Okay, you all know by now that I am a certified fluff addict. When we initially made the decision to switch to cloth diapers, it was out of financial necessity. We had just had our daughter, and 3 months later discovered we were pregnant again. Being a one income family, the cost of keeping two babies in disposable diapers would have been astronomical. A friend of mine introduced me to cloth, and at first, I was definitely a bit skeptical. I was worried that they would be gross, hard to clean, and would leak like crazy. I had visions of old-fashioned prefolds and squeaky rubber pants in my mind, and I was not very enthusiastic. Well, then my friend came to visit and I saw modern cloth in action for the very first time. I was shocked at how adorable cloth diapers are, as well as how very similar in appearance they are to their disposable counterparts. With so many vibrant colors, fun prints, and soft, plush fabrics, I fell in love right away, and decided to do a little more research about cloth. What I found was that I could not only save a TON of money over my babies' diapering careers, I was also doing a huge service to the environment by choosing this greener option. Did you know that disposable diapers can take up to 500 YEARS to biodegrade? Just imagine how many diapers there are worldwide just sitting in our already brimming landfills. Aside from that, disposable diapers contain a lot of nasty chemicals that can irritate a baby's delicate skin and cause rashes. Cloth is chemical free! Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of trying many different brands of cloth diapers. I have found many that I absolutely love, and some that I didn't have success with. One thing I have really loved have been slim-fitting, side-snapping diapers. A lot of diapers add quite a bit of bulk, making it difficult to fit certain clothing over. Usually, I don't really mind that, but when trying to fit a pair of jeans over a bulkier diaper, it just doesn't seem to work too well. That's why I was so excited to try out a BabyKicks 3g Pocket Diaper. First of all, BabyKicks is a trusted name in cloth diapers, and for good reason. BabyKicks has been dedicated to making the highest quality cloth diapers out of natural and organic materials since 2000. Parents around the world have fallen in love with the incredible quality, comfort and value of BabyKicks products. Another awesome BabyKicks fact: Over 90% of their diapers are made by hand just across the Potomac River from me in the beautiful state of Maryland!
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I have a TON of winners to announce! You have all been e-mailed and have 48 hours to reply and claim your prize! Congrats, and thanks for entering!
SOUND+SLEEP: Lynda C. California Olive Ranch: Lynda C. (Rafflecopter likes you today, Lynda!) Cereal Treats Bars: Virginia S. maamam aacua: Lori B. Farm Rich: Melissa Daniel Kayla M. Stinky Kids: Tanaya S. Power Capes: Leanne M. Paper Jamz: K Anne Shabby Apple: Betty D. Smart & Sexy: Taylor M. As the mother of not one, but TWO babies, I have to lug around a TON of baby gear when we take day trips, or even simply run errands. Diaper bags, strollers, playpens, toys to keep the kids happy...It's easy to get overwhelmed! One of the biggest challenges has been feeding time for my toddler, especially when we're visiting family. You see, none of our family members have baby gear just laying around, and after all of the other necessities we have to pack, a high chair isn't going to fit into the trunk of my car. This leaves us with no real mealtime seating solutions for our very active daughter. She gets really fidgety when sitting in a "big person" chair, and won't sit still to eat. Not to mention, she finds that an excellent opportunity to try and climb onto the table! Yes, my little girl is a total daredevil! That's why I was so excited to receive the opportunity to review the Go Anywhere Booster Seat from A Parent Company. This is an ingenious, super-portable, folding booster seat that safely and securely attaches to just about any standard chair. What does that mean? Instant highchair, folks! This innovative booster seat is also completely safe for baby, and meets all ASTM standards. It has a 5-point harness to keep even the squirmiest, wiggliest of babies completely secure. My Sophie is always on the move. I do mean always. She likes to bounce and wiggle and kick and play. But while sitting in the Go Anywhere Booster Seat, she remained comfortably contained. She actually loves sitting in this seat. The cushion is very comfy, and she will sit in the seat for over an hour without trying to escape. Another thing I'd like to point out is that this product is very easy to clean. It simply wipes clean! I have even removed the cushion and machine washed it on delicate, and had no issues whatsoever. On top of being easy to de-gunk, it is also very durable and will hold up very well over time. We have been using ours for over a month now, and have taken it anywhere. I haven't found a chair yet that it wouldn't fit perfectly on. Take a look at some photos and video of Sophie in her Go Anywhere Booster Seat! Pardon the "bed head", she just woke up from a nap and has some crazy hair going on! Who is ready for another UPrinting giveaway?! This one is a great one, too! Haven't heard of UPrinting? They are a wonderful online printing company that offers a wide variety of printing services with lightning fast turnaround, high quality products, and a friendly, expert staff that is there every step of the way to ensure you get the perfect product every time. I have worked with UPrinting a few times now, and I have always been absolutely thrilled with the products I received. I have some fantastic die cut business cards as well as some great shipping labels with my blog button. The attention to detail is phenomenal, and I have received many compliments on these unique items. I guess you can say I am a very satisfied customer! Aside from business cards, labels and brochures, UPrinting also offers canvas printing! I am a huge fan of images on canvas. They are absolutely gorgeous when displayed, and can make any image extra special. This is especially great for families, since you can immortalize those adorable photos of your little ones on canvas, and these precious pictures can last decades if properly cared for. I have never owned a rolled canvas before, but am excited to receive one. There are so many possibilities for framing, so I can make sure the end result is absolutely perfect! It's time to kick off my next Infantino review! I'm sure you remember my review of the amazing products in their Comforting Play collection. These great, soothing toys have become fast favorites in my home. Maybe you've even gone out and bought some of them for your own little ones. Now I'd like to share another great offering from Infantino, the Right Angle Tummy Triangle. As a mom, one thing I have dreaded with all 3 of my children during their infancy was tummy time. My kids all hated it, at least initially. They would scream and squirm and make a stink each and every time I put them on their bellies. But I persisted, since tummy time is essential for gaining muscle control and the coordination necessary for crawling and becoming mobile. The folks at Infantino understand what a challenge tummy time can be for many families, and they have created an ingenious product to help make this necessary evil painless and dare I say, FUN for baby! Developed with pediatric occupational therapists, the Tummy Triangle is uniquely angled to help baby enjoy tummy time! The incline uses gravity to comfortably develop upper body strength and promote baby’s sense of balance. The peek-a-boo mirror and crinkly busy bee encourage reaching, grabbing…and lots of laughing! There is even a great little musical timer that has 3 unique settings to help you keep track of your little one's tummy time sessions. Cheerful melodies can be played for 1, 5, and 10 minutes! When you're the parent of small children, it is often hard to find family friendly activities that everyone can enjoy. I'm sure the babies wouldn't like shooting billiards just yet, and we don't dare take them to the movies just yet. (Wouldn't that be a total and utter disaster?!) So with two little ones under the age of 2, it can be pretty difficult to find things to do. Sure, going for walks or to the park is fun, but sometimes a bit more excitement is in order. There is one place that families like mine can always turn to when they want to have a great time: Chuck E. Cheese's! You know...That place with the giant, cheerful mouse, plenty of games and attractions, and of course, there's the pizza! But wait...The pizza. I have to be honest, I had not been to Chuck E. Cheese's since my now 11 year old was around 4 years old, and I have to say, I distinctly remember that the pizza was not very good. At all. It reminded me of ketchup on cardboard with a gooey, slightly plasticine mess that slightly resembled cheese on top. Not too hot, although the kids never really seemed to mind it. I remember I used to grab something else to eat before we headed out to Chuck E. Cheese's just so I wouldn't have to eat their pizza. Sad, but true. So recently, when I received the opportunity to head on over to Chuck E. Cheese's with my family to try out their newly reinvented pizza recipe, I jumped at the chance. After all, I was definitely up for a family outing, and I was also more than a little bit curious to see how much of an improvement had been made to their once awful pizza. One thing that I feel is an absolute must have for any new mom is a good swaddle blanket. It has been proven that smaller babies, especially newborns, feel an increased sense of security and comfort when swaddled. Imagine, they spent 9 months all snug and cozy in the womb, and then all of the sudden they're no longer wrapped up so snugly. It must be one difficult transition to have to make! That's why parents have been swaddling babies for generations. This allows baby to stay warm and secure, and also allows for more hours of uninterrupted sleep, making the weary parent's lives so much easier! It has also been my experience that swaddling a baby also results in less crying as well as fewer scratches. And of course, a happy baby means happier parents! So while swaddling babies is an art as old as time itself, there are tons of products available to help. From plain receiving blankets to specially designed swaddlers, it can be a daunting task choosing the perfect one. Well, ladies, I have found it. The Babybonkie. The Babybonkie is a fantastic swaddler that is constructed of only the highest quality, softest fabrics around that are sure to be gentle and cozy against baby's delicate skin. Depending on the model, some Babybonkies are even lined with an ultra-soft, luxurious Minkee! (Insert Ooh's and Ahh's here.) This makes the Babybonkie THE softest, snuggliest swaddler around! But aside from soft, sumptuous fabrics, the Babybonkie is also the highest fashion swaddler I have ever seen. Parents of new babies are inundated with baby gear featuring the same soft pastels and prints with duckies or equally over-played baby themes. While these options are definitely cutesy and traditional, they certainly wouldn't be seen on a proverbial baby Red Carpet. Many parents, myself included, want their babies to be stylish and trendy. Especially when making their debut into the outside world. Babybonkies come in a ton of fashion-forward, gorgeous prints that allow baby to step out in style. The colors are bright and vibrant, and definitely coincide with the hottest trends in fashion. With girl's, boy's, and gender neutral options available, these swaddlers make the perfect baby shower gift for those expectant parents that only want the absolute best for their new arrivals. Well you all know by now that I LOVE Tropical Traditions products. This amazing company offers a wide variety of natural, eco-friendly products for the whole family. From wonderful coconut based food items to natural household cleaners, Tropical Traditions has something that will fit seamlessly into any home. I have been using several of their products for some time now, and I must say, I love the quality and effectiveness of them. I often use my Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach to combat pet and baby stains, and I cook with their Gold Label Coconut Oil regularly. But one thing I didn't know Tropical Traditions carried? Supplements! I was very excited to get the opportunity to review the Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens in their tasty Berry flavor. I have tried other Greens drinks that were thick, had a gross texture, and frankly, were pretty unappetizing. The great thing about Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens is that it comes in a convenient powder form that can simply be mixed in a glass of water. What is the benefit of Omega 3 Greens? It contains several vitamin rich ingredients like Apple Fiber Pectin, Chlorella, Spirulina, L.Acidophilus and Lecithin that make a wonderful supplement to a healthy diet. Many experts recommend 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. That can be quite the challenge to accomplish, especially for those with busy lifestyles. (Or those who don't like their veggies, like my husband.) By adding Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens into your daily routine, you make meeting that goal easier.
I am not a big coffee drinker. If I happen to have a cup of coffee, I generally stop at one cup. Brewing a whole pot just doesn't make sense, since most of it will just go to waste. The only time I have ever had more than one cup of coffee in a day was while visiting Canada. They have an awesome coffee shop, almost on every corner it seems, and their coffee is just plain addictive. However, this gem of a coffee shop isn't in Virginia, so I have gone back to my non-coffee drinking ways and will enjoy a cup rarely, and usually only if I am in need of a pick me up to start my day. However, my husband is a very enthusiastic coffee drinker. He loves coffee, and was drinking a whole entire pot in a day at one point. He probably still would if he had the time to. He recently got promoted and switched locations with his job and has to get up and head to work very early in the morning. So he likes to brew some coffee and take it with him on the road in a travel mug rather than sit and drink cup after cup before leaving the house for the day. That's why I was so excited to get the opportunity to review the Hamilton Beach-Senseo Stay Or Go Personal Cup Pod Coffeemaker! I have actually wanted to purchase a personal brewer for awhile now so I could enjoy the occasional cup of coffee without having to make a whole pot at a time. This is also great for my husband who can make his morning coffee on the run. With the Hamilton Beach-Senseo Stay Or Go, we can have fresh coffee whenever the mood strikes and reduce waste at the same time. The Stay Or Go uses Senseo Pods, which are capable of making up to 14oz. of coffee at a time, in less than 5 minutes. The really cool part? The coffee brews directly into a standard coffee cup or travel mug! This makes the Stay Or Go super convenient, since there are no bulky coffee pots to deal with. Simply place the Senseo Pod into the removable, dishwasher safe brew basket, add water to the unit, and wait for the perfect cup of fresh, delicious coffee! It just doesn't get any easier than that! I may have mentioned it in the past, but my husband is the world's biggest chocoholic. He will eat pounds of chocolate at a time, and his waistline suffers no consequences. (Lucky guy!) We always have to have a stash of chocolate on hand, because without it, he literally gets grumpy and on edge. I'm pretty certain that chocolate has no true physically addictive properties, but you would never know it if you met my husband. It seems my daughter, Sophie, has inherited her Daddy's love for all things rich, gooey, and chocolatey. She perks right up at the sight of anything chocolate, and will throw a fit until someone-usually Daddy-gives her some. She's even been known to find wrapped chocolates and will "chew" the packaging, trying to get it open. I see we have another budding chocoholic on our hands! After all, she IS a Daddy's Girl in every sense of the word! That's why I was so excited to get the opportunity to try Romanicos Chocolates with my family. Romanicos makes absolutely gorgeous, handmade chocolates that come in a staggering variety of unique and tantalizing flavor combinations. Romanicos never outsources their chocolates, and they are all made daily from scratch by master chocolatiers in their Miami kitchens. Another thing I found intriguing is that Romanicos Chocolates contain absolutely no added sugars, and contain less sugar overall than most brands of chocolate. Why is this? So that the delicious, natural flavors in their chocolates take center stage! Many of their varieties are also gluten-free, which makes them the perfect choice for those with dietary restrictions who live a gluten-free lifestyle. |
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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