{Boon} Review & GIVEAWAY! *CLOSED*

I know I've mentioned Boon products before, as I find them to be clever, modern and, well, fun! But if you're still unfamiliar with Boon Inc., I'd like to take a minute to introduce you to them. Boon Inc. is a company that manufactures toys, bath goods, organizational pieces, potty training seats and more! And they do so in a fun style - as their own slogan declares, they offer "innovations for modern parents" (TM).

All their products are BpA-free, pthalate-free and PVC-free, so you can be assured their products are safe for your children to use. Plus, 10% of all their profits are donated to children's charities. It's always nice knowing that not only are you getting a fab product, but that by doing so, you'll helping out others, too!

And just where did the name come from? Glad you asked! A "boon" is defined as "a benefit bestowed, especially one bestowed in response to a request.” Brilliantly clever and all too spot-on. I mean, that is, afterall, what every parent is looking for when it comes to finding products for their children!

So recently we had the chance to test out a couple of Boon's line of products. We were sent the flo and their scrubbles. Of course, from those names, you probably have no idea what products we're referring to...such cute names...just part of the Boon creativity, I guess.

The flo (MSRP $14.99) is a device you use in your bathtub. You put it over your faucet, and it not only protects your kids' noggins from bumping into the hard faucet fixture, but it also creates a gentle waterfall and can dispense bubble bath for extra fun! My son now loves to rinse the shampoo out of his hair by placing his head under the waterfall - less work for me, and more fun for him! And being in his do-it-all-myself mode that he's currently in, he also has thoroughly enjoyed putting bubble bath into the bubble bath dispenser and pushing the button to release it into the water. All for fun bath-time goodness!

My only issue with it was that I had to toggle it around a bit on our faucet to get the water to flow out smoothly. But once in the right place, it worked great! It does have a multitude of different settings to make sure it fits each faucet just right.

Next we checked out their scrubble set (MSRP $9.99 for set of 3), their "interchangeable bath toy scrub set." These are not only water squirters but also scrubbers. So kids can practice scrubbing themselves, scrubbing the tub, or whatever it is they want to scrub! Like other bath squirters, you just squeeze and release under water to fill up. However, we found that you hardly got any water in them that way and that it was easier to unscrew the tops to fill (fully) with water. This makes for some good fine motor skill practice! So not only can you unscrew the tops to fill with water (or to clean the product), but you can also interchange the tops with one another...just a clever little way to have even more fun in the tub.

So all in all, we're having a lot of fun with these festive little Boon products! I love that they can be used from ages 0 and up {heck, even I enjoy using them!} and that they're both multi-functional. We all like more bang for the buck, right? And speaking of bucks, they're both very affordable at just $14.99 for the flo and $9.99 for the scrubble set.

BUY IT! Visit Boon Inc. to purchase your own scrubble set and flo or any other number of fabulous children's products! Be sure to check out their Frog Pod {the product that started it all} for easy bath toy storage or their simply fabulous pedestal high chairs!

WIN IT! One lucky HTBC blog reader is going to win their own flo and scrubble set, courtesy of Boon Inc.!

Mandatory Entry!

This giveaway is for HTBC blog followers only! (So if you're not one, become one today via Google Friend!) Visit Boon Inc. and come back here to tell me what product you'd like to buy ALONG WITH a local store near you that sells the Boon products (1 entry)! Be sure to leave your email address in the entry so that I have a way to contact the winner! If there is NO EMAIL left, another winner will be drawn. Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen. Entrants can enter through June 2nd. Winner to be chosen June 3rd, 2010.

Additional Entries!

Once you've completed the mandatory entries, do any of the following for more chances to win! {Again, please be sure to leave your email address in each entry!}

*Subscribe to our blog (2 entries possible; 1 via google & 1 via email feedburner (must be activated to count as entry)).

*Include our blog in your blog roll and include URL (1 entry).

*Become a fan of Adam's Blankie on Facebook (1 entry).

*Become a fan of Boon Inc. on Facebook (1 entry).

*Follow Adam's Blankie on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with the following tweet, (1 entry - can be done daily):
"Win the flo and scrubble from @BoonInc and @adamsblankie! Enter at www.hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com!"

(Be sure to leave a link to your tweet/s!).

*Follow Boon Inc. on twitter (1 entry).

*Post our blog buttons on your blog and include link to blog. (6 entries possible - 3 for Adam's Blankie Etsy shop button and 3 for Haute Tot Couture blog button).

*Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post (3 entries).

*Enter any of our other current giveaways for one entry each (up to 3 entries possible) and leave a comment letting me know which giveaway/s you entered.

Please note, I was not paid to do this review.
Opinions are strictly my own, and no one or nothing else has influenced me in my review.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

WINNER: SIMPLYMERRY

Have a product you'd like reviewed?
Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.etsy.com
www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

Give-Away #5: Little Lily Bamboo

I met Jade from Little Lily Bamboo and absolutely adored her products from the minute I read about them. I always keep washcloths in our kitchen drawer to wipe my son off after a nice, messy toddler-esque meal, but don't like the mildewy smell the cloths seem to acquire after a few uses. Having talked to my Mom about this, she had advised trying something out of bamboo because it resists odors and is natural. SO, when I came across this little pearl-of-a-shop, I knew I would love it!

I received a few of their baby wipes and have been using them ever since. I'm actually going to throw away the cotton ones, and start exclusively using the bamboo ones (once I have a big enough supply - need some for the kitchen and some for the bathroom) because there is really no comparison between the two. I honestly believe if you try, too, you'll do the same!


They do come bundled as shown in the photograph above, making them great gift-giving options upon receipt.

Here are some things I learned about bamboo from Jade:

*Bamboo stays SOFT wash after wash and cleans up beautifully.
*Bamboo is soft enough for childrens' faces, but "scrubby" enough that adults can use them in
the shower too!
*Bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial & non-allergenic!
*Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth, so is a very eco-friendly, sustainable choice.
*Bamboo can hold up to 3 times its own weight in water.
*Bamboo naturally deters insects & pests so is an organic material, as it requires no chemicals as
it grows.
*One side of bamboo is smooth and the other is a little soft like the inside of a sweatshirt - either side is great!

And here is a bit more about Jade and her eco-friendly business...

How did your business start and when?
I started Little Lily in May [2009]. I had been talking to a friend one day and she was telling me how she was having such a hard time finding quality baby washcloths. She keeps a kitchen drawer full of them to clean her kids after meals, and they all wore out so quickly and were so flimsy that they were a pain to wipe the kids off . I saw an opportunity, and decided to run with it. I chose organic bamboo because I have recently developed a large interest in eco-friendly products around my house. So, I made a couple cloths just to try them, and LOVED them, so I opened up shop so I could make them available to others who were like me.

How did you come up with your business name?
It's my nickname for my second daughter. Her name is Tegan Lily, but we love both of her names so much, that we call her by either, and lots of the time, I just call her Little Lily.

How long have you been making your creations?
I just made the first in May. It was a great way to live out the last trimester of my pregnancy!

What medium/s do you use to create your products?
All of them are made from Organic Bamboo fabric. It is a blend of 85% organic bamboo, and 15% organic cotton. I [also] use fleece and french terry and will be adding more bamboo fabrics and products soon.

What sets your business/products apart from others that create similar items?
Little Lily products are cute, simple, and very practical. There are a few other bamboo washcloths out there, but not many, and I enjoy educating potential customers on the benefits of using bamboo.

Any other comments, advice, feedback, discounts or otherwise you’d like to share with your blog followers?
I would love to encourage everyone to take some time and learn about the benefits of bamboo as an eco-friendly choice, and you can feel free to ask me any questions about it! Also, if you make a purchase from me and mention that you saw this post on the blog, you will receive free shipping for your items! Happy Shopping!


Jade has also generously offered one of our lucky readers a FREE set of her organic bamboo baby wipes!!

Here is how you can win it!
Just visit Jade's Little Lily Bamboo store and find the most deluxe must-have item you love,
then come back here and comment on it.

Additional Entries
*Follow this blog.

*Subscribe to this blog.

*Tweet about this give-away and include a link to it (must include link to tweet in comment).

*Copy our Adam's Blankie blog button (above) to your own blog (must include link to your blog in comment).

*Blog about this give-away (must include link to your blog in comment).

Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry, and include your email address!
All winners for the Blitz Give-Away will be posted around early-mid September.

Give-Away #4: Mels Fun Suds

I stumbled across this simply adorable bathtime-fun shop a couple weeks ago, and instantly knew I wanted to get my hands (er, rather, my son's!) on some of these! Now, my son happens to really love his bathtime, but since he bathes so often, it's always fun to find new "toys" for it, and what better than something like adorable soaps shaped like child-friendly objects that are going to provide a chance to have fun and get clean?? And for those of you who have trouble getting your kids to take baths in the first place, these just may prove to be just the right bait to get the job done! I also think they would make awesome stocking stuffers or party favors, as well, not to mention you can choose your shapes (anything from cars & boats to robots & dragonflies), colors & scents! Yes, that's right, they come in different scents, too - choose from green apple, wild berry, cucumber melon, lavender, baby powder, orange or unscented.





From the moment our soaps arrived in the mail, my son instantly knew they were for him and wanted to use them right away. He didn't realize they were for the bath at first, so once we told him that, he was even more excited. He's been thoroughly enjoying "driving" & "flying" them around the tub at bathtime ever since. They're quite large so are easy for little hands to grip, which is convenient (especially for kids like mine who like to do everything themselves!). We received three different shapes (all adorable!) in 3 different fruity scents. The part I really liked was that the scents are not overbearing at all. They left no mess in the tub at all, and hardly lost any of their size, so I think they should last quite a while.

Here is a bit more about Melanie & her business...

How did your business start and when?
Our family recently had to move due to my husband’s job with the military. Since the move I have become a stay at home mom with my 5 year old son. He has been my inspiration for my products. I wanted to create something fun and useful, so we started making soap together. Not only has he enjoyed the soap, but so have many of his friends. After many compliments on how well the soap worked on getting kids into the tub, I thought I would share them with others. With a recommendation from a friend, I started my store on Etsy last month.

How did you come up with your business name?
My business name Mel’s Fun Suds comes from my nickname Mel. As for the Fun Suds, I know how hard it is to get a child in the tub. That is what put the Fun in Suds. Shouldn’t your suds be Fun?

What medium/s do you use to create your products?
I use a melt n pour glycerin that is good for the most sensitive skin. No harsh chemicals!

What sets your business/products apart from others that create similar items?
As a mom, I have found it difficult to find Fun soaps for children, especially, Boys. My products have been inspired by my son. He helps me choose the designs, smells, and even helps give them names. I believe this sets me apart from others because I am using a child’s perspective.

Any other comments, advice, feedback, discounts or otherwise you’d like to share with your blog followers.
I am so excited to start my new business and share my products kid inspired with others. I love to make people happy and this is a great way to do so. These soaps, although kid-inspired, make great gifts for all ages. From party favors to unique gifts, I am willing to customize your event. Please do not hesitate to ask [me any] questions!

Melanie is offering one lucky winner 3 soaps - one airplane, one car & one train!

Here's how you can win it!

*Visit the cute & bubbly Mel's Fun Suds & come back
and comment on your favorite item in her store!

Additional Entries
*Become a follower of this blog.

*Subscribe to this blog.

*Add our blog button for Adam's Blankie Couture to your own blog
(must include link to blog in comment).

*Tweet about this give-away & include link to this page
(must include link to your tweet in this comment)

*Blog about this give-away & include link to this page
(must include link to blog in comment).

Make sure to leave a comment for each entry,
and don't forget to include your email address!
All winners in the blitz give-away to be posted early-mid September.

Children's Bathrooms: To Do or NOT To Do...THAT is the question....

So what's been on my mind as the latest "house project" (do they ever end?!), is possibly redoing our secondary bathroom as a children's bathroom. It is, in fact, just used by our son (and any vacationers staying with us, which is not very often the case), so I figure, why not make it something he enjoys? Now, mind you, he's only 2, so exactly what kind of enjoyment he could get out of it, I don't know. I do know that will be one of my husband's cons against my desire to redo it once I get muster up enough courage to bring this topic up to him (He's just been around for too many of my doing (and redoing!) house projects...I guess it's time to move now that I've done every room and have NO white walls whatsoever around our house!).

So, my question is...do you have a bathroom decorated specifically for your child/ren or not? And, whatever your answer, why is it that way? (Can you see I'm trying to seed out some rationale to explain to my husband why I want this done?! :) Or, on the other hand, maybe you'll convince me we actually don't need a bathroom decorated with a kids' theme).

Once you've told me that, and if you do think a children's-themed bathroom is the way to go, what are some fabulous children's bathrooms you've seen out there and would recommend? We have just one child now, but will be expanding our family, and since I can't foretell the future and don't know if it would be another boy or girl, I'd like to keep the bathroom theme gender neutral. I was tossing around the idea of just some basic dots in a theme of colors, more or less. I KNOW I don't want ducks or frogs, since those seem to be everywhere...but what else??


Also,

Bathing in Style

Right along the lines of this week's earlier topic of what's the best of the best and "in style," (essentially modern), today I'm bringing you what bathing items I would consider fabulous finds and equally impressive baby shower or 1st birthday gifts. They again come from the wonderful company, Boon. It's a lovely company that not only produces thee (in my humble opinion, that is) most modern of children's items, but also graciously donates 10% of their profits to children's charities and produces all products BPA-, phthalate-, and PVC-free.

Scrubble ($9.99) - Tots can interchange the different textured bulbs and attachments on these, along with scrubbing in the tub (get them started practicing early, right?). They can also be filled with water to squirt out, as well, and Moms will love that they are dishwasher safe, too.


Splat ($7.99) - This is a floating ring toss for the bath, and includes one post, and 3 different colored rings to aim for the moving post.


Flo ($14.99) - What a clever idea this li'l gadget is. Multifunctional, it starts by diverting the water from the faucet into a gentle waterfall, while also protecting your child's head from bumping the faucet. Even better yet, you can also store and dispense bubble bath from it by pushing the button!

Frog Pod ($34.99) - Here's not only a great way to store your children's bath toys, but also to aid in the expediency of clean-up time. The frog can be removed from its pod, and used as a scoop to swiftly gather & rinse bath toys.

Bath Goods ($14.99) - Here's a great starting collection for your child's bathtime play. The set includes 15 different appliques to stick to the side of the tub, 3 balls & 2 mini-scrubbies. The toys do not absorb any water, which thereby reduces the growth of mildew & mold.