tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19128740963239591312026-10-16T05:40:47.710-04:00An over-sharing mama's chronicles the highs and not-so-highs of mommyhoodErica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.comBlogger357125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-15648791489983779152023-05-16T08:21:00.001-04:002023-05-16T08:21:08.952-04:00

Back when my babies were, well, actually babies, I knew I wasn't supposed to feed them certain foods. A big one was HONEY! But to be honest, I never really knew why. Well high school student Kamau Campbell of Roswell, Georgia did the research on the dangers of feeding children under the age of 1 year old honey. The reason? Botulism! Watch below as Campbell interviews pediatrician,

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-62505379184591575682015-02-05T11:53:00.000-05:002015-02-05T11:53:32.581-05:00

Oh, the good old days. When dreams had not yet met reality. When you would daydream about your perfect baby, who would be smart, beautiful and well-mannered. When you would picture yourself strolling along the sidewalk, humming lullabies. When you couldn't understand parents who yelled or lost their tempers - because you were going to be a calm, cool cucumber parent. When you had

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-13329979692612338162014-11-11T16:27:00.001-05:002014-11-11T16:27:29.801-05:00

“How’d you get that scar?” you ask with curiosity. You won’t believe the answer. It’s a crazy story, you see.   I’ve been through a lot of things in life – things that left their mark on me.   A run in with a raging bull. A tussle with a tiger. A gust of wind while tight-rope walking – good thing I wasn’t any higher!   Click to keep reading: http://

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-19874902541466100242014-10-09T17:40:00.002-04:002014-10-09T17:40:55.554-04:00

My new obsession over at Sweet Leigh Mama Shop on Etsy is gender reveal invitations. I'm not sure if it's because I totally missed out on the gender reveal concept (the trend started just after I gave birth to Deacon James!) so I'm living vicariously through these moms- and dads-to-be, or if I just like coming up with cute rhymes, but I am literally OBSESSED. So here is a selection of my latest

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-34808012040651359632014-09-25T08:38:00.004-04:002014-09-25T08:38:43.941-04:00

It's Throwback Thursday on Sweet Leigh Mama! I still remember this day - and I still scowl at anyone working at the Target photo counter... ya jerks! My Body is Not My Own: Reality Setting In Originally Posted July 17, 2009 At the 12 week mark, it was very clear to me that my body was quickly changing. Bye bye skinny jeans and pencil skirts, hello elastic waistbands. Along with my

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-20026880085040903432014-09-25T08:35:00.000-04:002014-09-25T08:35:01.411-04:00

Did you know September is the most popular month to have a baby? Must have been a *real* happy New Year for y'all (wink wink). Prego or not, here's some interesting stats from WalletHub - the leading personal finance social network - which examined the actual costs of giving birth in the United States. Families in the United States pay the highest birthing costs in the world, according to a

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-75517384787849558382014-08-26T19:13:00.002-04:002014-08-26T19:13:35.542-04:00

Head Lice. UUGH! Just saying those words makes me start to itch. The thought of those tiny bugs nesting and hatching in my child's hair makes me want to vomit. For real. I might have to burn my house to the ground if we ever have a lice infestation. So far, so good - we've avoided lice. But from what I hear, there is a lice situation brewing in schools across the country. So

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-24399347857642655962014-08-20T15:26:00.000-04:002014-08-20T15:26:31.758-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm TERRIFIED of my children bringing home what I like to call the "First Week of School Cooties". We've *somehow* managed to stay healthy all summer - and then the kids enter school (aka The Cootie Kingdom) and before you even know what's happening, they've got a runny nose & fever.. or worse. In my community, Hand Foot & Mouth disease is

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-73232518667475676042014-08-13T20:18:00.002-04:002014-08-13T20:18:23.909-04:00

Top 5 School Lunch Nutritional Hacks With kids headed back to school, it’s more important than ever to support their healthy development and give them every possible advantage in the classroom.   On top of ensuring the kiddos complete their homework every day and make it out the door on time, parents are now more focused than ever on the importance of proper nutrition in their diet.

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-76794210493938306742014-07-24T00:40:00.002-04:002014-07-24T00:40:47.110-04:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year - Back to School! Halleluiah, mamas! We've almost made it : ) I've been searching for a perfect pair of shoes to send Miss Paige back to school in style. I want something sneaker-like, but that she can also wear with dresses and skirts. I'm really loving the Mary Jane-type sneakers or something with some bling (what 4 year old doesn't love glitter?!).

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-8480257792226572942014-07-06T03:28:00.001-04:002014-07-06T03:36:54.650-04:00

In the deep South, the only thing sweeter than the tea is your Mama. Not to stereotype (NOTE: I am TOTALLY stereotyping!) but us sassy Southern Mamas seem to have a similar way of doing things. Maybe it's the warm air, the year-round sunshine, or quite possibly, the blonde hair dye has finally permeated into our brains. Whatever the reason, read on to see if you just may be a Southern

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-58988545521285325972014-06-28T21:31:00.001-04:002014-06-30T09:42:54.282-04:00

 RadioShack and RadioShack.com have great FREEdom Offers from June 29 - July 12 where you'll receive a free gift with the purchase on select items PLUS a special discount for our military troops Who DOESN'T love scoring an awesome deal on the latest tech gadgets and gear? Here are some great FREEdom offers from the nation's favorite tech and gadget store,

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-31464344903244406262014-06-09T22:39:00.000-04:002014-06-09T22:39:09.500-04:00

Each Father's Day, kids and moms alike repeatedly wrack their brains trying to figure out what to give the special men in their lives, which usually ends with a kitschy coffee mug with your face on it, a generic spice rack or cleaning supplies so that the "kids can finally help with chores." This year, why not give Dad something practical he can actually use and can help him feel extra

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-55241839352860525352014-06-09T08:00:00.000-04:002014-06-09T08:00:04.475-04:00

Does your child LOVE Judy Moody - the award-winning series created by author Megan McDonald.   Well, Borden Dairy has teamed up with Candlewick Press to launch “Mooo-dy Summer Mania”, a summer reading campaign centered around the award-winning Judy Moody and Stink series.   From June 9 – July 31, you'll see Judy Moody and Stink featured on Borden

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-89642003189071944142014-06-02T10:36:00.001-04:002014-06-02T10:36:33.916-04:00

This post is sponsored by my friends at The Bradford Exchange Online - Walt Disney Collectibles Did you know that 1 in 3 people are a Disney fanatic? Ok - I just made that up. But I'm pretty sure it's true. We all have one of those Walt Disney World lovers who is near and dear to our hearts. You know the kind - the true, die-hard, Pixie Dust sprinkling, Princess

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-35699884911112413252014-05-23T11:30:00.000-04:002015-02-17T09:44:07.922-05:00

As many of you know, I have a line of custom Baby Shower and Baby Sprinkle invitations on my Sweet Leigh Mama Etsy Shop. One of the top questions I get each day from my customers is, "How should I word this?" or "The mom-to-be only wants gift cards - how can I put that without being tacky?" or "This is the second (or third, fourth...) child, so they'd really just like diapers and wipes - how

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-21817051030386986862014-05-18T20:43:00.003-04:002014-05-18T20:43:44.387-04:00

Paige is officially a Disney Princess addict. I'm revamping her room a bit, and wanted to create something Princess-like, but I wasn't wild about the Disney Princess posters currently available. So I decided to use this precious Disney Princess clipart and feature all the Disney Princesses since the very beginning through today. All of them are there: Snow White, Cinderella, Tinkerbell

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-21680370416523457452014-05-12T09:43:00.002-04:002014-05-12T09:43:46.745-04:00

Since the kid's were born, I've wanted to do a Curious George-themed birthday party. Well, this year it is finally happening... with a twist : ) Instead of just Curious George, I'm creating a Curious George Carnival! More pics to come (after the big event) but wanted to share the Curious George Birthday Party invitation I created (and is now for sale on my Etsy shop - Sweet Leigh Mama). Let

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-20340616231952829862014-05-12T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-12T08:00:12.337-04:00

::GUEST POST COURTESY OF MY FRIENDS AT VITAMIN WOLRD::   With bikini season kicking off in a couple of weeks, the thought of fitting into itty-bitty-bathing suits can leave many of us in a hot sweat. Experts say that the average woman gains five to seven pounds every winter, and while you may not notice those few “L-B’s” under chunky sweaters, beach season may have us running for our

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-10785968667311479112014-05-09T14:23:00.000-04:002014-05-09T14:23:00.061-04:00

::GUEST POST COURTESY OF NOMI BACHAR WITH GATES OF POWER:: As parents, there is nothing more precious to us than our kids. We are willing to sacrifice time, energy, and money to ensure their wellbeing. The big question that haunts us as parents in this day and age is “Why are so many youngsters today, emotionally imbalanced, using drugs, feeling lost, angry and despairing?”  

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-22208955801888491202014-05-09T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-09T08:00:04.832-04:00

Committed to offering fresh and fashionable eyewear without the premium price, Peepers is the leading designer and marketer of innovative and expressive eyewear products for both men and women. And…they have everything – readers, bifocals, traveling readers and bifocals, foldable reading glasses, bifocal sunglasses as well as the designer readers and shades.   Peepers believes eyewear

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-14631241694499343312014-05-08T14:40:00.000-04:002014-05-08T14:40:01.215-04:00

http://gifts.rescue.org/ Just in time for Mother’s Day, the International Rescue Committee has launched its collection of charitable “Rescue Gifts” — perfect gift options for the last-minute shoppers who want to celebrate the special moms in their lives, while also helping to support vulnerable refugee mothers and their families around the world. The IRC’s symbolic “Rescue Gifts” offer

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-67938114410513564792014-05-08T14:12:00.002-04:002014-05-08T14:12:32.481-04:00

::GUEST POST COURTESY OF MY FRIENDS AT BOOGIE WIPES::   From wiping gunky noses to changing diapers and years of lost sleep, Boogie Wipes® knows that motherhood is snot easy. (GET IT? sNOT easy? L.O.V.E. IT!) To honor moms and create an opportunity for priceless home video footage, Boogie Wipes® is launching a yearlong “Motherhood’s Snot Easy” contest. Each month starting in May

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-23645518580120419092014-04-16T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-16T08:00:12.417-04:00

You're headed to a baby shower that requests: "Help build baby's library! Please bring a book instead of a card!" SUCH a cute idea! But if you don't yet have kids of your own, or are a little behind the times on the best books for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, choosing the perfect book might be a daunting task.   Yes, you can always fall back on the good old classics like

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912874096323959131.post-21261527358352445642014-04-14T16:58:00.001-04:002014-04-14T17:02:17.176-04:00

Calling all Wizard of Oz fans! The newest animated movie your kids will fall in LOVE with is almost here - Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return. Dorothy lands in a theater near you on May 9th. And guess who is the voice of little Miss Dorothy? LEA MICHELE! Are you as excited for the soundtrack as I am? Maybe something that can hold a flame to the Frozen soundtrack that plays on repeat in 9

Erica Billupshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798815529215555032noreply@blogger.com0