Hot Locks Dolls Review and Giveaway

If you're a Mom of little girls, dolls are probably a familiar sight in your household. It's so much fun to watch our daughters engage in creative play, just like we used to do! And while dolls have come a long way since the days of our youth, one thing still remains the same- it's all about the hair! Just like we used to braid and style our doll's hair for hours on end, little girls today can't wait to show off their own flair for hair. Luckily, there is a new of adorable dolls debuting on the market that will let girls do just that!

Moms, Meet the Hot Locks Girls ... with 14 inches of hair! Hot Locks is a world of spunky, funky girls with fun and fabulous hair. Each Hot Locks doll has a unique personality and a fresh "Hair-rageous" look that girls love ... they'll want to collect & style them all!

The Hot Locks dolls, which include Harlow, Ami, Lily, Nahla, Kai, Sydney, Ryann and Morgan, are not only trendy but offer great playability. Hot Locks are 4" dolls with lots of detail and decoration. All dolls are full poseable and have long silky hair to comb and style. Hot Locks Dolls have 14" of hair and include a styling comb and 3 barrettes. Hot Locks Deluxe Dolls have 28" of hair and include a unique hair tool accessory, a matching hair extension (for your child to wear), a styling comb and barrettes.

When the box was delivered this morning my daughter wanted to open her new doll, Ryann, immediately. She didn't want to wait and I, of course, indulged her. She had so much fun holding Ryann and chatting with her. My little one loves (LOVES) the 28 inches of hair! Fabulously silky, straight hair . . . of which my daughter has none of (her hair is as curly as it comes). My little one really enjoyed using the mini flat iron and putting the jewels in the Hot Locks doll. She is three and once I showed her how to use it, she was set with no issues at all. She carried it around with her all morning and afternoon. She insisted on bringing Ryann in the car ride to pick up her siblings from school. Instantly my (other) daughter states, "she got a new toy, where's mine". My little one promptly replied, "we are going to share sister". And they did. My little one showed her big sister how to use the flat iron and they had some great sister sharing time with the new Hot Locks doll!

The Hot Locks doll collection is available exclusively at WalMart and Toys R Us.

Tiaras & Tantrums is giving away 1 Lilly Hot Locks Doll.

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY

What was your favorite doll as a child? (mine was the Chrissy doll, does anyone remember this doll or does this age me??)

*1 extra entry ~ Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment

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*3 Extra Entries - Blog about giveaway - leave the link so I can visit you

*1 Extra Entry ~ Tweet this giveaway. please include @tiaras_tantrums. You can say something like this if you want: Entered the Hot Locks Dolls giveaway@tiaras_tantrums PL RT http://bit.ly/ddkZiF : Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet. You may tweet once a day, but please leave your direct link back to your tweet.

Contest ends April 3rd. An email address is required to enter. Please leave it in your comment, or make sure one is visible for me to find in your blogger profile. If you qualify for additional entries please comment separately telling me which options you have used. A winner will be chosen via random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. U.S. entrants only.

For all of you Chicagoans, Hot Locks has partnered with none other than the wonderful Radio Disney (AM 1300) and Kid Snips.

A Hot Locks giveaway will take place during the Radio Disney/Hot Locks "60-Minute Road Crew Show" from 2-3 p.m. March 13 at Kid Snips, 2835 Show Place Drive in Naperville. Call (630) 848-0008 for more information. Other events will be held from 8-9:30 a.m. March 13 at North Riverside Park Mall; noon to 1 p.m. March 20 during the Country Club Hills Spring Fling in Country Club Hills, and 9-11 a.m. March 27 at the city-sponsored Spring Egg-Stravaganza at Soldier Field. This is a once in a life time Radio Disney Road Crew Exclusive Hot Locks Event at the Kid Snips in Naperville from 2-3pm. This one-of-a-kind Hot Locks party will feature Radio Disney Music, Hot Locks contests, games and more!

For the next 4 weeks whether you’re shopping at your local mall, getting a hair cut at your local Kid Snips, or searching for "Easter Eggs” you'll be seeing a lot of the Hot Locks.

• Chicago’s Lincoln Park
  
• Wheaton Town Square
  
• Deerfield
  
• Arlington Heights
  
• Vernon Hills
  
• Oak Brook
  
• Wilmette
  
• Naperville
  
• South Barrington

In Phoenix , you'll be able to check out the Hot Locks dolls while you're feeding your favorite animals at the Phoenix Zoo, while getting your hair done at a nearby hair salon (remember, it’s all about the hair!), AND even while you’re watching the Professional Bull Riders Event! See WowWee for details.

Thanks to MomSelect & WowWee for providing me with the opportunity to review this doll and offer this giveaway item. I was not compensated in any manner except for the review product. Tiaras & Tantrums reviews/author assume no liability for damages associated with any prizes awarded here or contents contained therein.

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Ragú® Recipe for a Good Start

As Moms, we all have our own recipes for giving our children the best possible childhood and a great start in life. Whether those ingredients include encouraging our children to try their hardest or promoting their imagination and creativity, our hope is that our children will grow up to be happy and well-adjusted adults. Family time is an undoubtedly important part of that recipe, and making sure the family sits together at the dinner table at least once a week is a great, but challenging way to fit it in. (I, personally make this a must in my household, five nights a week, no excuses from anyone).

Ragú® offers moms hundreds of nutritious, convenient, delicious and affordable meal ideas- perfect for busy families on the go. From making sure the children get their veggies (Ragú® red sauces contain more than a full serving of veggies in every half cup of sauce) to skip-a-step recipes like No Boiling Lasagna and No Frying Chicken Parmesan, Ragú® understands your hectic lifestyle and desire to feed your family quality meals at a great value.

Now, Ragú® is teaming up with actress and mom Molly Ringwald (LOVE HER) to promote the Recipe for a Good Start Contest asking moms to share their recipes for a good start for a chance to win a $5,000 college scholarship. By visiting www.recipeforagoodstart.com, you'll have a chance to submit your recipe for a good start in life and your original Ragú® recipe that has the family running to the dinner table! Three first prize winners will be awarded a family trip to New York City where they will compete in a nationally televised Ragú® Recipe Challenge for the chance to win the ultimate prize of a $5,000 college scholarship.

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Ragú® family package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place.

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EcoSMART Organic Insect Killer Giveaway

When my husband and I were looking to purchase a new house to start our family we had a run of bad luck. The houses we looked at were just not quite the perfect fit. We decided to buy from a builder and have our new home built for us. On a very good streak of good luck we found the property that we currently live on. We were so in awe that the builder did not cut down all the marvelous trees on the property. Big, beautiful oak trees, walnut trees . . . all providing our back yard with wonderful, cool shade throughout the summer.

Adjacent to our property is a very large lot the park district owns. When we were building they approached us and asked if they could leave the many small trees(so many that my children call this area the forest) directly along our property line. They were willing to cut it down if we requested it. They were going to build a small tot lot and we thought it best to leave the tree line. This was a good decision because a few years ago the park district did indeed finally build the small tot lot as well as the start of a frisbee golf course directly on the other side of the line of trees along our adjoining properties.

This was also a very bad decision as this area is very unkempt or maintained. It is overridden with weeds and frankly and ugly mess. Basically a cess pool for any and all types of bugs that you can imagine. All types of bugs that love to freely hop right on over to our yard and eat my children, myself and my dog alive. Literally, once the forest is in full bloom, my children will not go outdoors in our backyard. We have a serious mosquito issue. We have a serious spider issue. We have a serious tick issue. We have a serious bee issue. We have a serious ant issue. You name it, we have it. I have out pest control number on speed dial in the summer. My garage is filled with numerous cans and sprays that promised to work.

Spring is arriving soon and while I am excited to see green again, I am also dreading the birth of all the news bugs. I am dreading the many mosquito bites I will nurse. I am dreading the daily head and body checks for ticks. I am dreading inspecting my dog for ticks. I am dreading how many trees the ants will eat up this season. (We have already lost three wonderful trees to ants). I am dreading hearing the ear piercing screams of my children when another bee stings them. I am dreading climbing up a ladder to hop on the roof to spray the many bees nests we will have. I am dreading our more than $1000.00 bill from all the pest control services that we utilize over the summer. (deep sigh) Can I tell you in hindsight that I hate our trees and I hate that we didn't have the park district cut down that nasty forest.

I'm hoping EcoSMART's organic insect killer will be a safer alternative to ridding my home of bugs! Frankly, I can't wait to try the natural wasp killer. (I'm really sick of climbing around on my roof).

(from the site)

EcoSMART Technologies, the world leader in safe pesticide solutions, is a venture-backed company with patented technology and a world-class management team. Our mission is to create the world’s safest, most effective pesticides based on natural ingredients. We have 15 years of scientific research and a wealth of patents behind us. We make the only 100% safe insecticide that is proven to work. We offer the only complete line of EPA exempt pesticides sold in the US.

Essential Oils - Nature's Way

EcoSMART was the first company to apply modern science to essential plant oils — creating the first 100% safe pesticides. Our products are based on the natural defenses that plants and trees have used for their self protection against insects and pathogens for millenia - essential oils.

EcoSMART is based on solid science

University research has shown that these oils attack octopamine neuro-receptors. Octopamine is a key insect neurotransmitter that regulates insect movement, behavior and metabolism. The blockage of the receptor activity prevents the transmission of the octopamine signals, which delivers quick knock down, kill and repellency against a wide variety of household pests such as cockroaches, ants, dust mites, flies, wasps, spiders, crickets, and fleas. Our blends of natural plant oils are every bit as effective as synthetic chemicals, killing bugs fast without any toxins or harmful residues.

Safe around children, pets, and the environment

Since EcoSMART’s proprietary botanical oil blends attack attributes that are specific only to pests, they have no effect on people, pets or the environment. The primary active ingredients in EcoSMART products are approved as Direct Food Additives or classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. These oils are commonly used to add flavor and aroma to many cosmetic, beverage and food products, including cake, candy, sweetener, gum, soft drinks, and lipstick. Children and pets are safe. No need to clear them out after application or be concerned if they are near our products. Our products have no adverse effect on mammals, birds, and fish and also will not contaminate water sources.

Thanks to EcoSMART’s generosity I am now able to offer one of the four excellent value bundles! One winner will get to choose the bundle to best fit her/his family’s situation. These value packs contain plenty of great options to cover nearly every pest control need.

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY:
Please visit EcoSMART and let me know which bundle you would like.

You may also click the links to “organic insect killer” or “natural wasp killer” in the paragraphs above and be taken to EcoSMART’s website where you can learn all about their products and value bundles.

*1 extra entry ~ Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment
*1 Extra Entry ~ Follow me on Twitter and post a comment here with your Twitter username.
*3 Extra Entries - Blog about giveaway - leave the link so I can visit you!
*1 Extra Entry ~ Tweet this giveaway. please include @tiaras_tantrums. You can say something like this if you want: Entered the EcoSMART Organic Insect Killer giveaway @tiaras_tantrums PL RT http://bit.ly/bJlZk8 : Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet. You may tweet once a day, but please leave your direct link back to your tweet.

Contest ends March 27th. An email address is required to enter. Please leave it in your comment, or make sure one is visible for me to find in your blogger profile. If you qualify for additional entries please comment separately telling me which options you have used. A winner will be chosen via random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. U.S. entrants only(excluding Alaska & Hawaii).

Thanks to EcoSMART for providing me with the opportunity to offer this giveaway item. I was not compensated in any manner. Tiaras & Tantrums reviews/author assume no liability for damages associated with any prizes awarded here or contents contained therein. Prizes lost in the mail or those not delivered by sponsors are not the responsibility of Tiaras & Tantrums. Giveaway sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes that are offered on Tiaras & Tantrums. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes won. If you do not receive your item AFTER that time, please email me and I will follow up with them.

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Wisk Pimp My Laundry Room Contest

If there is one chore that Moms are familiar with, it's laundry. For many of us, it's a daily occurrence that gives new meaning to the phrase "spin cycle!" That's why it's not surprising that laundry rooms are among the most frequented areas of the house for Moms....unfortunately, they tend to also be some of the most uninspired rooms in the home when it comes to design. Luckily, Wisk® Laundry Detergent understands and wants to help!

If your laundry room is plain and boring or a downright dungeon, you just might be in desperate need of a laundry room makeover. Wisk® Laundry Detergent is teaming up with TV's Designing Spaces to pimp-out one laundry room in dire need of a face-lift as part of the Wisk® Pimp My Laundry Room video contest.

Just enter a short video from March 1 to March 29, 2010 at www.LaundryHE.com explaining why you deserve a laundry room makeover and Wisk® could be on your doorstep with their partners-in-design, Whirlpool's DreamLaundry® Solutions team led by Bill Thomas and Emily Johnston, owner of the interior design firm EJ Interiors and founder of Materials Girls Blog. Together, they'll take your laundry room from drab to fab in no time thanks to a laundry room makeover complete with a new Whirlpool® High Efficiency (HE) washer/dryer set and a year's worth of Wisk® HE Laundry Detergent. Even better, she'll get to star in her very own episode of Designing Spaces!

The top Finalists will be featured on LaundryHE.com from April 12 - 19 and the Grand Prize Winner will be chosen by popular ballot so be sure to get your friends and family online and voting! Even better, a vote is an automatic entry to a sweepstakes for a year's supply of Wisk HE Laundry Detergent

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Family Dance Off

I'm so excited to tell you about the Family Dance-off Video Competition, sponsored by Primrose Schools. It combines two of my WONDERFUL things- exercising and quality time! Primrose Schools, the leader in educational child care, has launched a national campaign to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices by encouraging families across the country to get on down!

Here's how you can compete in the Family Dance-off:
1. Record a 30-second home video of your family's best dance moves. The sillier, the better!
2. Visit www.FamilyDanceoff.com and upload your best take from now until March 19th, 2010.
3. View and vote daily for your favorite family dance video!

If your video makes the cut, your family can have a chance to WIN these great prizes:

• $5,000 grand prize
• Wii Fit Bundle
• FLIP Video camera
• $30,000 donation to your local Children's Miracle Network hospital

Click on the video below to watch some great dancing moves in action!

Childhood obesity is a critical issue for young children in America. Dance is a fun, easy way to introduce physical activity into your family's routine while enjoying quality time together. The Family Dance-off supports Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals, which collectively treat 17 million children annually for every illness and injury imaginable.

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