Green Girl Los Angeles

I am a huge fan of the fashionable yet posh ways in which we can help save the environment.   We do a lot of shopping at Whole Foods and such, and we always have reusable bags with us, or we recycle the paper bags that we have.   Let’s face it, the reusable bags you typically get aren’t very fun or trendy looking.  At least if you are going to save the Earth, you should have some fun doing it!

The average family uses about 1,000 plastic bags a year!  Most of them end up in landfills where they sit for an astonishing 1,000 years before they decompose and do even more damage to the soil.  That’s a pretty shocking statistic and one big mess I don’t want to help pass on to future generations.

I was recently given the opportunity to review Green Girl reusable eco-totes especially designed for women.  They are perfect for shopping, a day at the beach, or trips to the gym. And one of the coolest features is that they are reversible!  Each side has a fun bold pattern to fit your stylish mood for the day.   These hip bags are made of machine washable cotton, and have plenty of room for all your stuff. The straps are super comfy which is a plus for busy moms on the go, and especially when you are lugging kiddos around.  And after your shopping spree, or day at the beach, you simply roll up the bag and secure it with Green Girl’s signature silver ring so you can store it in your purse or glove compartment.

Green Girl eco totes ($45) are now available nationwide, and at Lily Pad Baby and coming soon Green Girl World. Eco-totes are perfect for holiday giving too…try stuffing one with fun stuff for the holidays!   Get yours now and start saving the Earth!

Green Girl will also offer, jute totes that say it all with eco-inspired messages, kids’ totes, a bath, body and home line, jewelry and more!

Sports Buddy Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Terra H. !  She is the winner of the Sports Buddy Giveaway.

Come back and visit Double Bugs often!!!

Prima Princessa Winner

Here is the official winner of the Prima Princess DVD giveaway here on Double Bugs.   It is such a fantastic DVD you are sure to enjoy it with your special little someone.

Congratulations to Brian S. Winner of the Prima Princessa DVD!

Check back often for more fun giveaways here at DoubleBugs!!!

Ready Set Shop! Holiday Shopping Tips and Treats

The holiday shopping season is fast approaching us with a little less than 8 weeks before Christmas (eek!). Since having the boys it seems that time is just flying by, and I cannot believe we are at the the end of October already….where does the time go?

I found myself thinking about all the things that I have to get done. There are holiday pictures, cards to send out, shopping to do, gifts to send, traveling, baking, and decorating to do, just to name a few. I love this time of the year in spite of the hectic times ahead. There is nothing like the smell of cookies baking in the oven, the twinkle of the lights or the crackle of the fire. My husband always makes fun of me when I turn the Christmas music on a little early.

This past weekend I made about a half a gallon of homemade applesauce, and 4 apple pies, and I found myself getting in the mood for the upcoming holiday rush. I have been on the look out for what is at the top of the lists for gift giving this holiday season, and thought I would start it off with a bang!

If you are going to get out there and brave the crowds, I have a few tips for you.

• Take your time and compare prices.  I know it may not get you instant gratification of snatching up the last few what nots, but I have found that researching prices both in stores and online may save you more.
• Black Friday!   This is a great way to find deals.  You can find many places that post retailers ads early so you can get your game face on the day after Thanksgiving.  My husband is just brave enough to stand out in the cold for a great deal…like my new laptop I’m getting this year!
• Try and pay cash when you can, this will help you keep track of your spending and you don’t have to pay credit card interest rates.  You will be feeling much better in the long run
• Get your easy gifts out of the way early and this will allow you more time to focus on the tougher ones.
• Make a list!  This will help so you aren’t meandering aimlessly through the stores trying to figure something out.  This is a huge time saver in the end.
• Think outside the gift box.   Try having a family gift exchange and buying for one person instead of 12!  You can get that someone a very nice gift worth all 12 and everyone is happy.
• Be creative
• Look ahead to next year…write down ideas that you hear your special someone talking about so you have something to go by.  I always find myself forgetting what my husband said he really like then I am stuck trying to figure stuff out.  If you write it down and keep the list somewhere you have a ton of ideas come Christmas time.
• Count that change…all those pennies add up and you’d be surprised how much money you can save for just such things as gift giving.
• Stress relief!   Take a time out to do nothing related to the holidays.  Go to a movie, have lunch, take a nap or just read a book.  This helps to deflate all the pressure of getting things done and helps to quiet the mind and regenerate.
• Divide and conquer.   If you have a willing partner…hand them half of the list and send them to get those things while you do the other half.  It will take you half the time and then you can go out and have a nice dinner!

• Lastly, have fun!  Don’ let the Grinch in you come out.  If you aren’t having fun..just stop for awhile and recharge.  All the weary holiday shoppers and people at the stores will thank you! these great Walmart coupons

Soooo, to kick off the holiday season! DoubleBugs is doing it right! Go do a little shopping, have a hot cup of joe, and relax at the movies on us: With a $25 gift card from Wal-Mart, $10 gift card from Starbucks, and 2 AMC movie passes!

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!!

Here’s what you gotta do!

Leave me a comment on what you love about the holiday season, or leave a favorite recipe ( I am a sucker for good recipes!) and why you want to win.

Leave me an Email so I can contact you if you win.

Grab my badge for an extra entry or post about my contest on your blog or site.

Contest Starts October 27th, 2008 and Ends November 19, 2008

Good Luck and Happy Shopping!!!!

Briarpatch joins Thomas and Friends

Briarpatch has unveiled its first Thomas and Friends game!  I know my boys just love playing with all their little Thomas trains and saying “allll aboard!” when they move them along the track.  I was delighted to see that there is now a game that they can actually play.  They are both at a stage where they are getting really involved with counting, focusing on one thing for longer periods of time, and just really interactive with things.

The game is designed for children ages three and up so my two are just about at the perfect age for the game.  Not only that, it is so nice to get together as a family around the table and just interact with the boys.  I think this is of major importance, especially this day in age, when families are always on the go.

We took the game out of the box and Bubs the younger of my twins was like “OHHHH WOW.”  He is always saying this whenever there is something new to look at.  It is so cute how his face lights up.  Both of them recognized the characters right away and were ohhhing and ahhing over Thomas.  Both my husband and I sat with them to play the game.  Each of them are learning to count, so this game was fun and helped that along.  They are still a little young, when it comes to board games but I think this is a terrific start!  If anything, it teaches them the basics of following directions, counting and taking turns.

The Thomas and Friends Great Race Game retails for $24.99.  This would make a really great gift for a Thomas fan this holiday season! Doublebugs would like to give its readers the chance to win a Thomas Great Race game for your special little someone!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

Prima Princessa for your little princess

If you have little girls, almost all of them love to dance at some point in their lives.   I have a couple of nieces that just love to dance and in particular one of them loves ballet.   I never got the opportunity to go to dance school when I was growing up, but have always hoped that someday when I have a little girl that she will want to dance.

Both of my boys love to dance and they especially love music and in particular classical music as well.  I was given the opportunity to do a review of “Prima Princessa presents Swan Lake” which is a delightful DVD that introduces young children to ballet.   Although my two aren’t particularly into ballet, they were mesmerized by all the little girls dancing, and they just loved the music if anything.

Prima Princessa is a delightful and enchanting DVD that had me wanting to dance around the room. It is presented in such a fun way  to keep your little one engaged. It is so cleaverly done to help maintain a child’s interest and the video is only 40 minutes in length…perfect for a young child’s attention span. Prima Princessa presents the Swan lake ballet and teaches children very basic ballet moves in between.

Mary Kate Mellow and Stephanie Troeller are both stay-at-home moms who were inspired by their children’s love of dance and decided to create this wonderful DVD.  Prima Princessa is the animated fairy ballerina in the DVD, and she magically transports a group of little girls to see select segments of the Paris Opera ballet of Swan Lake.  In between the acts the children are transported home to learn simple basic ballet steps that are presented in a fun whimsical fashion.

Prima Princessa ($17.99) will make a great gift for your little ballerina this holiday season or at anytime.  To purchase a copy of this DVD you can find it here at Amazon.

DoubleBugs will also be giving away a copy of the “Prima Princess presents Swan Lake”  to one lucky winner so leave a comment here an let me know who you would give this DVD too and why you might like to win it.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!

Thank you to all who entered!!!! I will post the winner shortly!!!

Here’s the scoop:

Leave a comment on why you would like to have this DVD

Please leave me an email so I can contact you if you win

Giveaway starts October 17, 2008 and Ends October 31, 2008

Good Luck!!!

Lego Gift Card Winner

Congratulations to Tamara B.!

She is the winner of the $10 Lego gift card!!

Check Back often here at DoubleBugs!!!

2008 Holiday Gift Guide

The leaves are turning, the weather is still a bit warm and brightening our days, but the holidays are right around the corner.

DoubleBugs has teamed up with Mommy Goggles to offer a 2008 Holiday Gift Guide for your online shopping needs! The savings guide will run from October 11 – December 31st.

These will consist of amazing Holiday gift ideas, discount codes and even some holiday giveaways!

Next to each Holiday Gift Guide post until December 31, 2008, you will see the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide tag next to it.

If you would like to be featured in the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide, please email me at laurie@doublebugs.com. We will have some great gift ideas, discount codes for your shopping needs and even some fun giveaways!

This Page will be updated with all the links to the reviews specific products listed.

Children’s Products (Games, Toys, Clothing etc.)

Little Jet Set Travel Toys and Accessories

All Star Buddies Plush Toy

Briarpatch Thomas Great Race Game

Prima Princessa DVD

Plan Toys

Mattel Skull Mountain Play Set

Cheekeyes Wooden Toys

Melvin Might? Trucktown Book Series

SmartE Bear

Just For Mom (Kitchen/Baking Goods, Books, Electronics, Beauty etc.)

Calphalon Ceramics and LX series Cutlery

Green Girl reusable Eco-Totes

Avon

Gifts for around the Home

Stuff For Dad, Grandpa, The Men in Our Lives

Gifts for Anyone

Scrapbook Fairy

Little Jet Set Keeps Holiday Travel Merry!

The holiday season is fast approaching us!  I always look forward to all the fun things that come along with them, except for traveling with two toddlers.  Like a lot of families, we do a lot of holiday travel out of state to be with our relatives, so this means we spend a good amount of time on the airplane or in the car.  Keeping the trip as stress free as possible, is always a huge undertaking.

I am almost always on the look out for activities and various things to help keep the boys occupied on our trips.  Anything that can make the journey there a little smoother, and help me keep my sanity, is well worth the consideration!  Little Jet Set is just what the doctor ordered.  Started by two Moms who have done a fair amount of traveling with children, Little Jet Set has everything you need to make your travel a breeze! In addition to having one of the internet’s most extensive family-travel oriented selections, littlejetset.com has some of the greatest toys, books and dolls available anywhere.

I love Little Jet Set and I especially love the Zoobies that they have.   Baby Zoobies ($26) are the perfect travel companion for your little one.  Zoobie Pets were developed with a unique 3-in-1 concept.  Each pet is a plush toy, a soft pillow and a comfy blanket all in one – the perfect childhood companion.  Zoobie Pets are ideal for l traveling with children, keeping kids entertained when they are awake and comfortable when they are asleep. Another nice thing about the baby Zoobie is it fits nicely in a diaper bag so it can go basically anywhere.

Another cute idea I ran across at Little Jet Set, is What’s A Dragon?  Art and Activity Backpack($40) ( by Piggy Story. This is a perfect first backpack for young travelers. The backpack is sturdy yet lightweight to endure all kinds of kids’ play without slowing them down. Laminated exterior and water-resistant interior makes cleaning easy and keeps belongings dry. The unique slotted marker compartment will help aspiring little artists organize their tools while the see-through inner pocket allows quick and easy access to all their other gear. There is also a removable pocket pouch for spare pencils, erasers, or anything else your little artist can think of.  My boys love to draw so this will be a big hit for long waits at the airport, driving in the car, or just for trips to grandma’s house.

Little Jet Set has so many things to help make it through the holiday season.  There stuff also makes for great gift giving as well.  Be prepared to find yourself engrossed in the shopping experience when you visit their site.  There is also a lot of helpful tips and information to help you with travel.  So get ready to travel with Little Jet Set and may all your days be merry and stress free!

To kick off the holiday season and help make it a stress free one.  DoubleBugs and Little Jet Set will be giving away a baby Zoobie and a Piggy Story backpack to one lucky winner!  All you gotta do is visit Little Jet Set and find something you like about Little Jet Set and post a comment here at DoubleBugs.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!!!

Thank you to all who entered!

Official Rules:

Visit Little Jet Set and find what you like about their site and post a comment here on DoubleBugs

Please leave me a valid email so I can contact you if you win

Winner has two days to reply before a new winner is chosen.

Contest Starts October 10,2008 and Ends October 31,2008

Good Luck!!!

Leapfrog Table Winner

Congratulations to the winner of the Leapfrog learning Table!

Tammy E.

Check back often to see whats up at DoubleBugs!!!

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