Piece of Me is giving away a Bravado Designs Sublime Nursing Bra!
Enter HERE!
Ends May 10th!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Hand Dyed Wool Diaper Cover Giveaway {Snugs Boutique}
Snugs Boutique is giving away a BEAUTIFUL Hand Dyed Wool Cover of your Color Choice!
I just LOVE the Blue/Yellow and the Blue/Green!
Enter HERE!
Ends May 1st!
Circle Me $25 GC Giveaway {Life With My Littles}
Thursday, April 28, 2011
3 AppleCheeks Diapers from SnuggleBugz Giveaway {Mama B}
Mama B and Snuggle Bugz are giving away
2 AppleCheeks little bundles, 1 swim diaper and 1 bumGenius bottom cleaner!
Enter HERE!
Ends May 15th!
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Rain, Rain STOP!
It's been raining, sprinkling, pouring, hailing, storming and drizzling all week!
We're going to be underwater soon!
** I know it's Thursday, not Wednesday.. but this close to my due date, I'm incredibly busy and distracted! I'm sorry!**
** I know it's Thursday, not Wednesday.. but this close to my due date, I'm incredibly busy and distracted! I'm sorry!**
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Little Tikes Spiralin' Seas Waterpark Giveaway {Two of A Kind}
Two of a Kind, Working on A Full House is giving away a Little Tikes Spiralin' Seas Waterpark!
Enter HERE!
Ends May 16th!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Flip, BG & Thirsties Duo Diaper Giveaway {Mama B}
Ten Tiny Piggies is hosting a giveaway with Mama B!
WIN a Flip, BumGenius & Thirsties Duo! That's three diapers!
Enter HERE!
Ends May 8th!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
EnviPolka Diaper Giveaway {Happenings of the Harper Household}
Happenings of the Harper Household is giving away the EnviPolka Cloth Diaper from Envibum!
Not only are their diapers adorable, but Envibum is committed to giving back as well! For ever diaper you buy, they donate to a specific charity. Your diaper print choice determines the charity you are giving to. Envibum gives back to Food for the Hungry, Living Water Internationa, Helping Hands in Africa, Salvation Army, Crisis Pregnancy Center and Homes of Hope!
Envibum also works with moms4mom ministries. For every mom4mom diaper cover sold, they donate a diaper cover to a mother in need!
Enter HERE!
Ends May 10th!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Flirty Apron Giveaway {3 Princes And A Princess}
I'm absolutely not a domestic goddess. Don't get me wrong, I like cooking and I can clean with the most OCD individual (just ask hubby, I drive him nuts!) But I just don't do a good job in consistency.
However.. I might be more inclined to break out the domestic diva inside if I get to wear a sexy little apron in the kitchen!
Here's my (and your) chance!
3 Princes And A Princess is hosting an Apron Giveaway sponsored by Flirty Aprons!
Enter HERE!
Ends May 3rd!
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: What a Ham!
Wow, Wednesday just flew by without a second glance!
I'm sorry everyone, I'm really distracted now that I'm in my last few weeks of pregnancy..
This is one of the two faces I get when I ask Toddler to smile.
This is the second "smile" face.
Isn't she a doll?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
$20 GC Giveaway to The Willow Store {Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom}
The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom is giving away a
$20 Gift Certificate to The Willow Store!
Maybe you need a Sprout Change Diaper Shell!
Or perhaps you would like to try their Hand Dyed Organic Feminine Pads!
Maybe you need a little help drying your laundry more efficiently and could use their Wool Dryer Balls!
Try any of these with a $20 Gift Certificate!
Enter HERE!
Ends April 26th!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Britax Roundabout 55 Car Seat Giveaway {Mom Spotted}
Mom Spotted is giving away a Britax Roundabout 55 Convertible Car Seat!
Rear Facing 5-40lbs and Front Facing 20-55lbs
Britax's website raves about the Roundabout 55:
- Side Impact Protection comprised of deep side walls lined with energy-absorbing EPP foam distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, and contains the head, neck and body
- Tangle-Free, Five-Point Harness distributes crash forces across the strongest parts of the body and provides a secure fit
- Rear and Forward Facing Recline for child comfort and positioning
- Two Buckle Positions for your growing child
- Infant Positioning Insert may be necessary for small infants to achieve a snug fit of the harness around your child (sold separately)
- Premium Lower LATCH Connectors for a quick and simple installation featuring a push button for easy release
- Certified for Aircraft Travel
Enter HERE!
Ends May 17th!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Oh Katy Diaper Giveaway {The Nurse Mommy}
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Summer Survival Guide 2011 with Happily Domestic & Mama Dweeb
I may not be able to participate too much, seeing as I'll have a newborn, but I wanted to share with you all!
Mama Dweeb and Happily Domestic are hosting the Summer Survival Guide Giveaway Event!
Complete with reviews on products from The Children's Place, ERGOBaby, Eureka, ATG Stores, Hayneedle, Gigatent, Kelty, KidCo and Joovy!
The Event will run for the entire month of MAY!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Weekly Project 4/10-4/16: DIY Laundry Line
It's officially warm and sunny out! Which means it's laundry line season!
This week, I'm going to brag about how we save (a lot of) money each year by line drying our laundry!
This is my list of clothesline benefits:
1. Cost Savings in electricity over using the dryer
2. Energy Savings in electricity over using the dryer
3. Significantly less work at removing stains (the sun is a natural bleach)
4. Laundry off the line smells so fresh!
5. The sight of a fully loaded clothesline makes me smile
And the benefits are doubled by the fact that we cloth diaper and use the laundry more than the average disposable diapering family. There really isn't a comparison to a clothesline full of fresh, clean diapers!
I'm sure I'll be posting a cloth diaper clothesline photo for wordless Wednesday as soon as baby is born and we have laundry up!
When we moved here, we were lucky enough to have laundry posts already installed in the backyard. However, my husband has made and installed laundry posts in the past. He's a DIY carpentry guru and I couldn't tell you exactly how he made the posts, but... I watched him do it and it's almost identical to this tutorial I found by Krista on her blog: Life, In A Nutshell
 |
| Amazing Photo by Krista at Life, In A Nut Shell |
The only big difference I found was that we cemented the post, which made the project run about $25 total.
It never fails, I have to replace the clothesline each year, regardless of the "quality" of the line we buy. So instead of buying vinyl coated wire and the hardware and spending 10 minutes installing it, we get 200ft of 1/4" All Purpose Clothesline from Lowes.
It runs about $18-$20 each year. Yes, it sags a bit, but the great thing about a simply knotted clothesline is that it's easy to unknot and tighten without using any tools. I run a sudsy washcloth down the line to clean it once a week, which gets rid of collected dust and dirt.
And clothespins are cheap as well. This year I snagged a 100 ct package of wooden spring pins at Walmart for only $2. I call it a yearly expense because we always seem to lose or break a fair amount of pins.
I honestly have started believing that birds or squirrels are stealing them. I'm really curious as to what they use them for.
So for an initial cost of $25 and a yearly maintenance cost of $20-$22, I save energy and money in electricity!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Tender Moment I Can't Afford to Miss
This happens to be the first photo I've snapped of toddler and my baby belly.
Toddler was been so cuddly lately, she doesn't even mind getting kicked in the face if it means cuddling with Mommy and Baby during her nap.
Classic Pearl Pendant Giveaway {Sweeps4Bloggers}
Sweeps4Bloggers is giving away a White Freshwater Classic Pearl Pendant (7.0-10.0 mm) from Pure Pearls!
This is GORGEOUS! I personally love pearls on white gold, but it's customizable to white gold or yellow gold. It comes with a 16in chain and ARV $115
Enter HERE!
Ends April 25th!
Envibum Diaper Giveaway {Crazy 4 Fluff}
Crazy 4 Fluff is giving away an Envibum Clothdiaper!
Not only are their diapers adorable, but Envibum is committed to giving back as well! For ever diaper you buy, they donate to a specific charity. Your diaper print choice determines the charity you are giving to. Envibum gives back to Food for the Hungry, Living Water Internationa, Helping Hands in Africa, Salvation Army, Crisis Pregnancy Center and Homes of Hope!
Envibum also works with moms4mom ministries. For every mom4mom diaper cover sold, they donate a diaper cover to a mother in need!
Enter HERE!
Ends
Sloomb/Sustainablebabyish Knit Longies Giveaway {Knocked Up & Nursing}
Knocked Up and Nursing is giving away a pair of Sloomb | Sustinablebabyish Knit Longies
Enter HERE!
Ends April 30th!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Sweet Pea Diaper Giveaway {Sugar Pop Ribbons}
Sugar Pop Ribbons is giving away a Sweet Pea Diaper Pocket Diaper!
I'd love to try a new pocket diaper for my little one! We love pockets and are always on the lookout for that perfect pocket!
Enter HERE!
Ends April 26th!
Rumparooz and BG Elemental Giveaway {Mama B}
Mama B and Lullaby Kisses are giving away Rumparooz and bumGenius Elemental Diapers!
Enter HERE!
Ends April 28th!
Monday, April 11, 2011
HH, Rumparooz & Fuzzibunz Diapers Giveaway {Mama B}
Mama B and Bitty Bottoms are giving away THREE DIAPERS!
A Happy Heinys, a RumpARooz and a Fuzzibunz!
Enter HERE!
Ends April 26th!
Ends April 26th!
Schwinn Doubel Jogging Stroller {This Mama Rocks}
This Mama Rocks and Hayneedle are giving away a Schwinn Free Wheeler 2 Double Jogging Stroller!
Enter HERE!
Ends April 30th!
Ends April 30th!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Rumparooz OS Giveaway {The Cloth Diaper Fairy}
NEW Blog: The Cloth Diaper Fairy is giving away a Rumparooz OS from Fluffy Envy Inc!
Enter HERE!
Ends April 16th!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Applecheeks Mini Tester & SoftBums Basic Pack {Mama B}
Mama B and Pure Modern Baby are giving away an Applecheeks Mini Test & Softbums Basic Pack!
Enter HERE!
Ends April 25th!
OS FuzziBunz from Baby Belle Bottoms {Mama B}
Mama B and Baby Belle Bottoms are giving away an OS Green Apple Fuzzibunz Diaper!
Enter HERE!
Ends April 21st!
Radian XTSL Car Seat {Luv To My Two Girls}
Luv My Two Girls is giving away a Radian XTSL Car Seat!
This is what the Radian Website has to say about their car seat:
-Rear-facing: 5 - 45 lbs
-Forward-facing: 20 - 80 lbs (and up to 53") in a 5-point harness
-SuperLATCH™ installation up to 80 lbs - no seat belt required
-Easy-Tite™ adjuster for quick and easy tightening, installs in 1 minute
-5 shoulder and 3 buckle positions for proper harness fit
-Fits 3-across in a mid-size vehicle and offers more shoulder space
-Folds flat for travel and storage, includes convenient carry strap
-Forward and rear facing tether system
-2 recline positions in forward-facing mode
-Forward-facing: 20 - 80 lbs (and up to 53") in a 5-point harness
-SuperLATCH™ installation up to 80 lbs - no seat belt required
-Easy-Tite™ adjuster for quick and easy tightening, installs in 1 minute
-5 shoulder and 3 buckle positions for proper harness fit
-Fits 3-across in a mid-size vehicle and offers more shoulder space
-Folds flat for travel and storage, includes convenient carry strap
-Forward and rear facing tether system
-2 recline positions in forward-facing mode
Enter HERE!
Ends April 20th!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Britax Frontier 85 Car Seat {3 Princes and a Princess 2}
3 Princes and a Princess 2 is giving away a Britax Frontier 85 Car Seat!
Forward Facing from 25-85lbs with a 5pt Harness and Booster Seat from 40-120lbs, this is a terrific transition car seat when you start forward facing!
Enter HERE!
Ends TOMORROW April 8th!
Get your entries in NOW!
Woman's Health: Breastfeeding Mamas
Alright, the Link Button isn't working, but this is part of the
I don't pretend to know a whole lot about breastfeeding. My own experience is severely limited. However, I do read up on it a lot, and I recently joined my local La Leche League Chapter and loyaly attend meetings in anticipation of my second little one being born.
One thing I've learned from all the experienced mamas out there is that you have to take care of yourself! It's not just about the baby being fed, it's also about the supplier (that's mom!) being properly taken care of.
Some of the tips I've personally learned from previous experience:
1. Stay hydrated! And eat a healthy, well balanced diet. If you aren't getting the nutritional supply you need, your child won't be getting their needed nutritional supply either. Hydration was a big issue for me, I felt like a fish, constantly chugging water, juice, milk, tea, decaf coffee... anything and everything hydration.
2. The best way to keep your nipple and skin condition healthy is to express a little milk onto your nipple and spread it around with your fingers. Then, if possible, air dry! Walk around the house for 5 minutes without a top if you need to. If you're NIP-ing, keep baby close to your chest after unlatching for a minute so you have a little drying time before putting your breast away. Air drying is less irritating and it allows the milk you've expressed to 'settle' into the skin instead of being rubbed off.
Some of the tips I wish I had known about when I was BFing toddler:
1. To avoid cracked and dry nipples, you need a good latch. It's not about using a Lanolin product or washing with any specific soaps. Shallow latches are the main cause of cracked nipples and often, slippery products make it more difficult for baby to get a strong deep latch.
2. Don't use lotions or soaps on your chest! Wash with water. Easy to remember and easy to do.
3. Warm heating pads help with soreness, as does a great ice pack. Try both to see what works best for you.
4. Make sure you invest in a great nursing bra (or 3)! Supportive, comfortable and easy to use are the three criteria I was told most matter. And wear it all the time, even overnights (although I'd suggest a wireless bra for nights, but that's just me).
Readers, do you have any more suggestions for me? I'm really nervous about establishing a good BFing relationship with my daughter when she's born!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Creative Paint
Toddler loves her fingerpainting!
And her body painting! She even managed to get her stomach, ears and cheeks. Looks like a fun load of laundry..
Weekly Project 4/3-4/9: DIY Nursery Valances
I love recycling in the home. I can usually spruce up a room or change the way something looks without it costing a fortune and without throwing away perfectly good items!
This week's project is a simple set of Nursery Valences. Our nursery has 2 very large windows. I need 2 valances to cover the 2 separate 76 inch wide window spans. Sounds like a lot huh?
A girlfriend and I swap items occasionally. It's our way of clearing out things we no longer want or need without throwing it out. In this case, she had a random single panel navy curtain that I was definitely able to use. I forgot to snap a photo of it before tearing into it, but here's what it looked like in the beginning:
To start, I took my seamripper to the curtain, quickly demolishing all the seams and removing the tabs from the top. After running it through the wash and ironing the kinks out, I had a full 76" x 57" piece of fabric to work with. Using my own pattern below, I cut the fabric into 4 pieces.
I seamed together pieces 1&3 and 2&4, length-wise. I don't have a serger, so I had to roll the seams and stitch them down to get a good finish that wouldn't fray. I then rolled, ironed and seamed 1 long outer seam and the 2 short outer seams. This left the top seam which needed to accommodate the curtain rod. I double-rolled a 5/8" seam, then folded the edge over 2.5" to create a clean pocket.
This left me with a 14" valance at just over 111" long. Which leaves me with a perfect mild gather when spanned over 76" windows!
The fabric and thread cost me nothing, the simple (and cheap - may I emphasize simple again, I wasn't going for très chic) metal curtain rods from the local dollar store cost $3.50 apiece. So for a whopping 7 dollars, I was able to add the perfect window treatment to our nursery!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)