See new styles from See Kai Run

If we were still in Michigan, we'd just be pulling out the sandals and flip flops. Here in Arizona, though, it's been bare-feet weather since about five minutes after we got here.

It was perfect weather for Buttercup to wear her new Isabella sandals (from the Spring/Summer 2009 collection) with her sweet little Easter dress. Too cute!



I am so head-over-heels with SKR's. They are a great first shoe option for new walkers with the flexibility necessary to developing little feet. What's not to love about the wide toe box and butter-soft leather in a line of footwear designed to meet the American Podiatric Medical Association's rigourous standards?

I know I'm not the only one searching for my child's next pair of SKR's, and while I didn't need new colors and designs to lure me back, I certainly am not complaining! There are metallics, sophisticated blacks, and leaf green accents. Buttercup's Isabella fisherman sandals are accented with the cutest little white hearts and go perfectly with her nicest dresses as easily as they pair with her most comfortable play outfits. In all, See Kai Run has introduced a total of 14 new styles in sizes 3-9.


And for the tiniest toes, the Smaller soft-soled baby bottie line (sized 0-18 months) has 17 new styles, like the sweet and adorable Anne! (And thanks to my friend Sara for allowing the beautiful Brynn to model!


Retail prices for this Berrie Sweet Pick start at $32.

Thanks to See Kai Run, I've got a contest for one lucky reader to choose their favorite style of See Kai Run or Smaller shoes. To enter, please visit the SKR site and leave me a comment with your style of preference and your email so I can contact you if you are selected the winner. Entries will be accepted until 12 AM (Arizona Time---which is kind of like Mountain Time, but a little bit more confusing.) on May 6, 2009. Please note that the contest does not include the Eleven shoes, and is limited to the United States and Canada, only.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* Become a fan of Berrie Sweet Picks on Facebook
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest and leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!
* Vlog about the contest and post at www.newbaby.com!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Get ready to PAR-TAY at Buttercup's 2nd Birthday Blog Bash!

Hi peeps!

I'm getting ready for Buttercup's second birthday on June 12 and thought now would be a good time to start generating some interest for the Bloggy Birthday Bash I plan on throwing as part of the fun.

Remember last year's event? With the help of generous sponsors, Berrie Sweet Picks was able to gift bloggy party-goers with over $500 in prizes! Who wants in on the fun this year?

I'd love to hear from PR reps and business owners representing birthday-related review items for all ages/and or suggestions for prizes for the party, which is scheduled for June 12 through June 19. I'm also looking for a birthday blog button to be designed, as well as an official party sponsor to donate a variety of prizes, including a grand prize, in exchange for exposure for your company or business in each party blog post.

So who's in? Email me at berriesweet.info@gmail.com for details! And hope to see you all there!

Will I see you at the American Baby Fair?

Who knew that moving cross country would snag me an invite to the Pheonix area American Baby and Family Expo for a chance to scope out the latest and greatest in baby products?

I am SO excited to have received a personal invite from Kate Benjamin at boon inc and I plan on being there with Buttercup and my flip video camera to capture some of the fun!

And for those of you in the area, make sure to stop by the boon inc. booth for a chance to win a flair high chair! So will I see you there?

Bare with me, please!

Hello all!
I know I haven't been posting as often as usual and it isn't for lack of great products to review.
If you aren't following me on Twitter already and have the background, I'm in the middle of planning a cross country move. With choosing a new home in Arizona, choosing a mover, sorting through my belongings, making all of the rest of the necessary arrangements AND taking care of a sick Buttercup, I'm just a tad bit behind.
I'm going to try and catch up on my winners for contests tonight and hopefully have time to write up a review or two.
Thanks to everyone, my readers and incredible sponsors, for being patient with me!

Bend it like Buttercup

What a milestone when your little one can start feeding themselves! Sure, there are messes galore (and cottage cheese in the hair, on the walls, and how the hell did that Cheerio end up in my bra???) but the second your baby shows interest in handling their own utensils, your heart swells with pride. (Just like it swells with pride for all of life's sweet and goofy moments, too.)

That pride, I believe, is what keeps me in a good mood as I mop smooshed blueberries off the floor. In part, the mess comes because Buttercup's fine motor skills are not yet perfected. This can make it a bit difficult to maneuver traditional "straight" utensils into her little mouth.

So what's the answer? boon benders, of course! At only $5.99 for the set, these are perfect startet utensils for little ones, starting at nine-months and up.

Now, I'm not saying that messes won't happen, because they will, but these bendable and BPA-free utensils allow you to custom bend to the appropriate angle for your child to better connect with their mouths. And as Buttercup's grip and fine motor skills improve, the Benders can be slowly unbent until they are perfectly straight, allowing for a great transition to the "big kid" utensils!

Wanna give benders a try with your tot? boon is offering one set of benders to a lucky winner! All you have to do is visit the Boon web site and leave me a berrie (read: comment) telling me what product interests you most! Entries will be accepted until midnight (EST) on July 15.

Blog Bash: The Finale

Hello fellow partiers! Thanks for hanging out with me this past week and celebrating Buttercup's first birthday with me. I had a great time!
Now it's time to announce the winners of my blog bash contests for the week!

Mom's Summer Survival Pack

Winner: Colleen and Cuddle Cottage

Berrie Sweet Summer Memory Photo Contest

Winners:

Jenna at For The Love of Baby
Stacey Moore at All Because Two People Fell in Love

Poof-tastic Prissy Poof Contest

Winner:Sassy Pink Boutique

Birthday Memory Photo Contest

winner: Kimberly at All About Kimberly

Frances England CD contest

winner: Andrea

Please be sure to email me if you were listed as a winner in this post!

I'd also like to send out a big Berrie Sweet thank you to my official sponsor, Go Baby, as well MJennings Designs, Avannabel Baby, Hoohobbers, Honey Chunks, Baby Banz, Monogrammed Gifts and More, Smart Mom Jewelry, and Circle of Sentiments for providing some fantastic prizes for my readers!

This was a lot of work, but it was totally worth the effort! And for those who won some of the sweet prizes and have already emailed me, I'll be contacting you to facilitate the distribution of prizes.

Thanks again to everyone who participated for helping Buttercup's first blog bash turn our to be a success!

Blog Bash: Go Baby Prize Winners!

Buttercup is currently cutting her eye teeth so let's just say I have been a bit preoccupied!

She is currently chewing on some frozen grapes, so while I have a minute I wanted to announce the Blog Bash prize winners of our Go Baby items!

*InMat, two winners: ($50 value for each)

Sassy Pink Boutique and Dolls123

*Organic onsies, five winners: ($12 value for each)

Bunny B

Kristinia

Goodies for Mom

Quite contrary 1977

Mrs. S

*Organic T-shirts, five winners: ($12 value for each)

Andrea

MJennings

Lauren Hosley

Yours truly

Amanda

Please contact me with your address and size options if you won a onsie or a T-shirt. I promise to respond to everyone within the next few days about getting your prizes to you! We still have a few prizes to announce tomorrow for the conclusion of Buttercup's Berrie Sweet First Birthday Blog Bash, so stop on by for a visit!

Go anywhere with the Go Baby OutMat

Let's not beat around the bush here.

I.Love.My.OutMat.

No more throwing cheapy in the car or the bottom of the stroller to spread out at outdoor parties, the park, or my own back lawn, for that matter! For one, they were bulky. And for two, they did squat for keeping me and Buttercup dry when the ground happened to be wet.

The Go Baby OutMat is a water-resistant outdoor playmat that delivers on its promise of making afternoons on the grass or at the beach easy and fun. Made of an innovative, pliable, water-resistant combination of materials, it's easy to use, lightweight and easy to transport (just slip it on the stroller handles or on your shoulder!)and just plain cool looking.



The best part? It's comfortable thanks to the poly-spandex (which replaces the hard vinyl used in other water-resistant play mats) and the terry-cloth surface which stays cool in the hot sun.

The beauty of the OutMat really lies within its simplicity. Just unzip and roll out, have fun in the sun, and then pack it back up when you are done.


And when it's time to wash it, just detach the bag and toss it in the wash!

***BERRIE IMPORTANT BLOG BASH PRIZE UPDATE!!!***

Michelle has been selected as the winner of the OutMat prize! But don't fret if you want one of your own. Normally $60, these nifty (and yes, I said nifty and am not ashamed)OutMats are on sale for $45 for the summer!

The Blog Bash is almost done, so make sure to check back to see who won the rest of our Go Baby loot in Saturday's post.

On Sunday, I'll be back to post our winners from the week's contests. Please be patient with me as I work to contact the companies with winner information for distribution of prizes.

Blog Bash: Buttercup's Birthday Suit

What to wear for the big day? Whether it's the first birthday or the third, Avannabel Baby has you covered for the cutest, handmade personalized birthday duds you are ever going to lay eyes on.
Seriously.
I searched high and low for a "keepsake" dress for the birthday girl, and after buying and returning about three dresses from major department stores, I finally called the Birthday Suit Search quits when the Monogrammed Kelly Green Gingham Birthday Dress (with a cute pink cupcake!)arrived in the mail.
This sweet little number is just $48.00 and is fully lined in broadscloth and includes pink grosgrain ribbon at the shoulders (which Buttercup only undid three times the whole party before she lost interest.) And the totally cute birthday cupcake applique is just the perfect touch, especially since Buttercup's birthday treat was a pink, gluten-free cupcake! So cute and just the right size for her little hands.
For an extra special touch, why not have the outfit personalized with your choice of monogram or first name for $10 more? For me, that was the proverbial icing on the cake that made this dress exactly what I had been looking for to begin with: A memory to treasure for years to come.
Thanks, Avannabel Baby!


***BERRIE IMPORTANT BLOG BASH PRIZE UPDATE!!!***

Kimberly has been selected as the winner of the $25 Gift Certificate for Avannabel Baby! Be sure to contact me with your address so I can get your prize mailed out to you and keep checking back to see if your name has been drawn for a prize!

Blog Bash: Berrie Sweet Summer Memory Photo Contest

Hello Berrie Sweet Partiers!
Buttercup and I are loving the fun of her Go Baby Birthday Blog Bash. It's a lot of work, but very much worth the extra effort!
In the spirit of keeping the fun going, I want to invite you to share your berrie sweetest summer memory photo for a new Blog Bash contest.
Here's the scoop: Write a post on your blog with your chosen photo telling everyone why this is a favorite with a link back to this post. Make sure to sign Mr. Linky with your direct URL to your contest post and you'll be entered to win a copy of the super fun Tabby Road "Recess Monkey" CD. With great songs like "Pedal Power," "My Yeti's So Cool," and " Kitty Sister," you and your kids can dance around the house until your sides hurt!
I have two copies! So that means two winners!
Non-bloggers can enter by commenting to this post with a verbal explanation of your fave summer memory or by blog hopping over to any of my Mr. Linky participants and leaving a comment on their photo contest post.
Contest ends on June 27 and winners will be announced on June 28.
And now, for my favorite summer photo so far...


Oops! I almost forgot!
BERRIE IMPORTANT BLOG BASH PRIZE UPDATE!
Windycity and Ginny have each been selected to win the berrie cute plush princess wand from Celebrate Express! Make sure to contact me at pm.lupercio@gmail.com if you have been named a winner so I know where to send your prizes. And stop back often to see if your name has been drawn for the main contest!

Blog Bash Review: The invitation

No matter how big or how low-key your child's party is going to be, there are a few basics that you need for the birthday party. Invitations are on obvious point, and I have to say that for important milestone birthdays, or for keeping out-of-state relatives in the loop, I love sending out photo invites.
The only problem is that they usually aren't the most affordable option.
Then, I found these cute princess-themed invites at Stork Avenue and was sold. Not only are they priced right (packages start at 12 for $15 with the per-invite price dropping from there), they are high-quality, adorable, and make a wonderful keepsake.
Not into the princess-girly stuff? That's okay, too. Stork Avenue has plenty of options available, and also allows you to build the invite online and approve it before getting your order out and to your doorstep.
Since I can't show you the actual invite for fear of exposing Buttercup's secret identity, I'll show you the photo we used for the invite instead.
Cute, huh?
****
Berrie Important Blog Bash Update!!!

Beloved Mama has won the Pink Monkey burp cloth set from Mommogrammed Gifts and More! Make sure to stop back and see if you have been selected for one of the main contest prizes!

Blog Bash: Buttercup loves Comment-Presents!

That's it! Time's up! Those of you who missed the midnight deadline for the main contest are just going to have to be patient until the next time I decide to go crazy and host a blog party.

Don't fret. I go crazy all the time and that could conceivably be tomorrow.
Anyhoo, pipe down and listen up cuz it's time for our first mini-blog bash party game. And yes, there is a prize!

"What is it," you ask?

"Well," I respond in my best game-show announcer voice, "two lucky winners will have the opportunity to walk away with their very own "Mom's Summer Survival Pack", courtesy of Playskool and CVS stores!

Included in this nifty prize pack are:

*CVS/Pharmacy Continuous Clear Spray Sunscreen SPF 30: A new, no-rub spray that goes on kids quickly and comes in easy-to-tote 3 oz bottles for $4.99.

*Playskool Cottony Cloths: No matter how old your baby may be getting, baby wipes can handle anything from dirty diapers to sticky summer faces and hands. These handy little portable packs are perfect for stuffing in the diaper bag or keeping in the car. And for $1.79 per pack, you don't have to limit yourself!

*CVS/Pharmacy Hand Sanitizing Spray Pen for kids: I love this one! In your purse, the diaper bag, the car, or your child's lunchbox, this is definitely a must have for keeping germs at bay for only $1.99.

*Playskool Wash or Toss Sippy Cups: Perfect for restaurants, the playground, family parties, or wherever life takes you, these cute little sippy's are the perfect choice for those tired of having to replace that $7.00 favorite that keeps getting lost. A six-pack is just $4.49, so stock up and earn cash back with your CVS Extracare card!

So, what do you have to do to get your name in the hat for this one? Simple, just do a little bit of surfing on the net this week and find me some of the coolest must-haves for Mom, Baby, and kids that have not yet been reviewed on Berrie Sweet Picks and stop back here with your favorite. We'll call these "comment presents."

For an extra entry, email the business owner about my blog and tell them why you think they should contact me for a product review!

I'll pick one winner for the Mom category and one winner for the Baby/Kid category.
Buttercup's comment presents will be accepted until June 27 and winners announced on June 28.



BERRIE IMPORTANT BLOG BASH PRIZE UPDATE
The following five moms have each won their own matching Teething Bling bangle and necklace set in the color of their choice from Smart Mom Jewelry.
* Doreen
* Ashley
* Katie
* Seeryus Mama
* Stacey Moore
Contact me with your address and choice of color so you can get your prize! Remember to check back often to see if you you have been selected for a blog bash prize and happy partying!

On with the blog bash!

Hello all,blog bash partiers!
I am so E-X-C-I-T-E-D!
It is party day!
Wow. Talk about nerves. What if there isn't enough food? Do you like regular Coke? (Good, cuz the diet is flat!) And what about the kids? Do we have enough to keep them occupied? (Caleb, stop eating the crayons!)
So much to think about!
Well, Buttercup was officially due on June 21 of last year, but made an appearance three weeks early. I figured since I could not have a say in when she and I met face to face, I'd begin the blog bash today in honor of trying to maintain some semblance of control in my life.
(Pathetic, I know.)
So here's the plan: I will announce a few winners every day from the main contest (meaning those of you who signed Mr. Linky and or visited Mr. Linky sites.) Call this the "door prize" phase, if you will. To be fair and give any stragglers the chance to get on our party bus, I will hold off on this portion until after midnight.
(Clock's ticking, people!)
Also, I plan to post a few blog bash reviews and contests that will be open to anyone, with a contest end date of June 28 and all remaining prize winners will be announced.
So let's get ready to party and celebrate the fact that, even though I can't keep a houseplant alive to save my life, Buttercup is thriving and cute and adorable and
O-N-E!

Time to R.S.V.P for the blog bash!

Hello all. Just a friendly reminder that if you want to get a chance to par-tay with my princess and get in on any of these berrie awesome prizes, you need to comment, post, and sign on with Mr. Linky on this post by June 21.
I've got, like, 30 prizes listed and 15 party guests so far, which means odds are berrie high you'll walk away a winner! And although I plan to run a few blog bash contests open to all, the ones listed here are VIP only, as in Very Important Party Guest.
So what are you waiting for???

***A few tips for those participating:

*Have your favorite birthday photo and story ready to upload for a "Fave Birthday Memory" contest.

*While your hunting through those digital images, see if you can find one for a "Berrie Best Summer" memory photo contest.

*Feel free to host your own Berrie Sweet 1st Birthday Blog Bash Give-Away to help Buttercup celebrate the Big One!

*I'm always on the lookout for awesome products to review, so after we all sing Happy Birthday to Buttercup, I'll unwrap your comment-presents. Tell me what cool product you found for Buttercup (any age limit!)and I'll start requesting more review items! Buttercup and I will open comment-presents on June 28.

And a very big thanks to Go Baby, our official blog bash sponsor!

See you at the par-tay!

They just keep coming

Be sure to check out Buttercup's Birthday Blog Bash for the updated prize list! I have added a few more, and hope to do so everyday until June 21!

Announcing Buttercup's First Birthday Blog Bash!

I must be crazy!
This little baby of a blog is less than a month old and here I am trying to pull off a successful blog party! No matter how nuts that might sound, I have to at least try. After all, my lil Buttercup is going to be O-N-E!
(WOW)
Her actual birthday is June 12, but to buy myself some time, and to allow all of you the opportunity to join in the fun, I am running Buttercup's Berrie Sweet 1st Birthday Blog Bash from June 21 (her actual due date) through June 28.
The fun is open to both Bloggers and non-Bloggers, so listen up for a few simple rules to get in on some awesome giveaways! Go Baby is the official Berrie Sweet sponsor. A special thanks also goes out to Lipstick to Crayons for designing the super sweet banner for the blog party!

For Bloggers:

* Place the banner in your sidebar by June 21. The code is up on the sidebar. Just just click and paste. Simple, right?

* Go back on your blog and post about the Berrie Sweet Blog Bash, including a link inviting your readers to join in on the party. You can send Buttercup a birthday wish or message and even host your own giveaway if you like! After you have all that set, come back here and sign in to Mr. Linky with a direct URL to your Berrie Sweet Blog Bash post.
Oh-and be sure to stick to one Mr. Linky signature per person.
* And there you have it. Berrie Sweet, right? Just make sure to visit every day of the party to enter my kickin' contests and maybe even play a few games. Also be sure to list the three prizes you are most interested in and I'll do my best to accommodate you should your name be drawn for the main party contest.

Non-bloggers

* You can par-tay too! Just visit five of our Mr. Linky participating blogs and leave a comment on their Blog Bash post. Stop back here with a berrie (read: comment)listing the five blogs you visited and your email address. Easy enough!

Current prize list for Buttercup's Berrie Sweet First Birthday Blog Bash:

* GoBaby is offering one outmat ($60 value), two inmats ($50 value for each), five organic onsies ($12 value for each), and five organic T-shirts ($12 value for each)! Thirteen winners will get to select the design and size of their choice of awarded prize at the end of the party. Thanks, GoBaby!

* Circle of Sentiments 1-disc sterling silver or copper Mommy classic Necklace (a $45 value.)

*Avannabel Baby is offering a $25 gift certificate to one lucky winner.

* Honey Chunks is offering a two-ounce sample of their popular Foaming Cleanser in Sensitive and six homemade reusable baby wipes to one lucky winner.

* Smart Mom Jewelry is offering five individual winners the chance at their own matching Teething Bling bangle and necklace set in the color of their choice. (A $31.85 value)

* Monogrammed Gifts and More is offering one winner the choice of either a Blue Monkey or Pink Monkey Burp Cloth set. (A $22.00 value)

* Baby Banz is offering a pair of Baby or Kids Banz and their new Wrapz Bandana to one lucky winner in their choice of size and color. (A $30 value.)

* Hoohobbers is offering their Junior Director's Chair, which also can be used as a booster seat for kids 18 months to four years, to one lucky winner. (A $35.00 value.)

* MJennings Designs is offering a personalized child's name bracelet made with Swarovski pearls and crystals to one lucky winner. (A $25.00 value.)

That brings to total value of prizes to just under $500!

And from me and Buttercup:

Two winners will get to get their magic on with a plush princess wand from Celebrate Express!
Interested in adding a prize (or five?) to the list from your blog or online store? Email me at pm.lupercio@gmail.com and I'll update the prize list daily through June 21, which, by the way, is the deadline to enter for the Blog Bash. I'll host a few separate contests as part of the fun, so make sure to visit often!

Here's Mr. Linky!