If you talk to anyone who has a pet, or if you have one yourself, you know very well how close you can feel to your pet in a seemingly short amount of time. With that being said, I really, really love my cat.
Her name is Devin, she is a mostly-black Calico with hues of brown going through her and she is gorgeous. She has been with me for almost four years now and it has been great seeing her personality develop and come to terms with the fact that I am not the ruler of my own house because as anyone with a cat knows, they very much do as they please, when they please and if you don’t like what they’re doing, well, that’s just your problem. Devin is very true to that statement and I also often wake up to her batting me in the face with her paw not because she’s hungry, because she has had food every time I have woken up at an obscenely early hour because of her, but because I think she just thinks I should be awake.
Obviously, my connection to my cat is a very strong one and I think rather highly of her, so I was pretty excited when MyBlogSpark informed me that they were working with 9Lives to spread the word about feline nutrition.
When 9Lives recently surveyed “feline pet parents” (How much do you love that title? I know I do.) they found that 94% of people who had a cat were confident that they fed their felines the most nutritious meals possible. They also found that 48% of feline pet parents fed their cats table scraps an average of seven times per month and that 30% of people surveyed knew that giving cats milk may not be healthy for their cats due to the common incidence of lactose intolerance in adult cats. Furthermore, 23% of people believe that it is healthy and beneficial for cats to be kept on a strictly vegetarian diet, however, that may actually be harmful because vegetarian diets do not provide cats with the nutrients they need for a long, healthy life.
The 9Lives survey found that 92% of feline pet parents would switch cat foods if it would improve their cat’s health and 91% would switch food if they could add years onto their feline’s life. That’s where the 9Lives new Advanced Nutrient System comes in, a cat food that contains essential nutrients cats need to help promote healthy skin and coat, strong muscle growth, a healthy immune system and heart and clear vision.
I had the opportunity to let Devin try out the 9Lives Advanced Nutrient System Daily Essentials dry food, which I received from 9Lives through MyBlogSpark. I also received a magnetic picture frame, pet food scoop and cat toys. She seems to really like the dry food, there is no change in how much or little she eats as opposed to her food prior to 9Lives and I will definitely continue to give it to her. Devin has always been on the small side; I think she must have been the runt of the litter and I was very concerned about her not putting on much weight although she eats very normally. Our vet explained that Devin is just small and will most likely stay small, but she’s very healthy and I like knowing that the food she is given is completely balanced and full of all the right nutrients.
Devin also very much enjoyed her new cat toys. One in particular has pretty much become her go-to toy and it’s probably because it’s a toy full of catnip. She has been playing with it so much that I couldn’t help but take a little video of her.
Giveaway
To help spread the word about 9Lives Advanced Nutrient System, we are giving away a bag of 9Lives Daily Essentials dry cat food and prize pack that should delight cat lovers everywhere!
Mandatory Entry
To win the 9Lives Advanced Nutrient System prize pack all you have to do is leave a comment telling us a little about your pet. That’s super easy, right? I know I could talk about my cat all day (and if I don’t end this post soon, I just might!) so I’m eager to hear about all of the other pets out there bringing their caretakers joy every day.
Extra Entries:
Leave a comment for each additional entry.
Head on over to 9Lives.com and learn a little more about the Advanced Nutrient System and leave a comment here telling us what you’ve learned.
Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. [Can be done once per day.]
Attention cat lovers! Win a 9Lives Advanced Nutrient System prize pack from @WomanTribune & #myblogspark: http://t.co/wnvglCM ends 9/16
Leave a comment on any other Woman Tribune post and come back here and leave a comment telling us what post you commented on.
Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to 9Lives.com. [5 entries, so leave 5 comments.]
This giveaway ends Thursday, September 16th at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be picked.
Disclosure: 9Lives provided me with a bag of 9Lives Daily Essentials dry cat food, prize pack, information and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed throughout this post are 100% mine.
There are few toys and activities that have the ability to span over several generations and be cast into timelessness. Play-Doh has long been one of those toys; I remember playing with it on my front porch with my sister and grandmother on summer evenings and we have, admittedly, way too much of it in our house now that my stepdaughters love playing with. In recent years, I have seen quite a few plays on Play-Doh and am always very interested in how people are re-thinking the timeless molding dough in a unique and safe way.
Moon Dough is not merely a re-creation of Play-Doh; it is a completely unique molding compound that is very safe for children as young as 2 years old since it’s hypo-allergenic and wheat-free.
I had the opportunity to unleash my two stepdaughters (ages 4 and 6) on the Moon Dough Magic Barnyard Playset and they had a blast with it! My partner unpacked all of the contents of the barnyard and snapped the few pieces together to create the barnyard which took a total of, oh about five minutes or so. After the barnyard was set up, we unpacked the Magic Dough and seriously, it has the weirdest consistency I have ever felt. It feels very marshmallow-like; it’s very light and airy and feels nothing like any other molding dough I’ve ever come across. I, in all of my 23-year-old glory was completely fascinated by it for a little longer than I would like to admit. Of course, I also had to take a turn putting the Moon Dough through the top of the barnyard, turning the crank in the back of the playset and create little barnyard animals and bales of hay.
Even though the Moon Dough Magic Barnyard Playset is recommended for children ages 2 to 4, my 6-year-old stepdaughter had just as much fun playing with it as the 4-year-old; maybe even a little bit more. Moon Dough is very malleable and it does have the ability to be formed into perfect barnyard animals and hay bales when put through the barnyard playset; however, it does flake apart very easily when not extremely compacted into these shapes. Within a short amount of time, I had a great big Moon Dough mess scattered over the entire area where the kids were playing. Luckily, Moon Dough is very easy to clean up–and you will have a good amount to clean up–by picking up the bigger pieces that scatter about and vacuuming up the smaller particles. The Magic Barnyard Playset has a price tag of $19.99 and it is worth every penny because of one, little thing about Moon Dough that gives them a one-up on their molding compound competition–Moon Dough never dries out so your children can use it again and again.
Moon Dough comes in a variety of different playsets in addition to the Magic Barnyard; there is also a pizza shop, doghouse and burger shop. You can also purchase additional refill packs of Moon Dough and all Moon Dough products are available at Tors “R” Us, Target, Walmart, Kmart, Amazon.com, A.C. Moore, Michaels and eToys.
Disclosure: Team Mom provided me with the Moon Dough Magic Barnyard Playset to review and keep. All opinions expressed throughout this post are 100% mine.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.
The baby aisle of any store can be a bit intimidating in terms of the plethora of choices you will have when looking to buy what you originally thought was one, simple product. If you’re brave enough to walk into a infant, baby and toddler care specialty store, multiply the amount of choices you will have by a couple hundred, at the very least.
One of the simplest and fundamental products you will need when it comes to infant and baby care is diaper rash cream. Simple and fundamental! But again, so many companies have come out with their totally awesome, better than that other stuff cream that it is not a weird sight when you see parents standing amongst the shelves of diaper rash cream, maybe three or seven different boxes and tubes in their hands, reading the list of ingredients on the back trying to make up their minds on which will get the job done while, of course, not overspending for something that will probably do the same job. This simple and fundamental product, and others just like them where there is a severe case of choices, is one product I would ask for some input on.
I know, ow horrible is that? “Hi, can you please tell me what your favorite brand of diaper rash cream is because I cannot make up my mind!” This is one of those times where I am oh so glad that I have a great group of other bloggy friends who aren’t shy when it comes to sharing their honest opinion on just about everything and one of the most raved-about diaper rash creams that seems to have delighted a great deal of parents across the board is Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.
Boudreaux’s Butt Paste was formulated by a pharmacist with a great deal of input from a respected pediatrician in order to provide an effective diaper rash cream. It has been seen on the Oprah Show, Today Show, While You Were Out on TLC, in People Magazine and many, many more. It treats diaper rash and soothes irritated skin and is made of 16% Zinc Oxide and Peruvian Balsam. It’s super convenient for all parents; it goes on and cleans off easily, it has a skin protectant, it has a pleasant scent and it’s available in handy travel sizes to keep in the car or in your purse or diaper bag in addition to the full size tubes and they also come in 16oz jars.
I know that I don’t go out on a limb when it comes to new products or products I’ve never experienced for myself before unless it has come recommended by someone I really, really trust and know I can take their opinion to the bank. So, you can get yourself a free sample of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste just by visiting their website!
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is an Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series that is super cute, engaging and encourages young viewers to embark on new, exciting adventures. Each episode has a lesson or teaches social skills like sharing, listening, compromising, helping and appreciating others and self-awareness.
In Wubbzy Goes to School, the cute and quirky bendy-tailed character is nervous about going to school for the first time and because he knows best, as all kids tend to think they do, he decides that he will learn everything he needs to know all by himself. Wubbzy realizes that he can’t teach himself everything and even worse, he has no friends to play with, he gives school a shot and realizes it isn’t so bad after all.
Because the first day of school–not to mention all the preparation leading up to it–can be an extremely hectic, stressful and downright scary time; especially if your child is just starting school and doesn’t know what to expect or even why they have to go in the first place, I was really happy to be able to host this giveaway and get this DVD out to someone who will undoubtedly get a ton of use out of it. So, the winner of our Wubbzy Goes to School DVD giveaway is…
Practically everyone knows about Mom Central and the variety of blogs full of expert advice, opinions from real parents and of course, the amazing community run under their banner. We like Mom Central a lot, we participate in the community, in their awesome Twitter parties and write about them fairly often. Well, considering moms have been having a blast over at Mom Central for such a long time, it was only natural for them to branch out some more and have a little nook for all the dads.
Dad Central Consulting is a division of Mom Central just for all the dads out there who are pretty spectacular and eager to connect and engage with each other while building brands. On Thursday, August 26th from 12PM to 1PM EST (that’s tomorrow, folks!) join Dad Central for the Power of Dads Twitter party. The focus of the Twitter party will be discussing how becoming a dad has influenced what you buy, why you but it and who you trust for advice. As an extra, special perk for participating in the party, Dad Central will be giving away six $50 American Express gift cards during the party. To join in on the Twitter party, just search for and use Twitter hashtag #PowerofDads. Also, make sure you’re following @DadCentral and @MomCentral for the discussion and chance to win prizes.
If you’re a blogging dad and want to get involved with Dad Central, join the Dad Central Blog Roll. If you want to be considered for getting to test and review cool new products and take surveys for the chance to win prizes, join the Dad Testing Panel and if you’re on Twitter, join the Dad Twitter Team! If you’re on Facebook, you may also want to join the Dad Central Facebook page to stay up to date on all things Dad Central, participate in discussions and more!
The first day of school–not to mention all the preparation leading up to it–can be an extremely hectic, stressful and downright scary time; especially if your child is just starting school and doesn’t know what to expect or even why they have to go in the first place. As a parent, you want to make sure that when you get your child to their classroom on that fateful morning, you can turn around and walk out the door knowing full well that you eased your child’s fears and anxiety about school and got them excited to learn new things and making new friends.
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is an Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series that is super cute, engaging and encourages young viewers to embark on new, exciting adventures. Each episode has a lesson or teaches social skills like sharing, listening, compromising, helping and appreciating others and self-awareness.
In Wubbzy Goes to School, the cute and quirky bendy-tailed character is nervous about going to school for the first time and because he knows best, as all kids tend to think they do, he decides that he will learn everything he needs to know all by himself. Wubbzy realizes that he can’t teach himself everything and even worse, he has no friends to play with, he gives school a shot and realizes it isn’t so bad after all.
In addition to the back-to-school episode, the DVD also includes an episode about making friends and acceptance after the larger-than-life new student named Murphy joins the class. Wubbzy finds that good friends can come in all shapes and sizes. Additional episodes include “Gotta Dance”, “Wubbzy the Star”, “You Gotta Have Art” and “Magic Tricks”. There are also a slew of bonus features on the DVD, including a photo gallery, coloring and activity sheets and more.
Thanks to Grand Communications, we are able to give one Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Wubbzy Goes to School DVD away to a lucky Woman Tribune reader.
Mandatory Entry
To enter to win the Wubbzy Goes to School DVD, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us one back-to-school memory you have either from your own school days or your child’s. [REQUIRED]
Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. [Can be done once per day.]
Win Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD ‘Wubbzy Goes to School’ from @WomanTribune http://t.co/OL4fAdx ends 8/25
Leave a comment on any other Woman Tribune post and come back here and leave a comment telling us what post you commented on.
Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post. [5 entries, so leave 5 comments.]
This giveaway ends Wednesday, August 25th at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.
Parents of young athletes always have to be aware of the warning signs of heat illnesses that could affect their child. Heat illnesses that have the opportunity to come on when your child is exercising vigorously in unusually high temperatures and high humidity, which can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke. To make sure you know what to be on the lookout for–and for the chance to ask an expert in the field any questions that may be on your mind about heat illnesses–Mom Central has teamed up with Leslie Bonci to host a Beat the Heat Twitter Party.
Gatorade’s Beat the Heat campaign is an ongoing effort to raise awareness and building communication about heat illness prevention. Leslie Bonci is an expert on sports nutrition, a consultant to numerous professional, collegiate and high school athletic programs and a registered dietitian.
Use hashtag #beattheheat tomorrow, August 18th from 3PM to 4PM EST and make sure to follow @MomCentral and @LeslieBonci. There is no RSVP required, just search Twitter for the #beattheheat hashtag and start participating in the discussion. By participating, you will not only learn a lot about heat safety, but you will also have the chance to win a pretty awesome gift pack, including Gatorade coolers, powder and $50 AMEX gift cards.
Thanks to everyone who entered our $25 Walmart gift card giveaway. We had an astounding number of entries and I’m really glad we were given the opportunity by General Mills through MyBlogSpark to help spread the word about how parents and friends can help support children’s education on a local level with Box Tops for Education.
Box Tops for Education is a great way to support your child’s education. Just buy some of your favorite items at the store, like Betty Crocker cake mix, Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, Yoplait Kids Yogurt, Hamburger Helper and a slew of other delicious items, clip the Box Tops for Education coupon off of the package and send them to your school’s Box Tops coordinator. As if it weren’t already super easy to collect Box Tops for Education, Walmart is making it even easier! From August 3rd to August 31st, head on over to your local Walmart to find 4 Box Tops on participating General Mills products and earn even more cash for the participating school of your choice.
We were super excited to be able to help one family get a head start on collecting their Box Tops for the upcoming school year by giving away a $25 Walmart gift card. And the winner of that gift card is…
Jessie C. who left comment number 52.
Thanks to everyone who entered and congratulations, Jessie C!
Bill O’Reilly recently attacked Jennifer Aniston because of her new movie The Switch, about a single woman deciding to have a baby using a sperm donor and not with a man who would be a father to her child. While promoting the movie, Jennifer Aniston commented on the movie’s premise, saying:
“Women are realizing more and more that you don’t have to settle, they don’t have to fiddle with a man to have that child. They are realizing if it’s that time in their life and they want this part they can do it with or without that.”
Many have been commenting on what the movie is really saying about society, but this commentary goes back as far as when other movies of the same type came out; movies like like Baby Mama and Miss Conception. But one person in particular had quite the negative reaction to Aniston’s comments about women having children without fathers being in the picture; and that person is none other than Bill O’Reilly.
O’Reilly is under the impression that Jennifer Aniston is some gigantic role model amongst children and commented saying, “She’s throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds that, ‘Hey you don’t need a guy. You don’t need a dad.’ That is destructive to our society.”
When I heard about this comment, the first thing I thought of was “Why would 12 and 13-year olds need a guy in the first place? At that age, you kind of want them to stay far, far away from guys”, but perhaps he just meant that Jennifer Aniston is out there saying that kids don’t need any kind of male figures in their lives whatsoever. Even so, that’s a pretty big slip up on O’Reilly’s part. Secondly, what 12 and 13-year-olds know who Jennifer Aniston is or what she is doing or what movies she is in? I really don’t think they care much about Jennifer Aniston and I was assured in my thought about this when Beth Feldman of Role Mommy came out and said the same thing.
But let’s get down to the real point of this topic–Do children of single mothers suffer more than if they were brought up in a household with a father present?
“The traditional family that we have always known as mom, dad and two kids is no longer the traditional family. … Children of single parents do just as well as kids who have two parents. There’s nothing in the research that says having a baby by yourself is a terrible thing.”
Carl Pickhardt, a parenting expert and psychologist also commented on where Bill O’Reilly’s comments were coming from and what to take away from them, saying that while fathers are important in a child’s life, what it is even more important and downright crucial is “the quality of parental commitment to raising that child after it is born. … It is a prejudice that single parents — mostly moms — are deficient parents. In fact, they are among the strongest and most resourceful parents I see.”
Creating a comfortable, safe and stylish nursery doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. All it takes is some simple research, good advice and a plan to get you started and you can’t go wrong. You probably already have a few ideas for the decor, and have thought a little about cribs and other furniture. Here are a few more things to keep in mind.
Do start out by making a plan. How do you want the nursery to look? Will the colors and decor blend with the rest of the house, in keeping with current trends? Or do you prefer a colorful room, busy with children’s characters? Remember that it will always be easier to create a new look by swapping out art and toys than it will be to paint over a bright wall color. A clean and simple design, embellished with changeable design elements, will ensure that the room can grow with your child.
Don’t make the nursery an obstacle course. It’s tempting when you’re pregnant to buy lots of fun gadgets and cute furniture, but keep in mind that the nursery needs to be a functional room. A crib that converts to a toddler bed, a changing table, a small dresser and a relaxing chair are all you really need. If the nursery is large you can certainly add a rocking horse or other decorative items, but keep in mind that the room should be open and accessible. If the room has little or no closet space, look for furniture with built-in storage. Otherwise, be sure to stash all of your supplies in the closet and up off the floor. You should have unhindered access to the crib and other furniture, and not be in danger of tripping over anything when you walk in the room.
Do load up on supplies well before your due date. Check the Sunday paper for coupons, keep an eye out for sales and sign up online with manufacturers of baby products. Your nursery should be stocked with plenty of baby wipes, diapers, diaper cream, lotion and powder. Don’t forget the hand sanitizer for yourself, and a bottle of rubbing alcohol for swabbing the umbilical cord.
Don’t settle for a cheap chair. Skimping on a chair will cost you in the long run. You will be spending many exhausted hours in your nursery chair– make sure it’s one that will provide plenty of back support and cushioning. It’s also a good idea to look for features such as recline and swivel, and for locking mechanisms, all of which make resting (and standing up) while holding a baby much easier. You can customize a Storkcraft glider and ottoman to fit your nursery decor, or choose one of the styles available in-store if you’re pressed for time. The advantage of choosing a quality custom chair is that it will fit effortlessly into your living room, or your next nursery, when the time comes for it to be moved out of the baby’s room.
Do outfit the baby’s room with organic bed linens. You don’t have to pay a fortune for exotic or expensive brands. Most retail stores now carry cute and affordable bedding made with unbleached cotton that is produced without the use of chemical pesticides. You can be confident that your baby is sleeping in a healthy environment, free from harsh chemicals, and you don’t have to break the bank.
Don’t paint the walls with standard paints. They contain substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which emit toxic fumes. Low or no VOC paint is available in all price ranges at home improvement stores and at many large retailers. You can find it in any color, or you can have it custom mixed to suit your design plan. A popular trend for nurseries is to paint the lower and upper parts of the walls in different colors. Even if you choose colors that complement the rest of your house, this fun design idea can help to make the nursery unique. Whichever color you choose, be sure to paint the nursery at least a month before your due date to ensure that any fumes will have dissipated before you bring your baby home.
Do look over the nursery one last time with safety in mind. Get down on the floor and consider the room from a baby’s perspective. Are there lamp cords within reach, or other electrical cords that could be pulled down? You should conceal them behind furniture. Also remove any curtains or blinds with cords that might present a risk of strangulation. Have you fitted all of the electrical outlets with plastic covers? Those little holes are enticing to little fingers.
The most important item on your to-do list is to get started. Your pregnancy will be over before you know it, and taking care of a new baby leaves little time for anything else. If you plan ahead and take some time every day to work on your nursery then you’ll be able to breathe easier in the days leading up to your baby’s birth. And you’ll both come home to a nursery that is functional, warm and welcoming.
Sexuality is something to be celebrated and explored and we hope to help you do just that with the articles and reviews we publish in our love and sex category.
If you talk to anyone who has a pet, or if you have one yourself, you know very well how close you can feel to your pet in a seemingly short amount of time. With that being said, I really, really love my cat.
There are few toys and activities that have the ability to span over several generations and be cast into timelessness. Play-Doh has long been one of those toys; I remember playing with it on my front porch with my sister and grandmother on summer evenings and we have, admittedly, way too much of it in our house now that my stepdaughters love playing with. In recent years, I have seen quite a few plays on Play-Doh and am always very interested in how people are re-thinking the timeless molding dough in a unique and safe way.
The baby aisle of any store can be a bit intimidating in terms of the plethora of choices you will have when looking to buy what you originally thought was one, simple product. If you’re brave enough to walk into a infant, baby and toddler care specialty store, multiply the amount of choices you will have by a couple hundred, at the very least.
Thanks to everyone who entered our 
Because the first day of school–not to mention all the preparation leading up to it–can be an extremely hectic, stressful and downright scary time; especially if your child is just starting school and doesn’t know what to expect or even why they have to go in the first place, I was really happy to be able to host this giveaway and get this DVD out to someone who will undoubtedly get a ton of use out of it. So, the winner of our Wubbzy Goes to School DVD giveaway is…
Parents of young athletes always have to be aware of the warning signs of heat illnesses that could affect their child. Heat illnesses that have the opportunity to come on when your child is exercising vigorously in unusually high temperatures and high humidity, which can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke. To make sure you know what to be on the lookout for–and for the chance to ask an expert in the field any questions that may be on your mind about heat illnesses–
Thanks to everyone who entered our 
As if it weren’t already super easy to collect Box Tops for Education, Walmart is making it even easier! From August 3rd to August 31st, head on over to your local Walmart to find 4 Box Tops on participating General Mills products and earn even more cash for the participating school of your choice.
Bill O’Reilly 
