Swaddle Designs- Angry Bird Style- Review & Giveaway!

Maybe you remember my Swaddle Designs review from last year? If you do, you know I am a big fan of Swaddle Designs. And they are back with something awesome! If you don't know about Angry Birds...well then you probably should ask someone and get familiar with it, because it is very trendy in the tech/app world these days. Kids, teenagers, and millions of adults LOVE Angry Birds, and what not a better way then to make a new line of baby products featuring the bright, brilliant birdies themselves!

The Swaddle Designs Angry Birds Baby Collection features bodysuits, Ultimate Receiving Blankets, Marquisette Swaddling Blankets, Swaddle Duos, Baby Lovies, Marquisette Baby Burpies, zzZipMe Sacks, plush toys and even gift bundles for that big time Angry Birds fan in your life! 

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

Swaddle Designs has 2 popular blanket styles, first, their most popular which is their Ultimate Receiving Blanket. It is a lightweight premium cotton flannel blanket – perfect for moderate to cooler environmental temperatures.

Thier other popular blanket style is their Marquisette Swaddling Blanket, designed for warmer temperatures. We received an Angry Birds Marquisette Swaddling Blanket to review, and let me tell you how amazing it is! Not only does it feature the irresistible flying birds, but the texture is amazing. The blanket is a light, openweave high-quality fabric, perfect for babies born in the heat of summer. The blanket measures 46 inches by 46 inches, so perfect to fold and use for swaddling, or opening and using as a nursing cover, stroller cover, or tummy time blanket. Each blanket from Swaddle Designs has their swaddling instructions sewn in for easy access on proper swaddling instructions. Very helpful after those 3AM feedings when you can't even see straight you are so tired. :)

I was also sent the Angry Birds bodysuit to review...and let me tell you it is adorable!!! We recieved the 100% combed cotton knit bodysuit featuring the classic red bird and red trim around leg, arm and neck openings. I love how durable the onesie is compared to others we have. It is a nice soft, thick fabric, and the bird is very thin ( and by thin, in a good way!) Not the kind thats going to get hard in the wash, then crack in the dryer. It held up very nicely during both washing and drying. I love these bodysuits because they are unique, one of a kind, and are a great conversation starter! Seriously the best baby shower gift for that angry birds fan. 

Buy It: Head on over to the Swaddle Designs website to purchase either or both of these items!

Win It! Swaddle Designs has offered one n.c. baby blog reader EITHER an Angry Birds marquisette blanket or a bodysuit in the bird/color of your choice (subject to availability)!

ENTER TO WIN! There are TWO Mandatory Entries! All other entries are optional, but the more you complete, the better chance you have at winning! Leave one comment per entry.

1) Mandatory: Head on over to Swaddle Designs and let me know another style you like, other than the angry birds line!

2) Mandatory: Follow n.c. baby blog via GFC (or tell me if you already do)

3) Follow n.c. baby blog on facebook

4) Like Swaddle Designs on Facebook! leave them a comment if you feel like it :)

5) Follow Swaddle Designs on Twitter!

6) Tweet about this giveaway! You can do this once daily! Please leave link to tweet.

7) PIN any picture from this post on your Pinterest account! leave me your link to your pin. (If you need a Pinterest invite, email me!)

8) Blog about this giveaway and leave your link so I can find it! (+3 entries, leave 3 comments)

9) Enter any other of my CURRENT giveaways ( 1 entry for each giveaway entered)

10) Subscribe to n.c. baby blog via email ( on right side of blog)

11) Add my n.c. baby blog button to your blog! (+3 entries, leave 3 comments!)

GOOD LUCK!!! Giveaway will close 5/20 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway is open to US and Canada readers! 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 to Swaddle Designs  for the review product and the giveaway prize!

Swaddle Designs provided a sample for my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100 percent my own.

EIO Kids Cup: Review & Giveaway!

 Finding a good sippy cup has been really hard for me! Either they leak, get moldy, melt in the dishwasher, lose small pieces, or just plain don't work! I have been on the lookout for the past year for a really great cup for {B} to use on a regular basis, and I have found one that I really, really like!

The EIO kids cup is an environmentally safe kids cup designed for ages 18 months to 5 years. So what is so different about the EIO kids cup? Well, its essentially an 8 oz. glass canning jar! I know, right? Imagine your 2 year old in the store and a tantrum begins to escalate. The first thing to go is the sippy cup, right onto the ground. Well, the jar is encased in a sturdy silicone gripper, so it is easy to grip with small hands, and protects it from breaking! It is also dishwasher safe, so you don't have to worry about removing it when you are doing the dishes or anything.

The cap is designed to promote proper speech development, and it is also BPA-free and valve-free! This means so parts to break down before washing, or try to put back together after its time in the wash. Simply screw the cap back on, and you are ready to go! The lid is spill resistant, however it is not leak proof. So this means that yes, if you have the cap on and your  kid knocks it over at the restuarant, it's not going to be spilling all over the place! But upside down in the diaper bag? It's still going to make a mess.

{B} has loved learning to use the EIO cup! It took him a few tries to realize that he doesn't need to suck anything for it to come out, and that if he tips it too far, its going to spill down his shirt. But I love the fact that it is teaching him how to use a cup, earlier than maybe he would have if he hadn't tried it out.

I would definitely recommend this cup for any toddler learning how to use a cup, or if you are looking for a more durable kids cup to use around the house! The EIO kids cup comes in Orange, Green and Purple.

Buy It: You can purchase the EIO kids cup on Amazon.com, or on various online retailers. You can also check if there in a nearby retailer near you by clicking here. 

Win IT!: The folks at EIO have generously offered one n.c. baby blog reader an EIO kids cup of their very own! Enter to win in the comments below!

ENTER TO WIN! There are TWO Mandatory Entries! All other entries are optional, but the more you complete, the better chance you have at winning! Leave one comment per entry.

1) Mandatory: Tell me who would love to use this cup! 

2) Mandatory: Follow n.c. baby blog via GFC (or tell me if you already do)

3) Follow n.c. baby blog on facebook

4) Like EIO Products on facebook! leave them a comment if you feel like it :)

5) Follow EIO Products, LLC on Twitter!

6) Tweet about this giveaway! You can do this once daily! Please leave link to tweet.

7) PIN any picture from this post on your Pinterest account! leave me your link to your pin. (If you need a Pinterest invite, email me!)

8) Blog about this giveaway and leave your link so I can find it! (+3 entries, leave 3 comments)

9) Enter any other of my CURRENT giveaways ( 1 entry for each giveaway entered)

10) Subscribe to n.c. baby blog via email ( on right side of blog)

11) Add my n.c. baby blog button to your blog! (+3 entries, leave 3 comments!)

GOOD LUCK!!! Giveaway will close 5/12 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway is open to US and Canada readers! 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 to the folks at EIO products,LLC for the review product and the giveaway prize!

EIO products, LLC provided a sample for my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100 percent my own.

Budgeting Tip: Campus Book Rentals Review

So I don't do many budgeting tips or ideas on n.c. baby blog, but I thought it would be fun to change things up a bit! After all, an educated momma is very important! We teach our little ones everything they know, at least up until they go off to school on their own. A good education is important, and if there is a way to save a penny or two in the process, then by all means, let's help each other out!

While attending school does expand our knowledge, it can really put a hole in our pockets ( or pocketbooks, as we call them in the South!) When I heard about a website called CampusBookRentals.com, I was excited to learn that you really can save money on textbooks and that our family could save a little more money this way! My husband is currently graduating from medical school, and you can't even imagine the money that has gone into the textbooks, some he never even used! But there is a better way!


CampusBookRentals.com is a way to RENT instead of BUY textbooks! Simply go to their website, find the book you need, order it ( shipping is FREE both ways, they provide a return envelope!), use your book ( and by the way, it is OK to highlight in these books!), return your book when finished, and repeat the process! They also have a 30 day guarantee, so if you end up dropping your class or for some reason don't need the book anymore, you can return it and get a full refund. There are options to rent for Semesters, quarters, and even summer rental periods. You can even buy your book from them, if you decide you need it longer or simply want to have a copy on hand after the class has finished.

- Renting your books is 40-90% cheaper than buying at campus bookstores
- they offer flexible renting periods
- you can highlight in your books
- FREE shipping, both ways!

Also, you can feel good about renting your books from CampusBookRentals.com, because a portion of what they make goes toward the Operation Smile foundation, who perform life changing cleft lip surgeries on children whose families could not otherwise afford it.

I studied Dental Hygiene in 2007 and I clicked on one of the books I used when I was in school. Check it out! A 50% difference in price, had I done it this way. Wish I would have known about this website when I was in school!

http://www.campusbookrentals.com/book/1416001751/Periodontology-for-the-Dental-Hygienist,/Dorothy-A.-Perry-RDH--PhD,-Phyllis-L.-Beemsterboer-RDH--MS--EdD/9781416001751/

Head on over to CampusBookRentals.com and see for yourself the money you can save this year on textbooks!!!

Have you used the Campus Book Rentals service in the past? What was your experience with them? What were the pros and cons? We would love to hear from you, please feel free to share your feedback on them in the comments below.

PeekaBoo Beans: Review & $25 Giveaway

I love finding unique clothing lines for children and babies! As easy as it is to go to Target or Carters and buy the normal cute, easy- wear options, its totally fun to spoil our kiddos ( and ourselves) once in a while, and get something that not everybody has. I recently discovered PeekaBoo Beans, and fell in love with all of their unique and adorable childrenswear. Thier style is one of a kind, and I love the fact that you can mix and match all of their styles. When you head on over to their website, you will notice that each spring piece matches with their winter piece, etc. etc. And don't get me started on cuteness. The girl stuff is to die for cute, and the boy stuff, is amazing. And you know how I feel about finding cute boy stuff! 

We were sent an outfit from the boys current Spring 2012 collection. {B} reviewed the You're It Tee in the Sunshine yellow, paired with the Live to Laugh Zip Hoodie in blue, and the At Ease Shorts. I was amazed at how well each piece fit and how perfectly true to size everything is. And SO soft! Each piece is pre-washed for a soft, comfy feel. The factory PeekaBoo Beans uses complies with Eco tex standards which signifies that their fabrics are free of harmful dyes and chemicals. The fabrics are also very strong and I can tell that these pieces are going to last {B} a long time. My favorite part about the outfits are that each piece has so much detail. The holes in the jacket for your little one to put their thumb through to keep the sleeve down, and the chin guard above the zipper so that you don't pinch your kids neck are only two of many of the awesome details that are included in each piece.

"Peekaboo Beans provides the ingredients for a playful life, by designing playwear that is completely functional, totally fashionable and enables children to play in complete comfort and style.  Mommy designed, child tested, and Daddy Proof!  Through the promotion of play - it is our vision to leave a legacy of Happy Healthy Little Human Beans!"

There are lots of fun things to explore on PeekaBoo Beans website, but the one I wanted to highlight is the Play Revolution company initiative that was recently launched in conjunction with their new Spring Line. The Play Revolution speaks to their passion of the importance of play, and for the freedom of play for children everywhere. Click on the Button that says "Join the Play Revolution here" for more details.  

Buy It: You can browse all that Peekaboo Beans has to offer, and make purchases here!

WIN IT! PeekaBoo Beans has offered one n.c. baby blog reader a $25 gift card to their online store! 

( note: you will have to make a $50 minimum purchase to use gift card.) 

ENTER TO WIN! There are TWO Mandatory Entries! All other entries are optional, but the more you complete, the better chance you have at winning! Leave one comment per entry.

1) Mandatory: Go to the PeekaBoo Beans website and let me know what you would choose if you won the gift card!

2) Mandatory: Follow n.c. baby blog via GFC (or tell me if you already do)

3) Follow n.c. baby blog on facebook

4) Like PeekaBoo Beans on facebook! leave them a comment if you feel like it :)

5) Follow PeekaBoo Beans on Twitter!

6) Tweet about this giveaway! You can do this once daily! Please leave link to tweet.

7) PIN any picture from this post on your Pinterest account! leave me your link to your pin. (If you need a Pinterest invite, email me!)

8) Blog about this giveaway and leave your link so I can find it! (+3 entries, leave 3 comments)

9) Enter any other of my CURRENT giveaways ( 1 entry for each giveaway entered)

10) Subscribe to n.c. baby blog via email ( on right side of blog)

11) Add my n.c. baby blog button to your blog! (+3 entries, leave 3 comments!)

GOOD LUCK!!! Giveaway will close 5/5 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway is open to US and Canada readers! 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 to Peekaboo Beans for the review product and the giveaway prize!

PeekaBoo Beans provided a sample for my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100 percent my own.

FunBites- Review & Giveaway!

I think I share in a lot of parents frustrations of toddler-hood...I have the pickiest eater EVER. And not so much as my little guy won't try foods, because he will, but that he will try one or two bites ONLY, of each food. Which means mommy has to try to make eating fun, interesting, and a game every single time, or else the end result is us throwing hundreds of dollars down the drain on uneaten, wasted food. I refuse to be the parent giving 10 options of foods for every meal, so I went in search for help!

Well, enter FunBites! FunBites are innovative food cutters that chop virtually any food into small, bite sized shapes and pieces! FunBites are available in 2 different colors and shapes- hearts and squares. FunBites make eating food FUN! Even for your most pickiest eater. Not only this, but FunBites is amazing for parents as well! Instead of taking time to chop up sandwiches, cheese, fruit, pancakes, etc., FunBites does all the work for you! Just press, pop, and eat!

So how do Funbites work? Well, with only three simple steps: 1. Place cutter on top of food and remove popper top and set aside. 2. Grab cutter handles, press down firmly, and rock to cut through food. 3. Lift the cutter up, insert popper top, and pop out the bite-sized pieces. That's it!

{B} LOVED the bite size pieces of food! I used my heart-shaped FunBites on his peanut butter sandwhich. Now, normally I tell you he will eat 3 ( on a good day) bites of his sandwhich. But, today was miraculous. Because the sandwich pieces were in the shape of hearts....he had FUN eating, and ate nearly the entire thing! See his tray??? I was one happy mama!

I definitely recommend FunBites for you and your child! Not only is it great for picky eaters, but you can also make great party platters and get fun ideas online or on the FunBites facebook page for other ways to use your FunBites!

Buy It: To purchase a FunBites food cutter, you can order at FunBites website here. You can use code: APRILSHOWERS for FREE shipping! 

WIN IT! The super nice folks at FunBites have offered one reader a FunBites food cutter in their choice of shape!

ENTER TO WIN! There are TWO Mandatory Entries! All other entries are optional, but the more you complete, the better chance you have at winning! Leave one comment per entry.

1) Mandatory: Let me know which FunBites you would choose if you won!

2) Mandatory: Follow n.c. baby blog via GFC (or tell me if you already do)

3) Follow n.c. baby blog on facebook

4) Like FunBites on Facebook!!! leave them a comment if you feel like it :)

5) Follow FunBites on Twitter!

6) Tweet about this giveaway! You can do this once daily! Please leave link to tweet.

7) PIN any picture from this post on your Pinterest account! leave me your link to your pin. (If you need a Pinterest invite, email me!)

8) Blog about this giveaway and leave your link so I can find it! (+3 entries, leave 3 comments)

9) Enter any other of my CURRENT giveaways ( 1 entry for each giveaway entered)

10) Subscribe to n.c. baby blog via email ( on right side of blog)

11) Add my n.c. baby blog button to your blog! (+3 entries, leave 3 comments!)

GOOD LUCK!!! Giveaway will close 4/21 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway is open to US and Canada readers! 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 to FunBites for the review product and the giveaway prize!

FunBites provided a sample for my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100 percent my own.