Lenox Easter Decoration Review...

We recently had the chance to review a cute little Easter decoration from Lenox.About the Lenox Corporation: "Lenox Corporation is a market leader in quality tabletop, giftware and collectibles. The company markets its products under the Lenox, Dansk and Gorham brands. A shared commitment to quality and design puts our brands among the best known and respected in the industry. Collectively, we span 340 years of tabletop and giftware expertise."

Spring Visitor Egg Box by Lenox

"Tuck an Easter surprise in this charming egg box. Crafted of fine porcelain and beautifully decorated by hand. Crafted of hand-painted fine porcelain Accented with 24 karat gold Height: 2 1/4" Introduced 2011 Imported Suggested Retail: $29.00 Our Price: $19.95"

What we thought: This is a really cute decorative piece just in time for Easter! As always, Lenox has created a gorgeous piece of fine art at an affordable price. This would be perfect for an Easter centerpiece or gift. ABCD Diaries gives Lenox an A+!

Buy It: Available at Lenox.com

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given a decorative egg for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Loop 2 Loop Belt Review and Giveaway...

We recently had the chance to review a Loop-2-Loop belt.

What is a Loop-2-Loop™ ? "A Loop-2-Loop™ is a buckle-free, rugged, adjustable belt that doesn’t cross the tummy area of the child. Simply slide it thru the belt loops of any pants or skirts and snap it to the two front loops for a snug fit – no buckle needed. The pants can be unfastened and re-fastened without having to undo and redo the belt. The elastic back provides a snug and comfortable fit while allowing freedom of movement.And the pants stay up! They are great for toddlers, pre-schoolers, kindergartners, and children with disabilities. Once the belt is attached, your child doesn’t have to give it a second thought. Loop-2-Loop™ belts solve several problems: Belt buckles that poke into the tummy area. Belts that are too hard to ‘undo’ quickly enough when potty-training calls. Belts that have to be constantly re-adjusted to fit snugly. Belts that have the excess length to fumble and fuss with after they are tightened. Belts that are just too big for a small child’s waist. Using the Loop-2-Loop™ on your child’s favorite pants will give you a comfortable and convenient solution to all these problems. Loop-2-Loop™ belts can even remain on the pants when you send them through the wash!They are made of colorfast and UV fade resistant polypro webbing, with a knitted elastic webbing back. They will not shrink and never need to be pressed. The heavy duty snaps will not catch or snag on other fabrics. With several colors to choose from you are sure to find one to go with your child’s favorite outfit!" What we thought: We loved our Loop-2-Loop belt! The best part was that it fit both our kiddos. The variety of colors is pretty cool too...something to match every outfit:) Our belt was really well-made and super easy to put on. It made potty time a lot easier too. 4 year old A is super skinny and has long legs, so she often has to wear a belt to keep her jeans up. Many belts we have tried have been difficult for her to undo when she needs to go to the bathroom. The Loop-2-Loop worked really well for her. It kept her pants up, but didn't get in the way of her buttons. 2 year old D is potty training and his 2T shorts often fall off when he's in undies instead of a diaper. The belt is helpful to keep his bottoms up and he doesn't have to worry about buckling or unbuckling the belt at potty time. Thanks Loop-2-Loop for making potty time a little easier in the Banda household:) ABCD Diaries gives the Loop-2-Loop belt an A+!

Buy It: Find these stylish belts for your little ones at Loop-2-Loop!

Win It: Loop-2-Loop has generously offered one ABCD Diaries reader a belt!! To enter, follow our blog via GFC and comment below with which color belt you would choose.

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Giveaway ends Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 11:59cst. Winner will be chosen via random.org and emailed. They will have 48 hours to reply. Open to US residents 18+:) No PO Boxes.

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given a belt for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Scrabble Flash Review...

We recently had the chance to review one of Hasbro's latest games, SCRABBLE Flash! About the game:

"It's up to you to find words in a "flash" with this fun, electronic version of the classic SCRABBLE game! Use the interactive SmartLink tiles to build your words and they'll flash and beep with each word you make! They'll also automatically time your turns and display your score with the maximum possible score. Put your skills to the test with three different solo and competitive games and slide, swap and shuffle your way to a win. It's fast-paced, addictive, word-building fun! Includes 5 SmartLink letter tiles, storage box and rules. Includes 5 "button cell" batteries. For 1 or more players. Ages 8 and up."

What we thought: This game was super fun! You've got to have fast hands, but it was really a blast. 4 year old A loved playing as well and I think it is really helping with her spelling/reading...how awesome is that!? Hasbro has done it again making another great game for our family game night collection:) ABCD Diaries gives SCRABBLE Flash an A!!

Buy It: Find SCRABBLE Flash and other great Hasbro games at mass merchandisers nationwide!!

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given a dress for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review and Giveaway...

We recently got to try out a jar of coconut oil from Tropical Traditions. About Tropical Traditions: "When I first read about the wonderful benefits of coconut oil, I asked my wife Marianita, who grew up on a coconut plantation in the Philippines, if there was a more natural way to extract the oil from the coconut, so that we didn’t have to buy the refined coconut oils found in all the stores in the Philippines. She said there was a method the older generation used to extract the oil by grating the fresh coconut, extracting the coconut milk, and then letting the coconut milk stand in a covered container for about 24 hours. After about 24 hours, the oil naturally separates from the water producing a crystal clear oil that retains the full scent and taste of coconuts. So we started making our coconut oil that way and using it for our cooking needs with our three children. We couldn’t believe how wonderful it tasted, and how great we felt. We had been living on Mt. Banahaw in the Philippines for almost two years by that time, and in the year 2000 telephone service was provided to our rural farming community, allowing me to put up a website about our Philippine Herbs. I decided to also put our Virgin Coconut Oil up on the website, not really expecting people to order it because it was a bit expensive since we had to hire people to make the oil, and shipping cost a lot because of the weight. We were so surprised when people started ordering, and then re-ordering it because they felt so great after using it! They told us there was no other coconut oil like it on the market." About Virgin Coconut Oil:

"Virgin Coconut Oil is a food, and is one of the best cooking oils you can use. It has been a staple cooking oil for thousands of years in tropical climates. As a cooking oil, its chemical structure is kept in tact and therefore is resistant to mutations of fatty acid chains even when used in higher cooking temperatures, unlike most vegetable oils. Research shows that the medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil boosts the body’s metabolism, raises body temperatures, and helps provide greater energy which can lead to weight loss. For hundreds of tasty recipes from people who use coconut oil, visit FreeCoconutRecipes.com"

From Tropical Traditions:

Your followers will be able to acquire their own complimentary copy of Virgin Coconut Oil book by taking part in the Referral Program: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/referral_program.htm. When you choose “Referred by a Friend” and enter your User ID: 6127257 on their first online order, the book will be automatically added to their order and you will receive a coupon good for complimentary products for each referral made. It’s added incentive for both your readers and you! Please feel free to post the web link to our customer service page http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/customerservice.cfm so your followers can email us if they need some help placing their first web order to capture the free book."

What we thought: Everything we used our coconut oil for was delicious! It has a very delicate flavor to fried foods which was nice. The food never tasted heavy or bland. This coconut oil is very versatile and whether roasting, frying or baking, it is definitely a healthier option than many other oils:) ABCD Diaries gives Tropical Traditions an A+!

Buy It: Find this coconut oil and other wonderful products at Tropical Traditions!

Win It: Tropical Traditions has generously offered one ABCD Diaries reader a free quart of coconut oil! To enter, follow our blog via GFC and comment below.

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Giveaway ends Monday, April 18, 2011 at 11:59cst. Winner will be chosen via random.org and emailed. They will have 48 hours to reply. Open to US residents 18+:) No PO Boxes.

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given coconut oil for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

DoMatcha Tea Review...

We recently had the chance to try out some amazing tea from DoMatcha! About DoMatcha:

"Today Japan only exports about 4% of its precious matcha. By partnering with Shohokuen, one of the oldest and most established Matcha suppliers in Japan, we are able to bring DōMatcha to you directly from Kyoto, the place where Matcha originated. DōMatcha contains only the youngest and finest, shade-grown, top 2 leaves and unopened buds of the tea plant. The leaves are de-stemmed and de-veined and finally stone-ground to a very fine, talc-like powder of vibrant green. The simple fact that you consume the entire tea-leaves makes Matcha one of the healthiest beverages on earth, providing you with approximately 10 times more of the health-promoting nutrients of steeped green tea. The Matcha powder is so fine that it is absorbed instantly and completely so your body will get the full health benefits quickly. This potent powdered green tea is charged with antioxidants and chlorophyll. It is a powerful detoxifier and an extremely healthy energizer that will change your journey through life!

Most people in North America drink matcha either in a latte form or traditionally with hot water as a tea. If drinking it when mixed as in a latte or blender drink, try using the 2nd Harvest matcha – more astringent flavor, approx 0.50 cents a serving. If one is going to drink the matcha traditionally then try our Ceremonial grade matcha – smoother tasting, about $1.10 a serving. People also make green tea ice cream, matcha cookies, cakes, salad dressings, alcoholic beverages with matcha."

***NOTE from DoMatcha***"DoMatcha has a Relieve Assistance program in which we'll be donating 10% of all online sales to the Japan earthquake relief, which will be matched by our parent company EcoTrend!"

What we thought: This tea was unlike any other I've tried. The powder is super fine and it mixes up into a frothy, rich tea even without milk or cream! It makes a wonderfully tasty latte and a decadent frappe just in time for the the warmer weather:) This tea really tastes like a luxurious treat, almost like a dessert! If you are a fan of tea, I definitely suggest trying DoMatcha at least once...you might just decide its your new favorite indulgence:) ABCD Diaries gives DoMatcha an A!

Buy It: Find these spectacular teas at DoMatcha!

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given tea samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

AriZona Kids Review and Giveaway...

We recently had the chance to try some kid's beverages from AriZona! About AriZona:

"Ferolito, Vultaggio, & Sons (AriZona Beverages) was founded in 1971 by Don Vultaggio and John Ferolito and to this day remains a privately held and family-run American business. AriZona Beverage Company-makers of AriZona Iced Tea, flavored waters, juices, coffees, energy drinks and powdered tea mixes-is the leader in hot-filled beverages for the United States. AriZona’s mission is to create great looking products of the highest quality that people will like and can afford to buy. For more information, visit http://www.drinkarizona.com/."

About the kid's teas:

"Each kid-friendly bottle features a soccer ball, a basketball, or a baseball shape incorporated into the design to encourage children to smile. Like other AriZona beverages, this lemon-flavored iced tea contains no preservatives, artificial colors, or artificial flavors and uses pure cane sugar as a sweetener. Additionally, each bottle of this new product contains 100% of the suggested daily intake of Vitamin C and only 60 calories per serving."

What we thought: The kiddos really enjoyed these:) In fact, they practically inhaled them! I would sneak a drink each time I opened one of their bottles and I must say, they were pretty tasty:) I am a huge tea drinker, but one of the reasons I drink tea is for the caffeine which I don't like for the kids to have, so generally they don't get a lot of tea unless it isn't caffeinated. AriZona hit the ball out of the park with their caffeine-free teas that are perfect for my little ones. Now they can enjoy tea more often:) They were also big fans of the Arnold Palmer half tea half lemonade drinks. They loved the kid-friendly sports-themed bottles:) Great job AriZona! You have made some new fans for life:) ABCD Diaries gives AriZona an A+!

Buy It: Find these yummy kid-friendly teas at grocers and mass merchandisers nationwide.

Win It: AriZona has generously offered one ABCD Diaries reader 1 case (half lemon tea, half Arnold Palmer)! To enter, follow our blog via GFC and comment below.

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Giveaway ends Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11:59cst. Winner will be chosen via random.org and emailed. They will have 48 hours to reply. Open to US residents 18+:) No PO Boxes.

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given teas for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Tollytots Disney Princess Carriage and Doll Review...

We recently had the chance to review a few toys from the Disney Princess line at Tollytots.

About Tollytots:

"Tollytots creates unique, innovative products which combine classic toys with leading-edge interactive technology. We want to create a whole new play experience for children and their caregivers.

We are very proud to be working with some of the most recognized and trusted brands in the world."Disney Carriage Doll Playset

"Our Disney Carriage Doll Playset is designed to accommodate your favorite 15-inch Disney Princess doll. This fanciful rolling carriage opens to reveal a luxurious boudoir fit for royalty! Our Disney Carriage Doll Playset includes: A pretty canopy bed Mirrored vanity Wardrobe chest."

Disney Bed Time Baby Doll - Cinderella

"Put your child to bed with our Disney Bed Time Baby Doll - Cinderella. A blankie, a bottle and a...tiara? Of course! Even the littlest baby princess is always perfectly dressed.Our Disney Bed Time Baby Doll - Cinderella features: An adorable royally huggable doll Soft stuffed body Silky blanket that's personalized with her name in glittery lettersYour little girl will love feeding her baby princess with her very own bottle, then taking her along on fantastic, fun-filled adventures."

What we thought: 4 year old A was in her element with this review:) She is a super girly-girl and loves anything to do with Disney Princesses or baby dolls so this was the perfect setup for her. She was very impressed with both the carriage and the Cinderella baby doll, as was I. The carriage required some assembly, but was easy to put together and pretty sturdy once assembled. Nowadays, most of A's playtime is centered around the carriage play set and it's many functions. She loves getting her baby ready for the day and putting her to bed and she also enjoys pushing her around the house in her magical carriage:) Tollytots has a pretty impressive line of Disney Princess toys, as well as a full line of Fisher-Price and GRACO toys. If you have a little girl who loves to take care of her babies, check out Tollytots. You are sure to find something she will fall instantly in love with:) ABCD Diaries gives Tollytots an A+!

Buy It: Find these super cute and fun toys at Tollytots or buy in store from Toys'R'Us!

Win It: Tollytots has generously offered one ABCD Diaries reader a Disney Princess Carriage and Cinderella Doll! To enter, follow our blog via GFC and comment below with your favorite Disney Princess.

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Giveaway ends Friday, April 15, 2011 at 11:59cst. Winner will be chosen via random.org and emailed. They will have 48 hours to reply. Open to US residents 18+:) No PO Boxes.

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given a carriage play set and doll for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.