As I'm sure you have all figured out by now, I am a big fan of photo books. I've reviewed several! In today's digital age, taking film to get processed and having tangible, paper prints of your photos is a thing of the past. Sure, you can get digital prints made, or even print them at home on a photo-printer. But let's face it...Often we don't get around to doing that as often as we'd like. Most of my photos exist solely on the computer, on discs, and on thumb drives and memory cards. I tend to take more pictures than I can keep up with having printed, especially where my children are concerned. I am constantly taking photos of them to chronicle their childhoods, and I try to get every little memory captured forever. After all, kids grow so quickly, and they change from week to week sometimes. Especially when they're babies. So I am a big fan of digital photo books that can be created and ordered online. These great photo books allow me to have something beautifully made that I can put on a bookshelf or coffee table that shows images of my family WITHOUT having to log onto the computer or dig out memory cards. Photo books are something tangible that I can pass down to my children or give as gifts to family members. So when the great folks at Viovio asked me to create a photo book of my own using their service to review here for my readers, I immediately agreed to do so. I already had my next photo project in mind, so this was the perfect opportunity to create it while trying out a new service I wasn't familiar with! My mother-in-law's birthday is June 30th, the day after mine. She lives in Chicago, and we have not been able to travel to meet her yet. My husband was adopted when he was a few days old, and while we were pregnant with Sophie, we found and contacted his biological parents. His father lives an hour away, but his mom is all the way in Illinois, and no one has had the time or finances to coordinate a trip to meet that side of the family yet. We do talk on the phone and through Facebook, and she is the BEST! She's a proud grandma, and despite the distance, is as involved as she can be with all 3 of our kids. She wants updates on every pediatrician's appointment, sends cards and money for good grades, and even "talks" to the babies frequently on speaker-phone. Not only is she a wonderful Grandma, she's a great Mom. Dan loves her, and she is amazing to me as well. She's warm, caring, and has such a big heart. If I am ever having a bad day, she is always just a phone call away and always makes me feel better. So unlike many, I do NOT have the Mother-In-Law from Hell...I have the best anyone could ever ask for! So naturally, I chose to create a Viovio photo book for her as a birthday gift. I chose an attractive, material wrapped die cut cover with a black suede finish. This book is absolutely beautiful, and is expertly bound for optimal quality. It even features a great photo silk paper that gives the finished product a professional and luxurious appearance. Take a look at my photo book for my wonderful Mother-In-Law, titled "Grandma's Babies". So as you can see, this book is something special! My Mother-In-Law is bound to love it! And it was so simple to make, as well! Viovio offers dozens of pre-designed templates to choose from, all unique and not what you would expect to find on most photo-book websites. They are rich in color and detail, and come in a variety of styles from simple and classic to more elaborate, artistic designs.Please note, the use of certain templates incurs an additional charge. These fees are modest at only a few extra dollars, and they offer a great way to let your personality shine in your photo book creation. Once I chose my template and uploaded some photos from my hard drive, it was smooth sailing. I was able to go page to page and add photos in the order I preferred, and once the pictures went into the slots. This was a simple process, since photos are added to the pages by dragging and dropping them into the desired spaces.Once in place, I could crop and center them so they were perfectly displayed. You can even add captions if you'd like! This was the only area that I had some challenges with. The caption function was a bit tricky to resize and center on the page. I have learned, however, that Viovio has just launched a new method for adding such captions, so I doubt that is an issue anymore. When my book arrived, I was delighted with the end results. The cover is elegant and so soft and smooth, and the pages are heavy-duty and definitely professional grade. The images are rich and vibrant, and the book has great appeal due to the superior materials used in creating it. The binding is very well done, and all of the pages are secure and uniform. It is quite obvious that Viovio is committed to providing nothing but the absolute best to their customers. After all, photos are some of our most prized possessions, since they chronicle everything that we hold dear in life. Viovio GETS it, and they make capturing these memories easy and affordable. Viovio also offers a ton of different sized books , from a super-portable mini book to an extra large portfolio book. In addition to the wide variety of sizes, there are also several different cover options, including an image wrapped cover! How cool is that?! There are also different binding options for their hardcover and softcover books, as well as premium quality photo silk and photo satin paper used within the pages of these high quality books! These books are perfect for families, businesses, artists, and even self-publishers! There are so many ways to customize these books and so many styles to choose from, you're bound to find the perfect design for your next photo project! Check them out! You'll be glad you did! HOW TO CONNECT: You can create your own wonderful photo book on the Viovio website. You can also connect with them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of all the latest products and promotions! ***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.***
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Originally, when I contacted Naomi & Nicole, a part of the Cupid Intimates family, I had them in mind for the In Honor Of The Tatas Breast Cancer Awareness event this October. However, I am pleased to say, they'd really like to sponsor the Christmas In July event! AND...If all goes well, which I know it will, again for the Tatas event featuring one of their other fabulous brands! (You HAVE heard of Miraclesuit, right?! That's one of them!) I am absolutely thrilled to include them in Christmas In July. Sure, my prize package consists of a lot of baby items, but there is one thing ALL babies have in common: They all have Mamas! And most of us Mamas have stubborn belly pooches and other lingering remnants of pregnancy that could often use some help smoothing out and disguising.(Unless, of course, you're one of the super-lucky, genetically abnormal women who seem to have somehow escaped pregnancy induced bodily changes and look just as great post-pregnancy as you did before baby came!) For that reason, I think Naomi & Nicole is the perfect addition! Sure, you can win a ton of great things for baby, but now you can win something luxurious just for YOU as well! Added bonus! Let me tell you a bit more about the fabulosity that is Naomi & Nicole. (Yes, I am aware that 'fabulosity' is not a word, but it's MY word, as fabulous wasn't a strong enough term to describe how much I LOVE this company!) Yes, I really, really love the products Naomi & Nicole has to offer! Naomi & Nicole offers a great line of shapewear and undergarments that are attractive, comfortable, and affordable. This is shapewear for REAL women, with REAL lives. Throughout the day, our bodies move....Whether we be chasing mischievous toddlers all day, working out, or even sitting behind a desk in an executive office, we women are always on the go. We want to look and feel our best no matter where our busy lives may take us, and we rely on our shapewear to help us achieve just that in a comfortable, inconspicuous manner. While there is plenty of shapewear on the market that can smooth bumps and bulges effectively, there isn't much available that can be worn in complete comfort without the need for constant tugging and readjusting. And panties? Well, we all know the horrors of clearly visible panty-lines or panties that ride up creating uncomfortable "wedgies" when we're active. These issues can be rather embarrassing, and quite frankly, annoying! Who wants to have to readjust their shapewear or free a wedgie in public? Not me! I am happy to tell you that Naomi & Nicole has successfully tackled these common shapewear woes with their awesome line of products. They offer shapewear and panties that feel like a second skin and stay in place beautifully. They even have an extensive line of panties that are guaranteed to never ride up. When our bodies move, our panties tend to move with us...Not always a good thing. Naomi & Nicole's line of panties stay in place due to a new technology called Wonderful Edge. What is Wonderful Edge? Simple! It's a breathable, silicone edge applied to the legs of their panties that prevents wedgies and eliminates VPLs. This revolutionary panty won’t ride up and will remain invisible under your clothes. These panties are so amazing, their Lace Trim Hipster Panties were even featured in the February, 2011 of Good Housekeeping Magazine! And we all know just how stringent Good Housekeeping is when it comes to products they feature! This awesome Wonderful Edge feature also adorns the waist-band area of their awesome shapewear as well! No more tugging and pulling. Wonderful Edge keeps everything right where it's meant to be! Maybe you have stubborn body issues that you'd like to find the perfect solution for? I know my problem area is my lower belly...I have the dreaded belly pooch! The rest of my body looks great, but I just can't seem to shake that little flabby, rounded THING that's below the belly button, mocking me every day of my life. This is thanks to 3 pregnancies, all resulting in C-sections, I'm sure. This causes great amounts of anxiety for me. I don't have the confidence to wear a lot of clothing due to this issue. I don't have much body love. Well, no matter what your body woe may be, Naomi & Nicole offers a great product matching tool that addresses very specific body issues. So whether you have the belly-pooch like me, a saggy behind, back fat, or even a muffin top, Naomi & Nicole can help you find the product that's right for YOUR unique body needs. They realize that one product does NOT fit all, since no two bodies are exactly alike. That's why they're committed to helping women of ALL shapes and sizes find the perfect products for their unique body types. I am SO glad there's finally a company that realizes we're not all thin, perfect, stick-insect women, or Lollipop Ladies, as I like to call them. (Lollipop Ladies-Definition: Those unrealistically perfect women whose heads are the widest part of their bodies. Also see: Freak of Nature) So no matter what your body type, Naomi & Nicole has you covered! They even have waist cincher type products to help achieve that hourglass figure we all covet! Here are the products I received for my review, as well as my opinions of them! Naomi and Nicole® Unbelievable Comfort® Underwire Camisole This single-ply, lightweight underwire garment is made of high-modulus Tactel® fabric designed to provide a smooth look for all-day wear. Wonderful Edge® at the bottom holds the cami in place. Wear it like a bra that also smoothes your midriff. Pair it with any bottom for a custom fit. Awesome Features: -Wonderful Edge® on bottom of cami -No lines, no ride -Stays in place -Underwire support -No bra lines or back bulges -Wear under anything as you would a bra My Opinion: I LOVE this cami! It is very soft to the touch, lightweight, and offers moderate to strong support. Being a D cup, I also love that this cami has underwire support and keeps my tatas exactly where they should be without flattening them out or compressing them oddly, as some other body shaper products sometimes do. This cami does not ride up at all, thanks to the Wonderful Edge technology, and it always looks fantastic. It smooths out any minor bumps or bulges effectively without restricting breathing or movement. Due to the lightweight nature and breathability of this item, you won't even break a sweat! I have worn this under dresses, and even on its own with a pair of skinny jeans. You see, this item does not look like an obvious body slimmer. It looks like a normal cami that you'd wear anytime, anywhere. So yes, it can be worn under clothing, but don't be afraid to wear it as a top, too! This is NOT your mother's shapewear, ladies! It is modestly sexy, lightweight, and beautiful. I should also point out that the silicone Wonderful Edge is not odd feeling against the body. You really wouldn't even know it was there at all, after about the first 5 minutes, It also doesn't leave strange red marks or indentations on the skin. Overall, this product gets an A++ from me. The only thing I would change is that I would have loved it if the bust area was a bit more plunging to highlight just a little bit of cleavage. This item provides a fuller coverage, which is nice, but my husband likes the look of a bit more cleavage showing! But this is just a matter of personal preference, and doesn't take away from the look or feel of the product at all. Naomi & Nicole® Lace Trim Boy Short This waistline panty will stay in place all day long, even while exercising. It’s so lightweight you’ll forget you’re wearing it. It features a beautiful, scalloped floral lace trim. Our breathable Wonderful Edge® silicone finish, placed at the legs, prevents wedgies and eliminates VPLs. This revolutionary panty won’t ride up and will remain invisible under your clothes. Some Awesome Features: -No control (Although Naomi & Nicole DOES offer several control panty options as well.) -Wonderful Edge® on legs -No ride, no lines -Stays in place -Regular rise with hip and upper-thigh coverage -3 for $27 My Opinion: I cannot say enough good things about this panty! I absolutely LOVE the look of boy-short style panties, but have found that 99% of the time I've worn them, they would ride up, creating embarrassing wedgies. This has not been the case with these panties, though, thanks to the Wonderful Edge technology on the legs! I love the sexy, flirty look of the lace at the top of these panties, and the fabric of these great knickers is incredibly soft, silky, and super lightweight. They are very comfortable, and they definitely stay right where they're supposed to! I ordered a Large or size 7, thinking I would need that based on my hips, but I probably could have very comfortably gotten a medium. I am between sizes, and at 5'4" and 140lbs, I usually wear between a 7 or 9 in Juniors or an 8/10 in misses. So I erred on the side of caution and went with the large. I'm wishing I hadn't, since I think a medium would have more than likely provided a better fit. This is not saying anything negative about the product though, as I am sure it has more to do with my poor body image. I always seem to think I am bigger than I really am. Keep in mind, this is the smallest I have been since...Wow...12 or 13? I'm still getting used to my new body. But these panties are fantastic, and I love the way they feel while wearing them. I have worn these many times, usually with sundresses since I am a dress loving gal, but also with skinny jeans a few times. I have never noticed a panty line peeking through my clothing, and these are so comfortable, it almost feels like going commando! And this microfiber panty comes in a variety of fun colors, too!Overall rating? Again, Naomi & Nicole has earned an A++ from this mama! Don't these products look amazing?! I guarantee you will LOVE them! And guess what? Naomi & Nicole will be offering one lucky follower the shapewear item AND panty of choice during my Christmas In July event! (Yay!) In the meantime, here's how to connect with this fabulous company! HOW TO CONNECT: You can buy Naomi & Nicole products on the Cupid Intimates website as well as at select fine online retailers. You can also connect with them on Facebook and on Twitter to stay on top of their newest products and promotions! FYI: Doing so NOW will put you ahead of the game once my Christmas In July event begins! ***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.*** Congrats to Rachel, who just won my Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil Giveaway! Rachel, I am e-mailing you now! Please respond within 48 hours or I will have to redraw a new winner!
Thanks to everyone who entered, and make sure to check out all of my current giveaways! I just added 3 new ones today! I have been a HUGE Melissa & Doug fan for years. Most parents are familiar with their amazing products. They seem to carry everything a little heart could desire! From classic wooden toys like puzzles and ring stackers to gorgeous and life-like dollhouses and play kitchens, Melissa & Doug have been making little people smile since 1988 with high quality, fun products for kids of all ages. They actually have over 1,000 products to choose from, so there is literally something for everyone! My personal favorites? The Deluxe Kitchen Play Center, since I LOVE to cook and would love to pass the Foodie Love on to my children, the Learn To Play Piano to help nurture a love for music, and the Deluxe Floor Standing Wooden Easel for those budding Picassos out there! Melissa & Doug's product line is nothing short of exceptional, so I was more than thrilled to receive the opportunity to review some of their fun sand toy sets! Perfect for summer, wouldn't you agree? I have not yet made my way to the beach this summer, but when I do, I will be sure to bring along all of these great sand toy sets. Not only will my children create wonderful memories while playing with these toys, it will give my 11 year old and my toddler something to do together as a team to help promote a strong sibling bond. In the meantime, I allowed my children to "test" these products using topsoil outside. This mama's no fool! I thought about allowing them to use flour indoors, but quickly decided against it since I did not want to have to clean up the inevitable mess that would ensue! Here are the products I received, their descriptions, and my opinion of each of these sand toy sets! Seaside Sidekicks Sand Cupcake Set: There IS something new under the sun; a 12-piece set to make cupcakes at the beach or in the sandbox! First, fill the unique , hinged cupcake molder with sand "dough", add cupcake toppers, put in tray and "bake". You can even use the icing tool to add more designs! For storage, you may keep the whole set in the included mesh bag. My Opinion: I LOVE this set! Cupcakes are quite the craze right now with shows like Cupcake Wars and various Food Network Challenges that feature these decadent little treats. So why not allow your littlest "bakers" to make their own fun cupcakes while having fun in the sun! No oven required! This set features cupcake molds as well as tops that have fun shapes like a Starfish, a Crab, A fish, and a Turtle! These sea-life inspired cupcakes are so fun and unique, even the "landlubbers" in your life will love "baking" with this great set of sand toys! It's never too early to introduce your little ones to the joys of cooking, and incorporating food into their play time is a fantastic way to do so without the risk of burning your house to the ground! Seaside Sidekicks Sand-Molding Set: The turtle mold has lots of friends hiding under its shell: a fish, a crab, a starfish and a seahorse! This set provides hours of sand molding fun in the sandbox or at the beach and quick clean up, as all the molds store neatly in their turtle "shell". My Opinion: How fun is this?! This great set of sand-molds stays with the theme of ocean life seen in the last product. These molds are bright and colorful, and actually quite durable. They are also super-portable, as all of these fishy friends nestle perfectly together. I just love the sea turtle, fish, star-fish, crab, and seahorse shaped molds. Your kids can create their own virtual aquarium or ocean floor scene on the beach using these adorable molds. Just add some pebbles, seaweed and other aquatic plants for a truly realistic effect! Clicker Crab Pail And Shovel: A crab-shaped scoop and a sunny red-orange, crab-face bucket make digging for treasures at the beach even more fun! Clicker Crab is always smiling and you will be too, with this sturdy plastic duo. My Opinion: Okay...How cute is that?! I am used to hearing the term "crabby" in reference to someone with a sour disposition, but THIS cute little crab is quite the cheerful little guy that just beckons little ones to come and play with him! This brightly colored pail is very durable and can carry a heavy load of sand. The handle makes it easy for little hands to transport. The coordinating Clicker Crab shovel is incredibly cute, as well! I love the detail in the claws and crab legs, as well as his happy smile. This is a fantastic toy that takes your typical pail and shovel to an imaginative new level! Seaside Sidekicks Sand Baking Set: Make fabulous mudpies and sandcakes with this sea-creature inspired "baking" set. Young chefs will love using the shell shaped measuring cups, octopus whisk and crab mixing spoon to "cook" up some great beach treats. The turtle lid on the "mixing" bowl doubles as a sifter! My Opinion: I love to cook, as any of my friends can tell you, and that alone makes this wonderful set my favorite of the bunch! This adorable baking set again features sea life with it's mixing bowl with sea-turtle lid which doubles as a sifter, and you can find a cute crab adorning the heavy-duty mixing spoon. The whisk is friendly octopus and the measuring cups? They're shaped like sea-shells! My 11 year old is already expressing in interest in cooking, and I hope to help nurture this passion in my youngest children as well. For now, this sand baking set is a wonderful beginning to a lifelong love for the culinary arts. BUY IT: You can purchase Melissa & Doug toys on their website as well as at several other fine retailers. You can also follow Melissa & Doug on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their newest products and promotions. For even MORE Melissa & Doug fun, please join their Treasured Toy Club to receive special promotions and news sure to make your children smile! WIN IT: One lucky follower will be receiving ALL of the awesome sand toys featured in this review! You heard me right! ALL OF THEM! How cool is that?! Please complete the mandatory entry FIRST. Also include a valid e-mail address in each comment so I can contact you if you win! Feel free to use the following format to prevent spammers from bugging you! yourname(at)aol(dot)com. MANDATORY ENTRY:
#GIVEAWAY Win A HUGE set of Sand Toys from @MelissaAndDoug @oopsimpregnant Ends 7/3 http://alturl.com/x82zr
***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.*** *** A special note before I begin my review: This is a review and giveaway I am VERY excited about. Not only am I thrilled to try the Rumparooz Wet Bag that has been getting such fantastic reviews all over the blogoshere, I am also happy to introduce you all to Earthy Crunchy Mama, a fantastic online boutique dedicated to providing eco-friendly products to modern families. Jennifer at Earthy Crunchy Mama is very knowledgeable in all things green, and is an absolute pleasure to work with! (FYI: Earthy Crunchy Mama is also sponsoring a giveaway during my Christmas In July event! So look for the review of that product as well, coming soon!)*** One thing that cloth-diapering families like mine rely on every day is a good wet bag. There are SOOOO many choices available, and I like having several of different sizes to use for travel as well as in the home. I have a couple of super-huge hanging wet dry bags, as well as some smaller wet bags we take while running errands. So far, I have only met one wet bag I didn't like. I won't name names in order to protect the guilty company, but for the most part, I love all of my wet bags. A good wet bag is an absolute necessity in my mind, since they provide a safe place to put all of your soiled cloth diapers without any cross-contamination of the other baby gear stored in your diaper bag. Who wants leaky, stinky messes fouling up their baby's clothing and toys? Not me, that's for sure! Lately I have noticed a new concept in wet bags offered by Rumparooz, a trusted leader in cloth-diapering. This unique wet bag is different than your conventional wet bag because of it's revolutionary shape. The Rumparooz Wet Bags are 3-dimensional, allowing them to stay open during messy changes. Their handle allows them to easily be hung for easy use. They are big enough to hold 15 diapers and 15 inserts (1+ days of diapers) making it perfect for an overnight trip! Here are some more detailed product features:
Another thing I love about the Kanga Care Wet Bag is the shape. I can stand it up, literally like a diaper pail, while I am changing the babies' diapers. This is so convenient, since all I have to do is drop the soiled diapers into the bag and zip it closed. I don't have to spend the extra time opening the bag or get someone's help to hold it open for me. Let's face it: Sometimes with a messier diaper, we want to get that thing bagged quickly! This we bag allows just that! This bag can also easily be hung using its snap handle. I have hung this bag on hooks on the bathroom door, in the closet, and on doorknobs. But the BEST feature in my humble opinion is the size of this bag. Upon first look, it doesn't appear very large. It's not tiny by any means, but it doesn't compare in size visually to my Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry bags. Those babies are HUGE! I was skeptical about the amount of diapers it would hold due to it's deceptively compact appearance. I put this wet bag to the test: 2 babies' diapers! Having 2 babies in cloth, I can fill a wet bag in NO time flat! So one morning, I bypassed my diaper pails altogether, and put all of my dirty fluff into my Rumparooz Kanga Care Wet Bag. Needless to say, by that night I had enough diapers stuffed into this bag to fully testify to the amazing capacity of this bag. I had fit 17 diapers AND applicable inserts into this bag. A few of the diapers were double-stuffed since they were used during nap time and my toddler is a heavy wetter. I will note, I used pocket style One Size Diapers made by AMP, Ebber-Deeber,Kawaii,BumGenius, ButterBears, and BabyKicks, Microfiber Inserts, as well as a few small BumGenius 3.0 AIO's in size small for this test. If I had used all pocket diapers, perhaps I would have fit 15 as promised. I think using a few small sized AIO's bought me a little extra room, as they required no inserts. I was seriously impressed by the capacity of this wet bag. Especially since it appears so compact. This is literally the ideal wet bag for trips and outings. It doesn't take up much room but carries a LOT of diapers! Here are some photos of this bag in action: Isn't this bag awesome!? It definitely earns a spot in my top 3 favorite wet bags! I love this bag because of its unique shape, the bright, fun colors available, the HUGE capacity, as well as the overall effectiveness of this bag. No smells escaping and absolutely no leaks! Another thing I love? This bag is also biodegradable, and will break down within 4-5 years when composted. Compare that with the 500 YEARS it takes for many disposable diapers to break down, and you can see just how much of an impact using these bags along with your cloth diapers can make on the environment! Big brownie points earned there!
I would recommend the Rumparooz Kanga Care Wet Bag to any family who uses cloth diapers. But did you know you can also use this for your beach towels and wet swimwear? You'll find a ton of uses for this bag, even after your babies have outgrown their fluff! BUY IT: You can purchase this wet bag and other great eco-friendly products on the Earthy Crunchy Mama website. You can also follow Earthy Crunchy Mama on Facebook, on twitter, by subscribing to their YouTube channel and on their blog! They also have a fabulous newsletter to keep you up-to-date on new products and promotions and to provide eco-friendly tips for your family! (You can find the newsletter sign-up form on the right hand sidebar.) WIN IT: Earthy Crunchy Mama is SO sure you'll love this bag as much as we do, they would like to give one of my lucky followers a chance to win one for themselves! Woo-Hoo! Please complete the mandatory entry FIRST. No extra entries will count unless you have done so. Also, please leave a valid e-mail address in EACH comment so I can contact you if you're my winner! Feel free to use the following format to protect you from potential spammers: yourname(at)aol(dot)com. MANDATORY ENTRY:
#GIVEAWAY Win A Rumparooz Kanga Care Wet Bag from @RthyCrunchyMama Ends 7/3 http://alturl.com/nrpdt
***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.*** Anyone can say the words "I Love You". It is a phrase that I use every single day in my home while talking to my husband and my children. Every time I talk to my Grandma on the phone, we also say these 3 little words before hanging up. I am a firm believer that if you love someone, you should let them know, and let them know often. After all, in the famous words of The Beatles, "All you need is love." But with all these wonderful declarations of love flying around, how often is it that we tell that special someone WHY we love them? Not very often, huh? This is something that becomes easy to overlook...After all, we lead very busy lives. With jobs, bills, chores, errands and children, we don't always stop and think to communicate WHY we love someone. After all, they KNOW we love them, and that should be enough, right? Well, I don't think so. While saying you love someone is an integral part of a relationship, it is JUST as important to recognize the many, many reasons WHY you love that person. For one, doing so can improve intimacy, boost self-esteem, and give you that warm, fuzzy feeling inside. But doing so will also show the person you adore that they are appreciated, and that they are not taken for granted. Let's face it: With the normal stresses of every day life, it can become easy to do just that. I recently got the chance to review an amazing product that is designed with the sole purpose of telling someone WHY you love them in mind! LoveBookOnline.com offers creative, unique, and highly customizable Love Books that are the perfect way to let someone know just how awesome you think they are. I love this concept, because it gets the ball rolling for a new-found appreciation for your partner. Once you start finding all of the many reasons you care for someone, it might just be hard to stop! LoveBookOnline.com makes this task easy and fun. This site is extremely user-friendly, and has so many different options to choose from. You can customize your cover with your own unique message using their many design options. Once you have completed the cover of your Love Book, you get to the fun part: Choosing from a multitude of reasons you love someone, and customizing the photos and text to make them uniquely YOU. LoveBook Online offers HUNDREDS of pre-designed ideas to help get the ball rolling, but you can easily add your own as well. Love Books come in either hard or soft cover books, and there is NO LIMIT to the amount of pages you can use! I loved this feature, because it makes the possibilities truly limitless. You don't have to stop at 20 or 30 reasons because of the cost adding up...Feel free to include hundreds of reasons! Once you get started, you won't want to stop! I created a LoveBook for my amazing husband. His 34th birthday is coming up shortly, and I thought this would be a fantastic gift to give him to show him how appreciated he really is. He's the best Daddy in the world, and he would go to the ends of the earth for me, too. While I tell him several times per day that I love him, I thought he should have a physical reminder of the many reasons why he is the love of my life. Take a look at my LoveBook! As you can see, these Love Books are totally FUN! They feature cute, often comical images, as well as a very extensive library of reasons to choose from. These books are made with real, imperfect relationships in mind, and help to celebrate our love for our partners, even for reasons that may be a little unconventional! I would recommend LoveBook Online to anyone who loves someone...So basically, that would mean everyone! We ALL have people we love, so why not tell them why? It will make you feel good, will make them feel appreciated, and can also help open the doors to greater intimacy and some fun conversation! BUY IT: You can purchase Love Books on the LoveBookOnline.com website. You can also follow them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of the latest news and promotions! WIN IT: One VERY lucky follower will have the opportunity to create their OWN LoveBook from LoveBook Online! How cool is that?! *Please note: Because some contest winners will require their gift on differing dates the contest winners will be responsible for the cost of shipping.* HOW TO ENTER: Please complete the MANDATORY entries FIRST! Also, please leave your e-mail address in EACH comment so I can contact you if you're my lucky winner! Feel free to use the following format as a spam protection: blahblah (at) aol (dot) com. MANDATORY ENTRY:
" #GIVEAWAY Tell them WHY you love them with @LoveBookOnline custom LoveBooks! 7/2 http://alturl.com/qn5ej "
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. Have you ever seen the old '80's movie, 'Teen Wolf'? You know...the incredibly cheesy movie featuring a very young Michael J. who plays a high school student who just happens to randomly get furry as he morphs into a werewolf? You know the movie I'm talking about...At least I hope you do, because if not, I really AM getting old! Anyway, I saw a brief snippet of this movie the other day, and it made me chuckle, because it reminded me of my husband. No, I don't mean my hubby is a werewolf...But he DOES grow some crazy facial hair, and it grows in very, very FAST! So fast, in fact, that if he shaves in the morning, he could stand to shave AGAIN when he gets home from work. Yep, I am married to a furry man-beast. And I JUST found a great product to make his life so much easier when he needs to shave: The ToiletTree Fogless Shower Mirror! This Fogless Shower Mirror is a lifesaver in my home. My husband USED to take a shower, hop out, and then shave in front of the bathroom mirror hoping that his pores have remained open long enough after getting out to get a close shave. And I don't even want to think about the mess that his shaving tends to make in the sink...You know what I mean, ladies...The nasty ring of hair that settles around the rim of the sink and seems to stick to everything...Ewww! And of course, when he'd have to "shave and go" before work in the mornings, who would have to clean up that stubble-mess? ME. Which is not a task I enjoy doing. ToiletTree has forever changed this routine in my home. I gave their Fogless Shower Mirror to my husband as an early Father's Day present, and he was ecstatic! His life was about to become so much easier (and his shaves so much closer) because this unique product allows him to shave while he is still in the shower! Did you know that dermatologists recommend shaving while in the shower? This is because while showering, the combination of heat and moisture open the pores and creates an ideal environment for shaving, exfoliating, tweezing and cleaning. This awesome mirror is compact, lightweight, and super simple to install. No annoying suction cups are involved, either! It is mounted with a special silicone adhesive that is not damaging to your bathroom surfaces. Once you mount the mirror, simply wait 24 hours for the adhesive to set, and you're good to go! This product remains fogless, too! Even during the hottest of showers! This is achieved by filling a special reservoir with hot water before use. This water prevents condensation from forming on this mirror, allowing the user to clearly see what they're doing to achieve a close and accurate shave without ever having to leave the shower! There is even a tray for your razor or tweezers and an included squeegee to clean the mirror with! Yep, the folks at ToiletTree have thought of everything! Here's some of my favorite features of the Fogless Shower Mirror:
What's my opinion of this mirror? Well, I love it! And so does my husband. He loves this product, and has been able to save a ton of time because he can now tame his man fur in the shower. I love this product because it is lightweight, compact, and saves me the hassle of having to clean up a huge mess everyday! Let's face it: With 2 babies and a preteen who is on summer vacation, I have enough messes to clean up over the course of the day! You may also be wondering, does this product actually WORK? Does it really remain completely fogless? YES! This fantastic mirror does everything it claims to do, and is a welcome addition in my bathroom. I can even tweeze using this little gem of a mirror, all without having to lean over the bathroom vanity! I had never tweezed in the shower before, but it seems to make the task easier. When the pores are open, it makes the chore of tweezing a lot more convenient, and a lot less painful! Sweet! I would recommend this product to anyone who wants to make their grooming routine easier and less time consuming. We love our ToiletTree Fogless Shower Mirror, and you will, too! Here's how you can connect with ToiletTree! HOW TO CONNECT: You can learn more about this great product on the ToiletTree website. You can buy this great product on Amazon! You can also also connect with ToiletTree on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of the latest news 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. La Baby Nursery Doll My daughter LOVES baby dolls...She has several, mostly of the snuggly, plush variety, and she plays with them often. Her favorite was actually given to her by my Father-In-Law for Christmas. It is a simple, smiling baby doll with a plush body and plastic head, hands and feet. When you squeeze her belly, she giggles with a very real sounding baby belly laugh. I imagine we will have no choice but to add to Sophie's doll collection in the future, as she already has a strong fondness for them. One doll I would LOVE to be able to eventually give my daughter is the La Baby Nursery, a doll from JC Toys. Their baby dolls are eerily lifelike due to the extensive attention to detail they commit to when lovingly creating these amazing baby dolls. As a matter of fact, some of their dolls are so unbelievably lifelike, you would have to take a 2nd look just to be sure you weren't looking at a real, flesh and blood child! Just take a look at some examples of their amazing craftsmanship: Aren't these dolls amazing in their detail? I would SO love to own one to give to my daughter as she graduates from plush baby dolls to REAL, Big Girl Baby Dolls!
So when JC Toys contacted me asking if I could help spread the word about their newest promotion, I jumped at the chance. What girl doesn't love baby dolls, after all?! I know my Sophie would adore a JC Toys baby doll of her own, and to be honest, I am quite enamored by these lovely dolls, myself! These would make a very special friend for the little princess in your life, too! And guess what? JC Toys is giving you several chances to WIN one of your own on their Facebook page! Here are the details.... PROMOTION DETAILS: For every 500 fan "milestone" (beginning with the first 1000) JC Toys will give a way 1 free doll! The contest is set to run until they hit their 10,000 Fan Goal! The sweepstakes is open to residents of U.S and Canada who are 18 years or older. Winners may choose the doll they will receive HERE. There are 9 fabulous dolls to choose from! To enter, simply "Like" JC Toys on Facebook and submit your entry using this Sweepstakes Link. If I am chosen as a lucky winner, I would love to give a Forever Home to the Reaching For Love Doll or the La Baby Nursery Doll! It's so hard to choose! Which doll would YOU love to give your little girl? I'd love to hear about it! I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind words and prayers during this scary and uncertain time. I was surprised to see your comments this morning, and they meant the world to me. I am so blessed to have such wonderful and caring readers, and I appreciate your kindness more than you'll ever know. I have not yet been able to check my e-mails, since I am still having access issues with my AOL account, but I have imported all of my contacts to another mail provider and set up a new account for the blog as well as a personal one. So to those who may have sent me messages, I have not yet been able to view them but I appreciate your thoughts and kindness, and I will do my best to respond to them all as I restore full access to my account. I have updated my blog settings today to forward all mail to my new address, so there will never be any issue with contacting me with questions regarding giveaways or sharing your thoughts in the future. That being said, before I take my MUCH needed nap, I wanted to let you all know the outcome of Xander's appointment this morning with the Cardiologist. He was seen this morning by a very good doctor who is actually not only a lead Cardiologist for an area Children's Hospital, he is also the Clinical Professor of Pediatric Cardiology at a well-known university here in Virginia. He's been doing this longer than I have been alive, so I feel completely confident in his diagnosis. I was relieved that Xander was seen by such an experienced physician, because if we had walked in to see Doogie Howser, I don't know that I would be so trusting. I hate it when a doctor looks about 16, because it makes me question their level of experience to a certain degree. Anyway, Xander was completely and totally happy during this visit, and was laughing and smiling at the doctor the whole time. The doctor listened to his heart and had Dan hold him in several different positions to hear it from different vantage points. He listened to his chest, his lungs, his back, and even near his armpits. The diagnosis? Xander has what is known as a Pulmonary Flow Murmur, which is thankfully completely and totally INNOCENT! He explained this to us in plain English (another nice touch) and what is going on is this: When babies are born, sometimes their heart is still more towards the center of the chest. Over time, it will rotate more to the left hand side and will end up in the proper place. When the heart is centered more, it sometimes makes normal sounds of blood-flow appear more pronounced, and you can hear a "whooshing" noise, which is described as a murmur. The heart has an area that contains a split, sending blood to and from both the left and right sides of the body. The sound detected in Xander's heart is simply the sound of the blood flowing at that split, and is completely normal. He does not have a hole in his heart, he does not have any valve problems or deformations, and the blood flow to his lungs is perfectly fine as well. And thankfully,his blood is properly oxygenated. (This was my biggest worry, because if his blood had poor oxygen saturation, that would absolutely require open heart surgery or other means of surgical intervention to correct it.) There is no follow-up needed, and the murmur should completely disappear as he gets bigger. I am so unbelievably relieved! Upon hearing the diagnosis, I started crying, picked my baby up, hugged and kissed him, and thanked God for listening to my prayers and for giving me a happy and healthy little boy. This visit could have gone much differently. Apparently a heart murmur found before 6 months of age can be a sign of a serious and life-threatening problem. That's why they wanted us to get a second opinion from a highly trained specialist. I am so happy that my fears can be laid to rest. This has been weighing on my mind for the past couple of months while we were waiting for an opening at the cardiologist's office. The wait list was long, as he only travels to my town once a week to see patients here. The rest of the time he is at the Children's Hospital. I also talked to a colleague who happens to be an expert in PPD and is a published author on the subject about my feelings of guilt because I wasn't initially thrilled about having another baby so soon after the pregnancy from Hell and a C-section, and I was reassured that those feelings were completely natural to have, especially during a high-stress time in my life and a minor bout of Post-Partum Depression after Sophie was born. She told me I should not feel guilty for having these completely normal feelings and trepidations, as they are (and were) blessedly temporary. Her advice? Enjoy my baby. Don't dwell on the fact that I was not thrilled when I got pregnant with him. He's here NOW, and he is incredibly loved and wanted, and that's all that matters. So that's the scoop. My baby is alright, and completely healthy! His heart is fine, and I will be able to rest easier. Thank you SO much for all of your support and prayers. I have been a very scared Mama recently, and I had just been holding it in until last night when it became too hard to deal with leading up to this appointment. I am grateful to all of you for your kindness. You guys are the best! For now, I am in desperate need of a nap, and both babies are napping themselves...So when in Rome....Well, you know the rest! I am going to get some shut-eye, but you can expect some more reviews and maybe even a giveaway by the end of the night! So tomorrow may bring a sigh of utter and total relief, or it may be devastating....Wait...I should say today. It is 3:00 AM, and I have not been able to get a wink of sleep. I know I don't usually get overly personal here, and I always try to be positive....But sometimes, a mama can't put on a brave front. Right now is one of those times. My youngest, Xander, is 5 months old, and this morning at 10:00 AM he is seeing a pediatric cardiologist to have a heart murmur that was detected by out pediatrician double-checked. While I realize that the vast majority of murmurs are completely innocent in nature, I cannot help but be paralyzed with fear. I cannot bear the thought that my happy, beautiful, seemingly healthy little boy might have a serious problem that could require corrective open-heart surgery.
Anything heart related is scary, especially when it involves a tiny baby....I have been assured by the pediatrician that this is not something I could have caused, and that 1% of all babies are born with a congenital heart defect of some sort. There is usually no known cause, and it's something that just happens. She said most of the time, it's due to a small hole in the heart that will eventually close itself as the child grows, and no treatment is needed.It was also detected when he was getting over a horrible flu that we all got because it was going around like crazy. She said that illness can sometimes produce a murmur, and that it would clear up. That's the best case scenario...Xander seems perfectly fine. He does not seem at all sickly, eats like a champ, and gains weight very, very well. He also doesn't turn blue...Occasionally, if he is crying a lot or is cold, he will get a slight bluish tint to the nail-bed on his thumbs, but ONLY on the thumbs, and he will get a purplish hue around his mouth. (Not at all uncommon for a crying baby.) His tongue and gums are always a nice, healthy pink. None of these symptoms are ever severe, though.She still suggested we take him to the specialist and get it checked, since any murmurs detected before the age of 6 months may indicate a problem. Worst case scenario? A severe malformation that could require a shunt or another corrective procedure. Open heart surgery. How scary is that?! I once had a good friend who was born with a heart defect, and while she is healthy and thriving at almost 30, it has been a long road for her. We had a falling out for reasons that I still don't fully understand, so I have not been able to talk to her about this....But just the fact that she's okay as an adult despite several surgeries and some difficult times gives me hope that no matter the outcome, Xander will be just fine. People can live full, healthy lives with congenital heart defects...Maybe he'll never run any marathons, but people adapt to whatever hand God deals them. I am trying to remain optimistic here...It's just incredibly stressful...I mean, all 3 of my kids rarely get sick. Kyle has had Scarlet Fever once, and that was scary....But at 11 years old, that is the worst of it..He's had one ear infection in his entire life, and while he will catch the occasional cold at school (and let's face it, ALL school aged children get colds) he has never had any real illnesses. Neither has Sophie. She has had 2 colds in her entire life, and both were blessedly minor. She's never had any infections, either, and has always been very healthy. I am a hand-washing and Lysol Nazi, and now that I am FINALLY no longer pregnant and on bedrest and living in a disgustingly messy house because I had to rely on a man and boy to do the housework in a half-assed manner, I am a bit of a neat freak. Sure, I have clutter due to the amount of baby toys, etc, but I have no filth. I wage war on germs. My kids are healthy because of it. I try and do the best I can with factors that I have control over...But this...This heart murmur...Well, that's something I cannot control, and it scares the living crap out of me. I also feel incredibly guilty....I am not proud to admit this, but when I got pregnant with Xander RIGHT after having Sophie via C-section, I was NOT happy about it. At all. My pregnancy with Sophie was AWFUL....I was horribly ill the entire 9 months and would randomly projectile vomit several times a day. I was stuck on bedrest for most of that pregnancy, and was not "allowed" to do ANYTHING. My house was in a MAJOR state of disarray, which I was not comfortable with, and I had a fairly difficult recovery from my C-section.I was also very stressed at the time, as we had a relative living with us who lied, stole from us, and basically ended up being a very manipulative con artist, AND my husband lost his job and was without work for over 2 months. Top that off with a bout of Post-Partum Depression, and you can see why I wasn't exactly thrilled at the idea of having another baby so soon. I was not eager for a repeat performance at the time. (My babies are 12 months and 2 weeks apart.) This was a very difficult period of my life, and was mentally and emotionally exhausting. I was pushed to my breaking point on more than one occasion due to the stress....So I was not happy to be pregnant...At all...To be 100% honest, I was not completely happy until I saw his face for the first time...Then I was immediately and hopelessly in love with the little guy. Xander is the happiest, sweetest, most wonderful baby, and I am racked with guilt for ever feeling like I didn't want to be pregnant with him at the time....Sure, we wanted another child, and once we found out, we accepted it and abortion was NEVER an option. I just wish it were a happier time for me. Things are so much better now, and I am so happy I was blessed with my little man....He is my whole world, as are my other children. My life would not be complete without him. There is nothing better than seeing his smile and hearing his laughter...And now, here I am, terrified that the baby I was so stressed about having might have something wrong with him. I would gladly, without question give him MY heart if that's what he needed...I would go to the ends of the Earth for him. He is my baby, and I love him more than I could ever hope to express. So now I am awake and absolutely petrified. I have said about a million prayers that everything will be alright and that the cardiologist will tell us that his murmur is innocent, or better yet, is no longer detected. I don't know what I would do if my little boy was sick...So if it's quiet here tomorrow, I apologize. I will need to catch up on sleep, I'm sure. Hopefully the babies will nap and let me get a little bit of much needed rest tomorrow. I have a request of all of you...If you're the praying type, please say a little prayer for Xander. I know God hears all prayers, and hopefully if enough people are praying for his well-being, MY prayers will be answered. Thanks for "listening." :) |
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 Links We Love :Archives
June 2023
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