October 26, 2008 | Published in Gift Ideas, Giveaways, Parenting, Product Reviews, Shopping, Work At Home

The Azula is Ingenuity Rolled Up

One of my favorite things about working for 5 Minutes for Mom, is the opportunity it gives me to learn about and try out some ingenious mom invented products. I think it is incredible that a mom can come up with an innovative idea that will make her life easier, and then turn that idea into a product that we all can benefit from. These women are such an inspiration to me.

Julie McWherter and Laura Varn are two perfect examples. They decided to take their ideas and create a company, prettySmart! LLC, dedicated to creating simple products that help women. One of these products is the Azula.

The Azula is a water-resistant, fashionable mat for women to place at the edge of the pool, to keep their bathing suits from snagging.

Since moms with young children are constantly up and down as they help their little ones in and out of the pool, the Azula is the perfect solution for protecting their bathing suits.

The Azula is water, mildew, mold and chlorine resistant. It is lightweight, machine washable and rolls up tightly. It is also perfect for the beach as well, since sand won’t stick to it.

You are probably wondering why we are choosing to share the Azula with you now, since it is almost November and your times at the pool and beach have come to an end. But, that is what is wonderful about the Azula, its uses seem almost endless.

The Azula can also be used for changing a baby’s diaper and sitting at soccer and football games, especially on wet grass or bleachers. The kids can use it when they sit on the driveway to color with chalk.

Do you have a toddler who is potty training? The Azula can fit on and protect your toddler’s seat. If you live in a hot climate, like Arizona for instance, and park a car in the sun, you can use the Azula to protect your skin from the car’s hot interior. You can take it with you on camping trips and also place it on your porch or outdoor bench on rainy days.

I don’t have a pool, but I was able to use the Azula during a picnic at the park. The ground was wet and the quilt I brought along was soon pretty damp. My daughter was able to sit on the Azula to keep herself dry.

The Azula also comes in many attractive designs, which makes it a practical and fun product.

If you would like to win an Azula and discover how many ways it will make your life easier, please leave a comment below. We have 5 Azula mats to give away. We will draw our winners on Saturday, November 15th.

Good Luck.

Tagged as: Azula, entrepreneurs

Email Author | Website About Erica

Erica has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom writing team since the summer of 2008. She is a mom to three little ones - Audrey (7), Isaiah (4) and Christian (3).

View all articles by Erica

{ 167 comments }

1 Erica October 26, 2008 at 5:23 pm: Oh, how many times I’ve wished I had something like this! Thanks for introducing it to us.
2 erica m October 26, 2008 at 5:45 pm: Oh, I want to try this! We’re looking at membership at a gym with a pool… and I’m thinking this would be great for the toddler in so many ways!!
3 thefarmerfiles October 26, 2008 at 5:46 pm: Oohh I want to win…I am still in the pool and at the beach. I live in a tropical place.
4 heather October 26, 2008 at 5:51 pm: I’d love to win one … I have 3 so I’m up and down A LOT!
5 Annie October 26, 2008 at 5:56 pm: I would love to win one! You’ve listed so many great ways to use it and I’m sure I could find more!
6 Glenna October 26, 2008 at 6:15 pm: These sound awesome! I’m a teacher in a multihandicapped classroom and I’m sure I could find even more uses for one! Pick ME!!!
7 Michelle Pendergrass October 26, 2008 at 6:26 pm: How cool is that???
8 Maggie October 26, 2008 at 6:32 pm: Oh my word, that is GENIUS!
9 karen c. October 26, 2008 at 6:37 pm: Such a great idea.
10 Smellyann October 26, 2008 at 7:21 pm: Oh, I would love to win that! It would really be useful. Thanks!
11 brandiandboys October 26, 2008 at 7:29 pm: the best give-away!!!! love it!
12 Natalie October 26, 2008 at 7:32 pm: What a great idea! I always seem to snag my bathing suit. This will solve that problem.
13 Shasta October 26, 2008 at 7:37 pm: They sound great! I would love to win one, I’m sure we could find many uses for them!
14 Alicia October 26, 2008 at 7:49 pm: So clever!
15 Courtney October 26, 2008 at 8:11 pm: This is awesome. We got to the pool a lot and during the winter we spend time at the indoor pool at the community center. This is great for those days. I am so glad someone invented this.
16 Terra Jones October 26, 2008 at 8:14 pm: what an awesome idea!!!!!
17 MaryBeth October 26, 2008 at 8:15 pm: What a great idea for a handy product! Thanks for sharing it with us and for the chance to win one!!
18 Deb - Mom of 3 Girls October 26, 2008 at 8:44 pm: I have a potty training toddler – and was just wondering how I was going to protect her carseat. Perfect!
19 danielle October 26, 2008 at 9:13 pm: oooh! Count me in!
20 Sharon October 26, 2008 at 9:20 pm: I love it! What a great idea and living in Florida…I’d use it year round with my one year old.
21 Richelle F October 26, 2008 at 9:29 pm: That looks cool!
22 Alissa October 26, 2008 at 9:31 pm: thanks! what a cool idea!
23 Lisa October 26, 2008 at 9:55 pm: This would be perfect!
24 Melanie October 26, 2008 at 10:10 pm: Sounds fabulous!
25 Celeste Cruz October 26, 2008 at 10:24 pm: Looks like a neat product!
26 Adrienne! October 26, 2008 at 10:26 pm: Ooohhh!! Looks amazing!
27 Amy N. October 26, 2008 at 10:26 pm: that sounds like such a great product!
28 Ally October 26, 2008 at 11:00 pm: This sounds awesome!! Thanks for entering me!
29 Lisa October 26, 2008 at 11:03 pm: Would have loved to have the Azula at the pool this past summer.
30 Angela C. October 26, 2008 at 11:47 pm: That would come in handy. I would love to try that.
31 Renee Simmons October 27, 2008 at 5:28 am: I LOVE it! OMG! Like amazing! Definately spreading the word on this one! TY 5 minutes for giving your readers this opportunity also!
32 Amy October 27, 2008 at 6:38 am: What a fabulous idea! This would be great to use at parades. It also would have come in handy when we were in Disney this month.

Amy
33 TheAngelForever Twitter: TheAngelForever October 27, 2008 at 8:02 am: This looks like such an amazing product. I know it would certainly be welcomed here
34 Kathy D October 27, 2008 at 8:16 am: I watch three boys 3 and under we could use this for lots of things
35 sandy October 27, 2008 at 8:28 am: cool idea
36 wanda October 27, 2008 at 8:32 am: I will put this to good use .Thanks!
37 Katherine Frazier October 27, 2008 at 8:54 am: Great idea for preventing the snagged behind look.
38 Melissa B. October 27, 2008 at 8:55 am: This is the coolest idea. I would love to have one.
39 Michael Capp October 27, 2008 at 9:42 am: I’d love to win!
40 Nicole October 27, 2008 at 9:46 am: Ive always thought that there should be something like this, to prevent bathing suits from snagging! This sounds like such a useful product. Hope I win!
41 Hil'Lesha October 27, 2008 at 10:10 am: Very nice!
42 Cherie J October 27, 2008 at 10:51 am: Sounds great! Please enter me. Thank you!
43 Tracey Haynes October 27, 2008 at 12:03 pm: This would be perfect for when we start swimming lessons with our 2 year old! I would love to win one! Thank you!
44 Happy Mama October 27, 2008 at 12:26 pm: sounds great please count me in!
45 c. clemens October 27, 2008 at 12:30 pm: HI please enter me, thanks
46 Viv October 27, 2008 at 12:37 pm: Great idea! I could use this product.
47 Demetra October 27, 2008 at 12:50 pm: Over time, I’ve had a few bathing suits get the “bum snag.” Nice to know things exist to prevent it from happening again!
48 Linda October 27, 2008 at 12:50 pm: Excellent.I need this prize when i go to the pool at the casino.
49 susan varney October 27, 2008 at 1:21 pm: i will win
50 Mary Helen October 27, 2008 at 1:53 pm: This is a wonderful invention…it will certainly help out at the pool.
51 David B October 27, 2008 at 1:58 pm: Fantastic giveaway! Please sign me up for your contest.
52 Heidi October 27, 2008 at 2:12 pm: I can think of SO many uses for this! This is very cool!
53 kathy October 27, 2008 at 2:58 pm: How wonderful! I would love to win this!
54 Jenn S. October 27, 2008 at 3:09 pm: Neat idea. I am always worried about snagging my suit at the pool.
55 Charissa October 27, 2008 at 3:32 pm: I’d love to have this to give my SIL for Christmas. She coaches a swim team
56 jenna October 27, 2008 at 4:38 pm: This sounds so neat! I’m a water aerobics instructor and constantly snagging my suit while trying to demonstrate moves out of the water.
57 Lisa L. October 27, 2008 at 4:42 pm: Love to win this cool mat!
58 jubilee October 27, 2008 at 5:02 pm: What a great idea! Add my name to the hat!
59 melissa October 27, 2008 at 5:03 pm: what a great idea! i would love to win!
60 Michele October 27, 2008 at 5:04 pm: This would be great to take to the Y.
61 Jessica T October 27, 2008 at 5:15 pm: I can use this for my trip to Mexico in January!
62 Anne October 27, 2008 at 5:24 pm: Very cool and ingenious! I’d love to win!

Thanks
63 laura petrey October 27, 2008 at 5:26 pm: absolutely beautiful!!!
64 Tonya Froemel October 27, 2008 at 7:45 pm: really cool count me in please
65 Meg Munson October 27, 2008 at 9:38 pm: This is a great product…I could have saved many bathing suits with this!!! Thanks:)
66 Hollie P. October 27, 2008 at 9:47 pm: Another great idea I wish I had thought of! Please sign me up!
67 Magan Weber October 27, 2008 at 11:04 pm: What a fabulous idea…I want one!!
68 Noreen October 27, 2008 at 11:46 pm: great for traveling when the tub is rough, like the one we used in a hotel last night
69 Amy October 28, 2008 at 12:49 am: What a great idea!! Please count me in!
70 Autumn H October 28, 2008 at 1:53 am: what a cool product!! i love mom created products too!!

autumn398 (at) yahoo.com
71 Robert Doscher October 28, 2008 at 5:23 am: I am in it to win it.

Cheers!
72 Karen Gonyea October 28, 2008 at 9:24 am: Great Product
73 Angela Young October 28, 2008 at 9:55 am: Great idea! I would love to win one!
74 Leona P October 28, 2008 at 10:51 am: nice
75 Susan C October 28, 2008 at 11:03 am: What a great idea! I would love to win one of these for my boyfriend’s mother. She lives in Las Vegas and has a pool surrounded by cement!
76 Kathy Scott October 28, 2008 at 11:45 am: My sister has a heated pool. I would love to get this for her kind of as a payment for using her pool all the time.
77 Jenna October 28, 2008 at 12:43 pm: This sounds pretty great! I’d love to win one!
78 Cara October 28, 2008 at 1:23 pm: Oh how awesome is that!? Being in Texas, we don’t have as much “pool weather” as Arizona (I wish!). But for being a sports fanatic in the rainy winter as well as a new Mom, the posibilities are endless for something like that!
79 veronica sandberg October 28, 2008 at 2:13 pm: want to win this
80 Kandi October 28, 2008 at 3:18 pm: my bathing suit bottoms are coveting this mat!
81 Terri October 28, 2008 at 4:58 pm: Would love to win!
82 Mike Weisberg October 28, 2008 at 5:44 pm: I want to win
83 charline s October 28, 2008 at 8:32 pm: Sounds like a great idea
84 grubmama October 28, 2008 at 11:20 pm: I can use it for baseball games!
85 Lisa Fosses October 29, 2008 at 10:44 am: GREAT PRODUCT
86 Shannon B. October 29, 2008 at 10:56 am: What a neat product! I’d love to win.
87 Terri D October 29, 2008 at 2:34 pm: What a good idea. Count me in!
88 lisalou October 29, 2008 at 4:27 pm: where did they get the name? so clever.
pls enter me.
89 Sandra F. October 29, 2008 at 10:32 pm: cool idea…this would save my bathing suit bottoms!
90 tiff October 30, 2008 at 4:10 am: these look so cool!
91 Sharon Jones October 30, 2008 at 12:38 pm: awesome product and one that I need…what a great idea!
THANKS for entry
92 Aimee K October 31, 2008 at 1:25 am: Wow, the Azula is pretty brilliant. I could especially use it in the car after I come home from swimming laps!
93 Kari Follett October 31, 2008 at 9:59 am: Sounds wonderful, I’d love it!
94 pinklady October 31, 2008 at 7:18 pm: Very clever…I never wanted to get snags or bumps on my precious (and expensive) swimsuits.
95 Elizabeth M. November 1, 2008 at 4:31 am: Do you know how many bathing suits I’ve ruined because of this snagging issue? What a great product.
96 britt November 1, 2008 at 2:25 pm: brilliant!!
97 Angela November 1, 2008 at 5:10 pm: We would like to have one of these to take on our trips. Thanks for the contest.
98 Sylvia November 1, 2008 at 5:24 pm: what a great idea!
99 Andy November 1, 2008 at 7:12 pm: Great invention.
100 Joely Campbell November 1, 2008 at 7:27 pm: Gosh, what a cool invention! I have snagged some of my best suits by accidentally doing this, even while being careful.
101 Rosanne Morrison November 1, 2008 at 8:53 pm: I like the look
102 alison November 1, 2008 at 10:04 pm: Great idea! Thanks for the giveaway!
103 M.A. November 1, 2008 at 10:47 pm: So handy for the beach!
104 Ann E November 2, 2008 at 5:43 am: What a great idea and so many uses! If I win, I’ll have to get another so I won’t have to share with my daughter! ;P
105 micaela6955 (Michele Pineda) November 2, 2008 at 6:20 pm: great idea, I hate those ugly looking nubs on my bathing suit because it snagged on the side of the pool area…

micaela6955 at msn dot com
106 Sarah Z November 2, 2008 at 10:48 pm: What a great idea – I am always worried about snagging my suit!
Thanks!
107 DARIJAVAN November 3, 2008 at 8:54 am: This would work great at my neighbors pool
108 Erica G November 3, 2008 at 2:55 pm: Why didn’t I think of that!?!?
109 Tammy Marshall November 5, 2008 at 1:35 pm: Hope to win. Neat idea.
110 Vicky Boackle November 5, 2008 at 6:17 pm: neat idea.
111 Theresa Dell November 5, 2008 at 8:47 pm: I could use this, I’ve ruined too many swim suits already
112 Tina Rath November 5, 2008 at 11:48 pm: I would love to have this for my granddaughters to sit on when we go to the park.
113 Karen P November 6, 2008 at 4:14 pm: Thanks for the contest. Happy Thursday, cool item.
114 amy November 8, 2008 at 3:16 pm: enter me please
115 Lisa November 8, 2008 at 3:21 pm: Neat idea
116 Tamara B. November 9, 2008 at 7:07 pm: My daughter and I have ruined so many swimming suits by sitting on the concrete by the pool. Such a wonderful product and would love to win one. Thank-you.
117 Stacy November 9, 2008 at 11:28 pm: These are so great.
118 K. Cleaver November 10, 2008 at 2:08 am: These would also be great for little girls. We had a pool when I was growing up, and the concrete picked the bottom of all my bathing suits. I’d love to have this to use now. We have a pool and it would be great to use.
119 Christine November 10, 2008 at 1:07 pm: What a great idea! Thanks for the chance!
120 jennefer sweitzer November 10, 2008 at 1:16 pm: What a great idea!
121 Casey November 10, 2008 at 5:08 pm: I need this for our neighborhood pool this summer!
122 Susan Ledet November 11, 2008 at 12:31 am: What a great invention! I’ve destroyed so many suits over the years from those pesky little snags and pulls. I would love to have one of these.
123 Sherri B. November 11, 2008 at 9:59 pm: This would be so useful at the pool. Thanks for the chance!!!
124 Jennifer hedden November 11, 2008 at 11:25 pm: Enter me
125 R Hicks November 12, 2008 at 9:49 am: I need something to save my skin and swimsuit. Would work great.

ardy22 at earthlink.net
126 jan koontz November 12, 2008 at 12:57 pm: just to cool
127 Cassandra November 12, 2008 at 4:11 pm: Great idea!
128 Cindy B. in Montana November 12, 2008 at 11:09 pm: This is the most genius idea I’ve seen in a long time! Thanks!
129 jolene November 12, 2008 at 11:56 pm: what a cool idea!
130 Cassandra Shuff November 13, 2008 at 7:54 am: That is really cool I have ruined a few suits and that would help
131 Erma Hurtt November 13, 2008 at 8:31 am: I would love the chance to win, thanks.
132 Nanette Olson November 13, 2008 at 10:47 am: Please enter me for this cool prize.
133 Rachel Robertson November 13, 2008 at 5:03 pm: Thank you so much for such a fun prize and for your generosity of heart for the campaign for the PSP’s. Now that’s the spirit of the holidays!
134 paula tooman November 13, 2008 at 5:40 pm: I would love to have something like this. thank you for the chance to win!
paula
135 Justin November 13, 2008 at 5:52 pm: Looks Awesome!
136 William Wright Jr November 13, 2008 at 6:14 pm: Thanks for the chance to win!
137 Kevin Elliott November 13, 2008 at 7:57 pm: This would be great!!
138 Carla Pullum November 13, 2008 at 10:59 pm: Would love to try!
139 Renee November 14, 2008 at 12:29 am: Oh I’d love one…. we have a pool and it is particularly hard on my suits.

rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com
140 Hesper Fry November 14, 2008 at 12:46 am: Great product. I would really like to win this!
141 tami judd November 14, 2008 at 1:36 am: FINALLY! I have ruined sooo many suits, thanks for this GREAT product.
142 Jennifer C November 14, 2008 at 1:39 am: what a great idea.
143 Veronica Garrett November 14, 2008 at 2:13 am: Great idea. I would love to win this mat.
144 Christina November 14, 2008 at 2:14 am: Please enter me, thanks!
145 Chrysa November 14, 2008 at 2:40 am: Great idea! Thanks for the giveaway!
146 salina munson November 14, 2008 at 6:07 am: this will be great for the pool. thank you for the chance to win
147 Kelly F November 14, 2008 at 6:09 am: This is another one of those products that are so simple that they are genius. There isn’t a need to doll them up (although they are cute), because their multiple uses make it obvious why every girl needs one. Why didn’t I think of it? haha.

Ok, off to go invent some awesome product that will help moms (and women) everywhere…

…or maybe just going to go pretend to think while I snuggle up with some tea
148 Kathy November 14, 2008 at 7:27 am: I would like to try this for kneeling on when I garden. Thanks!
149 kathy pease November 14, 2008 at 12:51 pm: PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY
150 Janet November 14, 2008 at 1:28 pm: These sound awesome!ty 4 the entry! i like the lime green one.
151 Becky Grady November 14, 2008 at 2:43 pm: What a great idea!

rlgrady[at]yahoo[dot]com
152 Samantha Pruitt November 14, 2008 at 3:24 pm: this is such a cool product!
153 Betty C November 14, 2008 at 3:35 pm: What a great multi-use product. I can think of a dozen ways to use it.
154 Kathy Conley November 14, 2008 at 3:45 pm: I hate having my suit snagged and would love having this!
155 wanda flanagan November 14, 2008 at 4:52 pm: thanks for having this awesome contest
156 Denise November 14, 2008 at 6:56 pm: Very cool mats!
157 Joletta Tomlin November 14, 2008 at 7:09 pm: What a wonderful idea! Several of my swimsuits suffer from fuzzy (snagged) butts, and this would save my other suits!
158 Gianna November 14, 2008 at 8:30 pm: Please enter me
159 Lynn Dunn November 14, 2008 at 8:56 pm: Would love to have one.
160 sarah woods November 14, 2008 at 8:56 pm: No more fuzzy butts anywhere and everywhere I go
161 Elizabeth November 14, 2008 at 10:38 pm: What a unique idea!
162 Lily Kwan November 14, 2008 at 10:51 pm: Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
163 Adrian Lamont November 15, 2008 at 12:10 am: GREAT GIVEAWAY !!!
164 Donna K November 15, 2008 at 12:27 am: Sounds good.
165 Deborah November 15, 2008 at 12:45 am: Now THAT is a great idea!! And something I could have used this summer, since my brand new bathing suit now has pulls and pills from not being protected. A product like this would pay for itself in no time.
166 Timothy Sternberg November 15, 2008 at 5:23 am: I wish I had something like this!
167 Terra November 15, 2008 at 8:56 am: Interesting. This is the first I have heard of this!