Shark Week Giveaway Contest!!!!!!!!!!!!

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It is Shark Week!  We love shark week in our home.  We look forward to it every year, it’s a big part of our summer break.  One thing I have noticed though is that it’s not all kid-friendly.  My 8-year-old always wants to be involved but can’t watch all of the Shark Week shows so I like to add in some fun activities and things that she will love.  It gives me a chance to add in some education as well.  We love the ocean in our home so it’s always fun when we can teach our kids about sharks and the ocean.  I have put together the Ultimate Kid-Friendly Shark Week Guide with some fun books, movies, games, gear, and recipes.  Hope you enjoy it.  Make sure to scroll to through we have a great giveaway with some really awesome prizes.

Shark Week Schedule:

Shark week is on the Discovery channel and runs from July 23rd-3oth.  They will be featuring 18 shark filled programs throughout the week! (All time are ET)

Sunday July 23rd:

7pm-Great White Shark Serial Killer Lives

8pm-Phelps Vs. Shark: Great Gold Vs. Great White

9pm-Shark-Croc Showdown

10pm-Great Hammerhead Invasion

Monday July 24th:

8pm-Shark Vortex

9pm-Return to the Isle of Jaws

10pm-Alien Sharks:  Stranger Fins

Tuesday July 25th:

9pm-Sharks and the City: LA

10pm-Sharks and the City: New York

Wednesday July 26th:

9pm-The Lost Cage

10pm-Devil Sharks

Thursday July 27th:

9pm-Shark Exile

10pm-Shark Storm

Friday July 28th:

9pm-African Shark Safari

10pm-Lair of the Sawfish

Saturday July 29th:

9pm-Sharkmania

Throughout the day there are also great shark related episodes and shows.  We love watching it and learning all about the sharks.  Check the Discovery page for show details and ratings to determine age-appropriateness.

Shark Week Must-Haves:

Shark Week must have books:

We love to read so we added some fun Shark themed books to our Summer reading list for Shark Week.  We picked up these great titles from Quarto Knows including:

Could a Shark Do Gymnastics and Other Questions

Spot the Shark in the Ocean

Would You Rather Have a Shark for a Sister or a Ray for a Brother

Read our full review here.

Shark Week Must-Have Movie:

If your kiddos are too young to watch the Shark Week on Discovery then check out this fun shark-themed move from NCircle Entertainment.  We love Octonauts so we were super excited to check out their new title Calling All Sharks.  It fit in great with our shark themed week!

Read our full review here!

Shark Week Must-Have Gear:

Janiebee will be keeping us comfy all week with their great shark week gear.  They have a great shark themed 3 piece set that includes a nap mat, backpack, and luck sack.  It’s the perfect accessories for Shark Week.  Lay on your nap mat while reading your books and watching shark week.  Pack your books, movies, and more away in your backpack.  Pack all your fun shark week snacks in your lunch sack!  So cute!!

Read our full review here!

Shark Week Must-Have Game:

If you read our blog then you know that we have a family game night every week. So we had to find us a shark game.  We found this awesome fun-filled game from Pressman Toys called Shark Bite.  See if you can evade the shark’s bite while having a fun family game night.  The anticipation will keep you on the edge of your seat as you dive into fun with this great game.

Check out our Family Game Night here!

Shark Week Recipe:

What would Shark Week be without some fun shark themed snacks?  We made these super fun shark attack cups and my kiddos loved them!

Get the recipe here!

The Giveaway:

Hosted by:  Parenting In Progress

Co-Hosted by: Cspierdowis’ Product Review, Ms. Cat’s Honest World, & KidCongeniality

Sponsors: NCircle Entertainment, Pressman Toys, Janiebee, and Quarto Knows

Entrants must be 18 or older & US residents to eligible to win. Entries will be accepted until 8/25/17. Use the below form to enter.  We will have 4 winners of one of four random prizes:

Prize 1: Octonauts Calling All Sharks sponsored by NCircle Entertainment

Prize 2: 3 Books from (listed above) sponsored by Quarto Knows

Prize 3: 3 Piece Set  (includes nap mat, backpack, lunch sack-shark set) Sponsored by Janiebee

Prize 4: Shark Bite game Sponsored by Pressman Toys

Disclosure: Cpsierdowis’ Product Reviews & Parenting In Progress receives products in order to conduct reviews. No monetary compensation was provided unless noted otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own. Some posts may contain affiliate links that I receive commission or payment from in exchange for referrals. In the event of a giveaway, the sponsor is responsible for delivery of the prize, unless otherwise noted in the posting. I only recommend products or services I personally use and believe will be a good fit for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 225: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

 

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Keep Your Skin Fresh and Clean with Era Organics

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I was sent three facial products from ERA Organics to test and review. I had my mom help me out on a couple of the products. The three products I was sent are:

Relief – A 4oz A Healing Non-Greasy Moisturizer

Dead Sea Mud Therapy

Cleans & Restore – A Facial Wash

Both the Mud Therapy and their Relief Cream were tested by my mother, since they have some nut based products in them. I am allergic to nuts. I personally tested out the Facial Cleaner. I do love how these products have no Parabans and Phthalates in them. I am very picky on what I will put on my body, and my families’. 

The cleaner is a light, and fresh cleanser to use. It was not heavily scented with chemicals, which I like. Instead, it has its’ own clean scent, almost minty. It is refreshing, and comfortable to use.  It left my face feeling clean. I had no tight and over dry reaction to it, afterwards, either. My skin remained nice and soft. It was made to have a balanced ph value, and you can tell, with how your skin reacts to it. It is a 4oz bottle, and a little goes a long way. I like to put a little on a silicone scrubby, and clean and massage my face at the same time. Talk about stress relieving. I suffer from serious allergies, and have constant reactions. My skin is highly sensitive, and I have had no issues with this product. I believe the hype! Here are some of its’ wonderful attributes:

“All Natural Skin Cleanser for All Skin Types and Nearly Any Skin Condition

– Enriched with Aloe Vera and Manuka Honey

– Sulfate Free, Paraben Free, Fragrance Free, No Harsh Chemicals or Preservatives

– Highly Concentrated with No Useless Fillers

– Balanced to Your Skin’s Natural 5.5 PH Unlike Most Soaps That Harm Your Skin

– Includes Vitamins A, B, C, D and E

– Naturally Anti-Bacterial Thanks to Raw New Zealand Manuka Honey and Organic Aloe Vera”

Next, we have their Dead Sea Mud Therapy. I remember, as a child, watching my mom do her mud masks to her face. She would tell me how it was good for the skin. I, myself, have done mud masks, and loves them. So, I was happy to give this to my mom to try. It is also full of incredible ingredients, that are nourishing and detoxing, to the skin. I make a lot of my own products, and use a lot of the ingredients they use. For example, this product has Hemp Oil, Manuka Honey, and Aloe in it. Those alone are so fantastic to the skin. It also has Shea butter in it. Another product great for your skin. These products, if you look them up separately on line, are found to have nourishing, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties to the skin. So, they make sense to be in facial products. This is the full ingredient list:

“Dead Sea Mud, Organic Green Tea, Kaolin Clay, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Blood Orange Essential Oil, Aspen Bark, Non-GMO Xanthan Gum, Organic Lemongrass Essential Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Arnica Oil, Manuka Honey, Organic Hemp Oil, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol).”

I like that they even have Non-GMO products in it. The scent is a natural scent. It has no overpowering odor, one way or the other. With this, you just need to place it on clean skin, let it sit for 20 minutes, and set in, and then gently rub it off, with water, using a circular motion. This will help to increase the circulation to your skin as well. It really is a healthy product to add to your routine. It is rich with vitamins and minerals. A vitamin for your skin, lol. Do this once a week, let’s say, on the weekend, and it should help to pull out the impurities from the week, and reenergize your skin. The following are some of the benefits stated from the company:

“Why Your Skin Will Love Our Dead Sea Mud:

– Calcium boosts cell renewal and refreshes skin

– Sodium fights off damaging free radicals that cause premature aging

– Magnesium slows aging, soothes damaged skin and protects from rashes

– Sulfer helps detoxify skin from impurities

– Potassium helps balance skin’s moisture

– Bromide repairs cells to restore a healthy complexion”

Last, but definitely not least, we have their, ERA Organics Relief – A 4oz A Healing Non-Greasy Moisturizer. It has a long, long, long, list of ingredients, lol. Some of the wonderful ingredients in this cream are Aloe, Manuka Honey, Cocoa Seed Butter, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Blue-Green Algae, Hemp Seed Oil, Vit. E, Glycerin, B5, Vit. A, B2, Vit. C, Oat Amino Protein, MSM, and so on, and so on. There is a mixture of Organic and Non-Organic as well. This cream is non greasy, pleasant to put on. It has a light, natural, fresh scent. No artificial odors here. They state that is is wonderful for skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and more. My mom, who tested this, only gets eczema, from time to time. Her hands and feet are her problem areas. She has been using this on her hands. She likes how it soaks right in, and leaves no residue behind. She literally has no tolerance for that. She can be one picky customer, and she is pretty happy with this cream.

“What Can You Expect from Relief:

Sooth, Moisturize and Nourish to the Base of Your Skin

Reduce Pain and Itching

Reduce Swelling and Redness

Boost Healing

Restore Your Skin’s Natural 5.5 PH

Moisturize Up To 8-12 Hours”

 

Overall, these three products, have solid ingredients in them. Most of which are organic too. We are pretty happy with our personal experiences with them, to date.

 ERA Organics blog 10

To purchase these products, you can get them here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O19V5SC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013KITQWG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OSAUYTA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

I received these products at a discount. All opinions are my own, and honest. I am in no way affiliated with these products.

Winner Announced for the Sashkaco Bracelets!

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The Winner for the Sashkaco Bracelets is:

Ann B. !!!!!!!!

Congratulations! I will pass on your information to Sashkaco, and they will email you with a code to order from their website.

sashkaco bracelets 6

 

 

I am in no way affiliated with Sashkaco. They were kind enough to participate in our, I Love Daddy Giveaway Hop.

 

 

LightingEver’s 16.4ft, 300 LEDs RGB Strip Light Kit Review

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LED lighting comes in so many options nowadays. Strip lighting, which is what this is, is so easy to work with, and affords a variety of ways to play with lighting in your home. It can be used for holiday lighting, daily lighting, decorative lighting, and project lighting. This particular kit from Lighting Ever arrives with a 16.4ft strip of RGB, peel and stick lighting, 1 remote with batteries included, 1 user guide, 1 remote adapter, and 1 AC adapter. These lights are not waterproof. They are best used indoors, or on a covered porch away from moisture, or moisture build up. If you need to cut these to fit where you are using them, let’s say, to make a turn, you can. You will need to order light strip connectors though, so they will still work on one run. It can only be cut at a certain spacing, though, so check before you do. The remote is a 44 Key remote. These lights have so many settings. You can choose the basic white lighting, which is my favorite, or one of 20 different light color choices. You can leave it steady on, or on a fade mode, and adjust the speed to your liking. It can also flash through the regular RGB colors on its’ own. They do get warm to the touch when on, but not hot. So make sure they will have some ventilation, where you mount them. This is normal for LED tape lighting. My husband is a commercial electrician and has used it for years. The remote is very responsive, and the lights are bright and clear.  This strip uses 36 watts of power. It has 300 LEDs on it. So, it uses just a little over have the amount of power, that a regular 60 watt bulb uses. No bad at all, for so much light.

Overall, a well working light strip. The remote is very responsive. The lights are nice and clear. Everything is all set up for immediate use, upon arrival.

 This product is available here for purchase: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M2ZRYW3/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I received these at a discount. All opinions are honest and my own.

 

Bouncing Bots by RoosterFin

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Bouncing Bots – The Game of Wobbly Widget Warriors

Bouncing Bots 9

Rooster Fin is a fun company. I mean, they sell games, after all. They major in fun 24/7. I was excited when I was approached to review their Bouncing Bots game. I had never heard of it before, and it really peaked my interest. The first thing I did was to check out their website. They broke the categories of their toys into: Family, Educational, Skill, Card, Strategy, and Party.

This is the description of their Bouncing Bots Game on their website:

“Bouncing Bots is the board game where players compete to get the best score by bouncing their bots on the highest valued numbers on the target boards. Score the most points to win!

Players: 1-4

Ages: 7 to adult (On their box, it states 6 and up)

Skills: Motor Skills, Hand-eye Coordination

Contents:

8 Bot Characters

2 Platforms

Simple Instructions “

The game has one small sheet of instructions in the box. On one side, it mentions all of the characters names: Axel, Crank, Tracker, Rock’in, Plug, Spark, Flack, and Smash. There is even a tiny Bio next to each character. Kids really love this type of stuff. My, just turned 10 year old, son sure does. Each character even has a unique face on it. My son picked out Tracker as his favorite. The other side of the one piece of paper, offers the easy to read instructions. I love that this can be a one person game. My son is homeschooled, and that is an important feature for us. There are directions for multiplayer play, as well as two person play. The whole goal of the game, is to get to 9 points first. That may sound easy, but it really isn’t, lol. Omg, did we laugh. I can get the bots to bounce backwards, completely sideways, and sometimes, over the target, lol. But, we have the darndest time, getting the bot to land on top of the target. There are five different scored areas on the top of the target. When you play by yourself, you can time your games, ad try and beat your time. This game is great for eye – hand coordination, problem solving, since he you have to figure out the best way to bounce, depending on your playing surface. Carpet, well, that is a priceless surface to play on. Lots of laughter there. Fortunately, the targets can be turned over, to form a bowl target. The underside also has the same targets on it, with designated points on the spots. It is easier to get the bot into the bowl, versus, on top of the target. My son was so relieved, once he found out that he could turn the target over.

Here is some fun information about Joe Roosterfin:

“Joe, the owner of RoosterFin brings a unique skill to board games with his ability to create authentic game engines. His gift is in understanding how math applies to games. Joe’s background, coupled with his years teaching kids, enables him to create award-winning games that are continuously simple to learn and fun to play. Since Joe has left his life in the classroom behind, he has devoted his full attention to making great games.”

 

Fun picture of Joe as a kid: bouncing bots 11

Click Here to join their mailing this.

To purchase this fun game, visit here: http://amzn.to/2pU8a24

You can follow RoosterFin on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Overall, we are really happy with this game. It is fun, for all ages to play together, and well put together. We like everything from the bright colors, to the simple to read, instructions. This company offers a wonderful variety of games. Their website is definitely worth checking out.

Bouncing Bots 10

I received this game as a sample. All opinions are honest and my own.

You can also follow me here on Instagram Pinterest YouTube Facebook

I Love Dad Giveaway Hop

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We are so excited to be honoring all our wonderful caregivers that help raise us, and keep giving us love and encouragement in our adult years. Father’s day is almost here! Please enjoy our giveaway hop hosted by Parenting in Progress. My prize is being given by Sashkaco. They are offering 3 bracelets to the winner. You will be given a code from them, and will be able to order from their website. The bracelets are gorgeous. I own a few myself. They are handmade in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, by Artisans. Over 70% of their profits go back to Nepal, as part of the Fair Trade program. The craftsmanship of these bracelets is amazing. They roll on with ease, and are so comfortable on.Here are a few pictures of the ones I own:

 

This giveaway is fun. You get to hop from blog to blog entering the contests. By following through, you are even entered into the chance of winning the grand prize. Entrants must be US residents and 18 or older to be eligible to win.

Enter my contest here:

 

See below to enter the giveaway hop:

Welcome to the I Love Dad Giveaway Hop brought to you by Parenting In Progress!

Hosted By: Parenting In Progress

Co-Hosted By: Cspierdowis’ Product Review Blog & Frog Reviews & Ramblings

Each giveaway has a value of a minimum of $15, however, some are worth much more. Be sure to enter to win all of them because there is no limit to how many you can win. GOOD LUCK!

Just click on the photo below to enter the giveaway hop!

When you click the photo, and it brings you to a list. Click on each page listed, and it will bring you to the individual contests.

blog picnic photo

*Enter the Giveaway Hop Here*

 

 

I am in no way responsible for any of the prizes. All opinions are honest and expressly my own. I, in no way, was paid for my opinion.

LinenSpa’s Weekender Queen Bedframe

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We are renovating an older home, and are getting ready to move in. Since we have had our stuff in storage for a long time, we needed new bedding, and furniture. This Queen sized platform bed frame has really come in handy. I am only used to owning the low, traditional metal bedframes. This one is more modern, taller, and a lot sturdier. There are no large gaps to this frame. You really can literally put any type of mattress on it, and no box spring, or plywood is required. I measured the bedframe, and it indeed measures out at 14″ tall, 58″ wide, and 78″ long. The clearance under the bed is 13″. Since there are cross supports, you can fit 4 large containers under the bed for storage. Having extra storage space is pretty awesome. The company was not lying in their description; no tools are required to put this together. No skill set either, lol. You really just need to tighten up the leg supports. I like how it folds up. If you have to move frequently, (for example, if you are in the military), this is a great bedframe for you. It’s also great to store, and pull out to use with a nice air mattress, for company. Overall, this frame has turned out to be very well made, sturdy, easy to set up, and solid. We are really happy with it.

This product is available here for purchase: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZ1LOMW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I received this at a discount. All opinions are honest and my own.

Light and Sound from LightingEver

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LightingEver Lamp and Speaker 5

LED lighting and Bluetooth speakers are everyday items in our household. Bluetooth speakers are great for home, work, vacationing, poolside, and more. There is also always a need for a backup lighting source, be it for emergencies, camping, vacationing, work, and convenience. This product from LightingEver fits the bill for both. Not only is it a convenient source of light, it also has fun lighting options, and a built-in Bluetooth speaker. It has an internal 2200mAH battery, which allows for many hours of both music and light. It can go all day on low, for lighting alone. This light is so usable. It can be placed on the table, or hung with it’s built in hanger. It comes with both an Aux cable, and a micro USB cable. Don’t forget to pull the plastic off of the silicone ring on the bottom of the speaker. It really helps to keep the speaker/light in one spot on your table.

This product is very easy to use. My husband and I both have Samsung Galaxy Note 5 phones. It comes up as LE Lights01 to pair, no code needed. It states paired, so there is no guessing with this speaker. You can use both separate from each other. You do not have to use both the light and speaker together. You tap the center of the light to make it turn on, and to go through the colors. The last choice before off, is a beat to the music mode, which is pretty cool to watch. It’s very disco that way. You can even use this to answer calls.

There are 6 different colors to choose from: red, blue, green, purple, light blue, then the disco mode. Tap and hold the center area, to go to the white color mode. It comes on in low, tap again to go to medium, and again to go to high. The fourth tap has the white light in flashing/beat mode, and the 5th tap is off, for the light. You can just listen to music, audio books, videos, or anything you want via the Bluetooth speaker.  The sound and volume are pretty nice on this speaker. All types of music have been pretty clear, and enjoyable to listen to. The controls are on one side of the light, and the ports are on the opposite side of the speaker. You can listen to music, etc.. via an Aux cable, Bluetooth, or Micro SD card. You need to supply the micro SD card. This unit charges via the included micro USB cable. The Aux cable is also included. It does hold a pretty good charge with it’s 2200mAh internal battery, but can be used while plugged in. I like that feature. Not all Bluetooth speakers can be used while plugged in, I have found. I love the hanger option. You can hang it from your hood while working on your car. You can hang it in your tent for lighting, or from your umbrella at the beach, or backyard patio. It does not get hot to the touch, so it’s safe for your children to use.

LightingEver Lamp and Speaker 6

Overall, this is a fun, and very usable light/speaker. It has so many benefits, and can be used in many different ways. I have found it to be well made and durable. I, as usual, have dropped it quite a few times, lol. So, if you are slightly clumsy like me, you should be good with this product. It is a fun product to use. 

This product is available here for purchase: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MS3LOXW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I received this product at a discount. All opinions are my own, and very honest.

 

 

Make it Squeaky Clean with this MATCC Foam Wash Gun from Yomoid.

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Pressure washers are a common addition to many homes. We are renovating a home, and my son is rebuilding a truck. So, we had to get a new pressure washer, lol. Having a foam wash gun really makes cleaning so much easier. But, only if they are made well, and are easy to operate. Fortunately, we lucked into this one from Yomoid.

This foam wash gun arrives in three pieces: the bottle with tubing, the gun grip, and the nozzle attachment. It’s ready to roll right out of the package. The 1L bottle is a great size, and holds enough soap and water to wash more than one vehicle. My son has even used it to wash some of the car parts for his truck. The bottle is made out of a thick plastic. It is not bendy, or cheap at all. It should last a while. The same goes for the rest of the unit. The grip section is made out of a thick plastic, and the working parts are made out of brass fittings, just like you see in the plumbing world. On the grip, it actually states that the maximum psi that can be used is 4350psi, and a good working psi is 2175psi. The minimum required is 1000psi, though. 

foam wash gun 8

Our pressure washer, that we used this foam wash gun with, is 3100psi. It works like a dream for us. It’s just a twist knob to adjust the setting. The markings are only +, -. The + sign will add more water flow, which decreases the foam output. The – sign, decreases the water flow, which increases the foam output. Then, to adjust the fan spray, you just need to twist the from end of the gun, which is the nozzle end, that’s it. It’s really easy to use. Just attach the pressure washer tubing to the grip end. Add your soap and water to the bottle. If needed, you can add warm water to the bottle, and then the soap, to more quickly spread the soap into the water. We didn’t do this, and we still got a lot of foam.

Foam Wash Gun 5

Now, when you are done sudsing up whatever you are washing, you can easily disconnect the water bottle and fan nozzle from the handle section. Then, just add a fitting of your choice onto the quick connect end, and rinse off your project. It took my husband about 30 seconds to make the initial changeover, that’s it. Using the gun grip is really nice. It’s comfortable to hold and use. It’s so easy to stop the flow by just releasing your grip. We did not use a special soap to wash our vehicles, only dish soap, and it worked so well through this. My son used Zep Purple Degreaser Soap through this foam wash gun, and he said it worked really well for him. It really made the job easier for him.  Overall, this is a well-made, easy to use tool. It really has become a quick indispensable tool to our pressure washer.

I received this as a sample, but all opinions are honest and my own.

This product can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYV2X8H/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=387YQV5WBTP25&coliid=I2Q65XF5XPL4A&psc=1

 

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