If you want to participate, please feel free to grab the button (right click and “save as” onto your computer – then upload to your blog) and place it in the sidebar on your site, linking to www.AFrogInMySoup.com.

So, be sure to check back here (or subscribe to this blog) often for all the great giveaways all week! We have some great basic products that are wonderful for back to school.

Every single one of you who posts the button/link in the sidebar of your blog will have the opportunity to leave one extra comment (in addition to all the other entry opportunities) for every giveaway! Have fun!

1. Our family is going to be together, having fun.
2. We get to go to Great Wolf Lodge which is a rare opportunity.
3. Meeting other bloggers locally is a TOTALLY cool opportunity.
4. Half of our children have never been to water slides and the half that have were very little.
5. We get to stay in a hotel…very fun for little boys.
6. I didn’t have to pay a ton of money (that we don’t have) to go to the event.
7. I only get to participate in the Cozi opportunity because I didn’t go to BlogHer
8. The travel time to get to our destination will be just a little over 2 hours.
9. Everything will be in one place, no running around town for food and such.
10. I don’t have to fly…although I will fly, it isn’t my favorite thing.

So, as you may have guessed, we won’t exactly be in our own home, but we will be staying together and locally, and frankly, I’m so glad we aren’t missing out on this opportunity!  When I saw that Cozi was offering 15 non-BlogHer attending bloggers $100 each simply for posting, getting a lot of comments (please comment, please comment) and not attending BlogHer, I totally had to participate!!

So, there you have it…and yes, I’ve used Cozi and they’re a great way to get organized!

Shameless Plug…
Be sure to leave a comment and tell me what you have planned as a family this weekend!  If you’re a lurker or a feedreader, this would be a great time to hop on in and leave a comment (enter a few giveaways while you’re here…they’re all listed right over there in the sidebar).

Enter Sittercity, a website that offers parents an opportunity to basically interview many potential babysitting candidates.  Whether you need a sitter for a night out or regular daytime care, there are many people out there looking for a variety of positions.

The thing that Sittercity offers though is peace of mind.  A full interview of the potential sitters as well as background check on many of them and more.  An annual membership is $95.88, which is well worth it for many parents.

At Sittercity, even I can find what I need.  Someone close to home, available during the day, once a week or every other week who has their own transportation and at the right price.  Sounds like a tall order I suppose, but it’s what I need and there’s someone out there to meet that need!

Right now, use the code: Sitter10 to get 10% off their annual membership fee.

Also, Sittercity is offering one very lucky commenter the opportunity to win a full year membership!  To enter, just go to their site and have a look around, check out the number of sitters in your city and once you are done come back here and leave a comment with that number in it (in your comment, you are also welcome to tell me why you need this membership)!

This giveaway will end Feb. 20th and is brought to you, in part, courtesy of Mom Blog Marketing.

When you’re looking for a special gift to give a new baby and mom, this is a wonderful idea.  Kids Personalized Music offers personalized Lullaby CD’s in addition to their great line of other personalized children’s CD’s.

These CD’s are perfect when you want something that is very special and perfect for that precious new little one!  There are thousands of names to choose from and the CD’s come with the child’s name printed on them.  If you have an unusual spelling (but usual pronunciation), no problem, just let them know and they’ll make sure it’s right.

They offer over 2,000 names to choose from and over 24 CD collections (including a Spanish Series) that are perfect for almost any occasion from baby showers to sports!

Their You’re An Angel Lullaby CD has 6 classic lullaby’s on it and 2 original songs.  Though the songs on the CD and the arrangement are perfect for an infant, these are very appropriate for children even when they are 9 years old!   The songs are soothing and beautifully sung and feature the child’s name in such a way that it allows them to drift off to sleep peacefully.

Be sure to visit Kids Personalized Music to listen to some of the music and see the huge variety of CD’s they offer!  You can see lists of names that they have ready and purchase through the site as well.

They have offered one lucky commenter a personalized “You’re An Angel” music CD!  Leave a comment mentioning how you choose your childrens’ names to enter to win.

Don’t forget there are many ways to earn EXTRA entries for EVERY giveaway during Baby Fest, also there is a complete list of all giveaways currently being offered at the top of the right hand sidebar!  This giveaway will close on Feb. 9th.

This Giveaway has ended and the winner has been contacted.  Be sure to check the top of the right sidebar for the latest giveaways.

If you are a new or expecting mom who is/wants to breastfeed your baby, meet your new best friend … the Cushie Pushie.  It is a support pillow for breastfeeding mothers that is compact in size so it can go anywhere you and your diaper bag go.  This great little invention is covered in a fun selection of fabrics and offers breastfeeding mothers an easy way to get the proper position so they can simply focus on their baby.

I was very fortunate … when my first son was born at 10 pounds (indeed, he was a whopper) he had absolutely no problem getting down to business breastfeeding.  I know that this is not necessarily the experience of most first time moms who choose to breastfeed. 

Surprisingly enough, my third son was NOT a good breastfeeder … he would barely open his little tiny mouth and we struggled for quite a while to get it right.  Any mom who has been through the challenge of teaching a baby the proper way to latch on and nurse understands how many hands are often needed.  So, in a sense, this great pillow offers you just that, another hand … one that keeps you in just the proper position for the best breastfeeding experience.

Be sure to visit their website to find out even more about them.  If the Cushie Pushie looks familiar, that is probably because it is carried by many online mom-owned shops!  This is a mom-invented product.

Cushie Pushie is generously offering one Cushie Pushie – Breast Support Pillow.  To enter, simply leave a comment telling us your favorite breastfeeding experience, or if you are expecting your first, let us know what you are looking forward to … or dreading about breastfeeding.  Of course, if you are entering for a loved one, feel free to simply leave a comment telling us that as well.

There are quite a few ways to get extra entries for every single contest going on during Baby Fest, so you are welcome to check out this post to find out how.  This contest closes on Feb. 6th.

My Precious Kid offers an absoluely unbelievable selection of safety products for children and families.  What many people don’t know is that they also offer a wide variety of other baby, child and family products as well!  

Kay Green, owner of My Precious Kid sent us one of their fabulous Swaddle Blankets and Tessa couldn’t be happier!  This is definitely one of the things we learned quickly … babies adore being swaddled, and I’ll happily admit that Tessa definitely has this particular aspect of infancy DOWN.  These blankets make it easier for parent’s to properly wrap baby while it is also that much cozier for baby!  

Tip:  Fussy babies are par for the course at some point in an infant’s life.  It is not uncommon for mom’s to begin feeling a bit overwhelmed.  There is a lot of information out there on great ways to help soothe a baby, but I can tell you for certain that the system that recommends the 5 S’s (sorry I cannot remember who started this, so if you know what book/site it is featured on by the author, please feel free to leave a comment with that information) work surprisingly well!  Swaddling, Side laying, Swaying (usually in your arms, facing away from you, very gentle motion), Sucking and Shhhhhshing (not loud, but right in their ear, mimicks the sounds from the womb).  

Ok, back to My Precious Kid … I have talked about their amazing safety products in the past and highly encourage you to get a basic safety pack for your children!  Their Child Safety Pack actually has 8 different product in it that all help make your child safer!  

My Precious Kid is offering my readers a discount and a giveaway!!!

Discount: Go shopping with My Precious Kid and get 10% off your first order when you use the code: 10WTR09 by 3/31/09.

Giveaway: One lucky commenter will receive a Child Safety Pack.  To enter, simply leave a comment on this post answering one of these two questions:

• What worked for you when you had a very fussy baby? (or) 
• What products from My Precious Kid appeal to you most?

Remember there are lots of ways to earn extra entries for every giveaway during Baby Fest, just visit this post to read about it!  This giveaway will end on Feb. 6th.

The Happy Panda Baby boutique specializes in high quality baby clothes made to fit the bigger baby.  Two of my boys definitely fell into this category … born at 9 and 10 pounds these boys definitely did NOT fit into the same clothes as their average sized peers.

Although our size chart was developed for the baby plus size community, it can provide the right fit for any baby boy or girl. Our unique tagless baby clothing is designed and made in America.

Their clothes are wonderful and very fun, but don’t think for a second that’s all they offer!  They also have a great selection of gift sets, diaper cakes (their best seller is the Happy Panda Face) and paci plushies (which are very cute).   

Our mom of honor received the absolutely adorable Fabulous Newborn Gift Set (pictured at the beginning of the post) and couldn’t say enough how cute she thought it was.  She couldn’t wait to get it home to show my 9 year old neice who was completely smitten with it!

I can tell you first hand that their product is not only high quality but totally fun and unique.

Happy Panda Baby is offering all my readers $10.00 off their purchases when you use the code: BABYFEST (expires March 15, 2009).

They are also offering one VERY lucky commenter a $50 gift certificate to go shopping at Happy Panda Baby.  To enter, simply leave a comment telling me what product you like and/or how big your biggest baby was at birth.

Remember there are lots of ways to earn extra entries, go HERE to see how!  This contest will close for comments on February 6th.

This giveaway has ended!  The winner is #48 – Sherry!  It was her twitter entry that got her the prize, so be sure to take advantage of the extra entry opportunities I offer .

Mabel’s Labels is back!  This time they reminded us what a great idea it is to get organized for baby!  I’ll admit, it’s probably one of the things that I just don’t think to do, but as I look back at the frustrations of not remembering which bin was for what or who’s coat was who’s I realize what an amazing help these labels would be.

With baby, it seems like everything has to be labeled.  Good luck getting away with not labeling everything in site with twins!

Mabel’s Labels is a company based in Canada (works with the US too of course)  that offers labels for just about everything.  Clothing, shoes, diaper bags, sippy cups, bottles, etc … seriously the ideas are practically endless.

Visit Mabel’s Labels to see what I’m talking about!  Oh, and this is a GREAT opportunity for ALL moms to participate, so when you’re done looking at all the amazing packs and options they offer, be sure to come back here to enter to win a Big Combo Pack!

To enter, simply leave a comment – if you’re already a mom, please tell us your suggestions for staying/getting organized before baby arrives.

Remember, there are many ways to earn extra entries, just CLICK HERE for details! This giveaway will end on February 3rd and is open to US and Canadian addresses.

Of course, their mother’s jewelry is fabulous and there is something for almost every mom!  The jewelry offered at Something 2 Brag About truly makes a wonderful gift for a new or expectant mom, I cannot tell you how much they will treasure it!

Today I wanted to tell you a little more about their products for expectant and new moms, then we’ll get to the discount and giveaways being offered by Something 2 Brag About.  We had an opportunity to experience her “Baby On Board” bracelet and let me tell you it is the cutest thing!  Here’s what Tessa (our resident pregnant mommy) says about this bracelet: 

Since receiving this beautiful baby girl bracelet by Something 2 Brag About, I have hardly left the house without it.  It is beautifully crafted with clear, pink and silver beads.  There are also two block beads with my husband’s and my initials and a cute yeild “baby on board” sign in silver.

It is so much fun to show my friends and it makes me smile all over again when I see it on my wrist. It would make a wonderful gift for that friend that just found out what she is having. For me, the best part is that it becomes a family heirloom, when my daughter has a girl she gets to add her and her hubby’s initials and wear it herself and then she can pass it on once again to her daughter. This would make a very special gift for anyone expecting a special little one.

Something 2 Brag About is offering a discount and a giveaway for my readers!  To get 15% off, just make a purchase by Feb. 14 and use the code FIMSBABYFEST (not valid with any other discount).

The giveaway is for a $25 Gift Certificate to go shopping at Something 2 Brag About!!!  Just leave a comment telling me what you like about their products to enter!

Remember there are lots of ways to enter to win during Baby Fest, just GO HERE to see!

Their Birth Announcements, diaper bags, blankets, and great variety of baby products are very fun to browse through, but we were excited to have the opportunity to check out a Swelly Belly Maternity Belly Band (made by Nine Moons). Again, Tessa (our resident pregnant mom) chimed in on this great product!

Little Piddles is offering a prize and a discount for my readers and Tessa tells us a little more about the product so click the “read more” link to enter …

Since I have been wearing a Swelly Belly I can wear a larger variety of shirts and pants, both maternity and remarkably even pre-preggy.

I no longer spend forever in front of the mirror bending and moving to try and figure out if I can get away with wearing a particular shirt without my stomach showing or without being able to see the unsightly elastic maternaty pants band that we all love to hate.

My Swelly Belly’s colors are bright and vivid and I love how it looks under all my shirts, like a stylish layering tank. I love color but find I wear a lot of black while pregnant so I loved the many pattern and color choices available at Little Piddles.

The fabric is comfortable, not itchy or hot and will fit me throughout my pregnancy because of its stretch. I recommend this to all my preggy friends to help fill the gap, no pun intended, in our maternity wardrobes by enabling us to wear things that without this we would be unable to.

Little Piddles is generously offering my readers a great discount when shopping with them!  Get 10% off all purchases (excluding furniture) through 3/31/09 when you use the code afroginmysoup during checkout!

Little Piddles is also offering one lucky commenter one pack of Custom Bumpy Name Labels (these are awesome!).  To enter, just leave a comment on this post.

There are lots of ways to earn extra entries, just GO HERE for more details!