Daddy Scrubs Review and Giveaway

I have worked with Daddy Scrubs several times in the past and I love their products!  They were gracious enough to send a pair of the Daddy Scrubs to review for this event. They come as pictured below, packaged and pressed neatly. Naturally, I washed them right away and threw them in the hospital bag so they would be ready when my Little Guy was ready. 

The Scrubs, according to Hubby are quite comfortable and he can even continue to wear them as lounge wear or pajamas now that Baby has arrived.  He was not, however, allowed to wear them for delivery as we had another C-section and our hospital wouldn't allow it. Since Hubby didn't stay at the hospital he also didn't get to wear them while we were there.

 The thing I love about these Scrubs is that we are able to just toss them in the washer and dryer no problem.  I definitely suggest washing a couple times to get the "new clothes" stiffness out of them, though. Aside from that, the scrubs are a wonderful addition to Daddy's portion of the "go bag" and are a high-quality item to boot! 

Of course, they have the signature "I'm the Daddy" logo across the back (see below) to let everyone know who the new Dad is! These are great for that first-time dad who is gonna be staying a couple days at the hospital with Mama - great for sleeping in - and a great way to brag about being a new dad! 

The scrubs come in navy, green, and khaki and in sizes up to 5XL. There are also 2 choices of lettering "classic" block and "edgy" as seen here. Hubby has actually requested I purchase him a second pair in his current size to use as pajamas for when we go on trips.

The craftsmanship on these scrubs is wonderful, everything I have come to expect from Daddy Scrubs/Daddy & Company products. Even after several months of wear, they are still in great shape!

To say thank you to Kennady, I'd love for you to visit Daddy & Company and tell me your favorite product that they carry. Also, please "like" their Facebook page, follow Daddy Nickell on Twitter and on Pinterest, and check out the YouTube channel.


To enter the Giveaway, please enter on the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NoseFrida The Snotsucker #Review from Thanks Mama

"Thanksmama.com is family owned and operated natural baby store. They offer a great selection of cloth diapering products, potty training pants, swim diapers, natural baby care products, baby carriers, bibs, toys, nursery furniture and bedding, strollers and much more. They look for innovative products that are good for the baby and the environment and they never forget that most families are on a budget. That’s why Thanks Mama offers the Lowest Prices, Free Shipping on orders over $60 within USA, 90 days easy returns; Buy Safe Guarantee and Price Guarantee. Thanks Mama does ship worldwide!

Follow Thanks Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Pinterest or Google +. They host weekly Giveaways, Contests, Sweepstakes, Twitter Parties, talk about modern family fun and challenges, natural parenting and green living. "

For this review, I will spare you the pictures of the product in use! LOL. Instead, I will show you how the NoseFrida looks right out of the box (below).

 I had the opportunity to use this on Fuss as she was having a tough time with her allergies for a couple weeks when the weather changed...and changed....and changed. She woke up one morning particularly congested and instead of reaching for her allergy medication, I grabbed this admittedly unusual item that Thanks Mama sent me for review.






So, I pulled the NoseFrida out of the box and read the instructions. It consists of 3 parts. The aspirator tube, the collection tube, and the filter. You take the collection end (blue part) with a filter in place and put the end in the child's nose. Then you take the aspiration tube and suck air in, therefore suctioning out the snot. The filter prevents anything from being pulled up into the tube - and inadvertently into your mouth.

I was immediately able to get quite a large amount of snot out of Fuss's nose with the first use. The only problem I had with it was dealing with the sound it makes. The sound alone was enough to make me gag, but I gag sometimes when helping her blow her nose! I will definitely be using this for the new baby instead of the bulb-style suction. After all, I can EASILY clean the NoseFrida with warm water and a little soap. Plus, it is clear so I can be sure it is clean and mold-free before use. The suction bulbs are well-known for growing mold after just a use or two. Check out the NoseFrida and other Health & Safety items Thanks Mama has available!

I sincerely thank Thanks Mama for the opportunity to review this and the other items and I hope you will head over and thank them as well!

Cloth Diaper Store Thanks Mama Bumkins Art Smock #Review

I was sent a few items from Cloth Diaper Store Thanks Mama about 2 weeks ago. I will be posting the reviews of the other items pictured separately. First, a little bit about Thanks Mama:

"Thanksmama.com is family owned and operated natural baby store. They offer a great selection of cloth diapering products, potty training pants, swim diapers, natural baby care products, baby carriers, bibs, toys, nursery furniture and bedding, strollers and much more. They look for innovative products that are good for the baby and the environment and they never forget that most families are on a budget. That’s why Thanks Mama offers the Lowest Prices, Free Shipping on orders over $60 within USA, 90 days easy returns; Buy Safe Guarantee and Price Guarantee. Thanks Mama does ship worldwide!

Follow Thanks Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Pinterest or Google +. They host weekly Giveaways, Contests, Sweepstakes, Twitter Parties, talk about modern family fun and challenges, natural parenting and green living"

The one that was used immediately was the Bumkins art smock pictured in the middle of the photo above. I actually hung it still in the package on Fuss's art easel. It took all of about 5 seconds for her to see it and come running to me, "Mommy! What is this!? Is it for me?" LOL. She naturally asked where it came from and I told her it was sent specially for her. Naturally, she HAD to take it out and put it on immediately!

 Here is the picture of the original packaging...which lasted all of 10 minutes. Fuss took it out and tossed the plastic in the trash. I'm just glad she had been "helping Daddy work on the truck" when I opened the package! (For the full line of prints and other bibs and smocks just click here. Seriously, they are AWESOME!)











And here is Fuss sporting her brand new smock standing in front of her easel. The smock has pockets in the front which are great for storing crayons or markers...or even tools for helping Daddy out (yes, she did that too).

I love the fact that it is made of a waterproof fabric just in case they spill something. Fuss actually dumped a half a bottle of chocolate milk down her chest shortly after finishing her project on the easel. She also had dry erase marker on the front of the smock.

So what happened? Well, all I had to do was toss it in the wash on cold delicate cycle with the rest of Fuss's clothes. I pulled it out before the dryer and hung it to dry. Easy peasy! The best part? The dry erase marker came off the front (we had a little bit of color residue on the back side, which was probably my fault) and ALL of the chocolate milk washed off, and out, of the smock. The pocket, which had been full of milk, didn't even have a trace left on the stitches inside! Honestly, if it hadn't been soaked in milk I would have been able to simply wipe the smock with a damp cloth to get it clean.

Fuss insists on wearing this smock now nearly every time she plays with her easel. It is easy for her to slip on and the Velcro closure at the neck makes it really simple for her to fasten herself. It also ties securely at the waist. Overall, I think this is a great product and a great investment for your little artist. I only wish it also came in a long-sleeved version. Or at least 3/4-length to help protect long-sleeved shirts.


Be sure to head over to Thanks Mama and check out their other great products! You can use the code "5off" to get $5 off your order of $60 or more just for being a follower! :) And head over to the Thanks Mama Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Google+ and show them some Crunchy love! Then, be sure to hit up their BLOG for some awesome tips and weekly giveaways!

Below are a few more shots of Fuss modeling for me. She was so thrilled to be able to model! LOL.

Stuffing crayons in the pocket.

#DaddyScrubs Daddy Diaper Pack

If you are looking for a great last minute Daddy gift for a new dad, I highly recommend the Daddy Diaper Pack! We were able to try out the Daddy Diaper Pack from Daddy Scrubs both at the pumpkin patch and while on our recent trip to visit my dad over Thanksgiving. The first thing I have to say is that I LOVE all the pockets. (Yes, *I* do. lol.) Even though this is designed for "Daddy" it would be very handy for Mom as well. As you can see, it is large but no larger than any other backpack (or diaper bag for that matter) that I have seen. Hubby is a big guy and this fit him pretty well. The chest clip had to go up high instead of being worn around the widest part of the chest (above) but that is precisely why the strap moves!

In the next pic you can see that Hubby tied a bag of kettle corn to the extra strap across the back. That made it super handy.

There are also side pockets that are great for water bottles and other small items. In the pics below, I used the side pockets to store the cords for Fuss's DVD player for the car to make them easily accessible.

The chest strap is fully adjustable in 2 ways.
1. It has a pull-tight strap so you can adjust from big guys (like my hubby) to small guys (or gals)!
2. As you can see from these 2 photos, the chest strap also moves up and down about 6" to slide to a comfortable position on the chest.

These clips are extremely durable and very easy to snap/unsnap in a hurry. They are also easy to adjust from one size to the other.









There was a slight manufacturer defect in the bag that I received...One of the zipper pulls was on backwards. This did NOT affect function at all and isn't really even noticeable if you don't like to use the double-sided zippers. I'm anal and like to have the zippers meet in the top on the middle, but again, only a minor annoyance. Plus, when I contacted Daddy Nickell about this, he offered to send me another pack! Service through them is VERY fast and the customer interaction and speed of response is A+!



Below, you can see a few other features of the pack that can be really helpful (be sure to scroll to the bottom to see all the pictures of what we managed to pack in this bag for a toddler on a 9-hour car trip):

• A key clip. It doesn't detach, but it is nice for those extra keys.
• Front pocket with a mesh pocket, 3 pen/pencil holders, 2 mid-size pockets for things like tissues or pacifiers, and a large back pocket for things like wipes or batteries.
• A fleece-lined pocket that is perfect for carrying sunglasses (or a cell phone).
• A pocket at the VERY front (with the I'm the Daddy logo) that is actually insulated for bottles! 
• Plus 2 elasticized straps at the top and bottom to strap things down to the bag or strap the bag to a stroller.
• The lining is super easy to clean. Fuss's juice bottles spilled inside the insulated pocket and it didn't leak all over the inside (it had a very minor leak at the seam, but it wasn't much). I just used paper towels to wipe it out and it was good to go! The interior of the large pocket is just as easy to clean with a damp paper towel as well.

Here we have a change of clothes plus a wet bag for soiled items.

 

 Here you see the DVD player, boogie wipes, several DVD's wipes and photos.

***Disclaimer: I received the item above in exchange for this honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own. I have received no other compensation for this review.

#SodaStream #Review

A couple months ago I received a Soda Stream to review thanks, in no small part, to my awesome readers! It has been great! We have tried everything from the water flavoring to the Root Beer. It took us FOR-E-VER to get through all those samples we were sent! LOL. However, we have really loved having the Soda Stream in our home and have even bought 2 extra bottles and several other flavors we found at our local Soda Stream Retailers (like the Country Time Iced Tea/Lemonade mix that my husband loved).

Fuss loves the Ginger Ale and the Orange Soda. You can see the orange soda on the top of the box and the ginger ale is on the left. My Step-Mom says the Cola Zero actually tastes like Coke Zero or Diet Coke. I admit that I don't like diet sodas at all due to the after taste, so I haven't tried it. I have, however, tried the preservative-free cola mix and it is my personal fave. It is more a cross between Coke and Pepsi, but it tastes really great!

Honestly, our only  problem came with the larger-topped bottles. We had a little more trouble pouring the syrups into the carbonated water with the larger caps than the smaller caps. I think the worst one is the root beer...Hubby made some and the first time he did it, apparently he poured too quickly. Once the root beer started to fizz up, it DIDN'T STOP! He had poured about 1/4 of the syrup in and it just started shooting out like a volcano! I am not kidding when I say it shot up a good 2 to 3 inches out of the bottle! Thankfully, he was already standing over the sink. Especially considering that it just kept going and going....about 2 minutes before the fizzing finally stopped! We were both laughing hysterically (me more than him) and every time he tried to add more syrup, it fizzed more! He had almost half the bottle gone before he was actually able to put the cap on! LMAO!

After almost 3 months of near-constant use we have still not run out of CO2 either. I did take a couple weeks off when on vacation and during the insane power outage, though. My guess is it would be around 2 months for normal use. My SIL uses hers to make seltzer water on a daily basis and can go through a canister in under 3 weeks, but she uses hers ALL. THE. TIME.

Again, I want to thank my followers for helping me get such a great product to review! I am proud to recommend the Soda Stream and really enjoy using it here at home for myself and, especially for guests who drink types of soda we don't normally drink. Plus, some of the other flavors can be used without adding carbonation to make some nice drinks (like the Country Time Lemonade and Tea).


***I received the product above in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation for this review.****

#Review of Fred's Swim Academy Swimtrainer

photo from ThanksMama.com

 
ThanksMama.com provided me with the Fred's Swim Academy Swimtrainer to review. I chose Stage 1 but could have used Stage 2 just as easily (they were out of Stage 2) for Fuss's weight range. She is around 30 pounds based on her weight at her 2-year checkup. The sizes range from 13 all the way to 80 pounds! There are 3 stages based on your child's weight and abilities:

SWIMTRAINER "Classic" Red

• Approximately 13-40 lbs
• Helps a little one get comfortable in the water
• Helps teach correct leg movements

SWIMTRAINER "Classic" Orange 

• Approximately 33-65 lbs
• Helps teach correct arm and leg movements

SWIMTRAINER "Classic" Yellow 

• Approximately 45-80 lbs
• Helps transition a child to swimming without any floatation device

Fuss in her Swimtrainer

Back View

In the Water

As you can see, it fits very well on her and is actually VERY adjustable due to the inflatable side supports. This is what makes this product unique as well. It is also easy to store. Just flatten it after deflation and fold it into the box again. (Sorry for the poor quality pictures. My camera was left at home and we were at a hotel for the weekend of Hubby's Grandma's funeral.)

Here, you can see the Swimtrainer in action! At first, Fuss was hesitant to wear it at all, but as soon as she jumped into the pool, the struggle was all forgotten! She LOVED it! My SIL was also there with 2 of her 3 kids, "The King" who is 7 and "Queen Elizabeth" who is 4. Of course, The King couldn't try it out for us...he is too big and already knows how to swim. However, Queen Elizabeth was at the upper end of the weight range (40 pounds)  for the Swimtrainer, so we decided to try it on her as well. Naturally, it was snug and the inner chambers needed to be deflated more than for Fuss. However, it fit and Q.E. was able to enjoy swimming in it as well!

Q.E. enjoying the swimtrainer.

The Swimtrainer is very durable and easy to put on with the "quick clip" in the back. The clip also has a clear protector over top to keep it from being accidentally unbuckled should your child happen to run into something (or another kid trying to undo it). Honestly, the clip is kind of hard to get open when you're struggling with a twisting toddler, but I'd rather have that than have it popping open all the time!

For Fuss, being able to have freedom in the pool was great. She swam for over an hour the first night. Then, when we went home and went to our local pool, she swam for almost 2 hours straight! She is really beginning to get the hang of kicking correctly and moves very quickly through the water. She now even tries to put it on herself! Since this one has worked out so well for us, I will probably be purchasing Step 2 by next summer to help her learn arm strokes more easily. The only caveat to this trainer is that if the kiddos happen to flip upside down, they can't right themselves. They are still head above water, but it is important to note. There is a reason that it tells you not to leave a child unattended (DUH!).

I want to thank ThanksMama.com for sending me this Swimtrainer to review! It will definitely be used for a long time to come! (Even passing it down to friends and a future baby is within the realm of possibility.)

P.S. Here is a video of Fuss's first time swimming in the Swimtrainer.

The Diva Cup - #Review and #Giveaway

This post WILL include information regarding menstrual cycles and other less often talked about subjects. If any of this makes you uncomfortable, please note that you were warned!

TMI ahead!

 

What is a "Diva Cup"? you may be asking yourself. Here are the specifications direct from http://www.divacup.com/ :   

"The DivaCup is a non-absorbent menstrual cup that simply collects menstrual flow. It is inserted in the vagina and sits at the lower base of the vaginal canal. It is worn internally, yet because it is soft and smooth, it cannot be felt nor will it leak when inserted properly.
The DivaCup is the most clean and convenient method of feminine hygiene protection. No need to touch the flow. It is worn low in the vagina, not near the cervix, so it is easy to remove. No mess!
The DivaCup ends hassles with unreliable disposables in endless absorbencies, shapes and styles. It is perfect for all activities – giving women true freedom without the worry, guessing and unreliability that disposable feminine hygiene products pose.
The DivaCup can be worn for up to 12 hours before emptying, washing and reinserting for use for another 12 hours. It can be used for light or moderate flows and is emptied more often to accommodate heavy flows.  Perfect for overnight use.
The DivaCup’s expert, proprietary, patent-pending features make it comfortable and assures ease of use and reliability. Perfect for traveling, running, biking, hiking, dancing, camping, swimming, diving, scuba, yoga, extreme sports and more..."


Now, that you have an idea of what a menstrual cup is and what it does, I'll tell you a little more about the Diva Cup. First, it is made of medical-grade silicone. You're probably wondering why you should care about that. Well, I know if I am putting something in my body, I want it to be safe! The Diva Cup is a solid piece of vulcanized silicone so there are no crevices for nasties to creep into. It does have ventilation holes at the very top to make removal easier, but those are easily cleaned (more on that later). Silicone is also safe for people who have latex allergies. The cup comes in 2 sizes to accommodate women who have never had children or are under 30 as well as postpartum and over 30 women.

Second, is it sanitary? Yes! The Diva Wash is extremely gentle and works well to clean the Diva Cup. There is no mess to deal with after your period is over since everything just gets flushed down the toilet. At the end of the cycle, you also boil (yes, actually boil) the Diva Cup to sanitize it and place it in its custom bag for safe keeping! And since that's all you need, there is lots of extra cabinet space that becomes available in your bathroom!

For me, personally, I have the Size 2 Diva Cup since I have a child. The first time I used a cup was a MESS! I couldn't quite get the fold right; I tried different positions to get it to go in correctly. I eventually got it in. I still wore a liner and had a little leakage. *Note: My first cup was NOT the Diva Cup and also was the wrong size for me.* Then, well, let's just say it got "stuck." I couldn't reach and my hands were so slick that I couldn't get a hold of it! I was flipping out! Now what do I do? Bearing down didn't work. Taking a break didn't work. Finally, Hubby had to come to the rescue...yes, my husband is officially the most awesome man in the world. After that incident I was nearly done trying with cups, but decided I'd try out the Diva Cup. I'm SO glad I did!

Off the bat, the Diva was much easier to insert. Of course, that may have been due to practicing with the other one. It took about 3 cycles to really get the hang of inserting the cup and knowing when to take it out to empty it. Back to the previous train of thought: When inserting, you simply fold it up and slide it in. Once inside, it sort of "pops" open and you push it a little further up to seat it and give a little twist. (On the rare occasion I don't get it seated correctly right away, a quick squat usually fixes it without having to take it out and reinsert.) That's it. You're done. For up to 12 hours. Let me repeat that. UP TO 12 HOURS. You can't do that with a tampon! My system is so sensitive to tampons that I have to change them every 4 hours or risk a yeast infection. That means I also have to wear pads to bed. You know the ones I'm talking about. They could double as a disposable diaper in a pinch! Very uncomfortable. With the Diva Cup, I simply need to make sure I empty it and clean it thoroughly before putting it in before bed. It even handles that morning "gush" that I'm sure you're all familiar with.

I have been using my Diva Cup for about 6 months now and I LOVE it! I plan to only use a cup from now on! My only problem was actually my own fault. I had irritation and itching from use after my period would end and I couldn't figure out why. Then I realized it was the antibacterial hand soap I was using. I learned the hard way why there is a statement not to wash your cup in antibacterial soap...and I had to replace my cup because of it. So, when I replaced it, I got the Diva Wash as well and have used it exclusively for my cup as well as to wash my hands before/after insertion. Yes, my system is that sensitive. However, I have had NO yeast infections or irritation due to the Diva Cup itself. NONE! I also don't even have to wear liners anymore because it doesn't leak. My favorite part is that I can sleep comfortably with it in as well as I can insert it just before my period starts so I never have to worry about ruining another pair of underwear again! This is probably the best investment I have made in a long time! Not only are my periods more comfortable, but they are noticeably less painful and a little shorter.

 If you'd like more information on the Diva Cup, feel free to check them out on Facebook and Twitter and check out http://www.divacup.com/ for Frequently Asked Questions. For a list of retailers, please head over to Where to Buy and click on one of the links! You can also visit their Store Finder to find a store near you that carries the DivaCup. Now, on to the fun part: DivaCup has generously offered to give away a DivaCup in winner's choice of size to one of my lucky readers! I am very excited to share this with you! All you need to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to US and CANADA!

**I was not compensated in any way for this review. All thoughts are my own and true to my own experience with the DivaCup. Your mileage may vary. **

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Review and #Giveaway for Llama's Bowtique

 

 When I found out I was having a little girl, I knew I would eventually be thrust into the world of bows and baubles. Of course, that's not a bad thing. I loved being girly and having lots of bows and jewelry as a little girl myself! Fuss had quite a bit of hair when she was born but it was all very fine and wouldn't hold anything in it. So, we ended up with lots of head bands like this one. (P.S. Don't you love those cheeks?)




By Thanksgiving this year (when she was 19 months old), Fuss's hair had grown out quite a bit and she was finally able to wear little bows in it.

She still only had what my dad liked to call "sprinklers" because her bottom hair wouldn't reach anywhere near to being put in the ties. These small/medium bows were perfect for that age! She still wears her little corkers but not as often as she likes to pick out each bow.

The quality of these bows (and bow holders) is excellent! I have gotten bows from other vendors as well as been given bows as gifts only to have them fall apart after one use because of too little glue holding them on the clip. I haven't had that problem with bows from Llama's. As a matter of fact, I accidentally WASHED one of the Llama's bows after sticking it in a coat pocket for "safe" keeping. (Can't you tell that worked so well?) I was surprised when I took it out of the washer and it was still completely intact AND still looked great! I compared it to the identical bow that had not been run through a wash/dry cycle. As you can see, the only difference is that the corker on the left has bunched a little around itself. All I had to do was unwrap the curls, and the washed bow (on the left compared to the original on the right) was good as new.

The new Llama's Bows also have this great no-slip grip added. It helps keep the bows from sliding out of fine baby hair. Fuss has a lot of fine hair so this extra grip is very helpful. Especially since, once it starts sliding out, she cries, "Oh no! Bow back!" LOL. This way I don't have too much to worry about.

To the right, is an example of one of the bow holders that Nikki sells. These are all but one of our actual Llama's Bows. The Dora bow was a custom order for Fuss's birthday party and matched her outfit perfectly!  Nikki also has headbands and "piggy toes" barefoot sandals for sale in her shop. She is great when ordering custom items as well.

For the giveaway, simply enter below. This giveaway will be open from 12 a.m. May 6 through 12 a.m. on May 20.

Review & Giveaway: My Freshwater Pearls

I received an email from Jennifer at http://www.myfreshwaterpearls.com/ asking me to do a review of their beautiful cultured pearls.


Here is a photo of me wearing them. I chose the peach pearls to match a necklace that I already had. The color on these pearls is amazing! They are lustrous (as you can see in the photo) and very deeply colored.  They have stainless steel posts and backs that are very securely attached and set flush with the back of the pearl (this makes them very comfortable to wear). Fuss actually tried to pull the back and the pearl apart! Go figure. I wore them all day long for 3 straight days with no sensitivity or soreness at all. For me, this is a big deal! I tend to turn anything silver green and anything other than the purest metals makes my ears red and usually infected from severe sensitivity. This didn't do either!

They have 5 colors of cultured pearls to choose from. I must admit, I love the purple colored ones! Of course, the traditional white pearl is available as well as green, peach, and rose. I found these earrings to be very high quality and beautiful. I would also highly recommend these to someone who has sensitivities!



Now, for the fun part: The Giveaway! Jennifer has graciously agreed to send one lucky winner a pair of classic white pearls! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below and we'll take care of the rest! Secondly, Jennifer graciously extended a discount for all my readers! Simply use the (case sensitive) code: SHOP10 for 10% off your entire order!! This code is valid from April 11, 2012 through May 31, 2012!