Gifts That Give Back at GreaterGood + #Giveway

Quick! 

Somebody's birthday is coming up and you need to find a unique gift.

Where do you go that both has handmade, unique and exciting gifts but ALSO raises money and awareness for causes like:

• Autism
• Breast Cancer
• World Hunger
• Literacy
• Diabetes
• Alzheimer's

GreaterGood Shop, powered by NOVICA gives to charities with each purchase you make.  They have raised more than 35 million dollars for charities across the world since 1999.

I've always loved how well organized the NOVICA gift shop is, and GreaterGood is very similar.  There are lots of search categories that make it easy to get to the perfect gift or item quickly.

You can search by type of item, like jewelry & apparel, or by charity topic/cause-related like: breast cancer or autism. 


For Example: I clicked on the "Animals" toolbar pictured below to find items that would give to charities that rescue animals and here are a few of the unique gift ideas I came up with: 

If you're not shopping for a cat or dog lover, don't fret, there's LOTS of other fun gifts for your niece, boss, brother or girlfriend. 

Here are some of my favorites - an wise owl hooded jacket, fab fairy soft dolls, mayan creation bracelet, and an east meets west ceramic bird feeder:

Do you know anyone who would love to receive a gift, knowing that the gift also  contributed some good to humankind?

I would!

Shop GreaterGood & make not one, but TWO people smile! 

Next time you think about a gift you need to purchase, check out GreaterGood and give DOUBLE by purchasing from a company who pays it forward in so many ways!

Enter To Win! 

Prize: $50 Gift Certificate to GreaterGood

• ends 5/13/2015 - please check email as gift certificate expires 5/16/15
• US entrants, 18+ eligible
• complete Rafflecopter form to be eligible to win

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother's Day In Hollywood Swag Bag + #Giveaway

We've all heard of SWAG bags, right?

You go to some event and get a swag bag, chock full of fun goodies from local companies or sponsors of an event...if you're lucky enough to have attend an event like that.

Or, more realistically, you've heard about how celebrities go to an event and receive a swag bag of goodies from premium companies to spoil them.

How would you feel, receiving a "Mother's Day In Hollywood" swag bag yourself, from Distinctive Assets, the company who started the whole swag bag trend? 

This year, 25 of Hollywood's most famous stars - that yes, are more importantly mothers, will receive a swag bag full of unique, innovative and useful items. 

Mommy celebs including, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Mila Kunis are among the lucky recipients and YOU could be one of them too!

A gift bag worth over $8,000 is something to get excited about, no?

So, What is In This Gift Bag? 

• Lesportsac Diaper Bag - need I explain ;-)
• Haze Vaporizer - portable vaporizer that can use wax, oils, or dry blends
• Ibiza Soul - flip flops from the white isle of Ibiza
• DermaWand - reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• Nest Designs - Bamboo Blankies
• Slimware - chic dinnerware
• COAL & CANARY - soy vegetable blend floral scented candles 
• Penguin Young Readers - Eric Carle’s Very Little Library, Corduroy by Don Freeman, etc. 
• Purely Inspired - 100% plant based, dairy and gluten free protein shakes 
• Healthy Mama Brand - OTC remedies for pregnant and nursing mothers
• Earth's Best - chlorine free diapers
• SWAG Laundry Detergent - natural luxury detergent
• La Croix - #1 selling flavored sparkling water in the US...and my personal fav! 
• Soft Star Shoes - handcrafted leather shoes for the whole family
• The Veggie Republic - california produce inspired jewelry that donates food to families in need. 

• ......and other items from MyM&M's, Adoratherapy, Purabela, Wellness360, Polar A300, Dermabrilliance, Adri & Sara, XO Mints, Rejuvel, Damsel in Defence, Down etc., Archibald's Next Big Thing, Mysti Taylor, Shama Jade, Ruma Organics, Pond's, Tags Boutique, Arts&Scents, Cheeki, Lat & Lo, The Golden Door, Sheec, Violet Iodine, Rivulet, Big Cat Rescue, Garden of Life, Sizers, Author J.T. Willow, Gleener, Teeth Fairies, D'Milikah, Harry's Garden, Starlettos, SkinFix, Helen & Harold's, Nolables, Krystal Klear Water, Ultimate Ears, Piper, Reset Yourself, and Logitech

~ Enter To Win ~

PRIZE: One McKinney Mommas reader will receive a "Mother's Day in Hollywood" Swag Bag with 10 exciting items from the list above!

• Entrants must have a US address, 18+
• Giveaway ends May 11, 2015 at 11:59pm ET
• Complete Rafflecopter Entry form below for your chance to win! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Huggies Snug & Dry #UltraHug Selfie Contest - ends 6/25/15

My first daughter's buttocks were diapered in many brands.  I was a first time mother, and had to explore the world of diapers first hand - trying to figure out what worked best. 

I can honestly say, that my second and third daughters only had one brand adorn their little cherub butts, and that was...and still is Huggies! 

Right now, Huggies Snug & Dry Ultra Diapers are sponsoring the #UltraHug promotion, where you can submit a selfie of you and your baby and nominate a community program, close to your heart, to win a $2,000 award.   

Keep reading to find out how to enter this contest...

My "bookend" baby wearing Huggies Snug & Dry Ultra Diaper

Make A Difference In Your Community!  

When you think of your neighborhood or community, what comes to mind as something you couldn't live without?

A park?

Library?

Well, with Huggies #UltraHug contest, you can nominate your favorite neighborhood program to win two-thousand smackaroos!

My Community Program Nomination...

Before I had my own children, I worked with former foster care youth and often had to transport their families to the local food bank at the end of the month when money was running out.

I've witnessed in person how Food Banks in the community can bridge the gap between a young child literally going without dinner that night, to having a healthy meal to help them be ready for their school day in the morning.

For my Huggies Snug & Dry Ultra Community Program nomination, I choose the Yolo Food Bank.

Why Choose Huggies Snug & Dry Ultra?

• they're conveniently located at your local Walmart
• available in sizes from newborn to 35 lbs. 
• conforming gap-free fit (yes, they really do - no blowouts for me!)
• great for adventuring, with quick absorbing layers that stay leak-free for up to 12 hours! 

.....and of course because it's my #1 choice after three girls! Heh, heh. 

Now YOU GO! Enter the #UltraHug Contest!

• Take your #UltraHug selfie with your baby and upload it to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #UltraHug along with your nomination for a community program that could use $2,000 today!

• This promotion ends on June 25, 2015 at which time all selfies will be narrowed down to 20 finalists and finally 10 winners of the $2,000 grant!

Now, don't you feel better, knowing that the brand you are diapering your baby with gives back to your neighborhood?


I do.

Baby F and I don't want our neighbors to go hungry this summer. Nominating Yolo Food Bank for @huggies #UltraHug 2k prize! #sp

A photo posted by Shiloh K (@mckinneymommas) on May 30, 2015 at 3:16pm PDT

Thanks, Huggies for giving me the opportunity to support my community in this #UltraHug Huggies Snug & Dry contest.....oh, and for keeping my babies bums dry too!

Eczema Out Of Control? Weleda White Mallow + 20% OFF code

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Weleda. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All opinions and reviews are my own.

Isn't it amazing when a product actually does what it's supposed to do?

I love being pleasantly surprised, with positive results after using skincare products since so many of them fail in my book.

 It's sad to admit, but I've got some pretty extensive experience with "skin issues" since my oldest began experiencing skin sensitivities and eczema from about 6 months old to date (she's four).

We've tried lots of products, and there is only a small handful of ones that we'll trust on our baby's sensitive skin.

After receiving a few samples of Weleda's new White Mallow products, we were happy with the results. 

A company that uses all natural ingredients, and has been harnessing the power of plant-based medications since 1921 is one that I'm happy to get behind. 

What is Weleda’s Baby Derma White Mallow Collection?

This collection of products, including a Face Cream, Body Cream and Diaper Rash Cream use the natural soothing power of organic White Mallow, coconut oil, borage seed oil and other plant based products to treat eczema symptoms.

• Fragrance - free
• 100% certified natural
• Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association

In addition to the eczema she gets on the back of her knees, thighs and elbows, my daughter often gets a rash around her mouth.  

These episodes are frustrating and extremely difficult to heal. It seems like it never goes away, the red little bumps and irritation makes it painful for her to eat certain foods that sting the exposed skin.

We started with the White Mallow Face Cream, and found it to be helpful in moisturizing the area - however we found that if we put a light layer of the White Mallow Diaper Cream (with pharmaceutical-grade zinc oxide) on the trouble area at night, her skin looked significantly better by morning! 

All three of the White Mallow products by Weleda were received very well by my daughter. Typically, any new lotion or skincare product will give her a rash, but none of these did!

Where can I buy Weleda?

You can find Weleda's White Mallow collection at Whole Foods, buybuyBaby, and www.usa.weleda.com

•  Use PROMO CODE: WELEDABABY for 20% OFF your order at weleda.com (code expires June 30,2015) 

Thanks, #WeledaBaby! 

We now have some new reinforcements to add to our arsenal of eczema fighters! 

Have Peace Of Mind? LifebankUSA Cord Blood Banking #Giveaway

This post/giveaway was sponsored by LifeBankUSA, however all opinions are 100% my own and may not reflect that of the company.

They say that hindsight is 20/20 - right?  

The idea that if we knew what the future held, we'd be prepared to make all the best choices in the here and now. 

What if you knew today that your child, or a close family member would someday become ill, and their best chance of survival was from cord blood stem cells.

It would be a "no brainer", right? You'd say, no matter the cost "let's bank that cord blood" to potentially save a life of your loved one (or self). 

New research shows that banking placenta blood, along with cord blood leads to more successful preservation of stem cells during a transplant. 

LifebankUSA, is the only company right now that offers placenta blood banking along with cord blood storage for expectant parents. 

So, if you're an expecting parent and thinking about cord blood banking, check out LifebankUSA - and be sure to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win 1 of 3 Graco 4ever™ 4-in-1 Car Seats!

(valued at $330 each)

• Giveaway ends May 29, 2015
• THREE winners will receive a Graco 4ever™ 4-in-1 Car Seats
• Must be a US Resident, 18+ to enter

ENTER to WIN HERE!

Mudderella NorCal 2015 - Ready To Own Your Strong?

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Mudderella. I received complimentary admission to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

I know most of my posts start something like this -

.....being a mother of three babies under the age of four...

or

....since I've basically been either pregnant or nursing for the past 4 years straight...

I know it gets old, but but really it applies to most things I talk about here, and this post is no different. 

Since I have been focused solely on the raising of three tiny tots born very close together (my oldest is barely 4 and youngest barely 1) I've had to let a lot go of a lot of my own personal goals. 

Some days I barely get a shower, okay I lie...most days I DON'T even get a shower. So, the idea of an hour or two long run or workout is basically a joke.

I haven't owned a gym membership in about 10 years, and my last sports bra is probably three sizes too small.

It's time to Own My Strong®

 

I've been making excuses for myself for too long, my youngest is one year old now and it's time I start setting some fitness goals for my health. 

I'm not going to set myself up for failure, buy deciding on some magical number of pounds I'm going to lose in the next 6 months or a year.

 

Instead, I'm going to set for myself TWO achievable goals:

 

• GOAL #1. Get Stronger

• GOAL #2. Cross The Finish Line at Mudderella NorCal 2015

 

Now, I have never run a marathon, half marathon, color run, fun run, okay you get the idea. 

 

This will be my first race of any kind, fun or otherwise! 

 

The reason why I chose the NorCal #Mudderella2015 race is:

 

A. It just happened to come to my attention when I really wanted a KICK IN THE BUTT to start getting more fit. 

B. It's a team event - so I can run/train with my girlfriends. 

C. It's only 45 minutes away from my house. 

D. There is a Mudderella training guide available online, that doesn't require a gym membership. 

E. It's a cheap alternative to a mud wrap at the spa - heh, heh. 

Today was the start of my training - I just looked up Mudderella Week 1 Training, and found that Tuesday was "Mudderella Workout 1" - which was a series of Plank Holds, T-Raises and other exercises I did while the kiddos were eating breakfast and watching a show. 

 

Tomorrow, the training guide shows "Push and Pull" a combo of exercises with hand weights - which is also do-able from home. Yahoo! 

 

The NorCal Mudderella course, in June will be a 5 mile obstacle course that I will run with three of my buddies - with the goal of simply FINISHING and having FUN! 

 

Did I mention there will be lots of mud?

Photo courtesy of: mudderella.com

 

So, if you're looking for a good way to start your own journey to getting stronger, healthier.....or dirtier - check out the list of Mudderella events, designed for women, by women coming to your area below: 

-        NY/NJ – May 9, 2015 – Englishtown, NJ

-        Chicago – May 30, 2015 – Richmond, IL

-        NorCal – June 27, 2015 – Vallejo, CA

-        Toronto – July 11, 2015 – Kitchener, ON Canada

-        Capital Region – July 25, 2015 – Clarksburg, MD

-        Colorado – August 22, 2015 – Snowmass Village, CO

-        Pittsburgh – September 12, 2015 – Slippery Rock, PA

-        Whistler – September 26, 2015 – Blackcomb Mountain, Whistler, BC Canada

-        New England – October 3, 2015 – Thompson, CT

 

If you don't see a town near you, sure to keep your eye on the Mudderella website, or follow Mudderella on Facebook, as they could be adding more throughout the year! 

 

One of Mudderella's mottos is, "You're Stronger Than You Think" and I think that's true for just about every women I've known in my life. 

 

Now, it's time to prove it, to the most important champion in your life...yourself.   

Are YOU ready to Own Your Strong®?

 

Fun Tangerine Themed Playdate #CutieCurl

I was provided with free samples of Cuties to facilitate this post as well as promotional gear for the kids.  As always, my opinions are 100% my own and may not reflect that of the company.

Toddlers and Preschoolers love themed play dates. Okay, maybe it's really just me who gets giddy at the idea of a theme. 

Either way, I jumped at the chance to host a Cutie's "Do The Cutie Curl" playdate last week with my daughters and our playgroup.

Supplies Needed:

• (2) 3lb bags of Cutie Clementines (found at my local Raley's Bel Air Market)
• Awesome prize packages (provided by Cuties) 
• Two buckets of sidewalk chalk (only $1 for a 4-pack at Michael's)
• Refreshments - provided by Veri Organic Soda
• A neighborhood park
• A bunch of crazy preschoolers with limitless energy

The most successful playdates, in my opinion include lots of unstructured playtime, sprinkled with just a few short focused activities and of course snacks.

We let the kids loose at the park and had them get lots of playtime in before hearding them together to try their hand at the Cutie Curl!

I guess I never realized just how easy Cutie tangerines are to peel, I'm swearing off regular oranges for good - I mean, if a 2 year old can do it....

We were pretty surprised, as beginners luck seemed to be the theme with the Cutie Curl - ie. peeling a Cutie Tangerine in one continuous peel, without it breaking.

Most of the moms, and lots of the kids could peel the tangerine in one continous peel on the first attempt, but since they were so juicy and tasty, we wanted more than one.  

The second and third peeling attempts didn't go so well for most. I mean, they were awesomely easy to peel, but most of us didn't get it off in one continuous peel after the first attempt - how funny!

Now, since the Cutie Curlers were mostly preschool aged, we didn't award prizes for the best curl, but everyone attending our playdate got a cool prize backpack full of fun Cuties gear.

I think this swag was some of the best I've seen from a company for promotional items, so kudos to you, Cuties California Mandarins - you're tops!

We ended the playgroup with some fun decorating of the remaining Cuties - I brought some glue, googly eyes, sparkles and such and the kids had fun making their own silly citrus.

I'm pretty sure the kids all had fun, and I was excited to try my hand at the infamous "Cutie Curl" - plus, as an added bonus, we could upload our photos of each "Cutie Curl" for a chance to win big!

The final 10 contestants have been chosen, and now it's time to vote for YOUR favorite "Cutie Curl" until March 15th - the winner gets a cool vacation prize package! 

Get your vote in for the most creative "Cutie Curl: at: http://www.dothecutiecurl.com/

Now tell me, can YOU do the #CutieCurl?