Thanks to Jen for writing this review for us!

I have been wearing prescription glasses since junior high and every time I go to the eye doctor I get so excited to pick out new glasses, until I see the price tags! Sure I have vision insurance BUT if I want them to cover the cost of my glasses then I have to go to the lonely stand in the back room at my eye doctor with the granny glasses on it (no, I am not kidding)!  I also prefer to use my insurance to pay for my contacts so I am stuck paying out of pocket for my glasses and that always seems to end up costing over $200!  So I recently started to buy glasses online – this is GENIUS! First of all, there are always specials running and I have literally gotten several pairs of glasses in the last few months and not spent nearly $200.  I love having a few different pairs of glasses because I like them to match what I am wearing (again not kidding)!

My most recent online shopping for eyeglasses was through GlassesUSA.com.  Ordering glasses online is so EASY! All you need is a copy of your prescription from your eye doctor and a credit card.  I do however recommend that if you are new to wearing glasses or if you just are not sure what kind of glasses you like – take a few minutes while you are at the eye doctor try several different styles on to see what you like and what you are comfortable in before leaving.  I’m an old hand at this so I know exactly what types of frames I like!  Not to worry -  if you don’t want to go and actually try on glasses because Glasses USA also has a virtual mirror so if you don’t know exactly what types of glasses you are looking for you can “try some on.”

The ordering process was super easy and within a few days my new glasses arrived right at my door.  I always recommend having a spare pair of glasses around especially if you have a toddler.   So go on stock up and use the codes below to get an even better deal!

Take 20% off your entire order of $80 or more and get FREE US Shipping with the code FS20
Take 10% off any order with the code Blog10

Glasses USA provided me with a complimentary pair of glasses to facilitate the review above.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Thanks to my sister, Caitlin, for checking out these cards for us!

I am so excited to tell you about THE cutest little Valentines ever! Minted.com has started offering classroom Valentine’s Day cards, perfect for your kiddos to hand out at school. As a photographer, I tend to struggle with Valentines.  Do I buy some cheap box of character cards, or do I spend more time and money on something that looks custom-designed? I will admit, I hate the cheap boxes of character Valentines, but they make my daughter really happy! Thankfully though, we found the best of both worlds this year- really pretty, classy, colorful and fun Valentines.

My daughter and I had fun looking through the beautiful designs and honestly had a really tough time deciding! We even liked the “boy” designs! In the end we went with a fresh, colorful design and added one of her pictures. She enjoyed the whole process, especially picking the colors and picture.

The pricing is really affordable too- as low as $1.07/card. Once you pick your design, it is really easy to place an order. I had a question while ordering and customer service got back to me super quick! After you place an order, you will receive an email with instructions to view and approve your proof.

In order to receive yours in time for Valentine’s Day, place your order by 2/7/12.

Free $25 credit:  Get your free $25 credit to minted.com.  Valid on any order totaling $50 or more.

We were provided with a complementary set of cards to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% our own.

Thanks to our site contributor Jenny for reviewing this book for us!

The Big Book of Experiments by Time for Kids provides a step-by-step guide for every little scientist. It includes more than 100 awesome projects for youngsters between the ages of 8 and 12 to help them better understand the word around them.

A project produced by Time Home Entertainment Inc. and the editors of TIME For Kids, the book  teaches kids to think like scientists. With easy-to-follow experiments provided by Mad Science, it provides hours of fun learning for inquisitive kids.

At 192 pages, this full-color hardcover book presents a wide range of fresh and fascinating experiments for kids to pique their interest in science. The experiments cover many aspects of physical, life and earth science, and mesh nicely with an elementary and/or middle school school science curriculum. All of the experiments are designed to appeal to curious children by focusing on kid-friendly themes such as safe explosions, the environment, and the human body.

My six-year old son David chose to try the “Can Vinegar Clean a Tarnished Penny?” experiment. Dave was able to, with a little bit of help, collect the materials needed and carry out the five steps needed to complete the experiment. He was pleased to discover rather quickly that vinegar can clean a tarnished penny.

The intriguing experiments in Big Book of Science Experiments were created by the experts at Mad Science, the world’s leading science enrichment provider.  Each experiment features clear and colorful step-by-step directions, helping children to easily follow the procedure and tips on how each experiment could be used in a science fair.

The tarnished penny was one of the simpler experiments in the book. The suggested age range — 8 to 12 — is appropriate, since some of the experiments are more complicated.

Other experiments that look interesting include “How Do Oil Spills Affect Plants?,” What Makes Soda Bubbly?,” and “How Can Water Bend Light?” David is looking forward to tackling some of them when he gets older.

We happily recommend TIME For Kids’ Big Book of Science Experiments for any youngster who enjoys a hands-on approach to learning about science.

Time for Kids provided us with a copy of the book reviewed above in order to facilitate the review.  All opinions are 100% our own.

Thanks to our site contributor, Amy, for writing this review for us!

Like most people, I don’t always think about what is in everyday products that I use.  However, I have become much more aware of product ingredients since Mason was born. Even though I would love to, unfortunately, I cannot always afford to buy organic. But, when it comes to the safety of my child, I will put out the extra money to keep him healthy and safe no matter what. So, I do try to make small changes here and there. I buy organic sunscreens, shampoos, snacks, etc.  Since I buy these things occasionally, I can afford to put out the extra couple of dollars

We are now officially into cold and flu season. With the holidays over, we have all been exposed to many people with colds and worse. Sniffles and coughs are sure to follow. Naturally, teaching Mason to wash his hands is very important, especially at this time of the year. Sometimes it is not feasible to use soap and water to wash, so we turn to hand sanitizers. Recently I checked the active ingredients of the hand sanitizer I usually use. Guess what?  The active ingredient was 62% Ethyl Alcohol.  Just what I want, to put Ethyl Alcohol all over my child’s hands then let him run off to eat a snack where his hands will inevitably wind up in his mouth. I kept thinking how so many common household products contain ingredients that are unnecessary and unsafe. I thought – there has got to be something better.

Here is where a small change can make a big difference.

BabyGanics “The Germinator” Alchohol Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer effectively kills 99.9% of germs without the harsh side effects of alcohol and other synthetic chemicals. It instead utilizes benzalkonium chloride, a naturally safe and effective substance which makes The Germinator not only fast acting, but allows for use without water or towels, its non-flammable, will not stain your clothing and definitely won’t dry out your skin. In fact, this non-toxic formula actually moisturizes as it cleans and is of course the best choice for even the tiniest fingers and hands. BabyGanics “The Germinator” Alchohol Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer is available in a fresh tangerine scent as well as a fragrance free variety and retails for $6.99 (250ml).

Mason loves this foaming hand sanitizer. It is not nearly as messy as the gels that, in my experience, inevitably slide off his hand or down his arm before he gets a chance to rub his hands together.  Here is a product that you can feel good about using without breaking the bank.  PERFECT!  Not only can you feel good about having your child use a safe, alcohol free hand sanitizer, you will feel good knowing that you got the most for your money.

This product can be purchased online at www.babyganics.com and nationwide at all Babies R Us, Bed Bath & Beyond and Buy Buy Baby locations. I will be adding more BabyGanics products to our everyday, including The Cleaner Upper Toy & Highchair Cleaner – 17oz, which retails for $4.99 and Foamin’ Fun Soothing Formula Body Wash & Shampoo, Lavender – 10.65oz, which retails for $5.99.

Check out BabyGanics website to learn more about their products and for special offers. Not only is this product proudly made in the USA, they are healthy, safe and sustainable. Some of their bragging points:

• Natural – Products sourced from nature, i.e. plant based sources.
• Sustainable – Materials that are readily biodegradable, provide for long term well being and are responsibly derived from our natural resources.
• Renewable resources – Ingredients that are replaced by nature at a rate faster than we consume.
• Healthy lifestyle – Making choices that benefit our health and well being while avoiding risk and potentially harmful materials.
• Gentle – Neutral and safe formulations that are safe to touch, breathe and handle.
• Value – Affordability of premium products at everyday prices.
• Non toxic – Products that have low or no toxicity when used liberally and as directed.
• Safe – Free from harm, injury or risk.

See below for an exclusive 50% off promo code on your card purchase!

Thanks to our site contributor Amy for checking out some cards from Thank You Cards Shop!

Stationery is something you can never have too much of – there are so many occasions to use it.  Then there is the decision of choosing between beautiful or simple, embellished or personalized. The possibilities are endless! I love stationery made with a superior paper quality, that comes with matching envelopes and personalized to my taste. This is not something you can find in any old store, but in a stationery specialty shop. And, I know the days of writing letters to friends and family is not as popular with the ease and access to computers and the Internet. But, to be honest, nothing is as personal to me as when I get a letter or a card in the mail. It tells me that someone really cares and took the time to show me that.

I am always on the lookout for note cards, especially thank you cards. Having Mason, I have have written more thank you cards for gifts and birthday presents than I have written in a long time. I know that as Mason gets older, we will continue to instill the importance of writing thank you notes.

I had the opportunity to review some folded cards with envelopes from the Thank You Cards Shop. There were so many nice designs that I had a difficult time picking a set to review. I chose the Elephant Family Thank You Cards, Fox Kids Thank You Cards, and Moroccan Thank You Cards.

These cards are charming. They are perfect for sending a thank you to someone or a thinking of you note out of the blue to someone you have lost touch with. The packaging was really nice too. Even more impressive was the high quality of the paper, envelopes and graphics. All of the cards are digitally printed on high quality white cardstock and professionally printed and packaged in their studio.

You will find designs to meet all of your needs. More recently, many of the Thank You Cards Shop collection features a lot of cheerful, travel-inspired designs, including a modern twist on the classic airmail card.

You have to check out their website to really appreciate the beautifully designed cards. What I was additionally impressed about was the following paragraph I found on the websites’ “About Us” page:

The environment and ethical working conditions are important to us so we have chosen a supplier whose paper is manufactured in the United States, either from FSC certified forests (ensuring responsible harvesting techniques are used) or from paper that is recycled from cotton remnants. 90% of our packaging materials are made from recycled paper.

On top of the beautiful designs and high quality paper, you have an eco-friendly way to send greetings to people you know.

I know that I will enjoy using these note cards. Stationery sets also make fabulous gifts for anyone who enjoys hand writing notes and letters. They make great stocking stuffers and are great as holiday thank you cards.

PLUS – now the Thank You Cards Shop is offering our readers an exclusive 50% off discount! Use coupon code mamacheaps at checkout!  Expires 12/12/11.

No matter how many new toy companies pop up over the years, there will always be the select few that have seen me through my own childhood.  I have so much fun sharing their products with Lily Bean.  I also enjoy seeing the updated versions of the classic toys that kept me entertained for hours as a kid.

Crayola is one of those companies.

The yellow box with the dark green accents.   The rainbow smiley do-dad.  The smell of a brand, spankin’ new box of crayons – that’s right up there with the smell of a freshly opened can of coffee or jar of peanut butter in my book!

So when I had the opportunity to check out some new HIGH-TECH toys new to the Crayola lineup this year, it was a no-brainer.  I first laid eyes on these products at a toy show that I attended in NYC in September.  I was impressed by what I saw and could not wait to get my hands on them.

First up – the Crayola Story Studio line (features 3 different themes to choose from: Spiderman, Disney Princesses or Cars 2)

Probably one of the very first lessons that I learned as I completed my teaching degree was that you have to make a lesson personal to a child for him or her to really remember it.  Oh how true!  Crayola Story Studios allow children to upload a picture of themselves to their very own story.

Kits are $9.99 each and the included accessories vary by kit:

Disney Princess Kit includes Pip-Squeaks markers and glitter glue, blank sheets and binding strips.  Create 3 complete story books and print unlimited coloring pages.

Cars 2 Kit includes 10 Pip-Squeak Skinnies markers, 3 Pip Squeak broad line markers, 2 Pip-Squeak glitter glue tubes, 30 story sheets, 6 glossy cover sheets and 3 comic binding strips to make three complete story books.

Spiderman Kit includes paper, glossy cover sheets for printing comic book-style covers, binding strips and 15 Twistables colored pencils to create three complete books.

Completed stories can be saved and then printed or shared online!

Next – the Crayola Color Studio HD App with the Crayola iMarker (by Griffin Technology)

Remember the very first time you played with the basic Paint program on your new computer?  This product from Crayola takes that experience and throws it into the next century.  Download the app for free with the purchase of the iMarker.  The app turns your iPad into an interactive version of the 64 color Crayola box of crayons.  Choose your digital colors and use the marker to color while movement and sound delight the user.

Includes the options for customized coloring pages, free draw and more.  Kids can save their creations for printing or online sharing.

Requires AA batteries, included.

Purchase the Crayola Color Studio HD with iMarker for $29.99.

Crayola and MyBlogSpark are going to give one lucky Mama Cheaps reader their very own Crayola High-Tech Prize Pack (pictured above!)

Prize pack includes:

• (1) Crayola Story Studio Comic Maker:
  Spider-Man
• (1) Crayola Story Studio Fairy Tale Maker: Disney Princesses
• (1) Crayola Story Studio Adventure Maker: Disney/Pixar Cars
• (1) Crayola iMarker to use with the ColorStudio HD app for iPad
• (1) Free download of the ColorStudio HD app

Entering to win a is simple:

There are several ways to earn entries to this giveaway (if you are already an FB fan and/or Email Subscriber you DO earn those entries!).  Please leave a comment for EACH entry method that you use below.

:: (Mandatory) Which of these new Crayola Toys would you most like to try? Leave a comment below with your answer.

Bonus Entries

:: “Like” Crayola on Facebook.  Leave a comment below telling me you did so.

:: “Like” Griffin Technology on Facebook.  Leave a comment below telling me you did so.

:: Follow Crayola on Twitter.  Leave a comment below telling me you did so.

:: “Like” Mama Cheaps on Facebook.  Leave a comment below telling me you did so.

:: Follow @mamacheaps on Twitter.  Leave a comment below telling me that you did so.

:: Subscribe to our daily email digest. Enter your email address here and CONFIRM the email sent to your email inbox.  You must confirm this subscription for the entry to count.  Leave a comment below telling me that you signed up.

This giveaway is open to anyone from the United States who is 18 years or older.  It will run from today, 11/30/11, until Wednesday, 12/7/11 at 8 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via the “And the Winner Is” WordPress Plugin.

Crayola through MyBlogSpark is providing the prize for this giveaway.   They provided us with an identical product pack in order to facilitate this post.  All opinions are 100% our own.

On December 2nd, a brand new addition to the Hershey’s Pieces family will be hitting store shelves: Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds Pieces.  I have always been a fan of Hershey’s Bars with Almonds, so I was definitely interested in trying the new Pieces variety.

The best way to describe this new candy:  each piece contains an almond covered in milk chocolate wrapped in a crunchy shell.  And the taste?  Really good!  These candies come in a resealable bag and lend themselves perfectly to anytime snacking.

It was fun to get a sneak taste of these candies before they are available to the public – and we get to share them!

Hershey’s wants to give 3 lucky Mama Cheaps readers a bag of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds Pieces!

Entering to win a copy is simple:

There are several ways to earn entries to this giveaway (if you are already an FB fan and/or Email Subscriber you DO earn those entries!).  Please leave a comment for EACH entry method that you use below.

:: (Mandatory) What is your very favorite chocolate candy? Leave a comment below with your answer.

Bonus Entries

:: “Like” Hershey’s on Facebook.  Leave a comment below telling me you did so.

:: “Like” Mama Cheaps on Facebook.  Leave a comment below telling me you did so.

:: Follow @mamacheaps on Twitter.  Leave a comment below telling me that you did so.

:: Subscribe to our daily email digest. Enter your email address here and CONFIRM the email sent to your email inbox.  You must confirm this subscription for the entry to count.  Leave a comment below telling me that you signed up.

This giveaway is open to anyone from the United States who is 18 years or older.  It will run from today, 11/7/11, until Monday, 11/14/11 at 8 PM EST.  Three winners will be chosen via the “And the Winner Is” WordPress Plugin.

Hershey’s is providing the prize for this giveaway.   They provided us with a sample of the product reviewed above in order to facilitate the review.  All opinions are 100% our own.