Archives for July 2009

Free Children’s Book Download


Download this adorable book by Hans Wilhelm. It’s the story of Anook, a little poplar bear, who is mistreated by her sisters and eventually thrown out of the palace by her father, the Poplar Bear King. Her mean sisters are made queens, but they later turn on their father who has become old. They dethrone him and order him to leave the palace.

Anook and her father are later united. They return to the palace where Anook finally stands up to her mean sisters. She banishes them from the palace and is crowned queen. Together Queen Anook and her father King Poplar Bear rule Northland.

This book is appropriate for children ages 4 – 8. Click on the link below to access this wonderful story.

http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/Childrenpics/ANOOK.pdf

Wordless Wednesday

Wasup Ladies!

Blog Give Aways

Have a giveaway or contest?  The listing is free, but we do have a few simple rules:  


1) Please list your give away in this format:  Bella Bambolina Child’s Tote 5/25.  Expired give aways will be deleted.  

2) Your link must go directly to the give away. This link is not for advertisements on your blog. If you link to advertisements or other posts that are not give aways, they will be deleted.

Be sure to check out my giveaways before you leave or leave a comment on  a post.  I love comments, and I’ll be sure to visit your blog.    

Green To Grow Baby Bottle Give Away

Green to Grow has become a front runner for it’s BPA free baby bottles and nipples. As parents we want nothing but the best for our babies. Green to Grow is making 5 and 10-ounce dishwasher-safe baby bottles with beginner (0-3 months), intermediate (3-6 months), or expert (6+ months) nipples. You ask what is BPA? BPA is the abbreviation for Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A is a chemical thought to be hazardous to humans. In 2008, the media reported on the findings of the government when they questioned its safety. Retailers began removing BPA products from their shelves. Green to Grow, which is owned by a Los Angeles-based husband and wife team, decided to make a commitment to produce BPA Free products for our children. They package their products in 100 percent recycled paper and donate 1 percent of its revenue to environmental causes. They also manage a “Bottle to Babies” program that distributes baby bottles to women’s and homeless shelters. I love companies who donate back to the community, especially to women who are in need for their children. I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to review one of the Green To Grow bottles. I was sent the 10 oz. wide mouth bottle shown. It has an adorable little smiling fruit on the face of the bottle and comes with the nipple and cap. Green To Grow bottles have been featured Pregnancy & Newborn, Baby Couture, Today’s Parent magazines as well as ABC and NBC news.  Green To Grow has a Welcome Home Set too. It includes everything new parents need to start nourishing a baby with confidence. The set includes: two 5 oz BPA-free baby bottles, two 10 oz BPA-free baby bottles (all of which come with Beginner nipples, 0 – 3 months); one package of Intermediate nipples (3 nipples per pack, 3 – 6 months); one package of Expert nipples (3 nipples per pack, 6+ months); and a super soft, organic cotton baby cloth, good for burps, slurps, baths, and splashes! This set will make a great baby shower or new baby gift.

You can win the Green To Grow wide neck bottle shown. Here’s how: Visit Green To Grow and leave us a comment telling us what item you would purchase for your baby or a baby shower gift. Give Away will end August 20, 2009 at mid-night. Give Away is open to US Residents 18+ only.
Want extra credit? Do one or all of the following:

  • Follow our blog (on the left)
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  • Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this give away (on the left)
  • Add your give away to our Oh Snap – Blog Give Aways post (top left)
  • Vote for us at Top Baby Blogs (top left)
  • Leave a comment on what you’re doing to help the environment

Wordless Wednesday

Pink Lady

Boy & Girls Sailor Sets


I love to see little girls in sailor dresses. I was so thrilled when I came across this adorable outfit. I had to find a place for it in the Giggles & Sugar Kisses boutique. This adorable girl’s outfit is available in sizes 3 – 24 months. It includes the sailor dress, bloomers and matching hat. It’s perfect for summer portraits, and you can machine wash and dry it. This set is available for $52.00 plus shipping.


We can’t leave out the little boys. This adorable number is available in sizes 18 – 24 months and 2T – 4T. The set includes navy shorts with suspenders, sailor shirt with navy tie and matching sailor cap. Dry clean only, but it’s so adorable. This set sells for $42.00 plus shipping.

Your little sailor will be adorable in this 3 piece set. The set is navy and comes with a nautical button down jacket and sunsuit. The jacket is long sleeve and the buttons sport white anchors. The set also includes a matching hat, and is available in size 6/9 months.  We recommend dry cleaning.  This set sells for $45.00 plus shipping.
Check out these boutique quality sets at Giggles & Sugar Kisses, we have unique gifts for sweet babies. 

Big Book for Dads Give Away

It’s no secret that Dads are usually left out of celebrations such as baby showers or just the experience of having a new baby. Mom gets the attention initially and than baby. Dads linger in the background, waiting patiently to take on his new role.  He endures mom’s mid-night cravings and mood swings as she gains the attention of family, friends and strangers alike.

I remember my son-in-law enduring the attention that my daughter was getting when she was carrying my grandson. He was so loving and willing to take the back seat. He did ask for a stroller and car seat of his own when the baby was born. He didn’t want to worry about taking the car seat of his truck once it was installed and he wanted to have his own stroller for leisurely walks in the morning or evenings. He is a great father and spends hours with his son playing, reading, giving him a bath, doing everything a father loves to do with his son.  I am so blessed to have him as my son-in-law.


Giggles & Sugar Kisses came across this Little Big Book for Dads. It’s published by Random House and filled with ideas that will keep father and son or father and daughter busy for hours. It includes activities for making sandcastles, flying kites, ideas for games, and making mac and cheese. It includes stories, Jack and the Bean Stalk, The Boy Who Cried Wolf among others. It is beautifully illustrated and contains a hard back cover. This book retails for $24.95 and is worth every penny.  It’s perfect for the new dad.  It will make a great baby shower or new baby gift.

You can be the winner of this book compliments of Random House. Here’s how: visit the children’s section at Random House and let us know what book besides the give away you would like to have. Leave us a comment and let us know what you found.

Want extra entries? Do one or all of the following:

  • Follow our blog (on the left)
  • Subscribe to our blog (on the left)
  • Add our button to your sidebar (on the left)
  • Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this give away (on the left)
  • Add your give away to our Oh Snap – Blog Give Aways post (top left)
  • Vote for us at Top Baby Blogs (top left)
  • Leave a comment on your child’s or grandchild’s favorite bedtime story

This give away will end mid-night August 15, 2009 and is open to US Residents 18+ only.  Good Luck!

Quotable Sunday

It’s Quotable Sunday thanks to Toni at A Daily Dose of Toni. I love Quotable Sunday, it’s the day that we share a few of our favorite quotes. I decided to share a few grandparent quotes this week. Being a grandmother has become one of my greatest roles in life. I had no idea that I could love anyone as deeply as I love my grandson. He is the joy of my life.

Here’s a few quotes that express how I felt about my grandparents, and a few quotes to express how I feel about my grandson:
If nothing is going well, call your grandmother – Italian Proverb

Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting – Anoynymous
Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. – Alex Haley

Perfect loves does not come until the first grandchild. – Welsh Proverb

There’s no place like home except Grandmas. – Author Unknown

What a bargain grandchildren are. I give them my loose change, and they give me a million dollars worth of joy. – Gene Perret

When a child is born so are grandmothers. – Judith Levy

When grandparents enter the door, discipline flies out the window. – Ogden Nash

Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies. – Author Unknown

I hope that you have enjoyed my quotes today. Please leave us comment on your favorite quote. If you would like to join us, drop by A Daily Dose of Toni and leave your link. We’ll visit and read your favorite quotes.

Should We Take His Pacifier?

As you can see my little sweetie is a character. Don’t you love his hat? He also has another attachment, his pacifier. He’s almost 2 and my daughter thinks he’s getting too old to have it. Pediatricians recommend that toddlers be weaned from their pacifiers by 2. She and my son-in-law want to put him in nursery school for a few hours a day so he can play with other children, and they believe he should be off the pacifier. How old should a child be when you take their
nip nip? He absolutely loves it. Gran thinks she should leave him alone and let him give it up when he’s ready. I don’t expect him to be walking around with his nip nip when he’s 3, but now it soothes him.

He was a thumb sucker when he was born, and I’m concerned that he will revert although research has shown that most toddlers don’t revert when they’re weaned. There are also other concerns, interference with speech, dental problems and ear infections. I’ve seen no signs of either. I think he will gradually give it up when he learns to sooth himself. I must admit he hangs on to it tightly. If you try to take it, he’ll fight you for it. I meant that literally.  If we have a discussion about it, he understands.  He will run to it, pick it up and suck on it for dear life. He’s such a sweetie and oh so adorable. I simply can’t stand to see or hear him in distress.

How old was your child when you weaned them? I would love to hear your story, please leave a comment.

Keebler Bug Bites

When my grandson visits I make sure I have his favorite snacks, one of which is the Pepperidge Farm Gold Fish. While in search of the gold fish, I came across these cinnamon graham crackers in the shape of butterflies, dragonflies, and lady bugs among others made by Keebler. Their new on the market, so I thought I test them with my grandson.

He fell in love with these little bugs. He walks around the house saying, “Eat a bug. Eat a bug.” It’s so adorable. These little cookies make great snacks with a cup of milk. They’re excellent soothers for boo boos too.

Your children will giggle while they gobble them up. Oh adults love them too, at least I do and they make a great conversation piece with us big kids. Some kids never grow up!