Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Baby's Indulgence - Review and Giveaway

I love Etsy! You come across the most unique and useful items that you just can't find in your every day stores. This is most certainly true of Baby's Indulgence! I only wish that I was as talented and crafty as Jocelyn.

When I came across Baby's Indulgence I knew that I would love to review any item from her selection. She creates bibs, tutu's, burp cloths, headbands, splat mats and more! She chose to send me a splat mat and place mat for my review and offered to giveaway the same to one of my readers! She has a wide variety of beautiful patterns to choose from. I had a hard time choosing, but I am very happy with the selection I made.

I was really excited when it arrived. She obviously takes great pride in her products, as she should, and packages them beautifully.  I opened my splat mat and place mat and immediately put them to work. My daughter loved to eat off her new place mat. She kept feeling it and looking at the bright colors. (The place mats are BPA free but food should still not be served directly from the place mat)

And the splat mat... oh the splat mat. I could think of a thousand and one uses for the laminated cotton! Right now it is serving the purpose of catching all food that falls from my daughters highchair when on the dining room carpet. But this mat will be useful well into the future when she starts doing play dough or helping me cook or finger painting. No mother should be without one of these stylish and useful splat mats in their home! It makes cleaning up quick and easy. And it's surprisingly soft!

GIVEAWAY: One reader will win their own splat mat and place mat in their choice of pattern!

How to enter: Leave a comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!
MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Baby's Indulgence and tell me one thing you would love to have!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Follow my blog
2. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet the giveaway (You can tweet once per day)
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Baby's Indulgence
4. Become a follower of Baby's Indulgence's Blog

This giveaway is open to US and Canada
This giveaway ends on April 9, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. A winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Wumblers - Review

As a mother and an educator when I came across the Wumblers I got very excited. I am a big fan of programs for children that teach important lessons. The Wumblers focus on social, global, environmental and humanitarian learning. It's an easy and fun way to instill important values in your children.

I received a stuffed Wumbler and a copy of the DVD. The stuffed Wumbler is adorable! The idea is that the Wumbler hatches from a watermelon, so it's designed like a Popple (do you remember them?). You can have it so the Wumbler is in the watermelon or out of the watermelon. So much fun!

I gave the Wumbler to my daughter and we sat down to watch the DVD as a family. She's probably a little young for the educational value, but I will continue to show her the DVD on a regular basis. She was definitely interested because of the music and bright colors. But the messages were beautiful. One episode really focuses on accepting everyone's differences and how what they look like doesn't determine who they are. Who they are is on the inside. This is such an important value to instill in our children. And it is presented in such a fun way. You can't help but love the characters, especially the little bilingual snail!

I am very excited to see all that comes from the Giddy Gander Company and their Wumblers!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Baby Dipper Review and Giveaway!

Oh Baby Dipper, how I love you. You know this product was developed by a mom because it solves so many of the problems that we face during meal time.


It doesn't slide around thanks to a great gripper on the bottom. Oh how wonderful! I no longer find myself catching the bowl just before it goes crashing to the floor. Or catching it as my stretchy armed daughter grabs it off the table. It also gives me the freedom to feed the baby with one hand. This leaves my other hand free to catch my daughters sleeve before she smears it across her messy face. Or to make a toy sing to keep her attention on me and eating. Really there are just so many uses for that free hand that I can't really call it a "free" hand, but I am so glad to have it!

The bowl is also designed in such a way that the food slides down into one corner. This saves me time and energy constantly scooping up from all around the edges. I can see how this would also help when my little one starts learning to self feed. She won't need to hunt around for the food. The spoon (or fork since it comes with both) also sits perfectly in that lower corner. No more dropping spoons on the floor as they tip out of shallow baby bowls!


Really, this bowl turned out to be more than I imagined. I love it. I have tried a bunch of bowls and spoons and this one is definitely the best I've tried. (It's only $12.95 per set) You can also check them out on Facebook to stay up to date on all that is happening!

GIVEAWAY: One reader will get their very own Baby Dipper!!

How to Enter: Leave a comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!
MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow my blog!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Follow Baby Dipper on Twitter
2. Subscribe to Baby Dipper's Newsletter
3. Become a follower of Baby Dipper's Blog
4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet the giveaway (you can tweet once per day)

*Please note that previous winners of Baby Dipper Bowls (in giveaways sponsored by Baby Dipper, LLC) are not eligible to win again.

This giveaway is open to US and Canada.
This giveaway will end on April 9, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. The winner will be selected by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!!

First Cold

I have been sooo lucky. My daughter is 10 months old and she has her first cold. So here I am freaking out about her first "illness," and getting crazy looks from other moms. In my defense, most babies get there first colds much earlier and no one looks twice at the concerned mom taking her itty bitty baby to the pediatrician. But since my baby is older people think I am overreacting. But I had no idea what to expect. I know I'm a little too nervous about things, but I wanted to make sure I was doing the right things for her.

Anyway, she checked out just fine. No ear infection or anything else. And hopefully it stays that way! But the poor thing has been so congested for days. I feel so bad for her! But she has also been so snuggly always wanting to cuddle with mommy.... and I love that! So I am enjoying some parts of this cold :)

She has been pretty upbeat through most of this, but she looks so sad. Her poor eyes have been watering like crazy. But I think she looks cute anyway :) So we are surviving the first cold! Hopefully she is back to her perky little self by this weekend!!

Nurture My Body Baby Lotion Review


When I tried my sample of Nurture My Body Baby Lotion the first things that came to my mind was.... ahhh the spa. I felt like I was at a baby spa! There was a great subtle fragrance that didn't linger but was there while applying. I gave my daughter a bath and then rubbed her down with this lotion. It seriously went on like silk. It was so smooth and smelled so good that I was tempted to use it on myself!

I was happy that the fragrance was subtle enough that it didn't linger for too long. You know how I love the natural baby scent! But I did enjoy having the fragrance there when applying it. It was such a relaxing moment for me and my baby girl. (They do offer it in fragrance free) And the lotion really works well. My daughters knees have been red and dry from crawling around. I had been moisturizing them on a regular basis, but they remained a little dry. I used this lotion for a couple of days and did notice a difference in her red spots!

And the best part is that all of Nurture My Body's products are chemical free and made of all natural ingredients! I love that I can feel confident in what I am putting on my baby's skin. And they sell stuff for adults too.

I would also like to add that my sample came packaged in a little purple satchel. It really made me feel like I receiving something special. The company put a lot of thought and effort into presenting their products in a classy way. 

Definitely check their website out and see all that Nurture My Body has to offer for you and your baby!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Baby Banz Review

As you may have noticed, I take a lot of precautions when it comes to my baby. Things I never really thought about before have all of a sudden become very important. One thing that I have been thinking about a lot is this summer and protecting her from the sun. Last summer was pretty easy because she was so tiny we always kept her in the shade. This summer will be very different since she will be a lot more active.

So, during my hours of research and browsing online I came across the Solartex website. They offer a lot of different types of sun protection like hats, blankets, swim suits. But the item that caught my eye was the Baby Banz sunglasses. I worry so much about making sure she has sunscreen on and spends a lot of time in the shade. Why wouldn’t I want to protect her eyes from the sun?

Solartex sent me a pair of Baby Banz so that I could try them out and write my own review. It was perfect timing since this weekend we had gorgeous weather!!

I really like the look and feel of the Baby Banz. You can choose from a variety of colors, they are light weight, and the have a band that goes all the way around the baby’s head and is adjustable. I really like having the strap to secure them on her little face. 


The first few times I put the Baby Sunglasses on her she took them right off. I may not have had them on tight enough, but they were new to me too. I was persistent and kept putting them on each time we went out and she eventually just left them alone.

I’m really happy with these. They are easy to put on and take off and very sturdy. They protect her eyes from UVA and UVB rays. And they look cute!  They cost $14.90, which is a small price to pay when it comes to protecting your child’s eyes! Take a look at their website.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Happy Friday!!!

Friday Follow
 Sponsored By:
 
Don't forget to enter the Shushybye Giveaway!! 

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Shushybye Review and Giveaway!


Shushybye sent me a copy of their newest CD, Close Your Eyes, to review. I popped the CD in and was a little surprised to not hear lullabies! The Shushybye Dream Band is a rock band! Their music is upbeat and made my 10 month old shake her booty... no joke! All of the songs on the CD are about sleeping and dreaming. It's a great way of promoting positive feelings about going to sleep.

Shushybye actually has a whole bunch of products to help babies, toddlers and preschoolers look forward to bedtime. They have CD's, a DVD, pajamas, books and adorable stuffed toys! They really put a lot of thought into designing a variety of options to make bedtime a positive experience for both the child(ren) and the adult. The Shushybye's even go on tour! Check out their website and see if they will be in your area!

I had a lot of fun listening and dancing to the "Close Your Eyes" CD with my daughter. I am really interested to learn more about the books and DVD to continue to encourage bedtime as she gets older. 


GIVEAWAY: One reader will win their own copy of "Close Your Eyes," their newest CD release.


Mandatory First Entry: Visit Shushybye and tell me one thing you love!
Additional Entries:
  1. Follow my Blog
  2. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about the entry. (You can tweet once per day – leave a comment each time and the link to your tweet) 

This contest ends Friday, April 2nd at 5:00 pm EST. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good luck!
*Open to US and Canada only

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Dr. Hess Products Review

I have been really lucky in the diaper rash department with my daughter. She's had the beginnings of  a rash but it luckily had never turned into anything major. Well, we can't keep our luck forever! My daughter's tushy took a turn for the worse about a week ago and Dr. Hess came to the rescue!

I had recently been in contact with them to try some of their products for a review. I wasn't really sure of what they would be sending but was pleased to see a nice variety of products.... including Baby Butts! I spread that stuff on and by morning the rash was gone. Fabulous!


They also sent me some Udder Ointment that has a variety of uses. I have been using it on my very dry hands and it really is great stuff. And they included some of their newest products, Udder Sticks, which is chap stick. They have several great flavors, but I love the vanilla mint. It goes on so smooth and almost tingles! You know that stuff is working.

You should take some time and read about the history of Dr. Hess's products. It's really very interesting. And I would like to add that this company sends cases of their products to our troops in Iraq. Another great reason to support this company!

Sprout Baby Winner!

Congratulations to Sarah B., the winner of a Sprout Baby Foaming Wash!!

Thanks to all who participated! We have some more great giveaways coming up soon!!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Cake Mess!

I am entering this great contest to try and win a Kitchen Aid mixer and other Fab prizes from Mayhem&Moxie. One of the entries is to write a post about a cake disaster. Oh wouldn't you know I JUST had one of those?

I love to bake and usually try and do things from scratch. But once you have a baby that just doesn't happen as often. So for St. Patrick's Day we were having people over and I decided to make something no-bake. So I picked Bailey's Chocolate Mousse Pie. It wasn't exactly the easiest recipe, but it also wasn't too hard. And the pie crust was ready made.

So, I do all the steps.... heating the milk... melting the choc chips... stirring in the gelatine.... you know the drill. Nothing thickens up... it's pure soup. It's also 9:00 at night and I need to get the baby to bed! So I decide to pour it into the crust and hope it firms up in the fridge over night.

As I am pouring the mix into the pan I drop my pot. The crust shatters... chocolate goes everywhere. I don't know whether to laugh or cry, so I do both. My husband jumps in the car and goes to get me another pie crust. I even have photographic evidence because my husband thought it was funny enough to post on my facebook wall.


I finally finish the pie... it's still soup... and put it in the fridge. It came out great! No joke! It really did firm up!!

Boy I hope I win this contest!!

Rain, Rain Go Away....

It's such a rainy, dreary day. I think I was spoiled by the beautiful weekend! The first day of spring arrived with sunshine and warm temperatures! I wish it could have stayed like that. We spent the weekend bbq-ing and playing at the park. This spring will be so different since it's our first spring with our little ray of sunshine!!!

Yes, she was covered in sunscreen and wearing her sun bonnet. People tell me I need to take a chill pill, but I feel better safe than sorry!!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Sprout Baby Giveaway - Ends Tomorrow!

Sprout Baby Giveaway for a full size Foaming Body Wash - ends tomorrow at 5:00 pm EST. Get your entries in!

Munchie Mug Review

When I came across the Munchie Mug website I knew that this was a product that I was interested in trying. Spill proof snack containers are all the rage in mommy world. Anything that makes a little less mess and life a little easier is on the top of my list. So, at my request, Munchie Mug sent me a sample for my review.


I have seen a lot of products similar to Munchie Mug on the market, but Munchie Mug had a few things that I felt made it unique and a product that I could recommend.
1. It's made in America
2. It's phthalate and BPA free!
3. It's environmentally friendly (made from 100% recycled materials)

One of the most interesting features to me is that the top is made of fabric rather than plastic. This makes it easy and safe for little hands to go in and out without being pinched. I love this! This snack cup can start being used as early as 10 months, so the soft fabric top makes so much more sense for those little fingers.

The container is a great size, not too big not too small. They offer it in three colors (pink, blue and yellow). And they are definitely affordable at only $15.95 each (that price includes shipping and handling within the US).

I would definitely suggest taking a look at their website.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Bouncing Frogs Review

Before I even write my review of Bouncing Frogs' products, I would like to ask all my readers to take a moment and read their story. Not only was this company started by parents, just like us, being inspired by their child. But they are also giving back to two very important causes, Make a Wish Foundation and The National Breast Cancer Foundation. This is the type of company that I love to support.

Bouncing Frogs sent me a sample of their blankets, burp clothes and brand new loveys that will be available in May. From the very beginning I was in love. I opened the box to find a beautiful presentation. Each item was beautifully tied with a bow and looked ready to be gifted!

The materials that they use are truly heavenly. The blanket is so soft, I love wrapping my little one in it so that she can feel the softness on her skin. And the burp cloths are so unique. They look classy and are also very soft. Right now my daughter has a raw spot under her lip from teething and cold winter weather. I was so pleased to be able to use the soft burp cloth from Bouncing Frogs rather than her regular, harsher burp cloths.

The lovey is wonderful! It has such an intriguing look and feel for babies that my daughter constantly reaches for it whenever it is in site. It also keeps her totally content during diaper changes, which is miraculous because she’s usually a tornado!

And, of course, I had to do the major mommy test and throw everything in the wash! I was a little concerned that the items would require special care, but they don’t. They come with a little card that has all the machine washing instructions. They came out looking and feeling like brand new. These items are definitely a favorite in our house!
 Here's my little girl cuddled up in her Bouncing Frogs blanket and snuggling her Bouncing Frogs lovey!

I am really looking forward to the next baby shower I go to because I will be getting that lucky mom a blanket and matching burp cloth set. They also offer monogramming, which just adds to the uniqueness. Oh, and did I mention that they have FREE SHIPPING on all their products?!?! AWESOME!

They also have a gorgeous line of crib and toddler bedding. Their selection is really unique and looks very high end. I have not seen the bedding in person, but it looks truly gorgeous.

Check out their website and keep your eyes open for new and exciting products. You can also follow them on twitter for updates on sales!!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Dapple Review

My husband will be the first to tell you that I am slightly neurotic when it comes to cleaning, especially now that we have a little one. I have my weekly schedule that I try my best to stick to, and this schedule includes cleaning all of the baby’s toys. Yes, I am aware that a little dirt is good for her, but it’s my job to keep her healthy and safe.

For the first few months I was washing all of her plastic toys in antibacterial dish detergent and then soaking them for hours to get all the soap off. Then I would move on to her softer toys and spray them with Lysol and then scrub them down with a wet cloth to try and get all the chemicals off. It was a hassle and it took forever. And I was still worried about what she might be putting in her mouth.
 
Then Dapple sent me sample of their dish detergent and their toy cleaning spray.  I of course had to do my research and make sure that their cleaning supplies would be something I would be comfortable using on my daughters toys. Everything I read I LOVED!
All Dapple products use natural-based ingredients that are environmentally-safe, biodegradable, and free of parabens, SLES, and phthalates, as well as synthetic dyes or fragrances.
This has made my life so much easier. I no longer need to be worrying about scrubbing the chemicals off of everything because I am using all natural cleaners.  I loved the sample cleaners so much that I even went and purchased my own container of wipes… because wipes are seriously the easiest and fastest cleaning tool I can imagine! And now I can just wipe and be done! And I am in love with the fact that they’re environmentally-safe, because I want my children to be able to live in a clean and healthy world. 
Definitely take a minute to look at their story and consider using Dapple to keep your baby’s items safe and clean. I want to try their laundry detergent next!!!
You can also check them out on Twitter and Facebook.

Friday, March 19, 2010

INKtastic Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of the INKtastic Giveaway, Emmy*Coffee #38! An e-mail notification has been sent.

Thank you to all who entered! Keep checking back for more great giveaways coming up!! And don't forget to enter our current Sprout Baby Giveaway. It ends on Tuesday March 23rd.

Linen Kids Coupon Code

I love linen clothes. They are so light and comfortable. So one day I was searching the web for some new and interesting clothes for my little one. I came across Linen Kids and saw quite a few linen dresses that looked adorable and comfortable.
 Their products are:
  • Hand crafted or made in small quantities under strict quality control
  • Made with the most stringent environmental standards
  • Consistent with Fair Trade and Labour Practice guidelines
  • Designed by professional designers or artisans who also are mothers
  • Long lasting and easy to care
  • Eco-friendly
Take a look.
And in case you see something you love... here is a 10% off code! BLOG10

Friday Follow!!

Happy Friday Follow!!! Don't forget... I have two giveaways going on!

INKtastic - design your own onesie or t-shirt and bib (ends today at 5:00 pm EST)
Sprout Baby - Full bottle of Foaming Body Wash (ends Tuesday March 23rd)

Friday Follow
 
Sponsored By:
<Bea's Gift Baskets

MckLinky Blog Hop

       
 

Thursday, March 18, 2010

ROCKABYE BABY Review

Rockabye Baby sent me a copy of their latest release, Lullaby Renditions of Journey, for review.  I was really excited because I love Journey. But I was also skeptical. I didn't understand how they could take rock music and turn it into lullaby's, at least not in a way that would resemble the original songs. But they did! IT'S AWESOME!

The music is very soothing and all instrumental, and you can totally sing the words along in your head. They have even added some awesome frog croaking noises to add to the magical lullaby feel. My husband and I both agreed that we loved listening to this CD with our daughter. We have her listening to Journey as it is, so this just makes it even cooler that she can relax and drift off to sleep to familiar tunes. It really is music that the whole family can enjoy.

Rockabye Baby has also done a bunch of other groups, including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Bob Marley and Cold Play. You really need to check out their website, there's something for everyone. And they are all reasonably priced at about $17.00. They even have really cute onesies for your rocker baby!!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Luck of the Irish!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! It was such a beautiful day to celebrate! I loved taking my little leprechaun for a walk and eating a yummy Irish feast.

If you think you have the luck of the Irish try your luck with my two giveaways! My First Giveaway - INKtastic is offering one reader the chance to design their own onesie or t-shirt AND an organic bib!! And for my Second Giveaway - Sprout Baby will send one winner a full size bottle of their AMAZING foaming wash that feels so silky smooth!! 

INKtastic giveaway ends on Friday and Sprout Baby ends on Tuesday!! Good luck!!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Sprout Baby Review and Giveaway!!!


This past week I was given the opportunity to sample a product carried by Sprout Baby. I was excited about this because of what I read in the About Us - Products section of their website.

We provide a select offering of healthy, eco-conscious products, based on extensive research and recommendations. It’s our opinion that many parents, given enough information and access, would gladly choose products that are as healthy for their children as they are good for the earth; and we don’t think this should be a compromise. We think making healthy choices should be easy, that’s why we have exceptional products that are both healthy and environmentally-friendly.

This is every parents dream. We all want to make healthy decisions for our children. We all want to protect our earth so that our future generations can live happily and healthily. Sprout Baby takes the guess work out of finding great products that help us accomplish these goals.

They offer a wide variety of baby products from feeding materials to bath and body products to toys (I’ve got my eye on a tea set made from 100% recycled materials). All of the products they carry are carefully selected to live up to their promise to customers. They also have stuff for moms and dads, too!

The product I sampled was Episencial Playful Foaming Body Wash. The first thing my husband noticed was that the packaging had a great Eric Carle illustration…. cute!  The first thing I noticed was that it is a hair and body cleanser in one…. easy! I love the 2 in 1’s, it makes bath time so much easier! And of course I was drawn to its’ features and benefits.

The liquid came out totally clear and lathered up into a silky smooth lather. It had a very subtle citrus scent that you really had to sniff to smell. It was nice but not over powering. I love that! Babies have such a naturally beautiful scent and I don’t like when that is covered up by over powering fragrances. Overall, it was a great bath time! I used the product for the next couple of baths and my feelings remained the same.



Sprout Baby is offering a 15% discount off your first order! Just use the code SBBL165.

GIVEAWAY: Sprout Baby is giving away a FREE full sized bottle of the Episencial Playful Foaming Wash (valued at $8.99) to one of my readers!

TO ENTER: (Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address)

Mandatory First Entry: Visit Sprout Baby and tell me your favorite product.

Additional Entries:
  1. Follow my Blog on Google Connect
  2. Follow Sprout Baby on Twitter
  3. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about the entry. (You can tweet once per day – leave a comment each time and the link to your tweet)

This giveaway ends Tuesday, March 23rd at 5:00 pm EST. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good luck!

This giveaway is open to US and Canada

Monday, March 15, 2010

INKtastic Giveaway!

INKtastic is offering one of my readers the opportunity to win (1) creeper OR t-shirt and (1) organic bib that they get to design!!

You read about all the fun I had designing mine, so here is your chance!

To Enter: Leave a separate comment for each entry and BE SURE to leave an e-mail address.

Mandatory Entry: Visit INKtastic and tell me which item you would design and what you would put on it.

Bonus Entries:
1 - Follow me on Google Connect
2 - Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (you can do this once per day - leave a separate comment with a status link for each tweet)
3 - Become a Facebook fan of INKtastic

This giveaway will close on Friday, March 19th at 5:00 pm EST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and notified by e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or we will choose a different winner.

This giveaway is open to US and Canada.

Snapfish - FREE Mug with $10 Purchase

I use Snapfish ALL the time! And I have made two mugs with photos of my daughter on them. They are great! The pictures are bright and clear!

You can get a FREE mug with a $10 purchase to help celebrate their 10th Anniversary. Just use the code SNAPPYBD by March 18th.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

INKtastic Review

INKtastic gave me the opportunity to design a onesie (100% cotton) and an organic bib (100% certified organic cotton). I knew that this was going to be fun!!

The website is very easy to use. Everything is laid out in an organized way and with lots of choices. Once I selected the item that I wanted to design I was able to look through images, design my own text and even upload my own photos! It was simple, fast and easy to make changes.

I decided to go with two images that were already in their image gallery so that I could see their quality. I chose a pink onesie and a pink bib. I really need to start exploring some new color choices! Anyway, once I submitted my designs it was literally a matter of days before they arrived in my mailbox! Talk about fast!!

Here they are:
Don't you love how I use my daughter to advertise my television interests? "I'm a Gleek" was chosen because of my obsession with the show Glee.

I was really pleased with the outcome. Both materials are very soft and good quality. The color of the material is nice and bright, yet the images are still very clear and vibrant.  I threw them both in the wash to see how they held up and they came out looking great.  As you can see, the bib is adjustable so it will fit for quite a long time. I also like that it has snaps as opposed to Velcro because I often find the Velcro gets worn out after awhile.

Their items are very affordable. They would have cost around the general area of $11 each. Not bad for a personalized item! And they have a wide variety of items for babies, kids and adults. You should definitely check INKtastic out!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Bundle Up!

When I was registering for my baby shower I brought my cousin with me, read about "must haves" on baby websites and talked to friends who had young babies. Most of them recommended the JJ Cole Bundle Me for the infant car seat. But no, I knew better than them. My baby was going to be born in the summer. By the time the cold weather came around she would be big enough to easily put a coat on. I didn't need the $40 Bundle Me, besides isn't that what blankets are for?

I ate my words. By the time fall came around I was regretting my decision. Isn't wasn't so much that I couldn't easily put a coat on her, but she didn't look comfy. And her legs weren't covered unless I used a blanket. And then the crazy mom in me worried she would suffocate herself with the loose blanket.


Needless to say I ended up buying myself a Bundle Me when I could have gotten it as a shower gift. Oh well, that's life. Not a big deal. What I'm trying to get across is how great these things are.

They are fleecy on the outside and oh so comfy fuzzy on the inside! She looks so ridiculously cozy that I wish they had one for me! Her legs are warm, she can't suffocate, it won't fall off while I'm carrying it like a blanket could. It's really pretty brilliant.

My daughter recently outgrew her infant car seat.... tear. So now I am going to move it to her stroller to make a perfect and easy spring blanket for walks. I am very pleased with the Bundle Me. And even though it definitely is limited in how long you can use them (because your child will grow out of it) I would say it's worth the money. I especially feel this way since I hope someday I will be able to use it with my second baby.

Save $10 on The Princess and the Frog!

I wanted to see The Princess and the Frog in theaters, but with a newborn I wasn't getting out much. So I was really excited to see that I could save $10 on the Blu-Ray combo pack! There is a printable coupon for the US and one for Canada! Enjoy

Friday Follow

Friday Follow

Happy Friday!! I'm excited to be taking part in my second Friday Follow! Last week I met some awesome bloggers and I can't wait to see what this week has in store!!

This week's Friday Follow is sponsored by:

My First Award!

Yay! I am so excited!! This morning I woke up and found that the wonderful Husailey Bunch awarded me the Stiletto Award for excellence in blogging!!! Check it out and share the love with some of the wonderful bloggers in your life!!
Photobucket

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Sleepy Thursday

I had every intention of doing a review today... but I'm just plain tired. I'm sure you all can relate.

BUT.... I will be doing my first giveaway next week! I'm so excited!! This blog is off and running!! Hope you all get a good nights rest. I will be back tomorrow with more words of wisdom. Is it wisdom or experience? Or perhaps it's ignorance? Well anyway, I'll be back with my two cents!!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

My Bumbo Baby

I'm going to review a product that most of your have probably heard of and probably even own. So why am I reviewing such a well know product? Because nobody ever told me about it.... so I'm doing it for the other mommies who are in the dark just like I was!

I promise I didn't grow up under a rock. I think I saw the Bumbo when I was registering and dismissed it as "just another seat for the baby that will take up space." I was getting a high chair and a swing and an exesaucer...I don't need anything else.

Then I went to a fellow mommy's house and she had one. I put my sweet little fragile 3 month old in it... and bam. I was sold. She was sitting up all by herself, looking at the world around her, and best of all interacting with me. She was no longer on my lap, but rather face-to-face with me. I had my hands free to clap and do some sign language. It was awesome.

I loved it so much that I sent my husband to Target on his way home from work. Yes, that's right... this bargain hunter did not do any research. I don't know if I got the best price.... but I didn't really care. I was so happy to have a Bumbo of my own. I will let you see for yourself how much my sweet girl likes her bumbo.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

50 Followers!!

Thank you all so much for helping to make my blog such a success! And to think that just a few weeks ago I didn't have any followers at all!

I am very happy to say that my reviews have gotten some great responses and I have some really exciting things lined up with some amazing companies!! Keep checking back to see all that I have in store for my readers!!

And a special thank you to my 50th follower, The Life of a Coast Guard Wife! Lets get to 100!!!

Tag! You're it!!

Looking for a fun way to get more follower and meet new friends? Check out Advenutres of a Military Family of 8's blog to join in on the fun!!


Monday, March 8, 2010

Spring Fever?

This weekend we finally had some decent weather! I have been so anxious to get out and about, so I jumped on this opportunity to go for a walk! Of course I bundled the baby up as if we were in Antarctica!
 

So this brings me to a question. I am looking for a sling or carrier for my baby. Now she's not an infant anymore, so I'm looking more for one that will last into the 30 pound range (she's about 22 pounds now). Any suggestions???

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Snapfish - Buy One Get One!

Snapfish is having a deal:

"Get a FREE Express Classic Photo Book when you buy one. Create picture-perfect photo books in just minutes. It’s fun and easy, but this offer expires March 9. Use coupon code SPRINGBOOK at checkout.*"


I use Snapfish all the time and have created several photo books.

Black Out Curtains

So I needed a little help with nap time. I decided to try black out curtains and see if a darker room meant longer naps.

I ordered these curtains from...you guessed it...Amazon. Once again, that's where I found the best price.The company that makes them is Best Home Fashion and, as with everything else, there were mixed reviews about these curtains. But once again, I took a flying leap and tried them out.

Here are the results:
These photos were taken at 10:00 am on a very bright and sunny day.
 
  
As you can see, some light does come in. Especially from the sides and bottom.  The room is quite a bit darker, to the point where my video monitor goes into night mode. Am I totally happy with the results? No, I would like the room to be a bit darker. Am I going to return them? No, I'm going to keep them because they were a good price, do help quite a bit and they are nice. They don't look like your typical heave black out curtain. They look much more like a good quality drapery, and they have a nice soft texture to them. Let's face it...I put a lot of time and money into making an adorable nursery for my first born. I'm not going to ruin that by putting up some hideous curtains. 

So overall, would I recommend these? Well, I think it depends on what you are looking for. If you are really looking for a DARK room, then no. If you are looking for a darker room with a nice looking curtain, then yes.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Udder Covers - FREE!

I belong to the Planning Family e-mail and today they sent out a great deal! You can get a FREE $32 breastfeeding cover from Udder Covers. Enter the code FAMILY2010 and all you have to pay is the shipping!
They were running a deal like this a few weeks ago, except you got a gift set (udder cover, breastfeeding bracelet and nursing pad) for $5 plus shipping. I am not currently breastfeeding but felt it was too good a deal to pass up. I can either use it for my next baby, or give it as a shower/baby gift. They are a great quality and come in some really nice patterns. Don't miss out on this great deal!!

Summer Infant Super Wide Gate

I have a wide opening (about 6 feet) from my living room to my kitchen. My husband and I had already decided that the family room would be our baby's main play room because it's the only carpeted room on the first floor. So I needed to find a good, sturdy gate to put across the opening.

I did a lot of research and read a ton of reviews. I finally settled on the Sure and Secure Super Wide Custom Fit Gate. Most of the reviews about his product were very positive. However, I did read several complaints about the installation of the gate. It does have to be bolted to the doorway and some people said they had trouble getting it secure. Some also complained that the bolt ripped out of the wall making an ugly hole and a useless gate.

With the negative reviews in mind I still decided to go with the majority and purchase the gate. I am very happy that I did. I can't say much about the installation because my husband did it. But he did it within an hour and with no curse words! So it couldn't have been that bad.

The gate is very sturdy. We have had it up for about a month now. My daughter pulls herself up on it and it feels secure. It's also attractive to look at with the beige and brown colors. I like that it has a mesh panel rather than bars because I know my daughters limbs would be flying through bars.

It's a very large gate and totally adjustable. For our opening we only needed to use one panel (it comes with 2) and the gate.

My only complaint is that I wish it had a foot pedal to open the gate. The latch is on the top and is easy to use, but when carrying a baby it's just easier to use your foot to open it than your hand. But you can certainly open it with just one hand.

Now here is the shocking news. You have probably noticed that I advertise for Amazon all the time. This is because 90% of the time I find the best deals there. And they offer free shipping on purchases over $25 that are shipped from them (outside sellers typically charge shipping). But this time around I did not find the best deal at Amazon, I found it at Walmart. Walmart didn't have free shipping, but it cost me a DOLLAR to ship it. How insane is that?? I have heard they have great shipping prices, but wow! So I will provide two links... one to Walmart and one to Amazon. You can make your own decision about who you would like to buy from.
And here is a picture of it all set up in my house and my little one holding on!


Lamaze - My First Fishbowl

I LOVE this toy and so does my daughter. It's absolutely adorable.

The bowl is very bright and colorful. It has a fabric texture as well as a plastic one for the front and back of the fishbowl. The plastic area actually has water in and some little fish that float about in the water.

The inside of the bowl is big enough to fit the four sea creatures that it comes with. Each creature has different texture materials and make different noises. The fish jingles, the crab crinkles, the oyster squeaks and the octopus doesn't make a sound but has a silky feel to it.

My daughter loves to take each fish out and chew on it. She also gets some throwing practice in by tossing the fish around.

It's also small enough to throw in the diaper bag when going somewhere. And it doesn't make a lot of noise!! This is crucial to me as most of her toys sing and ring and ding all day long. No batteries and she still loves it!
It's a great quality product at a good price. I really don't have any complaints about this toy!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Baby Einstein Tunnel

My first review! Yay! Ok, those who have read my past posts may have seen the one where I talked about getting the Baby Einstein Animal Exploration Tunnel.

I saw it when I was browsing on Amazon and right away knew I was interested in getting it for my baby.

When it came time for me to purchase it (I waited in the hopes that we would get it for Christmas and then didn't) it was totally unavailable. I looked EVERYWHERE! We even contacted the company and they told us it was discontinued.

I finally found it on Craig's List and jumped on the opportunity to buy it. I was hesitant because it was listed as "gently used" and I didn't know what to expect. It came in great condition but I still would have preferred to have purchased it new.

Why I like this product:
It's a nice size (about 4 feet long) and very appealing to the eye. There are lots of bright colors creating animal scenes on the sides, top and bottom.

The inside bottom piece is a little padded. Very soft for those fast crawling knees.

There are toys that can be hung along the top (such as a red bird that tweets, a sun that rattles and linking chains). You can choose to put them up, take them down and move them around. You could also add other toys if you were crafty and creative and found a way to attach them to the small loops that the other toys are designed to attach to.

There are things to touch and feel along the bottom as you play or crawl inside. It has leaves that are attached but can be lifted and crinkled. A really great tactile addition.

You can see into the tunnel. The sides are partly mesh so you can see your little one when they are inside playing.

What I don't like about this product:
It's not as stable as I would like it to be. When my daughter rolls around inside she flips it over. This is a really minor complaint and easily fixable...just flip it back the right way.

I am really happy with this product. My daughter is 9 months old and she loves to crawl through and take the toys down and play with them. My friends daughter is slightly over the age of 2 and she also has a blast with it. I think it will be a long lasting favorite.

Here is a picture of her enjoying her tunnel.



The tunnel is now available again through many sites. As usual, Amazon is among the lowest priced retailers. They also provide great customer service, even when ordering through a second party (which seems to be the only option with this tunnel).

Reviews!

Ok, I've decided to take my blog in a little bit of a new direction. Don't worry... you will still get to hear me go on and on about the every day life of this momma! But I am going to do something that I feel will contribute to the world of new mommies everywhere.

You all know I LOVE to shop. I spend WAY too much time, money and effort researching and purchasing. With that said, I almost never buy anything on impulse. I really do look around for reviews and the best possible price I can get. Most moms do not have time for this.... so I am coming to your rescue!!

I am going to start reviewing some of the very best products I have found and ways to find them at the best price! I hope that these reviews will help make shopping a little easier and more fun for the mom on the run.

So keep your eyes open for the first review.... and let me know how I do.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

What's Your Name?

I'm always looking at the milestone charts and guidelines online. Right around now my daughter should be starting to respond to her name. So today I spent a large portion of my time calling her by name to see if she would respond. While I was doing this (and she wasn't responding) I remembered that I rarely call her by her name. I call her bug 90% of the time and then the rest of the time she's babe, sweetie and occasionally her actual name. Great. My child thinks her name is bug. What have I done??

Monday, March 1, 2010

3 Months and Counting!

I have less than 3 months until my baby girl turns 1!! How and when did that happen???

Ok, so I certainly do not want to rush time. I am having way too much fun with my little bug. She is at an awesome age right now where she wants to play and snuggle with me... and she gives the best baby kisses!! And while is MUCH bigger than she was when she was born.. she is still my little peanut.

BUT.... I LOVE to plan parties. In another life I would totally be a wedding planner or something like that. And what better reason in there to throw a party than a baby's FIRST BIRTHDAY!! Let the planning begin!!

I am looking for ideas about what people have done or seen done to make this birthday awesome! Yes, I know she won't remember it. Yes, I know it's more for me and my husband. And yes, I am on a budget (lets not get too crazy....). But I want it to be cute and have fabulous little touches.

I'm thinking about having a cupcake theme. I want to make a GIANT cupcake shaped cake.. and then also have a cupcake tree. Any ideas to go along with this?

I also saw somewhere that hey had little rubber duckies that were pink and had the number 1 on them. Cute!


Ok, I'm open to any and every idea!!