Woolino Sleep Sack~ends 11/14 (11:29pm eastern time)

Ok this week I wanted to feature two sleep outfits I just love to death.  The first is the Woolino Sleep Sack for babies 3 months to 24 months.. Yes you read that right it will take them from 3 months all the way to 24.  The Woolino Baby Sleep Sack is designed from Premium Merino wool.

Our Youngest in his Woolino

Why Merino Wool? (info from the Woolino site)

The Ultimate Baby Sleep Sack from Woolino
Our 100% natural baby sleep sack is made from the world’s most superior natural fiber – luxuriously soft allergy-safe Australian merino wool.
Superfine Merino is lightweight and silky soft, and the most technically advanced natural fiber in the world. It is THE perfect fiber to wear next to a child’s delicate skin. It breathes, regulates body temperature, manages moisture, it is non-allergenic, naturally fire resistant, naturally antibacterial, easy care and durable. It is simply naturally perfect.
Woolino sleep sack is a healthy and safe alternative to blankets - it helps baby stay covered, sleep comfortably through the night and not wake up cold. Moreover, exceptionally breathable merino regulates body temperature and prevents overheating - a risk factor for SIDS.
Woolino merino wool sleep sack comes in one universal size that fits babies 3 months through 2 years and older. It is designed to be worn in all seasons as merino keeps your baby warm in winter and cool in summer. It is machine washable and can be tumble dried on low heat.
Discover the beautiful, practical and stylishly designed Woolino Baby Sleep Sack that will allow your baby (and yourself) to sleep peacefully through the night. Learn how is Woolino different then other sleep sacks.
We offer FREE standard shipping to USA and Canada, and worldwide delivery for only $12.95

Our Thoughts~ As I stated above this is one of my 2 favorite sleep items for babies.  Why?  Because it is insanely soft and sort of a ritual maker.  Every time I put Gabriel in the Woolino he knows it is time to start settling down to bed and it can go anywhere with you so you get the same effects no matter where you are. You just roll it up in your suitcase in the cute soft carrying case it comes with and off you go.  

When I talk about how soft it is I am referring to the fact that though it is made of wool it is made from the Merino wool as stated above and that gives it this glorious silky feeling, a feeling I have never thought would go together with Wool.

Also as again stated above it goes from 3mts to 24 mts.  If you look in the first photo of my baby you see that it is folded over.  By using the snaps you can adjust the length for smaller children for a more snug fit.  Other great features are that there are 2 ways in. You can put the baby in via the top.  Which is how I get Gabriel in and then snap the snaps over his shoulders then so the arm opening isn't so large Woolino thought to put in 2 more snaps one under each arm to close the gap and decrease the risk of the baby getting tangled from pulling their arms in and getting stuck.  The other way in is a convenient access to change diapers.  The bottom zips open so you do not have to take the whole thing off in the middle of the night which leads to jostling the baby more awake (which is a no no in our house.. keep the sleeping or groggy baby... sleeping or groggy at night  :D )

Varolo (way to earn a little extra cash)

Well we have all heard of earning extra cash via surveys.  I work through a couple survey companies and usually get a couple hundred bucks for the year that I cash out at the holiday season.  Here is another SUPER EASY way to earn some cash in 10min a day or less. 

By going to Varolo you can earn money and jackpot entries for every commercial you watch and rate.  This helps company's spread the word about their products and get an idea of how effective their commercial is by how interested in it we are.  Also some companies share coupons and coupon codes.  I have already seen a Johnson and Johnsons coupon and recipes from another company.  So you get fun little things like this on the way.  It is still very new and in the Beta stage so they are still working out some of their bugs so if something is taking a slower time to load then just be a little patient.. But seriously 10 min to watch commercials a day and earn a little extra cash... I'm in. :D 

Again here is the site go check it out and feel free to share with your friends too, everyone can use a little extra cash in this economy.

Switch it up..

Thought I would switch up the background a bit.  What do you all think? 

Lavender Cachet Giveaway~ ends (11/9 11:59pm eastern time)

Do you like Lavender than Lavender Cachet's site is for you.  I love the smell of lavender, it is so calming and soothing.

Here is some information about Lavender Cachet:  (from their site)

Love Lavender? Then you've come to the right place. Lavender Cachet is all about lavender. Every product we sell is focused around its wonderful scent. The lavender massage oil line includes 8 different lavender combinations, each designed to provide the most relaxing experience. Pamper yourself again and again by trying each one.

Lavender Cachet strives to provide each customer with products that will help relieve the tension of everyday life and the sleep that may be hard to come by at the end of a long hard day. Enjoy all the benefits of lavender. Pamper yourself each and every day.

BENEFITS OF LAVENDER

At Lavender Cachet, we've said we simply love lavender because it makes people feel good. That's why we use it, and we're happy to promote lavender just for that alone.

But there's more. Lavender has a deep history, dating back thousands of years, that shows scores of uses in dozens of civilizations. Can all those ancestors be wrong? Look how the great practitioners, from the ancient to the modern, began using this herb:

• To promote relaxation and a feeling of calm
• To enhance sleep
• To reduce jitters and irritability
• To create a romantic and sensual mood

Beneficial Qualities

Now, that's just the "touchy-feely" stuff. There's a lot more substance, documented to the point where most of lavender's beneficial qualities have become general knowledge in the healing communities.

As great healers and influential leaders studied lavender more thoroughly, they discovered the plant had properties to soothe wounds, kill germs and resist disease. Lavender could also ward off viruses, pests and bugs. Military doctors from the Romans through World War I used lavender to disinfect and fumigate hospital wards. Pharaohs, Asian emperors and European royalty used lavender to create an atmosphere of power and wealth. Religious leaders knew they could embellish ceremonies and rites with the subtle scents of lavender.

Over the centuries the number of discoveries has grown and grown, to the extent that in the modern era, lavender is acknowledged to help in the relief of all manner of ailments:

• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Sunburn, wind-damaged skin, rashes, acne, chapped hands and feet, wounds, burns, insect stings and bites
• Skin ailments and diseases
• Joint and muscle pain
• Headaches, including migraines
• Hair and scalp distress
• Digestive problems, including those that involve the liver, gall bladder, intestinal and urinary tracts
• Respiratory issues, colds and viruses
• Emotional trauma and depression

~~~~~~~

Our Thoughts~
Lavender Cachet sent us here at The Klauer Review a very special set that I  got to help make.

In my set I chose:

• Rosehip and Lavender massage oil - because I suffer from eczema and I wanted to get something that had all the soothing properties of the Lavender but didn't react with my skin.  With the Rosehip oil as its carrier the oil dries quickly on my skin and is not greasy while leaving the wonderful Lavender scent I adore.  I put on the oil on my shoulders and neck at night and the smell over takes me and relaxes me from the long day.  The Rosehip oil and Lavender at night seems to help keep my skin smooth and hydrated.
• Lavender and Chamomile powder- a wonderful powder treat to put on after a shower and moisturizing.  It leaves the skin feeling silky.  I also like putting a dash in shoes around the house to help freshen.
• Ivory Embroidered Sheer Organza sachet- This I actually hung from my headboard.  Above my head so the Lavender smell floats in the air all night around me.  Helping me stay relaxed and in a restful sleep as long as I am not awaken to nurse.  I actually think that I have been sleeping better during the times I can sleep with the help of the Lavender products on or around me.

Vitalicious

You can click on the photo to make it easier to read!!!

I wanted to post this because it is so full of information. Vitalicious sent us a box of goodies to test and we have had a blast taste testing all the flavors.  I am only 4 months post pregnancy so I am still working on losing my extra weight and was excited to try these good for you snacks.  I personally have a very very LARGE sweet tooth so I find myself digging into the not so healthy items around the house.  With Vitalicious in the freezer I could easily skip the unhealthy snack and grab a 100 calorie, healthy, sweet tooth approved alternative.

Not only am I a fan but so are my boys.  My starving group is constantly eating small portions through the day and I have found that I am having a hard time coming up with new yummies for them.  Well with Vitalicious in the freezer I just take out a vitatop and throw it in the microwave for a few seconds and I have a delicious snack that is preservative, artificial ingredient free and full of whole grains, vitamins, minerals and protein.  Now that is a Super Hero snack if I have heard one.

These also make great quick breakfasts for my eldest who I am regularly trying to get fed and out the door and off to school in a short time frame.  Vitalicious+ a glass of milk+ a banana and he is set for the morning.

In my area I can find these in the freezer section of Target, Walmart, Copps, and Whole Foods.  Here is the link to see where you can find these near you.

Also you can Follow Vitalicious on Facebook for up to date new products and specials.

Winners

With our new system of Rafflecopter when the winner is randomly picked through their site it updates the code to put the winner on the original post in the area where you entered.  So instead of Reposting all the time I am going to leave the winner info on the original post and no longer do a separate post.  Mostly because it is convenient that they already post it for me. And by entering you ( my wonderful followers) enter your email address that is only seen by me on your entries so I can just email you directly when you win.  :D

I am really liking the Rafflecopter way of entering I think it has streamlined entering for you and me.. Again thank you for following my blog and hope that by streamlining the winner announcements we will eliminate unneeded blog posts and emails of the post for you.. :D  Feel free to leave me a comment of your thoughts either way on this.  :D 

Undercover mama~ ends 11/2 (11:59pm est)

Undercover Mama: Make any shirt a Nursing Shirt.  

With this shirt you can hook the Undercover Mama to your nursing bra via 2 ways.  There is a loop to go over your bra snap for your nursing bra or a hook to hook into your bra.

 

Undercover Mama sent us a cream colored top (pictured below) to test out.

 

Our Thoughts~  I love this idea. I wish I had them for all my kids.  I personally lived in my nursing tanks and put a shirt over but the tanks are not nearly as supportive as a nursing bra or even as flattering as a nursing bra but I really wanted something that covered my tummy while nursing in public so the nursing tank was the way to go.  But now with these you can wear any bra and any shirt and have great coverage because you can loop or hook this top into your bra.  The Undercover mama fits nicely under your shirts I ordered a small instead of a medium to have more of a form fitting shirt so that it wasn't bulky under my fitted shirts but you can always order your size or a size bigger if you like them looser.  They do suggest on their web page to go a size down so they fit closer to you.  In my opinion every nursing mom should own  these in their nursing clothes arsenal they are great for discretion and a lot more flattering than the nursing tanks.  

Punkeelove Headbands~ ends 10/29 (11:59pm est)

 

Punkeelove Headbands are taking the no slip to a new level.  With their velvet on the back and adjustable settings you know you are going to get a perfect fit.  I have tried other headbands that are like the Punkeelove Headbands and while they too have the velvet for no slip they sometimes were just a little big so I love how Punkeelove Headbands came up with the adjustability.  On their skinnier bands it is a sliding style adjustment like you would see on a speghetti strap tank top or bra and on the thicker bands it is a button adjustment.

This is the one I got to try.

I personally like to wear these doing lots of stuff like working out or just hanging out around the house.  I have pretty long hair so it is nice to keep it out of my face when I am playing with the kids or even sitting down to nurse the baby.  With all the styles you can match any outfit and have one for your gym bag, vehicle and home. The Button adjustment on the one I got tightens down perfect on my head without pressing on those facets behind my ears that would normally give me a headache.  I love that Punkeelove Headbands guarantee your headband so if it breaks they will fix it for you free of charge. Here are what other people are saying:

 

This is the headband pattern that is being given away.

Raising a Reader

I love books.. Granted with 4 boys I read more Dr. Suess than anyone else.   But here is a great Guest Post by Kathleen Thomas on some tips for raising a reader.


Raising a Reader Early Literacy: the Foundation for Learning and Life
Article submitted by Kathleen Thomas on behalf of Primrose Educational Preschools

Reading doesn’t come naturally to every child. While children do enter life wanting to learn how language works, the reading aspect is something that they must be exposed to over and over again. How you read to your child could have a significant impact on how your child develops in school. The early readers are always those that have been exposed to books more often.

You can start reading to your children at a very early age. While they won’t be able to understand the words yet, they will eventually begin to connect the pictures with the words and start to make the connections. Plus, the intonation of your voice as you read a story can be very soothing to them and they will begin to associate reading with a calming effect that could continue on for the rest of their life.

How children interact with books is usually an indicator of how a child will do in school. A love of reading will translate to students doing better in school throughout all subjects as well as feel more inclined to read aloud in a classroom.

Creating the Atmosphere

There are many ways to create an atmosphere so that your child harbors a love for books. Surround your child with books so that he or she has books around them at all times that they can grab and have you read to them.

Ways to do this includes:

- Purchase new or used books and place them in the nursery
- Make a ‘field trip’ each week to go to the library and pick out new books
- Read around your child – even if it’s your books

The more a child sees you reading, the more a child will be inclined to want to be able to partake.

The first step is to read aloud to a child. Find a book that is age appropriate, open it up and start reading. Point to the pictures when you read about certain characters and as your child gets older, engage them in the reading fun. Ask questions and make up elaborate stories about what is going on in the book.

Choosing the Best Books

You need to make sure that you are selecting the right books for your children for a few reasons. You need to make sure that the language is appropriate so that they are able to grasp the meanings and ultimately read the book back to you. You also want to make sure and get a book that is of interest to you because there is a good possibility that you will be reading it over and over again.

Things to be on the lookout for are:

- Books with lots of photos
- Stimulating subject
- Something fun
- Age approprate
- Pages that don’t rip easily

When you’re sharing a reading book with a child, they will love to hear the same story over and over again. The photos can help you twist the story a little each time so that you don’t grow weary of it. You can also use the photos to help explain new words to your child. When you find a fun and stimulating book, it will capture your child’s attention more easily and you will be more likely to get excited about the book because you find it fun and exciting, too.

You should also consider getting pages that don’t rip easily, especially with the younger kids. They will want to turn the pages for you, even if the story is out of turn. Let them do it because the tactile senses of turning the pages can garner fascination for reading, which is what you are ultimately trying to promote.

As long as you keep books around wherever you and your child go and show your child how much fun reading is, the development will soon follow.

Winner for Eco Lunchbox

Congrats!!

Boogie Wipes~ ends 10/26 (11:59pm est)

Little sore stuffy noses with crusties rejoice.... Boogie wipes battle the crusty stuffy noses while soothing and hydrating.  Boogie wipes are Gentle Saline Wipes for Stuffy Noses and they now come in 90 count big containers.  With winter comes Cold and Flu season and with that stuffy, runny, crusty noses.  With 4 boys that is 4x the colds and runny noses.   We love Boogie wipes because they gently release the stuck on boogies and sooth at the same time unlike traditional tissues that are hard and abrasive.  Where traditional dry tissues have come up with the aloe to help sooth, really it only leaves a greasy film on your nose where the Boogie Wipes leave it clean and refreshed and the kids love the Great Grape Scent.  My favorite is the fresh scent.

Coffee Fool Review

Good Morning followers!!  How do you start your morning?  Personally with 4 small boys, mainlining caffeine would be the best for me but who can resist a fresh brewed delicious coffee that you can sip slowly and not think about the day to ahead or the chaos going on in the living room.  That 5 min all to yourself every morning.  Ok I am dreaming.  I do love the fresh brewed coffee but the 5 min to myself (what is that?) lol.

My Favorite Coffee seller of all time has to be COFFEE FOOL.  If you want a taste of high grade beans roasted to perfection then Coffee Fool is the place for you.  With a lot of different flavors and bodies.  My husband likes the dark full bodied Coffees where I am torn between Coffee Fool's Chocolate Espresso and Coffee Fool's Cremera.  If you have time, you should sit down and read their description they are so much fun.. Examples my two favorites.

Chocolate Espresso~ Hail Caesar on the making of this wonderfully flavored bean. Italian roasted, super oily, richly dark beans lathered in chocolate. Only the most discerning citizens of old Rome were permitted to sip the sophistication of this honorable flavor. (from their page)


Cremera~The battle of Vanilla, Caramel and Cream. Will Vanilla battle its way to your taste buds or will Caramel and Cream trip him from behind for the glory. (from their page)

 Coffee Fool just changed their packaging which I think is more eye pleasing then the old packaging which was just a cream color with faint money bills all over.

Another thing I like is that you can custom order your beans.  Here is a screen shot of your options.

 

And for all you Pod Coffee people they even have pods now that fit most pod machines and even the cup machines if you have the Pod insert.

Go check them out for all your coffee needs.  They are definitely mine and my mother in laws favorite place to order.. When one of us orders the other puts in their wants too.  

Winner

With our new Rafflecoppter they randomly chose the winner here is a screen shot of the info they gave me.. Pretty neat program.

So Mrs. Betsy Hoff is the winner of the $35 gift certificate to Eco Mom.  Congrats.

Again we have lots of giveaways in the work 9 to be exact as of right now that I need to review and put up so get ready I will start doing 2 a month and if you ever have any ideas of what you would like to see reviewed feel free to shoot me an email at theklauerreview@gmail.com

Oopsie Loopsie~ Ends 10/19 11:59 (est)

Oopsie Loopsie.... First off I gotta say that is fun to say.. Try it with me.. Oopsie Loopsie, Oopsie Loopsie, Oopsie Loopsie,  Giggle.

Ok Now that I had my fun saying it because it sure is fun to say.. What are they?  Oopsie Loopsie's are mom invented waist band extenders.
..................

Ok well lets try this some more we have had a crazy few days here I did start writing this yesterday and got 2 sentences in when the kids decided that my attention needed to be with them.  So again Sorry for the delay and here we go again.

 Our Thoughts~
Seriously this is neat.  I went through a ton of rubber bands before giving into maternity pants with all my boys.  Why?  Because honestly my pants fit better than maternity pants aside from the waste band.  Has anyone else noticed that people who design maternity clothes think that not only did our waist expand but our butts DOUBLE in size?  Seriously every pair of maternity pants I had gave me a ton of extra room that I never needed.

And then of course, I am as of right now 3mts postpartum.  Only my fat jeans fit me in the waist but with Oopsie Loopsie I now can fit into my regular pants.  These little devices are so great and simple it is one of those products of why didn't anyone think of this sooner and hats off to the wonderful ladies (Kristin and Anna) who did think it up.

They come in a 4 pack of sizes so you have one that will fit perfectly at the different stages.

Honestly I can see these coming in handy for anyone who is pregnant or postpartum and even Holiday dinners.  Oh come on I am not the only one who probably unbuttons their top button to give that little extra room for the holidays.  :D