Chewbeads Review - Mommy Chic, Baby Safe

Question: What's the first thing babies reach for when you're holding them? My answer: necklaces and sunglasses! I recently came across the company, Chewbeads and have to say was immediately impressed. They make soft, bright, stylish, non-toxic jewelry that is SAFE for baby to chew on! How did I not know about this sooner? The idea was created simply by a mom who's son loved chewing on her necklaces, but she wanted a safe alternative.

I jumped online and purchased the Mulberry Teether in Turquoise (thanks for the coupon Chewbeads!). I fell absolutely in love with the super BRIGHT color combination! (I also wanted to immediately chew on it, but that's neither here nor there!). Let me tell you, this thing was a hit with my little "tester", who went to town for a good while.

Beads are made with 100% food grade silicone, have no BPA, no PVC, no Phthalates, no Cadmium, and no lead. You can wash with warm soapy water or pop this puppy in the dishwasher. There are no detachable parts and the necklaces feature a breakaway clasp for extra safety.

I couldn't be more pleased and intend to get back on their website and snag the matching Waverly Necklace!

You can find Chewbeads on their website, Facebook, and Twitter.

They've also recently made it into the Cool Mom Picks Ultimate Baby Shower Gift Guide. See it here!

Be "Smart" with Smart Bottoms Cloth Diapers

We love our Smart Bottoms! We recently had a chance to review the Too Smart 3.0 and a Smartfold from this company and couldn't be more pleased!

The Too Smart 3.0 (Smart Cover) is a waterproof one-size (6-35 lbs) diaper cover. It fits great over fitteds, prefolds, and inserts. My favorite part is the uber soft fleece around the legs! It is so soft and dreamy and will help contain leaks without leaving red marks on your little one. The Too Smart 3.0 also includes adjustable elastic in the legs and thigh snaps, to give you a more custom fit. The inside of the cover can be wiped clean and used again, should you not have any blowouts. My other favorite part of this cover are the heavy duty snaps - all too often snaps feel flimsy and you're half afraid to use them too much. Not with the Too Smart 3.0 - they feel like they will withstand the test of time!

Now, onto the Smartfold!! When it arrived, I thought to my self, "Self, this is huge!" The medium measures 13" x 17.5" prior to washing, and around 12.5" x 15.5" after washing. You can find dimensions of their other sizes here. It's made from 45% cotton and 55% hemp and has a very very nice feel to it, both before and after washing. This prefold is different than most in that it doesn't have seems down the center panel like most do. Reason being, "optimal absorption rate" and that is no joke - a great prefold if you have a heavy wetter! The prefold tucks very neatly into the Too Smart 3.0, so everything is in it's place and nice and trim.

This company also has a super great social media presence! They respond to comments/questions on Facebook and are regularly offering a deal of some sort. Great company, great products!! You can check them out on Facebook and Twitter, and don't forget to check out their Blog!

Save Time with Woolzies Dryer Balls

Oh Dryer Balls, where have you been all my life?!? If you're like me, you're asking yourself, "Self, what are dryer balls and why do I need them?" Let me tell you folks, these things work wonders. I recently had the chance to give them a try when Woolzies graciously sent me a box to test out!

With the mission of "we intend to pass down this earth to our children in the same beautiful condition that we received it from our parents", you know you're off to a good start!

Woolzies Dryer Balls deliver the same benefits of conventional fabric softeners without those pesky chemicals! Made from 100% pure New Zealand Wool, these dryer balls will reduce your drying time, saving you not only your precious time but also your hard earned money! They'll help in reducing static and wrinkles as well. Good for 1,000 loads, these puppies will get you by for awhile, so less waste is created when you're not throwing away a dryer sheet after EVERY load! On top of that, they are safe for people with wool allergies as they don't shed onto your clothes.

I will admit that there is not much better than crawling into a bed when newly washed and dried sheets have been put on! That clean and lovely smell created by the dryer sheets you put in the dryer is heaven. However, that "clean" smell comes at a cost....a big cost! Liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets are a hot bed of nasty chemicals that can easily be avoided. Think you'll miss the good smell from your fabric softener? Add a few drops of essential oils into your dryer balls to add a safe smell to your laundry!

A simple change in your laundry routine will save you money, help Mother Earth, and protect your health - why wouldn't you make the switch?!

Go show Woolzies some love over on their Facebook and Twitter, then head to their website and get some Dryer Balls of your own!

Nuby Natural Touch Warmer & Sterilizer Review

When it comes to keeping things "simple", I'm a huge fan of a two-fer! Anytime I can find a product that combines multiple use items into one, I want to know more. That's exactly what we have here today with he Nuby Natural Touch Warmer and Sterilizer. This is a 2-in-1 design that will safely warm your breast milk, formula, or baby food in addition to sterilizing your bottles and pacifiers.

This is such a compact, stylish, and useful product to add to your arsenal! It's not so big that you can't leave it sit out on your counter and it is also small enough that you can transport it easily when you're going to be traveling.

Not only is the Natural Touch Warmer and Sterilizer compact, but it's a breeze to operate. It comes with a measuring cup attached, so you don't have to worry about keeping up with separate parts! It warms and sterilizes very quickly (under 3 minutes) and has a light that goes off when the work is complete, so you know it's ready. All you have to do is use the included measuring cup to add water, load the warmer, and touch the start button. You won't have to worry about good nutrients being sucked out or liquids heating unevenly. Icing on the cake -- the Nuby Natural Touch Warmer and Sterilizer is BPA free!

Head over to www.BuyBabyDirect.com to pick yours up!

Be sure to go follow Nuby on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. They've got several fun things going on right now that you won't want to miss!

Be Visible with Glo Bugz by Valco Baby

I recently posted a little ditty about Valco Baby and their customer service being excellent. If you are like me, customer service can be a make or break deal when you're making purchases or researching potential purchases. Regardless of how much I love a company's products, I'm not going to do business with them if they treat me like crap or don't respect me or my time! (cough cough, Chick-Fil-A, what?!) I digress....

I recently had the great opportunity to take a look at the Glo Bugz safety lights by Valco Baby. These lights were great! They are so versatile and have such a simple design. They are meant for "prams, strollers, and more" and with the design, you can slap these puppies nearly anywhere - strollers, backpacks, key chains, dog collars, bicycles, belt loops, anywhere!  

Each light has an elastic strap attached to the end of the light allowing you to put it where it best suits your life. There are 3 different light modes: flashing, constant, and off. Just click the push button to cycle through each setting. They come 2 to a package and are super affordable!

I've had a white light on my keys for a few weeks and am loving it! It's bright enough to work as a flashlight and has helped save the day on a couple of occasions already. It's not too bulky, so your keys will still fit nicely in your pocket or purse.

The red and white lights worked great on the stroller too! I hooked both to the outsides of my Peg Perego Book Plus Stroller and went out to see how much it helped my visibility. My "hood" is not overly lit and we regularly have street lights out here and there, so more visibility was going to be great!!
 
I was also able to use my white light as a flashlight to dig around in the carrier of the stroller to find what I needed. The red light is good for being noticed, especially on the flashing setting. These lights definitely improved our visibility and helped light the way when crossing the street!

I've used my Glo Bugz a LOT but haven't had to replace the battery yet. On the back of each light, you'll see 3 small screws that will get you into the battery compartment - pretty easy!

Bottom line...go get your Glo Bugz! Not only are they a great buy, but you'll be buying from a company who excels in the customer service department!

You can catch them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and of course on their website!

Lil Helper Cloth Diaper Review

First and foremost, you MUST (yes, that's an order) go check this company out! They epitomize what Customer Service should be and are regularly getting thanked on their social media sites for the extra effort they put in. When I received my package from them, it included a hand written "thank you" note and included a couple bags of relaxing tea! After telling them they made my day with this gesture, here was the response I got:

"Each and every package from our facility leaves with a hand written note- its standard practice to make sure our mamas are treated like celebrities."

No bones about it, they are TOP NOTCH!

 

Lil Helper Cloth Diapers is a partnership of two friends, Mohammed and Nader, who met at college in Toronto while studying for their aerospace engineering degrees, and eventually went on to earn their master's in Aerospace. Yes, they are self proclaimed nerds! It is also true that they have a very quirky sense of humor that is woven throughout their entire website - if you want a good chuckle simply check out their "contact us" section. Not only do they strive to make products that are environmentally friendly and sustainable, but they also refuse to sell anything that they are not comfortable using on their own children!

 

Here's the loot I received:

 

One size Charcoal Bamboo Cloth Diaper w/ 2 detachable liners

One size Original PUL Cloth Diaper w/ 2 detachable liners

One drawstring Wetbag

Two Organic Bamboo Wipes

Two Bamboo Stay Dry Liners

 

Phew, they know how to hook a girl up!

  

I'll start with looking at the Bamboo Wipes. The first thing you want to do is rub them all over you and baby because these things are s-o-f-t, SOFT! These wipes consist of a two-ply system, with the top ply made from micro-fiber and the lower ply made of organic bamboo terry. Not only are they soft, but they are very absorbent! Consider this your "go to" wipe -- you can use it for baby's tush, a burp cloth, wash cloth, or for yourself! Not to mention, the size is perfect! I'd suggest adding these babies to your list of what to give all of your expectant friends!

 

If you're not a fan of scrubbing poop off your diapers, the Bamboo Stay Liners might be for you! The re-usable liners consist of 50% bamboo viscose and 50% wicking polyester mesh. Your lil one will appreciate how the wicking polyester mesh will pull the moisture into the diaper below and you will appreciate an easy to remove liner for mess cleanup. Not to mention these won't add bulk!

 

You can't go wrong with their wetbags. They have a diaper pail liner, drawstring wetbag, and zipper wetbag. Great for short trips, both the zipper and drawstring bags will hold 3-4 diapers. You can tell the drawstring is quality made as it feels sturdy and won't break apart on you in a month! Kids no longer in diapers? Use it at the beach or pool for wet swimsuits!

 

Now on to the nappies. Style alert: the colors are too stinkin' cute!! Not primary, but not pastel either -- a perfect in between mix! Function alert: exceptional absorbency, super softness, lot of snaps to get that perfect fit. Each diaper comes with 2 detachable liners - one small and one larger. The liners snap in to the diaper and to each other. You can use one at a time or both if you are in need of extra absorbency. For the Charcoal Bamboo Cloth diaper, the charcoal liners keep your baby feeling dry while the organic cotton/bamboo cover lets their skin breath - genius! Want to know more about the benefits of charcoal bamboo, check out this Lil Helper blog post. With the Original PUL, the liners are made of unbleached cotton and micro-terry. The diapers are one-size and will grow with your little one, fitting 7-35 lbs.

 

This is a company that is obviously passionate about what they do! They do not skip any steps or do anything half way. In addition to helping our wallets and the planet, they are also giving back. Through their Baby Do Good program, they give a PUL Cloth Diaper to a family in need for every 3 diapers that they sell!!! How many other places are doing this?  

 

These guys are a hoot, they're amazingly smart, they've got functional products, and an appetite for knowledge -- throw in a giant dose of out of this world customer service.....it's a no brainer! Check them out! They're on Facebook and Twitter and have a great Blog.

 

 



Win A Year's Worth of Nuby Products!!

You heard me right, a year's worth of Nuby products could be yours! As I've been reviewing several of their products lately, I wanted to share with you an opportunity to win your own.

 

This includes a LOT of items -- bottles, cups, pacifiers, teethers, feeding, grooming, bath time and much much more! Don't miss out on this chance. Entry is super easy and I'd love to have one of my readers hit it big with Nuby!

 

To enter for a chance to WIN, visit the Nuby Facebook page and click the Nuby Giveaway tab located under their cover photo. If you want to enter from your MOBILE device, they've made it  simple to do that as well. Simply click this link to enter: http://a.pgtb.me/msDfsl Giveaway ends at 11:59pm CST on 3/31/13.

 

Also, go show Nuby some love on their social media sites -- they've got several other contests going right now!

 

www.facebook.com/nubyusa

www.twitter.com/nubyusa

www.pinterest.com/nubyusa

www.instagram.com/nubyusa

 



The Nibbler from Nuby

Once your little one is ready to start on solids, The Nuby Nibbler is the way to go! I first saw the Nibbler during a visit to a friend's house. Her daughter, who was 7 months at the time, LOVED this thing!! She literally couldn't get enough!

The Nibbler allows your child to eat whole foods without the risk of choking. It's got a "Squeeze and Twist" locking system, giving you peace of mind that your little one isn't going to be able to open it (it took me a few times to get the hang of it, but once you have it down, it's great). Included, is a cap which is great for traveling! It's also BPA free so no worries about nasty chemicals. When you're done, clean up is super easy -- you can simply wash with warm soapy water, or the Nibbler is top-rack dishwasher safe as well...score!!

We like ANYTHING frozen inside (which also is of great help while teething) or a chunk of apple! Bananas can get messy, but are a hit as well! The chunky handle is great  and easy to hold on to and has a nice textured grip if little one decides to chew on it!

We love The Nibbler and know you will too. You can get yours at the following:

www.BuyBabyDirect.com

www.diapers.com

www.amazon.com

www.cookieskids.com

www.babyearth.com





Ring O' Keys from NUBY

Truth be told, I want to break into Johhny Cash every time I say the name of this teether -- but that's a whole different story!

Let me start by saying that the customer service and communication with Nuby has been nothing but top notch!! The Nuby philosophy is to make the lives of parents and children simple, easy, and fun. They've got you covered and want to be sure you are left with no stones unturned. Refreshing!

This review is the for the Nuby Ring O' Keys. First and foremost, this teething ring is BPA free!! Due to studies that suggest BPA might play a role in breast cancer, prostate cancer, infertility, early puberty, obesity, diabetes, and ADD/ADHD -- BPA free is a must in my opinion.

Here's how your teether will come packaged: 

This teether has 3 keys attached to a key ring. Each key has a different textured surface that will suit your teething baby just fine! Size is great for little one's hands and the colors are perfect. I prefer gender neutral colors, and the bright combination of colors on this teether are ideal. Cleaning is a breeze, simply wash with warm soapy water. This teether does not disappoint!  

 Nuby is distributed in over 155 countries around the world and has been going strong for the last 35 years.

The Ring O' Keys can be purchased at www.amazon.com.

Valco Baby Preview

I'd like to take a minute to talk a little bit about a family owned and operated Australian company by the name of Valco Baby. Not only are they a company that prides themselves on developing high quality products (they test all products out on their own babies), but they are also top notch in the Customer Service department -- shout out to Tina in Customer Care for taking time out of her hectic schedule to respond to my email!!

Whether you are a singleton or need something for multiples, they've got you covered. They give you safety and dependability, plus good looks! And if you're like me and into accessorizing, you can count on them to provide you with a variety of accessories that can grow and change as your family does.

I've been super impressed with Valco Baby and am sure you will feel the same way! Go check them out and let me know what you think!

A Better Snot Sucker -- BabyComfyNose

There is nothing worse than a sick baby, except maybe not having the tools you need to help him or her feel better. Enter the BabyComfyNose! 

There have been several folks recently posting this picture of the inside of a very dirty/moldy bulb style nasal aspirator: 

It's enough to make you sick to your stomach, much less use on your little one. Not only do you avoid this dilemma with the BabyComfyNose, but it also works so much better than the bulb aspirators!

The basis of the BabyComfyNose is simple; it uses your own suction to remove baby's mucus. You just put the soft (silicone type rubber) nose tip into baby's nostril to make a seal, put the soft mouth piece into your mouth, and suck. Very simple! Even better, you are in control -- you provide as much or as little suction as needed. I even have a friend whose little one will now REACH for her BabyComfyNose when she has a stuffy nose!

Not only does it work so well, it doesn't require the added cost of filters. You don't have to use anything, but if you like, you can stuff a Kleenex in the bulb and you've got an instant filter. When the work is done, pull the tissue out and throw it in the trash. Clearly, being able to use facial tissues you already have at home will be a real cost benefit!
 

The BabyComfyNose is dishwasher safe, comes in three colors (good for multiples), and comes with a mesh storage bag that not only houses your unit when not in use, but allows for air drying after washing to avoid closed up areas where germs thrive!

The icing on the cake.....this "sucker" is BPA and phthalate free!! 

BabyComfyNose got this right!
 

Newman's Own Organics Review & GIVEAWAY

I think it is safe to say that a lot of us are more concerned with the ingredients in our foods and how they are grown and processed prior to arriving at our local grocery. We want to make sure we're putting the safest  and best tasting products on our dinner tables for our family. With Newman's Own Organics, you can do just that; they take the guess work out of determining if what you're eating is safe!

It's easy to get Newman's Own (yes, the salad dressing company) and Newman's Own Organics confused. Newman's Own Organics started as a division of Newman's Own in the early nineties. Nell Newman (Pauls' daughter), along with her business partner, Peter Meehan, managed to build their brand and NOO became an independent company in 2001. With the slogan "Great tasting products that happen to be organic", they created products based on what they liked; their pretzels stemmed from "Pa" Newman's love of pretzels and Nell's love of chocolate was a deciding factor in choosing organic chocolate bars. Side note: the company was a pioneer in the food industry when it offered it's first line of organic chocolate bars in the mid nineties!!

So we know it's organic....but is it GOOD?!? Holy smokes, it's all delicious! Pretzels, licorice, cookies, dried fruit, chocolate...oh my! I have a few favorites that I'd like to tell you about.

First, the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. If you are a Reese's fan, put them down and go get some of these NOO cups. These were so creamy and smooth, and melt in your mouth! Each 1.2 oz package contains three cups, all with ingredients you can pronounce!! Splurge without feeling you went off the deep end with these Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. You can also get them in Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate Peppermint, and Milk or Dark Chocolate Caramel.

Second, the Licorice. Not only do you get an organic stick of licorice (who knew this even existed until now?), but they've topped themselves with the addition of Sour Flavors -- Sour Strawberry, Sour Apple, Sour Cherry, and Sour Mango. The bag of Sour Strawberry only lasted a few days in my house!! Great taste, and they don't leave behind that "fake" flavor in your mouth that a lot of licorice does. Each five ounce package would be great to keep in your drawer at work to snack on throughout the week...or day!

Third, the Chocolate Newman-O's! Think Oreo with a chocolate cream center! Also available in  Original, Wheat Free Dairy Free, Peanut Butter, Ginger 'n' Cream, and Hint O' Mint. Be careful though, these things are dangerous!

And finally, the High Protien Pretzels. What an amazing snack!! Not only are they packed with protein, but they have a higher fiber content than most pretzels I've seen. Nice and crunchy and not too salty -- this pretzel has it all!! They are baked not fried, making them a great choice for all occasions and all occasions is when you can use them as there are TEN varieties of these tasty little pretzels!

Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong with Newman's Own Organics. Not only have they made an extensive line of treats for you, they've got those four-legged family members covered as well, with their Premium Pet Foods! With every product they make, they keep us in mind, the planet in mind, meet all requirements of the USDA National Organic Program, and they GIVE BACK. Since 1982, Paul Newman and the Newman's Own Foundation have donated more than $350 million dollars to educational and charitable organizations worldwide.

Because I love these products so much, Newman's Own Organics has agreed to give a few of my favorite things to one lucky reader....score!! Head over to their Facebook page to give them a "Like" and a shout out, visit their website and email me to tell me which products look best to you. Oh, and don't forget to follow my blog and like me on Facebook! Do this before February 8th to be entered. Winner will receive full size products PLUS a surprise courtesy of Newman's Own Organics! Good luck!!

Happy New Year Baby

Resolution (noun): A resolve or determination. Happy New Year everyone!! I hope yours is off to as good of one as we are having. On New Year’s Day 2012, one of our resolutions was to get pregnant. I am proud to announce, that resolution came through!! I am expecting Baby Number 2 on August 1st. I can’t express the excitement, nervousness, and anticipation that abounds!

This attempt did not come with the ease that the first one did. We went through 6 unsuccessful cycles and a roller coaster of emotions as we lived our lives in 2 week periods. Then, on attempt 7, with the help of a little letrozole and progesterone, our little peanut latched on! Seven months seemed like an eternity in our world, but from reading your comments and other blogs and forums along the way, this doesn’t seem like much compared to the experiences of many others.

I am one proud momma and can’t wait to meet #2!! 

Here's a preview:

The fun doesn't stop-- DRIVERfighter Review and Giveaway! Another 10 winners!!!

I learned something new this week! While coordinating this review and giveaway with DRIVERfighter I realized that I had never updated my computer's drivers, nor did I even know that I needed to. Neglecting to do this can cause slow performance and a host of other issues which I deal with on a daily basis. Running the process was as easy as 1-2-3. First, I ran the scan and then waited for a short download to install the program (this took me about 10 minutes total) and the program let me know my computer was "NEVER" scanned -- then I just used the search to locate updated drivers (they have a database of over 85,000) choose which drivers you want to update or they make it super easy by updating them all in a single click, then simply install the updated drivers. I was so happy right off noticing how quickly my computer re-booted after I shut it down. Read what they have to say:

"What is a PC "driver"? A driver is responsible for communicating and interacting with PC hardware devices. Every function in your computer requires a driver and in some cases more than one driver. A PC using outdated drivers can become prone to instability, hardware malfunction, and slower performance."

Why update your drivers and why try DRIVERfighter?

FREE Scan DRIVERfighter scans your computer and detects outdated drivers and provides you the tools to download and install those drivers. Stability When you update your outdated drivers, you have less issues with your computer. Improved hardware functionality The latest manufacturer driver updates often contain improved and new functionality for your hardware components Performance With updated drivers your PC may perform much faster. Productivity Stop wasting your precious time manually looking for driver updates available Safety Finding drivers by yourself may lead to sites and drivers infected with malware.   If you are like me you really value your computer and want it to perform at its best so DRIVERfighter is a must for all of us. I really hope you are one of the ten lucky winners.

To get your free product key of DRIVERfighter you must enter this giveaway, to do so please browse the DRIVERfighter site and tell me something great you learned, my blog, like me on facebook and then email me to let me know you did all this. You have until Friday October 12th. Best of luck to you!

Check out this HOT mama!

Hey everyone, Check out the following from Jenn Harrison-- she is a mom just like us and needs our vote. Please show your support!

Hi There Mums,

My name is Jenn Harrison, Like many of us, I'm a working mother who had struggled to shed the baby weight after giving birth to my daughter. Working a job regularly and looking after my daughter Mia the rest of the time left me little time to exercise, after a long discussion with my personal trainer I learnt to make the most of the 30-60 minute windows when they presented themselves and I'm now in training to run in a marathon!

My trainer said I should enter the ASN 2012 D-Fine8 Female Ambassador competition, so I got some pictures taken and submitted them to the judges... I was very suprised when my entry skyrocketed into number one spot in the voting.

Other girls who have entered are now catching me, so I seek out mums like you for support.

What I'm hoping is for as many people as they can click the link below which will take them to a picture of me - yes thats really me! (and no I've never modelled or anything like that!) - click like on the picture and if possible click share and encourage others to like and share it too :)

Dress up time!

It really doesn't have to be Halloween to nab a great costume! Dress up is a fun game ANY time of the year. My son is the typical boy and loves clothing with capes, funny boots, hats and anything else I can dream up to make him giggle. I got him the cutest Toy Story costume featuring the Woody character, you have ever seen!

I hope you have seen the movie because its adorable and so is Max in his cowboy costume. While he doesn't yet realize he is dressed up as "Woody" he does realize that he has a cool outfit and a funny hat to wear. I love the idea of playing dress up because it gives kids a chance to pretend play and be whatever they want to be! I was poking around the Costume Discounters website and see so many more I would love to add to our costume closet from holiday themed costumes to just about every superhero or tv character you can think of and all at great prices. I also love how they offer the accessories right there on the page so you don't have to go hunting around to make your costume complete. The Woody costume we got was of great quality and fit right as indicated. The hat is so cool and will be used long after the costume is outgrown. With Easter coming up you have to check out their bunny suits-- they had me cracking up (there are both kids ones and adults ones).

Twisted Orchid Revew and Giveaway!!! YEA!

I am so excited to have partnered up with the folks at Twisted Orchid! If you take a peek over there they have really cool stuff from headbands and jewelry to clothing and what you will see here- one of their handbags. The brand is Mad Style and it is exactly that-- check out the "Grey Strap Satchel" just bursting with Mad Style!

I was overly impressed with the quality of my Mad Style Satchel that I chose, not only is it stylish and glamerous but it is sensible and affordable. My Mad Bag is a deep grey color with accented darker straps on the sides and decked out with silver accessories. I love that they feature faux leather and can pull it off like they do with these bags. When I can avoid using animal products, I do and Mad Style knows how to do it right. This bag is very roomy and I was able to go out to dinner and use it even fitting in a few diapers, wipes and a bottle (and yes all my things)! It has Exterior-Zipper Entry, Rear Zipper, Interior-Cell Pocket, Wall Pocket, Wall Zipper and Center Zip Compartment. You will love shopping over at Twisted Orchid because they always offer free shipping without any hunting for codes and they have a great hassle free return policy which makes shopping online risk free. Mad Style is going to give one lucky reader the chance to win their own bag (up to 80.00 retail value)! WOOHOO!!! visit their site and tell me a what bag you would love to win, like them on facebook, follow my blog, like me on facebook and then email me to let me know you did all this. You have until Sunday February 26th. Best of luck to you!

Attention Moms! If you have a sweet tooth read on...

I myself have a SERIOUS sweet tooth and ever since becoming a mom have to fight the scale even more so these two things do not go hand in hand. I love trying out the Fullbar products because they help us moms on the go easily manage our weight. I featured the Fullbars previously and LOVED them because they were big, delicious and contained Slendesta. Now Fullbar has a new product for us moms-- gummies. I was so excited to rip into the gummies because I am a huge fan of candy, any candy and for valentines day I had sweedish fish and had been craving them ever since.

So the instructions said to have five of the gummies and it would curb my appetite. Just like the Fullbars the Slendesta blend did its job and my appetite was diminished, the only problem? Eating just five of the gummies! They are sooo good. Read what Fullbar has to say about them:
"The yummy way to block hunger throughout the day. Take 5 Fullbar Gummies with Slendesta per serving to induce feelings of fullness and help stop hunger pains. The Slendesta found in the gummies will enhance the release of your CCK allowing you to feel full for up to 3 hours and reduce your desire to munch on unhealthy snacks. Take 10 gummies a day for optimal results."
Each container of gummies is 29.99 but will last a long time if you just do ten a day since there are a 120 in the bottle. Yumm!

PERFECT Valentines Day present!

I LOVE getting classic and timeless presents that you know will never go out of style and pearls are on the top of that list. Every woman should have a nice pair of pearl stud earrings and that is why I was thrilled to get a pair from Pure Pearls. Pure Pearls has an amazing array of extremely high quality pearl jewelry from necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and even a men's section. Their vast selection includes all types of pearls too like Akoya pearls, Freshwater pearls, Tahitian pearls, South Sea pearls and more! So what did I go with? The White pearl earrings on White 14k gold.

They are STUNNING to say the least. Happy Valentines Day to me! These pearls arrived and I could not believe just how perfect they are-- their AAA rating really exceeded my expectations. The creamy white of the pearls against the silvery shaded white gold coordinates perfectly to go with anything I would wear from casual to a dressy affair. These pearls would truly make an amazing gift for any of the ladies on your list. Rest assured whatever you order from Pure Pearls will be Valentines Day ready because they come packaged in a great little black box complete with an appraisal certificate and directions to make your pearls last for a lifetime. Ordering from Pure Pearls is easy and they have great prices which include free shipping and no sales tax.

Yummy Giveaway!

Have I got the giveaway for you! One of my favorites-- Dale and Thomas Popcorn is offering up their Twelve-Bag Popcorn Sampler which includes decadent gourmet popcorn flavors like: (1/4 lb Milk Chocolate Popsters, ¼ lb. Dark Chocolate Popsters, ¼ lb. Milk & White Chocolate DrizzleTwists and ¼ lb. Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter DrizzleTwists). I have had their hand-crafted popcorn before and loved it so much I have sent it as presents and treated myself as well on more than a few occasions. When you order from Dale and Thomas not only will you get amazing treats delivered right to your door you will also get fantastic customer service, I just love working with them. This huge popcorn sampler sells for 49.95 and Dale and Thomas is generously offering up these goodies to one lucky winner. Here is what you have to do follow my blog, like me on facebook and then email me to let me know you did all this. You have until Sunday January 22nd. Best of luck to you!

Baby its cold outside!

The air is getting mighty chilly here in Wisconsin! We have been hauling out the heavy coats, scarves, gloves and even our boots. This year I got a new scarf to help keep me warm-- the Arlington scarf from Affordable Scarves. They have so many scarves including "mens scarves", "head scarves, "capes and ponchos" and so much more! The Arlington scarf is actually a unisex scarf and you can get it in a wide range of colors including brown, cream, olive green, teal blue and of course my choice-- black.

This simple and classic scarf was just what I needed to be flexible enough to match with any of my coats. The acrylic material is very warm and stays nice even through washings. I love that I can have this particular scarf for many years and it will stay in style and match with just about anything. Affordable Scarves has so many options when it comes to keeping you toasty warm this winter! They have also generously offered one lucky reader the chance to win a 20.00 gift certificate to spend on their site. Here is what you have to do: like them on facebook, my blog, like me on facebook and then email me to let me know you did all this. You have until Sunday December 18th. Best of luck to you!

Moms listen up!

I got a chance to try the yummy diet and weight loss bars by Fullbar. Of course when I found out they were on their way I hopped on over to their website to check them out. I loved their principals for weight loss because the focus is on still eating what you love but smaller portions by actually paying attention to how full you are.

Basically you consume two Fullbars a day before lunch and dinner with a large glass of water, then at these meals you can still eat what you want but you end up eating less of it therefore consuming less overall calories. What makes them so fantastic is that they taste great too. When I first opened my Chocolate Peanut Butter Fullbar I was amazed at how BIG the bar was and all for only 180 calories of chocolatey, peanut butter drizzled goodness! This is my favorite flavor with my runner up being the Peanut Butter Crunch-- the crunch factor coming from peanuts mixed right into the bar-- yum.

So here is where us moms need to pay attention-- I DID notice a difference on my fullness scale after consuming these bars and tended to eat less at meals-- my S.O. noticed the same thing. I think the puffed wheat and protein both work to fill you up really leading to less calories consumed. So if you are looking for a way to stay full while still taking in less this is a good option to consider-- you don't have much to lose as they are running great promotions on their website right now.

Cross that guy off your list!

Do you ever find it hard to buy for those guys on your list? I sure do! They love tools but I don't know how to pick them, I would rather buy them clothes! So here is a great present idea for you-- Jobman Workwear has heavy duty clothing for guys doing heavy duty work. I love a few things about this site-- a lot of their high quality contruction grade clothes are fashionable which is rare-- they could be worn on and off the job, they carry a womens line of work pants-- also very rare and they have specific focuses to make for easy shopping like drywall and painting, construction workwear, waterproof gear etc.. Here is what we chose:

The Jobman Painters Fleece. This is a SHARP looking jacket. It is a crisp white with black contrasting fabrics and stitching, tons of pockets and reinforcements on the shoulders and sleeves, cuffed wrists and many other features. This jacket is intended as a painters fleece as the name states but could be used for any guy who wants a great looking jacket that will last a long time at a great price. I know this should be workwear but I will not be happy if I see any marks on this fleece! I spotted another great item on their site which is worth checking out:

I LOVE these pants- I think they look super cool! Jobman has been around for years providing high quality workwear including: workpants, safety clothing, protection garments, pants, canvas jean and construction overalls. Check them out and also visit them on facebook to see their latest products and promotions.