If you are a blogger you need to attend Type A Conference. I went last year when I won a full conference pass from the creator Kelby. So this year I’m paying it forward and after every thing with the baby I need to stay close to her doctors while she is still on this monitor. I hate to miss it because its a great experience. It’s the perfect size if you are a newbie like I was. You will meet some of the best bloggers and social media enthusiasts. Along with great brands and sponsored parties (with awesome swag). But the best part about Type A are the sessions (and the free booze). Last year I learned more about social media than I ever could have imagined. I changed everything I was doing and implemented what I had learned and I started getting more traffic, more sponsored content and I had made such amazing friends that I still keep in contact with all the time.

Type-A Parent Conference, in its fourth year, is designed to help social media/blogging parents and the companies who want to connect with them take it to the next level. The conference will feature some of the most influential, admired and insightful bloggers and social media thought leaders talking about topics like power networking, branding, blogging, finding your voice, and turning your passion for blogging into a real paycheck.

Did I mention free booze?

Type A Conference will be held June 22-24 in Concord, NC at the Hilton Charlotte Center City.

This giveaway is for a conference pass only, does not include travel and hotel. 

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I’m sure you are sick of seeing thees cute faces but I’m just so in love and I haven’t been out of the house for anything but doctors appointments lately so it’s the only thing in my camera!

I’m a stickler for a good swaddling blanket. They have to be big for the proper Baby burritos. Both of my kids love being wrapped up. It’s already well known that babies are soothed when swaddled because it’s like they are back in utero. So finding a good blanket could be your secret to a quiet(er) baby.

Here is a look at just how big these Aden + Anais Swaddling blankets really are. With my Little Peanut (who’s about 8lbs / 21 inches) on it for scale! Huge right?

Little Peanut, Big Blanket

For the Birds prints I received.

The other thing I love about the entire Aden + Anais line is that everything is made out of muslin. Every time you wash them they just get softer and softer. It’s no just Swaddling Blankets either. The collection includes Slumber Sacks, Burpy Clothes and Bibs , Towels and washcloths,Crib Sheets, and comfy Security Blankets.

The prints are to die for! You can see celebrities toteing them around with their sweet peas because they are so chic. Perfect for the Modern Mom. Beautiful designs that were made you us.

We also use our blankets for tummy time. I can lay one out and roll another one up underneath the baby.

Tummy Time with the Owl

Of course you need to learn how to properly swaddle your baby so they get that soothing effect of not being able to wiggle around.

How to Swaddle Your Baby

Win the Aden + Anais Swaddling Blankets!

Win the Super Star Scout blankets

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Sometimes a good quote can put you back on track. Lift your spirits and open your eyes.

Nothing beats getting pampered. NOTHING. When you’ve been as stressed as me with these girls bringing on grey hairs at my early age it’s so nice to relax.

This week I got completely pampered. If you didn’t know, I write for My Atlanta Moms (a Fox 5 Atlanta site) all about Motherhood, hot topics and great things to do. I also am a strong advocate for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. So I’ve been a CHOA Mom Blogger for two years now.

My Atlanta Moms is doing an awesome giveaway for their readers for gift cards to Spa Sydell. So they sent me out to enjoy a day for myself to enjoy their facility. I decided on a 60 minute massage to ease my troubles. It was great. Afterwards I sat in the steam room until I was claustrophobic. When I emerged my hair was a giant puff, a true hot mess. Should have snapped a picture. Blogger fail.

Pla Beauty - CHOA Mom Bloggers

Then I got to visit Woo Skincare and Cosmetics in Atlanta to get dolled up with Pla Beauty products. (Plā) Beauty offers environmentally friendly makeup that creates more than just a physical impression – it provides women an opportunity to reveal both their inner and outer beauty by helping support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and extending the traditional benefits associated with cosmetics. Founder Stephanie Green-Bass turned her love of “Pla” makeup and heartache for the loss of her daughter into an amazing line of makeup. All while giving back to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Something I can understand first hand.

It’s been a great week of being pampered and it isn’t even Mother’s Day yet! Now to get on track with losing this baby weight.

You don’t have to lock away this amazing secret like Coca-Cola does with their secret formula. In fact I hope everyone will share their secret formula to an amazing Mother’s Day. You can win tickets to the World of Coca-Cola to spend an amazing adventure with our family (or Mom .

I don’t have to have a fancy card, flowers delivered and gifts. Take over a night feeding. Clean the house. Let me sleep in and fix me breakfast in bed and I’m the happiest woman on the planet. Showing your appreciation of me being a Mother is simple task. Hugs and Kisses work best.

What is your secret formula to a great Mother’s Day? Leave me a comment below. You could win tickets to World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta!

While you are there you can check out the newest exhibit The Vault of the Secret Formula. In this new and immersive experience, you will learn about the story of the secret formula and how it is more than a list of ingredients – it represents 125 years of history, special moments, memories and the timeless appeal associated with Coca-Cola.

You will be able to learn and have fun with many interactive experiences that showcase the origins, mystery and magic surrounding the story of the secret formula. You may try to match the perfectly balanced taste of Coca-Cola with a virtual Taste Maker or experience a fun zone of myths and legends. You can have a hand in protecting the secret in a full-body interactive game that takes you to many of the locations where the secret formula has been kept. You can even deepen your knowledge of the secrets behind the secret in our new mobile storytelling experience by using your smartphone.

You can even deepen your knowledge around the secrets behind the secret in our new mobile storytelling experience by using your smartphone. Look for QR codes located throughout this experience. Scanning the QR codes with a QR code reader will give you access to new content within the experience and exciting multimedia features.

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My bathroom makeover has begun and I’ve started with some of the accessories that I wanted to build the room around. The inspiration for our bathroom formed from this pin on pinterest for Blue Mason Jars turned into soap dispensers.

There are a few ways that I found on Pinterest that you can do them including with mod podge and food coloring or glass paint. I decided to buy the glass paint because it was so cheap and I knew that these glass jars were going to be around water.

Here is what you will need:

Mason Jars with Lids (Walmart has 12 of them for $9.99 or Michael’s sells them in singles)

Clear Glass Candle Holder (mini flower pot design) (Michael’s has them)

Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glossy Glass Paint 45-Milliliter Bottle, Turquoise

Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glass Paint Thinner 45-Milliliter Bottle

Rust-Oleum Hammered Metal Finish Spray, Gray

Lotion or soap bottle (recycle!)

You only need a tiny amount of the Turquoise paint (like a drop) Then add the thinner to it. It will look much darker than you need but it’s ok because it will be even thinner on the glass. I used a paint brush but it started creating tiny bubbles in the paint so I would suggest a lint free rag. I think a sponge might create bubbles as well.

Cover the mason jars with a thin layer. Don’t double coat because it gets tacky and will make it darker in that spot. Allow the jars to dry for 24 hours.

After the 24 hours place on a cookie sheet with wax paper and bake in your household oven at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.

Take your old soap or lotion bottle and cut the top off with the inside threading. Drill a hole into the top of your mason jar lid. Glue the inside of the lid with the inside of the bottle threading. 

Then you can cut the tubing to the desired length of the bottle. Spray paint the lid and pomp pieces. Make sure to unscrew them partially so that it doesn’t get stuck when it dries.

After everything is done you can fill them with whatever you like. I did a lotion, soap and cotton jar. The cotton jar holds the votive candle and fits perfectly into the top.

Inspiration sources:

Blue Mason Jars  - Jenn from Clean & Scentsible.com

DIY Soap Dispensers in Mason Jars - Heather Bullard from HeatherBullard.typepad.com

 Did Pinterest inspire you this week?

Link up your great projects and I’ll tweet them out on the @ProjectPins twitter account, the Project Pinterest Facebook page, and the Project Pinterest Pin Board

I love babywearing. It keeps your sweet baby close. But what I love most about it is the freedom of hands free baby travel! My favorite part of a new baby is the way that they cuddle on your chest. Having a preemie I’m able to do this much longer because she is so tiny. Babywearing is a great form of kangaroo care as well. So I wanted to find a great wrap that allowed me to do all this with her. Unfortunately my other carrier is not Preemie or newborn friendly so I wanted something that I could use and be extra comfy in as well.

There are lots of different ways to wear your baby. Slings, wraps and the kind that look like backpacks. I’ve tried a few of them. Slings were very uncomfortable to me because it didn’t seem to evenly distribute the baby’s weight on my back. It was like carrying a super heavy purse (this was my chunky JaMonkey way back when). I already have a big bulky backpack type one but like I had mentioned my tiny little Peanut doesn’t fit in it at all.

So I wanted to try the wrap. So far I LOVE IT!  It’s so comfortable. The fabric is a breathable cotton that has some stretch to it. When I first unfolded it I thought there was going to be a lot of excess hanging around but it actually fit perfectly. I’m still plus sized so that was another plus for me, it fits with room to spare.

The Boba Wrap comes with fantastic directions with big pictures on how to properly wear your wrap. I’ve been wearing it every day since it arrived. It allows me to hold her hands free around the house while doing laundry, dishes or making lunch. She is right on my chest so all her weight is right in the middle.

If you love baby wearing you need a wrap. The reason I decided to try the Boba wrap instead of others was because of the fabric. It is stronger and has that stretch to it so it doesn’t sag when you put your baby in it. Which means that the Boba wrap is going to last much longer than others as your baby gets bigger.

Now if I could just wrap Hubby up to try it out. Men wearing babies are super sexy.

Boba Wrap and Boba Carrier

Boba Inc. is giving away a Boba Carrier and two Boba Wraps! All products can be seen at www.bobafamily.com. With Boba products it is easier than ever to enjoy Freedom Together as a family and Boba wants YOU to get a chance to use their products. To enter to win, “Like” them on Facebook and for an additional two entries, follow them on Twitter.

Breastfeeding can sometimes be hard enough without having to worry about your milk supply drying up or not producing enough to satisfy your little one. Here are some great do’s and don’t to help you boost your milk supply. Along with some things to avoid that can cause it to slow.

First let’s start with the things that you will want to avoid while breastfeeding.

• Stress: There is a reasons doctors always ask “Are you under a lot of stress lately?” Because it affects our entire bodies, so your milk supply can suffer also. Try to do something to relax and give yourself a break.
• Poor Latch: If the baby is not latching properly they are also not getting a lot of milk at each feeding. Which causes your body to think that it has produced enough.
• Alcohol: Alcohol suppresses lactation. It also transfers to your bloodstream and therefore your milk. It takes 30 to 90 minutes after your last drink for your milk to be clear of the alcohol.
• Nicotine: Heavy smoking can affect your supply as well. Not to mention it’s terrible for your baby. It causes low weight, colic, and respiratory infections. JUST DON”T DO IT.
• Decongestants / Antihistamines: Both of these are made to “dry you out” that also means your milk! These can cause it to lower milk supply very fast in some cases so unless you are just have unbearable allergies try to tough it out.
• Birth Control: Your doctor wouldn’t advise you being on any birth control while you are nursing but if they did it would be Progestin only. It’s on the “Probably safe” list. But you should avoid Estrogen types of birth control.

So those are some things that may be causing your low milk supply. Here are some ways to boost your milk supply aside from having your baby nurse as much as possible. Even if it seems nothing is coming out keep your baby at the breast for physical stimulation.

• Water: Drink tons of water! Your body needs it to make milk. When you are feeling “low” drink ’til you’re swimming!
• Fenugreek: The best way to get this is in a Tea. There is one you can find in your grocery store in the natural foods section called Mother’s Milk Tea. You can also find Red Raspberry Tea.
• Brewers Yeast: You can drink a beer a day and you’ll see a huge difference. But if you don’t like beer you can get Brewer’s Yeast tablets or powder to add to food.
• Flax Seed / Oatmeal: Eat a bowl of oatmeal, easy! Check out the recipe below for a yummy way to boost your supply.
• Reglan: If the above natural forms don’t work ask your doctor about taking Reglan. It is a prescription that also help boost your milk supply.

Here is a great recipe for Lactation Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. I made these from my regular Chocolate Chip recipe but with the main milk boosting ingredients.
1 Cup (2 sticks) of Butter softened

2 Eggs

1 Cup Sugar

3/4 Brown Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Tbsp Flax Seed Meal

2-4 Tbsp Brewer’s Yeast* (see my note below)

2 Cups Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

3 Cups Rolled Oats

Bag of Chocolate Chips

6-8 Tbsp Water*

*Depending on how low your milk supply is will depend on how much Brewer’s Yeast you should put in. If you use 4 Tbsp it will be more bitter. Make sure your Brewer’s Yeast is “Reduced Bitterness” or try using a little more sugar to balance this. The water will also depend on this as well. This dough is very dry so adding water helps.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl mix your softened butter, eggs, sugars, and vanilla extract together. After it is well blended add in your flax seed meal and brewer’s yeast. Then fold in your oats.

Combine flour, salt and baking soda to your mix. You will need some water to soften up this mix so start with 4 Tbsp and work your way up one tbsp at a time until it is a good consistency. Lastly, add your chocolate chips.

Spoon Tbsp sized balls onto your cookie sheet and bake from 9-12 minutes.

I pumped for 8 months with the Big JaMonkey so I had lots of trouble making enough milk. These are all things that I have done and experienced first hand with breastfeeding. My Lactation Cookies were made with Whole Wheat Flour so they are darker than your cookies will be. If you have any question feel free to leave me a comment or contact me and I would be happy to answer.