Blogger Opportunity: Safe and Sound: A Diono Radian RXT Giveaway

Welcome to Safe and Sound: A Diono RadianRXT Giveaway Event!

This fabulous giveaway features a Diono RadianRXT child restraint, valued at $269.99 and the event will run from April 2, 2013, 12:00AM to April 16, 2013, 12:00AM.

This event is hosted by Life With My Littles and co-hosted by Water Rolls Uphill.

Please sign up using the form below:

Please help us promote this event.

Here is the HTML for posting the optional promotional post for sign ups for this event:

<p style="text-align: center;">Calling all bloggers!</p> <p style="text-align: center;">Join Safe and Sound: A Diono RadianRXT Giveaway hosted by <a href="http://lifewithmylittles.blogspot.com/">Life With My Littles</a> and <a href="www.waterrollsuphill.com">Water Rolls Uphill</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">One lucky winner will receive a Diono RadianRXT, approximate retail value $269.99.</p> <a href="http://wp.me/p30czN-xE"> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="win diono radian" src="http://www.waterrollsuphill.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/diono-event-large.jpg" width="250" height="250" /></p> </a> Disclaimer: My opinions are my own and may differ from yours. This event is not sponsored by Diono. Prize fulfillment is by <a href="http://lifewithmylittles.blogspot.com/">Life With My Littles</a>

I was not compensated for this posting. . Disclosure: This event is in no way sponsored by the manufacturers of the Diono RadianRXT child restraint. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours. Prize fulfillment will be direct shipping from the retailer of Life With My Littles' choice to the confirmed winning entrant.

Dolphin organics Simply Citrus Gift Set {Review} #GIVEAWAY to come later!!

My boys love bath time! I think if I let them, they would stay in the tub forever!
I really enjoy our nightly routine as well. I believe that kids need structure and routine in order to thrive! Every night at 7:30 we head upstairs to bath. They get so excited when I call out 'bathtime' that they actually race up the stairs and rip off their clothes. Then my oldest (soon to be 5 yo) turns on the water and happily waits while the tub fills up.
I make my way up the stairs and make sure stopper is down and the water temperature is ok. He's so excited he usually just turns it on full blast, all the way to the hot!
They know not to climb in until I tell them, so this works out great. After about 15 minutes of bath time, they get out and I slather them up with lotion. Seems like in the winter months our skin gets really dry. I keep the house cool (for several reasons) but it just seems like we soak up lotion like a sponge during winter months.
I am VERY conscious with the bath and body products that we use! When I found out I was pregnant with my first child (over 5 years ago) I really started researching the chemicals that surround us daily. I made an effort to only use non-toxic items from then on out!
This is where Dolphin Organics comes in. I first read about Dolphin Organics back in June, 2012 after we moved to Tennessee. I was on the hunt for a safe, non-toxic sunscreen for my boys that actually worked. After seeing how effective their sunscreen was, I decided to research their other products.

One of the best resources I've found online for determining which products are safe and which to avoid is the "Skin Deep" cosmetics database put out by the Environmental Working Group!
You can also look at one of my most favorite websites for researching what's safe for my littles is, SafeMama.com! Kathy, has put numerous amounts of hours into her research regarding which items are safe for children. She has an awesome list of 'cheat sheets' that will give you the low-down on items from laundry detergent, to skin care, to PVC-raingear and more! She also has her very own pocket diaper comparison page! *just thought I'd throw that one in there for my fellow fluff addicts!
Seriously though, if you are concerned with what you are putting on your child's skin, you owe it to them (and to yourselves) to check out her site!
Dolphin Organics are included on Kathy's cheat sheet as 'better choices.' I'm confident that by using Dolphin Organics on my littles, I am doing a great job keeping harmful cancer causing ingredients as far away from them as possible! In fact, whenever I consider a new item to purchase for my home, I ALWAYS check the EWG and Safemama.com before I make the purchase!

I was thrilled when Dolphin Organics agreed to send me a Simply Citrus Gift Set for my review!!
This is what I received:

 

 

I cannot explain by simply typing how amazing this stuff smells!
This set comes with 1 of each of the following:
1- 8 oz bottle of Tear Free Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
1- 8 oz bottle of Conditioner
1- 12 oz bottle of Bubble Bath
1- 8 oz bottle of Hypoallergenic Lotion
*1- 3 tube of SPF 32 Mineral Sunscreen

* I did not receive the mineral sunscreen in my gift set because it was sent to me previously for my review!

I really love these products. I LOVE the fact that they are safe to use, contain no harsh or toxic chemicals and the fact that they leave my boys smelling heavenly and feeling so soft after use!
The lotion is one of my ultimate favorites out of this basket. It goes on so smooth and leaves a very non-greasy but moisturized finish! Both my boys suffer from severe dry skin in the winter time and this lotion really does the trick! I put it on them directly after bath and their skin is not dry the next morning!

You can purchase this gift set directly from Dolphin Organic's website for $55.00! It also comes in unscented and Norfolk Lavender!

One lucky LWML will have the chance to win their very own Dolphin Organics Gift Set in 'unscented' during the upcoming "Newborn Essentials Fluff 'N Stuff" event, coming this April/May!!

Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above in exchange for my review. This review is my honest opinion based on my own personal experience, and may differ from yours. I did not receive any monetary compensation in exchange for this review!

~Mama of the Littles~

Swaddlebees simplex AIO winner!

A huge congratulations to Tabbetha! You are the winner of the Swaddlebees OS AIO Simplex Cloth diaper giveaway from Kissed By the Moon!
You have been e-mailed and have 24 hours to respond to claim your prize before another winner is chosen!

A huge thank you to all who entered and to Kissed By The Moon for sponsoring!

Didn't win this time?
Have no fear! There are over 40 sponsors for the upcoming "Newborn Essentials Fluff 'N Stuff" event coming up in April!
Just 10 short weeks away, I *could* have a newborn baby in my arms!!

There are also 6 Grand Prizes for the event!

Don't forget to check out my other current giveaways as well!

~Mama of the Littles~

Overwhelmed with Gratitude!! "Newborn Essentials Fluff 'N Stuff"

So as you all know I've been lining up sponsors for the upcoming "Newborn Essentials Fluff 'N Stuff" event that will take place April/May (as soon as little #3 decides to make his/her appearance)!
I have been trying to get a hold of Ergo to see if they would send me an infant insert to use with my carrier.
So yesterday I received a reply from the lovely folks at Ergo and they are not only going to send me an infant insert, but they are going to send me an Ergobaby Bundle of Joy in organic dark chocolate AND they are also going to sponsor a Bundle of Joy to giveaway for the upcoming event!!
This is overwhelming to me, the response and generosity that I see coming from the sponsors!!
This is going to be a huge event! It is going to take a lot of work (on my part) but I enjoy receiving items for review and LOVE to offer items to you for giveaways!

So far, there are 5 'Grand Prizes' (Ergo being one of them)!
What is a grand prize? It is what I consider a 'high dollar item.' An item with a retail value of close to $100 or more!

You guys are going to be so excited for this event.
I'm working on the button and getting the code squared away so you can gain extra entries (early) by posting the event button on your blog or website!

It's going to be a lot of fun!
For now though, don't miss out on all my other current giveaways!
I just posted a new giveaway tonight for a $25 GC to Turtle Soup Company {US/Canada}. They make awesome swim diapers and swimsuits for boys and girls, and also super cute wool diaper covers amongst other awesome items!

Thanks for being a reader of this blog!

~Mama of the Littles~

Lovin' my new wool from Turtle Soup & $25 GC GIVEAWAY {US/Canada}

 

 

I LOVE Turtle Soup Co. I've tried a few of their products in the past and I can't tell you enough about the quality! Turtle Soup Co. makes swimwear for boys and girls and also adorable boxer briefs, swim diapers, and more!

Being that I was going through the potty training stage with my now 3 yo, I was sent some items for review that are specifically created for potty training.

I received 2 pairs of their new Wee Beginner Boxer Briefs (1 in size 2-3 in "Retro Cars" and 1 in size 4-5-6 in "Dino Stamp") and 1 pair of their Wee Woolie Boxer briefs (size 18 months - 3 years in brown) and 1 pair of their Wee Woolie Longies "Pixies, is that a mouse in your pocket?" size 3-6 years!

This is what I received:

 

Both the Wee Beginner Boxer Briefs fit my boys perfectly! I don't know about you, but my kids love to get new underwear! The prints are adorable too!

Here is the fit on my 3 yo:

 

 

 

Here is the fit on my 4 yo:

 

 

 

I tried the boxer briefs paired with the wool boxer briefs on my 2 yo for nap time. He recently had started waking up dry from nap and I thought it was time to try him at nap without a diaper. He did great. No accidents! Here is a little more information on the Wee Beginner Boxer Briefs (info taken from Turtle Soup Company's website):

 

"1 - Wee Beginner™ Boxer Brief Trainer™ features an exclusive double Puddle Pad soaker for little boys & little girls. Triple stitched, double layered bottom and quadruple layer front. Our Wee Beginners™ waist bands are wide, comfortable and snug fitting without the use of elastic."

 

I really like the fact that BOTH the beginner boxer briefs trainer and the Wee Woolie Boxer Briefs and Longies have additional fabric/wool sewn in at the crotch area! This really helps for littles that are learning to use the potty!

 

 

The wool products sent from Turtle Soup Company are given a Eucalan wool wash bath before being sent out, so they are clean, and ready for use. It was my intention to try the boxer brief and the wee woolie boxer brief at night time on my 2 yo, but my little guys is just not ready! He was doing great at nap time, no accidents during nap or during the day. Then my kids got sick. They both had this terrible cough, sneezing, up several times a night for about a week. This caused a bit of regression for my 2 (now 3) yo and so I never tried him without a diaper at night. He has also been waking up at about 5:30 quite frequently with a poopy diaper (which is no fun because when he's up for the day, so am I, but the little guy can't control when he has to poo! So until this pooping in the wee hours of the dawn has subsided, I've decided to wait on putting him in  his boxer brief and wee woolie! 

I'll hopefully re-visit this in a later post, so stay tuned!

 

My 4 yo on the other hand.... it's been so cold here lately! Just today it's only 28 degrees outside. My 4 yo LOVES to wear his Wee Woolie Longies at night and he loves the little mouse that is so carefully tucked away in his pocket! I cannot say enough about the mouse! That little mouse has become the highlight of my son's getting dressed for bed at night!

 

These wool longies are just the cutest little thing! I LOVE the look, the feel, they are soft, not harsh and scratchy and my so loves to wear them. We all know wool for it's ability to wick away moisture and for it's magnificent warmth! If you are potty training and would like to purchase a high-quality, affordable, and very CUTE pair of wool longies or boxer's I would highly recommend Turtle Soup Company!

 

Turtle Soup Co. is awesome! Not only do they offer great products like what I was sent above, but they also offer really cute swimsuits for boys and girls. Here are a few of my current favorites which you can find in their online Etsy shop or their brand new website!!

 

 

 

So, what do you think? I know it's still winter time here, but summer is just around the corner. I am sure I will be purchasing a pair of board shorts for my 4 yo this year! Are they not cute:

 



 

You can browse the amazing items Turtle Soup Company has to offer! But wait, that's not all!

Turtle Soup Company has graciously offered one of you the chance to win a $25 GC that can be used towards the purchase of anything on their sites HERE and HERE!

 



Moby Wrap {giveaway} 21 Jan

I am a huge fan of babywearing and have never tried the Moby Wrap. I'd love to have one to wear my little one in due in April!

Enter to win your very own Moby wrap HERE!

Good Luck and Have fun!

~Mama of the Littles~

The BEST coffee EVER {review and discount code}

I love adore, am addicted to coffee! Not just any coffee! I can't sit and sip on a cup of Folgers coffee and be satisfied! Nope, not me! I take my coffee very seriously. Perhaps growing up on the West Coast has something to do with it. When I was stationed in Washington State I'd frequent Pikes Place market (the birthplace of Starbucks) and indulge in my favorite drink! That was long before I discovered the very BEST coffee on the planet came from my own backyard.
There is a company in North Plains Oregon that roasts their coffee on site and ships it out the same day. This coffee is perfectly picked and roasted and is cared for with compassion! The hands that prepare this coffee are like those of a famous artist that is working on a masterpiece! Need I say more?
I placed an order (as I do almost every year around Christmas time) for some coffee from Oregon Coffee Roaster Inc. This is what I received:

 

I ordered 10 lbs of French Roast whole bean and 2 lbs of Breakfast Blend ground! The Breakfast blend is making it's way to Afghanistan as I type :) For my husband (who tells me it's been snowing there)!
To me, coffee is more than a hot drink on a cold day or something you drink for a little pick me up!
On the contrary, for my husband and I, it's more of a commonality that binds us together! Our 'thing' that we do every morning. After we get up, get the kids dressed and fed, we sit together and talk about the day over a steaming hot cup of coffee. He drinks his black with a bit of sugar and I take mine piping hot, with steamed milk and two teaspoons of agave nectar!
He even bought me a Breville espresso maker one year for Christmas! I LOVE to use it and make my own espresso concoctions here at home!
As you can see, this coffee is so freshly roasted it looks a bit sticky, or wet!

That's the beauty of this coffee! When you buy it, you know it roasts the same day it ships to you and you also have peace of mind knowing it has not been sitting in a bag, on a shelf at the grocery store for months on end! You can truly taste the difference of this coffee!

I'm so excited to tell you that Oregon Coffee Roasters Inc. has just began distributing their awesome coffee on Amazon under the name "Ahh...Cupella."
The kind folks over at Oregon Coffee Roasters has created a discount code for my readers! From now until 10 February, 2013, purchase any 3 lbs of coffee from Amazon (any combination sizes and types) and use the code "5LITTLES" at checkout and receive $5.00 off your order.
This coffee is awesome! I hope you will give it a try and if you do, comment here below and let me know how you liked it!
I think I'm going to go and make myself a cup now!

~Mama of the Littles~

Hyland's Homeopathic remedies to the rescue {Giveaway} US only

What's the first thing you reach for when you feel you are coming down with something? Do you drink an extra glass of OJ or take some Air Born?
This year, it seems the media is covered with the latest 'flu epidemic.' According to the news, the flu is rampant this year and it has a lot of people scared! I do not fear illness. I know that my body was created by God to combat these illnesses! We never get the flu shot and I can't remember the last time we had the flu! I'm usually pretty healthy and rarely ever get sick! My boys are the same (I claim its from all that nummy breast milk they received when they were younger)! I don't go crazy cleaning, spraying down the house with bleach water or Clorox wipes, on the contrary, I believe that germs are healthy! I believe that exposure to germs help the body to build it's own immunities to defend itself against them! But, that's a whole other blog post on it's own!
In our house I stay as far away from traditional medicine as I can. I see countless news reports that reveal how many over the counter (OTC) medicines have proven to do more harm than good. Usually in cases like these, the damage has already been done.
Now, I'm not condemning anyone here for giving their feverish baby Tylenol when s/he has been up crying for the last hour (though I also believe that fevers are not a bad thing and that having a fever is the body's natural way of fighting off whatever your body is battling against)!
When we do get sick though I reach for Hyland's Homeopathic remedies.

I LOVE Hyland's! The first product I used of theirs was their teething tablets when Aaron (now 4 years old) was cutting his teeth! I've been using Hyland's products for the last 4 years and couldn't be more happy with their products!
I was sent a Hyland's Kit for my review. This is what I received:

 

From left to right:

1. Hylands Complete Flu Care for Kids

2. Cold 'n Cough for Kids

3. Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets

4. Hyland's Baby Infant Earache Drops

5. Complete Allergy for Kids

6. Sniffles'n Sneezes for Kids

7. Defend cold and cough (adult formula)

 

I cannot tell you how very often I used the Teething tablets when my boys were infants! It was a real lifesaver! I've also used the Complete Flu Care for Kids with great success. It won't end the flu, but sure does shorten the length of the illness!

I've not *yet* tried the complete allergy for Kids, as my boys seem to not be allergic to anything, but I know that with spring around the corner, I *may* need this for hay fever! Sniffles and Sneezes is another remedy I use quite often. I give it to my boys at the first signs of a cold and usually no cold develops.

If you have not tried Hyland's, and (like me) try to steer clear from all over the counter medicines, you've got to try Hyland's remedies. You will not be disappointed!

 

I've seen Hyland's products at Wal-Mart, Walgreens and of course you can always purchase their remedies on-line!

 

Hyland's is sponsoring a giveaway along with this review. One of you will receive the same Hyland's kit that I did!

This giveaway is open to US residents only! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below! You may have to click "read more" in order for the whole Rafflecopter form to load!

Good luck and Have fun!
~Mama of the Littles~

Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above in exchange for my review. This review is my honest opinion based on my own personal experience, and may differ from yours. I did not receive any monetary compensation in exchange for this review!

 

Swaddlebees simplex AIO clothdiaper #GIVEAWAY {world-wide}

I've been hard at work securing sponsors and finalizing review and giveaway items for the upcoming newborn event! I'm so excited to be having my first home birth and equally excited to be putting on such a HUGE newborn review/giveaway event!
This will be the biggest event ever in LWML history! You are not going to want to miss out!
There are 3 Grand Prizes to be won (think baby wearing) and soooo many #clothdiapers to be won it will make you jump for joy! <3
One of the diapers I've received to try on my new little one this spring was a swaddlebees simplex all-in-one from Tami over at Kissed by the Moon!

She is one of my favorite retailers to work with. The diaper arrived here within 2 days and she is very thorough and answers e-mails quickly. Kissed by The Moon has awesome customer service.
So, look for my review of this diaper this spring during the newborn event (which should be taking place in April/May of this year)!
But to get things started and to get you guys excited about the event, we've decided to do the review later and a giveaway now!
This giveaway is open world-wide!
If you are new here to my blog, please go here and read the rules for entering my giveaways!
This giveaway will run for 2 weeks!
You can purchase this diaper from Kissed by the Moon for only $25.99

This giveaway is open World-Wide! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below! You may have to click "read more" in order for the whole Rafflecopter form to load!

Good luck and Have fun!
~Mama of the Littles~

Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above in exchange for my review. This review is my honest opinion based on my own personal experience, and may differ from yours. I did not receive any monetary compensation in exchange for this review!