Fraas Animal Print Scarf Review...

FRAAS DEBUTS A CONTEMPORARY ANIMAL PRINT OPTION WHICH CAN BE WORN AS A WRAP OR A VERSATILE SCARF:
WITH THREE SPOT-ON COLOR WAY OPTIONS, IT IS AN IDEAL ACCESSORY AND WARDROBE ENHANCER FOR A SELF OR GIFT PURCHASE

"The escalating interest in the scarf and wrap/stole category is evident everywhere, as witnessed by looking around at fashion-savvy women. And no collection is more on target for this chic look than the luxurious line up of  lightweight options that FRAAS is offering in its Spring/Summer 2012 collection.
          More than 30 new Fraas brand styles are debuting in the upcoming season--many in multiple colorway options. Three pretty palettes and themes are apparent--Sun Kissed Summer, Powder Box and Gentle Voice. Within Powder Box, a range of flattering mid tone and neutral shades, is a Contemporary Leopard Print scarf which is a winning choice for savvy consumers. This style (393085)  in its three color palettes is suitable for every complexion and can accessory  varied looks from casual, daytime, business and even dress up. 3It measures 28 x 80 inches, retails for $40 and is easy care, comprised of lightweight acrylic.  This style can be folded into a scarf or worn as a wrap. Perfect for travel, since it is so diverse and is extremely packable requiring little space and unpacking wrinkle-free.  Wraps are ideal for chilling evenings and over-cooled rooms. Many savvy females are never without one.
           “Our aim at FRAAS is to give consumers great choices of fresh products at affordable price points,” says Aimee Zucchetti, the company’s Brand and Sales Manager. “These new styles—which are part of a far larger collection that includes an extremely comprehensive choice of scarves and wraps in many materials, sizes and shapes— allows them to renew their wardrobes and accessorize like fashionistas without spending a fortune!”
           “Whenever a woman wants to add a finishing touch to her outfit and add pizzazz to her entire look—she can reach for one of our FRAAS styles and be 100% confident that it will produce the right effect,” says Ken Krieger, the VP of Sales for the innovative international manufacturer of woven and knit scarves, stoles, ruanas, wraps, capes and related accessories."


What we thought:  This lightweight scarf was gorgeous!  It was very easy to stylishly dress up an outfit with these fun animal prints.  These new scarves from FRAAS are perfect for Spring.  They feel so luxurious, can quickly add flair to any outfit and are big enough to be worn as a wrap or a scarf.  The three color palettes are perfect additions to any wardrobe because they are easy to match up with pretty much anything.  ABCD Diaries gives the aniomal print scarves from FRAAS an A+!

YOU CAN FIND FRAAS AT SPECIALTY STORES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND MAY ORDER THESE STYLES
DIRECTLY AT THE  COMPANY BY CALLING 212-575-0191. SELECT STYLES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT fraas.com and amazon.com


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

LamanBlu Review and Giveaway...

"LamanBlu™ was created for the love of every little princess and prince charming, and all of their day's activities, from holding court in the morning, to slaying dragons in the afternoon.  


We make beautifully exquisite eco-friendly apparel that is made to live in, to dance in, to play in,
 that children adore!

Holli Gibson, designer for LamanBlu™, is an industry veteran, who spent much of her career designing clothing for women out of New York and Dallas for high end retailers including Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.  She is also the recipient of The Rising Star Award for Design from Fashion Group International.


LamanBlu™ debuted to rave reviews in 2009.  LamanBlu™ celebrates childhood by seeing the beauty in everyday things. It is inspired by a child's sense of wonder and their enjoyment of discovery. 

We hold precious the magical beauty of children and the innocence of childhood by caring for the environment and caring for others. We support several charities caring for children and for our world. You can support them too when you make a purchase from our website. 


We invite you to join us  - 
Celebrate Childhood!"

What we thought:  We review the gorgeous Pucci Pool Party Dress pictured above and A LOVES it!  It is definitely her favorite thing to wear these days:)  She says she loves it because it is so pretty and comfy, "as soft as silk" she says:)  She even requested to wear it on Spring Picture Day which is the one day the kiddos get to go to school out of uniform...she wanted to show off her new dress to all of her friends:)  The color is gorgeous!  It can be dressed up with some nice sandals or worn casually with flip flops and still look great.   I wish LamanBlu made this dress in my size:)  The material is so soft and the dress is just so fun!  LamanBlu has a wide selection of cute dresses and outfits perfect for Spring/Summer.  ABCD Diaries gives LamanBlu an A+!  

Loove and Sweet Review and Giveaway...

What we thought:  We reviewed the three gorgeous items above from Loove and Sweet.  These accessories are all handmade and made really well.  The headband is one of the few that actually stay in A's hair and it is so pretty!  She wears a clip in her hair everyday and the lacy purple flower is one of her most requested these days.  It is so dainty with just the right amount of bling:)  D LOVES his new bow tie.  He wears it with just about anything, even clipped onto his t-shirts.  I am really impressed with the quality of our goodies from Loove and Sweet.  This online boutique has quite a selection of hair accessories for girls and women and lots of cute bow tie options for the little men in your life:)  ABCD Diaries gives Loove and Sweet an A+! 

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Review...

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is a great product to have on hand for transitioning your home from winter to spring. It can be used in almost every room in the house and it only costs $1 for a 1 lb. box!

Suggested Tips for Spring Cleaning:

In the Kitchen
• Food Safe Surface Cleaning
Clean your food prep area and tools with natural, food safe ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda instead of harsh cleaners. Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda onto a clean damp sponge or cloth and wipe clean, rinse thoroughly, and then dry. Great for counters, stainless steel sinks, cutting boards, microwaves, lunch boxes, wooden spoons, oven tops, range hoods and more.
• Clean Stainless Steel Sinks without Scratching
Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda onto a clean damp sponge or cloth and wipe the sink clean, then rinse thoroughly.
• Wash Fruits and Vegetables
An apple a day—cleaned the safe way! ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda is the food-safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Sprinkle a little baking soda on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse. For soft skinned produce, sprinkle baking soda in a bowl of water. Add produce, agitate, and rinse. Keep an ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda Shaker on your sink for everyday use.
• Drains and Garbage Disposals
What goes down sometimes comes back up. To deodorize your drains and disposal, and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda down the drain while running warm tap water. Baking Soda will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain.
• Fluffier Mashed Potatoes
With weather getting cooler, we turn to our favorite comfort foods. Throw a pinch of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda into potatoes while mashing to make them fluffier.
• Manage Microwave Mess
Who wants popcorn that tastes like a science experiment? ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda on a fresh, damp sponge gently cleans inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.
• Hand Washing Dishes and Pots and Pans
Give yourself a hand. Add two heaping tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots and pans. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda, detergent, and hot water first, then use dry ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratchless scouring powder!

In the Living Room
• Freshen Upholstery
Keep comfy upholstered sofas and chairs smelling fresh with ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. Sprinkle Baking Soda on upholstery, wait 15 minutes and vacuum up.
• Freshen and Deodorize Carpets
A sprinkle a day keeps the odors away. Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda on carpets and let sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming.

In the Dining Room
• Carpet Spills
Clean and deodorize spills or accidents on carpets by soaking up as much of the spill as possible. Clean the stain according to the carpet manufacturer's directions and allow to dry. When the area is completely dry, sprinkle liberally with ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda and let sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming it up. Great for pet and kid messes too! Check for color-fastness first before applying ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda.
• Remove Scuff Marks on Floors
Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks!) from no-wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda in a bucket of warm water – mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For unsightly scuff marks, use ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse. Great for high-traffic areas and after dinner parties too!
• Polish Silver Flatware
ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda can shine all your holiday silver in no time at all. Before your guests arrive for dinner, make a natural cleaning paste with three parts ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to one part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.

In the Laundry Room
• Laundry Booster
Add 1 cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder for you and your family. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, brighter! Our 13.5 lb resealable pouch size makes it an easy additive for every wash load.
• Musty Towels
Get towels clothesline fresh...right from the wash! Add 1/2 cup ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to the rinse cycle.

In the Bathroom
• Cleaning Bathroom Floors
ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda helps remove the dirt and grime from bathroom tiles or no-wax floors quickly and easily. Mix 1/2 cup ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda in a bucket of warm water, mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor.
• Deodorizing Wastebasket
Keep bathroom wastebaskets fresh-smelling with just a sprinkle of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. Apply regularly as you add to the container, or when you empty it, wash the container with a solution of 1 cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda per 1 gallon of water.
• Shower Curtains
Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry

What we thought:  We always have a box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on hand.  It is such a safe and easy way to clean pretty much anything and it is inexpensive as well!  My favorite use for baking soda is in the laundry.  Whenever I forget a load in the washer overnight and it gets that mildewy smell that nobody likes, I just add some baking soda and re-wash the load.  It works every time!  Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is a staple in our pantry, our laundry room and our cleaning shelf...it is our go-to all-purpose cleaner:)  ABCD Diaries gives Arm & Hammer Baking Soda an A+!



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

SwaddleDesigns Angry Birds Review and Giveaway...

"SwaddleDesigns® is introducing the Angry Birds Baby Collection!

Angry Birds have found happiness with SwaddleDesigns baby products! We are honored that Rovio chose SwaddleDesigns to manufacture Angry Birds Baby items based on our high quality products.

Angry Birds by Rovio is a phenomenally popular game. Angry Birds is the fastest growing brand in the world with over 600 million downloads. Boys, girls, men, women, grandmas and grandpas – all love playing Angry Birds. The game is entertaining to people of all ages, genders and geographies.

SwaddleDesigns was founded by Lynette Damir, RN, Designer and Mom in 2002, and SwaddleDesigns was the first company to introduce the large square swaddling blanket to the US and many countries around the world. SwaddleDesigns is known for their premium quality fabric, fabulous colors and prints, decorative edge, and the innovative 123 Swaddle® instructional label that helps new parents master the art of swaddling. SwaddleDesigns blankets come in a variety of weights and are perfect for many uses such as a privacy throw for breastfeeding moms, a tummy time play mat, a cover over the stroller as well as swaddling.

The Ultimate Receiving Blanket® is a lightweight premium cotton flannel blanket – for moderate to cooler environmental temperatures.

The Marquisette Swaddling Blanket® is a very lightweight openweave high quality cotton blanket – for warmer environmental temperatures

Angry Birds by Rovio is a phenomenally popular game. Angry Birds is the fastest growing brand in the world with over 600 million downloads. Little boys and girls, teens, men, women, grandmas and grandpas – all love playing Angry Birds. The game is entertaining to people of all ages, genders and geographies, and is fun for family members to play together during snuggle time

Angry Birds is just one of the many collections SwaddleDesigns offers. We have many new exciting new prints and a variety of blankets and other products for 2012!

 View “How to Swaddle” for more information regarding sleeping environments and the benefits of swaddling."

What we thought:  We have done several reviews of SwaddleDesigns products and we are super excited to share the newest line with all of you!  These new products are adorable!  I mean, who doesn't love Angry Birds these days?  Even my kiddos are familiar with the characters (they have actually mastered more of the game than I have:)  SwaddleDesigns has found a way to bring the Angry Birds to another level of cuteness by adding them to products even the youngest members of your family can enjoy:)  These swaddling blankets, bodysuits and other goodies are really well-made, soft and comfy and super cute!  The gift sets would make great baby shower presents.  ABCD Diaries gives SwaddleDesigns Angry Birds goodies an A+! 

 If they join SwaddleDesign's exclusive email club, you will get the inside scoop for special offers: http://tinyurl.com/5uyh3ck

I See Me Personalized Birthday Book Review and Giveaway...

I See Me makes really cute personalized books for children.  We recently reviewed a birthday board book for A.  She loves it!  The new birthday books come in two different themes, one for boys and one for girls. The full color pictures are cute and the rhyming words are a lot of fun to read.  She can read this book by herself which is great for an early reader:)  The selection of books at I See Me is extensive and you can find the perfect book for any kiddo on any occasion.  The books are well-made and our children have loved each book we reviewed.  These books make really special and memorable gifts.  ABCD Diaries gives I See Me books an A+!

NEW!! Tell your friends about I See Me! You get $5 I See Me! Dollars for each friend you refer. That $5 is accumulative!! Your friend gets $5 off their first order as a new customer. http://www.iseeme.com/refer-a-friend-sign-in.html

WOW Toys Review...

"Ciao I’m Mario and my pizzeria is the best in town! The whole WOW team come to me to get their favourite pizzas. I have them all, from vegetarian to peperoni, they can always count on good old Mario to fill up their tummies after a hard day’s work!

My delivery boy, Marco, can deliver the tasty pizzas in his push-along trike so they get where they need to be in quick time whilst still nice and hot. The hot flames of the oven roar into action as the button is pressed and the toppings even spin around so you can choose your favourite!

My fabulous pizzeria set includes a magic oven with a push-to-bake button, a push-along pizza delivery trike, three removable pizzas and two removable figures, Mario and Marco."

What we thought:  Our kiddos love WOW toys and so do we...let me tell you why:)  These fantastic toys really spark our kiddos' imaginations and implement important early learning skills like hand eye coordination and fine motor skills, while also encouraging creativity.  WOW playsets don't need batteries, they are "kid-powered", and they don't come with a zillion teeny pieces (this makes our vacuum sad, but everyone else happy:)  hey are affordable and I haven't yet come across a kiddo that hasn't enjoyed the WOW toys we own.  They are durable and safe and lots of fun!  ABCD Diaries gives WOW toys and A+!


You can find these engaging toys on Amazon.com as well as the WOW website.


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