Swaddle Designs~ ends 1/12 (11:59pm EST)

SwaddleDesigns® is introducing the SwaddleDuo™



SwaddleDuo offers two premium, yet different, baby soft cotton swaddling blankets - two swaddle blankets in a wonderful gift box:
·         The Ultimate Receiving Blanket® is a lightweight premium cotton flannel blanket – for moderate to cooler environmental temperatures
·         The Marquisette Swaddling Blanket® is a very lightweight openweave cotton blanket – for warmer environmental temperatures

With the SwaddleDuo, parents will be prepared for a variety of environmental settings - cool, moderate and warm

SwaddleDesigns Cotton Marquisette is similar to muslin but is made from premium quality yarns.
SwaddleDesigns Cotton Flannel is made from premium preshrunk domestic cotton.



“The SwaddleDesigns Goldilocks Guide™ ~ baby should not be too hot, or too cold, but just right ~ comfortably warm.”
The Goldilock’s Guide helps new parents remember the importance of keeping baby comfortably warm.

SwaddleDesigns strives to help new parents care for their baby by providing accurate and up-to-date information, so parents may make informed choices. SwaddleDesigns Safe Sleep Program includes recommendations from the AAP and the NIH as the company strives to increase awareness of Safe Sleep practices and help parents reduce risk of SIDS.  




SwaddleDuo available in 17 styles with MSRP of $38 http://www.swaddledesigns.com/c/Swaddle-Duo/SD00 

According to leading SIDS researchers, both overheating AND overchilling are risk factors for SIDS. In addition, it’s important for parents to understand that when baby is too cool during sleep, baby will use valuable energy to stay warm instead of growing and thriving. Over the past few years some juvenile product companies have over focused on overheating as a SIDS risk factor, and there has been a lack of balanced conversation regarding insufficient thermal insulation – the danger of baby being too cool - as a risk factor for SIDS. It is time for a balanced information where parents are educated and reminded of their important responsibility to make sure baby is not too hot or too cold, but comfortably warm.

Founded by Lynette Damir, RN, in 2002, SwaddleDesigns was the first company to introduce the large square swaddling blanket to the US and many countries around the world.  SwaddleDesigns is known for their premium quality fabric, fabulous colors and prints, decorative edge, and the innovative 123 Swaddle® instructional label that helps new parents master the art of swaddling. SwaddleDesigns swaddling blankets are perfect for swaddling and have many uses such as a privacy throw for breastfeeding moms, a tummy time play mat and a cover over the stroller.

More Swaddling information.. I love their website because all of the information is in a quick easy reference area.

AWARD WINNING






Our Thoughts~~
I love these blankets.  They are large enough for bigger babies too.  I have mentioned before on other posts how much I dislike the 30x30 receiving blankets because they really are only good for a big burp cloth.  Where Swaddle Designs duo has 2 blankets each of them are 44x44 or larger and they have 2 fabric styles to meet either your colder climate or larger climate.  Another feature of these blankets is the easy how to swaddle tag that is sewn on to each blanket.  Great for newly swaddling parents or a refresher course for the more seasoned veterans.  These large blankets are great for nursing in public because you can easily cover up all the angles.  I love that I can pretty much wrap the blanket over my shoulder on the side I am nursing and lean back against it so my little squirmmer doesn't give a peep show and then also be able to tuck it under the other arm and hold it down over there as well at the same time.  The lightweight muslin one is even light enough for warmer environment nursing.  You don't get too hot and the baby isn't sweating to death while having a meal.

Anyone looking for a great gift for a new mom in your life or still trying to find a great blanket for yourself please check these out.  I know a few of my friends and I have taken these style blankets to be our go to Baby Shower Gifts. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Journal 10 (Quick Giveaway)~Ends 12/31 (11:59pm EST)

Hope everyone had a great Christmas.  I had hoped to get this posted earlier but the 4 little boys kept me too busy.

Journal 10

Some of the Features (information from their site)~

Our Daily Page is the heart of Journal 10+. Record your activities, thoughts, feelings & memories. Each Daily Page covers a single date. The page is divided into 11 sections, one for each year, with four lines for each individual daily entry. Enough room to record the day's events without the burden of creating a lengthy entry. Each year you will record your entry for that date on the same page, and so you get to look back and relive all your wonderful memories from past years.

No one plans to fail, but quite a few folks fail to plan. Begin each year with focus & purpose with our Looking Ahead section. Each year has its own page for setting goals and tracking your progress toward them. Record your personal goals & dreams, or those for your family. Refer back to this section throughout the year to stay on track, alter plans as circumstances change and celebrate each of your achievements

Never forget another birthday, anniversary or special date. This handy reference keeps you on top of all recurring dates. Spread over six pages with generous space for each month, you'll be able to plan gift and card selections well in advance and avoid the embarrassment of overlooking these meaningful events.

 

Our Thoughts~  I am excited to start writing.  With 4 small boys it is hard to keep up with a full length type journal.  But with this journal there is a small spot each day for a cliff notes version of the day or maybe a funny thing that happened or something funny your kids did or said.  My kids are forever saying something silly and I try to remember to write those little conversations down but with this journal it will give me that spot to keep these treasures close.  I like that you have all 10 years for that day on the one page so you can look back each year and see what happened on that day the previous  years.  

I am very excited to share this with you and excited about this giveaway.  Sorry it is going to be a quickie but I wanted the winner to get it as close to the new year as possible.  If you win just start writing on a piece of paper and transfer later.. :D

Ok Rafflecoppter is being strange if you can not enter using the widget please just leave a blog comment saying Rafflecoppter Down.. Thanks I hope it starts working.

Update~ Rafflecopter is up and running your previous entries will be added and you can do more of them to get more chances.... THANKS  Sorry for the inconvenience. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bamboobies~ Ends 12/26 (11:59pm est)

Bamboobies Nursing Pads are Mom Invented and Mom Approved.   Bamboobies are Reusable Breastpads.

We got to test out both a set of the Regulars and a set of the Overnights.

The Regulars have 3 layers:

 The Super-soft Bamboo+Cotton Velour is the layer that sits against your skin and the super soft velvety feel is great against your nipples.  Under the Velour is the absorbent hemp that locks in the milk then comes the milk proof Outer layer.  You would think with all these layers that they would be really think but they have an amazingly thin profile, and with the Unique Heart Shape they lay closer to the skin instead of bunching up and showing lines under your shirt.  You really can't tell they are there just looking at someone.

The OverNights also have 3 layers":

Unlike the regulars there isn't a milk-proof outer layer and these are way way thicker than the regulars.  These are also SOOOO Soft and with the thicker absorbent organic cotton and hemp core that you do not leak through.  In the morning I was checking them out.  I didn't leak through but you could feel the trapped milk in the absorbent core.  It wasn't wet it was just full feeling.

Personally I wish I had these with our first son and at the very beginning.  You know the first few weeks that you are biting your cheeks when the baby latches on because you are sore.  The Velvetyness of the velour would be a piece of heaven during that time.  Along with the need for a little extra protection.  I also like that these are reusable.  That means was and reuse. Instead of having to buy box upon box of disposable.  Here are some photos from their site that helps explain size comparison and price comparison.

 

Buy yours here!!!!!  TKR20 for 20% off at checkout at www.buybamboobies.com

Baby Brezza

What is a Baby Brezza?

It is a one step baby food maker.

What makes it one step?
Unlike the traditional cook then transfer the food to a blender, food processor or a wand blender.  It is all done in this convenient machine.

Most moms state I would love to make my own baby food but it is too much work when I can just grab this jar off the shelf and be done.  With the Baby Brezza the work is pretty much eliminated.  I say pretty much because yes you still need to cut the food to 1) fit in the machine and 2) be a standard size so everything cooks quickly and at the same rate.

Our Thoughts~ I have always made baby food for our boys.  And yes I have also used some stuff off the shelves in the thought of well this will be easy and convenient since I didn't take the time to prep and make some.  When our first son was born I decided I would try to make all our baby food.  I got the blender and started cooking and then transferring and then blending and then transferring to cool and freeze.  And yes many times I burned myself in the transferring process because I was either in too much of a hurry or the food came out at me to fast into the blender or I was just plain ole' not paying attention.

When Baby Brezza agreed to work with us I was so excited I was jumping out of my skin. I have been so curious how this machine works and if it is really worth the money.  After a lot of testing I can hands down say.  This machine is way worth your money.  Even if you are on your last child like I am it is still worth your money.  It is a time saver, a burn saver, and all around a peace of mind giver.  You know exactly what you are putting in your baby because you made it.  And you know exactly how old the food is because you made it.  And if you have a picky eater you can accommodate his picky palate with your own creations.  Along with you can customize your food to even add spices to open up his or her palate to a whole new world of flavor. And if you get stumped on what to make Baby Brezza has a recipe section on their site.


Making Baby food with the Baby Brezza is so easy.  You fill up the water reserve and then cut up your food into small pieces and put them in the blending cup.  Lock into place and set the time for the time you need to steam your food.  You can either use the steam and blend option, or steam only or even blend only for the food you do not need to cook first like Bananas and avocados.  The machine will then do its work and when it is done your baby food is ready to either eat or freeze.  I pre-made stuff for my freezer so I then put it in my 1 ounces ice cube trays and froze my food then once frozen I popped them out and stored them in ziploc freezer bags.  When I am ready to serve to the baby I just take out what I need and let defrost in the frig or you can defrost right in the machine.

Prepping to start some cooking

Ready for the freezer

Other Great features of this machine is that there are suction cup feet on the bottom of the machine so that it is snuggly held in place while steaming and then switching to the blending mode.  There is a trick however to getting your blade to release.  For the blade just unlock the lid and then twist while pulling up on the blade before you disengage the blending cup.  This is the only little quirk I found that the machine has.  After disengaging your blade you just unlock the cup and start pouring into your storage containers.

When talking with the Baby Brezza Company we were chosen to not only test the machine but test an idea.  Giving real data of what you can make vs what you can buy.  So they sent us a $15 gift card.

With that $15 I bought

• a bunch of bananas
• 2 ORGANIC Sweet Potatos
• 2 ORGANIC Avacados
• 4 ORGANIC Carrots
• 3 ORGANIC Pears
• 2 ORGANIC Apples

With This I made:

• 45 ounces of Bananas
• 26 ounces of Carrots
• 61 ounces of Sweet Potatos
• 14 ounces ofApples
• 20 ounces of Pears
• 20 ounces of Avacados

That is 186 ounces of Baby Food for $15.  Which means $0.08 per ounce.

In the store right now you can get a

• 5oz pack of Gerber Nature Select for $1.05, so for $15 you can get close to 14.5 packs for a total of 72.5 ounces  for 186 ounces of Gerber you would be paying $38.48.  By making your own you save $23.48
• 2.5 ounce Jar of Roundy's Organic (store brand) for $0.69 almost 22 jars for a total of 55 ounces for  186 ounces of Roundy's  you would be paying $50.73. By making your own you save $35.73
• 2.5 ounce Jar of Beech Nut for $0.69 almost 22 jars for a total of 55 ounces.  For 186 ounces of Beech Nut you would be paying $50.73  By making your own you are saving $35.73

Find Baby Brezza and learn more at their WEBSITE, FACEBOOK or TWITTER.


Feel free to leave me comments below I would love to hear about your baby food making experiences and some of your favorite recipes to make for your baby.