mombo™ from Comfort & Harmony™

mombo™ from Comfort & Harmony™ is the newest innovation in nursing pillows and offers a unique Firm2Soft™ design for better nursing support and position, plus a soothing vibration feature for lounging. With three different styles to choose from, Standard, Deluxe and Neutral, this is the perfect gift for any new mom. (Prices range from $29.99-49.99)Great for both nursing with mom and tummy-time for baby, mombo™ is also customizable with an assortment of stylish slip cover fashions. With all the quick changes, these covers allow you to choose multiple styles so you’ll always have a spare! ($12.99) Available at Babies R’ Us


When we were expecting our first little one & I planned to nurse everyone told me that I MUST have a nursing pillow. I was given one at my baby shower, and honestly I never used it. I tried a couple times with both of our sons and I hated it. The way it contoured to my body was uncomfortable and I felt like it really didn't do too much to support the baby.

  Recently I was sent the new nursing pillow mombo™ from Comfort & Harmony™  in planning for our 3rd little one. There are so many factors of this nursing pillow that make me really excited to try it out with the new baby.

  The first thing I love about this nursing pillow is that each side has a different firmness to it. The side you would use to feed baby is much more firm that the other side, which you can use for the baby to lounge on.  Next, this is so simple, but the nursing pillow comes in  a great plastic storage bag! I love this! The one we had before didn't have anything like this so in between babies it just got so dusty!

 This pillow also has a vibrating device that you can insert in it to help soothe baby! I love this!! It takes just one C battery and inserts at the top of the pillow.

 I was also sent a cute mombo™ Taggies™ Deluxe Slipcover  for our  mombo™ from Comfort & Harmony™,  it has owls on it which is perfect since that is what we have decorated her room in. :) The cover has a zipper on the back and goes onto the nursing pillow very easily.

mombo™ Taggies™ Deluxe Slipcover

With colorful, silky tags in all the right places for little hands to touch and explore, the Taggies™ deluxe slipcover soothes and comforts baby. Mombo™ deluxe slipcovers feature exclusive designs and premium fabrics to cover mombo™ nursing pillows.

  I love this cover, one side is nice and cushy for baby to rest on and I love that it has the taggies on it. If you have nursed before you know that there is a point where baby becomes much more interested in everything going on around him/her than nursing. SO I think these taggies will be a great little distraction and help baby to continue feeding!
  Lastly, I had to try this pillow "on", like I said above I never used the one I had previously because I didn't like how it fit. Now, yes I am about 30 weeks pregnant so I know it will fit a bit differently once baby is here and I actually go to use it, but for now I just wanted an idea! :)

  (Yes thats totally me taking a self picture) lol , I love the feel of it though. It feels great! I think it will be perfect for when our little girl arrives.

Lilla Rose Winner

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Vinyl Disorder Winner

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I Believe Daisies Review/Giveaway

We started I Believe Daisies ™ as a simple way to spread good vibes by focusing on the positive. Our daisies give everyone the opportunity to share what they believe...and there is so much good to believe in!

We know that little things can make a big difference, so it is our hope that each time you see an I Believe Daisy ™ you stop, smile, and know that, together, we really can make this world a happier place!

Spreading good vibes one daisy at a time,

Helin and Annette

 We just purchased a new vehicle...well not new ,new, but new to us! ;-) So as of now its kind of boring...I like to have a decal on the back of my vehicle and a cute vanity plate on the front (I don't go crazy overboard, just a little something to make it my own).
  With my last vehicle I had a "Fight Like a Girl" sticker on the back because my mom had gone through a battle with breast cancer....that sticker left with my car when we sold it. Shortly after I was contacted by the company I Believe Daisies about doing a review on their decals. Perfect timing to spice up my van a little bit! :)
  I really thought the daisies were cute. Simple but a strong meaning. I decided to go with the decal that says "....in miracles" , because I really do believe in miracles! God is good and my mom won her battle with breast cancer and about 14 yrs ago my brother won his battle with colon cancer.... my hubby and I struggled with infertility and now we are expected our 3rd baby, who was a big surprise! So while yes there have been disappointing moments in my life (who hasn't had them?) I know that with God great things happen! The "..in miracles" daisy is a great simple way to share that!!
   When I received my decal I put it on my (which was super easy) and I think its so cute!!

 I actually really even like the pop of color the blue gives to my silver vehicle :) You can purchase your own I believe decal for just 8.00 with free shipping! One of you will win a decal of your choice, just fill out the entry form below. I will leave this open until Thursday July 12th! Good Luck!


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Time out to learn

 I love doing fun little experiments with my oldest that help him learn. Today was a day where I wasn't feeling the greatest and my kids had just been so good at keeping themselves entertained so while my little one was napping I wanted to do something a little special with my oldest.  SO I went seeking on Pinterest :)

 I found this fun little idea over at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas.  So simple and lots of fun for the kiddos. All you need is baking soda, vinegar, an empty water bottle , a balloon and a funnel.

 First take the funnel and fill the balloon with baking soda, just about 1/2 way

 
Then clean off the funnel and use it to fill your bottle with vinegar about 1/3 of the way

Then place your balloon over the water bottle, be careful that the baking soda does not fall into the bottle yet ;-) Then when your ready with your little one, lift the balloon so the baking soda falls into the bottle and watch the balloon fill :) (I recommend doing this over a sink, we didnt the first time and there was a little mess)

 The balloon will get much bigger than our video shows, my recorder just decided to randomly stop.

   Be prepared to do this more than once, my son loved it the first time we did it and asked to do it again! SO we did, his excitement wasn't the same ....I guess because he knew what was coming, but he still loved it and is wanting to do it again...I need more vinegar :)

  Make sure to use this chance to explain to your kiddos that the baking soda and vinegar create an acid based reaction which makes a gas -carbon dioxide which then expands to fill the balloon :)

1000 Fan Celebration

 I know that not everyone is seeing my FB posts with the new changes, so I wanted to share here that I am having a 1000 fan Celebration right now! Simply go to my FB page and click on my 1000 fan album. Read the rules and enter for the prizes you would like to win. :)

 Also I am still accepting sponsors so if you have an item you would like to donate to help get word out about your business please feel free to email me at openhands31@gmail.com

 Thanks to everyone for following!!

Say Please Review/Giveaway

Say Please was started by life-long friends and fellow moms Judi Willard and Mary Fuller, because they were tired of seeing products being peddled for kids and adults with messages like: "My favorite accessory is my dad’s credit card", ‘‘Boys are stupid", or “I’m a Biotch.”

They decided to create a company that produced greeting cards, clothing and other accessories that  featured positive messages, but in a hip and humorous way.

Willard, a licensed psychotherapist, and Fuller, a journalist, were able to combine their talents to come up with upbeat phrases and sentiments that, quite simply, make people feel great.

It is no longer a secret, but scientifically proven that positive thoughts and words have a positive affect on our mental and physical health.

Both women were in a place in their lives where they wanted to be able to work independently at a company with a greater purpose. That’s why a portion of the profits from Say Please’s products go to a specially selected charity.

Positive words can change someone's day, a life, and eventually the world

One of the most important things to me as a mom and wife is making sure my loved ones know just how much I value them. I try to show them in the everyday things I say and do, but lets be honest sometimes doing something a little extra means a lot. I know that when my husband leaves me a little love note I feel like I am on cloud 9! And now my oldest lil guy is learning to write and he loves leaving me little notes that say "Aaron loves Mama" , its the one phrase he has learned to write well, so his love notes are always the same but they melt my heart each time.

   I occasionally will make a little note to leave in my hubby's lunch box and he always appreciates it. So I was really excited to receive two sets of Lunchbox Love cards from Say Please. I received the Lunchbox Love for Loved Ones and the Lunchbox Love for Kids Volume 1.

 I started looking through the cards when I first received them and I just love them! First the cards are a thick paper, so they aren't going to tear easily. They are colored greatly and all have phrases that will let your loved ones know how much you appreciate them & then on the back they have a fun fact.

this is an example of the Kids cards

this is from the Loved Ones set

  I have used both sets once now and the response from my loved ones has been great! Last week my family and I went on vacation and we had a great time. Since we have been back my hubby has been working crazy long days, last night it was 9:15 when he got home (right now at 8:25pm he is still at work and he has a 2 hr commute). So yesterday while he was getting ready for bed I layed a card on his pillow that said "Seeing you is the best part of my day!" (true statement) and he loved it! He saw it when he got into bed and actually "aww'd" over it, lol. And gave me a kiss and said "I feel the same way!" it was just a special little moment. :)

  Today my oldest son and I were spending some time together and then we were cleaning up his toy room. SO I gave him a card that said "I love that you always try your best" and he just got the biggest grin! And the fun fact on his card was that Crocodiles cant stick out their tongue and he thought that was funny and has been telling everyone he has seen since then.

  These cards are definitely a hit in our home. I think they are a great way to show your loved ones that your thinking of them. I can't wait to purchase more of their sets in the future. You can purchase any of them at their website for just 2.99 and one of you will win two sets of your choice, just fill out the entry form below. I will leave this giveaway open until Thursday July 12th. Good Luck!


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BabyLegs Review/Giveaway

Who We Are

The BabyLegs® brand has grown from one mom's diaper bag accessory - our signature leg warmer - to a popular children's brand with essential child and baby products.

In April of 2005, a young mom was confronted with a diaper rash that just wouldn't quit. The rash needed some fresh air to heal, but she was also concerned about keeping her daughter warm. In a moment of inspiration, she snipped the feet off of a pair of socks and fitted her daughter from hip to ankle with a cool set of leg warmers. These leg warmers not only kept her daughter warm, but also protected her from the elements, made diaper changing and potty training easier, and protected her soft knees while crawling. With some fun designs and some grassroots marketing support, the functional and fashionable leg warmers that began as a solution to keep little legs warm quickly became much more.

BabyLegs® leg warmers quickly became a parenting essential across the world because of their utility, practicality, and stylish appeal. Our continued desire to provide products that provide style and protection for little legs and feet eventually led us to expand into children's hosiery with the introduction of baby socks and girls tights. In 2009, BabyLegs® was acquired by the United Legwear Company, a global manufacturer of hosiery and underwear. To learn more about United Legwear, please visit http://www.unitedlegwear.com/about-us.

 I was first "introduced" to BabyLegs a couple of years ago when a friend of mine bought some adorable legwarmers for her baby girl. I just loved the look! I thought they looked so cute with her little cloth diaper!  I also thought what a great way to keep baby's legs warm on just slightly cooler days....because I am that mom that feels a cute cloth diaper should be seen as often as possible! ;-)

  I was contacted a few weeks ago by BabyLegs about doing a Review and I was thrilled to have the chance to do so.  BabyLegs has recently introduced a new line, in addition to their great legwarmers they now have socks and this fall they will be introducing tights (which I am very excited about with our little girl arriving this fall).  I was able to choose a few products to review, I wanted to try a pair of legwarmers and their new socks. So I was sent a pair of each for my youngest guy and a pair of each for our little girl when she arrives.


I think they are all so cute! And you can compare sizes, my little guy is 16 months and the girl ones will be ready for little miss when she arrives :)

 We have been having horribly hot weather lately so I wasn't sure when I would use the babylegs, but yesterday evening was actually gorgeous! It felt like a fall day so we ate dinner outside and I used the legwarmers to keep his little legs warm.

he loved the fun print

  I just love these!! And I can't wait to try out the Newborn Lil Bouquet warmers when our little girl arrives! I also have to rave about the socks we were sent. I am that mom that feels all baby socks need to have the no slip bottoms. As you can see in the above pictures we have hardwood floors in our living room and also in our hallway. I loved them until our little guy started learning to walk :( he was always slipping so he has to be barefoot when in the house, because no slip socks are so hard to find!! Well these socks have a no slip bottom and my little guy loved them!!! He could RUN through the house without slipping and that makes this momma very happy!!! I will definitely be ordering myself more of these great socks for our kiddos.

   Be sure to like BabyLegs on Facebook  so that you can keep up with all of their great deals and new items :) Right now if you spend $75 on an order you can get 75% off!! :) One of you will win a grab bag of BabyLeg items that will equal to about $50 worth of product! Just fill out the entry form below, I will leave this open until Wed. July 11th. Good Luck!!

****Open to US residents only****


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Farm Rich Winner

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Bloggers Wanted- Dyson DC24 Giveaway

The Dyson DC24 Cleaner Home Giveaway Event hosted by Mom Powered Media: Iowa-Mom, Powered by Mom and Real Mom Reviews is now open to bloggers!

Cost is $5 or free with announcement post. See bloggers wanted post for more details.

Prize: Dyson DC24 All Floors Vacuum (retail value $399)

Open to: Worldwide (note – if a winner is selected outside of the US, they will be responsible for shipping costs and fees added by their country).

The event dates: August 3 –  24

Link options are: Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon and Pinterest.

What is required to join? 

• Fill out this form with your information!

• You will receive an email confirming your participation a week before the event. If you do not, please email teri@momtobedby8.com and someone will check into it!
• Then on or around September 1st you will receive an email with the html code for publishing the giveaway.  Note it is required that you publish the giveaway html in full to be included in this event.

Referral prize: The two bloggers who refer the most bloggers and businesses to join will receive $20 via paypal or amazon e-code.

Salada Green Tea Review/Giveaway

Salada was North America’s first packaged tea, having been on the market constantly since 1892.  The Salada blend of teas is recognized by the trade and consumer alike as a quality blend of fine teas.  Teas from as many as thirty different “gardens” are blended at Salada to guarantee a perfect, satisfying cup of tea, time after time. 

How Salada got its name

“Salada” was the name of a tea garden in India which was no longer in existence back in the early 1892 when Peter C. Larkin, world traveler and food merchant, founded the Salada Tea Company.  Larkin discovered the name “Salada” as he was thumbing through Thacker’s Directory of Tea Gardens.  The name immediately appealed to him due to its euphonious sound (pleasing to the ear), and possibly because of its spelling, which was very similar to Canada, the country of his birth.  As the Salada Tea Garden was extinct at that time, he decided to adopt it for his company name.  The tea itself was called “Golden Teapot Blend – Pure Ceylon Tea,” and this appeared on the package along with the company name, the Salada Tea Company.  In the early days when grocers wanted more tea, they didn’t order it by “Golden Teapot Blend,” but asked for “some more of that Salada Tea.”  With such acceptance of the name, it didn’t take Mr. Larkin long to drop the “Golden Teapot Blend” name and adopt “Salada” as the name of his product.  

The Salada Brand

Mr. Larkin came up with a great idea. He decided to introduce quality tea in handy foil packages to assure consistent, high quality products for consumers. Prior to this packaging innovation, tea was sold out of chests in loose form and tea drinkers could not be sure of freshness or quality. With this type of package and a determination to use only fine quality tea, he felt certain that the average consumer would appreciate his product. From a Salada brochure of the 1920's: "There are mixed into every blend of Salada Tea, teas from as many as 30 different gardens. In this way a blend is produced that is always consistent in flavor. No matter where you buy Salada, you will always find it, grade for grade, of the same high standard of quality.

In addition, the Salada Tea Company has developed a system of checking grocers' stocks that assures the freshness of every package at all times." Larkin's recognition of the need for prepackaged tea set the packaging trend for the entire tea industry. And Salada's tea business quickly expanded in the Northeast United States and in Canada.   The popularity of Salada Teas in the U.S. led to the establishment of U.S. Headquarters and a blending and packaging plant in Boston, Massachusetts in 1917. Larkin constructed his new headquarters in the Back Bay area of Boston and commissioned the magnificent bronze doors that mark the entrance to the Salada Tea Building. The doors depict the early history of the tea trade as well as Larkin's commitment to quality. Over twelve feet tall and weighing more than two tons, the doors still stand proudly at 330 Stuart St. in Boston.

By the 1950's, Salada had established three large packing plants situated in Boston, Massachusetts, Toronto, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec. These three plants were devoted entirely to the blending and packing of tea. Distribution offices could be found in many cities of the United States and Canada, and buying offices were established in all the major countries of tea production.
Salada first introduced its tea in tea bags in 1930's to provide an easy way to brew a single cup of tea. Originally the bags were made of fabric similar to gauze and were sewn closed. For convenient removal of the teabag, one end of a string was attached to the bag and the other to a paper tag, which remained outside the cup and could be grasped easily to avoid the hot steeping tea. To add an additional twist, Salada subsequently printed a few words of wit or wisdom on each tea tag beginning in the early 1960's. These tidbits were intended to provoke a smile or a thought while the tea drinker paused with a cup of Salada tea. Through the years, Salada tag lines have become a memorable part of Salada Tea.

In 1990, almost a century after Mr. Larkin founded his tea company, Salada introduced Salada Naturally Decaffeinated Tea, a blend of carefully selected high quality teas. These teas are decaffeinated using a 100% natural process to preserve their fine qualities and produce a flavor that is uniquely Salada. Salada has been marketing both black and green tea in the United States for more than 100 years. Salada's considerable experience and expertise in green has made Salada a leader in the green tea marketplace. In 1997, the company introduced Salada Green Tea Flavors, a line of flavored green teas for those tea drinkers looking for a new taste sensation. Salada Teas now comes in flow-through tea bags to fully release the great flavor of Salada even faster than before. With four sides instead of two, these tea bags allow the hot water to quickly find its way to the tea leaves so brewing time is reduced.
Today, Salada Tea is made by Redco Foods, Inc. This manufacturing facility is the only building on Hansen Island in Little Falls, NY.

 We LOVE sweet tea in our home. I remember when my hubby first moved down here (from Maine to WV) he thought it was hilarious that my  parents always had sweet tea as a drink option. For me it is just normal, thats how it has always been :) Now I do not have sweet tea in my fridge at all times like my parents did, but during the summer it  is there more often than not. SO I was excited to try out Salada's Green Tea Family size. We were sent 3 different flavors to try. We received the Peach Nectarine, Raspberry and Tropical Flavors.

It was a very hot day when I received these teas so I was very excited to break one out. My parents were over for dinner so I asked my mom which one she would want to try (She loves Green Tea) , she wanted the raspberry. I boiled my water and let it steep. 

 I looked at the directions on the box and they looked just too simple....it didn't say to add sugar...which was weird to me. I thought all tea needed sugar, ha ha! I did follow the directions though, and the tea was good....but for me I needed a little sugar ;-) After that it was perfect!!! We all loved it! It was seriously the perfect cup of iced tea for summer!

 I have to be honest, we have been so busy with life and our family vacation that I have not had the chance to make the other teas. However, my hubby was so excited over the Peach Nectarine tea that he grabbed it the evening it came to take to work and try out. He said it was really really good!! He loves Peach tea and he thought this one was great!

  June is National Iced Tea Month, I definitely recommend celebrating by trying out Salada's Flavored Green Tea's. :) One of you will win a gift pack of all 3 of these teas along with an aluminum water bottle.

Just fill out the entry form below, I will leave this open until Monday July 9th. Good Luck!!

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Bamboobies Review/Giveaway

 the bamboobies story 

Bamboobies were born out of necessity - 'the mother of invention!'  

After breastfeeding for a few months, I was still leaking sometimes...  I even leaked through the thick washable cotton pads.  I was tired of looking like I had round targets on my chest where the pads showed through my shirt.  Disposables also showed wrinkles and just created too much trash. And disposables get veryexpensive!

So one day I decided, just because it was handy, to stuff a washable diaper wipe into my bra - it felt great, but it looked funny and was far from perfect.  It was made of organic bamboo velour so it was deliciously soft and wicked and absorbed like a great pad should.  I'd never felt anything so soft!

A year into product development and prototyping with different fabrics and designs, we have settled on a couple of unique breast pad designs that mothers love.  

 When my first little guy was born I started out nursing, but my emotions got the best of me and I gave up after just 2 weeks. I still wanted him to get the benefits of breast milk so I pumped and then bottle fed him. (That is hard work, especially as a stay at home mom and you realize you are double feeding!) So with baby boy #2 I was determined to nurse him. Thankfully he was a super easy nurser, I never once thought that I wanted to stop with him. The hardest thing however for me was feeding while out in public.
   Breastfeeding in public=controversy! Some people feel the need to approach you to tell you what a great thing your doing for your baby, which while appreciated can be just as awkward as the rude stares other people give you. So my take on nursing in public?? I think it is highly appropriate , I mean if you bottle feed and your baby is hungry you aren't going to run off to sit in your car or a changing room to feed your baby....you will feed him/her where you are. SO if you are a nursing mom I think you should be able to feed your baby no matter where you are! However, I am not comfortable nursing uncovered. While I do feel breasts are simply a source of food for my baby, I know that men don't see them the same way. As a Christian woman I feel it is my responsibility to protect the eyes and hearts of other men. Plus...I don't really want my husband catching a glimpse of another woman's breasts. :)
   So, when I was nursing baby #2, I used a cover wherever I was...even if I was just at my parents house. The only time I didn't cover was if I was at home with just my family, or if I was with my closest girl friend who I knew I wouldn't make uncomfortable. I liked the cover I had...but I didn't love it. One of my biggest complaints about it was that when baby got a little older and fidgety the cover would move around and not keep me covered as much as I wanted to be. So I knew with baby #3 I needed to find another nursing cover, something I loved!!!
     I was so excited to receive the chic nursing shawl from Bamboobies. This nursing cover is amazing!! First the material is soooo soft!! It is made of eco-soy and organic cotton. It is cozy! Also this is not just a nursing cover! You can wear this cover as a shawl so it becomes just part of your wardrobe! Which I think is great, you don't have to throw it in your bag and then dig it out when its time to feed baby. You can just wear it all day with a tank underneath. Now obviously you don't want to wear it everyday, so when you do need to just throw it in your bag I love that it is so thin and won't take up much room. The nursing cover I had with baby #2 had that "bowing" stuff in the neck which made it a little bulky. SO I did throw this on the other day ( I didn't get a picture, sorry) but it is comfy and cute (it will be cuter when I am not so pregnant). : ) But here are some pictures from the Bamboobies website.

 Another great thing about this nursing shawl is that when you are pregnant you can wear it as a skirt!! The day mine arrived in the mail, my hubby and I decided very last minute to go out to the movies and then my mom decided even more last minute that yes she could watch the boys while we went....so I decided to try to wear this as a skirt. :) I was a little confused as to how to wear it, but figured it out :) I honestly was a little afraid it might fall down, ha ha.  Wearing as a skirt will vary for each woman, there is not elastic in the shawl so its really all about how big your baby belly is at the time ;-) And it sits right under your bump. I wore it with a tank that was a little more fitted so that helped hold it up. It was super comfy and my hubby thought it looked great!

   I just love this nursing shawl! I can't wait to use it when feeding baby #3! I have also been browsing the Bamboobies website and they have so many other great products that I hope to try out with this baby as well. Their nursing pads look amazing!! I know some mommas who never need to wear nursing pads, I am not that mom! If I use disposables I change them twice a day!! Take a minute to check out all of their great products! One of you will win a gift certificate for $44, this will buy you a nursing shawl of your own or you can use it towards any of their other products. You are required to pay the flat shipping rate of $4.95. Just fill out the entry form below, I will leave this open until Friday July 6th! Good Luck! Bamboobies has also been generous enough to offer all of you 20% off your order, just use the code HANDS20.


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Graco Ready to Grow Stroller & Snugride 30 Review

  When we found out we were pregnant with baby #2 we purchased a double stroller, we HATED it!! It was so hard to push around , the basket on the bottom was tiny and it had NO cupholders! And it still wasn't cheap (I wont lie, we found it for a great deal at a yardsale...but shortly after purchasing I realized why we got such a great deal!). I think over the past 15 months (since baby #2 was born) I have used it 3 times. I despised taking it anywhere...I actually just resold it at a yardsale a few weeks back. So...when we found out we were pregnant with baby #3 we knew we needed to find a good double stroller...especially since baby 2 & 3 will be just 18 months apart, we need one that we will love and want to use!

  So, our search began....I had been thinking for a really long time that I wanted to find a Sit N Stand stroller...however my fear was that my middle child might not really want to stand, and might need more of a "seat" than the typical Sit N Stand has to offer! So I was stuck..I didn't really know what to do..

 Then I came across the new Graco Ready to Grow LX Stand & Ride Stroller. This stroller has the ability to be a sit and stand, but also has a removable seat on the back where you can put smaller children in. I LOVE IT!!! When we got our stroller my hubby put it together....and being the "manly man" that he is, he felt no need to read the directions.....and it was put together in about 10 minutes , correctly!!! The next day I wanted to take my boys out for a walk...my goal was just to push the little guy in the stroller and my oldest to ride his bike....however his bike was hanging in the garage...and me being pregnant couldn't get it down. SO I had to make stroller riding exciting :) SO I took the little seat off the back (which was super easy to do) so he could use the "sit & stand" part. He chose to stand most of the way.

 I love EVERYTHING about this stroller!! One of my favorite features is the swing out cup holder that you see in the bottom picture. I love that I can put my drink in it and keep it out of reach of the kiddos. If you look at the top picture you can see how big the basket under the stroller is. There is no lack of storage room in this stroller! LOVE IT!!! And there are 12 different ways for your kiddos to ride in this stroller!! So it is perfect for every stage, from infant to preschooler!

the stroller is big folded up, but we just purchased a van and it
stands up perfectly in the back leaving us plenty of storage room

this is the stroller with the seat on the back

  For the new baby we received the Graco Snugride 30 infant car seat, which is compatible with this stroller! I love this seat, of course we have not yet been able to use it, since our little girl isn't due until September, but it seems perfect! There is a good bit of padding on the seat for baby's comfort and of course the greatest part of this car seat is all of the safety regulations it has not only met but exceeded!

this car seat is in the print Metropolis
which goes great with the Odyssey print of the
stroller

Like I said, we haven't used this car seat yet, but I did "play" around with it a good bit. My biggest complaint about previous car seats I have used (we have had two infant carriers, one for each car...neither were Graco) they were so hard to get latched into the base, or to get out. This one is super easy to get in and out of the base, which is super important because I despise when my sleeping baby wakes up because I have struggled getting them out of the car.





 I love both of these great products from Graco and am so thankful for the chance to use them with our kiddos. 

Tell Tanner Tales

Tanner, a Great Pyrenees puppy, was fortunate enough to be adopted at four months of age, when he came to live with Mama, Susanna, and two cats. He tells all about his experiences—the mischief, the adventures, and the love he’s found with his new family. In this delightfully illustrated and interactive book, Tanner encourages young readers to use the blank pages to draw pictures or share their own feelings about adoption—it’s a warm, nonthreatening place for children to express their emotions, and Tanner is an adorable mascot.

About Sandy EarlySandy Early is a retired schoolteacher, now living in Yakima, Washington, with her husband Glen. She has worked with many adoptees during her career and knows that their lives are often an emotional roller coaster. Mrs. Early has three grown daughters of her own, and she and Glen have 15 grandchildren.

 As I have said before my kids love to be read to. So we get excited every time we get a new book in the mail :) Tell Tanner Tales arrived in our mailbox and my oldest wanted to read it right away. We sat down and began to enjoy our new book. :)
  I love the premise of this book! My husband and I have always talked about possibly adopting in the future, so it was great to see a children's book based around the greatness that is adoption. My only complaint about this book is it is very wordy! My son loves books, we will often sit down and read 2 or more at a time, but this book was a little hard for us to get through in one sitting. I think for older kids it might be fine, but for my 4 yr old it was just a little too long.
  However, if you know of a family that has  adopted a child or if you yourself have been blessed to be able to adopt, this book is a cute little story to share! You can purchase this book at http://www.amazon.com/ or http://barnesandnoble.com/. One of you can win a copy of this book, just by filling out the entry form below. I will leave this open until Thursday July 5th. Good Luck!!!


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Carter's Watch the Wear Winners

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Summer Learning Gift Pack winner :)

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twotara Review/Giveaway

twotara (too-tahr-uh)

Named after the TUATARA which is a chameleon-like lizard - native to New Zealand - that changes colors over time.
Since our garments also "change colors" to best serve your changing needs, we thought the name is a perfect fit. Change the TUA to TWO - since all of our garments are two-in-one-and our name, and our philosophy were born!

 Twotara, Inc. was born out of the frustration of buying uninspired gender neutral gifts. With 40% of expectant parents not learning the sex of the baby until birth--the Twotara clothing line has your baby covered! This premier product line is redefining the newborn, gender neutral market with garments that are pink on one side, blue on the other.

Twotara, headquartered in Chicago, has launched an innovative line of garments and accessories by offering expectant moms an alternative to green and yellow. We have designed whimsical, yet sophisticated outfits that are gender specific…and right every time!

Pink or Blue... ready for you!

 We are those parents who chose to wait to find out the gender with our first 2 kids. So many people said we were crazy or "I don't know how you could do it!" , etc... But we just loved it! There truly are so few surprises in life that we just felt this was one that we wanted to experience, and we were so thrilled both times when my hubby was able to look at our baby for the first time and then look at me and say "its a BOY!". So we swore that with any future children we would do the same.....however this time around our oldest boy (who is 4) wanted  a sister so badly that we thought...maybe we should find out. :) SO we did and we know he is getting his sister! :)

  With my first 2 pregnancies the only thing I didn't like about waiting to find out was that we were just overwhelmed with greens and yellows!! We couldn't bring our new baby home in blue or pink.  Well now there is a great company called twotara that makes bringing your new baby home in a gender ready outfit possible, even if you go into the hospital not knowing the gender of your baby!!!

  Twotara clothing line is reversible products for baby. One side is pink and one side is blue! :) I was sent the footie and hat :) They are so cute!!!

I love the cute little packaging 

this is the boy side of the footie and the girl side of the hat

I love the pockets on the back!!!

Not only are these super cute, I love the feel of them. And they are thicker than your typical sleeper, which I really love!! :) I think this is such a GREAT line of products!! You can purchase any of there items by going to their website and one of you will win the footie and hat. Just fill out the entry form below, I will leave this open until Tuesday July 3rd. Good Luck!

**Open to US residents only**


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THINQ (An all natural function beverage) Review/Giveaway

DRINQ THiNQ™

Innovation in liquid nutrition. THiNQ™ is a PREMIUM, healthy beverage that is carving out a first-of-its-kind niche as a higher-thinking beverage. Inspired by real life, THiNQ™ is brilliantly formulated using only all natural ingredients and nutritional supplements designed to help awaken your mind, energize your body, and exhilarate your spirit.✝ THiNQ™ is refreshingly delicious and contains only 60 calories. It contains absolutely NO artificial ingredients, absolutely NO preservatives, itʼs sweetened with natural sweeteners, and has a refreshingly light carbonation to give it just the right “ahhh…,” so you can feel good about putting it in your body.

 As most of you know I am pregnant, so I try not to consume too much caffeine. I do have one cup of coffee in the morning, but beyond that I try to stay away from it. So for this review I passed the product along to my husband and he took them to work to share with his co-workers.
 We were sent a 12 count case of the mixed berry and of the citricity.

  So..I like that these drinks are all natural :) I "thinq" if I were to ever drink an energy drink, this would be the way to go. My dad is very health conscious and I asked him if he would be willing to try 2 of these and the first thing he did was turn it and look at the label, I thought "OH GREAT"! He actually was impressed with the sugar content and was willing to try them out. :)

  The overall consensus from everyone who tried these?!?! Well everyone thought something different. My husband didn't care for the mixed berry, but he thought the citricity was pretty good and one of his co-workers really liked the berry flavor, he said it reminded him of a tea that he really likes. Everyone says they are definitely better cold. :)  As far as getting a "pick me up" from them?? My husband says that when he drinks them he can definitely tell a difference in the way he feels driving home from work. (He drives 2 hrs one way) SO I like that :) Anything to help him feel more alert during that drive is great! So overall from everyones opinions I would give these a 7/10. They get points for being all natural and for that little pick me up, but the taste was just ok to most people. However...I find that seems to be the case for all energy drinks, so if you're going to go with one go with one that is all natural :)

  You can purchase these at a few select stores or online. One of you will win a case of your choice, just fill out the entry form below. I will leave this open until Monday July 2nd. Good Luck!


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