Review and Giveaway: Pillow Pets CLOSED

Thank you to Pillow Pets and Carabiner P.R. for participating in the Bloggy Birthday Blowout Event on Goodie Goodie Gumdrops!

If there was an award for overabundant gifts, first prize would go to the ubiquitous stuffed animal. I can't tell you how many plush creatures we own, in all shapes, sizes and varieties. Sure, they are adorable. But since Nate rarely pays them any mind, every single one is used merely as decoration on his nightstand or bookshelf.

If only they could all serve double duty like our new Pillow Pet!

In case you haven't heard, Pillow Pets are the new sensation for children of all ages. These cuddly companions have a Velcro strap underneath that can be released to transform them into a full-size pillow! Available in 20 different styles, they make an ideal travel buddy or bedtime pal. Better yet, they are machine washable for easy care!

Around the Fourth of July holiday, I informed you about the launch of the limited-edition Patriotic Pup Pillow Pet, for which proceeds support military families. Well, we recently welcomed "Americus" into our home and can now provide our official review!

When I first opened our Pillow Pet, I was pleasantly surprised by the size. This little guy was not so little! Why, it was big enough for Mommy to use! He was much more soft and snuggly than I could have ever imagined. I almost didn't want to hand him away. Not only were his nose and fur bright and nationalistic, but he also featured an adorably starry underbelly.

I could tell that the quality of our Pillow Pet far surpassed any knockoff. The seams were tight and the chenille was extra plush - not cheap feeling. Withstanding toddler wear-and-tear should be no problem. Normally, I'm a little weary of Velcro because it tends to pick up lint, snag other items and lose its hold after awhile. But the smart folks at Pillow Pets have solved this problem with a small piece of fabric that can flip over the Velcro portion when your pal is a pillow. This is a great idea for laundering.

I couldn't even remove the tag before Nate confiscated him to lounge on during TV time. Since then, we've taken "Americus" to Grandma's house, played with him in the car, and used him at naptime. He sure is a boy's best friend! (Look, mom, we even color coordinate!)

If you're looking for an affordable gift that a boy or girl can love for years, Pillow Pets are the perfect choice. I'm tempted to buy another one just because they are so cute and practical!

BUY IT: July may have come and gone but you can still support our military and show your American pride with the limited-edition Patriotic Pup (ARV $24.95), available at www.MyPillowPetGives.com. Or check out the rest of the Pillow Pets collection at www.GetPillowPets.com (ARV $19.95).

WIN IT: One lucky reader is going to win their choice of Pillow Pet (in stock only)!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Visit the Pillow Pet website and tell me which animal you'd chose. 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 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 soft, snuggly Pillow Pet of your choice from @kris10chumley! Ends 9/2 http://bit.ly/abGWyT

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 Pillow Pets 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 September 2, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. residents 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 the above Pillow Pet from Kathy at Carabiner P.R. to facilitate my candid review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are purely mine. Your experience may differ.