. Please use @TheIowaFarmWife when tweeting (1 entry)
• Add The Iowa Farmer's Wife on Google+ (1 entry)
• Follow The Iowa Farmer's Wife via Google Friend Connect on the sidebar (1 entry)
• Subscribe to the The Iowa Farmer's Wife via email (1 entry)

FTC Disclosure: I received this product free of charge from Simply Spray in order to conduct an honest review. I was not compensated in any other manner to review this product. Photos and images in this post are owned by me or provided by Simply Spray.

Comfort & Harmony Mombo Nursing Pillow Review

I'm so excited to share some information about this amazing nursing pillow from Bright Starts. I received the Comfort & Harmony Mombo Nursing Pillow and Infant Positioner in Pinehurst when Sprout was a teeny tiny baby and have loved the versatility of this pillow. 

I used in place of our other nursing pillow once I received it and immediately fell in love with the fact that it has 2 sides. 

• Soft Side: For Lounging 
• The fabric is SUPER soft and baby fits perfectly snuggled onto the Mombo.
• Firm Side: For Feeding
• The soft side lays on top of your legs while the firm side offers back support and allows you to rest your arms on top while nursing your baby.

It also seemed to fit around my waist a bit better than other nursing pillows. 

The other feature not present in any other nursing pillow is the vibrating disc inside the pillow. It's activated by a button and gently vibrates baby when he's lounging! I loved this option, however, Sprout did not! He wasn't a fan of any type of vibrating chair, though, so I do not fault the pillow! Sweet P, however, loved it and used it as a vibrating pillow! She was fascinated by it! 

As Sprout grew, we began using the Mombo for tummy time. It allowed Sprout to look up and out, which helped him enjoy tummy time a bit more than he did when he wasn't on the Mombo. He also loved feeling the fabric, which I'll say again is SO soft!

The pillow was also great once Sprout learned to sit-up. Sitting him up inside the hole while he played helped him develop the muscles necessary to prevent him from falling backward. 

And perhaps the Farmer's favorite use was as a neck pillow! He loves that thing and loves to lay on it when we play in the living room. 

• Purchase one of your own! Comfort & Harmony Mombo Deluxe Nursing Pillows are sold exclusively at ToysRUs. The pillows range from $39.99-$49.99 and covers are sold for $12.99-$25.99.

FTC Disclosure: I received this product free of charge from Bright Starts in order to conduct an honest review. I was not compensated in any other manner to review this product. The thoughts and opinions in this post are my own and may differ from other users of this product. I am not liable for any issues that may occur from use of this nursing pillow. Photos and images in this post are owned by me or provided by Bright Starts. 

Playmobil Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to:

oceanrena! 

You won the Playmobil Sports & Action gymnastics figures!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! We hope you're enjoying the Olympics!

Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Small World Play: Outdoor Olympic Arena

After falling in love with The Imagination Tree's Olympic Sports Small World Play, I knew I had to  create something similar for Sweet P. I dragged my feet a bit in purchasing the Playmobil Sports & Action dolls, but when I saw them in person at a friend's house (she loved The Imagination Tree post too!) I was hooked.

While the Farmer and Sweet P were out on a walk, I drew a chalk road (Sweet P had been asking for one) and a large space for an outdoor Olympic Arena. I used chalk to draw the area, and added details with the Playmobil items and sand.

Here's what I included:

• Track with shotput/discus circle, long jump and high jump areas
• Soccer Field
• Swimming Pool
• I created the backstroke flags with a piece of yarn and colored stickers
• Sand Volleyball Pit
• Gymnastics Floor

Sweet P rode in from their walk on her tractor and said "Look what mama made!" She went straight for the pool! After Missy Franklin's backstroke race (named for the US swimmer), Sweet P went to watch the sand volleyball match. 

The soccer player came with stickers you could write on and numbers to put on his jersey. Sweet P chose #15, The Farmer's old number and she wrote his name on the sticker for the back of his jersey!

I love that the dolls can hang from the bar! And I totally staged this shot!

I found 2 other toys that were small enough to be part of the arena and we used them as the Track & Fielders. After showing Sweet P how the long jump worked, she thought it was pretty funny to make them run and jump into the sand. And please ignore Sweet P's shoes - they are her outdoor shoes because she drags her feet while riding her tractor. Those shoes are well loved!

I also noticed a new sport in the arena: Synchronized Uneven Bars! After Sweet P figured out how to get their hands on the bar, she couldn't stop adding more people!

And everyone ended up in the pool after a long day of Olympic competitions.

Gotta be honest, I love these toys as much as she does. I love them so much, I want to share some with YOU!

The Story Behind the Giveaway:
I went to a local learning store to pick up 1 Playmobil gymnast and 1 soccer player. Sadly, they were out of female gymnasts so I settled for a female swimmer and a male soccer player. Auntie K was a collegiate swimmer so I'm glad we ended up getting the swimmer. I took a picture of the swimmer and sent a quick text to Auntie K and Gammie saying we got the swimmer, but they were out of the gymnasts. Fast forward 2 days later: 2 packages appeared on our doorstep. Both held 2 female gymnasts. Whoops! Auntie K AND Gammie both sent the female gymnasts! Are my kiddos blessed with generous aunties and grandmas or what? So we decided to share the extras with one lucky reader! Giveaway completed August 6th, 2012.

For more Olympic ideas check out our ring activities, Recycled Medals and Soccer Jersey Match & Dress-Up Dolls.

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InGenuity™ SleepEasy™ Playard Review and Giveway! (ends 1/22)

To celebrate 300 likes on my Facebook page, I'm hosting a pretty awesome giveaway!

I received this rockin' InGenuity™ Sleep Easy™ Playard to review when Baby Brother was about 3 weeks old. It's set up in our living room and a great place to lay Baby Brother while I tend to Sweet P. It also has a changing table attachment, which we LOVE, but I may be getting ahead of myself here!

Bright Starts carries a variety of infant and toddler toys, playmats, bouncers/swings and playards. I was delighted to do this review/giveaway because I've loved other products by Bright Starts. We didn't have a playard with Sweet P (we just borrowed from friends or used the one at my mom's house when we visited) and now I REALLY wish we had! Having a safe place for your little one to sleep or play while you cook, clean or take a deep breath is so important. It's also a great way to keep your 2nd baby from getting trampled by your first!

InGenuity™ Sleep Easy™ Playard product description and features:

The patented SleepEasy™ incline feature sets this playard apart!  The adjustable bassinet offers 2 sleep positions:  Flat or slightly inclined allowing mom to choose the position that works best for baby.  For added comfort and entertainment, the playard includes a soothing sound station™ and a fabric toy bar with 2 plush toys.  


There's plenty of storage for baby's necessities with Store Right Solutions™.  The Just Right Height™ elevated changing table easily pivots away to provide easy access to baby and a comfortable changing experience.  Quick fold and go with the One Less Step™ feature makes this playard highly portable and easy to take along.

• SleepEasy™ incline with 2 sleep positions:  Flat or slightly inclined
• Store Right Solutions™:  Removable organizer tray and lower zip storage area for baby's necessities
• One Less Step™ for quick fold and go without removing the bassinet
• Soothing Sounds Station™ that includes 5 melodies and 3 nature sounds
• Just Right Height™ elevated changing table easily pivots out of the way
• Fabric toy bar with 2 plush toys
• Travel bag included

I would recommend this playard to a friend over and over. The fact that the bassinet folds down with the rest of the playard makes travel simple. We took the playard with us over Christmas and it was simple to assemble and disassemble. You do have to pull up a bit on the sides before pushing in the buttons, but once you figure that out it's relatively easy. The bedding portion and bassinet pieces all fit into the travel bag for reduced baggage when traveling. I do wish the changing table could also fold down to fit in the travel bag.

The adjustable bassinet has also been awesome for Baby Brother because he's had major congestion since he came home from the hospital. The slight elevation helps keep him from getting too congested while he naps. Zipping and unzipping the bassinet to elevate the top is a cinch! I also love that the zippers are hidden and not a hazard for baby.

We didn't have a changing table with Sweet P either so that has been a great addition to our baby gear. The height is great on my back and the organizer tray holds plenty of diapers, our wipes and burp cloths. The changing table easily swings out while baby is in the playard.

The storage and easy access zipper is probably my favorite part of the playard. We have extra diapers, burp clothes, wipes, blankets and our playmat stored underneath the bassinet portion. I'm really going to miss that feature when we remove the bassinet!

The Soothing Sounds Station was a huge surprise for me. Most baby gear has music that sounds like a midi file and gets annoying after 5 minutes. I could listen to the Soothing Sounds Station melodies while I sleep! The nature sounds are also very calming.

Baby Brother loves to watch the two stuffed animals on the toy bar and I like that the bar can be moved around. The neutral colors are great and the playard doesn't stick out like a sore thumb in our living room (okay, it does, but not in a primary colors kinda way!) The playard is sturdy and would definitely work for subsequent children! We'll definitely be using this for years to come both in the home and while traveling. The playard is available at several retailers, including Babies R Us.

So how can you get one?!

Buy one! To find a retailer near you, click here. Bright Starts is offering a printable coupon for $10 off any InGenuity product! Coupon may be used at Wal-Mart, Target, Buy Buy Baby or Babies R Us.
OR
Win it! Bright Starts has offered to give away ONE InGenuity™ Sleep Easy™ Playard to ONE of my readers! Retails for $139.99!

Here's how to enter:
Please use a valid email address for each entry.
Mandatory Entry: Visit the Bright Starts website to check out the InGenuity products and leave a comment here about your favorite.

Additional Entries: You are eligible for additional entries once you've completed the mandatory entry (please do this as your first comment).

• Like The Iowa Farmer's Wife on Facebook (1 entry)
• Post a link on Facebook about this giveaway (link to The Iowa Farmer's Wife FB page) (1 entry per day)
• Like Bright Starts on Facebook (1 entry) 
• Follow The Iowa Farmer's Wife on Twitter AND tweet this giveaway. Please use @TheIowaFarmWife when tweeting (1 entry)
• Tweet this giveaway daily for an extra entry each day. Please use @TheIowaFarmWife when tweeting (1 entry per day)
• Follow The Iowa Farmer's Wife via Google Friend Connect on the sidebar (1 entry)
• Subscribe to the The Iowa Farmer's Wife via email (1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway and leave URL (2 entries)

Giveaway ends January 22nd at 10pm (CST). Winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate blog post. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.  Open to US and Canada residents only. Must be at least 18 years old to win.

FTC Disclosure: I received this product free of charge from Bright Starts in order to conduct an honest review. I was not compensated in any other manner to review this product. The thoughts and opinions in this post are my own and may differ from other users of this product. I am not liable for any issues that may occur from use of this playard. Photos and images in this post are owned by me or provided by Bright Starts.