Jane and Me Jewelry Review+GIVEAWAY!

Did you think this blog was going to be ONLY about babies? Sorry if you did... but would there BE any babies without mommies??? NO. This one is for us! The ones who devote countless hours to bum wiping, itty-bitty-fingernail-clipping, booger picking, book reading, nursery ryhme singing, house proofing, doctors appointments, carpools (and the list goes on...) and wouldn't have it any other way.

But, as we all know, being a Mom can sometimes feel like just that and only that. We almost forget about our identities. We become lost in "mom"... the one that cooks, cleans, and sometimes doesn't even get a chance to shower that day.

Jane and Me jewelry was founded on the basic principal that "You Are." You are a mom, but you are beautiful. You are a mom, but you are unique. You have a purpose, you are beautiful inside and out. You are needed, and you are loved. "Even the most plain Jane has a beauty, a light, and something remarkable to impart to the world."
-jane and me

I am lucky enough to know the creators of Jane and Me Jewelry, and contacted them about doing this review and giveaway. I thought that it would be perfect to help remind mommies that even though it is so easy to get caught up in the sometimes monotonous (but at the same time so very wonderful and rewarding) daily routines as a mom, we are all still individuals, and all so different and unique. The hope of Jane and Me jewelry is that their one of a kind jewelry will be a reminder to become who you are. To work harder each and every day to become better than yesterday, and to be our best self today and always.

Michelle from Jane and Me sent me a few different samples to review. They are all SO different and unique in their own ways! There are so many different styles, colors and shapes to choose from. The beauty about Jane and Me jewelry is that you can build your own necklace or bracelet, as simple or embellished as you would like! I also love the fact that all of the pieces have the removable clasp, so you can interchange different charms with different style necklaces, or move your charm from your necklace onto your bracelet. Add a bauble or accessory for more detail, OR, if you just cant make up your mind or want someone to do the dirty work for you, check out the You Are complete set that comes pre-made for you. The combinations are endless! Jane and Me also has holiday charms. My mom bought me a christmas one last year as well as a Halloween cat one that I wear in October. It is so fun to collect the charms and then just switch them out for each different Holiday!

Among my favorites include the Vintage Alpha Collection (monogrammed to whatever letter you would like). This is the bronze collection, I love the look of the long, simple necklace. Mine has a letter A on it, with 2 accent jewels. I'm obsessed.

I was also sent this WAY too cute Popcorn charm and off-set crystal large link necklace. This one is going to be coming with me on a movie date for sure...and lets be honest, I'll probably be wearing it everywhere else too.

This ribbon and bead necklace is too stinking cute for words. It is perfect for the upcoming Spring and Summer seasons, not to mention the adorable yellow flower charm attached to it. So colorful, and such fun colors! Does it get any more creative than this? (I also just got word that there is a vintage lace collection that will be making its debut in 3 weeks. I CAN'T wait!)

Jane and Me jewelry is so beautiful, reasonably affordable, and is such great quality. You would not be dissappointed in ANYTHING that you chose to buy from them. Head on over and make your wish list NOW!




Now that I have you drooling, on to the giveaway!

I loved the colorful ribbon necklace and flower charm so much that one lucky reader is going to be winning one of their very own!

How to Enter this Giveaway: There are TWO mandatory entries this time. You must do both in order to qualify for the giveaway. The more entries you complete, the better chance you have of winning!

1) Mandatory entry: check out JaneandMe.com and tell me what necklace and charm you would buy if you could have any one on their site!

2) Mandatory entry: follow Jane and Me on facebook!

3) Follow n.c. baby blog (let me know if you do already)

4) Follow n.c. baby blog on facebook ( let me know if you do already)

5) Follow JaneNMe on twitter

6) Subscribe to my n.c. baby blog via email feedburner ( on right side of blog)

6) Share on facebook and/or tweet about this giveaway ( you can do this once daily for more entries)

7) Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link so I can find it + 3 entries ( leave 3 comments)

8) Buy something from JaneandMe.com +10 entries (leave 10 comments)


GOOD LUCK!!! Giveaway will close 3/10 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be picked the following day by Random.org and will be emailed and announced on the blog. Winner has 48 hours to confirm their prize, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Thank you Jane and Me for providing samples and the giveaway prize!


JaneandMe jewelry provided samples for my review and the prize for my readers. No other compensation was recieved. All opinions are 100 percent my own.

Bummas giveaway winner!!

The winner of the Bummas baby wipes is....

#98...schkinner! (Rachel )

The winner has been contaced and has claimed her prize! Thank you all for entering. I was so excited with how great this giveaway turned out! Check back really soon for 2 great reviews and giveaways! You won't want to miss them!

Bummas would also like me to let all of you know that they are offering FREE shipping now through the end of February, so if you are contemplating purchasing some Bummas for you or a friend, NOW is the time! Thanks to you all for entering, and have a happy Saturday! I hope yours is as sunnny as mine is here in NC! :)

Saving Money on Diapers

I LOVE coupons. I LOVE a good deal. I especially love a good deal on DIAPERS! I will be honest, cloth diapers never really sounded that appealing to me. Washing poopy cloth diapers, and then washing my husbands dress shirts right after just seems a little bit...well... bleh. But good for people that do it! Our landfills thank you.

But for those of you who ARE paying for diapers, have I got the post for you! I just snagged TWO boxes of 112 diapers Huggies size 4 for 14 CENTS SHIPPED to my door. Not lying, not exaggerating. So how do I do this you ask? Here are my secrets, revealed.




1) Buy your diapers on Amazon. You get big packages, and they ship them to your door. FOR FREE. You dont even have to leave your house people! So what you need to do VERY first is go to your amazon account and sign up for Amazon Mom. By doing this, you will recieve an extra 30% off diapers and wipes and get FREE 2-day shipping. Amazon Mom is a free membership. Click here for Amazon Mom FAQ's.


2) You are now signed up for Amazon Mom. You now need to go to Amazon, log in to your account, and search this: Subscribe and Save diapers. ( what is subscribe and save? Subscribe and save subscribes you to recieving this certain box of diapers every 2,4,6, etc. months or as often as you wish. You are not obligated to continue recieving diapers after you sign up for this, so you MAY cancel this after your first box arrives. You still get the discount for this package.) SO... after you have searched this, a bunch of different diapers will show up from your search result. Next you will click on whichever diapers you want to order. Your end price will vary because all of the diapers are priced differently but we will work with my example, the huggies size 4 little movers. So they started at $33.58 a box. JUST by being an amazon mom member, and signing up for a subscribe and save diaper, your are automatically going to get 30% off this box and free shipping. Which takes my total down to $23.51. **Now, some of you, your deal may end here. Its debatable whether or not this is a good deal for you. I still think this is a better deal than wal mart, plus you dont have to leave your house!


3) ** Here is where the real fun begins. Dont get lost or overwhelmed here, just keep reading! In order to get the discounts you see in the pic above, you need to have access to the coupons that will do this. You need to get your hands on as many of these magazines as possible: Parents, Parenting, Baby Talk, and American Baby. You can get a free subscription to American Baby HERE and a free sub. to Baby Talk HERE. I get them all and have never paid a dime for any of them, just have found links online to sign up for free. If you DONT get these in the mail, you can most definitely find Parents and Parenting at Wal-mart, Barnes and Noble, or other grocery stores with magazines. It is worth it to buy the magazine for a few dollars. These magazines have a small green card inside ( make sure its in there before you buy it) that will give you either 10 dollars off any baby item on Amazon, or 20% off Of diapers on Amazon. SOME of the 20% off coupons can also be stacked...meaning if you have 2 of these coupons and the codes start with different letters, they can both be used, giving you an additional 40% off. Which is what I did above.


SO... here is the run down of my deal: the Huggies started at $33.58. Went down to $23.51 thanks to Amazon Mom and subscribe and save. Used the 10 dollar off baby item from March Parents magazine. Now at $13.51. Used one 20% off amazon diapers coupon(from Parenting Feb. issue) that started with YJ. This took my total down to 6.79. Used ANOTHER 20% off amazon diapers coupon( from Baby Talk-feb issue) that started with YT which took my grand total to $.07.

It is not hard. It is just having access to the right coupons.

So...a few other ideas to help. Lets say you just cant get your hands on these magazines. Then what?

-Ebay. You can actually buy these coupons for a couple bucks each. It is worth spending 2 dollars to save 6 or even 10 dollars.

-Swagbucks: swagbucks is a search engine like Google. Use swagbucks INSTEAD of Google and you earn swagbucks, which can buy you a ton of different items, but my favorite are the 5 dollar amazon giftcards. They cost around 400 sawgbucks and it doesnt take a long time to earn swagbucks if you are using it frequently. Go check it out, its worth it! You can use these giftcards towards diapers.


-Deal forums/saving websites- get in touch with other people who are searching for the same coupons as you, or who would be willing to trade with you. Just yesterday I contacted a lady who had posted on a deal website that she was looking for some Purex coupons and would trade for a 20% off amazon diapers coupon. I emailed her and we made the trade. You just have to know where to look! http://www.thethriftymama.com/ is a great one I check often. Also, http://www.hip2save.com/ is my absolute favorite. You can find those people searching for similar coupons in the comments sections of the posts about baby things like Amazon diaper deals. Also, feel free to comment in this posts comment section! You never know who might have an extra laying around, or would want to trade!


Last questions you might have? How did I get 2 of these boxes? Hubby has an amazon account too! Lots of trading, and lots of searching out for the right magazines.


( Note: You can only use the 10 dollar off coupon once per account, so if you have 2 of these coupons, you need to order from 2 different amazon accounts.)


ALSO- you dont have to use the 10 dollar off coupon on just diapers! There are some Seventh Generation wipes priced around 11 dollars on Amazon, making them only a little over 1 dollar shipped to your door( and you dont need any of the 20 percent off coupons!) This is also a STEAL!!

I hope this wasn't confusing, and that it will save you all a trip to the store, and a good 35 bucks! Happy diaper shopping!

~Ali

I got all 5 of these boxes for 16 dollars total! This was a few months ago before the 10 dollar coupon came out...but still an amazing deal. It was $3.27 per box!

No Throw Giveaway WINNER!

The winner of the 2 No Throws ( winners choice of patterns) is....

#3 Angie Lundquist!

Congratulations! The winner has been contacted and has 48 hours to claim their prize, otherwise another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all who entered and stay tuned for another great giveaway soon!

BUMMAS cloth wipes- Review + Giveaway!!!

Last year before {B} was born I entered a giveaway for a set of these Bummas, and to my surprise, I won! I honestly had no idea really what they were, or the concept behind them, but I will say this- they have saved my life ( and my clothes/carpet/changing table/ face) over and over again. Bummas sent me a new set of "the wild ones" to review ( since I have lost a few of my little Bummas along the way) and I LOVE them. They are perfect for getting baby {B}'s bum nice and dry before I put his diaper back on, nose runs, juice spills, and more! Here is a pic of the "wild ones." I love the colors and its great because I can use them if I ever have a girl in the future! Love the neutral color scheme.

Bummas are 100% cotton, luxurious woven velour terry cloth wipes originally made to be used on your little ones bum! They are perfect for drying babys bottom after diaper changes ( to avoid rashes) as well as to block those surprise squirts ( especially you mommies of boys!) I tried pee-pee tee-pee's, and other squirt prevention techniques, and Bummas was the only thing that would soak up the pee. Bummas are designed to soak up an ENTIRE pee-pee! Bummas are eco-friendly and a great alternative ( if not replacement) for disposable wipes. If you are a "green" person, then this is definitely a product you are going to want and need.

If you are looking to replace your disposable wipes with Bummas, all you need is a little douse of water to do the job. No need to go through 5-10 wipes for each dirty diaper, one wet Bumma and one dry, and your baby is clean. No rashes! These are perfect for that baby with sensitive skin.

Bummas are a handy 5"x7" size (about double the size of a dollar bill)perfect to fit in your diaper bag or even a purse ( im dreaming of using a purse again one day...sigh.) They won't shrink, pill, or fade. They are durable- throw them in your washing machine again and again with your babies clothes and use them forever. There are a variety of color combinations perfect for boys, girls, and even colorful variety packs!


WIN IT: Bummas is generously giving one reader a set of Bummas cloth wipes in the color scheme of their choice! (worth $16.99!)

Enter the Giveaway: Follow these steps to enter the giveaway. The Mandatory entry must be completed before you can enter any other way.

1) Mandatory Entry: Go to Bummas website and tell me which color scheme you would pick if you won!

2) Follow n.c. baby blog ( on right side of my blog)

3) Become a fan of Bummas on Facebook

4) Like n.c. baby blog on facebook ( if you are already a fan then just let me know!)

5) Post a link to the giveaway on facebook or twitter

6) Blog about thie giveaway ( +3 entries, leave 3 separate comments!)


GOOD LUCK!!! Giveaway will close 2/25 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be picked the following day by Random.org and will be emailed and announced on the blog. Winner has 48 hours to confirm their win, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.


Bummas provided samples for my review and the prize pack for my readers. No other compensation was recieved. All opinions are 100 percent my own.

No Throw- - Review + GIVEAWAY!! (Closed)

My dear little {B} has entered into the oh so lovely phase of dropping everything and watching mommy pick it up...over and over and over again. More recently, the sippy cup has been his favorite. So of course, after he as thrown it from his high chair, and I have picked it up 3 times and refuse to give it back (that is our rule, whether he understands it or not), he is very upset and I am about to throw the sippy cup in the garbage. SO... I began to do a little research and found this super awesome, no brainer, simple but life ( and lower back) saving device! Introducing...the No Throw.




The No Throw was invented by 2 moms...of course! I contacted the No Throw company and they were very generous to send me 2 of their no throws to try out and review for all of you! I have one on my high chair now ( thank goodness!) and one on my carseat. No throws are for ages 3 months and up and should not be used in Cribs.

How it works: The no throw is simple. It is basically a leash...for whatever you dont want on the floor. It has velcro on one end, and a looped end on the other. Tie the looped end to any secure surface ( high chair, carseat, stroller, backpack, you name it!) Srap in bottle, sippy cup, baby's favorite toy, etc. with the velcro end, and there you have it! No more straining to pick up that bottle or sippy cup! Baby throws it, and you just smile. {B} tried it out today and looked shocked when it just hung from his chair. It was so great!

The No Throw comes in Boy, Girl, and Neutral gender themes. We have the dino and sports themes and I think its a perfect fit for our {B}. They have so many cute designs, go check out No Throw and see for yourself! No throws can also be purchased at Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS.com for around 5 dollars.

WIN IT: No Throw has generously offered not one, but TWO no throws to one reader of n.c. baby blog! You will be able to choose which 2 you would like.

How to enter this giveaway: ( leave a comment for each entry, the more options you complete, the better chance you have at winning!)

1) Mandatory Entry: Visit No Throw and tell me which 2 designs you would pick if you won!

2) Follow n.c. baby blog (found on right side of my blog!)

3) "Like" n.c. baby blog on facebook

4) Share this giveaway on facebook and leave your link

5) Twitter about this giveaway and leave your link ( this can be done once daily)

6) post about this giveaway on your blog and link to where i can find it ( 3 entries, leave 3 separate comments)

GOOD LUCK!!! Giveaway will close 2/21 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway is open to U.S./Canadian residents only. Winner will be picked the following day by Random.org and will be emailed and announced on the blog. Winner has 48 hours to confirm their win, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

No throw provided samples for my review and the prize pack for my readers. No other compensation was recieved. All opinions are 100 percent my own.

Upcoming Giveaways Spoiler!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have some really exciting reviews and giveaways coming up! These companies are so great to offer their product for reviews and so generous to our readers! Can't wait until they get here so I can get them up on the blog! :) GET EXCITED!

Bummas Cloth Wipes - ( 1 reader will win a set of 10 Bummas in their color choice!)

No-throw Sippy Cup Leash - 1 reader will win 2 no-throw Sippy cup leashes!

Jane&Me jewelry - 1 reader will win some beautiful hand crafted jewelry ( this shop is owned by a good friend...her site just launched and their jewelry is AMAZING.)

Babylegs leg warmers- 1 reader will win a grab bag of Babylegs!

....and MORE!!!! Keep checking back!

baby, baby, baby OH!

As I was browsing/ drooling online today I ran into an amazing website... and for one second I was almost baby hungry...already.

These are all made from the very talented Sweet Love Creates! I didnt know about them before {B} was born, but im definitely bookmarking them, and heading over there first thing the next time I get pregnant! These are to die for cute!

...And for good measure, here are a few of {B} when he was 1 week old. Hard to believe he was ever this small! My good friend Ashley Clauss took these! She currently works out of North Carolina ( Greensboro area, but I think will travel). If you are a North Carolina local, definitely check her out! Her work is amazing ( as you can see!) Check out Art by Ashley photography here.

winner of the vinyl valentines letters!

And the winner of the vinyl for the Valentines blocks is......

#15 -- JENNA!

I have emailed you! Winner has 48 hours to claim her prize, then I will choose another winner if I haven't heard back. Thanks to all who participated, and there will be another ( even better!) giveaway coming soon!!

Avoiding Diaper Bag Disasters

Sometimes I wonder why my back hurts so bad. Or why I have a cramp in my shoulder....ALL the time. This morning, I did something daring... I emptied out the diaper bag. And all the answers to my questions were answered. Please don't judge me.




Contents of my bag: 2 diapers, changing pad, travel wipes, day planner, cell phone ( not pictured but is always in there), wallet, 6 lipstick/glosses, baby cell phone toy, bathtub toy? fish, giant water bottle, butt paste, hand sanitizer, bib, spoon, band aid, baby poweder, baby lotion, ibuprofen, 2 pacifiers, 4 teething toys, 1 chick-fil-a baby board book, 2 gift card holders, sippy cup full of prune juice, 1 Bummas cloth, ice breaker sours ( doubles as a rattle), gerber puffs, gum, udder cover, coupons to buybuy baby, a sucker, and a pile of project life journaling cards. PHEW!!!



So...this leads to my next question. HOW do you keep your diaper bag organized, still have the things you need, without breaking your back??



Here are a few of my ideas.



1) get travel size wipes. The size in my picture is good, but there is an even smaller size that you can get in the travel section for around 1 dollar that comes with about 16 wipes. You SHOULDN'T need more than that in 1 outing...unless babe is having a bad day!



2) Try to leave out the fluid filled containers ( water bottle/sippy cups.) If you can keep a water bottle in your car, or try and find a drinking fountain wherever you are out, thats going to save you big time on space and weight in your bag. Drinking is important ( especially if you are nursing) so don't do away with this completely. There are even small size Dasani or Fiji water bottles that fit better than something like my GIANT smart water bottle.



3)One lipstick, one chapstick. Period. 6??? Really??



4) clean out the wallet- discard old reciepts and cards. Its amazing what a lighter wallet can do for you.



5) Cut down on the toys. Baby probably really only needs 2 toys to keep him occupied... if all else fails, use the wipes bag. Always works for baby {B}.



6) Write down your things to do on a post it note instead of carrying around a day planner. Mine is so heavy and I definitely notice a huge difference if I leave it out.



Of course, leave the necessities!



Please share your ideas with us! Any extra ideas are always helpful. Now go clean out that bag!

My finished craft + GIVEAWAY! (giveaway closed)

Hooray! I finished my conversation hearts! I think they turned out pretty dang cute ( if I do say so myself!) What do you think?

I was originally going to wait until I hit 50 followers to do a giveaway ( i'm close, but not quite!) but I had this leftover vinyl lettering and it CANNOT go to waste! This is WAY too cute of a project!

SO...If you are like me, and dont have an awesome vinyl machine...enter this giveaway now! You will recieve the vinyl letters you see on the picture above. ( Also, if you didnt read my post before, you can get the wood blocks at Home Depot for $1.09 total!)

Here's how you ENTER to WIN! ( be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry option you complete) The more options you complete, the better chance you have at winning!

1) Tell me what you are doing for your "lover" for V-day. (this could be a mom, dad, baby, dog, or yourself if you are currently without an actual spouse/partner.)

2) Be a follower of n.c. baby blog {publicly} ( follow button is on right side of this page!)

3) "like" nc baby blog on facebook

4) comment on the nc baby blog facebook wall ( whatever you want! )

5)Blog, facebook, and/or tweet about this giveaway! ( 1 entry for each completed)

Since Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, Im going to end this giveaway tomorrow night (Feb. 4) at 11:59 pm EST. That will give me time to get the vinyl letters out to you and give YOU time to craft away! Winners will be chosen by random.org. Thanks for entering, and GOOD LUCK!

Thank you, Mr. Groundhog.

I dont know about all of you, but I am sick and tired of winter. So when I heard that our little groundhog friend Phil did NOT see his shadow today, I had reason to celebrate. Spring is coming early! So I busted out my yellow flats today in celebration. Am I the only one that thinks Yellow when Springtime rolls around? ( I also learned that Phil is only right 39% of the time. Maybe we should consider nominating a new groundhog...)

So, in celebration, tell me what your favorite thing about SPRING is?? I will start. My favorite thing about Spring is walking out the front door and not getting a frigid gust of ice cold air in your face. Short sleeves. Fresh cut grass. Chirping Birds. Kids playing outside. Days are getting longer. Flip- flops. Tulips. Duck families swimming in the lake. Memories of {B} being born in April. Finishing up another school year. Was that more than one favorite thing? Happy G-Hog day.