Chantelle, who chose the silver love charm bangle, is the winner! Thanks again to everyone who entered the giveaway.

Most all my coming of age moments were in the 1980s (first kiss, first date, first field party, first job, first parking experience with the hubby on a gravel drive by a creek on someone’s farm where we almost got caught and I honestly listened for shotgun fire), when Bangles meant this:

I can still smell the spritz.

I had the opportunity to review a great line of hammered silver bangles available at Give Simple designed by the talented jewelry artisan behind Metalsgirl, Laura Gibson from Austin, Texas. The ultra skinny bangle charm bracelets are unique and fun and look great layered with other charm bracelets from the collection or layered with several plain bangles. I have the hammered sterling silver “Blessed” bangle with a pink herb charm and love it.

To win a Metalsgirl charm bangle, just visit the page on the Give Simple website, take a look at all 12 of the bangles offered, and then come back here and leave a comment telling which is your favorite. Give Simple is a wonderful place to shop for Mother’s Day, so while you’re there you may want to look around and find a little something for yourself. The entire jewelry line is great. And you can take 10% off all purchases at Give Simple through April 30 with the code BLONDEMOM. I’ll leave comments open until midnight Saturday, April 26 and will draw a random winner from all eligible comments (U.S. and Canadian addresses only, please). If you’d like to receive two entries, leave a comment and write about this giveaway on your own blog or website. You don’t have to have a blog or website to enter, but you do need to leave a valid e-mail address.

p.s. Not only does she craft beautiful, and cool, jewelry, but Laura Gibson founded the Blue Dog rescue group in Round Rock, Texas. As the owner of two pedigreed rescue mutts, I have a soft spot for pets that need homes. Hubby and I have always joked that if we hadn’t had children we’d have a house full of dogs. Bailey and Jack give Metalsgirl jewelry two paws up.

I just finished reading Stefanie Wilder-Taylor’s wickedly hilarious new book, Naptime is the New Happy Hour: And Other Ways Toddlers Turn Yourself Upside Down, as part of a MotherTalk blog book review tour.

Although we all have obviously survived the terrible 2s reign of terror at my house, there were times I would lament to my best friend, mom, and pretty much any stranger at the grocery store that 2-year-olds can totally suck the lifeblood out of you. It also probably didn’t help that I was pregnant with Miss A during the height of Miss C’s terrible 2s. In my opinion it’s a critical phase of childhood that is nature’s way of weeding out the parenting wimps.

Stefanie’s first book was the popular Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay. She writes no-nonsense parenting insight, with a lot of humor, like the best girlfriend who will sit down and tell you straight up how tough parenting can be.

If you’re stickler for hard-core parenting advice philosophies, this book is probably not for you. Save those information quests for the frantic midnight Google searches (key words: toddler, insanity, mom, Exorcist, help) and your pediatrician. If you can appreciate a good laugh, laid back parenting, and someone who can joke about their child possibly being the spawn of Satan during a toddler meltdown, then this book is for you. I’d share it with a best girlfriend who’s about to have her fourth child, your co-worker who jokes about escaping to the office to get a little mini sabbatical, free coffee included, from her kids, and any mom who wants to take hard core parenting advice with a grain of salt, preferably margarita salt.

This is a fun fast read similar and is a nice balance to all of the uber parenting advice on the market that can be overwhelming. Let’s face it, sometimes all you need is a pack of dollar stickers and a trip to Target to make your kid, and you, happy.

Because I think all moms deserve a good laugh, and a glass of wine, I’m giving away a copy of Naptime is The New Happy Hour. Simply leave a comment on this post by midnight Friday, April 11 and I’ll draw a random winner from all qualifying entries (U.S. and Canadian addresses only.)

p.s. Stefanie Wilder-Taylor lives in California with her husband and three little girls and blogs at Baby On Bored.

I love office supplies. When the stores stock the back-to-school aisles in August I get a euphoric high from looking at all the pretty new pens and notebooks and folders. I remember being thrilled with my new Trapper Keeper notebook and folders, shiny and yet to be plastered with scratch ‘n sniff stickers, and accompanying my mother to our school supply store, just off the town square. Our budget is tight, though, and ordering personalized stationery for myself is not a priority. Getting seven hours of uninterrupted sleep and making it through the day with no pee mishaps, however, is.

American Stationery recently sent me a set of beautiful personalized memos in a trendy aqua and brown for my desk and I have to admit that jotting down a quick phone number on them looks so much nicer than my usual Post It Notes or junk mail envelopes that I use as my personal note pads.

I’m no stranger to American Stationery as my mother has been ordering from them for years (and she has exquisite taste) and she gave me a pretty set of their return address labels at Christmas.

Some more finds from their website (Mother’s Day will be here before you know it):

This note card set which features envelopes with a fun stripe interior.

Pink and black polka dot note cards with a monogram.

Shopping diva theme correspondence cards.

Pink and brown neapolitan notes. I think it would be nothing but appropriate to eat a bowl of neapolitan ice cream while writing on your cute new notecards, just mind the dribble.

Elegant jet black correspondence cards.

Mom’s calling cards.

Design your own cocktail napkins. Since I seem to relate everything to indulging in food or drink, (see neapolitan notes above) you should definitely use these as an excuse to make yourself a nice stiff drink.

As a bonus to my readers, American Stationery has graciously offered a 10 percent discount good through 12/31/08. Just use the code BLONDEMOMBLOG at checkout.

Don’t forget these other discounts just because you are fabulous for reading my blog and not choosing to surf the Weather Channel website instead:

• Go Baby offers 25% off at checkout with the code BLONDEMOMBLOG.
• Sitter City offers 10% off registration with the code BLONDEMOM. Scroll down for the ad at the bottom of my blog. You’ll be doing your part in helping me start the very critical Cute Fall Purse Hunt of 2008 Fund.

I just joined Team Mom’s review board and the first shipment of products couldn’t have come at a better time. It was a recent Friday when Nashville was under a winter storm watch, Miss A had the flu, and mama was out of wine. In other words, the natives were restless and the weekend had only just begun.

The first item we opened was the new Baby Jamz CD sung by Solange Knowles, sister to performing artist Beyonce. Solange has redone traditional children’s songs with a fun, and funky, hip hop style. The girls absolutely loved this CD. I was a bit skeptical since Miss C is 5 ½. But she and Miss A were dancing around the den as soon as the CD started playing. This was a great way to burn off some energy and we all know how important that is, especially when the weather prohibits outdoor playtime.

The second item was the Baby Jamz Music Crew mini boom box. Again, I thought this toy might not hold Miss C’s attention, but she actually played with it more than Miss A. I’ll be the first to tell you that I am not a big fan of battery operated noisy toys with no off/on switch, but this one is tolerable. The only negative thing was it seemed difficult for the girls to get the wobble figurines to stay on top of the toy. It also did not hold their interest for as long as the CD.

Of the two products I’d definitely recommend the CD over the toy. It’s definitely a children’s CD that both kids and adults can enjoy listening, and dancing, to.

Baby Jamz products are available exclusively at WalMart and are the first ever hip-hop inspired infant/toddler line and were created by Solange and her father, Mathew Knowles.

So what CDs are your kids listening to? My girls love bluegrass and Jimmy Buffett and of course like every other little girl on the planet Miss C loves Hannah Montana.

Winner Update: Holy cow people! I’ve never had this many comments on my blog. Disney DVDs must be like crack or something. Brandy, who commented “We would love to be entered to win these. It is a great pair! My daughter is a Little Einsteins fan, and my son is a Handy Manny fan!” is the winner! Thanks to everyone who entered. I’m going to take a break from giveaways until April so stay tuned.

Yes, I’m still giving stuff away. Crazy, I know! I’m going to take a break after this month (with the giveaways…not blogging, what do you think I am, NUTS?) and I’ll be back in late April with some exciting giveaways so stay tuned. The PR people…they love reaching out to you moms out there.

I’m making this week’s Snowy Days Giveaway so simple your family dog could probably enter if it could figure out how to get its grimey little paws on the keyboard.

I’ve got two new DVD releases from Disney up for grabs, courtesy of Special Ops Media.

First is Little Einsteins: Race For Space. This is a 72-minute DVD featuring Leo, June, Quincy, Annie and Rocket on a mission to rescue the Three Little Piggies when their airplanes spin out of control. Don’t ask. You know your little one will love this, even though the synopsis sounds a little bit like someone was on drugs when they came up with the story line. In this case, pigs do fly.

The second DVD is Handy Manny: Fixing It Right. This is a 58-minute DVD with six episodes, including one never-before-seen episode, “Manny To The Rescue.” There’s also a bonus game time feature, “Fix It With Handy Manny.”

Now for the fun part. To enter to win one copy of each of these new Disney releases, simply leave a comment now through midnight Friday, February 22. My girls love both, but I have to say that Little Einsteins narrowly beats out Handy Manny, the tool whisperer. You don’t need a blog or website to enter, but you do need a valid e-mail address so I can contact you, should you win. And if you link back to this giveaway, you’ll get two entries. Thanks and good luck!

Updated to add: Meg at Megret who commented that she liked the Zoom Zoom Zoom personalized book is the winner! Thanks again to everyone who entered.

Today’s Snowy Days Giveaways featured company is Aardvark Adventure Stories, a unique online store that allows you to upload your child’s photos so your child star in their own personalized adventure story book featuring their name, favorite things to do, and more.

I’ve purchased personalized books before, but Aardvark Adventure Stories are unique in that you help create the book and make it even more personal by uploading photos of your child.

Aardvark Adventure Stories offer several stories to choose from: Treasure Hunting Adventure, Princess Adventure, Space Adventure, Jungle Adventure, The Book of Truly Amazing Hats, Baseball Adventure, and Zoom Zoom Zoom.

Moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and grandparents take note! These books would make a wonderful present for the special little boy or girl in your life. Miss A is receiving the Princess Adventure story book next month for her third birthday and I know she will love it because she already thinks she’s a princess and this pretty much solidifies it, being in print and hardbound and all. Wait a minute…maybe that’s a bad thing?

Now for the fun part. I’m having a giveaway for an Aardvark Adventure Stories book of the winner’s choice. Simply visit the Aardvark Adventure Stories’ website and come back here and leave a comment saying which of their stories you like best. Comments will be open until next Friday, February 15. You don’t need a blog or website to enter, but you do need a valid e-mail address so I can contact you, should you win. Good luck and remember, for two entries you can link to this week’s giveaway on your own blog.

Also, for everyone who entered the Go Baby outmat giveaway, they are offering 25% off to my readers at checkout with the code BLONDEMOMBLOG. Aardvark Adventures is offering 15% off good through the end of February, also with the code BLONDEMOMBLOG. So get busy shopping people!

Updated to add: We have a winner! Jenni from Just Chicken Feed is the winner of the $25 gift certificate. Thanks again to everyone who entered and be sure to enter this week’s giveaway to Aardvark Adventure Stories. Shop now through the end of February and save 15% with the code BLONDEMOM at checkout.

Today’s Snowy Days Giveaway highlights online boutique Little Piddles, which is owned by Blonde Mom Blog reader and all girl mom, like me, Jennifer!

I love unique gifts as well as the convenience of online shopping and Little Piddles has a wonderful assortment of gifts for boys, girls, moms, and even dads in a wide variety of price ranges.

You could easily spend an hour browsing Little Piddles, so I’ll highlight some of my favorite items here, ranging from the custom business card holders below (only $8!) to the monogrammed tooth fairy pillows to the musical dress-up section (Miss A is getting a musical skirt for her birthday in March).

Now for the fun part. I have a $25 gift certificate to Little Piddles up for grabs!

How to win: Visit Little Piddles and then come back and leave a comment saying which of their adorable products you like best. (Trust me, it will be difficult to choose.) I’ll leave comments open until midnight Friday, February 8, and will draw a random winner from all qualifying comments. You don’t need a blog or website, but you do need a valid e-mail address so I can contact you, should you win. Thanks and good luck and remember, you’ll get two entries if you link to the giveaway from your own blog.

Also, for everyone who entered the Go Baby outmat giveaway, they are offering 25% off to my readers at checkout with the code BLONDEMOMBLOG.

Update with a winner: Tuesday Girl at A Girl and Her Life is the winner of the free pack of Mabel’s Labels!

Today’s Snowy Days Giveaways featured company is Mabel’s Labels in Canada. These are cute personalized adhesive labels that are dishwasher and microwave proof. I was sent a pack of classic sticky labels in purple for Miss C and in pink for Miss A and so far I’ve used them on sports cups, lunch boxes, wallets, you name it. With a two girl household it’s sometimes tough to determine what random pink plastic object belongs to which daughter and trust me, these are the Hallmark moments that sometimes snowball into Cat Fight Central.

Mabel’s Labels are also great for all those million and one things you send to school or daycare. The lost and found moshpit is growing by leaps and bounds at Miss C’s school. I was there just today and trust me, a Hobbit could be living in the lost and found bin.

Mabel’s Labels’ product line also includes allergy alert labels, classroom labels for school teachers, bag tags, clothing labels (hey, summer camp season will be here before you know it), and a line of household labels that includes a neat freak pack. Oh, be still my beating anal-retentive heart.

I am especially partial to products that have been developed by moms and Mabel’s Labels was founded in 2002 by four moms with 11 children among them. Last fall the company received the SavvyMom Mompreneur™ of the Year Award, so you know this is an up and coming company.

Now for the fun part. I have a gift certificate up for grabs for a free pack of Mabel’s Labels in regular, princess, or ocean colors (your choice of a pack of sticky labels, skinny minis, or shoe labels.)

How to win: Go visit Mabel’s Labels. Come back here and leave a comment saying which of their wonderful products you like best. Deadline is midnight Friday, February 1. I’ll have a random drawing and update this post with the winner’s name as well as e-mail them. If you’d like two entries in the giveaway, either blog about this giveaway or post the Snowy Days Giveaways graphic on your website or blog (e-mail me for the code). Thanks and good luck!