Bright Starts and Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa-Mom have teamed to off an amazing Bright Starts Sunnyside Collection giveaway to one lucky reader!

This includes the Sunnyside Safari™ Chair Top High Chair, Playard, Plug in Sway & Swing, Portable Swing and Saucer making this truly the Ultimate Baby Shower Gift.

Special thank you to the wonderful bloggers who made this possible including our co-hosts: To Sew with Love, The Lucky Ladybug and Mom Blog Society.

I absolutely love the Bright Starts Sunnyside Collection!  I have to say that my favorite is the Sunnyside Safari collection that you see pictured below.  I love the colors and the fun animals!  I think this collection would be great for a boy or a girl.  Although I am out of the baby stage, I have plenty of friends and family that are having babies and these products will definitely be on my baby shower giving list.

Big smiles and bright adventures go hand in hand in this exciting, fun-filled collection!

Take a walk on the sunny side-where baby gear goes together in delightful new ways. It’s a win for infants and parents alike, with irresistable jungle characters adorning an array of fun coordinated products you’ll use every day. Each piece of the collection does its job charmingly, with non-stop fun at an unbeatable value.

The Bright Starts Sunnyside Collection is available at Wal-Mart!

Sunnyside Safari™ Chair Top High Chair

A good high chair is a must for moms, and Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Chair Top High Chair is as good as they come! It does what a full-sized model does and more, adjusting to four different heights (and nearly any table), reclining to three positions, and converting to a booster seat for smooth transition to the toddler years.
The reversible seat pad is made of stain-resistant fabric you can wipe clean or machine-wash. The removable Stay Level Tray™ remains flat even when the seat is reclining. All this, plus the friendly characters of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Make mealtime and snack time more enjoyable for baby and you. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• Convenient 2 piece reversible seat pad is made of stain resistant fabric that is wipeable and machine washable
• 4 height positions to fit most table sizes
• 3 position recline
• Removable Stay Level Tray™ remains level even when seat is reclined
• 3 locking positions to grow with baby
• Built-in holders are convenient for drinks or snacks
• Converts to booster for easy toddler transition
• 5 point convertible safety harness

Sunnyside Safari™ Playard

A bright, sunny place for baby to rest, play, get a quick diaper change and spend a few moments with some friendly jungle pals! That’s the Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Playard. This playard includes a removable bassinet with our time-saving One Less Step™ feature for easy fold-and-go mobility.
There’s a convenient changing table, a handy side storage pocket, easy-roll wheels, a travel bag, plus a colorful toy bar to delight baby. And like all Bright Starts™ products, this playard is an unbeatable value. Part of our coordinated Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• Removable bassinet with One Less Step™ to quickly fold and go
• Convenient changing table
• Toy bar with 2 fun toys
• Side storage pocket
• Wheels for easy portability
• Includes travel bag

Sunnyside Safari™ Plug in Sway & Swing™

Some swings go back and forth. Some go side to side. This one does both—and does it with music, toys, and delightful jungle style. With a seat designed for 180° rotation, allowing three swing directions, the Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Plug in Sway & Swing™ uses our unique TrueSpeed™ technology to sense baby’s weight and adjust for consistent speed—so it grows along with baby.
The swing also boasts a volume-adjustable 20 minutes of melodies and nature sounds, an overhead mobile—even an AC adaptor to save on battery expense. And it features the fun and engaging characters of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• Seat rotates 180° for 3 swing directions
• TrueSpeed™ technology maintains 6 speeds as baby grows
• Mobiles with 2 playtime toys easily pivots out of the way
• 20 minutes of melodies and nature sounds with volume control and auto shut-off
• AC adaptor saves money on batteries
• Swing time with 3 settings: 30, 45 and 60 minutes
• Whisper Quiet™ operation
• 5 point harness
• Machine washable seat pad
• Non-slip feet

Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing

Find baby’s favorite speed with this innovative portable swing. The Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Portable Swing is a win for parents and babies—from its machine-washable padded seat right down to its bright yellow, non-slip feet. With six distinct speeds to choose from, you’ll find it easy to suit your little one’s mood—and our patented TrueSpeed™ technology keeps those speeds consistent even as baby grows.
The Comfort Recline™ seat gives you a choice of two positions, and WhisperQuiet™ operation makes this swing silent in use. Wrap it all up in the super-fun animal decor and you’ve got a perfect travel companion. Part of Bright Starts™’ Sunnyside Safari™ Collection. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Features:

• TrueSpeed™ Technology maintains 6 speeds as baby grows
• Comfort Recline™ seat with 2 positions
• Whisper Quiet™ operation
• Easily folds for storage or travel
• 5 point harness
• Machine washable seat pad
• Non-slip feet

Sunnyside Safari™ Saucer

This is where babies go for serious fun. A Walmart exclusive, the 7-activity Bright Starts™ Sunnyside Safari™ Saucer offers entertainment options galore—and a lighthearted jungle theme with fun characters you’ll adore.
The seat rotates a full 360° for endless interaction with the activity stations. Twin overhead toy arms provide even more entertainment options. And the three different height positions make this one saucer your baby won’t soon outgrow. Four link loops mean still more toys can be attached. Part of the Sunnyside Safari™ Collection, this saucer will quickly become a family favorite. Start the fun with Bright Starts!™

Product Features:

• 3 adjustable height positions allows entertainer to grow with baby
• Seat rotates 360° for nonstop interaction with 7 activity stations
• 2 overhead toy bar arms with mirror, hanging toy and fabric crinkle leaves
• Hanging elephant toy
• Bendy giraffe teething stalk
• Bead chaser with easy to grip textured beads
• Lion popper with spiraling beads
• Rotating ladybug barrels with fun textures and beads
• Rocking toucan on leaf stalk
• 4 link loops for attaching more toys
• Lays flat for storage
• Built-in toy tray is easy to clean

Giveaway starts on May 7 at 12:01AM and ends May 28 at 11:59PM. Open to the US residents only; must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Enter to win the Bright Starts Ultimate Baby Shower Giveaway including the Sunnyside Collection on the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My family loves the Bronx Zoo!  Even though we live in New Jersey, we always find time to visit a couple times a year.  Right now, the Bronx Zoo is offering a great special – 20% off tickets when you purchase online!  This discount is running on their website from April 17th to May 6th.

Also coming up is the first Bronx Zoo event of the season – Animal Tales Extravaganza!  This event will run on weekends from Apriil 21st through June 30th and is included in your Zoo admission.  Each weekend something new is happening at the Dancing Crane Pavilion which will be transformed into a story time corner presented by Plum Organics.  Children can read from a wide variety of books and then make a puppet at the  Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschools crafts area. Plus at the Dancing Crane Pavilion there will be meet and greets which such characters as: Yo Gabba Gabba; Marvel’s Avengers; Nickelodeon’s Dora and Diego, Sportacus from Sprout’s Lazytown; Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie; Buddy the T-Rex from Dinosaur Train; Maisy Mouse; Olivia™ and more.

In addition, every weekend at the Asia Plaza Stage, Avenue Zoo featuring Kate Monster from Avenue Q, will present a musical tale where children will get to meet exotic animals.  These performances will run at 12:30pm and 2:30pm every weekend until September 9th.

Main Stage entertainment this year includes:

· April 21 and April 22 – Storybook Fun with Curious George
· April 28 and 29 – Marvel’s Avengers: Heroes Saving the Earth featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and HULK
· May 5 and 6 – Nickelodeon’s Dora and Diego: We Did It!
· May 12 and 13 – Sportacus from Sprout’s Lazytown
· May 19 and 20 – Disney’s Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve
· June 2 and 3 – Ferdinand the Bull
· June 9 and 10 – Barney™ Sing-Along
· June 16 and 17 – Super Sprowtz™
· June 30 – Spider-Man takes over the zoo

Special events this season include The Naked Brothers Band appearing with the Music Unites Youth Choir of Women’s Academy of Excellence on Saturday, June 2nd, Actor LeVar Burton, making an appearance on Saturday and Sunday, June 16th and 17th for a storybook reading.

If you haven’t been to the zoo lately, now is a great time to enjoy all the animals and the special events that are taking place!

Disclaimer: I am participating in a sponsored ambassador program from the Bronx Zoo/NY Aquarium. As a part of this program I have received paid advertising compensation, a premium family membership and merchandise for placement of digital advertisements and specific postings related to programming.

My kids love to hang doodads on their backpacks. These hanging items, though, often break off or are lost. Now there is a new, easy way to personalize and decorate your backpack – Gutzy Gear. Gutzy Gear was founded by two entrepreneurial moms, Lauren Bass and Wendy Koolik. Gutzy Gear was recently featured on The Today Show and is US Weekly and is a quickly coming the hottest trend for kids from 5 to 12.

Gutzy Gear is really easy to use. First, you get two backpack strap covers that easily wrap and attach around most kid’s backpack, messenger bag or rolling bag straps. The next step is to attach “Gutzies” – attachable patches. “Gutzies” stick firmly to the straps and are removable. You can choose from a variety of patch styles, and you can collect, share and trade them with your friends!

My son loves his Gutzy Gear! He immediately put the straps on his backpack and added the Gutzies! All the kids at school asked where he got them. I loved that the prices were very reasonable – a pack of two straps with two surprise Gutzies is only $9.99.  Additional Gutzies in packs of two are only $4.99.  They are available at these local stores or you can shop online.

Follow Gutzy Gear on Facebook or Twitter!

This is the first day of the Pinterest Preview for the Oh Baby Baby Giveaway Hop that will start April 1st and continue until April 15th. There are over 50 blogs participating and lots of great prizes for you to win!

Here are some of the prizes that will be offered in the giveaway Hop. Stop back on April 1st and enter to win!

Mama Chocolate is offering a Balboa Baby Sling

Mommy and Me Giveaways is giving away a Serta Master Sleeper Mattress from LaJobi

The Anti-June Cleaver will be giving away an Introduction to Cloth Diapers package

Mooshu Trainers will be providing a pair of baby/children’s shoes in winner’s choice on accordingtojenny.com

J4C Home is giving away a baby prize pack which includes 2 adorable burp cloths from Baby BlueJ Designs (Total prize package over 100$)

Me, Him and the Cats is giving away two motherhood books and a pregnancy workout DVD

My son doesn’t just like to dress up at Halloween. He loves to dress up year round! One of his favorite types of costumes are Kids Star Wars Costumes. He has dressed up as Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader, but what he really wants to be is Darth Maul! Why do kids always want to be the bad characters? Fortunately, Anytime Costumes offers quality costumes for sale with great prices. They were able to send me a Darth Maul costume complete with mask for my son. He has worn it many, many times since he has received it. The costume comes complete with mask, hooded tunic, attached shirt, waist sash, with printed belt and pants with attached boot tops. I loved that the material was not too thin – perfect for those cooler Halloween nights! I ordered my son a large size (12-14) even though he is a size 10. The costume is a little big, which I expected, but this gives him room to grow.

Besides Star Wars Costumes, there are a plethora of costumes to choose from. My favorite are the Historic/Patriotic Costumes. I always wanted to dress up like Betsy Ross! Other categories of costumes include Cartoon Characters, Horror, SuperHeros, TV and Movie, Animals, Cowboys and much, much more. Next Halloween, I think I am going to try and get my son to go as Robin Hood!

UPDATE:  You can use coupon code JQ7711 for 25% off at www.rocknlearn.com.

When my daughter attended Kindergarten, one of the focuses for learning was sight words. These are words that children should know how to read without sounding them out. The teacher had a wall in the back of the classroom with the sight words posted. Each week, new words were added to the wall. The children were so proud to have learned all of the words throughout the year! If you are looking for a product that will give your child a head start on sight words, Rock ’N Learn, a company that produces educational videos and music to encourage fun learning, has produced a DVD to help.  Sight Words will help your child learn over 60 sight words. The DVD features fun songs, cute characters and repetition to engage your child’s mind. The words are presented in context, so that your child will not find them difficult to learn. Included are the pre-primer Dolch words, the top 20 from Fry’s plus more.

My favorite section of the DVD is the “Look, See, Find” activity. I love that it gets children up and moving as they perform a dance that helps them associate actions with words. In this clip from the DVD you will see how it uses songs, actions and repetition to help children learn new words.

You can purchase Sight Words, or any of the other Rock ‘N Learn educational DVDs at their website.

When my children were little, we had a bunk bed in their room for them to share. The room was small and we tried to fit in two twin size beds, but they took up almost the entire space! Fortunately, there are many options available if you choose to use bunk beds for your children’s furniture. Years ago, there was only one option, the standard wood bunk bed. Today there are hundreds of options to choose from.

Did you know that there are even full over full bunk beds? If you have older children, this would be a great option to save space. Another great option is a twin over full. The full bed offers more room on the bottom for an older child. Other great bunk bed styles include futon bunk beds, twin over twin bunk beds and bunk beds that include only one top bed, but have functionality underneath such as a desk, bookcase and drawers.

Bunk beds are also offered in both wood and metal styles making it easy to match existing decor. You can also choose styles that come with a ladder to access the top bunk, or there are even models with stairs! Some bunk beds offer under bed drawers that make the unit even more economical and useful. I have even seen a bunk bed that includes a trundle bed for three beds in one unit!

Bunk beds are a safe and affordable way to add extra sleeping space to any children’s bedroom. If you are looking for space saving ideas, bunk beds make an excellent choice!