New Blog Hop Coming Soon! For the Love of Mom

Check back beginning April 7 for the 'For The Love of Mom' Blog Hop Review and giveaway.

Baby's Journey Towel Warmer Giveaway

I am big on contests, both entering and sponsoring when I can.  I have had some great success in winning some wonderful contests and have had quite a few followers/fans win from contests I have posted.  I try to post most of the contests I enter on my Facebook fan page to share with all of you and sometimes I blog about a contest if I know it is promoting a new company.

Right now there is a great giveaway going on over at A Mom's Balancing Act where you can win a Towel Warmer for your little one.  All you have to do is enter and share, share, share.  So, what are you waiting for?  Go enter to win this lovely warmer and of course be sure to add Baby's Journey on Facebook & Pinterest!

Premama Prenatal Multi Vitamin Mix Review & Giveaway

Welcome to the "For the Love of Mom" Giveaway Hop hosted by Mama's Baby Cupcakes & Mommy's Favorite Things. The theme of this event is great gifts for mother's, and each blog participating has a prize valued at $25+. This hop is April 7-21 and your winnings arrive just in time for Mother's Day! Also be sure to enter the Grand Prize valued at $160. 

Be sure to stop by Mama's Baby Cupcakes because she's also hosting the Grand Prize for this hop. Retail value is $160 and features the sponsors of Zoey's Attic, Madil flip flops, Pretty Please Polish, The Diaper Clutch, and Pure Romance by Stacy. A great package for anyone, but a special gift for the special Mom in your life! 

I recently received the Premama Prenatal Multi-Vitamin Mix in exchange for a review.  This is a new prenatal 'vitamin' mix for pregnant or lactating moms and is to be used in place of a prenatal vitamin (pill).

The box is easy to spot as it is shaped like a bag of coffee and comes in Blue (essentials) or Orange (Plus).  The mix is 'taste-less' and you can add it to any cold liquid or food.

The box includes 30 easy to open individual packets.  Instead of having to swallow a giant pill each day these easy to use packets can be added to any cold drink that is 12 ounces or more or any soft food.

The directions were easy to follow.  Simply take your favorite non-carbonated cold drink (mine is water) and add the mix.  I do not suggest you add this to water.  Although this is flavorless, it does still have a consistency to it and does make the water taste different.  I poured 12 ounces of water and added the mix to it and stirred.

It dissolved instantly!  The flavor was not bad, there really is not flavor but you can tell it's not plain water, it have a 'flavorless' taste but you can tell the difference.  I would say adding this to juice or any kind of drink that has a flavor already to it would be your best bet!  Adding it to cranberry juice or even milk would be perfect!

When I first added the mix it was cloudy:

And about a minute later it is perfectly clear and dissolved with a tint of green:  

By adding it to your favorite drink, it makes taking your vitamins quick and painless unlike most prenatal vitamins which are huge, hard to swallow and usually have a horrible taste.

·         Premama® Essentials delivers important prenatal vitamins and minerals in a flavorless drink mix.

·         Unique powder delivery method eliminates difficulty of taking hard-to-swallow prenatal vitamin pills, and is better absorbed into bloodstream

·     Convenient, single-dose packets make it easy to take Premama any time and anywhere.

·      Each on-the-go packet contains a daily serving of recommended prenatal vitamins to mix in favorite cold, flavored, non-carbonated beverages and smoothies, even oatmeal.

·         Doctor-recommended Essentials includes key vitamins for optimal prenatal health, including Vitamin B6, Ferrochel® Gentle Iron® and Quatrefolic® folate. 

·         Essentials contains all-natural ingredients, is 100% vegetarian, and Non-GMO with no artificial coloring or additives.

·         Premama Essentials is available at specialty stores and major retailers including Amazon.com, select Whole Foods Markets.

·         Premama® Plus offers the same prenatal multivitamin ingredients as Essentials formula, with Omega fats.

·         Refreshing citrus flavor in powder form makes Plus formula easy to tolerate, easier to swallow than the usual large vitamin pills.

·         Each Plus packet contains over 17 key nutrients promoting healthy fetal development, including Vitamin B6 to soothe morning sickness symptoms, Ferrochel® Gentle Iron® and Quatrefolic® folate.

·         Fortified with Vegetarian DHA, Omega-3s, CoQ10 and Choline to support fetal eye, brain and heart health.

·         Plus formula contains all-natural ingredients, is 100% vegetarian, and GMO-free with no artificial coloring or additives.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

·         Premama Plus is available at specialty stores and major retailers including Amazon.com, select Whole Foods Markets, and Drugstore.com

****I received this free product as part of a promotional program with Premama and MomSelect in exchange for a review.

I am offering a free 30 day supply of Premama to one lucky Mom/Mom to be.  This giveaway is out of my own pocket and not Premama or MomSelect.

Disclosure------- Mama's Baby Cupcakes, Mommy's Favorite Things and the "Love for Mom" participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

November Steals & Deals

November was a good month for deals!  I believe Christmas being right around the corner had a little something to do with it.  Here are some of my deals & winnings from the month....

Love coming home to packages!!!!

Marlboro Club Initial Bandanna...the initials are wrong LOL

I belong to the Marlboro club because I used to smoke, I know not one of my brightest moments but even still, they still send me freebies in the mail.

Free after coupons!!!!!  This was on sale for $6.99 at Stop & Shop.  I had a $2 off any toy coupon for Stop & Shop plus a $5 off any toy coupon from Fisher Price.

Halloween Cupcake Sleeves from PinkE Promise.  $3.99 a piece, I bought a black set & a purple set for my sister's bakery.

Baby's Journey Babysitter Seat Attachment. Stay tuned for a review of this product :))

I won a tie, magnet, stickers & a $25 Gift Card for Placenta Storage (I passed on the Gift Card since I am no longer pregnant)

Target had a sale going on Fisher Price toys and I had some $10 off Select toys coupons, plus Target had $5 off a toy coupons, so these toys only cost me $4 for all 6!!!!!!!!

Target Black Friday:  $4 Each!!!!!!! 

 Target Black Friday, I was able to walk away with both of these for $8 TOTAL!!!!  I have a $10 voucher from Fisher Price & a $10 coupon from Fisher Price for the Hippo, doubled with 2 Target $5 off a Fisher Price Toy and these were $4 each.  

MAM Pacifiers I won from their Fall/Halloween Contest....best win in my mind...Kiley LOVES these and I would have never thought to try them.  Now I'm a loyal customer!!!!!!

 I won a Keurig machine!!!!!!!!!!  This was NOT an easy feat...I entered daily for over a YEAR!!!!!!!  Well worth it though!!

My Fisher Price Deal:  $12.66 on sale at Target plus a $5 Target coupon & a $5 Fisher Price coupon...cost me $2.66!!!

I love when random Coffee samples show up!  Can't wait to brew this in my new Keurig!

 Harley Sticker from Sons of Anarchy

Paid $9.99 for these from Groopdealz....originally $29.99.  Can't wait to put these on Kiley!

 
 Shutterfly Ornament....FREE...only paid Shipping of $2.99!

Not sure what this prize is yet, it says either a Cigar pack or a T-Shirt!

K-Cup Samples that came in the mail :))

Clearance price of $3.00 total for the outfit.

New This Week

Coming this week more chances to win:

Review & Giveaway for a Cupcakery/Bakery with an edible prize!!

Homemade hand print kits and gifts with a giveaway!!

Review for an up and coming product and a giveaway!!!

Freebies, deals & more!

Halo Sleep Sack A Life Saver!!!!! Literally! & Giveaway!

Kiley hates being swaddled; I have tried every brand, shape and size and she would just cry and fidget to get her arms out of it.  I resorted to the old fashioned method of using a makeshift swaddle out of blankets so she could have her arms out.  I learned to swaddle her with just a blanket so she can keep her arms out while still being ‘tucked’. 

With winter around the corner and fall weather in full force here in Connecticut, it gets pretty chilly at night.  Kiley was having a hard time sleeping through the night because she would wake up freezing but, I was afraid to give her blankets in fear she might suffocate herself. 

So at 2am while lying in bed feeding Kiley I took to the internet for solutions that would keep her warm and give me the peace of mind to sleep without being in fear she was suffocating or too cold.  That’s when I came across wearable blankets; also known as sleep sacks.  There are many different brands, sizes, materials and colors/designs to choose from. 

The Halo Sleepsack comes in 5 sizes; Newborn, Small, Medium, Large & Extra-Large as well as a few different types of fabric; cotton, micro-fleece and light weight knit. There are dozens of different designs and patterns for both boys and girls as well as neutral colors.

Key features include:

v The sleeveless design reduces the risk of overheating

v An inverted zipper allows for easy diaper changes and keeps the zipper from poking your baby in the neck

v Easy to clean fabric

v Acts as a blanket without the risk of suffocating

v Decreases risk of SIDS significantly

v The arm holes and neck holes keep your baby from sinking and suffocating

v It’s warm!!!!  

  

It fits like a bag and only takes a few seconds to put Kiley in the sleep sack and I don’t have to remove it to change her diaper.  It keeps her warm all night and even during the day on cold days. 

You can purchase these virtually at any baby store or mass retailer including; Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby.  You can also purchase them online at www.halosleep.com or www.amazon.com.  Prices range from $10-$30 depending on what size, design, and material you want.   

11/17/2013 - Congratulations to Jess C. & Dianne H for winning a swaddle of their choice!

The giveaway for this review is for 3 Swaddle Me Swaddles Size Small/Medium 7-14 pounds, 3 winners will be chosen after the close of contest.  Please enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Life After Labor

 Life after labor was not at all what I had expected nor could I have imagined.  Everyone said enjoy your sleep while you can because once you have the baby you will no longer have it.  Of course I just shrugged it off thinking how bad can it be!  Little did I know everyone was right!

My pregnancy was normal for the most part minus the 6 months of morning sickness, heartburn to the point of puking and ability to not get comfortable now matter how I slept.  I signed my husband and I up for the childbirth classes, packed my hospital bag months before hand and had my birth plan written out weeks before my due date.  But no matter how prepared I was for Kiley to arrive, nothing could have prepared me for the delivery I went through...not even the Childbirth Class!

I tried to keep my birth plan simple by only requesting 4 things but, like life somethings you cannot plan for. Kiley was born August 12, 2013 at 10:10 am weighing 9 lbs, 11 oz. 22 inches naturally and my birth was anything but simple and uncomplicated.  Kiley spent her first 5 days in the NICU and I spent my first 6 weeks after labor on bed rest but, she was worth it!