A Giveaway Package Just For Your Baby!! #Just4BabyHop {ends 8/10}

Welcome to the Just For Baby Giveaway Hop. This Giveaway Hop is hosted by Fabulous Finds and Mama Chocolate. This Giveaway Hop features everything under the sun you’ll need for baby. Be sure to visit each blog from the linky below and enter for your chance to win some really amazing prizes! This event will end on August 10th at 11: 59pm EST.

I'm super excited about this giveaway event, I just LOVE baby items!!  Here are the prizes you can win here!

Organic Woombie Baby Swaddler ARV $28.99

You can read my review here

Donnacrochet $20 Store credit & free shipping

Review Coming Soon!

Onesie Monthly Stickers ARV $8.99

You can read my review here

Green Toys Twist Teether ARV $10.99

Review Coming Soon!

That's a total of $68.97!!

 
Enter for a chance to win this Giveaway Prize Pack through the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Monthly Baby Onesie Stickers from StickerPlus Etsy Shop - Review

"StickerPlus - Monthly baby onesie stickers with the best price and fast shipping. They are waterproof and printed on the highest quality white sticker paper. We have round circle stickers for girls and boys, shaped neck ties for boys and cute shapes like owls and stars for both. They make the nicest baby shower gift for the new mommy to be :)"

I got the Forest Animal Sticker set to try.  They are so cute, it would have been fun to have had then since my baby was just born.  In this set that I got StickerPlus includes a FREE just born sticker too! :-)  There are 13 stickers in the set, one for each month, each sticker is 3.9 inches around.  I think it's a perfect size, it isn't too big for the outfit but still you can tell what month!  I love to take pictures of my babies and these are just perfect for the "monthly" pictures. :-)

Just a small sampling of all the cute different stickers!!

It's very easy to put these stickers on to use, just peel them off the sheet and put onto your baby's outfit, just like another sticker. :-)   The stickers are printed on high quality waterproof matte sticker paper with a white background.  4 stickers per sheet.  The sticker did end up getting pretty messed up within a few hours after the baby wore it but they are meant especially for taking a monthly picture with. :-)  Make sure you are ready to take a picture when you put the sticker on the baby. :-)

If you'd like a chance to win a set of Onesie stickers from StickerPlus, come back during the Just for Baby Giveaway Event that starts July 30th and ends August 10th to enter the giveaway (featuring several other prizes as well!)! Winner will be able to choose any set they want 1-12 or 12-24 months.

** Disclaimer, I received free product for the purpose of this review.  All opinions are my own.  Thank you StickerPlus!

Baked Donuts!

 

I made these donuts a week or so ago and they were so good.  Since they were baked there was a lot less mess and work.  I will be making these again! :)  Here's the recipe if you want to try them!

And, I will be taking a few week break from posting a Menu Plan (that's why there wasn't one posted yesterday...).  I'll probably be back to normal menu planning in 2 weeks or so.

Organic Woombie Swaddler Review

Swaddle your baby Safely and Effectively with The Woombie ... designed to ease your mind and comfort your baby so you may both achieve a better nights sleep. The Woombie is the safest & most NATURAL way to Swaddle your baby, encouraging baby to softly stretch extremities as needed, just like in the womb. The Woombie comforts, softly confines arms & gently compresses baby's unique curves to hug baby... preventing Startling issues, face scratching, overheating and also preventing   dangerous loose unraveled blankets from covering baby's face.

The Woombie is a proud winner of the PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved), Moms Best and Creative Child Awards. We have been seen on television, in numerous popular baby magazines and are endorsed by Doctors, Doulas, Postpartum Baby Instructors, Nurses and countless moms and dads worldwide. In a nutshell, The Woombie is a great easy swaddle for babies with the Startle Reflex & who are in need of a cozy yet gentle confinement. 

Comfortable:

• Soft, ECO cotton fabric gently hugs baby
• Baby feels secure, not confined, easing transition from WOMB to World!

Safe:

• Follows Pediatrician & S.I.D.S. guidelines
• Maintains airflow and will not overheat baby
• No loose blankets covering airways
• Prevents face scratching

Effective:

• Prevents unnecessary waking due to the Startle Reflex
• Soothes babies with colic
• Will not come undone
• Promotes natural motor development
• Easy to use, just zip it up 

 
Our newest baby (Baby J) loves being swaddled.  Blankets nice and tight make him happy.  When I found Woombie's site I thought the would just love one of their swaddlers.

I was able to try out the Organic Woombie Swaddler in size newborn (he has well grown out of now, he'd need a much bigger one now).  It was perfect and he loved it!


The fabric is nice and soft and it fit him perfectly.  The woombie zips up from both the top or bottom, making it really easy to get onto your baby.  I used it mainly from the top. Behind the zipper is a strip of fabric so you don't have to worry about pinching your baby.  I always put it on him over clothes (I believe it is supposed to be used that way).  To cover the zipper tab (the thing you pull the zipper up and down with) is a super soft tab.  This snaps over and keeps the zipper metal from poking the baby's face/chin.

Woombie now has a new swaddler with legs.  This allows you to use the swaddler in strollers, swings, bouncy seats, etc.  I would love to have one like this since my baby loves his swing and the stroller.  This would also be an easy way to keep a light blanket on your baby during walks.  The baby wouldn't be able to pull or push it off.

Woombie has many different types of swaddlers, including summer and winter ones. You can purchase Woombie swaddlers directly from the online site. Go check it out!

If you'd like a chance to win an Organic Woombie swaddler like the one I received, come back during the Just for Baby Giveaway Event that starts July 30th and ends August 10th to enter the giveaway (featuring several other prizes as well!)!

**Disclaimer - I received one of the mentioned above products for the purpose of this review.  The. opinions written here are my own. Thank you Woombie!

Menu Plan 7/16

Sunday - Out

Monday - Pizza (leftover from last week)

Tuesday - Barbeque Beef in Tortillas & Salad

Wednesday - Beef Stroganoff & Corn

Thursday - Taco Salad

Friday - Roast, Potatoes & Carrots

Saturday - Barbequed Steaks & Pasta Salad

I've decided not to include breakfast and lunch being that we almost always have the same thing.  Breakfast is either baked oatmeal (or refrigerated), eggs or smoothies, lunch is sandwiches or leftovers.

Maple Hill Dryer Balls Review (And Coupon Code!)

A few months ago I won a coupon code for Maple Hill Dryer Balls Etsy shop (now they have a website).  I ordered 4 Extra Large Unscented Dryer Balls with my coupon.  My dryer balls came quickly in the mail and Rebecca (the owner) was super easy to work with!

I was really excited to try out wool dryer balls, I had read lots of good things about them and I never use conventional dryer sheets (they are so bad for you).

Wool dryer balls are known to reduce drying time for your clothes, helping them last longer because they are not being dried for so long.  They also are known for making less static in your clothes.  I haven't noticed much time taken off for drying in our dryer since receiving these balls but I do know that the static is gone!  I am very pleased with that.  I don't like static in my clothes. I think if we got a newer dryer and/or some more balls they would reduce the drying time. 

I use my dryer balls with everything I wash - clothes, towels, cloth diapers (and yes! They are cloth diaper friendly and very good for them, dryer sheets can ruin your cloth diapers!)!

Wool dryer balls are the environment-friendly equivalent to conventional dryer sheets which are filled with chemicals and things that are harmful to you.

"According to the health and wellness website Sixwise.com, some of the most harmful ingredients in dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener alike include benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (an upper respiratory tract irritant), ethanol (linked to central nervous system disorders), limonene (a known carcinogen) and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen), among others." (source)

Rebecca hand makes her dryer balls from wool from her fathers sheep in Illinois.  The sheep are not harmed (actually helped) with the making of these.  Maple Hill Dryer Balls is committed to being environmentally friendly leaving the earth the way it was made.

I would highly recommend using these balls and I hope to order more soon!  One warning!  My babies & dog love them.  I have to be careful to make sure one doesn't end up on the ground or else it might go missing.  I finally got Mr. T to understand that they need to stay in the dryer and they aren't toys like his other balls. Now he has fun throwing them into the dryer after I've moved the washed clothes into it. :)

You can find more information on their website here or like them on Facebook!

Maple Hill Dryer Balls is offering a 20% off coupon code for anyone who orders between now and August 1st from this site.  To receive your discount enter in the code: Restful20 at checkout.

**Disclaimer - I purchased these dryer balls for my personal use, this review is only because I love my dryer balls and want to share with others!  Rebecca has kindly offered a coupon code as an extra plus to my review.  Thank you!

Menu Place 7/9

What are you cooking this week?  Here's what I have planned!  You will see a few duplications from last week, things came up and we didn't use all the meals on my plan. : )

Breakfast:
Soaked Baked Oatmeal x2
Eggs x2
Smoothies x2
Omelets & Toast

Lunch:
Leftovers x2
Sandwiches x3
Quesadillas x2

Dinner:
Easy Cheesy Hot Bean Dip
Leftovers
Taco Salad
Meat Loaf
Spaghetti
Pizza

For more menus - Menu Plan Monday

Awesome Blossom One Size Cloth Diaper Review

 

A few months back I was sent an Awesome Blossom Diaper to review.  I've been pleased with the fit and size for both my babies.  Of course it's pretty bulky for my 3 month old (especially since I'm used to fitted diapers.) but is a perfect fit for my (almost) 2 year old - and he has room to grow.  Two inserts are definitely needed for my 2 year old, especially for nighttime and naps.
 

I was sent the Awesome Blossom Diaper in Magnificent Blue, it's a very light and neutral blue I would put this color on a girl easily (I say that now we'll see when/if I have a girl if I actually do.:))  I really love the color though.


Here's some information from Awesome Blossoms website about their diapers:

Magnificent Blue OS (One Size) fits all (9-35lbs), snap adjustable, modern pocket cloth diaper (Regular Hip Fit)

Outer Material: 100% Polyester with a waterproof PUL lining to protect against leaks.

Snaps: Diapers have 2 layers of snaps to adjust the size in the waist and legs & NEW extra cross over snaps for xsmall fitting, as well as & 3×3 torso snaps for a perfect fit every time.

Inner Material: Only the softest micro-fleece for your awesome blossom

Inserts: Each diaper comes with one very absorbent 3 layer micro fiber insert.

Fits: Awesome Blossom diapers fit approximately 9-35+ lbs.

Here you can see the size range and how to snap up the Awesome Blossom Diaper.  I've never needed to cross over the tabs but I'm sure it's nice on those teeny tiny babies. : )  I would prefer if there were 4 naps on the tabs, they seem to fit better and more secure on my babies.  The 3 snaps across the front for the snap up feature is really nice.  I've found the ones with only 2 don't want to stay snapped as well because of the tension.  The elastic in the back to put the insert in is a bit small for me.  The insert is sort of hard to get in and then the insert doesn't work out during washing because it's so tight.  I prefer (of course) not having to remove the inserts before washing. : )

Awesome Blossom was one of the sponsors for the Mother's Day cloth diaper giveaway that I had here!

*Disclosure - I received one of the products mentioned above for the purpose of this review.  All opinions here are my own.  Thank you Awesome Blossom!

Menu Plan 7/2/12

It's been awhile since I've posted our menu plan.  I have still been doing it just haven't put it on the computer until now. : )

Breakfast:
Soaked Baked Oatmeal x2
Smoothies
Granola & Homemade Yogurt
Waffles
Pancakes

Lunch:
Sandwiches x2
Salad x4

Dinner:
Beef Enchiladas
Chicken Spaghetti
Meatloaf
Pizza
Spaghetti Pie
Chicken Burritos

For more menu plans visit: Menu Plan Monday