Once again I would like to introduce you to a very creative mom who offers a product that you will love!  I’m always looking for alternatives to soothe away my childrens’ aches and pains and this product definitely fits the bill! 

Aimee Jones is the stay at home mom behind Corn Bag Critters and she knows first hand the wonderful relief offered by corn bags since she has been using them for years!  Corn Bag Critters currently offers 4 cute corn bag animals for children to enjoy (we won’t tell if you want to use them too  :wink: ).  Aimee is planning on adding a line of Corn Bags for adults soon too!

I have to stop and take a moment to introduce you to each of the Corn Bag Critters, that’s right they each have their own name!  There’s Bella the dog, Carter the bear, Petunia the pig, and Quackers the duck.

The Critters are simply warmed in the microwave for about 1 minute and will offer warmth for 1 to 2 hours after that!  This great little Critter is an alternative to a heating pad and can even treat a variety of aches and pains like: earaches, growing pains, general muscle and joint pain, cramps, bachaches, shoulder and neck tension.  They are also a great warm “buddy” to help soothe a child when they are trying to fall asleep. 

I asked Aimee to share a bit about how the Corn Bag Critters were born and why she feels like they are such a great alternative for children:

After my children were born I thought that they would use them as well.
Oh no…….since the corn bags were just plain they had no interest….well night after night my daughter would complain about pains in her legs..growing pains…well the idea struck me to create corn bags for children….I worked up samples and my children were thrilled…and viola corn bag critters were born. Not only do they use them for every ache and pain…they both sleep with their critters every night….the warmth from heating them in the microwave really helps them relax and fall asleep. I really feel strongly that kids today are way too overmedicated for simple aches and pains that a natural method…the corn bag…can relieve and soothe just as well.

Aimee has offered my readers a 20% discount on any purchases of her Corn Bag Critters until the end of April! Just be sure to use the code: frog20408 before you checkout!

She has also very graciously offered you the opportunity to win a Critter for yourself!  Just be sure to visit www.CornBagCritters.com and take a look around.  Come back here and leave a comment letting us know what your favorite character is, what you like most about the idea of using a corn bag and we’d love to know what other characters or suggestions you may have for this great line of products!

This contest is available for shipping to US addresses only and will be open for comments through April 22nd!

I’m sure the title makes most moms cringe, it’s not a pleasant subject, but for those who have endured or, (Heaven forbid) will in the future, there is nothing better than already knowing where to look and what products are available to handle this nasty “little” problem!  

Although we have not had experience with lice with any of our children, there are about 6 to 12 million reported cases of head lice per year and when it comes to conditions among children it is second only to the common cold!  It is most common among Preschool and elementary aged children and about 80 percent of schools in the US have one outbreak per year.  Poor hygeine has nothing to do with getting lice. 

I got all of those facts from LiceMD a great website with information about Head Lice; treatments, information and myths!  LiceMD is also a great new product that gets rid of lice and eggs and does NOT contain pesticides!  Like other products on the market, it still gets rid of lice in 10 minutes, but it is odorless, pesticide free, you can reapply as needed and best of all it conditions hair as it treats.

Oh, and if any of you happen to need the product now (or want to get some to keep on hand), visit www.LiceMD.com now and you can grab their coupon for $1.00 off! 

Most of my readers know that I own Sweet ‘n Simple Design where I am privileged to be able to create beautiful and unique designs exclusively for moms and WAHMs.  I offer Blog Design for Blogger and Wordpress as well as Shop Design, Business Cards, Etsy Design, eBay Design, Mommy Cards and much more.

I enjoy creating beautiful sites for my clients and know how much it means to each of them to have a site or blog that perfectly reflects their business or family.  My most popular products are Custom Blog Design, Shoppe Design, Mommy Cards and Business Cards because of their fun and custom nature. 

One very fun product that I get to work on is Mommy Cards!  They are fun and unique and totally customized for each mom.  I have made many to match my blog designs and those are a HUGE hit!  I do offer a few premade designs at Sweet ‘n Simple Design, but Custom Mommy Cards are very popular as well! 

Mommy cards are great to keep on hand for playgroups, teachers, family and friends.  I have some and I have been amazed at all the uses for them!  They are the perfect size to keep in your purse or diaper bag and hand to a new friend or your child’s teachers!  They are also fun to put in Christmas Cards and Bloggers love to use them to let people know how to visit them online!

Right now I’m trying to expand my Mommy Card line and would like your help!  By leaving a comment and letting me know which Mommy Card designs you like and what designs you’d like to see added you will have the opportunity to get your very own set of 25 Customized Mommy Cards!  

I would also love to offer all of you a 20% discount on any orders placed until the end of May!  Just enter the code frogblog before you check out! 

The winner of this contest will be contacted to either choose from the premade designs I offer on the site or I will customize a set of cards for them using the art available.  Remember though, in order to enter this contest you need to visit Sweet ‘n Simple Design and take a look around.  Then come back here and leave a comment telling me what your favorite design is and what other designs and themes you’d like to see offered in the Mommy Cards section.  Oh and after you’ve left your comment to enter, you are welcome to blog about the contest and link back to this post (after you’ve published be sure to come and see if it already showed up in the comments, if not, leave another comment with the direct link to the post on your blog) to be entered a second time !

This contest will be open for comments until Thurs. April 17th. Winner will have the option to choose any premade card design or describe what they would like and I will create something one of a kind for them from the art I have available :).

 This contest has ended and the winner has been notified and announced.  Thank you so much for participating in this contest!  Remember to enter all the latest contests for more chances to win!

When my twins were born we were blessed by some very crafty people to receive quite a few lovely handmade burp cloths.  I loved them and used them all the time.  We still use them in fact, not as burp cloths, but as snugglies and nose wipers.  The great thing about them is that they seem to last forever. 

When Vicki contacted me about her shop, Sew Petit I hopped over to take a look and was VERY impressed! She takes these wonderful items to a whole new level and she doesn’t just offer burp cloths either!!!  She also offers a variety of beautifully embroidered hooded towels, purses, ribbon belts and pocket scarves!  Here’s a little more information about Sew Petit, how they got started and the products they offer:

Me: Thank you so much for sharing your shop with us!  What made you decide to start this business?

Vicki:  I have enjoyed sewing for the past ten years and have always loved the look of embroidery and monogrammed items. After my first daughter was born I fell in love with all things baby. A dream came true when I was able to get an embroidery machine. I started Sew Petit last summer to fulfill another dream: making things and having a store to sell them.

Me: Tell us a little more about the variety of products you offer.

Vicki: I offer “personalized gifts for baby and beyond.” This includes, but is not limited to burp cloths, hooded towels, fleece scarves (with pockets), ribbon belts, and my newest item—the “change purse”. All of these items can be personalized with a monogram, initials or name…whatever the customer likes. I also can do custom work for clients. I’ve done embroidery on everything from antique linens to store-bought blankets.

Me: What is your most popular product?

 Vicki: My most popular product has been the burp cloth sets. Customers like the different pattern choices and the way the sets are put together. The three cloths in the set are different styles, but complimentary. They are a great choice for baby showers or new parents. And they’re so soft. The cuteness factor doesn’t interfere with the usefulness!

My second most popular product has been the hooded towels. Customers like how big they are. Baby can grow into them (instead of growing out of those tiny hooded towels at the chain stores).

Me: I love that you give back to the community, can you tell us a little more about that and if you will be adding more products to your line?

Vicki: I am blessed to be able to do what I love and so I love to give back. Every purchase allows me to provide personalized burp cloths to the mothers who use our local pregnancy resource center.

I plan on introducing some great new products for spring/summer including aprons and beach towels! And don’t forget, if you have a custom order you’re interested in, contact me! I am always willing to work with a customer if they have something custom they would like made or embroidered. My rates are very reasonable.

I encourage all of you to visit Sew Petit and be sure to take advantage of Vicki’s generous discount offer of 20% off your order if you enter the code FROGGY20 before you check out! 

She has also offered a prize from her shop!  The winner will have the opportunity to pick their favorite Burp Cloth Set from Sew Petit and Vicki will personalize two of the burp cloths with the winners choice of monogram, initials or name!  What a great prize!

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

~Visit Sew Petit and take a look around.
~ Come back here and leave a comment Mentioning your Favorite item!

This contest will run through Tuesday April 15th.

 This Contest has ended. Thank you all for your participation and be sure to enter all the other great contests we currently have going!

Truly Organic Beauty . . . just the name is enough to get me interested!  So many of us are making the switch - caring for our family and planet by using products that are greener, cleaner, healthier and more natural.  When Michele contacted me letting me know about the company ONE Group and their products I was definitely intrigued!  When I visited her company website I was thrilled at the variety of products offered ~ from skin care, cosmetics and hair care to household cleaner and even a couple of health care products.  I had the opportunity to ask Michele about the company and products, here’s that interview.

Tell us a little bit about how you found ONE Group and why you joined them:

I joined ONE Group in May 2007 because I absolutely love the products and totally believe in the company’s mission. I found the company while searching for natural soap products to use on my newborn. While searching, I learned that although many products may claim to be natural or organic, unfortunately the claims are not always true. Sometimes they may only contain a couple of natural ingredients while still including many other dangerous synthetic chemicals.

What makes this company unique?

ONE Group was the first in the world to offer an extensive range of internationally certified organic skin, hair, body, cosmetic and nutritional products.

What products do your customers purchase most often?

Some of the most popular products are the body wash, the bug spray, the toothpaste and the skin care line.

Why should people look more closely at your products?

Every ingredient in every product is 100% beneficial for you and all products are completely synthetic-chemical free! Just read the ingredient label on any of the products and you will see the difference.

Michele has offered readers the opportunity to win a bottle of certified organic Bug Spray. This amazing product is DEET free and wonderful to use on the WHOLE family! In order to be entered just follow these few simple steps:

1) Visit Michele’s site at www.TrulyOrganicBeauty.com and take a look around at all the wonderful products.

2) Come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite.

Be sure to leave your comment by 10pm on April 10th.

You are also eligible to receive a 10% rebate (via PayPal) from Michele on the product total of any purchase through her company site during the month of April.  To qualify for this rebate you must forward a copy of your electronic invoice to her at mdupper at trulyorganicbeauty.com (remove all those spaces ) be sure to put FROG in the subject line.

 This contest has ended, thanks so much to all those who participated.  We have more great contests going on so be sure to click on the “contests” tab above!

Through the course of motherhood many of us come up with creative ways to solve problems and situations that arise with our children.  Usually these solutions are a quick fix to try to make life easier along the way, but sometimes the idea is so creative it is enough to spark an entire line of products!  This is the case with mompreneur Sheila McGoldrick, inventor of the Handy Burpee!

Sheila is the busy mom of three children, Tyler, Brody and their newest addition Laney Paige!  Here’s what she had to say about how the Handy Burpee was created:

It is because my children had horrible acid reflux like symptoms that I started the awesome journey toward inventing the Handy Burpee. My fun-loving husband, Wayne, is my “down to earth” partner in this business. I invented the Handy Burpee about 2 1/2 months after Brody was born in 2004 and around 2 1/2 yrs. after that I launched my website.

Our Burpees are perfect for any baby, whether breast or bottle fed, spitters or non-spitters. It sort of gives you a free hand while still having protection for you and baby. Our new line will be coming out soon and we are also working on a new style of bibs and washcloths!

I am very excited to see what they add to their wonderful and unique line of products.  I always love the handmade “mom” feel of products like those offered at Handy Burpee! My readers are welcome to go shopping and get a 15% discount by using the code: PREGGIE. They are also offering free First Class shipping within the US for any order over $30 right now!

Sheila has been very generous and is giving away a Handy Burpee to TWO lucky readers! All you have to do to be entered for this prize is to visit Handy Burpee and pick your favorite pattern, then make sure you come back here and leave a comment letting us know what pattern you love and/or why you like this great product. Be sure you leave your comment by 10pm on Tuesday April 8th!

 This contest has ended, thank you for your participation.  Please feel free to enter all the latest contests by clicking on the “Contests” tab above.

 As a mom with 6 children I am forever desperately trying to figure out a way to keep (or even get) all my children, their things and their schedules organized!!!  So when Jennifer Tankersley contacted me about her site I was thrilled to check it out!!! 

List Plan It is just what it sounds like, a one stop location to access tons of lists for almost any need you may have!  If you need to schedule your family, your business, your home, your day, your meals, your life (you get the idea) then you really should check it out!!!

I was excited to interview Jennifer and find out more about the business and why she began it:

I got the idea for ListPlanIt.com just after Christmas last year. I was plotting the lists that I needed to make to try to get my house and my family back in order when I started to think how nice it would be if there were already the lists that I needed and all I had to do was to fill in my own information. I love lists, but sometimes to get organized I’ve had to worry about organizing the list in a logical and neat way. All of a sudden I thought that if I felt that way, then I’d bet lots of other moms would feel the same way! So I got started making the lists and launched ListPlanIt.com on May 9, 2007.

In addition to your lists and planning pages what else do you offer?

We mainly sell access to the lists themselves, but ListPlanIt.com also offers Magnetic Laminated Lists, a Magnetic Grocery List Notepad, and various planners compiled of our lists.

I’ve seen all the amazing categories of lists you offer and I’ve used some of them for myself (I love them by the way!), what might you say to the mom who is a wanna-be organized homemaker? Or even someone who feels they are doing ok with their organization?

ListPlanIt.com’s current count of lists is over 300! Subscribers will find grocery lists, meal planning page, to do lists, calendars, birthday/holiday planning pages, chore lists, cleaning lists, and so much more!

I think most people like that the site is organized so they can go directly to the lists that they want. Others find it helpful to browse through the List of Lists and read the descriptions. I’ve heard several people tell me that they didn’t even know they needed a particular list until they started using it on ListPlanIt.com!

This very affordable resource offers a variety of subscription options depending on your individual needs whether you need it for one month, three months (quarterly) or an annual subscription!   I have been looking over all of the lists available to me at List Plan It for about a month now and I have to admit I am shocked at how many areas of my life can be simplified just by using these lists.  I’m still in the process of building my household lists, but I see a light at the end of the dark tunnel of dis-organization I’ve been living in!

Jennifer has offered my readers $5 off a Yearly Subscription by entering the discount code spring5!

She has also VERY generously offered the opportunity for THREE of you to win a Quarterly Subscription!!!  All you have to do to enter this contest is

1) Hop over to www.ListPlanIt.com and have a look around

2) Come back here and leave a comment letting me know what area of your life could use the most organization. 

It really is that simple!  Be sure to enter by 10pm on April 3rd to qualify to win this prize!

This contest has ended . . . thank you so much for your participation!  I still have several contests going on so be sure to click on the contests tab above to see them all  

Today I would like to introduce all of you to Little Ladybug Designs!  This shop offers unique and modern custom photo adoption & birth announcements, baby shower & birthday invitations, thank you cards, return address labels, video montages, and more.  Kim is the work at home mom behind Little Ladybug Designs and she started the business in order to stay home and raise her daughter! 

I love the products Kim offers and I’m sure you will too!

Our photo cards are professionally printed and card stock cards are professionally press printed. Photos can be converted to black and white or sepia at no extra charge. All cards come with coordinating thank you cards and return address labels. You can even get your return address printed on the back of the envelope. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority. We will work with you to make your card perfect. High quality customer service and attention to detail are what we pride ourselves in.

All announcements can be customized. We can adjust the colors, fonts, wording, & photo layout, in order for you to have the perfect announcement. All announcements can be modified for gender and for multiple births. Please specify any special requests in the Additional comments/special requests part of the order form.

I simply love the beauty and simplicity of all the products available at Little Ladybug Designs! Their baby announcments are adorable and are also available for adoptive parents. Recently Kim held a contest where an adoptive mother-to-be could enter to win and be showered with baby gifts from numerous sponsors. Not only is the mother being showered with gifts but all of the guests who attend this Virtual Baby shower get the chance to win these same prizes!

Simply visit www.littleladybugdesigns.com on March 27th-29th, visit the party page, enjoy games, entertainment, baby tips, music and more, then sign the guest book after taking a peek at all the great prizes that are offered. And of course, Little Ladybug Designs is offering a free card set for the adoptive mother to be and free return address labels for a guest, and free shipping (insurance not included) for EVERYONE! What a fun way to congratulate new mommies who just adopted their little one!

I would love to see all of you participate in this fabulous event and will be issuing a formal invitation next week :). In the meantime I encourage you all to visit Little Ladybug Designs and take advantage of the 10% discount Kim has generously offered my readers. Simply enter the site using this link http://www.littleladybugdesigns.com/?code=afroginmysoup to take advantage of that discount. In addition to that discount though any shopper who purchases 4 or more sets of cards gets another 10% off!

But Kim’s generosity doesn’t stop there!!! She has also offered a set of 140 return address labels for one lucky commenter! All you have to do to qualify for this great prize is visit Little Ladybug Designs and take a look around. Then come back here and leave a comment mentioning your favorite design! It’s that simple! This contest will be open for comments until 10pm on April 2nd!

This contest has ended!  Thank you so much for your participation.  Be sure to click on the contests link at the top of the left hand sidebar to enter all the current contests! 

Oh how I love introducing all of you to these wonderful mom owned shops!!! Little Piddles is NO exception!!!  I had the opportunity to talk with Jennifer the owner of Little Piddles and ask her a few questions about her shop! Why did you decide to open an online shop?

I always wanted to be a SAHM. When I became pregnant with my 2nd daughter I quit my job. When my youngest was about to turn 3 I started to think of ways I could bring extra income into our home. One day my brother sent me a Power Point Presentation about an online store called Little Piddles. Funny enough the 2 days prior to this I was researching how to create an online children’s boutique, so I knew I had to do it.

What kinds of products do you sell?

My store is a children’s clothing and accessory boutique. We have items from babies on up to moms and dads. Right now it’s mainly geared to babies, but I am adding more things all the time. I want it to be a site where you can find something for the whole family whether it’s a baby shower gift, personalized tee shirt, or jewelry.

You seem to be very passionate about your products and customer service.

There are a lot of children’s stores out there today especially online ones. I like to think my products are unique. I carry a lot of handmade products and most of my items are made by WAHM’s. I also think my customer service is key. I want every customer to feel like they are my only customer.

Little Piddles offers many fun products and I really did have a hard time choosing a “favorite”! I love the handy concept of their Handy Sacks and the coziness of the wonderful selection of blankets they carry, but I simply have to point out the great new Smart Mom line of jewelry that is safe for babies to chew on but still offers mom great style! Also their fabulous selection of tutus are so fun and would be perfect for my neice!!!

Jennifer has very graciously offered all of you the opportunity to shop with her at a discount!! You are welcome to use the coupon code: AFROGINMYSOUP at checkout to receive 15% off through April 30th!

She has also offered my readers the opportunity to win a $25 gift certificate for her shop!!! One lucky commenter will get a chance to go shopping at Little Piddles! All you have to do is visit Little Piddles and take a look around! Come back here and leave a comment mentioning your favorite product to be entered into the contest! This contest will be open for comments until 10pm on March 27th.

This contest has ended and the winner has been announced.  Thank you so much for your participation and be sure to click on the Contests link at the top of the left sidebar to enter all the latest offers! 

The suspense is over!  The wonderful, fantastic and famous Sweet Pea Cakes, etc. is back!!!!  Dawn of Sweet Pea Cakes was so thrilled at the hundreds of you that entered her last sponsored giveaway here at A Frog In My Soup that she decided to come back for more!  So be sure to stay with us as we look at some of her new products (that you will LOVE by the way!).

You may remember her wonderful Diaper Cakes (did you know that she just added a line of Organic Diaper Cakes???) that are beautiful and perfect for a shower, but today I want to focus on her towel cakes!  She just added a super fun new line of Bathtime Towel Cakes for babies and children!  I know they are super cute because I just purchased one for my nephew’s second birthday :).  I can say first hand that I had absolutely no idea that the actual product would be as wonderful as it was. 

The Bathtime towel cakes are made up of: 1 full size bath towel, 1 hand towel, 1 washcloth, wrapped with gorgeous ribbon and topped with an adorable matching stuffie!  Then the towel is FILLED with bathtoys, shampoo, wash, bubble bath and the YUMMIEST of flannely pea j’s inside.  Oh, and just in case that wasn’t enough, the towels aren’t just any ordinary towels, nope they have a super fun and cute ribbon sewn on them, you can see for yourself HERE!

For fear that I’m beginning to sound like an infomercial I feel that I must move on now . . . but I’m not going to go very far haha!  She also has some very fun bathtime towel cakes for baby that are available in Froggy, Piggy, Ducky and Teddy themes and can even be ordered with a matching pair of slippers. 

Because Dawn couldn’t bear to leave anyone out on all this fun you simply cannot miss the towel cakes for Weddings, Graduation, Any Occasion (golfing, coffee . . .), and the fun line of Spa Towel Cakes.  I would say that the Cupcakes are one of my ALL=TIME favorite products from Sweet Pea Cakes, etc. though, they really are cute and . . . well . . . lead me to the giveaway!  That’s right ladies, this time Dawn has offered a cupcake to one very lucky commenter! 

You will have your choice of her Cup of Joe Towel Cake, Neopolitan Towel Cupcake or her Blue Sprinkes Cupcake (or choose another item from the shop of equal value).  These very cute little towel cakes are made out of a hand towel and matching washcloth, filled with either an 8 piece manicure or 5 piece pedicure set and topped off with a beautiful matching ribbon and fun topping!

In order to qualify to win this prize just follow these simple steps:

1. Visit Sweet Pea Cakes, etc. and take a look around.
2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post mentioning your favorite product (or products! You’ll see it’s very hard to choose just one).

This contest is open to residents of the USA only and will end at 10pm on March 25th.  As a thank you for Dawn’s generosity I strongly encourage those of you who blog to mention Sweet Pea Cakes, etc. and this contest on your own blog (if you aren’t a blogger just tell everyone).

And if you simply cannot resist going shopping right now, be sure to access the site using this link: http://sweetpeacakesetc.com?code=102 to receive 10% off your order!!!