Win tickets to The Baby Show and a beautiful pair of shoes from Poco Nido

The Baby Show is back and offering a shopping haven for new parents and parents-to-be at the NEC Birmingham from 18^th-20^th May 2012. Forget the hassle of the high street, The Baby Show takes out the stress and confusion of shopping for your baby by offering the UK’s biggest baby brands all under one roof, so you can compare and try products before you buy! The UK’s leading parenting experts will also be on hand to offer advice on sleep, breastfeeding and first aid. Don’t miss this brilliant day out! For more information visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk.

Poco Nido is a refreshing modern, eco aware brand for little people offering affordable, good quality, limited edition, British designed baby footwear and t shirts. Their debut range features contemporary, baby stimulating illustration and simple shapes. The pull-on mini shoes have no exposed elastic and are made from cotton and leather, safely hand printed with water-based inks all playfully packaged into a recycled card tube box, which also cleverly doubles as a postal tube, meaning less packing waste and more crafting opportunities. See them at The Baby Show on stand D26. For more information log on to www.poconido.com

To win this prize, just do one (or all) of the following, and leave me a separate comment below to let me know what you've done. Remember to leave a way for me to contact you if you're the winner - email address or twitter id. Good luck!

• Leave a comment below saying who you'd take with you to the Baby Show
• Follow me on Networked blogs or Google Friend Connect (links on the right)
• Follow me on Facebook here
• Follow Poco Nido on Facebook here
• Follow Poco Nido on Twitter here
• Follow me on Twitter here
• Tweet the following 'I've entered @pondering_kate 's giveaway to win @poconido shoes and @TheBabyShow tickets. Enter here  http://ponderingsfromthekitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/win-tickets-to-baby-show-and-beautiful.html ' 

The winner will be drawn randomly at 7pm on Tuesday 15th May. 

The winner will be picked using random.org

No cash alternative
Collection of prize will be by visiting Poco Nido's stand at the Baby Show
The Prizefinder.com
Loquax competitions

Good luck!


And the winner is....

Comment number 7 - Aimee.

Well done Aimee - an email is on it's way to you with more details

Wow Toys Review and Giveaway

Wow toys have a fantastic selection of bright and eye-catching toys for preschoolers, made to the highest safety standards. Importantly for us grown-ups, they're all PVC-free and battery-free! Many of their toys offer a sensory appeal for the early years as well as attention to detail for the older child to discover - offering great play-value.

Eden was very excited to receive Casey the Camper Van to review. It's captured her imagination and for the past week since we received it, it's been a permanent feature in the middle of our living room floor that she just keeps coming back to. 

What we love about Casey Camper Van

• Casey is bright and colourful, with lots of extra features for preschoolers to explore. 
• The attention to detail makes it fun for kids (and grown ups) to play with
• The Camper Van has a realistic engine sound when driven along the floor
• There's plenty of opportunity to encourage imaginative play and motor skill development through the features and extra props that come with the Camper Van
• Eden loves setting up the table for a picnic, swapping round the boy and girl in the driving seat, and putting the dog to bed in the camper van  

Competition Time

Wow Toys have generously provided a Motorbike Max to giveaway to one of my blog followers. All you have to do to enter is visit their website and pop back over here to tell me what your favourite toy is from there. 

Extra Additional Entries (optional)

If you'd like extra entries you can do one or all of the following. Leave me a separate comment below for each that you do

1. Follow me on Facebook
2. Follow Wow Toys on Facebook
3. Follow me on Google Friends Connect (link on the right of this page)
4. Follow me on twitter and tweet the following - 'I'd like to #win a Wow Toy with @Pondering_Kate. Enter here http://ponderingsfromthekitchen.blogspot.com/2011/10/wow-toys-review-and-giveaway.html   

Terms and Conditions

• Competition closes on Sunday 30th October 8pm
• Winner will be picked randomly using random.org number generator
• UK entrants only please
• No cash alternative

ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions
Loquax Competitions

AND THE WINNER IS....

  NATALIE HOLLAND


Congratulations Natalie! Please get in touch to claim your prize, and thanks to all who entered!

Dino Daisy Amber Teething Necklace: Review and Giveaway

I'm a HUGE fan of amber teething necklaces! My daughter Eden started teething at around 2 months old - her cheeks turned bright red and she had a constant dribble. She was 8 months old when I discovered amber teething necklaces and I only wish I'd found out about them sooner. 


With her teething necklace on, Eden's dribbling improved immensely and her bright red cheeks completely disappeared within a day of her wearing it. On the rare occasions that we've forgotten to put it on in the morning, by late afternoon her red cheeks are back, and that's when we realise we've forgotten to put her necklace on that day – I know this may sound unbelievable, but it's happened a few times and hand on heart it's true!

I think Eden has been a 'constant' teether, rather than an intermittent one. When her teeth are actually cutting through she still requires pain relief from medicine and still gets a sore bottom, but for the daily effects of teething (her red cheeks and dribble) I can say from first-hand experience that the amber teething necklace has worked wonders.

How does it work?

I'd always thought that amber was a semi-precious stone, but it's actually a resin that comes from tree sap. It contains 8% succinic acid, and has been used in traditional medicine around the world for it's healing properties, helping to treat aches and pains. The amber teething necklace when worn next to the skin is a natural analgesic, providing pain relief for teething babies.

Dino Daisy Amber Teething Necklaces

Dino Daisy is a fantastic UK-based site, with a huge selection of necklaces and anklets, something to suit everyone's taste, and with custom designs available. The main focus is on teething necklaces and anklets for your little one, but there's also a Dino-Mumma section, with gorgeous amber jewellery for us Mummies too!

The jewellery from Dino-Daisy makes for a very special RUP (Really Useful Present) for a new baby, a christening gift, or a special first birthday or first christmas.

Safety issues have been considered – each bead on the necklace is individually hand-knotted either side, so in the unlikely event of breakage there won't be any scattering of the beads, which could be a choking hazard. Strong cord and clasps are used for safety.

Important: Baltic Amber teething necklaces are not designed for chewing and parent supervision is recommended at all times when your baby is wearing the teething necklace.

Dino-Mumma Necklaces

I was sent a Dino-Mumma large bean necklace to review. The website describes it perfectly – 'A really pretty necklace, which is simple but elegant'. The beads are beautiful, I've been wearing it every day as it goes with everything thanks to its fashionably classy look, without looking pretentious.

The Dino-Mumma necklaces are a stylish accessory for every Mum. They have the same safety standards as the teething necklaces with knotting between each bead, for extra peace of mind.

Additionally, the Dino-Mumma necklaces have all the benefits associated with the healing properties of amber – they're perfect for post-birthing aches and breastfeeding, as well as helping with that general 'run-down' feeling. Also part of the Dino-Mumma range are nursing reminder bracelets that can be easily switched over between wrists to help remind you which side you last fed from.

Giveaway:

Dino-Daisy have kindly offered a rainbow teething necklace to one of my readers. It's really gorgeous, made up of a combination of cherry, cognac and dark cognac amber beads.

To be in with a chance of winning, you need to do the following 2 things: 

1. Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect - the link is on the right hand side at the top of the page (under the tea cup) and 
2. Visit Dino-Daisy's website then pop back here to tell me what your favourite product is on there.

For additional entries you can do the following (leave a separate comment below for each)

• Follow Dino-Daisy on Facebook here
• Follow me on Facebook here
• Follow me on Twitter here
• Tweet the following: 'I've entered @pondering_kate 's giveaway to win a Dino-Daisy amber teething necklace! Enter here http://ponderingsfromthekitchen.blogspot.com/2011/09/dino-daisy-amber-teething-necklace.html'
• Link to me on Networked blogs - link on the right hand side ->

Winner will be picked randomly using random.org
Remember to include a way for me to contact you if you're the winner - either an email address or twitter ID.
Closing date:  Sunday 11th September, 8pm.
UK entrants only please. No cash alternative.

AND THE WINNER IS.....
Thanks for all the entries to win this fabulous teething necklace from Dino-Daisy. The winner selected using random.org is comment number 11:


@Clairew137! - Well done!

Please get in touch with me to claim your prize!


Find more competitions here:
ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions
Loquax Competitions

Review and Giveaway: Doktor Power Magic Eraser

Doktor Power Magic Eraser by JML 

"Removes stubborn marks and stains... just like magic"

On first seeing it, I was a little sceptical of The Magic Eraser's claimed results - it just looks like a normal sponge. To use it, you cut off a small amount and run it under the tap to wet it. I was surprised at the results when I gave it a go. I tested it out on purple paint splashes on our bathroom floor from a decorating session a few weeks ago. I'd scrubbed these dried splashes with water initially, to no avail. Using the Magic Eraser, the paint spills were quickly and easily lifted off just with a gentle scrubbing. 

Next I moved onto our front door, we'd used soap and water two months ago to get rid of the layer of grime on it when we moved in. The Magic Eraser polished it up nicely, cleaning more grime off in the process.

Ok now for the real test I thought, the scuffs and marks on our cream dining room wall from when we had our central heating put in recently. This had caused a real mess at the time and I'd used sugar soap to get the worst off before planning to re-paint, which I haven't got around to yet. I really was surprised at the results

using the Magic Eraser - yes it's going to still need re-painting as it couldn't get rid of the burn marks from soldering the pipes, but the Magic Eraser did do a fantastic job removing the scuffs, marks and grubbiness that the sugar soap had left behind, and the wall looks alot cleaner now, ready to be re-painted.

I've also used it to clean off limescale in the bathroom and the kitchen, and to remove a layer of grime on the kitchen window tiles. 

It's funny this post has made my house sound filthy and like I'm a lazy housewife who doesn't do anything! So I just feel the need to clarify that we bought the house a couple of months ago, it needed a lot of tlc, and we've had a lot of work done on it since, and moved into it just a couple of weeks ago, hence why we're still in the process of cleaning it up.

Anyway, back to the Magic Eraser review. Pro's for it are it really does do what it says on the box removing tough stains and marks, it simplifies the housework by not needing various cleaning solutions, and virtually no scrubbing is involved. 

The Doktor Power Magic Eraser is available from JML and costs £4.99.  You can also find JML products in high street retailers, see JML's website for a stockist near you.  

*Giveaway time*

I have three of these from JML to giveaway. To be in with a chance of winning one, all you have to do is leave me a comment below and a way to contact you if you're a winner - either email address or twitter ID.

For an additional entry you can do the following and leave a separate comment below to let me know:

• Like my facebook page here

• Like JML's facebook page here

• Follow me on Twitter @pondering_kate

All entries will go into a draw and 3 winners will be picked randomly on Sunday 26th June at 8pm. 

Terms and conditions:

UK entrants only please

No cash alternative or exchanges to the prize

ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions.

http://www.loquax.co.uk">Loquax Competitions

AND THE WINNER IS:

Firstly a HUGE thank you to everyone who entered my first giveaway!

It's been lots of fun, and fab to promote a great product from JML.

I've used random.org to generate the 3 winners, I would've liked to have done a screenshot of the 3 numbers that were generated but unfortunately just couldn't figure out how to do that - will have a play for next time! 

Congratulations to the following 3 people who were generated from random.org:

• Comment number 12: 'Maci234'
• Comment number 36: googoodoll (Alison Ducky)
• Comment number 40: Bruce (@essexgirlSE) 

I'll be in touch with the 3 winners to get your postal details so that your prize can be posted out to you.