Tag Archives: Giveaways

Holiday Gift Guide Favorites {Giveaway}

If you’ve been anywhere near bellingFAM the past couple of weeks, you’ve been bombarded by our Holiday Gift Guides. Gifts for moms. Gifts for girls and gifts for boys. Gifts for hard-to-shop-for dads. And, some of my favorite gifts from my own holiday wish list.

As we were pulling together our gift guides and chatting with some of these brands and stores about being featured, a handful of them kindly offered to provide a giveaway for our dear bellingFAM readers… and, of course, we said yes!

We also have our LOCALS ONLY gift guides and giveaways happening this week, so if you are in Bellingham or Whatcom County, you won’t want to miss that… stay tuned!

One winner will win the following favorites from our Holiday Gift Guide series… (EEK!!!)

TRIbella Wine Aerator
($40 value)

We’re obsessed with our TRIbella Wine Aerator and think it’s the absolute perfect gift for the holidays… especially if you’re on the hunt for a hostess gift or a gift for your favorite girlfriends. Just add a bottle of wine and you’re set!

$50 Erin Condren Gift Card
($50 value)

We featured the new Erin Condren Phone Wallets in our Gift Guide for Moms, but there is so, so, so much to love from Erin Condren and you’ll have a hard time picking what to spend this generous gift card on… trust us! (I had the chance to interview Erin Condren once and I admire her, very much. Such a great model of a mom building a successful business! Read the interview on SheKnows Parenting.)

kate&jAMES Kids’ Tee of Your Choice
($24 value)

You know our love for kate&jAMES, who we featured in our Gift Guide for Boys, runs deep and they’re always so kind to give us a cute tee for our giveaways. Choose one of their kids’ or infant tees for this giveaway from what they currently have available in-stock.

Grom Squad Kids’ Hat of Your Choice
($23 value)

While we featured Grom Squad on our Gift Guide for Boys, they actually have very cute hats for girls, too! The winner will get to pick a kids’ hat from their current collection, which comes in sizes 6-months to 5-years.

$25 Jamberry Gift Certificate
($25 value)

I was thrilled when a local Jamberry Nails consultant, Sommer, contacted me about featuring these cool nail wraps, which we featured in our Gift Guide for Girls, because they’re such a great and affordable gift idea. She’s generously donating a $25 Jamberry gift certificate, so you can pick out your favorite Jamberry style to try! Please note that your order must be placed through Sommer… (and, if you’re a local, stay tuned because she’s donated a little something for that giveaway too!)

Cupcake Royale Cupcaking Mix & Frosting Bundle
($20 value)

Absolutely the most delicious gift in this giveaway, Seattle’s Cupcake Royale has included one of their Cupcaking Mix & Frosting Bundles in our giveaway. Yum, anyone? I’ve personally used this kit and the cupcakes are to die for. They truly taste like they’ve come straight from the bakery. And, don’t even get me started on that frosting, which you’ll want to eat with a spoon. Straight out of the container. Don’t miss their larger Cupcaking kit on our Gift Guide for Girls for a great gift idea.

A few giveaway details:
One winner will receive all six giveaway prizes, over $180 total value. US residents only, please. You must be 18 years old to enter and to win. All entries will be verified. Christmas delivery for these giveaway items is NOT guaranteed, or even likely, so don’t count on these to be under your tree!

To enter the bellingFAM Holiday Gift Guide Favorites Giveaway, please click below to enter via Rafflecopter:

(A HUGE thank you to these generous brands for providing these giveaway items! We are so grateful and love working with each of you. xxoo.)

Giveaway items provided by each brand.
Some items were received for review.
No additional compensation was provided.
All opinions are my own, as always.

bellingFAM Approved: Kidstir Cooking Kits (Giveaway)

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Over the years, we’ve tried a lot of subscription services at our house. You already know how I feel about my beloved Stitch Fix. And, I’ve been a Birchbox subscriber on-and-off over the years (I jump back on the bandwagon when my beauty supply stash runs low!). There have been a few kid-subsciptions that we’ve fallen in love with too, including the ill-fated Wittlebee for kids’ clothing and kid activity boxes that have provided a lot of crafty fun.

So, when I heard about Kidstir via a friend (hugs to you A.), it peeked my interest. Kidstir is a kids’ cooking kit subscription that delivers a box of hand-picked, kid-friendly recipes, ingredients, cooking tools and related activities to your doorstep on a monthly basis. With each month you subscribe, your kids will continue to build their own cookbook binder, which will be filled with recipes they’ve made themselves.

Right off of the bat, I fell in love with Kidstir because it came so nicely packaged and when I opened the box, I felt a little bit of glee. It was cute and thoughtfully put together and it screamed out to be a great gift to send to cousins or friends who live far away. The wow factor was immediate… and it lasted.

Kidstir sent us the Bake Me Happy Kit to try and besides all of the cute goodies that came in the box and that yummy chocolate from Soom Foods, what I thought was so special about Kidstir was that it got all three of my kids in the kitchen, working together to create the recipes. Janie, who is 10, took charge (of course), reading the recipes out-loud to the littler kids and calling out instructions. Meg, age seven, took on the task of gathering the ingredients we needed from around the kitchen and pantry. And, 4-year-old Everett went to work with the mixing… and the test-tasting. While they went to work with Kidstir, I sat back, jumped in when needed and simply enjoyed letting them take the reigns… until it came to clean-up time, naturally! Funny how quickly they disappear when I start filling the sink with hot, soapy water.

We’re thrilled to partner with Kidstir for the holidays to bring you a fun holiday giveaway that will get you in the holiday spirit. One bellingFAM reader will win a Kidstir Winter Wonderland Kit and the personalizable Cookbook Binder to keep all of your Kidstir recipes and activities organized.

To enter to win the KIDSTIR WINTER WONDERLAND KIT & COOKBOOK BINDER, please click below to visit the giveaway on Rafflecopter:

// This giveaway has ended. Please click below, to see the winner! //

(If you’ve never used Rafflecopter before, I promise that it’s easy and the BEST and safest way to enter a giveaway on a blog, as well as for me to run a giveaways on bellingFAM. No registration necessary. All of your information provided is kept private. Must be 18 or older to enter and win. All entries will be verified. U.S. residents only, please.)

Giveaway provided by Kidstir.
Products were provided for review.
No additional compensation was received.
All opinions are my own.

bellingFAM Approved: Strider Bikes (Giveaway)

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We don’t spend much money on toys at our house. Books? For sure. Craft supplies? Yes. Things that get our kids outside as much as possible? Definitely.

I know you recognize this brand and I’m here to tell you how much we love our Strider Bike. LOVE. All caps.

Not only does it get the bellingFAM Approved stamp of approval from Everett, who just upgraded to one of Strider’s XL Seatposts to give his growing legs a little more room to stride, but it’s a favorite for Josh and me, too. We love it when he rides and we can tell that he’ll be ready to jump over to a peddle-bike with confidence, thanks to his time on his Strider Bike.

(Paul Frank helmet available from Bell Helmets)

Ev got his Strider for Christmas, just after he turned two and now, at nearly five, he’s still riding it and I suspect he will be for another year… or until his legs get too long, whichever comes first! When he was just a little guy, he totted around on his Strider often, up-and-down the sidewalk in front of our house mostly, getting used to how it feels to balance a bike underneath himself. Now, he’s more confident, cruising along much quicker and mastering how to steer and stride at the same time, a skill that often seems to be lost when kids are focusing on trying to peddle a traditional bike.

We’re excited to team up with Strider Bikes for a giveaway that’s perfect for kicking off your holiday shopping. Just be sure to let Santa know that you’ve got him covered this year!

Want to check out a Strider Bike in Bellingham? Authorized dealers include Earl’s Bike Shop, Lenny’s Bike Shop (Ferndale), Mt. Baker Moto-Sports, Second Shot Sports (Lynden) and Wee Ones Reruns.

To enter to win a STRIDER 12″ SPORT BIKE, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

Giveaway provided by Strider Bikes
Products were provided for review.
No other compensation was provided for this post.
All opinions are our own.

bellingFAM Approved: KaHootie Co. Notepads (Giveaway)

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// This giveaway has ended. Please visit Rafflecopter to see the winner. //

Here’s the truth…

Getting organized is easy. Some might even say it’s fun. (Me.)

Staying organized is the hard part.

I don’t know about you, but I always have the best intentions to stay organized, especially at the beginning of each school year, each week, each DAY. And, I feel so much better when things are in order and life just runs much smoother, for everyone, when I get my to-dos and our family schedule and all of the other mom-things out of my head and onto a calendar or into a list. I know it’s weird, but it makes me feel calm.

Even though I spend my work-life online, I am completely old-fashioned when it comes to my calendar. I still use a paper calendar and love writing things down.

When Kristen, creator of KaHootie Co., a line of organizing tools for moms, got in touch, I was thrilled. Their products are exactly what I use in my everyday life to keep organized and I couldn’t wait to put them to use. Plus, I loved what Kristen had to say about why she designed these products, “One of the biggest challenges for moms and dads is organization, as they constantly juggle the demands of caring for their kids, themselves, and their home. If parents were more organized, they would have less stress, greater productivity, and enjoy more free time to spend with their family.”

Yes. Just, yes.

Here are some of my favorites from KaHootie Co.

Daily Schedule Notepad, $13

I literally use this pad every day. I try to make my list in the evening, just after I get the kiddos tucked into bed and wrap up emails. Feeling organized before tomorrow even hits makes me happy. I’ve used other daily notepads before, but I especially love this one from KaHootie Co. because it’s an all-in-one — calendar with blank times to write in appointments, quick to-dos for the most-pressing items on your list, a daily meal planner, and even a spot to check off how much water you’re drinking.

Monthly Calendar Notepad, $13

This is the KaHootie Co. notepad that I use to keep our family on the same page. I fill out a new sheet at the beginning of each month and hang it on the front of the fridge for everyone to see. It’s filled with big things, like upcoming birthday parties and appointments, as well as little things, like reminders about which day the girls have library at school.

Kids Chore Chart Notepad, $13

Lastly, grabbing the fan favorite award from my kids, is the Kids Chore Chart Notepad. Not only are these great for helping your kids feel accomplished for helping around the house, but they’re also fantastic to use for keeping track of daily reading and homework, especially for your school-aged kiddos. In the past, we’ve used chore charts like these to help us through the more challenging seasons of parenthood, keeping track of tear-free drop-offs at school or mornings that they wake up dry. Complete lifesaver for parents and the perfect visual tool for kids of all ages.

You can pick up your own KaHootie Co. products on their website, as well as online at Bed, Bath and Beyond and buybuy Baby. Before you buy, know that each notepad is super-thick.

The team at KaHootie Co. is giving away a set of their notepads for one lucky, soon-to-be very organized bellingFAM reader and we’re happy to be their host for the giveaway!

To enter to win a SET OF KAHOOTIE CO. NOTEPADS, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

// This giveaway has ended. Please visit Rafflecopter to see the winner. //

Giveaway provided by KaHootie Co.
Products were provided for review.
No other compensation was provided for this post.
All opinions are our own.

Kid style: Custom dresses from City Kid Style (Giveaway)

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// This giveaway has ended. Please visit Rafflecopter to see the winner! //

Today is Meg’s seventh birthday, so we’re sharing one of her favorite things (and hosting a giveaway!) to celebrate!

We’re so excited to introduce you to City Kid Style. Based in Seattle, we’ve been lucky enough to watch this clothing line grow from its beginnings into the super-cool brand that it is now. City Kid Style is the creation of mom, Claudia, who started the collection from of a desire to make soft, unique dresses for her own city kid. But, as she spent more time with her sewing machine, Claudia found her groove, focusing on creations that are mostly one-of-a-kind, using thrifted materials and custom screen prints.

While we’re pretty much head-over-heels with all of the City Kid Style designs, this Seahawks dress takes the cake. When this dress arrived from City Kid Style, Josh even commented that it is “Soooo Meg” and, it is. Each dress is filled with patterns and colors and the softness that only a favorite dress can bring. These dresses are made for play and exploring and comfort and adventures and for living life as a city kid to the fullest, just like our Meg loves to do.

While each City Kid Style dress is certainly custom, they look anything but handmade. I guarantee you that these dresses — and everything you’ll find on City Kid Style — is insanely well made. Every stitch, every label, every print is gorgeous, professional and perfect. But, despite all of that, you can tell that it’s made with a lot of love and consideration for what girls like to wear. And, we love that.

Please note that while some styles on the City Kid Style website may be sold out, it’s likely that they can make you a similar dress. Feel free to contact City Kid Style for details! Their dresses start at size 2/3 and Meg is wearing a size 8/9 for your reference. She’s a pretty tall seven year old and it fits her perfectly, with room to grow and add leggings, as it gets a bit shorter.

My older kiddo, who is too cool to wear anything that isn’t monochromatic (see this for reference), loves the City Kid Style Neck Warmers, which are great for throwing on when you are 10-years-old and in 4th grade and refuse to wear a coat to school, no matter how many times your mother asks you.

We’re super excited to host this giveaway from City Kid Style. One winner will get to choose the dress of their choice from City Kid Style — either one that is in stock online, or a custom version of any of the sold out versions. We just know you’ll fall in love with City Kid Style, just like we have!

To enter to win a CITY KID STYLE DRESS OF YOUR CHOICE, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

// This giveaway has ended. Please click the button below to see the winner! //

Giveaway provided by City Kid Style.
A dress was provided for review.
No other compensation was provided for this post.
All opinions are our own.

Life with Tweens: Straight Talk on Straight Teeth with Invisalign

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Meet my tween.

Janie is going to be 10 next month, but I could swear that she’s 9 going on 17 sometimes… especially when it comes to her teeth. Proudly earning the award for the youngest patient our pediatric dentist has seen lose all of her baby teeth (she was eight!), Janie’s mouth is, literally, the mouth of a teenager.

Hooray?

I’m not sure how I feel about that. Those teeth are hard to take care of and at the last dentist appointment, we had the dreaded “You should probably see an orthodontist soon” suggestion. It feels like a kiss of death as a parent. The cost. The pain the kids endure to get their teeth in order. The weekly appointments for adjustments. The cost. (Yes, twice. Especially with two more siblings to come.)

As I learned a little more about Invisalign Teen and how Invisalign works, I was relieved to feel like going to the orthodontist wouldn’t give me a mommy panic attack… especially with Invisalign Teen as a viable option, even for pre-teens, like Janie.

Right off of the bat, there were a few things about Invisalign Teen that made me start breathing easier, like the fact that it’s removable, so brushing and flossing aren’t an issue. (Let me tell you, when your kid has had grown-up teeth since she was four, the battles over brushing are real!)

Also, while braces are certainly en vogue for tweens and teens, having one more thing for Janie to be self-conscious about, in the midst of these painfully awkward social years, is hardly desirable. With Invisalign Teen, the aligners are virtually invisible. I know that Janie would love this feature.

Invisalign Teen even busted my No. 1 fear about diving in with the orthodontist — the cost. Because, braces are sure to cost a fortune, so Invisalign Teen must cost a fortune and a half, right?

Myth: Invisalign is more expensive than metal braces.
Setting it straight: The cost of Invisalign is usually comparable to the cost of traditional braces and many dental insurance plans cover Invisalign, just as they would braces. For more information on cost and insurance coverage, visit the Invisalign Cost Calculator.

Despite Janie having the teeth of a 13-year-old, I’m so happy that she’s still on the verge of turning 10. And, even with the possibility of some work to get those very mature teeth in the right place in the future, having Invisalign in our corner lets me relax a tiny bit and enjoy these precious days with my growing tween.

Invisalign is giving away an Invisalign treatment… and you can use it yourself, too! Please click below to enter via Rafflecopter.

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are always my own.

Back-to-school with Skip Hop (Giveaway)

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// This giveaway has ended. Please click HERE to see the winner. //

It’s back-to-school time!

In Bellingham, school starts the day after Labor Day, so we’re less than two weeks away from sending off the girls to 1st and 4th grade and Ev to his last year of preschool. I’m still kind of in denial that it’s coming so fast and need to get my act together to get prepped for the first week, which I know will come very, very quickly as we try to pack some last minute summer fun into the next 10-ish days.

We’re so lucky to not have to purchase school supplies for the girls (they’re paid for by the district… amazing!), but there are always a few other things that they need for school… shoes, lunchboxes, backpacks, coats.

Lunchboxes are always fun to update each year, even if it’s not a necessity. My kids tend to thrash their lunchboxes by the time they’re out of school in June — and if you’ve ever been to school with your kids at lunchtime, I’m sure you’ll see why… those suckers take a beating!

I searched high-and-low for cool, unique lunchboxes this year and some of my favorites were from Skip Hop. The Skip Hop Zoo Lunchies ($14 each) come in the cutest animals, ever, and they’re the perfect size for little guys who are going to school this year, like Everett. I especially love that the characters are unique, so it’s easy for your kiddos to spot their own lunchbox among all of the others in their class, meaning they’re less likely to leave it behind.

I’m a firm believer that moms deserve a little back-to-school treat, too. After all, you just survived an entire summer with your kids. That warrants a reward! I’ve told you about my love for the Skip Hop Duo Diaper Bag before and even though I don’t have any kids in diapers anymore, I still use this bag every day.

But, since I last swooned about the Duo, it’s gotten an update from the team at Skip Hop! Introducing the Skip Hop Duo Signature Diaper Bag ($60). What’s new about it? Check out those tote handles! I appreciate these, so much, as I’m climbing in and out of my car, without the time to get my bag settled on my shoulder — the new handles make it easy to grab-and-go. Another improved feature on the Duo Signature is that it zips closed on the top of the bag, rather than using a magnet closure, like in previous version. Lastly, not that they could improve on the storage, but somehow they did, adding bigger, more accessible pockets that even have your tech-gadgets in mind.

The team at Skip Hop wants to give one lucky mom or dad this Skip Hop back-to-school pairing to kick the school year off right! One winner will win both the Skip Hop Hedgehog Lunchie Lunchbox AND the Skip Hop Duo Signature (you pick your color!).

To enter to win a SKIP HOP DUO SIGNATURE DIAPER BAG & A SKIP HOP ZOO HEDGEHOG LUNCHBOX, please click the Rafflecopter link below: (One person will win both prizes)

// This giveaway has ended. Please click below to see the winner! Thank you for entering! //

Giveaway provided by the team at Skip Hop
No other compensation was provided for this post.
All opinions are our own.

An entire month of #bellingFAM on Instagram (Giveaway)

Kid style: New local clothing line, kate and jAMES (Giveaway)

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// This giveaway has ended. Please visit Rafflecopter to see the winner. //

To be honest, I fell in love with kate&jAMES before I even knew it was a Bellingham brand. But then, oh my, then, I really went head-over-heels and did some major Instagram stalking until they agreed to become best friends. (Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating. A little. We’ve only had one date.)

Have just launched in early summer, kate&jAMES has found quick success, with its small, perfectly-curated line of graphic tees for kids and onesies for babies. And, surprisingly, most of their orders come from outside of Whatcom County, shipping packages nationwide, with a rapidly growing following of the coolest of cool moms.

Their popular tee, Lemons Make Lemonade, is selling out as quickly as they can stock it and they’ve even launched pre-sales for a baby sized tee, per the requests of their customers. (See this tee on Savvy Sassy Moms in our Lemonade Stand Style feature, too!)

My favorite shirt in their line is their Don’t Give Up the Ship tee, which I knew was a must for Everett’s closet. It’s so, so, SO super soft, with that vintage feel that instantly made it Ev’s new fave.

While I adore the designs at kate&jAMES, what I really, really love about their tees is that cute little shoulder logo. I think it’s so sweet when brands do a creative label and I love how it looks on Ev’s little shoulder. (And, how smart of them to have these mini, adorable walking billboards on all of the kids who are sporting their shirts!)

The sweet girls at kate&jAMES want to give one lucky bellingFAM reader a tee and we were happy to host the giveaway! The winner will get to choose from the current selection of tees and onesies at kate&jAMES. (Thanks K&J. xoxo.)

To enter to win a TEE OR ONESIE FROM kate&jAMES, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

// This giveaway has ended. Please click on the link below to see the winner! //

bellingFAM giveaway for kate&jAMES

Where to find kate&jAMES:

Shop directly on kate&jAMES
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Pinterest

This giveaway provided by kate&jAMES. No other compensation was taken for this post. Well, they did buy my iced tea when we had a meeting, so I suppose that does count. It was delicious. All opinions are my own, as always.

bellingFAM approved: Rio Beach Total Sun Block Umbrella (Giveaway)

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// This giveaway has ended. Please visit Rafflecopter to see the winner. //

Our new house has a backyard that we’ve always dreamed about. One where our kids can run straight outside from the living space to play, one that has a kitchen window that overlooks it and one that is flat, spacious and green for as much outside time as possible. While we still have some work to do back there, and it will likely take us a good five years to complete everything, right now, it’s perfect. Perfectly perfect.

Our kids play outside a lot. But, as much as they love to run and kick the soccer ball and have the Slip N’ Slide set up, one of their favorite things to do outside is downtime activities, like coloring, reading, or getting out their doll house furniture and critters to play on a blanket.

While our backyard is surrounded by trees (big trees!), it’s mostly open and during the high of the afternoon, there can be a lack of shade for playing. My kids are Northwest natives, after all, and prefer their sunshine with a bit of shade.

When Rio Beach offered to send me one of their Total Sun Block Umbrellas (Rio Brand, $70) I knew that it would be a hit for our family, not just for our backyard play sessions or for shady lunch breaks in the shade, but also for the countless adventures we go on as we check items off of our Bellingham Bucket List.

Here’s what I love about it already:

It’s easy to put up… even by myself and with three excited kids underfoot. You just take it out of the bag, pop it open, and screw it into the ground. Done. Seriously, if I can do it, you can.
It’s big enough to provide some good shade, but not so big that you feel like you have a tent.
Everything fits into an easy to carry bag and it’s pretty light for hauling on adventures. You could easily keep it in your car for the summer and not even worry about it taking up too much space.
The sun coverage is serious business. It blocks 99.8 percent of UVA and UVB rays and is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
It’s breathable. We’ve had umbrellas like this in the past when the kids were younger, babies in particular, and they were awesome, except that on the inside of the umbrella, it was terribly stuffy. Breathable panels? Check!

The team at Rio Beach was kind enough to send us an umbrella to try out and to offer as a giveaway to bellingFAM readers. Please note that this giveaway is for LOCAL PICK-UP IN BELLINGHAM ONLY. Or, for our Seattle-area readers, I can bring it to you the week of August 1, if you happen to win. I have the actual giveaway umbrella with me, so it’s not shipping directly from the company, like most giveaway. I promise not to hug you when we meet to hand it over. Really. (Maybe.)

To enter to win a RIO BEACH TOTAL SUN BLOCK 7′ UMBRELLA, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

// This giveaway has ended. Please click the Rafflecopter link below to see the winner. //

bellingFAM giveaway for a Rio Beach Umbrella

Giveaway provided by the team at Rio Beach.
No other compensation was provided for this post.
All opinions are our own.

One winner will win the following favorites from our Holiday Gift Guide series… (EEK!!!)

To enter the bellingFAM Holiday Gift Guide Favorites Giveaway, please click below to enter via Rafflecopter:

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To enter to win the KIDSTIR WINTER WONDERLAND KIT & COOKBOOK BINDER, please click below to visit the giveaway on Rafflecopter:

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To enter to win a STRIDER 12″ SPORT BIKE, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

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To enter to win a SET OF KAHOOTIE CO. NOTEPADS, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

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To enter to win a CITY KID STYLE DRESS OF YOUR CHOICE, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

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To enter to win a SKIP HOP DUO SIGNATURE DIAPER BAG & A SKIP HOP ZOO HEDGEHOG LUNCHBOX, please click the Rafflecopter link below: (One person will win both prizes)

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To enter to win a TEE OR ONESIE FROM kate&jAMES, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

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To enter to win a RIO BEACH TOTAL SUN BLOCK 7′ UMBRELLA, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

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