One Busy Mama

You guys! Excuse my blogging hiatus. I have been spending the last 10 weeks snuggling this little bug.

It has also been interesting learning to be a mommy of two! And I am loving every second of it! With that being said...IM BACK!!! We have some great stuff coming up!

Difrax Pacifiers: Review & Giveaway!

I apologize for the drought of posts lately- I had my little boy 3 weeks ago and life with 2 kids has been BUSY to say the least! I am so excited to introduce you to my little {N} with this review and giveaway!

{B} has always been a binky/pacifier lover. In fact, I am THAT mom. The mom that said she would never let her kids have a pacifier after the age of 2 max- and well, {B} is now over 3 and still has that darn binky. I have learned that some things just aren't worth making a big deal about-and the binky is one of them. Pick your battles, right??

Well, little {N} got to review a new pacifier in his first week of life, and so far it is by far his favorite! I am so glad we had this opportunity!

Difrax is Europe's leading pacifier company, and the produce a very science-developed product, similar most to Dr. Brown's here in the USA. Their pacifiers are trendy looking and are BPA free! Some of the features of the Difrax pacifiers are:

~Unique butterfly shape keeps nose free

~Holes allow extra air to prevent irritation

~completely round nipple to best resemble mother's breast

~Dutch design

~Comes in multiple sizes to grow as baby grows ( from preemie to 24 months!)

~ fun and unique designs for boys and girls!

We were sent some blue pacifiers for baby {N} to review in the 0-6 month size. When I opened the package I was immediately drawn to how cute they are! I had never seen anything like them, and I love having unique things for my kids since it seems like so many things are the same these days! When I gave it to {N}, he immediately took to it! I was shocked! He doesn't love his pacifiers and was gagging on the ones I was trying on him, but he loves these Difrax ones!

Difrax is beginning to distribute their pacifiers to Babies R Us locations all over the US! Check on the Difrax website for locations near you!

Booginhead distribution is helping Difrax launch their pacifiers here in the US, and they are offering one reader a set of 2 Difrax Pacifiers of their own! Size is whatever Booginhead has on hand to send to the winner. Please enter in giveaway form below!

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VeggiTales: The Little House that Stood DVD Review & Giveaway!!

{B} is in a stage where he loves movies and loves to be entertained by cartoon characters. He had never seen VeggieTales before, so I was excited when I was asked to review this darling DVD of VeggieTales: The House that Stood! I knew he would be so excited to watch something new, and I was happy that it was a show that sends a good message to kids! About the Little House That Stood:
When the VeggieTales: The Little House That Stood Three Little Pigs roll into Cabbageville looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation – following the wise plans from the Master Builder’s Handbook! Will the Little Piggies make the right choices when it comes to building their houses – and their lives – on solid ground? Find out in this parable that shows kids when they follow God’s blueprints, then can stand strong when the storms come!

{B} loved this movie. It was silly, interactive, had lots of things going on all the time, and it sent a good message! If you have ever watched VeggieTales, you know that some episodes are more religious than others. I did not feel this episode to be overly religious, you can feel comfortable taking this on a playdate, to church, or with any friends over...it is darling!
Watch the Trailer:
This DVD JUST released last week, so look for it at your stores! I saw them at Wal-Mart for only $9.99 close to their movie section, this would be a great Easter Basket Stuffer this year! 

FlyByPromotions is offering one lucky reader their own copy of the DVD VeggieTales: The House that Stood! Enter in the giveaway form below!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guidlines Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Kid's Squeez'Ems by BooginHead, LLC: Review & Giveaway!

If you are anything like me, convenience and time savers are a huge priority in my life! I have fallen in love with all of the new baby food pouches that are available. Super convenient, not messy, you can throw a couple in your diaper bag, give them to your baby in the car...they are wonderful! But...not the cheapest things in the world, right? You pay for the convenience factor of it. AND, not to mention not very earth-friendly! We go through those things like cadbury mini eggs- they just don't last long in our house. So I went in search for the perfect pouch...one that I could use over and over again, and even better, one that I would only have to buy ONCE!

Since we have a huge garden here in Iowa, I am going to attempt to make *some* of my own baby food for our new baby...and I wanted to figure out a way to be able to take that ( or any jar baby food for that matter) in an easy, on the go kind of way! Insert Squeez"ems, possibly the best invention ever known to mankind. Thank you BooginHead, you are my life saver.

Squeez"Ems are a reusable food pouch for any pureed food! They are easy to fill up, store, and clean. They are top rack dishwasher safe, freezer safe, microwave safe, non-toxic, cost conscious and don't have any removable parts, so no worrying about losing anything! Do you want me to pinch you yet? You're not dreaming folks.

All you do is fill your pouch with whatever pureed food you would like, squeeze, enjoy, and clean to re-use! Freeze or refrigerate for later use, or throw it in your diaper bag to enjoy in the car on road trips or a quick trip to the store! They hold 4.2 ounces of food, so a whole jar of baby food will fit in there! Not only are these awesome for babies, but perfect for older kids who go to school! They are small enough to fit perfectly inside a lunch box ( just make sure to tell your little one to not throw them away!)

{B} tried ours out with some strawberry applesauce in it. All I did was spoon it into the pouch, and it was ready to go! You can also purchase a Squeez'Ems funnel that makes for faster filling, but I'll be honest, it was totally easy to fill with a spoon. We actually were packing ours up to take on a picnic lunch last week since the weather was nice, but {B} couldn't even wait to eat it, he was so excited about the pouch! The pieces are durable, ours have held up great since freezing, and using over and over again...I can't recommend this product enough.

You can purchase these awesome products here on their website. They are only $7.99 for 2, so grab a couple pair!!

Our friends over at BooginHead LLC have graciously offered a set of Squeez'Ems to one of our lucky readers! Enter in the giveaway tools entry form below!

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Daddyscrubs.com: Review & Giveaway!

 I have a very fun review and giveaway for you today! Since it seems like we have been focusing a lot on mommy these days, let's sit back and talk about the baby DADDY for a minute! ;)

When I heard about Daddyscrubs.com, I immediately got in touch with them about their products and working with them. Daddyscrubs is the perfect place to get gifts for fathers and fathers to be!

"DaddyScrubs® is the offspring of Robert Nickell, who fathered his first four children more than 20 years ago. DaddyScrubs® was conceived when Robert, who remarried in 2007, discovered he was about to be a father all over again in the fall of 2009!

Not wanting to endure the pains of wearing uncomfortable street clothes while comforting his laboring wife, Robert hatched the idea of creating doctor-like scrubs for himself. It seemed a natural thing for him to do — since Robert is a pharmacist by profession.

To eliminate the confusion between “who’s the doctor” and “who’s the daddy,” Robert fashioned the concept of “I’m The Daddy®” medical scrubs."

How cool is that? Now your hubby can look the part- be comfortable- but not be confused as the doc, all at the same time!

What caught my eye though was the Bag O' Books by Daddyscrubs. This is a large tote bag filled with 6 children's books, all about daddies, and even a book with tips on becoming a new dad. There are also a pair of trendy sunglasses inside, so the new dad can sport a new look ( and maybe hide his tired, sleepless night eyes from everyone). Here are some more details on the books:

Product Features:

• Includes I’m the Daddy Trunk Bag made from 100% natural cotton canvas
• Includes "I'm the Daddy" sunglasses
• Includes 7 Books!
  • I Love You, Daddy! by Edie Evans
  • What Daddy Bear Loves by Paige Nickell
  • What Daddy Duck Loves by Paige Nickell
  • The Daddy Book by Todd Parr
  • Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer
  • The New Dad's Survival Guide by Scott Mactavish
  • Clifford's Day with Dad by Norman Bridwell
• Price: $49.95 (includes a savings of over $15.00!)

Because my hubby wears scrubs every day of his life, and will most likely be wearing them when I deliver our baby in April ( he will most likely be at work that day...) the book set really appealed more to me at this point in our lives because I knew that we could really use them! As a wife of a training physician, I know how hard it can be for dad's to find time for their families in between their busy work schedules. This bag of books is a great way for daddy and kiddos to sit down together and have some time to bond! It can be daunting for my hubby to try and find time to actually sit and read, but having new, fun books really helps!

{B} was super excited about the books. He couldn't even wait until my hubby got home from work to read them. I read every single one of them to him, it took me a while! They are all darling books, and include popular characters like Clifford and the Little Critter!

DaddyScrubs is offering one of my readers their very own Bag O' Books! This is a $49.95 value!!!

Enter to win!! Use the form below to enter your info and get your entries in! You can also use code BLOG13 for a 10% discount on Daddyscrubs.com! 

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NEW toy alert! And it's DARLING!

So I just had to share with all of you my favorite new toy from Infantino!

While browsing around Target yesterday ( dangerous, never just go to browse!) I came across this cute little gem and had to snag it for our new baby coming in April! Infantino has made this sweet little monkey teether, and it totally reminds me of the ever so popular sophie the giraffe!

Sophie was one of our favorites when {B} was teething. He could chew on Sophie's feet for hours I swear. Not to mention her face is adorable. Well, our new baby is going to be a big fan of little Monkey, because I am obsessed with him!

The Infantino Go Ga Ga monkey squeaky teether is sold ONLY at Target, so I would hurry and pick one up if you want to snag one! They are $12.99, so a little pricier, but I know it's going to be a durable toy I can use through all of my kids. Just like Sophie. :)

You can buy one online HERE! Enjoy! Also, all toys are BOGO half off right now, so it's a great time to stock up. This would be such a great baby shower gift, trust me, I would want one!

Let me know if you end up getting one, or what you think! 

NEW winner for INKtastic $25 certificate!

Ok, since I didn't hear back from Bonnie, I picked a new winner! Our new winner is...

#52... Diana

Congrats Diana! You have 48 hours to claim your prize, or I will yet again have to pick a new winner :)

Thanks everyone for entering!

A winner (BONNIE PEELING) and a reminder!!

So, I have a winner for the INKtastic giveaway, and that is...

#6.... BONNIE PEELING

Bonnie, can you please email me ( ncbabyblog(at)gmail(dot)com) or respond to my facebook message to claim your prize? I don't have an email address for you in your entries. You have til tomorrow morning at 10am CST.

REMINDER: I am feeling nice today so I am giving Bonnie a chance. But please, PLEASE leave your emails in your entries ( at least one entry) so that I don't have to hunt you down if you are the winner. If you don't feel comfortable leaving your email due to spammers, you CAN use the option of spelling numbers out, or using parenthesis ( ex. ncbabyblog(at)gmail(dot)com) This way spammers will not be able to pick up on your email address.

For future giveaways, if your email is not in your entry, I will automatically pick a new winner. I know it's harsh but I'm about to be a momma of 2 kiddos, and I just don't have the time to search for your email address! Love you all and thanks for entering and reading n.c. baby blog!

~Ali

New Year, New YOU! Review & Giveaway from Me2Roo Maternity!

 I don't love New Years resolutions. I am one of those people who don't set them, because I know that most likely, I won't live up to them...and that is so much more depressing to me than just trying every day to work on those things that I need to improve on, without writing them down and having them stare at me in the face.

With that being said, I do feel like it's important to try every day to be better, in every way possible! And maybe YOU ARE one of those people who likes to write down their goals and dreams...after all, research does show that if you write it down, it really does help! It's a new year, and with that, you can  become a new YOU.

For me, this year involves a LOT of change. I am officially in my third trimester, and in 2 months I will have TWO kids! I don't think that necessarily I am going to change, but my LIFE is going to be changing...and I want to be ready. AND....I wanna look GOOD while doing it. Insert Me2Roo here.

2 months ago I did a review for Me2Roo, a company that makes darling maternity active wear. As I said in my last review, with {B} I was working full time, and didn't have the time or desire to exercise and take care of myself like I wanted to. I gained more weight than I planned, and I hated that. This time, however, has been different. Do I exercise every day? NO. I wish. But I am more aware of what I am doing...do I need to go on a walk? Am I eating healthy? Am I doing the right things this time around to keep me and my baby boy as healthy as possible? Because I am trying to work out, especially in this last trimester, I need clothes that will fit this big mama belly. And believe me, if you have ever been pregnant, you know that work out clothes are awful on pregnant women. Everything is so tight and snug, and it makes working out really depressing! Me2Roo has the cutest tops, made for women who want to work out from pre-bump, to post-baby. There are a few options available, so you can feel good about how you look when you exercise, from beginning to end.

I reviewed the Charlotte Top a few months ago and LOVE it. It is seriously the best workout top that I own and I plan on wearing it until the scale is back to where it was, 7 months ago. It has a drawstring waist, so you can cinch it around the bottom of your belly. No more creeping tank tops up and over your belly...you know exactly what I mean! No more pulling them down, squeezing into them, and hoping all of your stuff fits in  your pre-baby tank. And forget the sports bras ladies. The tops have built in bras so you don't even need to worry about that!

The Ellie top is the top I wanted to feature today, and Me2Roo is giving one away to one of my readers! The Ellie top is a little more fitting, for those who are a little bit more confident in their pregnant body. It has thick supportive straps, and side ruching to expand for that growing belly. The length is extra long, so again, no creeping tank, and of course, the built in mesh bra for comfort and support. There are a few color options available, and really this tank is super super cute! I love how even after you have your baby, it will still look flattering due to the ruching on the sides. It will hide the love that has grown from having a baby inside you for 9 months. :)

BUY IT: You can purchase the Charlotte or Ellie top on the Me2Roo website. **Currently there is a New Year New You DISCOUNT CODE for 30% off on their website! Use code: NEWYEARROO**

WIN IT! One reader will win the Ellie top from Me2Roo! Woo hoo!

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 Me2Roo and let me know what your favorite item is!

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) Follow Me2Roo on facebook

5) Share this link on Facebook or Tweet about the giveaway, please leave link! ( you can do this once daily!)

 

6) Follow Me2Roo on Twitter

 

7) Pin a picture of your favorite item from this giveaway or the Me2Roo website to Pinterest! Leave the link to your pin!

8) Enter any other of my CURRENT giveaways ( 2 entries for each giveaway entered!)

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

GOOD LUCK!!! Giveaway will close 2/6 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. A BIG thank you to Maggie at Me2Roo for providing the review product and the giveaway prize!

Me2Roo provided samples for my review.  No other compensation was recieved. All opinions are 100 percent my own.

INKtastic: Bib Review & Giveaway!

I love finding funny and cute things for my kids. It is always fun to have something unique, and these darling bibs are nothing less than that! Since I don't have a little girl to play dress up with, I get really excited over cute and funny things for little boys, and these bibs made me laugh really hard. INKtastic offers these darling bibs, you need to get one for your little one! ( they have girly ones too, of course!)

At first glance I didn't really get what was going on with the "These fools put my cape on backwards" design, but after I read it a couple times I totally got it! Hilarious. Since my little sister is having a little boy too, I had to get her one as well. I can't wait til our boys can wear them together and we can take a picture! These bibs are really great quality. Having been through many a bib myself with {B}, I was really impressed with the thickness and the overall quality of them. One thing that always worries me is the writing cracking in the washing machine over time, but these are all sewn, and I can guarantee that these wont have any issues after being washed multiple times.

INKtastic offers much more than bibs. From personalized onesies, to shirts, stuffed animals, and more, they pretty much have anything you could want or need for your child or baby! And they can stick a name on it too, which we all know is super fun to do with kids! You can also order signs and banners for parties or weddings. They can pretty much do everything over there!!

BUY IT: You can buy the original 'Cape on Backwards" bibs on their website here, prices range from $11.99 to $24.99 depending on size.

Win It! INKtastic has generously offered a $25 gift certificate towards their cape on backwards bibs!!


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 INKtastic.com and tell me what else you like from their site!

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) Follow INKtastic on facebook!

5) Share this link on Facebook or Tweet about the giveaway, please leave link! ( you can do this once daily!)

6) Follow INKtastic on Twitter!

7) Pin a picture of your favorite item from this giveaway or INKtastic.com to Pinterest! Leave the link to your pin!

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

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

GOOD LUCK!!! Giveaway will close 1/26 at 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway is open Worldwide! 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. A BIG thank you to INKtastic for providing the review product and the giveaway prize!

INKtastic.com  provided samples for my review.  No other compensation was recieved. All opinions are 100 percent my own.