 Today's the day you've all been waiting for! the June Birthday Bash Giveaway Celebration hosted by yours truly and A Time Out For Mommy (formerly Luna Savings) is under way! Both sites have AMAZING prizes to offer, so we hope you'll celebrate our birthdays with us and enter to win! I have 3 prize packages available, and all are worth HUNDREDS of dollars and have some great products included! The giveaways will be open until 11:59PM EST on June 30,2011! Here is my For Mommy Prize Package. This package is designed to pamper and spoil the ladies, and is worth $550.00! Included in this package are some great beauty products, a HOT new swimsuit, a HUGE gift-certificate to an online, eco-friendly clothing boutique, and even some jewelry! I am also throwing in an at-home herb garden kit, cause what woman doesn't like to eat?! I LOVE all of these products, and some very lucky lady in your life will, too! ONE WINNER TAKES ALL! Here's what you can win:   This summer, I'm bringing sexy back with my finally NOT pregnant body and with my awesome new swimsuit from Voda Swim! These suits are nothing short of miraculous in the cleavage department, and they are saucy, spicy and fun! My lucky winner will receive the swimsuit of their choice!   You've seen Amrita Singh grace the covers of magazines everywhere, in your favorite shows, and even on the red carpet! Now my lucky winner can own a piece of this gorgeous, Indian-inspired jewelry! Amrita Singh is offering my winner the Southampton Bracelet in Honey Gold! (3rd from left)   Every woman loves to feel pampered...Sibu Beauty is world renowned for their revolutionary skin care products that utilize an ancient beauty secret: The Sea Buckthorn! These products are effective, smell wonderful, and are natural! Sibu wants to give my lucky winner a renewed glow, and is offering their Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser, their Sea Buckthorn Hydrating Serum, and their Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Night Cream!   High-quality doesn't always mean fancy bells and whistles. Sometimes, to find the best, we just need to go back to our roots. For this giveaway, Udderly Smooth is offering my winner an assortment of their fantastic moisturizing products. They started out from humble beginnings, using this on dairy cows, but it's amazing on human skin, too! Udder Cream is my FAVORITE hand lotion ever!   The Katrese is offering my lucky winner this unique puzzle ring! It's a size 8, but runs small, so it may fit like a 7 or so. Isn't that a cute, modern look?   Who says going green can't be luxurious? The VERY generous folks at Clean Spirited, a high-fashion, eco-friendly online boutique, is offering my lucky winner a $150.00 Gift Certificate so they can go green and get glam, too!   Fertile Earth is giving my lucky winner The Simple Garden Junior 3-Pack Herb Garden Kit! I know I love to relax and unwind while cooking, and the aroma of fresh herbs is so uplifting! Now you can grow your own herbs and veggies in the comfort of your own home effortlessly! Isn't this package AWESOME?! What a way to celebrate my 30th birthday! I'm thrilled to have such wonderful sponsors and readers! I have 2 other big prize packages available, so make sure to enter! I also have several other active giveaways, as well! Be sure to also check out the Birthday Bash giveaways over at A Time Out For Mommy!  So are you ready to WIN?! Here's how to enter! PLEASE COMPLETE MANDATORY ENTRIES FIRST! There are MANY extra entries available, too! Also, please make sure you leave a VALID e-mail address in the form. If I cannot reach you, you won't know if you're the winner! MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow this blog on GFC and leave a COMMENT on this post telling me which item you're most excited about! * Once you have done that, fill out my easy entry form. THIS IS MANDATORY! You can do as many extras as you'd like, but I need the mandatory entries recorded on the form for your entries to count! *Commenting will help you keep track of how many others are entering! Due to certain sponsor restrictions, this giveaway is open to US residents 18+. The giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST on June 30,2011. My winner will be contacted via e-mail as well as announced on the blog. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond before I have to re-draw a new winner. All entries will be verified! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my reviews. (Done on separate posts) No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
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 Today is the day we've all been waiting for! It's the start of the June Birthday Bash Giveaway Celebration hosted my yours truly and A Time Out For Mommy! (Formerly Luna Savings) Both sites will have fantastic giveaways going on to help celebrate our birthdays this month! I have 3 great prize packages to be won, all worth HUNDREDS of dollars!!! So have fun entering on both sites! The giveaways will be open until 11:59PM EST on June 30th! My next prize package is my For the Home Prize Package! ONE WINNER will take all! This awesome package includes some great gourmet goodies for the foodies out there, some fantastic flameless candles, a do-it-yourself herb garden kit, and an at-home soda fountain! This package is worth around $265.00! Here's what you can win:   Like it spicy? The nice folks at Mossy Bayou Foods is offering my lucky winner a gift box full of Cajun goodies! The Swamp Scum is awesome!   Fertile Earth is offering my lucky winner TWO The Simple Garden Junior 3-Packs! You can grow fresh herbs right in your own kitchen. I'm doing Cilantro so I can make guacamole whenever I'd like...Yum!   You can have a huge Mediterranean family feast with this delicious gourmet gift basket from Mooney Farms! Their products are so good, you'll think you're eating at a fine Italian restaurant!   Love scented candles, but hate the smoke, soot and fire hazard involved? (Especially with curious toddlers!) Well, Enjoy Lighting has the perfect solution: Flameless Candles that look, smell, act, and feel like the real thing! My lucky winner will score some of these   Can we say "Elegant?" Treat yourself to some bubbly in style with these delectable, edible hibiscus flowers! The folks at Wild Hibiscus want you to party like a rock star,too, so my lucky winner will receive a jar of these gourmet treats all to themselves!   So THIS is pretty much the neatest thing ever! It's an at-home soda machine! Guess what? The awesome people at SodaStream want one lucky winner to have a SodaStream Fountain Jet Starter Kit of their own! It's not only good for the environment, it's great for your taste buds, too! Isn't this package AWESOME?! What a way to celebrate my 30th birthday! I'm thrilled to have such wonderful sponsors and readers! I have 2 other big prize packages available, so make sure to enter! I also have several other active giveaways, as well! Be sure to also check out the Birthday Bash giveaways over at A Time Out For Mommy! So are you ready to WIN?! Here's how to enter! PLEASE COMPLETE MANDATORY ENTRIES FIRST! There are MANY extra entries available, too! Also, please make sure you leave a VALID e-mail address in the form. If I cannot reach you, you won't know if you're the winner! MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow this blog on GFC and leave a COMMENT on this post telling me which item you're most excited about! * Once you have done that, fill out my easy entry form. THIS IS MANDATORY! You can do as many extras as you'd like, but I need the mandatory entries recorded on the form for your entries to count! *Commenting will help you keep track of how many others are entering! Due to certain sponsor restrictions, this giveaway is open to US residents 18+. The giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST on June 30,2011. My winner will be contacted via e-mail as well as announced on the blog. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond before I have to re-draw a new winner. All entries will be verified! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my reviews. (Done on separate posts) No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***  Today's the day you've all been waiting for! the June Birthday Bash Giveaway Celebration hosted by yours truly and A Time Out For Mommy (formerly Luna Savings) is under way! Both sites have AMAZING prizes to offer, so we hope you'll celebrate our birthdays with us and enter to win! I have 3 prize packages available, and all are worth HUNDREDS of dollars and have some great products included! The giveaways will be open until 11:59PM EST on June 30,2011! The first prize package I am offering is my For Baby package. This prize pack is FULL of baby essentials and must-haves from some really amazing and very generous companies! This "instant baby-shower" prize package is worth $400.00! Some mama is going to be VERY happy, because WINNER TAKES ALL! Here's what you can WIN!   Tommee Tippee US is offering one lucky reader a 3-pack of their AWESOME Closer to Nature Bottles! These are wonderful for those that are breast-feeding and may have to supplement. No nipple confusion!   Ella's Kitchen is offering my winner a 12-pack of their yummy organic baby foods! That's every flavor! My babies LOVE Ella's Kitchen, and yours will, too!   The nice folks at Boon are offering the super-convenient feeding set, the Groovy+Modware to my lucky winner! This set ROCKS, as does everything at Boon! Have you seen their Flair highchair? It's at the tippy-top of my baby wish-list!   Planet Wise is throwing in one of their durable and gorgeous Hanging Wet/Dry Bags into the package! This is HUGE and holds 24 cloth diapers with ease! Oh, you get to choose the print, too!   I LOVE Tea Collection clothing! Your baby can have some global couture, too, with a $50.00 Gift Certificate from Tea!   Your baby can sleep easy with HALO ComfortLuxe sleepwear! No more night-sweats and stickies! Just a comfy, silky, good night's rest. Winner chooses size and gender!   I love a company with a heart. And I LOVE fluff. You get the best of both with envibum! This Christian company donates a portion of each diaper sold to various charities based on their color-coded system. How cool is that?! They are generously offering a cloth diaper of choice to my winner!   Mother-Ease offers a bullet-proof night time diapering solution with their PTPA Approved Sandy's System. My lucky winner will receive a Sandy's fitted, an Air Flow Cover, and a Sandy's Insert! LOVE this!   Do I even HAVE to announce this prize? I know you're all really excited about it! ERGOBaby Carriers will make my winner's day, since they are offering the ERGO of choice! (Excludes the new Petunia Picklebottom designs.)   Have you ever made your own baby foods? The Simple Garden is offering my winner a Simple Garden Junior 3-Pack Herb Gardening kit! EVERYTHING you need is included to grow wonderful fresh herbs or even veggies! Isn't this package AWESOME?! What a way to celebrate my 30th birthday! I'm thrilled to have such wonderful sponsors and readers! I have 2 other big prize packages available, so make sure to enter! I also have several other active giveaways, as well! Be sure to also check out the Birthday Bash giveaways over at A Time Out For Mommy! So are you ready to WIN?! Here's how to enter! PLEASE COMPLETE MANDATORY ENTRIES FIRST! There are MANY extra entries available, too! Also, please make sure you leave a VALID e-mail address in the form. If I cannot reach you, you won't know if you're the winner! MANDATORY ENTRY:
Due to certain sponsor restrictions, this giveaway is open to US residents 18+. The giveaway will be open until 11:59PM EST on June 30,2011. My winner will be contacted via e-mail as well as announced on the blog. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond before I have to re-draw a new winner. All entries will be verified! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my reviews. (Done on separate posts) No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***  Just a reminder that the June Birthday Bash Giveaway Extravaganza begins at MIDNIGHT on June 1st! (Tonight!) There are 3 prize packages to be won, all worth HUNDREDS of dollars! I am offering easy entry forms with a TON of opportunities to love on the amazing sponsors and gain extra entries! Please share and tell your friends! This is going to be HUGE!
Also, check out the event giveaways over at A Time Out For Mommy, too! She'll also have tons of great prizes to be won! Hope to see you once the fun begins, and good luck!  The first thing a baby experiences after being born is human connection. They are cleaned and checked by doctors and nurses, and they are then given to the new parents to hold, comfort and love. There is nothing like the love a parent experiences for their child, and this love is one that will last a lifetime. When I had my oldest child who is now 11 years old, I was only 18 years old. I was in a very unhappy marriage, and I was terrified of bringing a child into the world. But when I saw his little face for the first time, my life was changed forever. It wasn't just about ME anymore. I had a beautiful, blond-haired, blue eyed little man who needed me to teach him, nurture him, and help him grow. He and I are very close. As a matter of fact, up until the pre-teen years hit, he was quite the mama's boy! Fast forward several years into the future. I left my abusive marriage and reconnected with my now-husband who I dated when I was 13 years old. He is a wonderful man, and treats me like a princess and loves my son as if he were his own. We decided we wanted to expand our family, since we both had the desire to have more children. We actually suffered from secondary infertility, since I have PCOS, and I remember trying for YEARS to conceive my daughter, and the elation and joy I felt when I got to hold her for the first time. She was our little "Miracle Baby". She's spoiled rotten, too! My little diva is now a toddler, and gets more hugs and kisses every day than I think I got from my parents throughout my entire childhood. When Sophie was only 3 months old, much to our surprise, we got pregnant AGAIN....Without trying or planning at all! It is stressful having babies that are only 12 months apart in age, but it's definitely a blessing. My youngest son, Xander, is a happy, sweet 4 month old and while I was not overly thrilled about being pregnant again so soon, I couldn't imagine my life without him. He's my little Snuggle-Bug and loves to be held, talked to, hugged, and kissed. Did you know that one of the first abilities a newborn has is the ability to love? And they NEED love, too. Love, like food, shelter and clothing, is a basic human necessity that we are hard-wired with from birth. Being born must be a pretty traumatic experience, if you stop and think about it...Baby has spent 9 months safe and warm in his mother's womb, constantly comforted by the sound of Mommy's heartbeat and the voices that he or she can hear from the outside world. When a baby is born, they are ripped from that "safe" environment and enter a world that is full of bright lights, is chilly, and they are immediately whisked away to be poked, prodded, and cleaned. How scary that must be for a newborn! It's no wonder that they cry! Soon after birth, once overall health is determined, baby is placed in the arms of Mommy and Daddy. This is where the real bonding begins. Did you know that the MOST important time to form a bond with your baby is within the first few months after birth? In establishing a strong parental bond with your baby, your baby will feel safer, more secure, more loved, and happier in general. I have recently discovered a great tool to help promote this important bonding process, a book and CD set called Safe in the Arms of Love. Safe in the Arms of Love was designed to help establish a deep sense of connection and unconditional love between parent and child. This is a scientifically designed and musically inspired product specifically created to enhance a loving and successful bonding experience for both parent and child. Safe in the Arms of Love will teach, encourage and support you as you bond with your baby. You will learn about bonding and what it actually "feels" like. You'll learn how to quiet your mind which in turn helps your baby to quiet down and relax (a lifesaver for new parents!) There are chapters specifically for moms and chapters for dads. A father's love is JUST as important as a mother's! You'll also learn the 5 essential ways to support the bonding process through touch, eye contact, voice, playing and calming your baby.  Safe in the Arms of Love combines beautiful, intentionally designed music, heartwarming lyrics, and an accompanying book full of essential and easy to understand information on the importance of how healthy attachment builds a secure emotional foundation for a child’s entire life. Endorsed by leading authorities such as Deepak Chopra, M.D., Christiane Northrup, M.D., Dean Ornish, M.D., Marshall Klaus, M.D. and Phyllis Klaus, MFT, LMSW, the music and book package is the first release from producers Resonant Sounds, LLC, which creates products utilizing Positive Intention Music™ to help parents experience healthy bonding with their baby. Developed by sound healer and songwriter Lisa Rafel, Emmy-winning composer Gary Malkin, and clinical psychologist Dr. David Surrenda, the book and CD are designed to relax both parent and child, allowing them to form the deep heart connection that is the essence of the bonding experience. The music in Safe in the Arms of Love was intentionally composed to facilitate bonding using Positive Intention Music™. “By utilizing psychoacoustics and sound healing principles, we are helping to create a peaceful, attentive, heart filled atmosphere where both parent and baby can become emotionally connected,” says Gary Malkin. Safe in the Arms of Love discusses:
HOW TO CONNECT: You can learn more about Safe in the Arms of Love on their website. You can also purchase this on Amazon! What a wonderful baby shower idea! Follow Safe in the Arms of Love on Facebook for bonding tips, tricks, and stories! I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
  While I am a cloth-diapering mama and LOVE the positive impacts cloth-diapering has on the environment, one thing I have NOT been overly "green" about has been my wipes. Sure, I know there are many cloth options available, but the idea of re-using baby wipes is NOT something that my husband was willing to try. Sure, I tried to convince him how much money we could save by using cloth wipes. I even showed him how easy it is to make a wipes "solution"....Still, his opinions did not waver, and he said he would much rather spend the extra money on baby wipes than to have to use cloth. So be it. You can't win 'em all, right? So even though I use cloth diapers on my babies, we have been using disposable wipes. I was trying to find a greener alternative that would better protect the environment AND satisfy my hubby's desire to NOT use cloth wipes. That's why I was so intrigued by the new line of eco-friendly diapering products from Bum Boosa. But a baby wipe is a baby wipe, right? Wrong! They are not all created equal! So what's different about Bum Boosa's diapering products? They are made of bamboo. Bamboo is renewable and sustainable. Bamboo does not require pesticides or insecticides to grow, and replanting is not necessary due to its vast root network. Replacing as many tree pulp or plastic-based disposable products with bamboo material is paying it forward, without having to wash and re-use poopy baby wipes! Bum Boosa is committed to protecting the world we live in, and they are dedicated to not only reduce deforestation, but they also participate in reforestation by participating in several agro-forestry programs throughTrees for the Future. As of March 2011, they have planted 26,600 trees in Brazil and Africa. Their purpose is to provide products that families can not only trust and feel good about, but products that have the higher objective of reducing the burden that trees bear due to the disposable products industries and limiting harsh chemicals and synthetic materials in our environment.  I recently had the opportunity to try Bum Boosa's bamboo baby wipes. I have to say, I am definitely impressed. These wipes are made of completely natural materials, and are infused with essential oils that not only smell fantastic, but are also soothing to baby's delicate skin. They even contain aloe, a proven skin soother! I love the smell of these wipes...They have a lavender and sweet orange scent, which is quite refreshing! These awesome wipes are very soft and are alcohol and preservative-free! These wipes are also SUPER absorbent. I had to only use a couple of these wipes to clean an epic Sophie Explosion, as opposed to several of my regular wipes. The packaging of these wipes is also more eco-friendly. Their packaging is resealable, so your wipes won't dry out. They also use a lot less packaging and don't come in the standard plastic tub, which greater reduces their carbon footprint. You can also participate in their unique Upcycling program which breathes new life into their packaging! You can participate in Bum Boosa® Bamboo Baby Wipes Upcycling Program by sending them your empty packages! This program helps reduce the burden in landfills. Now that's something I can feel good about!  I also got the chance to try Bum Boosa Bamboo Diaper Rash Ointment. There are many effective yet gentle ingredients in this natural diaper rash ointment that Bum Boosa believes there is nothing better or safer for alleviating your baby’s diaper rash. The soothing properties of Zinc Oxide, vitamin E, Lavender and Chamomile make this a superior product. They've also added fine Bamboo powder for its anti-inflammatory properties. Bamboo is also high in flavonoids, which gives it excellent antioxidant properties. All of we fluff-loving mamas know that diaper rash ointments can be the death of our diapers, as they are NOT usually cloth-diaper compatible. Getting diaper ointments can cause a nasty residue on cloth that can actually cause the diapers to repel moisture rather than absorb it! Fixing this problem requires time consuming stripping of the diapers, which to put it frankly, is a major pain in the butt. I contacted Bum Boosa asking about the compatibility of this product with cloth, and I was surprised to learn that this CAN safely be used with cloth. The concentration of Zinc Oxide is very small in comparison to other creams, and when used sparingly, will not affect the absorbency of cloth diapers. Just remember, a little of this ointment goes a LONG way! I have used this on both of my babies, and I have not had any repelling issues. Again, I just used a SMALL amount of this, and was sure to rub it in to their skin. My diapers have been completely unaffected. Overall, I really like these products. They are natural, effective, and I can feel good about the positive impact using Bum Boosa products has on the environment. These are a fantastic option for those of us that want to be as eco-friendly as possible, but may not want to use cloth wipes. HOW TO CONNECT: You can purchase these and other Bum Boosa products by visiting their website. You can also follow Bum Boosa on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of new products and promotions! I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
Oh. My. Gosh. Sophie is crazy, and afraid of nothing.....   The Jonana Athena Dress I received for review. Just because I'm turning 30 doesn't mean I have to throw in the fashion towel and trade my cute dresses for a granny cardigan and polyester pants. (According to my 11 year old, 30 is ancient!) I still feel young, though. And while I may not want to wear clothing I wore in my pre-mom days, I still want to show off some curves and enjoy great fashions and soft, supple fabrics. And now that I'm a mom, I pay much more attention to what goes into the clothing I purchase for myself and my children. 10 years ago, I wouldn't have cared where the clothing came from or how it was made...But now that I am a parent, I am much more socially and environmentally conscious, and I want to instill these values upon my children. I want them to grow up loving and respecting the planet we live on, and to teach them how to help preserve our earth for future generations. I love all of the organic and sustainable fashion items that are cropping up on the market. Did you know that simply buying products made with bamboo or organically grown cotton can help reduce our carbon footprint, therefore helping our environment? Buying organic products also helps the farmers continue to grow without adding pesticides to the ground and water supply. Even the air quality is improved through producing organically.Even the little things can have a big impact on our lives and planet! One wonderful place to find simply beautiful,high-quality natural and organic fashions is a fabulous online boutique, Clean Spirited. I LOVE this store and what they stand for. This is a very easy to navigate shop and has a unique "Green-Grading" system, helping you determine just how eco-friendly a product is based on their grading criteria. Clean Spirited grades products on the following 5 factors: Natural Using organic materials and ingredients to produce clothing, bath and body products and other items has a much lower impact on our environment. Organic goods allow us to purchase what we want without stripping nutrients from the soil and destroying the air quality where these crops are grown. Also, buying organic supports organic farmers with the financial resources necessary to continue growing crops without the use of pesticides that factor largely into pollution. Using organic products is a great way to decrease your carbon footprint. Even the little things can have a big impact on our lives and planet! Recycled Recycling and finding ways to reuse materials helps in lowering greenhouse gas emissions and landfilling. As trash decomposes, it releases harmful gases (including Methane) that are not always prevented from entering the atmosphere and contribute to Global Warming. Rain falling on landfills, creates polluted run off that can damage nearby waters and soil. Also, excessive amounts of plastic are entering our oceans and negatively impacting natural ecosystems in these great waters Recycling not only reduces damage to our environment, but also re-claims useful resources. It is our responsibility to be accountable for the items we use and help our earth by recycling what we can. Local Buying products made in the Americas (assuming you also live there) is an important way to reduce your carbon footprint. The amount of carbon dioxide released in to the atmosphere during the production and marketing chain of imported goods is staggering. Consumers must take in to account the carbon dioxide released during the primary production of these goods along with the storage and freight transport. Buying goods that have been manufactured locally will greatly lower these emissions, thus reducing your carbon footprint and creating a culture of environmental responsibility. Fair Trade Fair Trade is an organized social movement that helps producers in developing countries promote sustainability and form better trading conditions. It supports healthy and safe workplaces, ethical purchasing and provides fair wages. Fair Trade’s goal is to change the ways commerce has previously been conducted so that trade can empower developing countries as well as developed countries. Clean Spirited is very excited to help out in this endeavor by carrying a variety of Fair Trade products. Humanitarian Humanitarian gets the Gold Star and represents when a brand goes above and beyond the norm, as in money from the purchase goes to charity etc.... Therefore Clean Spirited rates each product on these five points of cleanliness so that you know just how green you're buying. And they believe that even one point products are worth it! Every little bit counts in keeping our earth, air and seas clean. I love this unique grading system because it's a simple, visual way to keep track of which items are the most eco-friendly! What a wonderful tool to use when shopping online with your kids! I can definitely anticipate many teachable moments while browsing Clean Spirited with my 11 year old. I will be able to show him what difference purchasing eco-friendly goods can do, as well as open his eyes to all the wonderful things that can be done with bamboo, as well as recycled items most wouldn't glace twice at! Have you even seen a clutch style handbag made entirely out of recycled juice box remnants? Keep reading, and you will! Before I get into my review of the products I received, I'd love to show you some of my other favorites at Clean Spirited!  I love this look! Comfy and edgy at the same time!  This dress would be perfect for a night out!  Cute and casual  If only I had some good boob-tape!  I LOVE this set!  What a fun look for summer! I received 2 great items to review. The first is the Jonano Red Athena Dress, and the other is the Urthbags Silver Recycled Juice Box Clutch. What a great combination! I want to tell you about this dress first. Oh. My. Goodness. I am in love with this dress! When I received my package from Clean Spirited, I was immediately struck by the soft, luxurious feel of the fabric this beautiful dress is made of. I looked at the label, and I was quite impressed to find that this dress is made of an Organic Bamboo/Spandex Blend. I have never owned a clothing garment made from Bamboo before, so this was a treat! I have several cloth diapers with bamboo inserts, and I have had great success with the material. It never occurred to me that I could find high-fashion clothing made of this sustainable material as well! And who knew it would be so incredibly soft? This dress also has a fair amount of stretch to it, which is helpful to those of us who have more up top. (Like me!) The Jonano Athena Dress features an adjustable shoulder knot that allows you to seamlessly go from day to night. It also has a ruched empire waistline that flows into a fun, flirty skirt. This dress is supposed to hit right above the knee. I am measuring in at a statuesque 5' 4" and this hit a couple of inches below my knees. So this description is probably accurate for a woman of 5' 6" or taller. Not a big deal, though. I liked the length, and it didn't deter from the attractiveness of the garment one bit. Here is a photo of yours truly in this awesome dress. I think I don't do the dress justice, but my husband loves it on me! I just wish I had the body of the model shown in the photo at the top of the page. Having 3 kids will do that to you, though! So please don't snicker and laugh at the way I look,lol...I love this dress, and feel it is flattering for pretty much any body-type!    This is the coolest thing EVER! And totally recycled, too! The other item I received is this truly creative little clutch by the artists at Urthbags! This little gem of a bag is a definite conversation starter! Why? Because this super-trendy looking clutch is made entirely out of the sliver inner lining from juice boxes! My son keeps raving over how cool it looks, and that he doesn't understand why it "doesn't even smell like juice"! This bag is very high-quality, too. It is sturdily made and woven beautifully to bring this ultra-modern look. It also has a strong magnetic closure and offers a very roomy interior, with an attractive Urthbags label applied inside. I was able to fit my wallet, 2 pacifiers, a hairbrush and my sunglasses inside! Product's Dimensions are: 8"L x 2"W x 3"H. So this is a decent sized clutch bag that would be perfect for a party or a night out dancing. You can store the essentials in style! You'll be the envy of the room, too, since this is super-unique and attention grabbing! -  I love the weaving in this cute silver clutch!  Features strong, durable magnetic closure to keep items secured.  Interior with awesome Urthbags label! I love the high-quality eco-friendly goods available at Clean Spirited! Not only do they have awesome women's items, you'll want to make sure to check out the selection in their men's and kids' section, too! I like knowing where my purchases came from, and it makes me feel good to know if an item is socially and environmentally sound. I am more willing to spend my money doing business with companies that actually care. Clean Spirited is committed to bringing you items from brands with a heart that care about the world we live in and its global citizens. Trust Clean Spirited to bring you cleaner alternatives to the things you already buy! I should also mention that for every purchase, $1.00 is donated to environmental causes. So do you like what you see? I'm sure you do! You might want to sit down for this....Okay, ready? Clean Spirited is VERY generously offering one of my lucky followers a $150.00 gift certificate to their shop! Pick your jaws up off of the ground now....This will be yet another fantastic addition to my "For Mommy" prize package when the Birthday Bash begins on June 1st! How ridiculously awesome is that?! In the meantime, go show Clean Spirited some MAJOR love! HOW TO CONNECT: You can see these and other great items on the Clean Spirited website. Learn more about their vision on their blog. You can also follow them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of new products and promotions. FYI: Doing so NOW will put you ahead of the game when the giveaways start on June 1st! ***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
  My life can be pretty darn hectic at times. Between the babies, the blog, the housework, nurturing a marriage and dealing with a sullen and often cynical pre-teen, I definitely appreciate anything that can make my life run even the teensiest bit more smoothly. Take grocery shopping, for example. I have a 16 month old and a 4 month old. My toddler is too little yet to walk everywhere, so she usually sits in the seat of the grocery cart. My 4 month old isn't exactly competing in marathons, either, so he has to remain in his carseat and usually gets pushed around with the stroller.This is an arrangement that works just fine, but it is NOT overly convenient. I hate having to expertly navigate WalMart like a caravan... Dan and Sophie with the cart and me following with Xander in the stroller. It's not convenient at all, and we tend to get stuck in aisle traffic jams if we're there during peak hours. This is enough at times to make the simple act of grocery shopping a rather stressful experience! And then there's the issue of trunk space. I drive a 2006 Mercedes E350, so my trunk is a very good size for a sedan. But lugging the stroller around makes packing the trunk with groceries quite challenging when we do a larger grocery trip that includes bulky items like toilet paper, cases of beer (the hubby's) and anything else oddly sized or shaped. The stroller simply gets in the way and takes up valuable trunk space that could be used for our food and household items. I had used a baby carrier to run errands before, but I found that the weight of the baby tugging at my shoulders left me very sore within a very short period of time. Then I found out that not all baby carriers are created equal. Sure, you can buy an economy line carrier, but you may need all that money you saved to finance a trip to the chiropractor! I knew there had to be a better baby-wearing solution out there.....One that was comfortable for baby AND Mommy (or Daddy) that wouldn't cause horrid aches and pains. After looking into this very issue, I stumbled across ERGOBaby Carriers. ERGOBaby is a name I am sure you're familiar with. This is considered the Rolls Royce of soft-shelled baby carriers. This seems to be the bar against which all other carriers seem to have to measure. I was curious to see what the ERGOBaby difference was all about. Could this carrier allow me to bond with my baby while performing everyday activites without hurting me or wearing me out? ERGOBaby generously sent me the ERGObaby Organic Carrier in Organic Dark Chocolate Twill with Kona Coffee Lining so I could find out for myself why these baby carriers are all the hype right now. Take a look at this beautiful baby carrier. I love the dark, rich chocolate color. It is simple, attractive, and beautifully gender neutral.   So what's so special about an ERGO? Well, it's all in the science behind the design of these carriers. The expert design team at ERGOBaby found the perfect solution to common baby-wearing woes. Specifically, it's designed to distribute weight to your hips and shoulders, rather than your lower back. The ERGO can be worn in three positions, front carry facing in, back carry facing in, and hip carry. There are two adjustable straps that help with the weight distribution, and also allow for any shape and size person to wear the ERGO. The lower strap, which goes around the waist is very thick and is adjustable, and the upper strap clips at chest-level to keep the shoulder straps in place. This is done to evenly distribute the baby's weight so you won't feel like you have a backpack full of squirming bricks painfully strapped to you! This carrier also is designed to accommodate people of all shapes and sizes. I am 5'4" and weigh 140lbs. My husband is 5'9" and weighs 170lbs. We can both easily wear this carrier, and there is still plenty of adjustment room to spare. So if you're a curvier person or your hubby is built like a linebacker, chances are, you can comfortably wear the ERGOBaby Carrier, too! Here are the features of the ERGOBaby Carrier I received for review: Organic Baby Carrier Features:
MY OPINION? Overall, I LOVE this carrier! It truly delivers on all of its promises. Since I started using my ERGO, not only have I experienced far less muscle pain and strain, I have also found that I can do chores while "holding" my babies! This comes in especially handy when they're sleepy, cranky, or just want to be loved on. My husband loves this carrier, too. Granted, he probably doesn't feel too macho with a baby strapped to him, but welcome to the wonderful world of parenting, right? With two babies well under the age of 2, this product is an absolute must have. I wish I had two of them now! One for each parent so BOTH babies can be worn simultaneously. That would make family outings to the zoo or park so much more enjoyable for everyone! These awesome carriers are also soft-shelled, so they are super portable and can easily fit in your diaper bag! If you suffer from stiff muscles from constantly carrying your baby around, ERGOBaby can save the day! (And your aching back!)
You have gotten used to my Birthday Event Preview posts by now, so I'm sure you can all guess what's next, right? That's right!! The generous folks at ERGOBaby Carriers are so sure you'll love their carriers that they are offering one lucky follower the ERGOBaby Carrier of their choice as part of my For Baby prize package! (Excluding the new Petunia Picklebottom designs.) How cool is THAT?! See for yourself why everyone is raving about this fantastic product! In the meantime, here's how you can learn more about ERGOBaby Carriers! HOW TO CONNECT: You can see this and all the other great carriers on the ERGOBaby website. You can even buy one there, too! Or use their handy retail locator to find an authorized ERGOBaby retailer near you! You can also follow ERGOBaby on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of new products and promotions! FYI: Doing so NOW will put you ahead of the game when my giveaways begin on June 1st! ***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***   Sophie's first "swim"! Summer of 2010 I am a long time fan of Neutrogena products. My first love-affair with this company began when I was a teen and got embarrassing acne break-outs on my back and shoulders. (Ahhh, love those raging teenage hormones!) So I turned to my very first Neutrogena product to help clear it up, their Body Clear Body Scrub, and I was hooked! I have since tried their body oils, their Clean shampoo, and even their wonderful line of cosmetics! So even now, as an adult, when I no longer have "back-ne", I still often turn to Neutrogena to meet the skin care needs of my family. That's why when I was offered the opportunity to review Neutrogena's newest addition to their family of sun-protection products, I jumped at the chance! Summer is rapidly approaching, and we're planning more than a few trips to the pool. My kids are like fish when it comes to the water. My 11 year old will spend hours in the pool happily...even if everyone else has already gotten out to eat! My now 17 month old daughter had her first official taste of the pool last summer at my father-in-law's house. (See pic above!) For the first minute or two, she didn't quite know what to make of the cool water...But she quickly adjusted and started kicking and laughing and squealing....She is a water-baby for sure! Neutrogena has a new line of sun-blocks, the Neutrogena Wet Skin line. Being at the pool, beach or in humid climates make applying sunscreen difficult since ordinary sunblock drips and whitens under wet conditions. New Wet Skin Sunblock with helioplex technology is the first line of sunscreen specially formulated to be applied directly to wet skin. Wet Skin spray technology instantly cuts through water to form a broad spectrum UVA/UVB protective barrier. That does that mean to you? It means no more struggling to dry off a squirmy child to reapply sunscreen! I know my toddler hates this. She would rather keep playing than get all dried off and get more sunscreen put on. To her little mind, I'm sure this process seems to take an eternity! But how many budding toddlers are really the most patient of creatures? Not mine, that's for sure! With Neutrogena Wet Skin sun block, this is a thing of the past. You can reappy while the skin is wet! There is no dripping, whitening, and it provides an instant barrier between their precious skin and the harmful rays of the sun. And you don't have to hear all of the protests about interrupting play time to reapply. BIG bonus points from me! Wet Skin Kids provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and mists right on for protection from the sun's harsh rays. It's the quickest way to fully protect your kids when they're in and out of the water.
So keep an eye out for Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock Sprays when you're shopping for your family's sun protection needs this summer! My favorite is the Wet Skin Kids, seen below. What formula are you most interested in trying?  ***Disclosure:I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Neutrogena and received sunscreen and other Neutrogena products as a thank you for my participation.***
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  PR Friendly Mama!
I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com 
 
 
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