Review and Giveaway: Mimi the Sardine CLOSED

Thank you to Mimi the Sardine for participating in the Bloggy Birthday Blowout Event on Goodie Goodie Gumdrops!

As you well know, kids are messy little creatures. Adorable and sweet as pie but boy can they wreck havoc on otherwise spotless surfaces. I used to fret over crumbs and droplets but as they say, life's too short to cry over spilled milk. Especially when you have Mimi the Sardine to keep you clean.

Mimi the Sardine is a family-owned, women-run company located in sunny California. Founded in 1988, Mimi the Sardine aims to create fun, earth-friendly, quality products that will make moms lives easier. Their European designs are not only fun for tots but good for the planet! All of their cotton is now 100% organically grown and features a water-based, non-PVC acrylic coating that is water and soil-resistant. Just wipe clean or machine wash warm and dry low - doesn't get any simpler than that! Splat mats, aprons, tablecloths, lunch sacks...Mimi is one clever sardine!

I was fortunate enough to receive both a backpack and messy baby bib to review. All of the prints are so colorful and cheerful that it was hard to choose a pattern. I wanted them all! Ultimately, I chose Hybrid Cars and Jungle, respectively.

The messy baby bib extends the classic bib and adds long sleeves for the ultimate in spill protection. It also features a crumb-catching pocket and ties at the neck for an adjustable fit. I had been searching high and low for an art smock for Nate and this worked out perfectly! The waterproof, non-staining material helps repel paint, dough, chalk and crayon like a dream. Normally, Nate will fuss and rip off anything around his neck but he was very comfortable in his soft Mimi the Sardine bib. While the sizing is recommended for children 6-24 months, it fits Nate just right. The sleeves are more like 3/4 length on him but this is great because they don't get in the way of arts and crafts. I believe this apron could work for children as old as 3 years.

The Jungle print is perfect for boys or girls so if we see pink in our future, we can hand it down with no problem. I only wish I had this bib when Nate was an infant! I can't count the number of times his sleeves have fallen in sauce or yogurt as he mastered the art of self-feeding. This could have been a real sanity saver for both of us!

Even more charming was the little backpack from Mimi the Sardine. It features a roomy inside compartment with a complementary dot or stripe fabric (ours had blue and green stripes - so cute!), adjustable straps, a sturdy zipper that even toddlers can work, and a loop for easy storage. The backpack is the perfect size for transporting toys, books and snacks on the go. Nate loves carrying it around with him and stuffing it with little trinkets. I love that it wipes clean easily so crumbs and sippy cup leaks just slip right off. I must admit though: I get a glimmer in my eye when I envision him heading off to his first day of school. *tear*

If we should travel by plane in the near future, this would be the perfect toddler carry-on. It will also come in handy for preschool, day trips, picnics or the babysitter. If you're working on back-to-school shopping, you'll definitely want to add Mimi the Sardine to your list.

Bottom line: The deluxe eco-friendly construction and whimsical designs from Mimi the Sardine make this mom happy!

BUY IT: You can purchase the messy baby bib (ARV $25.95), backpack (ARV $38.95) and other Mimi the Sardine products online at www.mimithesardine.com or use their handy dandy store locator to find a retailer near you.

WIN IT: Mimi the Sardine is oh so generously offering one lucky reader both a messy baby bib and backpack in their pattern(s) of choice! That's a $65 value! WOW!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Mosey on over to Mimi the Sardine and tell me which design(s) you would choose. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count! Remember to leave one comment per entry.

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. If you already follow and/or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me and Mimi the Sardine on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the following tweet of come up with one of your own:

Win a messy baby bib and backpack set from @MimitheSardine and @kris10chumley! A $65 value! Ends 8/20 http://bit.ly/bSJNg1

Just leave a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry per day max)

3.) "Like" Goodie Goodie Gumdrops on Facebook. (1 entry)

4.) Become a fan of Mimi the Sardine on Facebook. (1 entry)

5.) Add my Bloggy Birthday Blowout event button to your site and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

6.) Add my blog button to your site and comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on August 20, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a backpack and messy baby bib from Lisa at Mimi the Sardine to facilitate my candid review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are solely mine. Your experience may differ.