Welcome to my Sweet and Simple blog. I am a mama to 5 crazy kids, ages 2 years to 14! When I'm not picking up toys and cleaning....I am cooking, crafting, and writing reviews! This blog is PR Friendly!

Monday, October 15, 2012

HBL Hydrating System (review & giveaway) *RV$62 US 10/29


Every woman who takes care of her hair knows it's a pain finding the right product that suits your hair needs. I usually switch up my shampoo and conditioner every month or two because I feel like the brand no longer has a positive effect on my hair.

I had the opportunity to review HBL's Hydrating System. This is a complete system containing shampoo, masque and conditioner. (pictured below)
 
HBL products are free of harsh chemicals, sulfates, parabens, DEA's, TEA's and many other harmful ingredients found in other hair care products. Their products are gentle on hair and skin and still have quality performance.

**MY REVIEW**
After reading about HBL products, I was dying to try this system. Let me tell you...was I in for a treat! The whole set has the same light, clean and desirable scent. Even my husband commented one day and said he liked whatever I put in my hair. 
I have medium length hair and I used a nickle sized amount of shampoo...it lathers great and a little goes a long way. 
The masque is absolutely the best hair product I have EVER put in my hair! It is a thick conditioner texture and has amazing performance to get knots/tangles out. Once again, I only used a tiny bit of this and got amazing results. My hair is layered and I always struggle with knots, same with my two older girls who have different hair types than me...I use this is all of our hair and I can not express how easy it makes it to get the knots out. The masque comes with a small comb so you can comb it through. As small as it is, I find it easier to use my fingers or even a comb I already have, that has a handle. The masque should be left in your hair for about 2 minutes, for best results.
The Conditioner is creamy as well. When I buy conditioners, I always test out the texture. If it is too watery, I won't purchase it. The creamier stuff seems to make my hair the softest. Although the conditioner is part of the system, I find myself using either the masque OR the conditioner..because they are both great products and they both leave my hair feeling soft and manageable.

Overall, I must admit...this HBL system is the best thing that has ever happened to my hair. My hair is no longer stiff and brittle and is so touchably soft! I love to flat iron my hair after using this product. It prevents it from getting that stiff, horsehair like feeling.

**PURCHASE** 
You can purchase HBL products at http://hblhaircare.com/. Prices are listed below.
HBL Hydrating Shampoo is available in 60ml, 300ml and 1000ml sizes and retails for $6.95, $29.95 and $89.95 (USD).
HBL Hydrating Conditioner is available 60ml, 300ml and 1000ml sizes and retails for $7.95, $32.95 and $99.95
HBL Hair Masque is available in 60ml and 200ml sizes and retails for $9.95 and $39.95 (USD).

Connect with HBL on facebook and twitter!

**Giveaway**
One Green Mam-a Jam-a reader will win the complete HBL Hydrating System, like the one I reviewed! 
Enter using the rafflecopter form below. Only the mandatory entry is required. ll other entries are optional but remember, they will increase your odds of winning!  
Giveaway is opened to US only and ends 10/29!

**Disclosure~ The product(s) in this review was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Pourty Potty, the potty that pours! *A POTTY TRAINING MUST HAVE* (review)

My baby girl will be 2 in just a few days. We have started potty training...I got some cute undies for her, we take frequent potty breaks and she seems to be getting the hang of it.

I was so excited to be able to review a fairly new product called the Pourty Potty, the potty that pours. Before this review product arrived, we were using a multi-piece potty. For those of you who have potty trained and used one of these, you know that it needs to be taken apart and cleaned each and every time it is used because pee gets trapped under the cushion and it could create an undesirable smell in your bathroom.

The Pourty Potty is a one piece design made of a hard durable plastic. It is just the right size (a lot smaller than every other potty I have ever seen) for her to sit down on and it s just wide enough for her bum to fit comfortably on it. The one piece design allows me to clean up in no time. Simply hold the potty using the handle (the hole in the front of the seat, pictured above) and pour the pee/poo out the backside, where the spout is located. If your tot pees, cleaning is a breeze...just rinse and you are done. If your tot poos( which I haven't had the chance to experience yet), you may need to add a bit of soapy water and rinse a few times. I disinfect often as well, but there is no taking anything apart required, which saves a lot of time. I just spray some disinfectant into the potty, let it dry and it's ready for the next use.

This seat is fantastic! This is a MUST HAVE POTTY TRAINING PRODUCT! I can not stress how much this potty has made our potty training experience a better one. No wonder this potty has won awards and is rated 5/5 stars in reviews!

Want some really awesome news? This potty is super affordable! These sell for just $14.95! That is cheaper than many other pottys and the quality and convenience blows the others away!
 The Pourty Potty comes in 4 colors ~ Blue, Pink, Purple and White.

**PURCHASE**
You can purchase a Pourty Potty online at Amazon.com, Kmart, Babies 'R' Us, and lots of other online retailers! Check out the Pouty Potty website for more info!


**Disclosure~ The product(s) in this review was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Here is your chance to WIN a Bunzi Balance Trainer!! (GIVEAWAY)


 Welcome to the Bunzi Balance Trainer Giveaway!
I have teamed up with Kate n' Kaboodle to share with you the hottest new toy to hit the U.S., the Bunzi from Chillafish!
The Bunzi gradual balance trainer bike from Chillafish is a unique 2-in-1 balance bike that can be switched between 3-wheel mode and 2-wheel mode in just a few seconds without tools!
The Bunzi gradual balance trainer takes it step-by-step to learn balance. Smaller children can start off on 3 wheels until they get comfortable and then switch to two wheels when they are older. If your child isn't quite ready, it's easy to switch back for a while to 3 wheels to gain some more confidence. Bunzi has two seat positions, a seat position in 3-wheel mode that is low to the ground for comfort and a seat position in 2-wheel mode that is higher for making more speed. It features a cute bunny design and even a little storage container in the seat. Bunzi is the perfect balance bike to allow your child to learn balance at their own pace and comfort level!
Connect
ChillaFish Online
ChillaFish Facebook
ChillaFish Twitter
Buy It
Bunzi is available at select Toys R' Us store for $49-59.
Win It
Bunzi Gradual Balance Trainer in choice of color!

Although I did not get to test this product out, I can imagine how helpful it is! I have two little girls who could use this.

***WIN***
Enter to win using the rafflecopter form below.
Good luck to all Green Mam-a Jam-a readers!!

**Disclosure: I was not compensated for sharing this giveaway.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

I added 10 EXTRA ENTRIES into the *Celebrating Pregnancy* #Giveaway!



Hi all, I hope you have had the chance to enter the amazing *Celebrating Pregnancy* giveaway! If you haven't yet, you have until 10/16 to get your entries in. 

I also wanted to let you all know I have updated the giveaway form and added two more options that will give you 10 more entries!

Head on over to the giveaway and get those entries in! Don't forget, there are also daily entries just for stopping by...come back every day and claim those!!


Good luck to all!

*Celebrating Pregnancy* Sponsor Spotlight: Everly Grey Maternity (review+giveaway)

Company Overview
Everly Grey was created in 2009 out of a deep love and appreciation for fashion – in particular, the maternity genre. Sensing a void in the market of sophisticated prints and a contemporary aesthetic featuring an equally attractive price point for busy moms-to-be, Everly Grey has become the hot, up & coming maternity label that includes a wide array of easy-to-wear fabrics and styles of tops, dresses, skirts and pants.

The look of Everly Grey is based on weaving feminine and modern prints with a tranquil ease in styling that makes the brand relatable to all women. With a growing set of collections, Everly Grey’s designs empower pregnant women with style and glamour.

Everly Grey can be found at www.everlygrey.com, as well as at specialty boutiques and major department stores throughout North America. *Info taken from Everly Grey Maternity


During pregnancy, our bodies go through a lot of changes. I have gained quite a bit of weight, which is totally fine with me, but none of my pre-pregnancy clothes fit, except a few tops. All of my jeans/pants no longer button and some don't even go up over my thighs!

Being pregnant sometimes means you will need a new wardrobe, well...a temporary one at least. When you are shopping for a temporary wardrobe, it is always great to find low prices.

Everly Grey Maternity has some really nice clothes, for some great prices.

I was blessed to receive two of their lovely items for review. I received a Dylan top ~ in seafoam and a Uma Spring Dress~in orchard.

Let me start off by telling you I was highly impressed when I first received the package. The top is very soft and the color is so pretty! The dress totally blew me away! I am not a dress person, I like to wear jeans and shirts. I tried on the dress immediately and I was so happy with the way I looked in it.
The Dylan shirt is very soft and oh so comfortable! It has great coverage and no cleavage shows, which is very important to me. I can see myself being able to nurse easily with this shirt too, since it has some stretch to it. The elastic around the waist is stretchy and does not irritate my skin. After quite a few washes, the shirt has kept its pretty color and still looks new. I wear this shirt a lot. This top looks great with a pair of jeans or even leggings.

The Uma dress is so lightweight and the pattern is beautiful. Don't you think so? It offers coverage up top and is a nice length. I wore this to church and was flattered by the compliments I received. This dress is very airy and comfortable and on top of that, CUTE! It has a nice stretch to it so it is perfect for my entire pregnancy!

Everly Grey Maternity offers a wide variety of styles and sizes. You can also find some nursing wear! I believe I could find an entire maternity wardrobe at this one shop!
Here are some more of my favorites...

**PURCHASE**
There are a lot of items on sale at Everly Grey Maternity! I would suggest you take a look! The Dylan top that I reviewed is currently $23.99 and the Uma dress is $51.75! Both items are on sale!

Be sure to "like" Everly Grey Maternity on facebook!

**GIVEAWAY**
Everly Grey Maternity has generously offered a Uma Dress for one winner, during my *Celebrating Pregnancy* giveaway event! 

CLICK HERE to head on over to the giveaway!
**Disclosure~ The product(s) in this review was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Butterfly Festival...












*Celebrating Pregnancy* Sponsor Spotlight: Isabella Oliver maternity (review)

I feel like I have gained a ton of weight this pregnancy, although I have only gained 27 lbs and I am 31 weeks pregnant. My body has gone through many changes and I no longer fit into ANY of my pre-pregnancy bottoms. I have a hard time finding clothes that are comfortable and cute at the same time.

I came across the Isabella Oliver Maternity website when I was searching for cute maternity clothes online. I absolutely love what I found so I decided to contact for a possible review.

I was delighted to receive two lovely items for a review. I was able to choose the items. I chose the Grecian Tunic and the Ruched Leggings. I thought these two items would look beautiful together. The top is a nice length, which I love because there is nothing like walking around with your pregnant belly popping out from under your shirt. I think maternity shirts should be made long so this doesn't happen. The leggings are a light material but are not see-through, thank goodness! The go together beautifully and look great with a pair of flats.
This has got to be the most comfortable outfit I own. The shirt is a very soft material and has plenty room for my belly to grow...which I am sure it will. I still have about 2 months left before baby #4 arrives.
The leggings are nice and stretchy and they fit nicely. I like the black color because they go with everything. They are so comfortable, they are perfect for anytime wear~ lounging around the house, going shopping, going out to eat, to church...pretty much anything! I absolutely love these leggings, as well as the beautiful top! The top ties in the back which is one of my favorite features of maternity tops.

*PURCHASE*
Both of these products are available for purchase at Isabella Oliver Maternity. The Grecian Tunic are $62.30 and the Ruched Leggings are $65.

Be sure to "like" Isabella Oliver on facebook!

*GIVEAWAY*
One Green Mam-a Jam-a reader is going to win a Grecian Tunic (in their choice of size) during the *Celebrating Pregnancy* giveaway event! This is just one of many prizes :)

CLICK HERE to head on over to the giveaway!
**Disclosure~ The product(s) in this review was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

Monday, October 1, 2012

*Baby Blessings Celebration* TotSeat (Review)

Are you a mama of a tot? If so, you will love the product that I am about to share with you! The Totseat is such an awesome product and I am very excited to tell you all about it!

I received a Pink Circle Totseat for a review. I was thrilled to review this product because I honestly have not tried a product like it. I do not enjoy placing my precious babies in seats that I do not personally clean myself. I disinfect in my home often, but I highly doubt restaurants do as well. Having a chair "cover" has given me a feeling of security. I do not need to worry about germs getting on my baby.

The Totseat also keeps baby seated and in a comfortable eating position. I can not even tell you how many times my little ones have wiggled out of the straps on the restaurant highchairs and stood up. They sure are quick and within the blink of an eye, they can go crashing to the floor.

Since I received the Totseat, I have opted out of using public high chairs and use the regular chairs instead. It only takes a minute to get the Totseat attached securely and eliminates worries  for the rest of the time I am out. My little one, 22 months old has tested this out a handful of times and I can tell she'd rather be strapped into this, than the high chairs.

So far, the Totseat has fit great with any of the chairs I attempted to use it on. It's great for square top and round top chairs! Totseats are pretty compact and fit easily in a diaper bag. I use a large purse and it fits well in there too! Once more thing to love is the quality and designs of the fabric used for the Totseats. There are 5 different fabric choices offered!

Here is a quick intro on how to use the Totseat.
2 pieces create the Totseat (piece in center is the carrying bag)
Adjust the long rectangular piece to fit the chair snug, using the large strip of velcro attached.
Fit the top part onto the chair (there are holes in the corners for use with square chairs) and slide the smaller end downward through the opening of the piece you attached to the chair.
Seat child and clip the plastic slips together around the back of the chair.
Once you are done, remove the Totseat, fold and stuff into handy carrying case.
 Totseats are completely washable...that's definitely one of my favorite features! They fit snug around the child and the rise is high. It takes no more than a minute to set up as well as remove and put away!

*PURCHASE*
Totseats retail for $34.99 and can be purchased at www.TrendyKid.com
I have a special code for you to receive 15% off if you decide to purchase... JAMAMAMA15
 This code is good until October 31!

Follow TrendyKid on twitter! @trendykidusa
Like TrendyKid on facebook!

**GIVEAWAY**
I know this product doesn't really fit into the newborn baby category, but you can use this as soon as your baby can sit up on their own, around 6 months, to 30 months of age!
Soooo...that's right, one winner is going to win one for their tot! This is one of the many prizes being given away during my Baby Blessings Event!

The Baby Blessings Event will start in November...be sure to check back and get entered! There will be LOTS of prizes!!!

**Disclosure~ The product(s) in this review was provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.