Homeschool Prep: Great Handwriting App

Disclaimer: I will receive compensation for this post, however all opinions are my own.

One of my biggest frustrations when it comes to finding ways to keep learning exciting is with mobile apps. I know that everyone else is not like me, but the rule in my house is hands off my phone and my tablet. Everything else, including my computer, is used by my husband and kids. I have to have something that is just mine (besides the makeup that my son keeps getting in to).

The other part of this frustration comes with that so many of the educational apps that I run across are for ipad only. I don't even have an ipad, I'm certainly not getting one for the kids. In our house, we use android products (nothing against Apple though, besides price).

We have a little tablet that we have set up for the kids. On it, we have put a Kindle app (love those free children's books), a couple "rattle" apps for the baby, and I've even downloaded a few handwriting apps for Tbomb. However, I was not impressed with these handwriting apps.

Kids Academy (lucky for me) is watching out for us moms of littles. They were happy to direct me to their Montessori inspired apps in the Amazon App Store (compatible with Android). The one I love the most is the 123 Tracing app.


I absolutely adore that the app has a parents' area. Here, we can set up profiles for our child(ren), check their progress, and even adjust the sound! 


How cute is that little booger?! This app is really easy to set up!


Simple progress tracking without having to deal with stats, percentages, etc. Just look and know what your child is doing. 


Even our children can see how well they are doing by filling the jar with fireflies. My little guy loves catching them every evening, so this is added fun. 


Tracing involves more than one shot. There are several times that the child must trace each letter. Great practice for writing and sequencing!


This is the free version that allows tracing to number 3. To get the full app, it is $1.99 with tracing to 10.

My final thoughts: I love the colors and the idea of filling the jar with fireflies. My son loves that too. He also loves the natures sounds that play in the background because "it sounds like outside."
The encouraging voice is also a nice touch. The only thing I would change is that the paid version go to 100; going to 10 lasts less than an hour for my little guy.



Counselling Services

Counseling is a helping occupation concerned with human services. Counselors need to have the type of personality that enjoys working with others and helping them to realize positive aspects of their life, as well as encourage them on their way to improving their outlook. Counselors are empathetic to their clients’ situations in addition to being discreet with sensitive information. Their goal isn’t to tell others what to do but rather to guide them in life choices.



Active communication may be the most important skill for counselors to possess. They must thoroughly enjoy engaging in conversations with strong verbal skills and listen attentively to people with the ability to accurately reflect back to them their thoughts and feelings. People must feel comfortable in the counselor's presence and be willing to openly share their thought processes. Some people may appear to be a natural communicator because they are extroverted; however, active listening takes practice and effort to develop. Sometimes, what a client doesn’t talk about is as important as what they are saying. A human services professional is attuned to this and will factor in silence on a subject and body language as part of their evaluation techniques. Every counseling candidate will develop these skills through courses and practice in active communication throughout their counseling program.

Counselors work in a variety of settings. Hospitals, military veterans’ organizations, primary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education, nursing homes, corporations and private practice are some common places where counselors are employed. A person may already have a counseling position or have employment in a related field but would like to advance or concentrate in a different counseling filed. The mobile communication technology that people enjoy today makes it possible to return to school with little disruption to established routines.

Busy professionals are often drawn back to education to explore additional topics in their field, learn new research results and possibly contribute to new research. Online education has allowed professionals to realize their dream. They can engage in new studies while maintaining their current position by completing lessons on a convenient time schedule for them. Advanced degrees, such as the WFU Online Master of Arts in Counseling are reputable, accredited programs that uphold standards for a quality education.

Busy Mom Lifesaver: Yummi Pouch

Disclaimer: I received product in exchange for my review. I was not asked to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

My family is gone for the whole day a lot either running errands, or just out having fun. Sometimes, my kids stay overnight while we go on investigations. Recently, the family went on an overnight trip. What does all of this have in common? It can be difficult with a 9 month old and a almost 4 year old.

The biggest challenge for my family is making sure that they both eat nutritionally, but in a manner that is handy for travel. Especially for the baby, this can be a bit daunting. It is a little easier with the Tbomb, but since he insists on having apple sauce every-single-day, that can be difficult.

An amazing company recently came to my rescue.


Yummi Pouch is a reusable and squeezable snack pouch that makes eating on the go so much simpler. The zipper seal opening makes filling and washing very easy. You can even get a spoon that goes on the nozzle to make feeding infants easier.



Why buy those expensive pouches that are not refillable? These are just as much fun, green, dishwasher save, freezer safe, and you can put whatever you want to in them. Yummi Pouches are available in 2.5 to 10oz sizes.

Uses:
Let frozen baby food square defrost for easy feeding
Applesauce
Yogurt
Frozen Yogurt/ Icecream (Keep an extra in the diaper bag for grabbing on the go)
Smoothies (When you freeze a smoothie, it doubles as an ice pack for lunches)
Pudding
Baby food (I mix the cereal, add fruit or veggie and pour in- great for feeding Kodabug)
Do you make your own baby food? Freeze and store in Yummi Pouches!
Use them for condiment dispensers and other creative uses.

When we went on our overnight trip, I fixed meals and snacks for both days and put them in the Yummi Pouch for easy feeding. I use girl/boy labels so that I know which snack/ meal belongs to which kid. You can even use a dry erase marker to label for each kid, or the specific meal. I'm telling you, this product is a busy mom's dream come true.

While we were away, I just put whichever meal I would need at that time in my freezable bag and headed out. I now keep a pouch spoon in that bag for them. Eating in a restaurant is much easier now and there is no need to worry about bowls coming open or trying to mix food on the go. Tbomb likes them because he can use them too.

The Yummi Pouch works perfectly for days out and fits perfect in my small freezable pouch.

My Thoughts: Yummi Pouch is one of the most versatile products for children and babies I have ever used. Not just for applesauce. Use them from birth on up with different purposes for each stage of childhood. No kids? Well, there are so many uses that anyone can benefit from a Yummi Pouch. They are durable enough for a preschooler, but easy enough for an infant. Attach the standard pouch spoon and infant feeding is even easier. Label with stickers or dry erase markers. The larger size has an expandable bottom, so that it will stand while filling. Cleaning is a breeze with a bottle cleaner, or dishwasher. You can even freeze them. I have seen some reviews stating that they leak, however, no matter how much I squeezed them, they did not leak. The double zipper prevents leaking very well.  I will be adding to my collection. My family will use them for years to come.

Yummi Pouch sets start at only $7.99, which is the cost of only a few prefilled pouches. I don't know about you, but I prefer reusable items! Be sure to grab an insulated pouch to keep those snacks cool or warm!

Get started with one of these gift sets.

Yummi Pouch little munchkin set Yummi Pouch reusable food pouch set

Yummi Pouch has recently released eco-friendly cloth snack and sandwhich bags in a variety of sizes. Don't worry, these are next on my list!

Introducing Yummi Pouch cloth snack bags




Yummi Pouch is offering a discount to readers of The Palmetto Queen: PARTY4YP for 10% off
 

Stay Inspired with Gold Foil Prints from Troublemakr

Disclaimer: I received a sample in exchange for my honest review. I was not asked to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 


To me, this quote just says it all. I live my day dream every day. Now, when life is getting hectic, or I'm stressed trying to get things done, I just look at this beautiful print above my desk and I'm reminded that I'm living the life I chose to dream about.

Anastasia from The Troublemakr shop on Etsy is truly a beautiful and talented lady. She is an amazing graphic and fashion designer. Plus, she makes these beautiful prints that will make any lady's heart pitter patter.

Get prints varying from Disney characters, Hollywood Icons, cartoons, and quotes. She now has gold foil prints, silver foil prints, and even impressionist prints. They are so beautiful, I almost couldn't decide which I wanted.

Fairy Tales Gold Foil Print

Girl Conquer World Quote Silver Foil Print

Louboutin Shoes Print - Impressionist

Anastasia takes great pride in her prints and this is shown in the shipping materials. There were no bends and the print was even in a plastic sleeve! 

The quality of the print is astounding. The paper is of high quality and the printing itself is impeccable. 

These prints are perfect for gifts- bridal, baby, birthday, Christmas, graduation, and even for yourself! 

Be sure to check out the Troublemakr specials on the site home page. 2 for $20/ 2 for $30/ and 3 for $50. (There are multiple sizes available. 



Cherokee NC: A Family Destination

One of my family's favorite destinations is the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina. It is only a couple hour drive from home, so we take off to visit when we want to get away, for birthdays, for celebrations, and just because. We have even been known to take off for just the day. We'll drive up, do some shopping, have lunch, and walk around the park. When we head home, we hit the rock shops and do some more shopping. Even for day trips, we get home late afternoon.



We have our favorite place to eat, favorite shops, but we always manage to find something new to do. Check out our pinspiration for Cherokee, NC. If you are close, and haven't been- you really must. If you have been, what is your favorite place?


Follow Cari George (The Palmetto Queen, CariOnDesigning, Owl Creek Academy, NighLon, and Paralina Radio)'s board Cherokee, NC on Pinterest.



Don't worry, I will share our favorite spots in more detail, including the burger joint we will drive up to just so we can eat in this amazing restaurant. Want to know where to stay? I'll share a few options from experience.

Hookah Time

Disclaimer: I have been compensated in the form of product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

As many of you know, I am a smoker. Well, before anyone starts on the health train, let me just say that I know its not healthy and all that- that has not helped remedy the situation that far. We do, however make adjustments to help the quantity of cigarettes, as well as the quality of air in our home.

The biggest adjustment is that we do not smoke in the house. While its nice to sit out on the porch and enjoy a cig with my coffee, sometimes I can just not go outside. Sometimes, I am on a roll and need to stay at my computer. Enter- Vaping Cricket.

Vaping Cricket is your go to site for all your ecig and vape needs. I was blown away at the prices. With a $40 credit, this is what I received (They even threw in a sucker- cool!)


The particular Hookah I wanted was out of stock, but they have amazing customer service and gave me options. They told me I could wait for restock or I could let them make it up to me, so they sent me this: 

Tsunami E-Liquid Flavor:: white spirits - 18mg nicotine
Ego-T Combo Blister Pack - Silver
eGo-T Case

This was a great shipment to get started with. 

First Impressions: The customer service is beyond fantastic, could not have done better myself. The packaging and shipping speed/ method is quick and appropriate to the product. So far, the battery lasts quite a while and the flavor is great. I am also ecstatic that I received an extra tank, so I can try out different flavors. 

I will definitely review again to update after using several times. 

Family Fanatics: Game Time Memories

Fanatics is currently running a fun initiative called Family Fanatics, challenging me with describing how sports has brought my family together. Fanatics is an online retailer of all sorts of sports apparel and merchandise – MLB caps, NBA jerseys, and much more. I have not been compensated for this post, I just wanted to help spread the word and tell my story!

I never was an athlete, I have always enjoyed sports, but I just never had time to be on a team. However, sports were still very important in our family. We would watch sports, and both of my brothers played baseball. The youngest brother also played football, soccer, and managed the basketball team. We attended these games and many more games as a family.

Starting when I was very young, my dad and I would watch the Superbowl every year together. My mom never understood what the big deal was, but she kept my brothers busy and made sure dad and I had everything we could want on this very special day. As soon as football training began for the year, dad and I were contemplating who the adversaries would be for the season. 

Super Bowl XXX logo

My dad has always had 3 favorite teams- the Cowboys, 49ers, and the Steelers. Because of this, one Super Bowl really sticks out in my mind. In 1996 the Cowboys won against the Steelers and my dad was on cloud nine. I remember my mom thinking we had lost our minds because we were just that excited. 

Well, I thought she was crazy, but that would be remedied about 10 years later. Fast forward to my baby brother's first season playing football. He was a linebacker and loved the game. Of course my mom and I attended the games to support him. I loved every minute of it, but mom didn't see the point in a bunch of teenage boys chasing a football around a field. 

That all changed one game. We were watching and I was cheering. She asked why I was so excited, so I explained the play and points to her. A light went off in her mind and she was hooked. She began looking forward to games like I did. We went to every game we could get to, but some were just too far away. 

My brothers and I after a championship game. Guess who won... (hint: see those smiles?)

It became not just cheering for my brother, but all of us connecting on something that was so important to the whole family. I even changed my work schedule around so that I knew I was off for each game. Mom and I would plan to spend the whole day together and then take my brother out to dinner after the game, unless the team was going together. 

Mom made friends with the other football moms, when she had always been shy and only got close to the parents of our friends. We got to know the coaches and players- we were all like a big family. I had been out of school for a few years, but being at my Alma Mater cheering for these guys was just a wonderful experience.  I often look back to these days and know how much fun it will be when it is time for my own children to join the club of team sports. 

I was born a fanatic, I get so excited cheering for any sport. Most of my cheering these days is with preschooler games, crawling and walking achievements, paintball, and even xbox games. 

Are you a FANATIC


Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, I just wanted to participate in the Family Fanatics campaign. 

Easier Diaper Changing with Huggies Slip-Ons #Sponsored

Disclosure: I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Huggies. I received product samples to facilitate my review and to thank me for my participation.

I find myself looking back over the past four years with wonder and amazement. These two little ones both have my heart and although they are both so sweet and both have my heart, they are completely different. Both of them have these personalities that are larger than life and were evident very early in infancy. Tbomb was a little shy, very loving, and pretty much went with the flow. Kodabug is completely different. Although she is very loving, she is extremely outgoing, even at 9 months old. 

Kodabug is determined, curious, and adventurous. This transfers over to everything she does. She hit all the milestones early, and is already pulling up and standing (although it has to be on her terms). She crawls everywhere, touches everything, and does not like being still. 

This tends to make diaper changing difficult, since she doesn't want to be in the same place very long. Almost as soon as I get the Kodabug situated for a fresh diaper, she is rolling over crawling off, or trying with everything she has to pull up (usually using my hair). Needless to say, changing diapers now happens in the floor. 

When little ones are in this phase of moving and rockin' all over the place, diapers do not always do a good job of staying put. Well, Huggies to the rescue with their Little Movers Slip-On Diapers




Did you hear that adorable jabbering. Miss Kodabug wouldn't stand long enough to get a good picture, but that's just her personality!

Little Movers Slip-On Diapers from Huggies are designed with the newly standing and walking baby in mind. We all know how difficult it is to get them to stay still lying down. Well, stop changing them and start dressing!

In addition to Huggies' amazing Leak Lock protection, the diapers come pre-fastened, so all you have to do is slip it on. The amazing stretchy sides leave no read marks, and have these handy tabs for quick roll up and even easy adjustments, if needed. 

Thank you Huggies for making my life easier, diaper changing less hectic, and a wonderful diaper for little movers!

Huggies would like to offer a $1 off coupon to help you try out Little Movers Slip-On diapers. You must be a Huggies.com member (if you aren't, you really should be!). Just head on over and get your coupon for $1 off one package of slip-on diapers. Want a sweeter deal? Share the link with 3 friends and get $1.50 off. Who doesn't love helping fellow moms! Just go here to get your coupon: http://huggies.com/firstfit





Pets Can Be Gross, But UV Lights Are Fun

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.



I love this UV flashlight. It is great for its intended purpose of finding pet urine stains. I also like to use it as a "homemade" invisible ink game with the kids. We even use it in our paranormal investigations. Great light and worth the money!

After more uses, I am blown away by this light. We have puppies and they are not completely trained yet. I could smell the urine but could not find it. I got down on the floor with the UV light and found that the pup had urinated under the couch. That was much easier than pulling out all the furniture finding it that way. Thanks to the UV light, Pinesol, odoban, and lysol, we are odor free. My sanity is still there, so I am one happy mommy!
You can purchase UV Sight's #1 Ultraviolet Blacklight Stain & Urine Detector Torch through Amazon for $14.97 (plus, free shipping).

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Made for Mom: Snack-Trap

Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for my review. I was not asked to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

I have mentioned before that life gets crazy at times, especially in the summer. We seem to just be on the go all the time. Even if we aren't on the go, life is still hectic with me trying to keep caught up on work and plan for things to come and the upcoming school year. Well, snacking just got easier.



Made for Mom: Snack-Trap sent me a box of goodies to try out with the kids. They have made my life so much easier. 

 
 
The No-Spill Bottle Cap Set is probably my favorite item. No more fighting with sippy cups and making sure that he doesn't leave the table with a "big boy cup" or regular drink bottle. Just twist the appropriate size on and you are good to go. It has even been boy tested- no taking the lid off. I had this frog bowl that I got at Dollar Tree (pack of two) that the whole set and color code fit in perfectly. Now, I keep it in the diaper bag, but if he is going with his Nanny for the day, I just toss it in his nap sack and he's good to go, no matter what life throws his way!











Next up (although close second) is definitely the Snack-Trap itself. Made for Mom sent us packs of 2. One came with a solid lid that fits perfectly over the snack flaps. They also sent a lid combo pack, which includes replacement snack lid and extra solid lid. Tbomb is almost 4, so he can remove the lids and even push the flaps down and pour out the snack, but I think the Snack-Trap serves its purpose. If the container is dropped, the snacks do not spill out, which was my main concern. It takes me back to a trip to the doctors office. Tbomb has this Elmo bowl he used to take snack in every where. Kodabug was there for her first check up and Tbomb was following along dropping cereal with every step. No more, thanks to Snack-Trap. 










The tethers they sent us so amazing they now have a permanent place in the diaper bag. Take Me With Tether is perfect for tethering the Snack-Trap, cups with handles, toys, and so much more. It comes in a pack of two and I cannot even count how many times we have used them, for both kids. The Drink Bottle Tether is more heavy duty and made specifically for cups and bottles. It is great for keeping Kodabug's sippy cup off the floor and for keeping Tbomb's drink within reach in the car. Beware though, it is heavy duty, so if the cup is decorated, the paint can be scratched off. We just use it with the solid cups. 

Snack-Trap has been a life saver this summer with all of our running and even staying at home. Thanks to Snack-Trap, this mom is staying a little more sane this summer, even with an extra kid!

Snack-Trap was nice enough to send some extra samples, so you readers of The Palmetto Queen get a chance to win some great prizes. One lucky winner will receive:
  • Set of 2 Snack-Traps
  • Lid Combo Pack
  • Take Me With Tether (2 pack)
To win, just comment and let me know how Snack-Trap could save your sanity this summer!


Catch Anything with Catchy Clip

Disclosure: I received a product in exchange for my review. I was not asked to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 


We've all been there. We are digging around the bottom of our huge mom bags (or even small mom bags) looking for our keys or store cards while the kids or cashier are not too happy with the length of time it takes to find something in our bags. 

I know some bags have key hooks, but those never work for me. It always takes way too long to hook the keys on. 

Well, I received the coolest product ever- The Catchy Clip! This little (but very strong) magnet has an alligator clip on it that clips to the inside of your bag, where ever you want it. Then, the key ring has the cutest little jewel on it with a magnet on the back side. When you put your keys away, just let the magnets meet and they will be right where you left them. 


I have even gotten in the habit of hooking my sunglasses through the key ring so that they do not drift to the bottom and get crushed. 


Who doesn't love beautiful gems and cute flowers?! 

Catchy Clips have been a lifesaver for me trying to get in the door and the car with two kids and everything else that goes along with the kids. 

I am even ordering a few more- pacifier pack in the diaper bag; flashlight, voice recorder, and whistle in my investigation pack; and even keep things handy in the car. 

Extra Organizing with Extension Cords

I received this as part of an advertorial.

I don't know about you guys but I end up taking my laptop with me a lot. I tend to need an extension cord, but do not feel comfortable using a plain old household type. I just feel that it is not strong enough, plus the outlet is wrong and I don't care to use an adapter. Also, I find that the utility cords are just too long and I trip over them. Until recently I've been at a loss for what to do and just used what I had on hand.


Thanks to SolidCordz, I now have a premium 6 foot heavy duty extension cord for all my equipment and computer needs when I'm away from home (which is a good bit now).  Even better, it comes in a pack of two. 
Solid Cordz® 6 foot extension cable is the solution to your electronics and power equipment reaching problems. This sturdy and long-lasting 72-inch length extension wire can give your room a clean and organized look. The cable is thicker than the usual which houses a 16 AWG wire. The cables are fully rated for 125 volt/13 Amp applications.
I no longer worry that my computer is not safe or that the power is not transferring appropriately. Plus, the easy grip ends make sure the ground is right and make plugging and unplugging a little easier.

The SolidCordz premium 6 foot extension cord is proven and tested for its top-quality: Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed & CSA approved. It also boasts a “No questions asked Lifetime 100% money back guarantee”

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Best Tool Ever!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I had the opportunity to try out this really cool flashlight from LumenX. It is a bike mount with a removable flashlight. It even comes with a red reflector that will attach to a bike as well. The mount is amazing and the light is as well. Of course, I let the little guy try it out on his bicycle. He had fun!






Well, after TBomb had his fun, mommy took her new toy back. One of my favorite things to do is to find alternative uses for gadgets. If it works great on a bike, there has to be another use, right? Well, I found several other uses for this bike mount.

As most of you know, I am a paranormal investigator. I investigate hauntings and cryptid sightings. I also have Paralina, which is a paranormal entertainment organization. I host events, video shows, and podcasts. The LumenX bike mount flashlight has proven to be indispensable to me in the field. We even used the reflector to mark static equipment in the field.

I mounted it to my tripod (which I also use as a monopod to hold the camera still). I also put my external microphone it, which turned out to be extremely handy. My favorite thing about being able to do this is that I can have my flashlight mounted with my camera and that allows me to keep a hand free.





The flashlight is such a great size that it is just as versatile as the mount. It is a great size to hold, has a wrist strap, and fits in other adapters. I placed it n my microphone stand, just to see if it would work. I'm sure I will be using it in this manner a good bit as well.


The LumenX flashlight deserves a blog post of its own, but because I do not want to leave you hanging, I'll go ahead and share my thoughts. To sum it up, this is the best flashlight in the world! It truly is an amazing light. 

The light has a push button at the back end, which is great for turning it on one handed and for turning it on in a hurry. It has two modes: flashing and steady. You can switch between the modes via the button. The lens end slides back and forth to adjust the strength and size of the beam. The light is extremely clear. 

On Friday night, a few of us headed out to look for sneaky creatures in the woods and it was very dark. Even with the full moon, the darkness of the forest was unbearable. Everyone had flashlights, but my Lumenx was brighter than all of theirs combined. In fact, one other team member and myself headed out of the woods to watch the treeline, but I insisted they keep my light with them in case of emergency. 

That takes me to my other point. Having the flashing light is a good idea for anyone, but especially bicycle riders and anyone who spends time in the woods at night. If someone is in trouble, switch modes and everyone knows to come running. 

This light will remain in my investigation pack, I will never be without it again, I had taken some video showing the comparison of the lights, but I had to turn the video in with evidence, so I will make another video showing all of the features of the LumenX bike light. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Survival Gear: Gerber Knife

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.


I was so excited to have the opportunity to review the Bear Grylls knife by Gerber.  Being that my family spends so much time in the woods, we have been putting together our survival gear. We have a couple of different projects going now. We are working on survival in case the economy crashes, but the main concern is survival in case of severe weather or lost in the woods. My husband and father-in-law have been checking on our knives, machetes, guns, and other weaponry and categorizing it for use. When I asked my father-in-law to try out this great knife, he was so excited. He started right away putting it to the test. 
He started out just putting it through the normal wear and tear tests, trying to break it and such. He could not break it, so he moved on to more practical uses. He said it was great the throw and has an amazing blade. It is a nice simple knife that is rugged enough for every day and strenuous use. It even comes with a survival book. 

I think my family will order a few more of these! 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Keep Calm and Drink Chai

Disclaimer: I received a product to test. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions are my own. 

As I've mentioned before, I used to work in a bookstore, that was also a coffee shop. I dreamed for years of opening a coffee shop. Seriously, I love everything that is involved in coffee shops (and book stores).

When I first discovered Chai, I was amazed. I had my usual Caramel Macchioto with 2 extra shots of espresso every morning, but I usually wanted something different in the afternoon, so I tried Spiced and Vanilla Chai. I started craving them almost as much as I do coffee. Well, I have only had a few since leaving my job to be a stay at home mom (read: work at home mom). I have often found myself wishing for one in the afternoons, but never could find a grocery store product that I really enjoyed.

Then, Nature's Guru contacted me and asked me to do a review of their Instant Vanilla Chai. Of course, after trying different brands, I was skeptical of trying another at home Chai. I tried it and my skepticism was soon put at ease.




Confession: I do cheat a little. Since I drink my Chai in the afternoon, and need a boost- I add a scoop of instant coffee to the mix. 

To enjoy this amazingly delicious drink (really, dessert), just add 6 to 8 oz of hot water to a Chai packet in a cup and stir. 

Here's a little secret- if you want something cold, or more creamy (although its already creamy) just do what I do. 



Add just enough hot water to for the mix to melt, add milk (or cold water) to make it a whole serving. You can even add in a scoop of instant coffee before you add the cold. I even added a scoop of coffee ice cream one day- talk about heaven! 

Nature's Guru sent me 3 extra boxes to do with as I wish. As much as I know you would like to win a box, I did something a little differently with my extras. I help out with a group for new first time moms. We've all been there and know how hard this time in life is and sometimes we just need a treat. I thought these moms could use a treat, so I took the Vanilla Chai and some cookies to the last group meeting. These moms just loved it and were blown away at the gesture. Each mom left group feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. 

These moms were so excited about this simple treat, so they had to know where they could get their own Nature's Guru Vanilla Chai, and even wrote down the different ways that I told them to make it. 

Get your own Nature's Guru Vanilla or other flavor Instant Chai. (Amazon)





Mobile Orthodontist, Yes Please!

My kids do not yet have the need for an Orthodontist, but I received an email about the coolest service, so I wanted to share with my magnificent readers. Consider it my birthday (it's my birthday) present to you. A new service is coming to upstate South Carolina. A mobile orthodontist is perfect for those busy moms that you fabulous ladies are. Be sure to look for a way to share your thoughts about this service soon.

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Upstate Orthodontist Selects Jeff Dezen Public Relations (JDPR)
as PR Agency-of-Record

Dr. Tom Atkinson Engages JDPR to Launch “The BraceMobile”: SC’s First Ever Mobile Orthodontics Clinic

Greenville, S.C. Dr. Tom Atkinson, fondly known as “Dr. Tom” — leading orthodontist in Greenville, SC, for 24 years and SC’s first ever mobile orthodontist — has selected Jeff Dezen Public Relations (JDPR) to be the practice’s PR agency-of-record. Based in Greenville, SC, and in its 23rd year of operation, JDPR will provide guidance on brand development, strategic planning and communications across all media platforms. Importantly, the firm will guide Dr. Tom in his innovative launch of South Carolina’s first ever mobile orthodontics clinic, “The BraceMobile.”

The BraceMobile will continue to provide the first-class service that Dr. Tom is known for in the community with the added convenience of on-site appointments at schools, offices, rec centers and other easy-to-access locations. The BraceMobile will feature a complete, modern orthodontic clinic on wheels, with Dr. Tom delivering all patient care. In addition, Dr. Tom will continue to serve patients at his current office at 20 Creekview Court, off of Roper Mountain Road Extension in Greenville.

Tom Atkinson, the self-proclaimed Sheriff of Smiles, expressed his excitement about his new concept: “In today’s world, time is our most valuable asset. I’m confident that there is a HUGE opportunity to save my patients and their families an inordinate amount of travel time on each appointment. Quality care plus unparalleled convenience are what my patients can count on.”

On his relationship with JDPR, Dr. Tom added, “JDPR’s professionals have years of experience working with both local and national brands on pioneering campaigns. The communications insight and business accumen that they have brought to this project have been invaluable. I couldn’t have picked a better partner.”

Jeff Dezen, president of JDPR, stated, “Dr. Tom is a first class orthodontist and an insightful businessman. His concept for a mobile clinic is both revolutionary and simple at the same time. For his patients, nothing will change except for the elimination of countless hours spent sitting in traffic; it’s brilliant. As always, we love to help develop forward-thinking brands, and Dr. Tom’s BraceMobile is no exception. We are honored to be part of his team.”

# # #


About Dr. Tom . . .

Dr. Tom Atkinson, fondly known as “Dr. Tom,” has been practicing orthodontics in Greenville, South Carolina, for 24 years. He is the first and only orthodontist in South Carolina to offer patient service through a comprehensive mobile clinic, called “The BraceMobile.” For more information, see: http://drtomsortho.com.

About JDPR . . .
JDPR began in 1991 with a clear objective: to always exceed the expectations of our clients. In the decades since, we have established ourselves as an industry-leading corporate communications agency that specializes in strategic public relations planning, proprietary program development and demonstrable ROI.
The JDPR team crafts impactful campaigns, stemming from deliberate business analysis and creative idea generation. Our passion for storytelling and community-building adds value to our clients’ brands.
Support services include social media and SEO strategy, national and regional media relations, cause-related marketing campaigns, internal communications and crisis management.
JDPR represents companies of all sizes who appreciate a collaborative approach, a commitment to excellence and measuring results. Learn more at http://jdpr.com.

Zipadee-do-da #Giveaway: Win over 50 Prizes

Sleeping Baby - Zipadee-Do-Da Giveaway
The Zipadee-Do-Da Giveaway is here! We’re helping parents discover some of the coolest brands and products for their families. We have over 50 amazing brands coming together to give you a chance to win unique, innovative gifts for baby, kids and even mom! ONE LUCKY WINNER will receive ALL PRIZES - 55 to be exact! Everyone who enters the giveaway will receive something special after the giveaway as a thank you. Giveaway will run from May 27th through June 20th. Entering is easy and can be done below via our Rafflecopter below the prizes listed on this page…the more points you earn the better chance you have to win!
Please share with friends and family and good luck!

Scroll below the entry form to get more info on our wonderful sponsors and prizes!

Sponsors:

Sleeping Baby - Zipadee-Do-Da Sponsors

Prizes:

So what are the AMAZING prizes? Here are the Participating Brands (Giveaway Open to U.S. Residents Only):
SleepingBaby.com - Home of the Zipadee-Zip
sleeping-baby Sleeping Baby’s Zipadee-Zip is a unique solution to help baby transition from swaddling. The star-shaped Zipadee-Zip works like magic and provides babies with the snug feeling of security (the womb-like environment) while still allowing for the freedom of movement of pajamas. With Zipadee-Zip, babies are free to stand up, crawl, roll, walk and move around safely. This versatile sleep garment has 7+ uses and is works like a charm to help babies fall asleep and stay asleep. The Zipadee-Zip is ideal for transitioning babies from swaddling or for babies who do not like to be swaddled. www.sleepingbaby.com Positivity Pulse Jangala giveaway graphic Jangala Tribal Warriors: Living, Growing and Learning From The Heart is the first book of a series designed to increase children's capacity to handle their feelings and conflicts while building healthy and strong relationships. The concepts are based on positive psychology, Nurtured Heart(R) language and rational thinking skill building. Two of the younger characters, Nina and Gabby get entangled in a conflict that stemmed from teasing and we learn how the entire tribe stands together to make change for the better in their Jangala-a magical rainforest where peaceful, loving communities and tribes are the norm and expectation. www.positivitypulse.com Bitybean bitty Our expertly optimized baby carrier is unique within the baby-wearing market, weighing only 8 oz and packing as small as a child's water bottle! The carrier is safe, comfortable and conveniently pack-able, giving on-the-go parents the freedom to be ready for anything - from shopping to hiking, travel and family adventures. www.bitybean.com
Today I Ate a Rainbow
todayrainbow The award winning Today I Ate A Rainbow kit gets kids ASKING to eat their fruits and veggies by turning healthy eating into a fun game! The rainbow kit comes with a magnetic chart, 4 sets of tracking magnets, The Rainbow Bunch book and a money back guarantee. Today I Ate A Rainbow's mission is to get kids excited about eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables because childhood is the best time to set healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime!
Maria Dismondy
mariadismondy
What's more fun than showing your baby how to blow kisses? Teaching them how to display respect, empathy, and other powerful traits that will support them on their journey through life. A Note to Families: Start empowering your baby to live an extraordinary life by modeling positive character traits. This book reminds us that an infant can begin exhibiting acts of kindness well before they are walking and talking. http://www.mariadismondy.com BabyNav Baby Planners babynav BabyNav Baby Planners is a premiere baby planning service, offering private and personalized consultation to expecting and new families. We provide unsurpassed service leaving you feeling fully prepared, while reducing stress and allowing every member of the family to embrace the magic and joy of pregnancy. But we don't stop there. We also specialize in the post-partum support you need to feel confident and content while navigating the world with your new infant. Whether you are expecting a single baby or multiples, if this is your first or your fourth baby, you are a working or a stay-at-home mom, we offer the services to meet your needs including baby gear consulting, custom registration management, personal shopping, gear preparation, nursery stocking, nursery organization, multiples preparation, concierge services and more! http://www.babynavbabyplanners Nizo Wear nizo-wear-copy Nizo Wear nursing bras feature a unique patented pocket in the pull down flap that can hold a warm or cool pack. The pocket acts as a thin barrier between wearer’s skin and the heating or cooling pack, which increases comfort and safety. The Nizo Wear design has removable molded cups and the pocket also holds a nursing pad. In addition to the innovative functionality, Nizo Wear is made from amazingly soft fabrics and designed with lace, rhinestones, playful prints, and shapely lines to help moms feel stylish and good again — even when nursing. Nizo Wear nursing bras currently come in three feminine styles: the Serenity Nursing Bra, Solace Nursing Bra, and the Allure Nursing Bra. www.nizowear.com zCush zcush A mom-owned and mom-run company focused on making life a little easier with a newborn! This 5-in-1 baby nap mat is perfect for napping, feeding, diaper changing, playing, and holding a newborn with better support and comfort. zCush first launched the baby nap mats at the end of 2010 and has seen exceptional growth over the past few years. They will soon be introducing new designs and patterns to their Baby Nap Mat product line. http://www.zcush.com Girlie Glue girlieglue Girlie Glue is an all-natural accessory glue used to stick bows to babies skin or hair, earrings on unpierced ears, holds toddler hair out of their face, for pets etc. It lasts all day and dissolves easily in water at the end of the day. Girlie Glue is all natural, lost lasting, and has a million uses! http://girlieglue.com Short Stack Jack - Carseat Sidekick carseatsidekick The Carseat Sidekick™ was an invention of necessity. While taking our first child home from the hospital and laying him in his car seat, we realized there was no way to easily get the car seat straps out from underneath him, without waking him up and making him cry. Together, we created the Carseat Sidekick™. The Carseat Sidekick™ is not only extremely functional, it's also chic and attractive in design with a variety of colors to match your carseat. It is compatible with all major carseat brands. http://www.shortstackjack.com/ Psi Bands psibands Psi Bands are the only stylish drug-free wrist bands FDA-cleared for the relief of nausea due to pregnancy. Psi Bands are the only bands that are adjustable at both the acupressure point and around the wrist to fit the user to allow for swelling that sometimes occurs during pregnancy and travel. They are also waterproof (no more soggy wristbands), reusable, and affordable. Psi Bands are drug-free, so they don't cause side effects such as drowsiness and dry mouth, and, most importantly, won't harm your fetus or interfere with other medications. http://psibands.com Baby Bump Bundle babybump The BumpBundle is here to simplify the crazy world of pregnancy and baby products for gift givers, or mothers-to-be themselves. Each bundle is tailored to the three trimesters and can be ordered at any stage of the pregnancy. Then when the bundle of joy arrives, the BabyBundle gift box makes the perfect present. With the mother and baby in mind, Baby Bump Bundle, LLC, offers BumpBundle gift boxes for pregnant moms and BabyBundle gift boxes filled with goodies for newborn babies. Winner receives a $25 E-Gift Card to use on babybumpbundle.com towards pregnancy, baby, and nursing mom products or bundles! http://www.babybumpbundle.com San Diego Bebe® sandiegobebe The mom-invented, eco-friendly nursing pillow that offers support, comfort, and discretion for mom and baby. For nearly 20 years we have been providing moms with the best Eco-Nursing pillows that allows a mother to comfortably nurse her baby in private while being the safest choice for the environment and safe for babies. Winner receives a $20 gift card. www.doubleblessings.com Babee Talk babeetalk Do you ever worry about whether or not the products you give to your child are safe and healthy? As a parent, you have so much to think about and the last thing you need to worry about is whether the crib your baby is sleeping in, the clothes he is wearing and the toys he is playing with are non-toxic and safe. Babee Talk® launched in 2014 with organic bedding and accessories. Chew-friendly, drool-friendly and organic inside and out, these products ensure a healthy start in life for babies. Eco-Buds Take-Along Pals are the organic, take-anywhere toy. They attach to high chairs, carriers, strollers and the Eco-Teether Crib Rail Cover. http://www.babeetalk.com Baby J babyjco This perfect padded baby play mat was designed for the germ-conscious mom who always wants a clean area for their little one. The baby play mat is crafted with vibrant and colorful, 100% cotton, designer fabric on one side, and super plush minky on the other. It's comfy and cozy for any new baby, and great for tummy time. This Baby J play mat is soft enough for baby to lay his face on, and the minky dots give him something to poke at. Not to mention, the modern and chic fabrics will make any mom look and feel fashionable the second they pull it out of the diaper bag. This is a definite must have for a new mom and baby. www.babyj.com yoomi yoomi The yoomi 3-in-1 feeding system is a premium easi-latch bottle, a travel warmer and a bedside warmer in one compact and stylish package. At the touch of a button, yoomi warms baby's milk to the natural temperature of breastmilk in just 60 seconds. Now includes the NEW super-quick charging pod to make feeding even easier. http://www.yoomi.com Rockin' Baby rockinbaby This is a bright orange ring sling made from 100% cotton with red rings. This is the same sling given to Mothers in Haiti and Kenya! For every sling purchase, the brand donates a Hero Sling to a mother in need and educate her on its importance, Mother to Mother. http://www.rockinbaby.com Wee Urban wee-urban Wee Urban™ offers the modern family a unique and fresh collection of baby gear and accessories that goes beyond the conventional and explores the exceptional! Tired of traditional pinks and blues and cute motifs, we offer sophisticated designs, “conscious” organic alternatives, practical functionality and superior quality. Using our custom certified organic cotton blends, low-impact dyes, and other trendsetting fabrics, we hope to inspire families to be make better choices and of course- do it all in urban style! www.weeurban.com PunkinWrap punkin Introducing the PunkinWrap - the only wrap purposefully designed to function safely and easily as a Nursing Cover, Stroller Sunshade, Car Seat Cover, Changing Pad, Chest Carrier Wrap, and Tummy Time Mat - oh, and a Shield from Nosy Strangers! Created by a Mom and Made in the USA! The winner of this giveaway gets one PunkinWrap which includes an oversized wrap (35" x 28"), 8 PunkinLinks, Nursing Strap, and a PunkinPouch to keep it all together. Winner has their choice of running line fabrics. http://www.punkinwrap.com Noblo noblo Noblo is a practical, problem-solving product that anchors beach umbrellas for safety and sun protection, invented by two moms to stop fly-away beach umbrellas. Noblo is a simple to use beach umbrella anchor that keeps the beach umbrella from flying in the breeze. Noblo is made in New Jersey, packaged by physically and mentally handicapped people and Noblo donates to the lifeguards. http://www.thenoblo.com Swimlids swimlids Swimlids are a mom invented sun protection hat made for active kids. The hat was invented when the founder could not find a hat that her 7 year old daughter could wear on the boat or in the pool. Swimlids are a UPF 50+ sun protection hat for an active lifestyle. The hat stays on in the pool, on the boat, or at a windy beach. The hats are also great for tubing, surfing, kayaking, and more. The hat comes in Small (ages 1-3) Medium (4-8) Large (9+). The hats are made in fun bright colors. They are lightweight, packable, and a great item to toss in your beach bag. Swim. Splash. Play. Protect. http://www.swimlids.com Woombie Air woombie The new Woombie Air is the first breathable swaddle that allows excess body heat to escape and requires no wrapping. Invented by a mom of five, 20-year RN, and Infant Care Specialist, the 14-award winning Woombie is a unique peanut shaped swaddle that imitates the comfort and security of the womb resulting in longer periods of sleep. It helps reduce the risk of SIDS as well as prevents overheating, face-scratching, startling, and colic (voted as a top colic product by the Fussy Baby Site). Over a half a million babies and counting have used the Woombie and parents swear by it! www.woombie.com The BabyBindle Company babybindle Babybindle's aim is to make parent's lives better by providing Simple, Innovative and Functional products to assist in the ever challenging task of raising a family. They pride themselves with Best in Class customer service and support, to help parents navigate the challenging world of baby products. Babybindle's products solve everyday parenting needs. The SeatPak can be filled with your necessities, easily attach it to your car seat, shopping cart, luggage, stroller or anywhere you don't want to haul your huge diaper bag around. Whether it is a quick trip to the store, or a family trip to the zoo, save the pain of carrying too much, all you need are the essentials in the lightweight, hands-free portability of the SeatPak. http://www.babybindle.com Cardiff Booster Seat Headrest cardiff1
The Booster Seat Headrest is a revolutionary new device from Cardiff Products that provides support and comfort for a child asleep in a moving vehicle. Its thoughtful design can also accommodate user of all sizes. By attaching to your vehicle’s existing headrest with a simple, universal mount, the Booster Seat Headrest provides lateral support to keep a child’s head and body upright; comfortably aligned in the seat as they sleep. It is a thoughtfully designed, intelligent and simple solution to a problem that, until now has been a pain in the neck for kids and parents everywhere.
Meet You In Dreamland
meetdreamland
Welcome to "Meet you in Dreamland." A place where families can receive help and support in their quest for a better nights sleep for their little ones. Every family is different and therefore has different needs. Meet You in Dreamland strives to meet your family right where they are, and in partnership with you, to come up with a plan that everyone is comfortable and happy with.
Buti-Bag butipod Buti-bag aims to fulfill the need of moms everywhere seeking a items that are not only smart and versatile, but stylish as well. They create accessories for use by moms and kids in babyhood and beyond. Their uniquely designed Pods will keep your wet wipes moist for months instead of just days! Each buti pod is a soft and durable yet super-flexible and feather-light plastic pouch featuring a center zipper for easy wipes dispensing. Not only do they retain moisture in wet wipes of all kinds, they can also keep dry items DRY and organized, such as coupons, receipts and more. Similar in feel to a very thick ziploc bag, the are the best option to carry around those wipes for when you need them most. Made from environmentally-friendly EVA plastic, pods are recyclable and free from lead, BPA and phthalates. http://www.butibag.com Castle & Bay castleandbay Bridging the gap between inflatables and hard chairs the portable two-piece Sphinx Personal Lounger is perfect for the beach, pool or the hotel room. The media holder will hold the pages of your book open while lying on your tummy then doubles as a bolster while lying on your back. It has its own cup holder and cooler. Use the chest piece as a meditation cushion, as a kick board or float in the water or even as a lap tray. The Sphinx stows in its own mesh carry bag with a shoulder strap, weighs 2lbs., takes 12 breaths to inflate and deflates to the size of a loaf of bread. Take it with you anywhere as it stows in your beach bag or your suitcase. http://www.castleandbay.com Wristy Buddy wristy Wristy Buddy is a one piece teething wristband designed for babies that are teething that haven't developed the motor skills to hold traditional teething devices yet. Babies that can't grasp toys can manipulate Wristy Buddy. Wristy Buddy is made of absorbent materials to help keep little effaces and clothing dry. Its various textures and colors engage and stimulate. It is easily accessible to your teething baby and is more sanitary than traditional teething objects. http://www.wristybuddy.com Sand Gone sandgone Sand Gone is a dry powder that when applied to sandy parts of your body removes the sand leaving your skin soft and smooth. Works on both wet and dry skin. All natural ingredients with a coconut fragrance. A must for beachgoers or after playing in the sand. http://www.sandgone.com Smart Playrooms smartplayrooms
Smart Playrooms™ is both an educational and organizational service, based on the philosophy that physical surroundings have a profound impact on children’s behavior and how they interact, explore, and engage in the learning process. Smart Playrooms™ will convert your play area into a purposefully designed environment, where the organizational system, presentation, and selection of materials are customized to the developmental stages and interests of your children.
Baby Dipper babydipper The Baby Dipper bowl enables easy one-handed feeding of infants by parents and also helps toddlers learn to feed themselves. The Baby Dipper bowl’s unique combination of features includes a non-slip base, a triangular shape, transparent side walls, and a slanted interior that leads to a spoon-shaped collection point in the lower corner. Available in Bubble Blue or Tickled Pink, the Baby Dipper bowl comes with a matching spoon and fork. www.babydipper.com Bogg Bag boggbag Bogg bag is a large, tip-proof, waterproof, washable beach bag. In two sizes and many great colors bogg bag looks great wherever you go. Clear accessory bags pop into bag to keep smaller items at reach. Customize and accessorize with bogg bits for a personal touch. Truly a must have for the beach! http://www.boggbag.com Refresh-a-Baby refresh Refresh-a-Baby makes feeding time easy by conveniently converting your ordinary water bottle into a baby bottle, keeping your baby happy on the go! Just add baby formula! It's leak free, BPA Free, universal, convenient for travel, reusable, dish washer safe, recyclable, made in the USA, and a diaper bag must have! Refresh-a-Baby fits more than just water bottles! It easily pops on ready-made formula bottles and selected juice bottles making bottle feeding prep time and clean up a breeze! http://www.refreshababy.com 5 Phases 5phases 5 Phases is the first bottle feeding system to introduce an interchangeable glass insert. The unique design kept the Eco-mom in mind providing the healthful benefits of glass + the protection of BPA free plastic all while reducing the carbon footprint on the environment! The recyclable translucent plastic sleeve guards against breakage but contains the broken glass and liquid mess if breaking occurs making it a safer alternative in glass bottle feeding. The ability to buy additional glass inserts adds convenience and affordability and reduces the carbon footprint in the environment because you use less plastic. A perfect storage solution for pumped milk and formulas, the glass insert's grow with me feeding system is ideal for homemade baby food when baby has moved on from their bottles. Now that's eco- friendly! http://www.5phases.com Time IN Dolls timeindolls Parents who are looking for a unique kids’ toy that is both educational and useful can find one in Time IN Dolls. The MommyTime and DaddyTime dolls have built in timers that can be used to help teach the concept of time and patience in a way that is fun for children and easier for them to understand. Time is a difficult concept for kids to learn and can be just as difficult for parents to explain. Little ones who play with Time IN Dolls will develop a natural sense of time, especially when used for everyday activities. Learning about time with mom and dad becomes fun and easy with the dolls that also come with bonus features that teach kids basic motor skills: tie laces, Velcro, button, zip and snap! Time IN Dolls can be used for daily tasks like brushing teeth, hand washing, bath time, potty training and more. This also works for giving mom or dad their own personal time. When mom needs 5 minutes to finish up with dinner, let your child play with the doll for those 5 minutes so they learn to wait patiently until mom can give them her full attention. www.timeindolls.com Baby Jack Blankets babyjack Baby Jack Blankets brand offers a unique modern design to a baby tag blanket. Our patent pending design of ribbons sewn shut into tabs creates an added security feature for babies providing tactile stimulation. Babies develop cognitively, socially and emotionally through sensory play. http://babyjackblankets.com PullyPalz pullypalz-give This innovative toy not only entertains baby, it keeps a pacifier in view and reach! With PullyPalz, dropped pacis even come back… Which is great for those times when parents need an ‘extra hand’. The toy uses something similar to a pulley system… When baby drops one, and it falls to the side, another is in view and reach. By grabbing the one in view and pulling toward mouth, the dropped paci comes back! Mo Mo, Moo Moo, and Puddles are always ready to lend a hand…or hoof! www.pullypalz.com Babalu Baby & Kids babalu At Babalu Baby and Kids, they believe in the power of positive messages on children's apparel. The brand wants to inspire others by promoting love, kindness, hope, dreams, giving back and doing good things for others. The Babalu Brand Tees and Onesies reflects these values. They also are a partner for change with Jake's Diapers via their One 4 One campaign. For every Babalu Basics cloth diaper purchased in store, they donate one to Jake's, who in turn supplies orphanages around the world with clean, new cloth diapers. They are in the process of creating their own Non-profit called "Little Wishes" which will allow them to help make simple wishes come true for children in need in their community and beyond. http://www.babalubabyshop.com Zippyz zippyz
Zippyz® was created by mom, Lisa Youngelson, who like most new parents, had been up night after night changing her newborn son’s diaper. She was so exhausted she could barely function, let alone match up the tiny snaps on her baby’s pajamas. After endless research, Lisa realized there was nothing on the market that could be the solution to her problem. So, that night while feeding her son she thought of “Zippyz”. Zippyz® are a patented footed pajama with 3 snaps on the chest and a zipper from foot to belly. Finally, a solution suitable for baby AND mommy!!!
Strong Little Sleepers stronglittle Strong Little Sleepers specializes in helping families get the sleep they deserve. Lori Strong is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant and Certified Happiest Baby Educator. She works with families through email, phone, and in-home visits in order to help their children (ages 0-6) sleep better. When children sleep, parents sleep, and the entire family is happier! Lori was honored as Best Sleep Expert in the 2013 Austin Birth Awards. http://www.stronglittlesleepers.com Jinja Jewelry jinjaJinja Jewelry draws inspiration for its beautiful, high quality, handmade coral and silver jewelry from local and global trends in affordable jewelry and accessories. The best ideas are carefully crafted into an eclectic line of jewelry using local beach coral for necklaces, bracelets, and rings along with silver, rhodium, and semiprecious stones. Each piece of beautiful Jinja Jewelry is lovingly hand crafted by the people in Bali through a difficult and time consuming process for your wearing pleasure. http://jinjajewelry.net Buttons Diapers buttons Buttons' one-size diaper covers are soft, durable, and leak-proof. The doubler-gussets around the legs keep the mess in, so your little one can run, jump, climb, and sleep while your mind is at ease. Elastic at the back and tummy makes a custom fit.The durable snaps allow the covers to adjust to fit any baby (approximately 9-35 lbs.). Daytime inserts are made of 4 layers of absorbent microfiber, with a luxuriously soft layer of fleece on top. Buttons cloth inserts snap into the one-size diapers covers. Plus, they come in 2 sizes for your growing baby (small fits babies 9-20 lbs., large fits babies 20-35 lbs.). http://www.buttonsdiapers.com Rockin' Green rockingreen Rockin’ Green is made for families that care about taking care of themselves and the Earth. We can all do our part for the environment while doing something good for ourselves. Rockin’ Green products are made with a biodegradable plant-based and petroleum-free surfactant. They are septic and grey-water safe. They are never tested on animals. www.rockingreensoap.com Southern Yankee southern Southern Yankee is a small one-woman business that rescues vintage fabrics and handcrafted textiles from resale & consignment shops, flea markets and garage sale and turns them into something useful & beautiful. Their slogan is "Through our collecting, we pass on the fabrics of our mothers & grandmothers to our daughters & granddaughters." Winner receives an apron for your budding artist or chef, Handmade in Wilton CT from a vintage pillowcase. http://www.southernyankee.com Baby Elephant Ears babyelephant
Support your baby in Style with Baby Elephant Ears. A multi-use head support pillow that can go wherever baby goes: stroller, bouncy, swing and carseat. It is offered with a coordinating blanket backed in luxurious cuddle fabric.
Mountain Dreams Family Sleep Consulting mountaindreams Mountain Dreams provides personalized, one-on-one support to help children develop good sleep habits. Each child is unique as are their sleep problems and your concerns. They will put together a unique plan for your family after discussing your concerns and challenges. They will put this plan together using their vast knowledge and experience in the area of infant and child sleep to develop a customized sleep plan for your family. In addition, they are here to provide education and ongoing emotional support during the services offered. http://www.mountaindreams.ca ZizzyBee Bags zizzybee-bags
ZizzyBee Bags are handy, compact, reusable, washable storage bags convenient for every part of your life. The neat freak in your family will love that they help you store and organize just about anything! From diapers/wipes, make-up and sports gear, to even purse clutter these trendy bags makes organization easy and they’re see-through so you can easily find what you’re looking for.
Reduce single-use bag waste while keeping life’s clutter cleaned up. With two eco-friendly bag sizes to choose from, ZizzyBee Bags are a perfect fit for storage and organizational needs.
Cheekie Charlie cheekie Cheekie Charlie creates an unexpected spin on everyday basics with creative & functional design for infants and toddlers such as 3 interchangeable snap-on bib sets and screenprinted tees that are 100% cotton. http://www.cheekiecharlie.com Oh Sew Sporty sewsporty Oh Sew Sporty Bands feature fashionable grosgrain, glitter or sequin 7/8? or 1.5? ribbon on top, quality velvet ribbon on the bottom. Velvet grips your hair to keep it from sliding and serves to soak up sweat for those sporty girls who want to keep hair and sweat off their face. Sew Sporty Bands are perfect for moms too! Non-slip, adjustable, fashionable headbands - perfect for keeping hair in place and sweat out of your eyes (for those that wear them during exercise). http://www.OhSewSporty.com SoYoung soyoung Hip urban lunch boxes, backpacks and diaper bags for the modern family. Designed in Canada. Embodying clean design and ultra functionality, SoYoung’s products are meant to add beauty to the everyday moments of life with children. http://www.soyoung.ca/
The Diaper Clutch
diaper and wipes clutch bag
The Diaper Clutch is a mom-invented diapers and wipes carrying case that is the first and only to feature a unique easy-access window to your wipes! The Diaper Clutch is the perfect solution to stay organized without leaving fashion at the door! Who needs bulky diapers bags when you want to take a quick stroll in the neighborhood or go grocery shopping with your little one? Reduce the bulk and lighten your load with The Diaper Clutch – a convenient, compact and fashion-forward solution to carry baby diapers and wipes where you go!
www.thediaperclutch.com Branam Xylitol Kids Toothcare branamcover Branam makes all natural Toothpaste and Baby/Toddler Toothgel. It’s the ONLY toothpaste safe for kids to swallow and guaranteed to kill 72% of cavity causing bacteria. Invented by a Pediatric Dentist tired of filling cavities! Organic, kosher & gluten, GMO, phthalate and BPA free. FDA Approved with the highest level of Xylitol Available today! PS: Keep out of REACH of Children (they think it’s candy). http://www.branamsmile.com
Parking Pal
parkingpal
Place the Parking Pal on the side of your vehicle, where it will remain safely attached at all times. It was specifically designed with bright colors, playful illustrations, and a small palm children love to place their hands on. After a couple learning sessions, your child will discover that the Parking Pal is their safe spot, and they will know where to go the second they are outside the car. It also helps teach them that parking lots are no place to play. Bundle Pack also includes the Penalty Pal and Emergency Phone List.
http://www.parkingpalmagnet.com Butterbean Sunscreen butterbean The message of Butterbean is simple. It is about using healthy ingredients that protect the skin from the harmful effects of sun exposure, while complimenting the relationship of people to their environment. Ingredients like non-nano zinc oxide, organic and fair trade coconut oil and shea butter, and beeswax from a local apiary, make our sunscreen good for people and the planet. Our sunscreens provide vitamins and antioxidants that nourish and protect the skin of everyone in the family. www.butterbeansunscreen.com Beautycounter beauty Beautycounter is a new retail brand with the mission to get safe products into the hands of everyone. Chic, safe, non-toxic & effective skincare products for you and your family. Now we can make better decisions for us and our family on what we put on our skin. You don't have to choose between beauty and safety anymore. That’s why we build every product from within, ingredient by ingredient, asking ourselves at each stage: Is it safe? Do we need it? Will it make it better? Beautycounter... Beauty...Truth... Transparency jackievogel.beautycounter.com/Home

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weeSpring 
 weeSpring.com, often described as a "Yelp" for baby products, is a resource that helps new and expecting parents collect advice from their friends about what they need for their baby. Their mission is to make product recommendations from your friends as accessible as Amazon reviews. Founded by parents, for parents, weeSpring is bridging the gap between social networks and e-commerce, making it easy for parents to find the products their friends love. http://www.weespring.com
  logo-bumblbean-purple-vert-rgb 
 Bumblebean is the place for specialty brands and inspired ideas for moms and kids. http://bit.ly/1k8Yjwq
We are a community page of support, information, and pictures on anti- vaccination, anti-circumcision, co-sleeping, baby wearing, Zen parenting, natural birthing, anti- cry it out, cloth diapers, natural remedies, breastfeeding (covered, uncovered, and full-term), and the benefits of normalizing it in our culture! We support milk sharing, use of Supplemental Nursing Systems with donor milk, and wet nursing in cases where mamas are faced with exceptional challenges that require supplementation with other milk besides their own, with the last option being organic formula or homemade formulas. We believe that life begins at conception, and do not support, abortion or postcoital methods of "contraception," including methods which prevent a fertilized egg from implanting, such as IUDs. This page supports Natural Family Planning (NFP).
Jenn unplugged
This site is an honest look into my life as a mom and wife. It will be where you can see more of me, my daily life, my very honest thoughts about my kids, marriage, thoughts on things I am reading, cooking, watching, products - basically anything and everything!
Fru-Gals
My name is Kelly and I'm a 38 year old mom of 2 beautiful girls. I started reviewing products entering contests, coupon clipping and freebie hunting about 3 years ago. I love testing and reviewing new and existing products and providing my opinion for viewers to read.I strive to bring you the very best reviews, contests, deals, freebies, coupons, and exclusive blog giveaways that are available on the world wide web every single day! I strongly believe in being frugal, and stretching your hard-earned dollars to the max!
Mommy Knows What's Best
Mommy Knows What's Best is a parenting and family blog that features reviews and giveaways of family-friendly products and services.
The Palmetto Queen
I am a busy lady who takes on too many projects while trying to manage the chaos I call my life. I am a work at home mom and wife who is a logo designer and branding consultant. We have recently started our journey of home schooling. What a ride we are on, but at least the hot pink carpet has been rolled out for us, the Carolina moon is shining bright, and my crown is tilted just right!
Savory Savings
Savory Savings is all about saving money while living green, eating gluten-free, parenting and being a fashionista!
Bonkers 4 Coupons
I’m a stay at home mom, I’ve been married to my Best friend for over 10 years. We have 4 Children, ages 16 and 16 (yes Twin sons), a son who is 7 and my little diva daughter who is 4. So yes, I am a busy mom. We have 1 dog (beagle) named Chloe and a cat named Zoey. They are both very spoiled. So spending time with my family and traveling is something we enjoy doing. We are also involved in our church with volunteering and gatherings. My blog is new and growing every day. I’m learning a lot about blogging and myself as I go through this journey.
Life of a Southern Mom
A southern mom with three little boys ages 4-7 who loves to share product reviews, giveaways and anything mommy related.
Five Lil Bass in Tow
I'm a Stay at home mother of 6 children. Myrissa is age 17, Jacub is 15, Victorea is 13, Whitnee is 10 and Kirk is 6. And working on the adoption of a 1 year old little girl. We also have quite a few kids who call us Mom and Dad. My husband is studying for the ministry. We are also jr high youth leaders at our church. We are a very busy family. I want to make sure all you other busy moms out there get the deals I do.
Griffin's Honey focuses on everyday life. We focus product reviews, book reviews, frugal living, recipes, crafts, and we provide deal information. Our readership consists of both males and females from every walk of life all over the United States and in other countries as well. The age range of our readers varies so we try to keep our topics broad to appeal to our entire audience. We have a strong community that is growing by leaps and bounds every day.
Fuggs and Foach
I am a teacher by day, blogger by night and mom all over New England and beyond. I bring into my life with 2 boys ages 4 and 5 . From Reviews to Rainy day crafts I have you follow my journey just to make it to bed time.
The Stuff of Success
I blog about living life well, inexpensively. I focus on life, parenting, reviews, giveaways, special needs children, adoption etc...
The Real Frugal Divas
Frugal living and review blog
Mimi Loves All 8
I love to hold reviews and giveaways on my family based blog.
http://mimilovesall8.blogspot.com
Mom 'N  Daughter Savings
On my blog I do a lot of giveaways and I have a lot of parents that follow me. So this is perfect! I also write recipes, blogging tips and help homeless pets.I love helping people and animals. And that's what I'm trying to do.
Army Wife & Mommy
My blog is about pretty much anything that strikes my fancy! Family, parenting, recipes, product reviews, giveaways, you name it!
Ashley Suzanne
Ashley Suzanne is a faith filled, nursing student pursuing her dream of working labor and delivery while searching for Mr. Right and praying blessings over her future family. She currently rants and raves over at Ashley Suzanne and would love for you to stop by and tell her your thoughts on raising munchkins and living green.
I have a blog the mainly reviews great products that I think my readers will love or that they have ask to find out more about. some times host give away for products and companies that I think are really great.
Mama Break
We provide breaks to moms each and every day through fun, fast recipes to coupons, sales, and more! We love writing about being a mom!!!
Plum Crazy About Coupons
My blog is about parenting, family, lifestyle, reviews, giveaways and more.
Arizona Families
I am a working mom that loves to save and find local events with my 2 kiddos! Come join us on our journey of practical frugality....
Mom Mom On The Go
Family website. Run giveaways and conduct reviews.
The Chirping Moms
We are Courtney and Julie, two moms and best friends who met at our neighborhood park a couple years ago. Courtney had just moved here from North Carolina, right near where Julie's mom resides, so we instantly connected. Both of us had two little ones at home at the time and lived right down the block from each other. We quickly became friends, joined a playgroup together, and spent some wild adventures out and about with our little ones. Last spring, the idea of "The Chirping Moms" originated and quickly took off! On on our blog, we hope to share a little bit of our adventures in "mommy world". We both are loving the connections that we are making in the blog world and the creative outlet that it brings to our "mama" lives! Since the start of "The Chirping Moms" we sadly had to part as dear neighbors due to a job relocation for Julie's husband, but are thankful that the blog has helped us stay connected and in touch daily despite the distance. Between us we have five little kids, five and under, and we both spend our days chasing around wild ones. We hope you enjoy our blog as we share more into our daily adventures with little ones, craft and recipe ideas, our favorite tried and true products, and some great places to travel.
I post money saving tips, deals, coupons, frugal living tips, reviews and giveaways.
The Mommy Bunch
The Mommy Bunch is a great place to find parenting stories and tips, recipes, crafts, product reviews, travel reviews, and more. Join us to see what we've been up to today!
Blissful Baby Consultants
We are a company who guides in preparing for Baby through education. We are also host to the Big latch on, Blissful Baby's BIG Baby Shower, and host of Improving Birth RGV. We do several Giveaways for many Mommy owned companies throughout the year. http://www.blissfulbabyusa.com Tabby's Pantry We are a family friendly page. I have a ton of mommy's on my page and we have fun. Its not all about reviews and giveaways we talk and help each other out. http://www.tabbyspantry.com Sweetly Made Just For You Sweetly Made (Just for you) is a blog about organizational tips, business reviews, giveaways, DIY craft ideas, fun activities for kids, travel ideas, personalized Christmas stockings and more. http://emileeschristmasjoy.blogspot.com/ Kathy's Savings My name is Kathy and I'm the owner of Kathy's Savings. I love to share reviews, giveaways, coupons, deals, traveling and so much more. I also enjoying sharing crafts and recipes with everyone once in a while. http://kathyssavings.com Does Mommy Love It? At DoesMommyLoveIt.com, we have a robust line-up of the coolest reviews and giveaways with social issues awareness in the mix to help you stay informed on the need for the greater good! http://doesmommyloveit.com Happy Healthy Hip Parenting Resources, Reviews, and Relationship advice for growing families. http://happyhealthyhip.com/blog Pawsitive Living Family friendly review & giveaways http://pawsitiveliving.ca Money Saving Mommies We are two mommies helping our readers save time, money, and sanity. We do a lot of product/book reviews and giveaways. http://www.moneysavingmommiesx2.blogspot.com ABCD Diaries ABCD Diaries readers come to our blog to get great family advice, homeschooling and natural living anecdotes along with reviews and giveaways. http://www.abcd-diaries.com Coupon WAHM Couponwahm.com is committed to helping YOU save more, spend less and earn an income online. http://www.couponwahm.com/ I Heart Giveaways I Heart Giveaways showcases the latest promotions, giveaways and sweeps available online. This blog also features must-have products that will certainly make any consumer happy. http://iheartgiveaways.info Titus 2 Homemaker Titus 2 Homemaker provides hope and help for the domestically challenged by encouraging women that they aren't alone, help by providing practical tools for accomplishing the various tasks of homemaking. These tools include ideas, projects, tips, recipes, information, etc. that are of interest to homemakers and/or homeschoolers, from the perspective of a naturally-minded but not a born organized Christian mom. Homemaking is not a niche pursuit; it's a holistic one. http://www.titus2homemaker.com Just Married Mom of 3 A great place to find reviews of your favorite products, giveaways, a DIY/craft or two, and delicious recipes. http://www.justmarriedmomof3.com/ Just Plum Crazy My blog is about lifestyle, family, kids, parenting, reviews, travel. Love to share with my readers about life and family events. http://plumcrazyaboutcoupons.com MyPRGenie MyPRGenie is the next generation cloud-based, public relations (PR) and social media marketing platform. MyPRGenie combines a global media database and press release distribution service as well as social media apps and tools - like Tweet Genie and Genie Monitoring - into one easy-to-use public relations platform. Since its inception, thousands of companies across the globe have used MyPRGenie to build a comprehensive, multifaceted PR strategy that significantly increases their visibility, helps them monitor and engage their audience to get found. http://www.myprgenie.com Social Media 22 is a family-owned web design, PR and internet marketing firm that helps companies gain online visibility and obtain new business using forward-looking marketing strategies. Known for results as well as fair and reasonable pricing, Social Media 22 helps product and service based companies grow to the next level. They specialize in working with mom business owners in the baby/kids industry. http://www.socialmedia22.com This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. Winner(s) will be contacted by email 48 hours after the giveaway ends. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send us an email: pr@sleepingbaby.com. SleepingBaby.com is not liable for any of the products given away. The brands may send an email once the giveaway is over with a special offer as a thank you for entering.