The Photographer's Wife Parenting, Disney, Travel, Reviews & Other Randomness

I am thrilled to share today’s review and giveaway with you! I have been wanting to share more and more photography-related items and tips here, and today will be the day that happens!

I was recently contacted by the extremely nice co-owner of a shop on Etsy, HayBug Designs.

They offer a variety of camera bags, camera straps, pouches and other gifts and home decor items. I had a difficult time choosing a design because they were all so cute!

I like chevron, but I wouldn’t say I’m religious about it…I know it’s kind of trendy right now (i.e. it’s pretty much everywhere!) but I couldn’t resist this dual-designed bag.

I love the light gray with the white and the chevron pattern on the flap mixed with the swirly design on the inside.

It comes with a foam divider insert that provides padding for your camera items.

The divider insert can be removed if you need to use the bag for something other than your camera, but who doesn’t love a little more organization? I know I sure need it!

The dividers simply attach by velcro, so you can move them depending on the size of the items you need to accommodate.

It can hold a camera and one or two extra lenses, depending on the size.

Or you could take out the dividers to fit a camera with a large lens attached. Below is a Canon 5D Mark III camera with a 70-200mm L lens.

And since multi-tasking is my favorite word since becoming a mom, this bag can multi-task, too! You can use it as a purse, even leaving the divider in to provide extra organization, or you could use it as a school bag or diaper bag…or any mixture of the above!

You can adjust the strap too, so you can make it long to make it an across-the-body messenger bag, or short to make a shoulder bag.

{He wanted to be in the photo too…and I couldn’t resist!}

It can even be placed over the handles of a stroller for convenience.

{Stroller}

So, not only are we holding a giveaway for a camera bag (more details below), but I am happy to pass along an amazing promo code for $10 off any camera bag! Use the code “Wife” from now until June 23, 2013 to score this great deal.

 

Giveaway!

Up for grabs: A free camera bag from HayBug Designs (a $44.99 value).

How to enter: We’ll be using Rafflecopter for this one, so there are multiple ways to enter…pick one or pick them all!

This giveaway ends on Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. US only please. I will contact the winner the next day by email and will announce the winner as an update to this blog post. Good luck!

{If you are viewing this post in an email or RSS feed, please click over to the blog to enter the contest using the Rafflecopter form  }

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

xoxo

Lynn

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I was given a camera bag in exchange for a review and giveaway. All opinions are my own and 100% honest.

Here’s another giveaway for you guys!

Since we often have the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network on, we’ve seen the commercials for ABCmouse.com plenty of times. If you haven’t seen them (or have and want to know more), here is some info about this great learning resource:

ABCmouse.com is a global education initiative of Age of Learning, Inc. Our goal is to help children build a strong foundation for future academic success by providing a comprehensive and engaging online curriculum to greatly assist early learners to succeed in pre-k, kindergarten, and early elementary school programs.

ABCmouse.com is subscription-based, with no advertising, pop-up ads, or links to other sites. Children can learn and explore with their parents, or on their own (depending on age and ability), in a safe and secure online educational environment.

We named our site ABCmouse.com because here children can learn important educational basics (often referred to as ”the ABC’s”) through the use of a computer mouse. At ABCmouse.com, the computer mouse comes to life as ABC Mouse, who serves as our site ambassador and guide to early learners everywhere.

ABCmouse.com’s comprehensive curriculum includes these preschool, pre-k and kindergarten subjects:

• Reading(the alphabet, phonics, sight words, children’s books)
• Math (numbers, shapes, patterns, measurement)
• The World Around Us (basic science and social studies)
• Art and Music (drawing and coloring, tracing, paint-by-numbers, children’s songs, and more)

They have 6 academic levels for Preschool (3+), Pre-K (4+) and Kindergarten (5+). They also have a program for kids 2+ called Toddler Time, to learn colors, shapes, numbers 1-5 and how to control the mouse and become familiar with how the activities on ABCmouse.com work.

 

ABCmouse.com offers a variety of activities, including art, reading, games and songs to make learning fun and interesting. They offer the additional features below, as well as mobile apps to download from iTunes!

We’re excited to try ABCmouse.com with Trent soon and we’re even more excited to pass along the fun to one of you lovely readers!

Up for grabs: A one year subscription to ABCmouse.com (a $79 value!). A redemption code will be sent via email and is good for a one year subscription from the date of redemption.

How to enter: We’ll be using Rafflecopter for this one, so there are multiple ways to enter…pick one or pick them all!

This giveaway ends on Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. No restrictions on location of entrants. I will contact the winner the next day by email and will announce the winner as an update to this blog post. Good luck!

In the meantime, ABCmouse.com is currently offering everyone a 1 month free trial…which you can sign up for HERE!

{If you are viewing this post in an email or RSS feed, please click over to the blog to enter the contest using the Rafflecopter form  }

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

xoxo

Lynn

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Update: Congrats to the winner, Saralynn! Thank you all for entering!

I’m excited to see the new Monsters Inc. movie, Monsters University and wish I could attend the Monstrous Summer 24-hour event at Walt Disney World on May 24th.

{photo source}

I wanted to get in on the monster fun somehow, so here’s a little giveaway for you guys!

Monsters hiding under the bed can be scary for children, and so can going to the dentist! America’s ToothFairy, Crest & Oral-B Pro-Health Stages would like to help children overcome their fear of both!

Monsters Can Be Fun and So Can Trips to the Dentist With These Tips from America’s ToothFairy!

Fear of the unknown can have a negative impact on a child’s feelings toward their dental visits.  Ensuring that your child is familiar with the dental practice and the people that are going to help them keep their smile healthy will ease their fears and make the dental visit go smoothly.

• Visit the dentist with your child prior to their first appointment.  Help your child understand what to expect on their visit by taking a tour of the practice and asking the dental assistant or dental hygienist to explain what will be done and demonstrate how each instrument will be used.  Not only will this help ease your child’s fears, but it also creates a wonderful learning opportunity!
• For slightly order children, bring them along to observe your routine dental cleaning and exam. This will allow them to ask questions, see how each instrument will be used, eliminate potential fears by observing your experience and help them understand the importance of practicing good oral health behaviors. (Contact your dental office prior to your appointment to advise them that your child will be with you.)
• Regular dental visits will enable your child to develop a sense of familiarity and comfort with the dental team and practice as well provide vital preventive care necessary for a healthy smile.
• Reinforcing concepts such as daily brushing and flossing, by posting a calendar and rewarding your child a gold star or sticker for every day of excellent oral care.  Help get your child excited about their next dental visit by bringing the calendar with you to show the dentist.
• Allow your child to bring their favorite toy or blanket with them on their dental visit to give them an added sense of security and comfort.
• Reading can have a soothing and calming effect on your child.  Bring their favorite book to read to them during their dental appointment.
• Let your child wear a costume on their dental visit.  This special treat can help them view going to the dentist as a fun activity.

Be positive about going to the dentist.  Avoid grumbling about your own dental appointments and help your child understand that going to the dentist helps them keep their smiles healthy!   This is important because after all, the ToothFairy likes to collect healthy teeth!

 

 Giveaway!

Open the door to brushing fun with Crest Pro-Health Stages Monsters Toothpaste and Oral-B Stages 3 Monsters Toothbrush! Children can start and end their days with Sulley and Mike while keeping their smiles bright and healthy!

These products featuring the fun-loving monsters from the upcoming movie, Monsters University will be available in your local Walmart this week, but you can enter to win them here!

One winner will be chosen to win a prize pack that includes:

• 2 Crest Pro-Health Stages Monsters, Inc. Toothpastes (4.2 oz. ea.) and
• 2 Oral-B Stages Monsters, Inc. Toothbrushes

How to enter: We’ll be using Rafflecopter for this one, so there are multiple ways to enter…pick one or pick them all!

This giveaway ends on Monday, May 27, 2013 at 11:59 pm. I will contact the winner the next day by email to get your mailing address and will announce the winner as an update to this blog post. Prize will be mailed directly to winner by the sponsor. US residents only please. Good luck!

{If you are viewing this post in an email or RSS feed, please click over to the blog to enter the contest using the Rafflecopter form }

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxo

Lynn

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Sorry folks, the comments are now closed for this contest. The winner is…

Susan S.!

Susan, you’ve been emailed. Thank you to everyone that voted for us; your help means so much to us!

If you’re new here (or missed my last few posts) we are competing in the 21st Century Insurance Baby on Board contest for a pretty big prize! For the first time ever, we actually have a chance at winning a contest that requires votes. Luckily, voting only takes one click and you don’t have to give anyone your information. It really couldn’t get easier. However, we have some serious competition - So I’m sweetening this deal so you’ll help us by voting and sharing. (and just an FYI – it has been confirmed that it is not against any rules of the contest for me to hold this giveaway, other entrants are having their own giveaways too!)

 

Prize: A $50 Amazon gift code

Contest ends: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST

Winner will be chosen using the WordPress plugin “And the winner is…”, which picks a random comment out of all the comments on a particular post, and will be notified by email the next day

Number of Winners: One

Prize ships: Electronically – Amazon.com gift codes can only be used on Amazon.com

3 ways to enter!

Entry #1: Click this link: http://www.21st.com/landing-pages/en/vote.jsp -> will open in a new window

Scroll down to Lynn S. (photo with a baby on a cruise ship – shown above)

Click Vote! 

Come back here and comment with your vote # that appears after you vote.

Entry #2: Share this contest on Facebook – you can use the Facebook Share button at the bottom of this post. Make sure the post is set to Public (drop down selection next to the Post button). Come back here and leave a comment with the link to the specific post (click the time on the post and it will give you the URL).

Entry #3: Pin the image below to Pinterest from this specific post (and not the main blog page) – you can use the Pinterest Share button at the bottom of the post. Come back here and comment with the URL of the Pin.

If you’ve already voted (THANK YOU!) you can still do the 2 extra entries to enter!

 

Thank you and good luck!

You can Like us on Facebook to stay updated on the contest!

 

This post is not sponsored by Amazon.com or anyone else. This is coming from my personal funds so PLEASE VOTE!

 

Hi friends! Y’all know I love to share awesome contests, so I was excited when 21st Century Insurance contacted me and asked me to share their current contest!

I’m sure you’ve seen this sign at least once…

 

It’s always been a great way to let other drivers know that you have precious cargo onboard. Some people have now opted to put little stick figure families or numerous variations of sticker families on their vehicles, but the Baby on Board sign will always be the original.

Well, 21st Century Insurance is having a contest for you to make your own Baby on Board sign! Your creative chops could win you $10,000!

 

So get creative and make your own sign that represents “Baby on Board!” That baby on the checkers board made me laugh and I would laugh again if I saw that on another vehicle.

 

Here’s the details about the contest from the contest page:

Every week, starting January 25, 2012 and ending March 15, 2013, 21st Century will be giving away a car seat for your infant or toddler – winners can choose their preference. The winner will be selected based on their most creative Baby On Board sign. Additionally, all entries will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a $10,000 baby room makeover.

You may submit up to two versions of your Baby On Board sign as you would like. All winners must sign a release and must agree to have their pictures posted on 21st.com, the 21st Century Insurance Facebook page, and/or other 21st Century publications. All submissions must be received between December 19, 2012 and March 15, 2013 11:59PM EST. Winners will be notified via email. In order to enter the Baby Car Seat Giveaway, you must:

• Complete the form in full above (on the contest page – click the link below)
• Send a photo of your original creation to contest@21st.com
• Describe your creation in 50 words or less

Winners for the $10,000 baby room makeover grand prize must:

• Meet all qualifications listed for the Baby Car Seat Giveaway, including submission by March 15, 2013 11:59PM EST
• Receive the majority of votes from Facebook fans

*$100 gift card will be awarded

 

How to enter and for more details, go to the following link: http://www.21st.com/landing-pages/en/baby-on-board.jsp

As with any contest, be sure to read the terms and conditions of the contest before you enter.

 

You can like 21st Century on Facebook to stay updated on contest happenings and get other insurance information!

 

Good luck! We entered too!

 

The Photographer’s Wife fans, be sure to:

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