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Frugal Novice

Great Gifts are Yours for the Making with Makaboo! {Giveaway}

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A little over two years ago, when C was just a baby (time sure does fly – he’s 3 now!), I did a review for a company called Makaboo. They had just opened about 6 months prior, and I was excited to feature a new company. Now, two years later they’re still a thriving and growing business that provides personalized gifts perfect for any little one.

We received the Angel Dear owl lovie and it quickly became a favorite nighttime companion for C.

  

It’s got his name embroidered on it, making it even more special. The embroidery was really well-done, and the color used matched perfectly with the owl’s features.

There are a bunch of different animals you can pick from:

I have my eye on this adorable pink giraffe for our newest little-one-to-be:

Beyond lovies, Makaboo also offers a TON of other items like blankets, clothing, wall organizers, backpacks, and much more. And since we’re talking all about baby stuff this month, what’s more a classic baby item than a bib? Makaboo offers Kissy Kissy bibs that you can, of course, personalize as a perfect gift.

If I were to order a bib for a gift, I’d probably get this one for my friend Amanda’s daughter. Her nursery bedding has dragonflies, so this would be perfect!

You can see in the screen shot that there’s a huge list of icons to pick from; you can also pick your thread color and font, and then of course type in the text you want.

One lucky reader will win an Angel Dear Lovie AND a Kissy Kissy bib of their choice! Makaboo will send you a gift code to use so you can choose all the personalization options for your items.  This contest is open to all U.S. residents aged 18+. Entries will be accepted until the end of the day (midnight Central) Friday, June 29. By entering this giveaway you agree to the Official Rules.

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When Form Meets Function: Boba Carrier

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I think a baby carrier is a must-have for most moms. It’s something that makes carrying your child easy and allows you to have your hands free, and you don’t have to worry about trying to maneuver through tight spaces or busy crowds like you would if you were using a stroller. Carriers are also compact and easy to bring along with you wherever you go.

I have to admit, I hadn’t heard of the Boba carrier when either of our boys were little – but now that we have one and have gotten to try it out, I am in love and wish we’d known about it sooner! I wrote about the differences between the carrier and the wrap in a post the other day (there’s a giveaway, too – you should check it out) but in this post I’ll focus on the carrier, since that’s what we got to try.

The 3G can carry babies 7 lbs. + all the way up to kids 45 lbs. I typically think of carriers for infants, like this:

But this carrier is versatile – you can wear it on your front or back (either way, your child will always face toward you). And since our newest addition isn’t joining us until September, Brian tried our carrier out with the boys. It was a hit!

    

      

Brian said it was completely comfortable carrying both of the boys (C is about 35 pounds and J is 37). With J we decided to try out one of the features of the 3G – optional foot straps. These made it more comfortable for both J and Brian, and Boba’s site says, “The added foot straps feature alleviates the uncomfortable feeling of fabric digging into the back of your toddler’s hamstrings. It gives tired legs a place to rest and at the same time acts to support the legs in the physiological flexed abducted position (froglike position) which in turn naturally tilts the pelvis and aligns the spine.”

Some of the other features of the 3G are (with a few points of commentary from me):

  • 100% Cotton
  • Front and back carry options
  • Removable sleeping hood (LOVE this – any parent who’s had to shield their baby from the sun will agree)
  • Adjustable sleeping hood, adjusting in length to fit growing babies
  • Zipper pouch may be used to store your hood when not in use
  • Comfortably fits heights 5’0” – 6’3”
  • Waistband range: 25” – 58”
  • Additional adjustments for easier fit & breastfeeding
  • Patent-pending removable foot straps (great for older kids)
  • Elastic bands neatly roll up straps
  • Shoulder strap holders keep purses and diaper bags in place (seriously, this is AWESOME – no more worrying about your purse falling off your shoulder. You can also use this to hold keys, etc.)
  • Easily adjustable chest strap
  • Uniquely designed to “hug” your child
  • Converts to an infant carrier without an insert (no more extra $$)
  • Extra head support adjustments for infants
  • Body of carrier rises 2-3” higher than other brands
  • Multiple pockets for on-the-go storage (a necessity!)
  • High quality military grade buckles

I can’t say enough good things about this carrier. I’ve heard from many others who’ve used it that it’s a favorite, so it makes me feel like this will be something we get a ton of use out of with this baby. And, ok, I’ve got to say it – isn’t the fabric pattern on ours gorgeous? It makes me love the carrier even more (and Brian has agreed that the print isn’t too girly).

You can buy the 3G on the Boba site (they retail for $120-$125, which is comparable to other high-quality carriers on the market) or on Amazon.

Note: I received a Boba 3G carrier to review and am helping host a giveaway for the Boba Carrier and two Boba wraps. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. Any opinions are honest and are my own.

 

Make Learning Fun For Babies & Kids {Giveaway}

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Brian and I love toys and entertainment for the kids that is also educational, like most parents probably do. I think if it’s done right then kids can really enjoy learning new things, and hopefully have that be a quality that continues throughout their lives.

School Zone is a company that provides all sorts of fun and educational products for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kids – they have a variety of options available – workbooks, software, flash cards, reading, and activities.

There are flash cards and board books perfect for baby gifts, and I’d personally love to have these for my baby to use. They allow you to introduce letters, shapes, colors and more at an early age with bright images to keep interest.

We got a chance to review two software titles from School Zone: The Kindergarten 2-Pack On-Track set, and the Colors, Shapes & More software for ages 3 & up.

The boys were really excited to each have their own computer game to play. They haven’t had a whole lot of time on the computer up to this point, so beyond the educational aspect we’re glad for them to get some practice using a mouse and getting comfortable with the computer. We let J go first – I sat and watched but let him do everything.

The game is set up to where it’s really easy for kids to maneuver through, and there’s a voice that speaks instructions so kids don’t have to be able to read to play. The activity above was a lot of fun for J – he liked finding the rectangles “hidden” in the pictures.

Next we let C have a turn. I had to help him use the mouse but he loved being the one to click. :)

This software was also age-appropriate and filled with fun activities. C could pick from numbers, shapes, colors, and animals – the screen shot above had him find the pink fish to put in the fish bowl, for instance.

I’d highly recommend the School Zone software. I think it’s especially great for pre-k aged kids to provide them with some learning foundations before they go to kindergarten.
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Labels You’ll Love: Inchbug {Giveaway}

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When we had J, I quickly realized how much more stuff we needed for day-to-day. Diapers, wipes, pacifiers, burp cloths, bottles and more were all a part of the arsenal of supplies in my diaper bag. Keeping up with everything is a whole other ballgame. I learned how important the art of labeling things was, because there are a lot of other moms out there with their own kids’ plethora of items, and it’s easy to get things mixed up.

We ordered Orbit Labels from Inchbug because I’d heard from other moms how great they were. Taking a look at their site, it was easy to see why so many parents like the Orbit Labels:

  • Dishwasher Safe
  • Microwaveable
  • Can be boiled/sterilized
  • Constructed with FDA compliant non-toxic material
  • Fits snug around containers – young children can’t remove
  • Help small hands with a non-slick grip
  • Easy to transfer to different cups,bottles,etc.

We loved these so much for J that it was a no-brainer to get some for C when he was born. And now that they’re older it makes it an easy way to distinguish whose cup is whose – J’s labels are blue, and C’s are green. (The pink ones pictured above are the ones we got for the new baby!) When I started taking photos of the Orbit labels we just got for the new baby, J asked me if I’d take a picture of him with his too – see, they work great on cups too!

Inchbug makes a ton of other great products, too – we just got the chance to try out their Shoe Pal labels and their TagPal clothing labels as well.

The Shoe Pal labels are simple but ingenious – you place them in each of your child’s shoes, and it helps make it easier for them to know which foot goes in which shoe (along with labeling the shoes as belonging to your child, an added benefit). These really do work! I wondered how much of a difference they would make but J quickly caught on to match his foot to the one on the sticker. I Photoshopped our name out of the photo, but here’s what they look like in J’s shoes – and here’s a screen shot to give you an idea of one of the font options (there are quite a few, along with a variety of colors):

     

Above, you can see the designs we picked for our TagPals – the boys love outerspace, so this was perfect! The TagPal clothing labels are an easy-to-use peel and stick option for labeling clothing with a care tag.  Each label is personalized with your name and a colorful icon and is safe to put through the washing machine and dryer. TagPals are not intended for use on clothing without a care tag.

J helped me put a TagPal on a pair of his shorts – it’s a really easy process and he thought it made his shorts “cooler” to have an outerspace sticker in them.

These are great for extra clothes you send with your child to day care, camp, or any other place you’d worry about things getting misplaced or mixed up. Of course, most children’s shirts don’t include tags at the neck anymore, but there are typically care tags down at the bottom that you can use TagPals on. J has been pointing out all of his shirts that do have a tag at the neck, so we can add stickers to them too. :)

One lucky reader will win their own set of personalized Orbit Labels from Inchbug! Entries will be accepted until the end of the day (midnight Central) Wednesday, June 27. By entering this giveaway you agree to the Official Rules.

Mandatory Entry: “Like” Inchbug on Facebook and comment here letting me know you’ve done so.

(Only valid after the required entry has been completed)

Please leave a comment for each extra entry – if you blog about this giveaway and get 2 entries, for example, comment 2 times.

Note: I received Inchbug products for review, and the Orbit Labels for the prize fulfillment are being provided as well. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are my own.

Wordless Wednesday: Baby Belly

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Soothe Skin Safely with Exederm Flare Control Cream {Giveaway}

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I had never really heard much about eczema until a few years ago when a friend’s baby started having breakouts. If you’ve dealt with it, you know how frustrating it can be (especially for little ones who don’t understand why they feel uncomfortable).

 

There are a lot of products out there on the market to treat eczema, but Exederm Flare Control Cream has added qualities that really put it a step above its competition:

  • No Fragrance
  • No Color or Dyes
  • No Parabens
  • No Lanolin
  • No SLS or SLES
  • No Propylene Glycol
  • No Formaldehyde
  • No Phthalates

Exederm Flare Control Cream is the only paraben-free hydrocortisone cream available in US. It is also the first and only hydrocortisone product to receive the National Eczema Association’s coveted Seal of Acceptance with a perfect 5 out of 5 score.

I love how natural this cream is. You can feel good about using this on yourself or your kids ages 2 +(of course, be sure and see your child’s doctor before using anything to treat eczema on your own).
Aside from their flare control cream, Exederm has a variety of other products, including a line of products just for babies, which would be perfect to add to your registry!
One lucky reader will win a tube of Exederm Flare Control Cream. Entries will be accepted until the end of the day (midnight Central) Monday, June 25. By entering this giveaway you agree to the Official Rules.
Mandatory Entry: Comment on this post telling me why you’d like to win the Flare Control Cream!

(Only valid after the required entry has been completed)

Please leave a comment for each extra entry – if you blog about this giveaway and get 2 entries, for example, comment 2 times.

  • Follow me on Twitter {1 extra entry}
  • “Like” Frugal Novice on Facebook {2 extra entries}
  • Sign up to receive my newsletter {1 extra entry}
  • Sign up to get my updates in your e-mail {1 extra entry}
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed {1 extra entry}
  • Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall {2 extra entries per post; can post up to 2 times per day}
  • Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter, including “@FrugalNovice”  in your tweet, along with the link to this post. {1 extra entry per tweet; can tweet up to 3 times per day}
  • Blog about this giveaway and link it back here; comment with the URL to your post {2 extra entries}
  • Unlimited Extra Entry Option: Leave a NEW comment on as many other (non-giveaway) posts as you like and get one entry for each comment. Be sure to let me know which posts you commented on below.

Note: I received Exederm products for review, and the product for the prize fulfillment is being provided as well. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are my own.

Take the Cake with Diaper Cakewalk {Giveaway!}

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It can be hard coming up with the perfect baby shower gift. You want it to be practical, something the mom will really be able to get use out of. But let’s be honest… you want it to be pretty stinkin’ adorable, too – something that will be oohed and aahed over, and really loved.

The solution? A diaper cake! It’s made of diapers, which of course we all know babies go through SO quickly, and it’s decorated with other baby necessities like toiletries, wash cloths, and pacifiers.

Diaper Cakewalk has been around for six years now, providing people with professionally-made, adorably-designed diaper cakes any parents-to-be would be thrilled to receive. I got sent the Striped Safari Diaper Cake to review – how cute is this?

The cake is well-made and safely packed for shipping – it arrived in perfect condition, complete with a tulle wrap. It included:

  • Plush toy elephant
  • Baby pacifier
  • Baby washcloths
  • Johnson’s baby shampoo
  • Johnson’s baby lotion
  • Johnson’s baby wash
  • Johnson’s baby powder
  • Desitin diaper rash cream
  • 70-75 premium Pampers Swaddlers disposable diapers, size 1 (up to 14lbs)

Just imagine this at the center of the shower table:

Wouldn’t that be a great jumping-off point to plan a theme around? With tons of designs, there’s sure to be one that fits what you’re looking for. You can also choose between two sizes for most cakes:

The cakes aren’t just great for showers. If you’re thinking about taking flowers to the hospital when you visit a new bundle of joy, a diaper cake is a longer-lasting yet still adorable alternative. It’d definitely add some personality to a bland hospital room, too!

Here are a few of my favorite designs (there are way too many to try and show them all here, but trust me, you’ll want to check them out):

This third one is for twins – how cute, right?

And if you don’t see a design that fits the theme you’re looking for, you can order a plain cake that’s built to last and provides the foundation for you to add decorations of your choosing!

One lucky reader will win their choice of any three-tiered cake from the Bestsellers page (there are over 40 to choose from!). Entries will be accepted until the end of the day (midnight Central) Monday, June 25. By entering this giveaway you agree to the Official Rules.

Mandatory Entry: Visit the Diaper Cakewalk site and comment on this post with a link to your favorite diaper cake design.

(Only valid after the required entry has been completed)

Please leave a comment for each extra entry – if you blog about this giveaway and get 2 entries, for example, comment 2 times.

Note: I received a diaper cake to facilitate my review, and DiaperCakeWalk.com is fulfilling the prize for this giveaway. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are my own.

Start Now to Regain Your Pre-Pregnancy Body with Knocked-Up Fitness

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Almost every pregnant woman will, at one point or another, wonder if she’ll ever get her “old” body back after the baby is born. When J was born, I bounced back pretty quickly, but, um, let’s just say I was still working on losing baby weight from C this time around! :)

I really do have the intent to work out while pregnant, for many reasons – all-around health, being in better shape for delivery, and giving myself more of a fighting chance to get back in shape post-birth. Of course, living in Texas (and in the summer, of all seasons) while pregnant makes it difficult to find times where I’m actually motivated to get out to the park and walk – it’s still muggy and HOT in the evenings, and even if it’s not hot in the mornings the mugginess is there (and, c’mon… who are we kidding pretending that I would get up and work out in the morning anyway?). I’ve thought about joining a gym, but it’s hard for me to find time to get away until after the boys are in bed.

Fitness DVDs are a great solution. Pre-pregnancy I found a couple of different DVDs that I really liked, but my favorite is definitely too vigorous for me to try now. The creator behind the sassy-named Knocked-Up Fitness have solved that problem and have produced a fitness DVD with pregnant women in mind.

Erica Ziel, founder of Core Athletica Inc.,  is one of Southern California’s most sought-after experts for fitness-infused Pilates and personal training. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology & Health from Iowa State University and is a Certified Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor, Nutritionist and “Mom of 3?.

With vast experience in pre and post-natal fitness, Erica launched Knocked-Up Fitness for reaching the sassy modern mom with real and relevant topics. It is truly an online destination for women who want to stay fit and healthy during all stages of pregnancy, including after baby is born.

I received the 2 DVD pack to review, which came with a free thera band to use during exercises. These DVDs are great! They’re challenging, but not too challenging, getting my heart rate up a little bit and working on my core, but I also felt really relaxed after finishing each video. The Prenatal Pilates-Infused Fitness DVD program fuses pilates, cardio, and condition exercises. And of course, a great feature in using DVDs is that you can pick which parts you really need, so you get the feeling of a workout that’s custom for you.  The Prenatal Core Pilates Workouts DVD program is a mix of Core Cardio, Pilates, Yoga and other fitness exercises.

You’ll also find insider tips on a faster delivery and recovery. Learn about the key muscles needed for labor and delivery, the importance of keeping these muscles strong through pregnancy, the basics for getting back into shape after delivery, and at-home exercises to keep core muscle strong. I love this because after three pregnancies I am certain my core muscles aren’t what they used to be, and I definitely want a leg up (no pun intended, haha) on an easier delivery!

You can find both DVDs on Amazon, where you can buy them separately or in the 2-pack with the thera band. I’d highly recommend the 2-pack. Not only are you getting a broader range of exercises, but you’re also getting a great deal at $36.99 for the set, versus $19.99/DVD if you buy them individually. As always, check with your doctor before starting any exercise plan!

I am really looking forward to using these DVDs throughout the remainder of my pregnancy and to seeing the benefits that come from consistent exercise. Who knows, maybe my post-pregnancy fitness will be better than my pre-pregnancy status!

Note: I received the 2-disc DVD set with thera band to facilitate my review. I was not compensated monetarily for my post. All opinions are honest and my own.

Get Your Baby Moving With the Evenflo ExerSaucer Jump & Learn

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There aren’t many things cuter than seeing a little baby bounce around in a jumper. They’ve been so used to being immobile, so at first they’re unsure as to what on earth is happening as they start to push off of the ground with their toes. Both of our boys loved  their jumpers, so we knew it was something we’d definitely want to get for this baby.

ExerSaucer has been known for their baby activity centers for a long time now – we had one of their traditional models that we used with the boys. Now, though, they’re extending their products to also offer stationary jumpers with the new ExerSaucer Jump & Learn line. There are three models to choose from – Safari Friends, Jungle Quest and Jam Session.

Each model introduces new spin and jump actions that provide baby with plenty of exercise to strengthen leg, back and neck muscles. They offer a variety of age-appropriate toys developed with Child Development Institute that help baby achieve important developmental milestones.

We received the Safari Friends model to review. A few facts about this model:

  • Features 45 fun learning activities to help baby achieve important developmental milestones
  • Extra jump allows baby to exercise legs while being entertained
  • Take With Me Toys provide for customizable learn and play experience
  • Promotes physical exercise to develop baby’s neck, back and leg muscles and improve gross motor skills
  • Features removable, machine washable seat pad for easy and convenient cleansing
  • Requires six AAA batteries
  • Available at Target for $89.99

Let me tell you right off the bat that this is pretty easy to assemble – it took us about 15 minutes, and part of that is because the boys wanted to help us with the screwdriver – there are 15 screws, which you’d need to remove to take the unit apart for storage, but again, it’s a quick process.

I love the stability that the bars around the base provide – you don’t have to worry about this tipping over if the baby gets a little exuberant with his or her jumping. The design is both stylish and practical – it’s great to look at, but there are also features like fabric-covered springs that are designed with safety in mind. The seat is really cute with the leaf pattern, and I think everyone can agree that it’s a huge deal for it to be removable and machine washable. We had a, um… diaper “incident” with J and his jumper that shall not be mentioned again (trust me, you don’t want to know), but suffice it to say, washable is good. Very good.

 

The jumper can grow with your baby, making it something you can use for a long time. There are three height settings that are easy to adjust. The instructions mention that your baby should just be able to touch her toes to the floor when seated in the jumper and should not be able to stand flat-footed.

Of course, these are all of the elements parents worry about. But the babies? They’ll just care that the jumper is fun. With 45 activities, there is a lot to keep the baby engaged, and the seat is easy to spin around 360 degrees for full access to everything. There are two elements that require AAA batteries, and then provide light and music with interaction. And I can report that the activities are interesting to 3 & 4-year-olds too, because we kept finding the boys standing over at the jumper checking out the different toys.

All-in-all this is a piece of equipment I’d highly recommend. Your baby won’t start using it until she’s 4 months old, so it’s not something you have to have right away (although I’d definitely add it to my registry if I were you). If I were picking one activity center, this would be what I’d choose. It’s got the fun activities like a traditional ExerSaucer with the added benefit of the jumper. I think the toys are bright and engaging, and it’s nice that some toys hover from overhead for an added dimension. I will say that the elephant is a little unique looking with his yellow trunk (the boys think it looks a little like a beak) but both the trunk and tusks are rubbery and pliable, perfect for a baby to play with (and a better option than a hard plastic trunk would be, admittedly). Some of the toys are also what ExerSaucer calls “Take With Me” toys, meaning they’re easy to remove and bring along for use without the jumper.

Keep up with Evenflo Baby on Facebook and Twitter for updates on the Jump & Learn and their many other products – sometimes they even run fun contests that you’ll definitely want to be a part of!  If you have any questions about a feature or element I didn’t mention, just leave them in the comments and I’ll be sure to answer. And once the baby arrives and is big enough to start jumping, you better believe I’ll be posting some videos! Seriously, cutest thing ever.

Note: I received an ExerSaucer Jump & Learn to facilitate my review. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions provided are honest and are those of myself and my family.

Unique Features Make Mombo Nursing Pillow a Must-Have {Giveaway}

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When I was pregnant for the first time, I remember doing a lot of reading about the “must haves” for registries… and both lists and friends alike told me I’d want a good nursing pillow, whether I nursed or bottle fed. Let me tell you, they were right! It’s easy to underestimate how heavy that tiny bundle of joy can seem after holding them for hours on end. And of course, the use for the pillow doesn’t end there – it’s perfect for cradling the baby while she rests or to prop her up for tummy time. I can honestly say that my pillow was the one of the things I used most with both boys.

After C was older I went ahead and sold my pillow at a consignment store, because we knew it’d be a while before having another child and our little house just doesn’t lend itself to storing a ton of things. So this time around I was really excited to have the chance to try out a Mombo pillow from Comfort & Harmony, which is a new introduction in stores since we last had a newborn in the house!

LOVE this pillow. It goes beyond the typical pillow with some extras I’m really excited to have. For one thing, there are two sides to it – a soft side (kind of the standard density you’d expect from a nursing pillow) and then another side that’s firmer. With the deluxe cover, there are also two sides with different textures. One is a soft microfiber-feeling fabric, and the other is a smoother cotton. I love the versatility of the pillow especially knowing how many ways we’ll want to use it.

Another feature of this pillow that’s a unique addition is the ability to add vibration – I don’t know of any other pillow on the market that offers that, and I know firsthand from our boys how much babies respond to having that. There’s a small battery-operated disc that you can put into a pouch at the back of the pillow, and it works well to travel through the pillow. It’s nice that it’s removable, because we all know that items newborns are around should be washer-friendly!

Speaking of washer-friendly, the cover is of course removable and can be thrown in the washer. I like this also because I can’t wait to purchase a few more covers to have as options… I have two in particular on my wish list:

LOVE the pink, and the flower pattern on the back! When we were sent our pillow, we still didn’t know if we were having a boy or a girl, so they were nice enough to send us a great gender-neutral green print. Now that we know it’s a girl, I am excited to get that vibrant pink print!

How CUTE is this one? The pattern alone with the polka dots and owls is right up my alley, but it’s the added Taggies that really make it something I want. Babies are inexplicably drawn to tags, and I think this cover would really be fun for tummy time.

Before the pillow arrived I did a little research online to see what others were saying about it. I saw a couple of comments that the Mombo is narrow, so I was curious to see how it would fit – I think at 25 weeks pregnant my belly is a good size for gauging the range for the pillow, and it fit perfectly. If you look at the design, you’ll see that there are little indentations on both sides. When you put the pillow on, those indentations allow for the pillow to have room for spreading and fitting around your waist. The fit was snug, but not uncomfortable for Brian or me.

A nude (coverless) Mombo retails at Babies R Us for $25.49, cheaper than a major competitor, and its covers range from $11 to $22, which is also a less expensive price range.

One lucky reader will win their choice of a Mombo pillow (ARV up to $42.99)! This contest is open to all U.S. residents aged 18+. Entries will be accepted until the end of the day (midnight Central) Saturday, June 23. By entering this giveaway you agree to the Official Rules.

Mandatory Entry: “Like” Comfort & Harmony on Facebook and comment here letting me know you’ve done so (please include what name you “liked” under so it’s easy to check for validation).

(Only valid after the required entry has been completed)

Please leave a comment for each extra entry – if you blog about this giveaway and get 2 entries, for example, comment 2 times.

Note: I received a Mombo nursing pillow to facilitate my review, and Comfort & Harmony is fulfilling the prize for this giveaway. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are my own.

 

Unique Baby Boutique – MyBabyClothes.com {Giveaway!}

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Before we had our “big” ultrasound I was firmly in the camp that I’d be happy whether we had a boy or a girl – as cliche as it sounds, I want a healthy baby and the rest is gravy. And that’s definitely, absolutely true. We were completely on the fence, although we felt like it might be another boy… so we were a little shocked when the sonographer told us we’re having a girl! Now that we’ve known for several weeks, it’s really starting to sink in, and I am realizing one benefit of having a little girl (or maybe a detriment, if you ask Brian, ha)… adorable clothes!

Not that boys’ clothes aren’t cute too, but I think most people would agree there are a lot more options for girls’ baby clothes. I think I first really realized this when looking at My Baby Clothes online boutique, trying to pick something to review. I mean, take a look at all these cute things:

Wouldn’t you have a hard time deciding too? I love all the vibrant colors. And bows, frills and flowers are a whole new world to me after being used to plaid, stripes, dinosaurs and sports. I finally decided on a gown set, which will be perfect for the first few months. My sister-in-law Lauren (the dancer in our family) should appreciate the design!

It even came with a matching hat – seriously, how adorable is this set?

Of course, even though I spent a lot of time looking at the girls’ clothes, I’ve got to mention that there are a ton of really cute boys’ items available as well. Here are a couple of my favorites:

 

If you’re looking for unique clothes or gifts, this is a great site to check out – there’s a selection you just can’t find locally, and a wide variety of brands to choose from. You can find things like  tutus, baby headbands and baby hats that really add style to your little one! Plus, they often offer sales (like right now they have: free shipping offer, $10 off $75, and $15 off $100) that make things even more affordable.

MyBabyClothes has provided a $25 gift card for me to giveaway to one lucky reader! This contest is open to all U.S. residents aged 18+. Entries will be accepted until the end of the day (midnight Central) Friday, June 22. By entering this giveaway you agree to the Official Rules.

Mandatory Entry: Visit MyBabyClothes.com and comment with a link to your favorite item on their site.

(Only valid after the required entry has been completed)

Please leave a comment for each extra entry – if you blog about this giveaway and get 2 entries, for example, comment 2 times.

Note: I received an item to facilitate my review, and MyBabyClothes.com is fulfilling the prize of a $25 gift card. All opinions in this post are honest and my own.

Boba Carriers & Wraps {Giveaway!}

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I was just talking with my friend Amanda yesterday about baby carriers. Her husband worked late the other night and she said she couldn’t really get anything done because their baby wanted to be held, so she spent the evening sitting on the couch holding baby Rea. She, of course, enjoyed it, but it made her realize that she wanted to get a baby carrier to allow her to be productive and still have her baby with her.

In talking about this with her I started remembering how great baby carriers are – for around the house, for when you’re going to have your hands full with two preschoolers (this is my future!), or for when you’re going to be in a crowded area and a stroller is totally impractical.

   

If you’re new to the world of babywearing, you’ll find that there are a TON of different options, but two distinct categories are carriers (above left) and wraps (above right). Later this month I’ll be testing out the Boba Carrier and will post telling you all about my experience and opinions with it, but today I thought I’d write a little about some features of both the Boba Carrier and Wrap, particularly for moms who may not have tried them before and are looking for great babywearing solutions.

The Boba Carrier is a Soft Structured Carrier (SSC) that is intended for babies and children between 7-45lbs. Boba offers several innovative features not seen on other carriers, like foot straps attached to the waist belt that keep older children comfortable while enabling a healthy sitting position. The footstraps not only give tired little legs a rest, but support the legs in a flexed abducted (froglike) position which naturally tilts the pelvis, fills out the hip sockets and aligns the spine.

The Boba Wrap is the ideal carrier for babies from birth until around 18 months, free of buckles, straps or snaps! Simply tie the material snug against your body and achieve a perfect fit every time – perfect for beginners and advance babywearers alike. By evenly distributing the weight of your child, there is no time limit to how long your baby can stay in the wrap, so you may calm and sooth your baby with your warmth, your voice, your movement and your heart beat as long as you are both content!

If you have questions about how to use either of the items, Boba has an info page to help get you started. Wraps can take a little practice tying, but they’re a great option that I used with both of my boys.

Of course, you probably noticed “giveaway” in the title of this post, didn’t you? I’ve teamed up with Boba to offer a great giveaway with THREE winners! One winner will receive a Boba Carrier, and two will each receive a Boba Wrap! Just use the Rafflecopter below to enter for your chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: I received a Boba Carrier to facilitate a review, but was not compensated monetarily. All opinions are honest and are my own. Boba Inc. is coordinating this giveaway and will be responsible for prize fulfillment.