a delicious obsession

McInc Shop Tub & Shower Mat Review

2012-03-10T19:29:00.000-05:00

I love bathroom accessories. Tub accessories are even better. I love things that I can place in the tub that offer ways to help get relaxed and feel good during a nice bath. When I seen the Tub & Shower Mat at McInc Shop, I knew I had to have one in my tub. There are four colors available but I chose the Sea Green color.

The mat has several 'bubbles' of different sizes which can help relax muscles and pressure points. You can use this mat in a few different ways - suction it to the back of your tub, lay back on it and let the bubbles relieve tense back muscles, suction it to the bottom of your tub, stand on it while washing up and use the bubbles to relieve sore feet, and you can also use the bristles to clean your feet.
I couldn't wait to get this in my tub and lay back on it. I think it's a great idea and thought it would feel great to lay back on. I suctioned it to the back of my tub and tried laying back on it but it didn't work as well as I thought. I think it all depends on the incline of the back of the tub and mine doesn't allow me to lay back very much. I was able to get some of the bubbles in certain places in my back and where they did touch, it felt great.
I also wanted to see how it would feel on my feet, after all, I get sore feet a lot too. It will definitely relieve pressure from your feet and if you have sore feet, it would feel good to walk on. If you don't have sore feet, you may find it a little uncomfortable to stand on.
Colors available: Sea Green, Pearl Silver, Pearl Blue, and Clear BlueWhere to buy: McInk Shop (Scroll to bottom)Price: ~~$19.95~~ On Sale! $7.50 Disclaimer: I received the product mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not asked to write a positive review. Any opinions stated in this review are my own and may differ from yours.

My Pregnancy: Important Update

2012-03-09T21:06:00.002-05:00

I had my 40 week appt today and Chris asked if I could be induced. I really wanted to be also but if they couldn't, I at least wanted them to scrape my cervix. They did the usual... checked my weight, blood pressure, baby's heart beat, etc. When Chris asked the nurse if I could get induced, she said she would have to talk to the doctor about that. She said she would be back in to check my cervix and then she left the room. When she came back she said that they weren't going to check me because they scheduled me for Monday. Yep, I'm being induced on Monday!! Monday is going to be a very early day. I'm scheduled to be induced at 7:30am on Monday so we're gonna have to get up around 5am or so. So excited. This is the first time in a long time I am excited for Monday! PS: I also wanted to say that any giveaways that end from now until Wednesday will still be closed but I won't announce the winners until I get home and settled back in.

Ritmo Prenatal Sound System Review

2012-03-09T12:58:00.000-05:00

Ritmo is a prenatal sound system that provides a safe way to deliver music, sounds, or your voice to your unborn baby. It allows you to listen to whatever you would like while allowing your baby to hear it too. It was developed by digital acoustic technology experts and is not just an mp3 for you and baby, but also a product that was made to provide a safe way to send the sound experience to you and your baby. This is a very easy and convenient way to share your love for music with your unborn child. The Ritmo came nicely packed in a very nice box and everything was protected very well so I had no reason to believe it was damaged in any way. I received the Ritmo Premium for my review which includes: *Extension Belt*Washable Protective Pouch*Rechargeable Battery*Ritmo Safe and Sound Controller*Ritmo Prenatal Audio Belt*Prenatal Sound System with 4 Removable Speakers

I have never used a prenatal sound system like this before so I had no idea how it worked. I was excited to receive one and couldn't wait to use it but I wasn't aware that you need an mp3 player to use this. Unfortunately, I don't have an mp3 player so I haven't been able to use it yet. I did try to wear the belt just to see how it would fit and how easy it would be to get on, but I couldn't get it around my preggo belly. It was a very close fit, but not close enough to Velcro it securely. I had to use the belt extender, which after it was placed on the belt, made it much easier to get on and feel comfortable.
This would be perfect to wear while you go out for your walk or jog, as well as just going out shopping, out with friends, a day relaxing at the park, or even just sitting at home. What I really love about it is that there are small pockets on the side that allow you to place the audio controller and your mp3 player inside; that way it can stay hands-free. It's also easy to take care of - it's made of washable fabric and will still look good after washing. The only thing I would be worried about when washing, is the Velcro. Usually Velcro gets ruined when it has been washed many of times.
The Ritmo is available in 3 packages. (Ritmo, Ritmo Plus, and Ritmo Premium)Where to buy: www.nuvo-group.com and check the Where to Buy pagePrice: $149.95 (Ritmo Premium)
Disclaimer: I received the product mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not asked to write a positive review. Any opinions stated in this review are my own and may differ from yours.

Chuggington 'Brewster's Little Helper' DVD Review

2012-03-09T11:34:00.001-05:00

Chuggington has added a new DVD to their library - Brewster's Little Helper! If you don't know about the Chuggington series, it's a great series that airs daily on Disney Junior (Disney's channel for children ages 2-7). The DVD was released on February 14th 2012 nationwide.

“Brewster’s Little Helper” will have preschoolers honking their horns alongside their favorite trainees, Wilson, Brewster and Koko, through six energetic episodes. In the title episode, Zephie is determined to prove that she can pull her weight. After overhearing Brewster’s tasks for the day, she tries to take care of them all, but winds up chugging headlong into trouble. When Zephie is unable to complete the chores correctly, she realizes she still has some growing up to do. And, with a little help from Brewster, everything gets back on track. Each of the additional episodes – Koko Takes Charge, Brewster Knows Best, Zephie’s Zoomaround, Nurse Wilson and Wilson And The Paint Wagon – are filled with loads of fun and coupled with positive lessons for preschoolers such as patience, teamwork, responsibility, friendship, creative thinking and more.

When my girls' saw this DVD they wanted to watch it right away. They love getting movies in the mail and they really love trains as well so this was a hit for them. It kept them entertained for quite a while - they watched every episode and I could hear them laughing in the room while watching it. They really loved the song that plays at the starting of each episode and before I knew it, they were singing right along with it.

Chuggington is great for my daughters and will be for other children their age. I believe that other children will fall in love with this series just like my girls did. If your child loves trains, this will surely be a hit with them too.

“Chuggington” is a CGI-animated series as well as a fully-immersive interactive website. The series follows the adventures of Wilson, Brewster and Koko, trainee engines, each with their own unique personality and learning style. The series is set in a world much like our own with cities, villages and diverse cultures and geography. Entertainment and enjoyment are at the heart of “Chuggington,” but embedded within each story are important educational and developmental messages centered on learning and social-emotional development. The property was conceived to seamlessly integrate television, books and interactive. Further information is available at www.chuggington.com.

Disclaimer: I received the product mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not asked to write a positive review. Any opinions stated in this review are my own and may differ from yours.

MoBoleez Nursing Hat Review

2012-03-09T09:55:00.000-05:00

MoBoleez was created by mother of two, Diane Sam. She wanted to create something unique and fun to help support breast feeding mothers just like herself. She is passionate about breast feeding and wanted to create a line of products that can reflect the love and bonding between mother and baby. She was tired of dropping blankets and bulky nursing covers that kept her nursing private, so she invented a breastfeeding hat as a modern, convenient nursing cover - the MoBoleez Nursing Hat. When my daughters were babies I tried to breast feed. It was hard for me because I don't think I was making enough milk. However, I did breast feed in between formula feedings to help my baby get whatever breast milk she could. I was never one to breast feed in public and if I had to breast feed during the day, I would usually lay in bed with baby and cover her up that way.
Even though I didn't have much luck breast feeding exclusively like I wish I could of, that doesn't mean I won't keep trying. This pregnancy is so much different so I'm hoping breast feeding will be different too this time around.

The MoBoleez Nursing Hat is very easy to use and it offers a private, stylish way to nurse your baby. Just simply place the hat on baby's head and adjust to your liking. It's big enough to keep you covered and you don't have to worry about it slipping off or exposing anything. This is a great nursing accessory and I think every nursing mother should have one!
Where to buy: www.moboleez.com or check store locationsPrice: $29 Disclaimer: I received the product mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not asked to write a positive review. Any opinions stated in this review are my own and may differ from yours.

Butt Bench Review & Giveaway

2012-03-08T23:36:00.000-05:00

One thing that I love having in my shower is something that I can put my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc on. I don't like sitting everything in the corners of the tub because the end up falling off or getting too crowded. When I found the Butt Bench and saw that it could be used for this as well as for sitting on and shaving.

Cedar Butt Bench

I was very excited to be able to place this on my tub. It has a lot of space to allow me to store all of the bath products I use. It also still has enough space for me to sit and shave when I need to. I really love the way it looks in my tub and it's great that I have so much more space but there are a couple things I found as a downside. First, I could no longer close the shower curtain all the way. The water that managed to get on the bench would run off the bench and on to the floor. It wasn't much but I would like to be able to close the shower curtain all the way. The second thing is, I could no longer lay back in the tub and relax like I used to. It held me very well. It would be very easy and convenient to shave my legs by sitting on the bench instead of in the tub. It will also be good for elderly people who can't stand for long periods of time or would rather sit so they don't have to worry about keeping their balance or slipping.
A good thing that I don't have to worry about is water damage. The Butt Bench is coated with a water-proof finish so it is resistant to water. It also includes suction cups on the back to help keep it in place and not slide around. The Butt Bench is available in- White Pine, Pink Pine, Cedar, or Pine.Where to buy: www.buttbench.comPrice: $52.95 (Cedar Bench) [Price depends on choice of bench]
Disclaimer: I received the product mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not asked to write a positive review. Any opinions stated in this review are my own and may differ from yours. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Dawn of Saudi Book Review

2012-03-08T21:21:00.003-05:00

The Dawn of Saudiby Homa Pourasgari
The Dawn of Saudi is a mystery novel about two women who fight for freedom. It's about the oppression of women and the human rights abuse that occurs in Saudi Arabia. One women in the book; Sahar Al-Hijazi won't allow men to choose the path she takes unlike her best friend, Dawn Parnell. She made the mistake of changing her religion and marrying a Saudi. She ended up being misled and now she is trapped in Riyadh. Both of these women desperately search for a way to escape. The story will take you on a journey through the stressful lives of these women in Saudi Arabia where women are considered the property of men into the land of freedom, known as the United States, where women can be independent.
Sahar happened to love the man she was with; Jason. However, Jason felt as if their relationship was getting too serious. When he feels this way he tends to want to go meet other women. He uses this as a way to get to away and forget about things, in this case, Sahar. Sahar may love Jason but she starts feeling too comfortable in his mansion so she decides it's time for her to move. While she leaves the mansion and heads for the taxi that is waiting for her outside, she notices that is not the only thing waiting for her. Jason is outside too and tells her he doesn't want her to leave. She explains to him that sometimes she needs more then love and that she was just getting too comfortable in his home.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a very well written story, and it kept me busy. It was hard to put the book down but that allowed me to finish the book pretty quickly. I have read other stories that were similar to this, and they always manage to keep my nose in the book. It's very sad how women have to live their lives in these countries that have poor rights for women.

About the author

Homa Pourasgari resides in Los Angeles, California. She received a degree in Business from Loyola Marymount University, after which she left to live in Paris for one year and attended the University of Sorbonne, focusing on literature. Multilingual, she has been traveling since the age of 5 and has experienced many different cultures. Homa has worked in various industries such as marketing, retail, banking, accounting and fitness but has always returned to her true love – writing. She is currently working on a new book. Lemon Curd is her first novel. Find more information about her book, The Dawn of Saudi, at thedawnofsaudi.com. You can also find more information about her at her personal website - www.homapourasgari.com Where to buy: AmazonPrice: $15.95 Disclaimer: I received the book mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was also compensated with a cash payment. I was not asked to write a positive review. Any opinions stated in this review are my own and may differ from yours.

Today is My Due Date!!

2012-03-08T13:09:00.000-05:00

Well, the day has come. Today is my due date. It is so hard to believe (yes, still) that this day is finally here. HE can be here any day now. Just yesterday I was going back through all of my pregnancy posts and it was a little funny and surprising how fast time has went by. It wasn't that long ago when I found out I was pregnant and made my first post. Or when I made the post about possibly being pregnant. I'm getting so anxious for him to come, it's actually starting to get me quite upset. I know that it can happen at any time and that it's not like I'm a week past my due date but if this was like my two other pregnancies, I would have had him already. I think I just feel this way because people kept telling me about 2 weeks ago I could go any day and they thought I would go early. Every time someone would make a comment like that it would make me realize how close I was to finally meeting him. As I noticed my due date closing in, the feeling of finally getting to meet him just skyrocketed. But now that nothing is happening, I'm starting to get a little depressed and upset. It feels like the day will never come now. I know it will, but when?
I just got his crib ready today. It should have already been ready but I'm slacking. I finally got the crib set in place but I'm not even sure if where we have it now is where it's gonna stay. Well, obviously it can't because it's right in front of our bathroom door in our room. Thankfully we have another bathroom in the hall way. All this stuff is stressing me out. I really want to get the room ready for him, but I can't do it by myself and Chris really won't help. I don't even have anything to put his clothes in. Right now the bathroom that is blocked is being used as a storage space. It has the few bags of baby clothes I have for baby in there and I guess when baby is born I'll have to be digging through paper bags to get his clothes. Hell, I'll have to move his bed just to get his clothes. Seriously, can this get even more ridiculous?
Even though I feel a little depressed and upset, I feel like 'why should I even feel this way? we aren't even prepared for him'.
We only have 2 things for him technically.. the crib and a swing. Nothing else. I feel like I am in this by myself because Chris doesn't realize we aren't prepared for him like we need to be. Okay, yea, we have some clothes (probably not enough), a few bottles, 4 pacifiers, wipes and we just bought diapers. He still needs a baby bathtub, it would be nice to have a bouncer so I have someone to set him when I have to do my work. Thinking of all of this is making me want to check Craigslist.

Vistaprint - Motivate Your Kids (6 Free Products)

2012-03-08T12:35:00.000-05:00

*Click the image to get the offer!* 3 days only- 6 Free Products to Motivate Your Children! Whether your child is going through standardized school testing or taking exams and tests for classes, this time of year can be stressful for everyone. Lighten the mood with these products! Personalize a notebook with one of 24 designs and your own text to fit your child’s style. A lucky pen will help remind any kid that his parents believe in him! With over 100 designs to choose from, you’re sure to make the perfect gift certificate for any situation. Choose from more than 800 designs and create a set of funny, sentimental, or just plain encouraging note cards. Then, add your own personal note to sneak into your child’s backpack for surprise encouragement. The products are FREE just pay shipping and processing.

Shipping Prices start at:
Notecards: $4.66
Note Pad: $4.54
Sticky Notes: $4.56
Notebook: $4.74
Pen: $4.60

Knee High in Debt

2012-03-08T10:43:00.000-05:00

I'm only 26 years old and I have debt. It's horrible. It's not just a couple hundred dollars either. I'm in debt by at least $22,000. Yea, that's right. Crazy huh? I found this out by checking my credit report. Most of my debt is hospital bills because I hardly ever have insurance. I only have insurance when I'm pregnant. Not good, I know.

We've been wanting to move into a house but Chris doesn't want to rent one. He wants to buy one. In order to buy one, we have to have good credit. Neither of us have great credit; although his is a bit better then mine.. now. Believe it or not, mine was actually better then his quite a few years ago. But now that he has a car to pay on and other bills, while I have nothing - things have changed.

Having good credit is very important in today's economy. Well, it was always important but it seems as the years go by, your score needs to be almost perfect. If you're looking to buy a house or apply for a credit card, you should check your report. You can do this by searching for a free credit score.

Slimmies Weight Loss Chocolates Review & Giveaway

2012-03-08T10:17:00.000-05:00

Slimmies are delicious weight loss chocolates that include a clinically proven weight loss ingredient. This new ingredient is clinically proven to promote weight loss, delay absorption of fat and cholesterol, help you feel full so you eat less, and also promote positive metabolic effect. You can get pill strength results without the pill side effects.

So how do Slimmies work? First of all, Slimmies includes a highly refined ingredient Konjac Glucomannan, which is clinically proven to help promote weight loss. There are two key principals behind Slimmies - 1 being 'the feeling of fullness'. Slimmies' active ingredient will help you feel full faster and it will suppress your appetite so you eat less. The second principal is fat obstruction. The active ingredient in Slimmies creates a barrier around food you've consumed. This will impede enzymes from working to release substances such as fat and carbs that are within the food. Because of this, it obstructs the absorption of these substances into the body.

These weight loss chocolates are very easy to chew but they aren't very sweet. When you eat these, keep in mind you're eating one to help lose weight, not satisfy a chocolate craving. They don't have any sugar in them and they have only 0.5g of fat per each Slimmies. I thought they were pretty decent tasting since they are supposed to help promote weight loss. I still believe you would have to eat healthier and exercise while taking Slimmies to see results. I don't think they will help you lose weight on their own.

Directions: Take 1 Slimmies 1 hour before each meal, 3-4 times a day. Take Slimmies with a large glass of water (8oz). You can also find workouts and meal plans at the Slimmies website; www.MySlimmies.com.

Each box of Slimmies contains 30 Chocolate Bites.

Where to buy: www.MySlimmies.com, Walgreens, and Rite Aid

Price: $24.99

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Diamond Candles Review

2012-03-07T15:50:00.001-05:00

Diamond Candles are very unique candles that include a ring in every one. You'll never know what kind of ring you will get until you burn a certain amount of your candle. You could find a ring valued at $10, $100, $1,000 or even $5,000! Diamond Candles are soy candles that are earth friendly and each candle has an amazing scent.

The candle I got to review was the Cinnamon Tea scent. It's not the one I chose (I wanted Christmas Tree), but it's okay, I love the scent of this candle. It didn't take much time of burning before I was able to pull out the ring and find out my surprise.

I am not sure if the ring I got is worth anything but I still think it is beautiful. It's not my choice of color, but that's okay. The ring is very good quality. The jewel is perfectly set in the ring. I'm not worried about the jewel falling out. It may be difficult to see in the photo but there is a diamond like jewel on both sides of the bigger jewel. These jewels are also set in the ring perfectly and I have no worries about them falling out either.

Now back to the candle. I was very happy with the effectiveness of the candle. Within a few minutes of it burning it had filled the room with the scent. It was just a great feeling to be able to actually smell the scent of the candle even from the other side of the room. I've used candles where you had to get right to the candle to be able to smell any scent.

The candle has lasted me a long time. I still have a bit of it left and I always light it when I feel I need an uplifting, happy scent.

There is a huge variety of candle scents to choose from so I'm sure you'll find a scent you'll love. You can purchase a Diamond Candle for $24.95 at www.diamondcandles.com.

My Favorite Cake

2012-03-07T12:53:00.001-05:00

Even though I don't each much cake, I sure do have a favorite. My favorite is Cheesecake! It's so delicious. Anytime we go out to eat, I have to get myself a slice if they have them. Just recently we went out to eat and we ordered a slice of Strawberry Cheesecake and the strawberry that was on it was huge! Take a look! The strawberry was almost as big as the cake!

I've never had a bad piece of cheesecake, it's just some are better then others. I love all kinds of cheesecake. Strawberry, Cherry, Turtle, Plain, etc.

There are so many things that you can add to cheesecake to make it tasty. If you like cheesecake you should look up recipes on how to make your own!

Tidy Tots Review & Giveaway

2012-03-07T12:12:00.000-05:00

If you've ever been through potty training a child, you know how messy cleaning their potty chair can be. I've been through it twice so far and cleaning the potty chair was not a favorite thing of mine. When my child went "number 2", it always made a mess. I'd have to dump it out, wash out the bowl and sanitize it. It just gets to be a big hassle sometimes. If you go through this now, you don't have to - Tidy Tots are here to help!

So what are Tidy Tots? Tidy Tots are disposable potty chair liners that help potty training be mess free. No more having to wash or sanitize the potty chair because all you have to do is place a disposable potty liner in the chair, add a Tidy Tots absorbent pad and after your child uses the potty, take the liner out, tie it and dispose of it like you would a diaper.

The absorbent liner is created to absorb more then your child can create at one time, so it's up to you to change it during each use, or you can choose to change it after 2-3 uses.

The photos below are just to show how the bags look. I was going to stick the bag in the potty chair but it's stored away in the closet outside and I could not find it. As you can see they look like a usual trash bag. The have a yellow drawstring that you can pull to easily grab the bag out of the chair and tie it.

I wish I would have had these when my daughters' were being potty trained. My youngest is still in training pants but she uses the big potty. These will definitely come in handy when baby boy starts potty training. Got a ways to go for that though!

Each box comes with 16 liners and 16 absorbent pads.

Where to buy: Tidy Tots

Price: $7.99

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Pregnancy: Week 39 (and 6 days) and Waiting For Baby

2012-03-07T09:08:00.000-05:00

So I wanted to get one last pregnancy post in. Today I am 39 weeks and 6 days. My due date is tomorrow. I have had some contractions and thought I would have had him already, but it hasn't happened. I had my cervix checked twice - the first time I was 2 1/2 cm dilated and the 2nd time they said I was still around 2 but almost 3 and that I was thinner then I was the week before.

I had my last ultrasound on March 5th to check the baby's growth. He is measuring at 7 lbs 12 oz. But who knows how much he'll gain before he is born. I think he'll be close to 8 lbs. My guess was that he would be born today (March 7th) but for the past couple days my guess is started to change. I have a feeling I will go past my due date. My next OB appt is on the 9th and I think I'll make it there still being pregnant. We'll see how much I've dilated then.

So for now, I guess it's just a sit and wait game.

Come on BOY!!

Wuggle Pets Review

2012-03-04T21:54:00.000-05:00

I'm sure many of you have seen or heard of Wuggle Pets. They appear on TV quite often and the commercial has a catchy song that lots of kids love to sing. If you haven't seen them before and don't know what they are, let me tell you! Wuggle Pets are cute animals that children can stuff themselves. The kits comes with a 'Fun Fill Factory', which stuffs the animals with the fluffy stuffing, 2 animals (the styles will vary but I received the one pictured above), 2 packs of 'magic dust' (small stars that you can stuff in the Wuggles with the stuffing, 2 sheets of personality charms, 2 birth certificates, and a zipper tool.

My daughters' had a lot of fun making their Wuggles. They were really excited to do it and they have been begging me to do it for over a week now. I finally sat down with them and picked their Wuggle - Audrey picked the unicorn and Sabrina picked the puppy. I was actually surprised they each got what they wanted because they usually want the one the other wants just to be difficult. First we did Audrey's unicorn. I held her unicorn on the Fun Factory while she turned the crank. After stuffing her wuggle, she picked out 4 personality charms to place in her wuggle as well. The 4 she picked were Charming, Shy, Sassy, and Wild. The 4 Sabrina picked to put in her Wuggle were Sassy, Charming, Sweet, and Loving.

The zipper tool was very easy to use - as you can see from the photo on the top left. You just place the tool in the small hole located on either side of the zipper and pull up. After we were finished I placed all of the remaining personality charms and the zipper tool in the storage compartment which is located on the side on of the Fun Factory (pictured top right). The bottom left photo shows the inside of the Fun Factory and gives you a general idea how it works. Once you Wuggle is completed, you can easily attach them to a backpack - just like pictured bottom right.

Audrey named her unicorn Jamie and Sabrina named her puppy Pup-pup. They really love their Wuggle Pets and they even wanted to sleep with them!

Where to buy: Wuggle Pets

Price: $19.99 + $7.99 s/h

Degree Women Classic Romance Body Mist Review

2012-03-04T15:32:00.000-05:00

I love body sprays and perfumes. I have seen the Degree Classic Romance in stores before and have wanted to try it but just never got myself up to buying it. I have bought the Classic Romance deodorant before though and I absolutely love the smell. When I seen this was available to try on BeautyFix by DermStore, I had to get it. I really love the design on the bottle and the scent is pretty amazing too.

It has a scent of floral essences of rose and peony with undertones of citrus and bergamot. It's a very light mist and you don't need to use much to get a long lasting scent. This has become one of my favorite things to use almost every day.

They have other scents available as well - Delicious Bliss and Sexy Intrigued. They have the deodorant to match, which I really suggest if you try the body sprays and like them. You will definitely like the deodorants too.

Where to buy: Find it featured at BeautyFix

Price $4.99 or sign up at BeautyFix for a better deal!

DermStore and BeautyFix Social Networks
BeautyFix Facebook
BeautyFix Twitter
DermStore Facebook
DermStore Twitter

Bummas Cloth Baby Wipes Review

2012-03-04T14:58:00.000-05:00

I have never used cloth wipes before since we're on a limited budget this pregnancy, I would love to do anything I can to help save money. Bummas Cloth Baby Wipes offer enough softness I believe will be comfortable for baby. I was truly impressed with how soft they actually were and I even think they are better then using disposable wipes. They are a little different in shape and size then a disposable wipe, but it's still big enough to get the job done with no problems.

I received a pack of The Wild Ones, which include the colors pictured above. It is perfect for a boy or girl. They have other color sets available too such as The Girls (Pinks and Purple for girls), The Tropical Ones (Bright and Colorful - Unisex), The Boys (Blues and Greens for the boys), and The Calm Ones (Browns and Greens - Unisex).

They are made of 100% cotton - woven velour terry cloth. They are measured at 5"x7" and they won't shrink or fade. However you should wash them in like colors. They are durable to be thrown in the wash and will last till your baby is out of diapers and even further! They can be used for other things as well then just baby wipes. You can use the on yourself and a soft cloth to clean the face or remove make up - it's much softer then a regular washcloth so it won't irritate your skin.

Where to buy: Bummas

Price: $15 (10 Cloth Wipes)

Expressionary Review

2012-03-04T02:30:00.001-05:00

Expressionary is the dictionary that you can create to express yourself to others. It makes a great gift for anyone for any occasion. This is a very unique way to share your thoughts about someone and give as a gift. You can express yourself by choosing up to 10 words that describe the person receiving. You can also choose a photo which will appear under each word you choose.

I was given the opportunity to create and review an Expressionary book of my own. I decided to create a book for my mother for Valentine's Day. I chose 10 words that described my mother such as beautiful, caring, friend, etc. I added a photo of her that I new she liked and then my book was ready to be published.

I received my book within a couple weeks and I really liked how it came out. It came out just how I imagined it except for the word 'Grandmother' - I used the word Grandmother as a word to describe my mom but the definition didn't turn out the way I thought it would. It just said 'The mother of ones father or mother'. Even though that is the proper definition, it just didn't work for me. Other then that, I think the book came out perfectly and my mom loved it. She said she needed a dictionary but the only problem with her is that the text was very small and she has to wear contacts so it was hard for her to read it.

Right now you can get 20% off your Hard Cover book purchase by using the code: ADO1257

You can create an Expressionary book in a hard cover or soft cover.

Where to buy: theexpressionary.com

Price: $19.95 (Soft Cover) $29.95 (Hard Cover)

It's a Big World, Little Pig Book Review

2012-03-04T00:43:00.002-05:00

It's a Big World, Little Pig

by Kristi Yamaguchi

This is a very cute book, inside and out. I love the cover - the title, pig, and ice details are lightly covered with glitter (only on the sleeve). The book It's a Big World, Little Pig is great for children ages 4 and up, however, even my 3 year old loved looking at it.

------

Poppy is a pig who knows how to dream big! Poppy's big dreams lead her to Paris for a special competition. She's excited about seeing new places. But she's nervous about making friends so far away from home.

Of course, Poppy's a most persistent pig and she's always ready for a challenge. With a big smile, a little courage, and a lot of heart, Poppy faces her fears and is off to see the world!

------

This book can be enjoyable as well as teach children that it is okay to go for your dreams even if they are far, that you can make new friends even if they are from far away and that there are other people out there that may feel just like you. You can befriend someone and then it would make both of you feel better.

I loved reading this book to my girls and I know they enjoyed it as well. My youngest daughter, Sabrina (3) wants to take it to school for Show N Tell, so I will let her do that this next Friday. I think the teacher would love it as much as I do and it would be a great book to read aloud to the class.

Even though the book looks a bit 'girly', the story will be suitable for boys as well. I believe girls, boys, parents, teachers, and everyone else would enjoy reading this book. It's a cute story with a happy ending and nothing could be better!

About the author: Kristi Yamaguchi is an Olympic figure skating champion, winner of Dancing with the Stars, and bestselling author of Dream Big, Little Pig! Her motto "Always Dream" contributed to her success on and off the ice and is one that she aspires to instill in the hearts of children. Kristi currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their two young daughters. A portion of Kristi's proceeds from this book will benefit the Always Dream Foundation. Visit her at www.alwaysdream.org.

Where to buy: Amazon.com

Price: $10.97

Disclaimer: I received the book mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not asked to write a positive review. Any opinions stated in this review are my own and may differ from yours.

Glamour Mom Nursing Bra Nightgown Review

2012-03-03T23:34:00.000-05:00

Glamour Mom is a company meant for women who are pregnant, plan on nursing, or are currently nursing their little one. They offer pregnancy tanks and nursing clothing such as tanks, bras, tops with detail, nightgowns, even a takini swimsuit and more. If you're nursing or plan on nursing, I recommend checking out Glamour Mom because I'm sure you'll find something you like!

When I first seen the Nursing Bra Nightgown, I knew it was something I had to have. I don't have much sleepwear, and there's nothing better then having something comfortable and then be able to nurse my baby conveniently and comfortably at the same time.

When I received the nightgown, I fell in love with the fabric. It was soft cotton and since it's made with 5% Elastane, it's also a bit stretchy. I knew right away that it was going to be comfortable. Even though I haven't given birth yet and I'm not nursing, I wanted to try it on and see how it fit, how it would feel against my skin, and how it would work with nursing.

Once I had it on, I was very happy with how it fit, even with my pregnant belly. It fit perfectly and even looked cute on my baby bump. It was super comfortable and when I looked at the nursing bra, I was quite impressed. I loved the way it was built in - nothing like I have seen with a nursing bra before. It was easy to remove the closure with one hand and the way the nursing bra is built is so that you can expose less then what you usually would when nursing your baby.

Where to buy: Glamour Mom

Price: $49

Making Babies Series (Book & DVD's) Review

2012-03-03T19:26:00.000-05:00

Making Babies

by Shoshanna Easling

I think this book, Making Babies, is absolutely amazing. It includes healthy, all natural recipes for food and drinks that you can before, during, and after pregnancy. It also includes recipes and tips for baby care such as taking care of babies umbilical cord or circumcision. Before I tell you more about what it is in this book, I would like to tell you about the author, Shoshanna Easling and how she decided to create the Making Babies Series.

While reading her introduction, I could relate with her inspiration because she says that she enjoyed learning and researching when she had morning sickness, indigestion, or any other pregnancy symptoms. She said that she would research, study, learn, and apply. I found myself doing this during my pregnancies as well, even now that this is my 3rd one. You can always learn new things even when you've been through it before. Shoshanna grew up in an Amish community because her parents wanted to raise their 5 children in the country so they could learn homemaking skills, country living, hard work, herbal remedies, nutritional health, home births, and more. After she found out she was expecting her first child, she knew she wanted to give birth in the comfort of her own home so she contacted a midwife. Ever since the birth of her first child, she has never stopped researching. She has been asked many questions about healthy foods, recipes, exercises, and herbal remedies from friends, family and even customers at the Herbal Bulk Store (which is where her Making Babies Series is sold). Since she wanted to show other women how beautiful pregnancy and birth could be, she created the Making Babies Series.

Okay, now back to the book. The first part of the book is about the Making Babies DVD Volume 1. It's conception through the first trimester and includes recipes for drinks such as Berry Herbal Brew and Mama's Red Raspberry Brew. It also has recipes for healthy pre-pregnancy tinctures. One recipe that I found very interesting is for the Egg Shell Water. I've never heard of it and didn't know what it was for. Taking a couple sips of this every day can reduce bone pain. It's said to be used for strengthening bones and bone inflammation.

I found that the book mostly includes recipes for healthy foods so some random recipes include Fruit Skewers, Raw Chocolate Sauce, Berry Cereal with Almonds, and Red Lentil Dip. The book also includes information on fertility and how to better your chances at conception. There is also a small section on foremilk and hindmilk which was very new to me. I tried breastfeeding with my daughters but I wasn't producing enough to keep them happy so I had to give them formula. I am going to try again with this baby and hope my luck is better. I did not know that after your milk comes in that your baby is getting the "foremilk" and then and after baby starts nursing, it will get the hindmilk.

In the back of the book there is also a section called "Baby Diary". It gives you space to write Mama and Daddy's name, baby's due date, gender, and baby's name. From there it also includes space for you to fill in information on your pregnancy. It starts at month 1. It even includes a small space to write a note to your baby. Fill in details of your checkups. It goes up to 9 months and then includes space to fill in details about baby's birth.

At the very end of the book it includes resources that can help with many other things.

Where to buy: Bulk Herb Store

Price: $35 (Book) $75 (DVD Series)

Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not asked to write a positive review. Any opinions in this review are my own and may differ from yours.

Char Crust Review

2012-03-03T17:43:00.001-05:00

Char Crust is a tasty dry-rub seasoning that can be used on chicken, pork, beef, and fish. If you really want to get creative, you can also use it on vegetables. It's available in different flavors such as Roasted Garlic Peppercorn, Original Hickory Grilled, All American Barbecue, Ginger Teryiaki, Smoky Spicy Southwest, Amazin' Cajun, Sun-dried Tomato & Garlic, Hickory & Molasses, and Roto Roast.

I was sent a sample of the Roasted Garlic Peppercorn and I was looking forward to using it. When I cook, I love experimenting with seasonings. I had the perfect opportunity to try this when we were having a seafood feast. I decided to try this on the Tilapia fish we were having along with top neck clams and tasty shrimp. I wasn't the one who made the fish, but I had them use the dry-rub on it. When the fish was done and we started digging in, the fish was the first thing I had to try. It was delicious! I loved the taste of garlic combined with the peppercorn on the fish. Even the smell of the seasoning has a very appealing aroma.

Since this was so delicious on Tilapia fish, I would love to try it on chicken. I love chicken and I think this would be just as good on it.

It's only 10 calories per teaspoon. 0 grams of fat, only 2 grams of carbs, less then 1 gram of sugar and 190mg of sodium.

If you're interested in viewing recipes using Char Crust visit www.charcrust.com

Where to buy: Char Crust

Price: $4.99 (4oz)

What Children Need to Learn to Read Book Review & Giveaway

2012-03-03T17:07:00.001-05:00

What Children Need to Learn to Read

by Michelle Vallene

I was so excited to be given the opportunity to review this book because my oldest daughter is in Kindergarten (she is almost 6 years old) and she's been beginning to learn to read. She's been bringing home beginning books with simple words like Nat and Bat. I am very proud of her but I would love to know how I can help her out. The book What Children Need to Learn to Read will definitely help me with this. It includes fun activities, tips, instructions and resources which will help with help you help your child.

This book is perfect to use with babies, toddlers, preschoolers and early education students. It covers subjects such as Parent/Teacher Tips, Baby & Toddler Games, Rhyming, Music & Songs, and more. It also includes checklists for reading and children's language accomplishments.

I really love the fact that it has activities you can do with your baby and young child. I can use this book for both of my daughters now, and I can even began to use it with my son after he is born. The activities in the book seem like a lot of fun and make perfect sense to help baby learn. It seems that a lot of these activities will help your child learn more then just reading, which is a good thing.

I also really like the checklists included in the book. It helps give me an idea of where my daughter should be at her age. Even though every child learns at their own pace, it's still good to see a rough idea of what they should know or what they should be learning. I was happy to see that my 5 year old was pretty much on track with her reading even though she is considered to have an "LLD" (Limited Learning Disability). She goes to speech therapy every week and she has made wonderful progress. I believe that after I do more activities with her as included in this book, she will progress even more.

This is a book I will definitely share with both of my daughters' teachers. It is a very helpful book for any parent or teacher.

The book also includes a musical cd that features all rhymes and songs included in the book. This would be great for daycare, for use in school where there is several students, or 1 on 1 time with you and your child.

Where to buy: Learners Lane

Price: $14.95

---------------------------------------------------------------------

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 Chix Maternity and Baby Clothes Review

2012-03-03T15:05:00.002-05:00

2 Chix offers a fun selection of maternity clothing and baby clothing. Their tees are trendy, stylish, and even humorous. Their clothing is worn by some Hollywood celebrities such as Brooke Shields, Jennifer Garner, Melissa Joan Hart, Angelina Jolie and more. Along with their maternity clothing and baby clothing, they also have 'Daddy-to-be' t-shirts.

I like a lot of their maternity shirts; I think many of them are cute and funny. They can show off your baby bump and some may even state what you're having in a cute, creative way. I received the "babyfat." tee. (Note: The link will take you to the Petite size. The tee is not showing up in Original.) I thought this was a cute shirt, however, the size I was sent was a size Original, which only fits sizes (pre-pregnancy) 2-12. The shirt was very small (skinny) and would not fit me. In my opinion, you'd have to be pretty small to fit this shirt. The shirt is available only in a 0-6 (petite) size so that is a bit of a disappointment. I honestly do not see this shirt fitting someone bigger then a size 5 or so. They also have "voluptuous" size (12-18) tees but only a few different selections, which most are currently out of stock.

It's great that these shirts are already pre-shrunk, that way you don't have to worry about them getting any smaller and not fitting.

--------------------------------------------------------

The onesie that I received was the "i Scream". It's very cute and they have it in blue or pink so it can be for a boy or girl. I got a blue one since I am expecting a boy. The brown detailing on the onesie is actually velvet, which gives it a high quality feel and look. These are very well made.

They are available in three sizes - 3-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-18 months.

I love this onesie very much and can't wait to have my baby boy wear it.

Where to buy: 2Chix.com

Price: $32 (iScream Onesie) $38 (Maternity Tee)

Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned above free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not asked to write a positive review. Any opinions stated in this review are my own and may differ from yours.