At the beginning of the year I decided healthier living was vital, not only for me, but for every member in my family.  I’ve been cooking healthier meals, preparing delicious snacks and purchasing products that are lower in sugar and fat, buying canned foods that do not contain added salts and choosing organic options.  I’ve done this as I want my children to choose the appropriate options that are healthier for them.  They learn by example, and it seems to be working.  Gavyn and Zoe both ask questions about healthier food options, so we are on the right track!  We all appreciate that Snikiddy snacks are baked containing no Trans fats, MSG and are gluten and wheat free, plus low in calories.  You’ll also enjoy that they have no hydrogenated oils or high-fructose corn syrup!  The best thing is…they taste amazing!   Kids have no idea they are healthier because they still taste like their beloved snacks they have always enjoyed…only better!

Snikiddy Summer Escape Sweepstakes

How would you like a chance at winning products that would assist with a family getaway this summer?  Most likely many will be traveling to the beach, on a picnic, or preparing for a much needed vacation or Staycation? Now is your chance to enter the Snikiddy Summer Escape Sweepstakes, where two lucky winners will win amazing prizes plus five weekly winners will also win a summer’s worth of Snikiddy products!  To enter visit Snikiddy on Facebook and enter the Summer Escape Sweepstakes!

One Grand Prize winner will receive a Family Picnic Prize Pack including a $100 Gas Gift Card, $50 Grocery Gift Card, Picnic Basket, Picnic Blanket, Bocce Set, Adult Sunscreen, Child Sunscreen, Waterproof/Shockproof Digital Camera and a summer’s worth of Snikiddy® products.

Another Grand Prize Winner will receive a Family Beach Prize Pack including a $100 Gas Gift Card, $50 Grocery Gift Card, Beach Bag, Parasheet, Sand Castle Kit, Water Bottle, Adult Sunscreen, Child Sunscreen, Waterproof/Shockproof Digital Camera and a summer’s worth of Snikiddy® products.

The Summer Escape Sweepstakes runs now through June 22, 2012, so be sure to enter.

Snikkidy Flavors

-Cheese Puffs: All-Natural Cheese Puffs are baked with real cheese and corn and contain 50% less fat than potato chips. They are gluten and wheat free, without the drawbacks of other puff snacks: No artificial colors or preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, or cholesterol. Available in these flavors: Grilled Cheese Puffs and Mac n’ Cheese Puffs

-Baked Fries: All-Natural Baked Fries are made with real potatoes, corn, and cheese and contain 50% less fat than regular potato chips. These snacks are gluten and wheat free, and free of artificial colors or preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, or cholesterol. They are baked in a nut-free facility. Available in these flavors: Sea Salt, Cheddar Cheese, Original Seasoning, Bold Buffalo, Southwest Cheddar, Barbeque and Classic Ketchup.

Eat Your Vegetables™: Eat Your Vegetables™ are made with a unique blend including sweet potatoes, carrots, and navy beans. These snacks offer an excellent source of Vitamin A and more fiber and protein than most other snack products. And of course, these are also gluten and wheat free, cholesterol free, and free of trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and preservatives. Available in these flavors: Sea Salt, Sour Cream & Onion, Jalapeño Ranch

Visit www.snikiddy.com to learn more about their wholesome snacks.  Snikiddy products can be purchased at many retailers including Amazon.

Snikiddy Prize Pack Giveaway

Snikiddy would like to offer one of my readers a prize pack that includes Three (3) 4 oz. bags of Snikiddy (Eat Your Vegetables, All-natural Baked Fries or All-natural Cheese Puffs) and one (1) $25 grocery gift card.

Shop the 50% off Carter’s & Oshkosh clothing sale for newborn, infants and toddlers!

Like KiddiesCorner Deals on Facebook for more exclusive deals.

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Shop the Sears sundress sale today.

Like KiddiesCorner Deals for more exclusive savings not found on the blog!
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After saving the money, I had the breast augmentation procedure performed.  I had confidence again!  As a teenager I was teased about my “barely B cups,”  so that on top of the new sagginess from my first pregnancy  caused me to lose any self-confidence I had, so I thought about breast implants most of my late teens and into my early 20s.  I don’t regret the decision, and actually get frustrated with all the hype about women (especially stars) getting their breasts enhanced.  It is a personal choice-if it will make you confident once again, it is what you want, you’ve done your research and you can afford it, I say go for it.

I was certain after Gavyn’s medical issues, I would never have another child, but I did.  After childbirth, breastfeeding Zoe for almost 9 months (yes you can breastfeed with implants) plus losing 68 pounds in less than a year, I again had become unlucky and sag began in 2008.   Therefore I am once again saving, this time for a tummy tuck and a breast lift.  My doctor plus 2 referrals have advised me there is no achievable way to get rid of the excess skin on my stomach unless I have the surgery.  Again, this is my personal choice to improve some assets I despise.  I’ve tried toning and I cannot lose additional weight as I’m already in the low of my ideal weight.

Would you ever have any type of cosmetic surgery, if so what type?

Disclosure: Brought to you by MKN, althought the thoughts and opinions of this article are 100% my own.

AMF Summer Unplugged

Where: At select AMF centers, two free bowling games for kids per day for kids 15 and under. (Shoe rental not included, but they’re worth paying for.)

Time: Free bowling until 8:00PM, 7 days a week.

Dates: Monday, May 14 through Monday, September 3 (Labor Day).

How: Parents go to http://bit.ly/AMFfree to select a participating center (over 250 locations) and complete a simple registration form.

What: Free game coupons emailed every week starting May 14 – it’s that simple!

Food: $3.29 Kids Meals

But that is not all, because older children and adults can get in on the action with the Summer Pass Deals!

AMF Summer Pass

Who:  For everyone 16 and over

Where: Select AMF Centers

Details: 2 free games, per day for up to four people ages 16 and up (shoe rental not included).  One $29.95 Summer Pass is good for 2 games per day for up to four people all summer long – that’s $7.50 per person! (Same dates and times as above.)

So this summer, get in on the action and go bowling!  Bowling is very popular, enjoyable for everyone plus there are many health benefits, such as strength, muscle toning and fat burning.  You’ll enjoy the smiles from everyone playing!

Register for your Summer Unplugged (Free Bowling games for Kids) or your Summer Pass (Free Bowling for 16 and older)

GIVEAWAY: Win a Pizza Bowl certificate ($70 value) which includes 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, 1 topping pizza and a pitcher of soda for up to six people.

Before entering this giveaway please visit participating AMF Locations first to make sure you have a participating AMF Bowling Center in your area.

Stylish bras for full-figured women?  Enthalling!  You see, the problem I have with a majority of bras is the way they fit.  I’ve had two children, so my bust sags, I know details Nichol, but it is true.  Leading Lady allowed me to choose a bra from their line, and I knew without a doubt I wanted to try the cotton front closure leisure bra.  It had similarities to a non-padded bra and a sports bra all-in-one.

When my Leading Lady bra arrived it proved to be that.  With 4-clasps that fasten in the front, wide straps and a racer back I knew this would be ideal for days I was running around, trying to get in exercising, playing Just Dance with Zoe or just because.  I put the bra on and couldn’t believe how comfortable it was, and it wasn’t ugly either!  The bra is 90% cotton making it breathable and soft also stretchy from the spandex.  Although, I chose an all-white color, there are several colors available to suit the needs of everyone.  I haven’t had a front-closure in years, but will be changing that.  I forgot how simple it is to put on and take off.  If you are a mom who breast feeds, this bra also would be wonderful for you, for the ease of the clasps, not to mention the cups are non-padded so it will securely hold nursing pads.

Because it is non-padded it doesn’t give you the benefits of a push up style bra or lifting, but it securely holds.  This bra is also extremely comfortable when taking naps; if you are anything similar to me, you know this is not comfortable.  The only issue I had with the bra is the wide band straps, which by the way are not adjustable.  Many of the tops I wear in the summer are V-neck or low-cut or I wear tank tops, but with the wide straps they do show, not flattering.  This made a frustrating change of clothes several times, to find a top that suited the bra.

This bra has become a favorite of mine to wear around the home, exercising or on a typical day.  It gives me the support I need for my full bust, yet feels like a sports bra.  There are no straps to untwist, annoying wires, or pads that make my chest look unnatural. Not once have I had to “adjust” because they fell out of the cup.  I am pleased with this style of Leading Lady bra and will be on my way to ordering more colors of this exact style.

Leading Lady also has a full line of nursing bras available in in sizes 34B to 48 F, and full figure collections, available in sizes 34 A to 56 DDFG.  Their lines of bras are affordable, and they do have sexy styles as well including stretch lace wire-free and underwire bras, supportive and seamless sport and yoga bras, and cozy sleep and leisure bras.  Visit www.leadinglady.com for all their collections.

Win an Item of Choice from Leading Lady Bras

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-$5 off any $25 order with code 97526
-$10 off any $40 order with code 97527
-$15 off any $50 order with code 97528
All offers are valid now through May 22nd!

Also for the rest of May, orders $40+ will receive free USPS Economy Shipping with code 97657

New Collections at Build-A-Bear

Summer Olympics animals starting at only $3 for accessories and $20 for animals.

The Enchanted Garden Collection. Colorful flower and rainbow style bears for girls!

The adorable Farmer’s Market Collection!  Horses, cows, sheep and more!

The Avengers Bears and Costumes-Some styles out of stock

Be sure to “LIKE” KiddiesCorner Deals on Facebook for more exclusive deals.

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Be sure to “LIKE” KiddiesCorner Deals on Facebook for more exclusive deals.

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My son is just learning his shapes right now, so when we received the Basic Shapes pack it was fun to show him how to press the stix down onto the cards, following along with the numbers, to create shapes. He was able to work on counting, number recognition, shapes and colors all at the same time, which was awesome. Wikki Stix are super easy to play with – they are hand-knitting yarn covered with a food safe wax, so they are sticky – but removable. They stick together, but when you’re ready to move to another shape you can take them apart and start over. The packs come with idea sheets of things beyond the cards that you can make, which really helps get the creative juices flowing.

I think my son may have had more fun when he was using the Wikki Stix without the idea sheets, and it definitely pushed my creative limits too. He liked the ideas on the cards, but the freeform ideas were more his style. First, he saw a person made with Wikki Stix who was swinging on a rope, so we had to make that. From there, he made ropes of all kinds and he was playing cowboys and aliens – he has little toy aliens from Toy Story that are always getting into trouble… He was lassoing them with Wikki Stix, using the Stix as cages and pens, and I’m really not sure what the one he put on the window was doing. But he was having fun and I was loving that he took the easy ideas and transformed them into something truly him, although I don’t think he found them all when it was time to clean up.

When I first opened the Wikki Stix, I was a little worried about how to store them. I’ll be honest, I did try to straighten the Stix out and put them back on the clear plastic sheet that they came on in the box. Let me warn you now – it’s not easy, it takes a while, and although it can be done, I seriously wouldn’t recommend trying that method! Since the Stix don’t dry out or lose sticky, I went ahead and put ours in a zip top bag. Voila – a simple, easy way to store the Stix, and it’s something he can handle to put away. Win win for all! I love having toys that are easy to clean up, and the Wikki Stix definitely fit that bill.

The Wikki Stix were super easy to pick up and store – even the ones he didn’t find the first time through putting them away were still in great condition and just had to be added to the bag the next day when I found the stragglers. They were also a great way for him to get his creative play on, and I’m sure every parent can attest to how awesome it is to see their little imaginations cranking away. Hearing the ideas these kids come up with is amazing! I really liked the idea cards and sheets that came in the package – the cards had connect-the-dot styles that encouraged him to learn numbers and shapes, and it helped me understand how to show him to use the Stix. I really enjoyed this toy – and so did my son! This is one I would consider buying in bulk so that we could use it for playdates with other moms and kids.

Visit www.wikkistix.com to learn more about Wikki Stix and to see all the products they offer.

Stay connect with Wikki Stix on Facebook and on Twitter @wikkistix

Disclosure:  Products received for review purposes, all opinions 100% my own.

Little Tikes Cozy Coupe® Cab On sale for $69.29 plus free shipping.

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Little Tikes Tikes Patrol Cozy Coupe 30th Anniversary Edition on sale for $49.49.

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Little Tikes Princess Cozy Coupe 30th Anniversary Edition on sale now $49.49

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Hot New Princess Cozy Coupe with Glitter on sale now for $69.29 with FREE shipping. Buy Princess Cozy Coupe with Glitter

This Princess Cozy Coupe is a riding toy that any little girl will love! It has a handle on for parents to push and a removable floor board for when the child is young. As the child grows it converts to a foot-to-floor ride on toy. Features a special sparkle color. What girl doesn’t love glitter?

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