Hi Amy here with another great giveaway that will keep your skin feeling as smooth as a baby’s bottom! Skin Free is an all natural skin care company that specifically caters to people with a wide range of special needs: people with allergies, eczema, acne, psoriasis, delicate, sensitive, and dry skin. While there are many “natural” skincare products on the market, few are rated by the Environmental Working Group with “0” toxicity. Skin Free Skincare has that honor. Skin Free was created by a practicing pharmacist in response to patient’s needs. It is safe, effective, and affordable. “Each product is formulated using natural oils and butters with specific moieties that actually do what we promise they will do. Sometimes they even do more.” Julie Hilton, founder and practicing pharmacist of Skin Free, explains what led her to create Skin Free:

“Working in a typical retail pharmacy setting, I was constantly frustrated when asked to recommend products for patients with difficult skin problems, especially those with fragrance allergies. I recognized a void in the market and knew that I could offer effective and affordable products to fill it. Atopic dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis are life-long conditions and need to be addressed for the long term. Patients with diabetes or renal disease, pregnant women, babies, the elderly, and patients treated with radiation therapy can all benefit from quality natural products. Even people who just have dry, sensitive skin can appreciate wholesome natural skincare products.”

“Since I personally suffer from chronic allergies and eczema, I understand that it is very important for people with these conditions to maintain the integrity of their skin and reduce their exposure to antigens to help prevent acute outbreaks. These diseases can be quite debilitating and cause increase depression, work loss, and pain.”

“Naturally occurring vegetable oils and butters contain indigenous nutrients, antioxidants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and antibacterial agents that petroleum-based oils just don’t have. Natural oils absorb into the skin and do not feel greasy. They also come from replenishable sources, which is a great environmental concern.”

My kids both have sensitive skin as well as the occasional eczema flair ups. I also have sensitive skin. Several years ago, I started developing allergic reactions to anything scented, all shampoos, most detergents, most soaps, certain foods, etc. I was miserable. Turns out that I had a hormone imbalance and apparently all of these products have base components in them that can affect your body’s hormone levels. I was quite surprised to hear that several ob-gyns recommend menopausal women use Dove Sensitive Skin soap because it seems to have less of an affect on these women. From that point forward, I made it my business to to try to keep our bathroom (and our kitchen) as natural as possible. I made our own soap, cut out unnecessary products, significantly reduced packaged food, etc. I have since heard of many others who for similar reasons try to keep their bathrooms (and kitchens) as natural as possible.

In case you have never delved into all things soap related, let me give you a little background before I tell you just how great these Skin Free products really are! The story goes that soap was originally discovered thousands of years ago when people would go up in the mountains to offer animal sacrifices at a spring festival. The fat from the animals would mix with ash from the fire as well as water from melting ice caps. This would be washed down the mountain into the streams where people would use it to bathe. In order to create soap, you must have fat, water, and lye (which is made from wood ash). If you do not have those three ingredients, you do not have soap. The trick to getting a great bar of soap is in the amounts of these ingredients and the types of fats you select. Today soap can even be made using vegetable fats. The best soaps for your skin are those that are superfat, in other words have a higher fat content than average. (You do not want a superfat bar of soap for laundry though because some fat can be left behind on your clothes, which can lead to an “interesting” fragrance.) You may have heard older relatives talk about their mother’s homemade lye soap that burned when you bathed with it. Soap is a very delicate process. Everything must be measured precisely. Back in the day, they did not have digital scales to aid them in this process, so many women’s soap turned out caustic, the opposite of superfat.

The Skin Free Extra Moisturizing and Shampoo Bar is a fantastic bar of soap, especially for people with sensitive skin or those looking for a REAL bar of soap to keep in the bathroom as opposed to the bars of detergent they sell in the store. It is made with saponified coconut, palm, extra virgin olive oil, shea butter, and vitamin E. (Saponified is what happens to the oils once they are mixed with water and lye.) This particular mixture of ingredients produces a creamy, rich lather that will leave your skin feeling moisturized and soft! (If you want to check it out yourself, visit this soap calculator and click on the different fats to see what properties each has.) It also works well as a shampoo bar. Shampoo is also a detergent that can be hard on your hair and skin. If you are used to using a commercial shampoo and conditioner, be forewarned that it may take you a little longer to brush your hair, but I believe you will be pleased with the end results. I have noticed that I get more volume out of my fine hair when I use a superfat soap. Also, Skin Free offers a truly excellent price for a such a high quality bar of REAL soap. I have made soap at home for pennies a bar, but the quality of the fats is nothing compared to what is offered by Skin Free.

We also tried the Skin Free After Shower Moisture Spritz. The bars of detergent sold in the stores are not the only things that can dry out your skin. Water can also wash away oils that keep the skin from drying out. If you routinely take baths, you can simply add oils to your bath as people have done for thousands of years. Now you can get the benefits of bath oils in a simple after shower spray bottle. Simply spray the oil on your body while it is still wet from a hot shower. Then towel dry. I absolutely hate lotion. Either it irritates my skin or it leaves my skin feeling greasy! This After Shower Moisture Spritz is absolutely wonderful! It leaves your skin feeling soft and moist without that greasy feeling! Also the oils that are used (olive seed oil, sweet almond oil, and vitamin E) are particularly great for your skin!

Finally we also tried the Extra Moisturizing Liquid Soap. I personally prefer bar soap, but we do use some liquid soap in our house. If you are used to commercial liquid soap (or detergent), be aware that this will be thinner than what you are used to. The Extra Moisturizing Liquid Soap is made of saponified oils of sweet almond oil, olive seed oil, castor, shea butter fruit, and sodium borate. The sodium borate is a mineral that has been used for thousands of years for a variety of purposes including cleaning. It is added to liquid soaps to neutralize and help thicken the soap; however, the thickening is more or less significant depending on the types of oils used. While the Extra Moisturizing Liquid Soap is great on the skin, I seemed to note a particular odor to it that I couldn’t place. It could have been my super sensitive, pregnant nose at the time, but if you tend to be very sensitive to scents, you may want to be aware of that. (My friend down the street said she thought it smelled just fine….so maybe it was my pregnant nose!) Otherwise, this is an excellent option if you want a liquid soap for sensitive skin that is not a detergent! It would actually be a great soap to keep in the kitchen since hands are likely to get dried out and cracked from cooking and doing dishes!

Now you can enter to win $30 in Skin Free products!

Required entry:

• Tell me why you would like to win $30 in Skin Free products!
• Must be following Mommy and Me Giveaways via Google Friend Connect to enter.
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• Follow @MommyMeGiveaway on Twitter.
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Giveaway ends September 18, 2010 at 11pm CST.

Hi, Amy here, and I am back with another product review for our Fun in the Sun Event: Bummis Swimmi! We live on the coast and consequently my kids get into the water pretty early in life. John went swimming at 3 weeks and LOVED it! (I wish I had a picture, but I did not remember the camera that day.)

The Bummis Swimmi is a great cloth swim diaper. The hook and loop closure allows for maximum size adjustment. The diaper is also great at containing messes! I was uncertain if it would be able to contain the liquid poop of a breastfed newborn, but it does! It is also one of the few swim diapers (cloth or disposable) available that would fit John at 3 weeks of age!The small size is supposed to fit an infant 9-15 lbs. However, I found that it fit John by the time he reached 8 lbs. John is actually a little over 15 lbs now, and you can see that the diaper still fits and still has a fair amount of room for expansion!

You can purchase a Swimmi for your little one at www.bummis.com

Hi Amy here. Do you get tired of listening to children’s music that sounds like you recorded it in your bedroom using a cheap keyboard? It drives my husband crazy…especially when we are driving to see family for 9 hours in the car! Perhaps you would rather be listening to the radio but don’t want your child repeating EVERYTHING he or she might hear. Well, the answer to your problems is here! They are The Rattles, an eclectic group of furry musicians from the swamps of Central Jersey. Their debut album, Rattle On, is set for release September 25th and contains a sound reminiscent of classic rock with a touch of power pop! It actually reminds me of The Beatles and The Monkees. They also have some great, fun lyrics with underlying themes of sharing and friendship! You can meet the band: Gus, Kitty, Hal, and Sal along with their manager, Benny, and their groupies (all named Elvis) on their website. You can also listen to their mp3 of Wavy Lane. This cd will definitely be going with us on our next car trip!

Now you can enter to win a copy of The Rattles debut album, Rattle On! One lucky winner will be chosen….it just might be you!

Required entry:

• Go to The Rattles website and tell me something fun you learned about the band!
• Must be following Mommy and Me Giveaways via Google Friend Connect to enter.
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Giveaway ends September 7, 2010 at 11pm CST.

All I’ve gotta say is that Jamie Ploegert needs to go out and buy a lottery ticket! Jaime was the winner of the last giveaway, and she is also the winner of this giveaway. I about fell out of my chair when Random.org generated the number corresponding to her post. I also felt compelled to determine the statistical probability of her winning both giveaways using what I remember of my college statistics classes. Congrats Jaime on beating the odds! You had a .03% chance of winning both of these giveaways….that’s just crazy!!! I will be e-mailing you shortly, and you will have 48 hours to respond.

Our Bummis Easy Fit Cloth Diaper winner is Jaime Ploegert!  Congrats!  I will be sending you a message via google friend connect (since I forgot to ask for your e-mail address) and you will have 48 hours to respond.

Hi Amy here. Now that I have two kids in diapers, I am having great fun reviewing one size diapers and trying them out on both of my kids! It is really neat to be able to see how the diaper will fit on a little one and how it will continue to perform on an older child! Our second one size diaper review and giveaway, brought to you by Jessica and John, is the Doopsy Cloth Diaper! Unfortunately, this will also be the last cloth diaper giveaway in which both Jessica and John participate in product testing because Jessica up and decided that she was done with diapers!!!

The Doopsy Cloth Diaper is a pocket diaper that comes in 5 bright colors with many different options to meet the needs of the many different cloth diapering families! The “R” style diaper comes with two 4 layer microfiber inserts for just $14.95! This should take most babies from 10 lbs to at least 35 lbs and is easier on the budget than many other pocket diapers available! The “D” style diaper comes with one 4 layer microfiber insert AND a Doopsy PUL insert/bamboo soaker to give you extra protection from leaks all for just $15.95! This unique insert/soaker can also be easily adjusted to fit infants between 10 and 35 lbs as well. Finally the “SD” style diaper comes with one 4 layer microfiber insert, a Doopsy PUL insert/bamboo soaker, AND an extra bamboo/hemp absorbency pad all for just $16.95! Exceptional absorbency, leak protection, and a trim fit with a variety of price options available! This is truly one of the most versatile cloth diapers on the market!

Unlike the last time I got a diaper made with bamboo in the mail, this time I remembered to boil the diaper BEFORE using it! The absorbency is absolutely awesome, AND you still get a great trim fit! I also love all of the different options! The Doopsy Cloth Diaper is a great diaper, especially for parents with multiple children in cloth diapers or parents who are looking for a cheaper pocket diaper without sacrificing quality! After using the diaper with both of my children at night and during the day, I only have one complaint and that is the snaps. I have only recently started using diapers with snaps as opposed to hook and loop. Of all the snap diapers I have tried so far, the Doopsy Cloth Diaper gives the best fit. However, I think that you get the best fit with hook and loop because you are not quite as limited as to where the tabs must be attached. However, I also realize that snaps are more durable so it just depends on the family.

Now you can enter to win a Doopsy SD style cloth diaper!

Required entry:

• Go to the Doopsy website and tell me what you like best about this diaper!
• Must be following Mommy and Me Giveaways via Google Friend Connect to enter.
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Giveaway ends August 26, 2010 at 11pm CST.

Hi Amy here with a great giveaway from my #1 favorite place to purchase baby carriers: Carry Me Away! They offer the widest selection of baby carriers I have seen to date! They also offer free shipping on all orders $50 and up! Along with great customer service, they also break down all of the different options available in baby carriers to help you find the one that is right for you! They are a wonderful company, and I am pleased to be hosting an ERGO Backpack giveaway with them!

If you have never tried an ERGO carrier, you are truly missing out! You can put a child on your back without assistance with just two simple buckles! They are also incredibly comfortable, even when carrying a toddler while pregnant! While I was pregnant with baby John, I ended up flying with my very busy two year old, Jessica, and the ERGO carrier was a lifesaver!!! I had a direct flight, which unfortunately was canceled due to a busted windshield. I ended up having to go through Atlanta. I would have never made it with Jessica, her carseat, and our two carry-ons without the ERGO carrier! Being new to the ERGO carrier, I didn’t know they made an ERGO Backpack that attached to it….that would have made it even easier!!!!

Me and Jessica at the airport!

The ERGO Backpack is the perfect solution for a day hiking trip, an on-flight carry-on, and outings around town. It could very easily replace a diaper bag for most outings!

The ERGO Backpack stuffed to the brim!

...with 12 Bumgenius diapers w/inserts, 12 baby washcloths, 1 sippy cup of water, 1 plastic baggie for dirty diapers, 1 large receiving blanket, and 1 huge container of Goldbond powder....everything we HAVE to have for a day out with both kiddos!!!!

I actually prefer a backpack style bag to a diaper bag most of the time because it is not constantly sliding down my arm while I am dealing with my busy toddler (and this one is very comfortable)! The ERGO Backpack can be worn as a backpack, carried by the handle, or attached to the ERGO carrier. It attaches to the ERGO carrier by looping a tab around each of the top two straps. The older version has four looping tabs – two at the top and two at the bottom. I don’t see why they did away with the bottom two looping tabs. Even if you didn’t want to use them to allow for more expansion in the bag, there might be times you would want the bag better secured. Amazingly, once you are used to the ERGO carrier it is still pretty easy to put the carrier on without assistance even when the bag is fully loaded! I was also surprised that I was actually able to get some things out of the bag while wearing Jessica on my back. I do wish it was a little easier to get the bag off while wearing a child in the carrier. I also wish that the bag either had a lock or a drawstring….to keep my mischievous toddler OUT of it!!

Overall, I love the idea of having a bag that can be taken on and off of my carrier, giving me the ultimate arms-free experience when out with my little ones! If the quality of the ERGO Backpack is anything like the ERGO Carrier (and it seems to be), then it should last through all of my children and will be worth the retail value of $29.99-$64 (although I rarely pay that for a backpack…). I would definitely recommend it to others, especially those who find themselves needing the ultimate arms-free experience while out with their little ones!

Now you can enter to win an ERGO backpack of your choice of remaining stock at Carry Me Away!

Required entry:

• Go to The Sling Lady’s blog and tell me something you learned there!
• Must be following Mommy and Me Giveaways via Google Friend Connect to enter.
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Giveaway ends August 16, 2010 at 11pm CST.

Hi Amy here again with a discount code for a product specifically intended to keep our littlest ones shielded from dangerous UV rays: The Gypsy Mama Water Wrap! I live on the coast, so my children begin getting in the water and learning to swim at a very young age! During the summers we love to spend time at the community pool! One of the nice things about the community pool is that they offer childcare for $2 an hour! Unfortunately, the child must be 6 months old. This presents a problem when it comes to working with Jessica on her swimming since I either must have John with me or leave him with a sitter at a whopping $10 an hour! Thankfully, I found the Gypsy Mama Water Wrap! The Gypsy Mama Water Wrap is made of a non-chemically treated material that blocks over 98% of UV rays! The fabric feels like swimsuit material so it dries very quickly and is very breathable! You simply wrap it on yourself, tuck your baby in it, and go!!

I bought a Gypsy Mama Water Wrap at the beginning of the summer, and I absolutely love it!!!!! The material is stretchy yet supportive. It really looks fabulous on….perfect if you want to wear your baby out to  a dressy occasion. It is incredibly breathable!!! When we are going to be out on a particularly humid day, this is the wrap I reach for! Keeping John close to my skin also helps him regulate his own temperature during our hot hot summer days!! There are so many wonderful uses for this wrap. You could take a shower while wearing your baby. You could go to the beach or splash pad. You could even get in the pool while wearing your baby. I always wear John when I take Jessica swimming because I need both arms free for her; however, I will add as a retired lifeguard that if you choose to get in the pool while wearing your baby, you need to be very very careful to be continually aware of how deep you are and how you are moving. I also don’t take Jessica swimming anywhere that does not have a lifeguard because i cannot rescue her while wearing John. Everyone at the pool is always so fascinated by the Gypsy Mama Water Wrap, and John absolutely LOVES getting in the water!!! I wish I had a picture of us using the Gypsy Mama Water Wrap, but I use it when I need both arms free, which means I don’t usually have someone around to take a picture! The Gypsy Mama Water Wrap also has the added benefit that it protects most of my trunk as well as baby John. Also when you are not wearing it, you could use it as a UV blocking blanket!

This wrap has allowed me to get Jessica out of the house and into the water this summer while helping John regulate his body temperature and protect him from UV rays. It is an absolutely brilliant idea!!! Now you can get your own Gypsy Mama Water Wrap with 10% off when you use the discount code SUNFUN at www.wrapsodybaby.com through July 28, 2010!

Hi Amy here again with an opportunity for TWO lucky winners!! (I wasn’t kidding when I said we would be having several more giveaways in the very near future with Sierra Summits!!!) If you remember, earlier this summer Sierra Summits provided our readers with a discount code for a limited time on the purchase of sunscreen from their website. Well, now they are giving away bottles of their new Tahoe Kids Sunscreen to our readers throughout the rest of the summer! The Tahoe Kids Sunscreen is the same great product I reviewed earlier this summer, only this time in a fun, kid-friendly bottle!! Currently it is retailing for $12.99 for a 3oz tube. Yes, quality sunscreen is expensive, but protecting your kids from melanoma is truly priceless!  I am a rather frugal person, but I pay through the nose to keep my kids safe from dangerous UV rays. I never want them to look at their own children and wonder if they will live to see them start talking due to melanoma. If you missed my review of the Sierra Summits sunscreen earlier this summer, I have re-posted a portion of it below.

Sierra Summits’ sunscreen was the first to obtain the Melanoma International Foundation’s Seal of Approval. The main active ingredient in Sierra Summits’ sunscreen is Zinc Oxide, which has been used for over 300 years and has a history of being safe for longterm use and effective for blocking UVA and UVB rays. It also does not degrade in the sunlight like Avobenzone so no photo-stabilizing chemicals must be added. They avoid the use of oils, fragrances, and Avobenzone to create a sunscreen that will not irritate sensitive skin. They have also avoided using Oxybenzone (which appears in 98% of mainstream sunscreens) because of its reputation with regard to how it is absorbed by the skin and longterm effects. It also goes on lightly like lotion so you are not stuck feeling greasy all day!! They choose not to offer a spray-on version because you are less likely to get full coverage and effects of inhaling those chemicals is unknown. The average sunscreen you pick up at the grocery store cannot boast of these things and many of them will cause reactions in those with sensitive skin (specifically our little ones). This is a sunblock that the entire family can use and be protected from dangerous UV rays!! (except for those under 1 year of age)

Required entry: Name one thing that makes Tahoe Kids a great sunscreen choice for your family and leave your e-mail address (You can leave it in name (at) email (dot) com format if you would like).

Extra entries (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

• Follow @MommyMeGiveaway on Twitter.
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Giveaway ends August 4, 2010 at 11pm CST.

Hi, Amy here. I was recently contacted by Matooka Kids Couture, a truly unique children’s clothing company designed just for little girls with a flair for style! Matooka Kids Couture was created by two Canadian moms, each one of six sisters and with eight daughters between them. Yona and Daniella, both former lawyers, launched Matooka in 2009 after leaving behind the safety of their legal careers, to create a unique clothing line that exhibits a European flair. Matooka is already being sold in over twenty stores in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Toronto!

Jessica is only 2, but she is already exhibiting her own unique sense of style. Unfortunately she was born to a mother who can hardly match colors, let alone clothes! Jessica had a great time showing off her new dress! I had told a friend, who keeps her little girl looking quite stylish, that Matooka carried a truly unique line of clothes. With so many variations on the same theme available in common retail stores, she did not understand just how unique Matooka‘s clothing line truly is until she saw the dress they sent Jessica!

One last thing I noticed besides the unique sense of style offered by Matooka is the quality of each stitch! I am a seamstress, myself, and I have never bought a clothing item for anyone in my family of better quality! Their clothes are obviously designed with a lot of thought and put together with the same great attention to detail. Amazingly they are also easy to care for as well! I put the dress they sent us in a regular wash cycle of assorted clothes and then dried it in a dryer. Amazingly, it did just fine and required minimal ironing after sitting in the dryer for a while! Now that is impressive!! If I am going to buy Jessica a new outfit, I want it to be of the kind of quality Matooka offers, and I know Jessica appreciates the unique style offered by Matooka! Little girls love to express their individuality in what they wear….and it starts young!

You can check them out at www.matooka.com, peachandplum.com, and shopbabytrends.com