Cool Computer Bags {Giveaway}

As a blogger, much of my life revolves around my laptop. Though I wouldn't say I'm addicted, I will confess that I do like to take my laptop with me when I travel to my parents' house or go on a vacation. I'll definitely be bringing it to the BlogHer conference next month, and of course I'm not going to just stash it in my purse or suitcase.

Naturally, we women like things that are styl ish yet comfortable, and when I came across the website Cool Computer Bags.com, I knew I would find something I liked.
How cool that you can actually search the site with a filter for Women's laptop bags? I chose the Runaway Rabbit Pretty Laptop Messenger bag, which at $39.99, is a great bargain. Plus they offer free shipping on orders over $50, which is nice.

I like that it doesn't look like a laptop bag. It's made of two patterned fabrics but is sturdy enough for me to not worry about breaking my laptop.
It's extremely roomy, with lots of pockets, including two on the outside, one that is cell-phone size and the other which would be perfect for stashing a bottle of water.
I can fit a lot in this bag, which would allow me to bring the laptop, my purse items, as well as any diapering stuff for my son. It fits my laptop perfectly, even though it's on the small side. There is a pocket in the middle that works best for smaller laptops, and a larger one on the side that easily held our 15"+ one and still kept it padded.
If you were so inclined, you could even monogram this bag for an additional $4. I still can't believe the price of it!

Cool Computer Bags.com has such a great variety of bags, many of which are well under $100. If you're planning on attending a blogging conference this year, they are a great resource for unique and practical laptop bags.
They also have some sister sites, like Backpacks Superstore, The Luggage Experts, Yummi Handbags and Diaper Bags Only. You really have all your toting needs covered. And until July 29th, if you like any of those sites on Facebook, you have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate.
Just "like" any of these sites and increase your chances:

• - http://www.facebook.com/CoolComputerBags
• - http://www.facebook.com/BackpacksSuperstore
• - http://www.facebook.com/DiaperBagsOnly
• - http://www.facebook.com/TheLuggageExperts
• - http://www.facebook.com/YummiHandbags

If you're eager to purchase a laptop bag, maybe for the upcoming BlogHer conference (you can see my bag close-up if you catch up with me there), just use the Promo Code KATY10 for 10% off your order. It's good until August 31st.

Cool Computer Bags.com is also giving 1 lucky K&K reader a chance to win their own

Runaway Rabbit Pretty Laptop Messenger bag
(the same pattern as the bag I reviewed)

To Enter
Visit Cool Computer Bags.com and leave a comment here with your favorite item
Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one):

• Blog about this contest (2 entries--leave 2 comments)
• Subscribe to my updates
• If you're a Fan of Cool Computer Bags on Facebook, leave a comment letting me know
  
• If you're a Fan of Katydid and Kid on Facebook leave a comment letting me know
• Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
• Follow @CoolComputerBag on Twitter
  
• Follow @katydidandkid and tweet this giveaway, leaving a link to your tweet in the comments. You can tweet once per day (leave a comment each day). You can copy and paste my tweet if you'd like: Win a stylish laptop bag from @CoolComputerBag http://goo.gl/fb/tRe0C Perfect for conferences, playdates, and coffee shops @katydidandkid

US Postal addresses only.You must do the first entry in order to enter ("I want to win, thanks!" comments will NOT be considered). You will have until Wednesday August 11th at 11:59pm EST to enter. The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. I'll also post the winners on my blog HERE. If I don't hear back from the winner within 72 hours, I'll pick another.
Disclosure: I received a laptop bag from Cool Computer Bags.com for review purposes.

Christmas in July Holiday Bake, Craft & Sew Along

This year seems to be the year of Christmas in July revivals. From the local radio station and local TV weather channel to in-store sales, this week has been all about jingle bells and . Of course the blogosphere is playing along too, and this week over at According to Kelly, Skip to My Lou, and A Southern Fairytale.
Each day a different blogger is featured, either in the crafts category at According to Kelly, sewing at Skip to My Lou, or baking and cooking at A Southern Fairytale. These posts are a great way to get a jump start on your handmade holiday gifts. I'm sharing my tutorial for Silhouette Art, which is a great handmade gift year round.

Head on over and get inspired! Merry Christmas!

Brothers, Sisters, Dachshunds and Bo Derek

This is just a simple post about family. I'm fortunate to have someone whom I grew up and whom I actually like. I'm talking about my brother, who will kill me for posting this photo highlighting his pasty skin.
Sometimes it feels like you have nothing in common with your siblings, but I'm lucky to have at least one brother who I love spending time with, along with his wife, who's channeling Bo Derek minus the cornrows in this photo.
SoJo and I spent a few days together at the beach with them, since they so kindly decided to go with us when Mr. Geek couldn't go. Their help with Soren was so abundant and appreciated.
We went to the Delaware Seashore Park one evening and had fun frolicking in the sand and surf.
I love being on the beach in the evening, cooking up sand soup and kicking at the foamy surf.
which is one of the few times the dogs can join us.
That's Westley and Joey, my sister-in-law's parents' dogs. Their little legs were funny in the sand. It was so hot, even at 7pm, that the poor dogs were panting despite having plenty of fresh water to drink.
Mr. Geek and I have differing opinions on this, but I really hope Soren can have a sibling one day, especially one as wonderful as my brother. Especially if that sibling comes along with a great wife too.

Hoppity-Poppity Good Fun with Pop on Pals {Giveaway}

I try most earnestly to prevent our home from being overrun with toys, and for the most part I'm a pretty good toy warden. Though there are cars constantly underfoot, I'm not a fan of big plastic playsets with bells and whistles going off all the livelong day.

That said, I do soften about some toys, and the Pop on Pals Amusement Park Set ($34.99) has become an exception.
I personally would not have chosen this toy in a store, just because I'm not a fan of plastic toys that , however my son likes it a lot. It comes with a Pop on Pal figure who can partake in a variety of rides and activities in this amusement park setting, including a roller coaster, a boat ride, and carnival games.
Unlike many musical and sound toys, the Pop on Pals Amusement Park set actually has a sweet little melody that plays when the Pop on Pal rides the coaster or the boat. It's not too loud either, which saves parents' sanity. The Pop on Pals can be interchanged too by taking off the middle "ring" around their bellies, turning a firemen into a puppy and so on.
Though it would have been nice if the Amusement Park set included more than one Pop On Pal. There are lots of other Pals and sets to choose. I think the Back to School Bus Deluxe Vehicle is very cute and might find its way into our house one day.
Geared toward children aged 2-4, Pop on Pals can be found at Toys R Us, Target, K-Mart, Sears and other big box retailers.

Would you like to try out a set with your little ones?

Amusement Park Play Set

To Enter
Visit Pop on Pals and leave a comment here with your favorite item.
Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one):

• Blog about this contest (2 entries--leave 2 comments)
• Subscribe to my updates
• If you're a Fan of Katydid and Kid on Facebook leave a comment letting me know
• Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
• Follow @katydidandkid and tweet this giveaway, leaving a link to your tweet in the comments. You can tweet once per day (leave a comment each day). You can copy and paste my tweet if you'd like: Win a Pop on Pals Amusement Park Play Set ($34.99) http://goo.gl/fb/HNhTU @katydidandkid

US Postal addresses only.You must do the first entry in order to enter ("I want to win, thanks!" comments will NOT be considered). You will have until Sunday August 8th at 11:59pm EST to enter. The winner will be chosen via random number generator the next day and notified by email. I'll also post the winners on my blog HERE. If I don't hear back from the winner within 72 hours, I'll pick another.
Disclosure: As a Team Mom blogger, I received a Pop on Pals Amusement Park Set for review purposes.

The Rosemary Wells Collection from Scholastic Storybook Treasures

On the days when it's sweltering hot outside and I'm going nuts trying to keep my 2 year old busy, I'll admit that I sometimes turn to the DVD player for help. I like showing DVDs to my son because I can monitor what he watches and there aren't annoying commercials targeting him to want want want.

We recently got to watch The Rosemary Wells Collection ($19.95) from Scholastic Storybook Treasures, which will be available on August 3rd.
I remember receiving a copy of her book "Read to Your Bunny" as a gift from our local library, which is given to all children/babies who join the library. We read it pretty frequently at naptime. How cool that it was on one of the stories on this DVD collection! You might be more familiar with Max and Ruby, or even Noisy Nora, other popular books by Wells.

Soren and I liked the DVD, though some of the material was beyond his level, like "Otto Runs for President", since well, Soren has no idea what the conflict in that story is. However, we did enjoy the segments with Max and Ruby, which we'll be finding books about in the very near future. There are segments narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal and a performance on "Read to Your Bunny" by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

I love how Scholastic takes classic stories and turns them into animated shorts, yet retains the illustrations and narrative of the original book, unlike a lot of film adaptations of late, and can definitely see buying more of these classics in the future.

If you're a big fan of Rosemary Wells, definitely check out The Rosemary Wells Collection from Scholastic Storybook Treasures.
Disclosure: I received a copy of The Rosemary Wells Collection from Scholastic for review purposes.

sootheTIME zzzTIME Collection

When my son was an infant, we surived many sleepless nights due to swaddling. It really comforted him and allowed him to go to sleep peacefully for hours at a time.

Though those days are behind us now, my friend is due with her second baby this fall, and I received two items from the sootheTIME zzzTime line of sleep essentials to help ease her little one into a (hopefully) sound night of sleep and relieve any colic that might accompany him into this world.
The first thing that struck me about the sootheTIME items was the cute design. It's gender neutral, made of light, breathable cotton, and has a subtle, modern pattern of a stylized, sleeping baby face.
The Snooze Wrap Plus goes beyond the typical swaddling wrap, with a head support cushion and other tabs that help keep the baby comfortable. I'll admit that at first, the Snooze Wrap Plus seemed a bit daunting with all the tabs and velcro, but after reading the simple instructions, I was quite impressed with how many features the Snooze Wrap Plus has.

There are different swaddling options (hands-out/hands-in) as well as a head support cushion with neck support tabs. Another option is the velcro on the back to keep the baby on his/her back, though you'll need to have a compatable SootheTime crib sheet. This feature would be great for keeping an infant on her back and reducing the risk of SIDS.

sootheTIME also makes the Snooze Sack, also in the same lightweight material and cute pattern, which would work nicely in keeping baby warm without a blanket.
It zips from the bottom up, which works great for diaper changes and also for prevening the infant from unzipping the zipper. Comfort vents built into the sack help prevent overheating.

You can purchase sootheTIME's zzzTIME collection at Babies R Us, both online and in store.
Disclosure: I received a sootheTIME Snooze Wrap Plus and Snooze Sack for review purposes.

Elmers' Adopt a Classroom: Help Raise $10000 by Bagging It Forward

While most families will soon begin shopping for back-to-school clothes and supplies, choosing the coolest pencil cases and binders, there are lots of children who aren't as fortunate, who end up starting school without the most basic supplies like pencils and paper.
This Back to School season, Elmer’s is celebrating it’s every day low pricing on back to school supplies at Walmart by partnering with Adopt-A-Classroom to help make a difference in classrooms across the country.

Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom with your participation. Join now!

The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward is charity blog meme, bloggers are able to raise $10 per blog post for Adopt-A-Classroom by writing a blog post and donating a virtual bag of school supplies . Elmer’s will donate $10 per each post written to Adopt-A-Classroom, up to $10,000.

HOW CAN YOU JOIN? It’s easy.

• Participate in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward and by giving away a virtual bag of school supplies and creating a blog post with specific rules described below.
• Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom.
• You can give as many virtual bags as you want.
• The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward will officially begin at 12 AM EST on July 22, 2010 and end at 12 PM EST on August 12, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted.
• The blog post link has to be submitted in the comment section below for your participation to be counted.
• In addition copy and paste the following text into your blog post:

ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES

• Copy and paste these rules into your blog post.
• Create a blog post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.
• Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.
• Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.
• Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
• Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by August 12, 2010).
• Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.

Here is the photo you can use for your virtual bag or create your own!Here are the bags I created and donated to our local school district for children in need.
If you live in the Mid-Atlantic or New England, (Citizen's Bank is also collecting supplies for school kids in need through the Cradles to Crayons program. Just drop of supplies at any of their 250 branches. Just thought you might like to know, if you're not sure where you might donate supplies.

I'm also sending a virtual bag to my friend Amy at Great Cakes Soapworks. Her two girls are probably starting to prepare again for school, plus she makes some pretty amazing soap!

What are you waiting for? Head on over to the Adopt a Classroom site and get started. You participation is much appreciated!
Disclosure:As an ambassador for the Elmer’s Bag It Forward campaign, I am being compensated for contributing blog posts to the #BagItForward initiative. I also received $100 to use at Walmart toward the purchase of items for the #BagItForward bags I created as well supplies for my own family. I chose to use the entire $100 toward a family in need.