So, I have a new stress relief and I feel like I am doing so much better with everything now! What is this may you ask? Well, a little bit of everything. I am now in DIY (do it yourself) mode. I have ideas and patterns for almost everything you can think of now. As many of you know, I sew. But now I also crochet, knit, and cross stitch right now. I have all those projects going PLUS I found this AWESOME way to redo your kitchen chairs using ribbons! I found that in JoAnns when I was just looking all over the place. I can't wait to start posting pictures of all of my new projects once they get done! Oh, and I also have found a wonderful DIY blog where I found a way to make pictures out of paint chips that you find in WalMart or any hardware store.
Now, my question for you is.....what kind of crafty things do you like to do? Is there something you have been dying to try doing?
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
1 Hour Break Review and Giveaway
Have you heard of 1 Hour Break yet? If not, why not? This is a great stress relief product that is all natural and vegetarian!!! What mom or dad DOESN'T need stress relief!?!? I couldn't try it out because of me nursing, however hubby was a great sport and tried it out for me. We started off with 5 sprays (the recommended starting dosage) and then did 5 for when it didn't help yet. After the 10 (it states that it may take 10-15 sprays) he started getting a lot of relief. He was able to just sit and be okay with everything. When we tried it out he was super stressed out because the kids were having a bad day and I just got back from the doctors after being told that I may have appendicitis (thank God I think they were wrong!). He was getting so frustrated that he was starting to yell about every little thing. I stopped him and asked him to try this out. He was so happy that he was able to calm right down after the 10 sprays (and so was the rest of the family hehe). He now carries one in his pocket with him everywhere he goes! He loves that it is made of the all natural product, Kava (if you click on the word you can learn more about what Kava is!).Here is some great information I was sent with my testers:
What is 1 Hour Break?
1Hour Break is a safe, natural, and effective oral spray for stress, anxiety, or trouble sleeping. 1Hour Break is a synergy of 5 herbal extracts formulated by a board member of the American Herbal Product Association with over 30 years of experience in homeopathic remedies. It's packaged in a pocket friendly 1/2 OZ spray bottle with up to 15 servings. When taken during the day, 1Hour Break does not interfere with mental sharpness or clarity. When taken for trouble sleeping, 1Hour Break calms overactive minds and promotes deep restful R.E.M. sleep. 1Hour Break is vegetarian, gluten free, kosher certified, and proudly made in the USA.
How do I use 1Hour Break?
Take 10-15 sprays in your mouth and allow 5 seconds before swallowing. Take 5-6 sprays at a time until you've reached your desired amount. Take as needed, 2-3 times daily.
Where can I find it?
1Hour Break can be purchased online through Amazon.com or directly from 1HourBreak.com
LIMITED TIME OFFER:
And now, you get your chance to win your own three pack of 1Hour Break!!!
BUY TWO, GET ONE FREE. One miracle bottle of 1Hour Break currently sells on the market for $9.95 and as you can see, this is an excellent deal!We are also offering a deal of save 42% when you buy 6: on our website.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Fit Moms for Life Review and Giveaway
Today I am going to review the book Fit Moms for Life: How to Have Endless Energy to Outplay Your Kids by Dustin Maher.
Here is a little bit about the author that can be found on the back of the book:
I really enjoy his way of incorporating his "five pillars of health"" which are mindset, nutrition, strength training, burst training, and environment. These five things put together sound like they will really work and help out a lot with loosing weight and keep it off! I don't want to go into too much detail about the five pillars because I want you all to read the book (seriously it's a great read) and start the program also. But seriously, just starting going through the five pillars is very interesting and is opening my eyes a lot about things I have been doing wrong.
I also LOVED that he has testimonies in the book. I love reading about other people's successes. I think this motivates me even more to get up and just DO IT! That is the hardest part for me is actually doing something I feel will work. When I read about these other women who took it off and keep it off, it really helps me with that.
Another thing that got me motivated was the fitness test he has in the book. When I did this, I was VERY surprised that I was actually on the high end of "below average" on everything except push-ups. I couldn't do even one! Ug! Anyways, this gave me motivation because when I looked at the chart and looked at what I did, I knew I could SOOO go another 2 seconds on this and one more rep on that. I can't wait to get started! Hubby (whom is huge on fitness and goes to the gym 4 days a week), said that he could see me being in the above average range in about a month! That gave me even more motivation!
So, all together this was a GREAT read and I totally recommend this book to everyone! Seriously, go buy yours today! You can also enter to win a copy below!
UPDATE: I have been now working this program for two weeks and I have lost SIX pounds!! I feel wonderful and actually look forward to the next day now!!!!! This program is AMAZING! I am so happy to get my old self back!
Here is a little bit about the author that can be found on the back of the book:
"Speaker, blogger, author, boot camp owner, and personal trainer Dustin Maher has appeared almost 100 times on TV and has helped transform over 5,000 moms both in person and through his 28 workout DVDs. He is the creator of Fit Moms for Life communities that are being formed around the world. Dustin's mission is to empower and build up a community of one million moms by the end of 2015."First of all, I want to say that the beginning of this book just got me and pulled me in. Dustin writes about a mom of three kids whose husband is away from home a lot for work and how she just breaks down about thinking how she needs to start taking care of herself. OMG, it was like he was talking straight to me. As many of you know, I am the wife of a truck driver and barely EVER get a moment to myself. Just a few minutes ago I was finishing my dinner at 10pm....the dinner I cooked for me and Lucas at 5pm. Yes, my house is that hectic, especially in the evenings. So, yeah Dustin got me hooked in just the first few sentences. Then, right there on the second page is my FAVORITE sentence from the whole book! He writes, "Here is my question for you: If you don't help yourself, who will?" This is so true and this is when I knew, I had to really read this book good and try what he has to say. He is right, so right...and almost every mom forgets to take care of themselves!
I really enjoy his way of incorporating his "five pillars of health"" which are mindset, nutrition, strength training, burst training, and environment. These five things put together sound like they will really work and help out a lot with loosing weight and keep it off! I don't want to go into too much detail about the five pillars because I want you all to read the book (seriously it's a great read) and start the program also. But seriously, just starting going through the five pillars is very interesting and is opening my eyes a lot about things I have been doing wrong.
I also LOVED that he has testimonies in the book. I love reading about other people's successes. I think this motivates me even more to get up and just DO IT! That is the hardest part for me is actually doing something I feel will work. When I read about these other women who took it off and keep it off, it really helps me with that.
Another thing that got me motivated was the fitness test he has in the book. When I did this, I was VERY surprised that I was actually on the high end of "below average" on everything except push-ups. I couldn't do even one! Ug! Anyways, this gave me motivation because when I looked at the chart and looked at what I did, I knew I could SOOO go another 2 seconds on this and one more rep on that. I can't wait to get started! Hubby (whom is huge on fitness and goes to the gym 4 days a week), said that he could see me being in the above average range in about a month! That gave me even more motivation!
So, all together this was a GREAT read and I totally recommend this book to everyone! Seriously, go buy yours today! You can also enter to win a copy below!
UPDATE: I have been now working this program for two weeks and I have lost SIX pounds!! I feel wonderful and actually look forward to the next day now!!!!! This program is AMAZING! I am so happy to get my old self back!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Babyville Boutique Review and Giveaway
Have you heard of Babyville Boutique yet? If you haven't, you need to find out about them! They are a relatively new company that brought baby diaper making necessities to our local JoAnn's Hobby Lobby and Hancocks. They offer things like PUL, diaper making books and so on.
Babyville Boutique was more than generous in what they sent for review. When I got this package, I was more than excited to get started! I have never made anything with PUL before. I have practiced stitching with some scraps I got, but never got up the courage to try actually using them. Well, I am happy to say, Babyville Boutique takes all the questions out of making diapers and more! Here is everything I was sent:
Yup, that is a lot of stuff. I am going to do a separate little review for almost each thing and then a finished product for this review just because I believe this will help out a lot more when making your choice at JoAnn's or else where to pick up their products.
The first think I am going to start with is the Cloth Diapers Made Easy book.
This book truly DOES make cloth diapers easy! This book includes patterns for sizes newborn, small, medium and large diapers. It also includes VERY detailed step by step instructions with pictures on how to sew together your diapers. AND for the people who have a hard time designing the diaper, there are also many different instructions on that including embroidering your diaper! There are instructions for sewing EVERY kind of diaper you could think of! Everywhere from a simple diaper cover, to an AIO, to a fitted diaper using a prefold, to a diaper that, frankly, I have never even heard of! It is called the Sham Pocket Diaper. Here is a picture from the book of it:
The next thing I am going to talk about is their Baby Essentials Made Easy book.
This book includes instructions on how to make MANY different baby stuff, as you can probably tell from the picture. With this book you can learn how to make basically anything you could really need for your child! Diaper bags, toys, quilts, wet bags, pail liners, how to tie dye prefolds, toys and SO SO SO much more! I will definitely keep this book with me and start trying my hand on making some more of this stuff! If I can make it, no reason to pay retail price for it!
Next up is their wonderful embellishments. Babyville makes these adorable labels:
And also some adorable appliques!
These are both SUPER easy to use. Just put a little bit of stitching around the embellishment and bam, your done. They also seem like they will look great even after washing a million times. You can use them on PUL or also on outfits. After I saw these, I had to go out and get more. Here is a picture of a little pet project that I did with the dino appliques:
Whew, this is getting long already hehe. Anyways...the rest of it is better to actually tell you about how it works putting it all together. Some other things I received are snaps, FOE, hook and loop and PUL.
I have to admit, that I have not even opened these up yet. I do not have snap pliers (yet) so I have not been able to test these out. I look forward to being able to use them though in the future!
Babyville Boutique was more than generous in what they sent for review. When I got this package, I was more than excited to get started! I have never made anything with PUL before. I have practiced stitching with some scraps I got, but never got up the courage to try actually using them. Well, I am happy to say, Babyville Boutique takes all the questions out of making diapers and more! Here is everything I was sent:
Yup, that is a lot of stuff. I am going to do a separate little review for almost each thing and then a finished product for this review just because I believe this will help out a lot more when making your choice at JoAnn's or else where to pick up their products.
The first think I am going to start with is the Cloth Diapers Made Easy book.
This book truly DOES make cloth diapers easy! This book includes patterns for sizes newborn, small, medium and large diapers. It also includes VERY detailed step by step instructions with pictures on how to sew together your diapers. AND for the people who have a hard time designing the diaper, there are also many different instructions on that including embroidering your diaper! There are instructions for sewing EVERY kind of diaper you could think of! Everywhere from a simple diaper cover, to an AIO, to a fitted diaper using a prefold, to a diaper that, frankly, I have never even heard of! It is called the Sham Pocket Diaper. Here is a picture from the book of it:
The next thing I am going to talk about is their Baby Essentials Made Easy book.
This book includes instructions on how to make MANY different baby stuff, as you can probably tell from the picture. With this book you can learn how to make basically anything you could really need for your child! Diaper bags, toys, quilts, wet bags, pail liners, how to tie dye prefolds, toys and SO SO SO much more! I will definitely keep this book with me and start trying my hand on making some more of this stuff! If I can make it, no reason to pay retail price for it!
Next up is their wonderful embellishments. Babyville makes these adorable labels:
And also some adorable appliques!
These are both SUPER easy to use. Just put a little bit of stitching around the embellishment and bam, your done. They also seem like they will look great even after washing a million times. You can use them on PUL or also on outfits. After I saw these, I had to go out and get more. Here is a picture of a little pet project that I did with the dino appliques:
Whew, this is getting long already hehe. Anyways...the rest of it is better to actually tell you about how it works putting it all together. Some other things I received are snaps, FOE, hook and loop and PUL.
I have to admit, that I have not even opened these up yet. I do not have snap pliers (yet) so I have not been able to test these out. I look forward to being able to use them though in the future!
The FOE I was actually scared to use. I heard that this stuff is super hard to use. Well, it really isn't bad, especially with having worked with regular elastic before. I actually found this MUCH faster and easier than using regular elastic and turning and top stitching. I am glad I got over that fear and tried this!
The hook and loop that they sent me is amazing! So much better than any I have ever bought before. That is why I ended up making all of Dan's newborn fitted diapers without closures because the velcro was just NOT working. I am LOVING this hook and loop!
I have been eyeing up Babyville's PUL for a while now at JoAnn's. It is just so CUTE! They offer solids and print PUL. And actually, I was going to purchase these ones and the other one I really want is their dino print PUL! It was actually a lot easier to work with then I thought and I am super glad that I got this opportunity.
When you put everything together you might get something that looks like this (please note that this is my first ever diaper cover and it is not perfected just yet):
Thank you Babyville Boutique for making it so easy to make my son a diaper cover specifically for him!
I have also made a OS pocket diaper and with the scraps, I made a pair of shoes!!!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Freecycling
Whoa, did I just see the word free!?!?! That is what really got me into this! Freecycling, if you have not heard of it, is re-purposing other people's furniture that they would have just, ek, thrown into the garbage! Hubby and I have been freecycling for a while, just we didn't even hear of freecycling until not too long ago. Now, we are OBSESSED! We found freecycle.org
and signed up for email alerts for everything that goes up in our area. However, most of our stuff we get from my hubby's job. My hubby works as a mover and a lot of his clients are getting ready to just throw out stuff, so he brings it home and replaces our old stuff with it. We have gotten some high quality pieces this way. The rest of it came from freecycling online! Want to see what we have gotten??? Well, here are a few pictures of things we have in our home. Please note that hubby has been working way overtime, so don't mind the mess haha. Also, some of the pieces do need a little bit of help that hubby has been trying to get to...but like I said, the overtime is killing his time available to fix everything (he worked 150 hours already this week!!!!!!!!).
and signed up for email alerts for everything that goes up in our area. However, most of our stuff we get from my hubby's job. My hubby works as a mover and a lot of his clients are getting ready to just throw out stuff, so he brings it home and replaces our old stuff with it. We have gotten some high quality pieces this way. The rest of it came from freecycling online! Want to see what we have gotten??? Well, here are a few pictures of things we have in our home. Please note that hubby has been working way overtime, so don't mind the mess haha. Also, some of the pieces do need a little bit of help that hubby has been trying to get to...but like I said, the overtime is killing his time available to fix everything (he worked 150 hours already this week!!!!!!!!).
Entertainment Center AND T.V. from Freecycle.org
Corner Cabinet that we got from Hubby's job (re-purposed to be our diaper storing area)
Solid Oak Coffee table from hubby's job
Swing from a garage sale that they were getting ready to throw out and Corey's Aunt grabbed it
Stackable washer and drier
Kitchen table and 4 bar stool chairs from freecycle.org
Not a great pic, but son was sleeping right there on the floor (yes why do kids need beds again.?.?.?) but Glider from a yard sale they were getting ready to throw out
Crib (turned into a toddler bed here) and dresser both from hubby's work...don't you love what kids decide to do with laundry baskets...put them on their stuffed horse's head....
Dresser from freecycle.org
Another dresser from freecycle.org
A dresser from a yard sale that they were about to throw away...MARBLE top!
Bedside table about to be put in the trash by a neighbor
Another bedside table from freecycle.org
BRAND NEW, was still in plastic brand new, queen size mattress and box spring from hubby's work
Solid oak end table from hubby's work
Solid oak bookshelf re-purposed for my sewing from hubby's work
Desk re-purposed for my sewing table from hubby's work
T.V. and end table from hubby's work
Elliptical from freecycle.org
Two more solid oak bookselves from hubby's work
Hubby's work table from freecycle.org
So, yeah...everything is wonderful and CHEAP in our house :-D
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
What I have been up to
Well, you may be wondering why the blog has slowed down so much. Well, here is the answer. I have been amazingly busy lately. I think I am going to keep the reviews and giveaways down until The Great Cloth Diaper Change is over but JUST WAIT! For May 1st there is going to be a HUGE giveaway for Mother's Day that I am participating in with Daily Mothering. So far the prize package is up to approximately $90 in value!!! OMG! Isn't that amazing!?!? If you would like to add a prize to the package, you can email me at xxcoco86xx2003@yahoo.com
So, on top of that, we are still trying to find an answer for Daniel. Unfortunately, we have to drive an hour away to get him in to get a full GI done on March 5th. This is going to be fun...but at least we MAY be getting closer. We now have a list of things to test for at least! So, that is taking up a LOT of time...and patients...and tears...hence another reason why I have been away.
I hope you all understand my absence as I work on these things, and like I said, there is going to be a HUGE pay off for you all in the end! :-D
So, on top of that, we are still trying to find an answer for Daniel. Unfortunately, we have to drive an hour away to get him in to get a full GI done on March 5th. This is going to be fun...but at least we MAY be getting closer. We now have a list of things to test for at least! So, that is taking up a LOT of time...and patients...and tears...hence another reason why I have been away.
I hope you all understand my absence as I work on these things, and like I said, there is going to be a HUGE pay off for you all in the end! :-D
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Lou Bugs Boutique Review and Giveaway
Today I am reviewing one of Lou Bugs Boutique's travel pillows. I choose a train pillow because my son, Lucas, is just so obsessed with "choo-choos".
This travel pillow was better than what it looks like in the pictures! The top part of the pillow is made out of a cotton print and the bottom part is made out of super soft minky fabric.
I love this pillow for a few reasons. One of the most obvious is it keeps Luke's head where it should be when he is in the car seat and falls asleep. It makes me feel much better about it, looks like it may even be safer for him! Another reason I love this is because my son loves it. Okay, this is a totally true story too...and it is so cute I should have snapped pics of it, but I totally was not thinking. Anyways, when we got this and he saw the trains on it he keep pointing and going "choo-choo, choo-choo, choo-choo". I told him that he couldn't have it just yet it was for the car. Oh no, Luke was not having that answer! He starting flipping out and crying "choo-choo, choo-choo". I felt horrible. So, I took it out, snapped a couple pics and gave it to him. He looked at it for a second and couldn't figure out what to do with it now that he had it. So, I put it around his neck so he could see what it was. And darn it if he didn't walk around with that pillow around his neck for about THREE hours. It was so funny and cute that I am kind of chuckling while I am writing this. Long story short, my son loves it haha.
And with the pillows only being $7...where the heck can you go wrong!?!?!?! Yeah, you might want to get one...they are definitely something I would buy! And once Dan is old enough, I will HAVE to get him one! These are going to be PERFECT for our 12 hour drives to go see my family in NY!
And now, you have a chance to win one!
This travel pillow was better than what it looks like in the pictures! The top part of the pillow is made out of a cotton print and the bottom part is made out of super soft minky fabric.
I love this pillow for a few reasons. One of the most obvious is it keeps Luke's head where it should be when he is in the car seat and falls asleep. It makes me feel much better about it, looks like it may even be safer for him! Another reason I love this is because my son loves it. Okay, this is a totally true story too...and it is so cute I should have snapped pics of it, but I totally was not thinking. Anyways, when we got this and he saw the trains on it he keep pointing and going "choo-choo, choo-choo, choo-choo". I told him that he couldn't have it just yet it was for the car. Oh no, Luke was not having that answer! He starting flipping out and crying "choo-choo, choo-choo". I felt horrible. So, I took it out, snapped a couple pics and gave it to him. He looked at it for a second and couldn't figure out what to do with it now that he had it. So, I put it around his neck so he could see what it was. And darn it if he didn't walk around with that pillow around his neck for about THREE hours. It was so funny and cute that I am kind of chuckling while I am writing this. Long story short, my son loves it haha.
And with the pillows only being $7...where the heck can you go wrong!?!?!?! Yeah, you might want to get one...they are definitely something I would buy! And once Dan is old enough, I will HAVE to get him one! These are going to be PERFECT for our 12 hour drives to go see my family in NY!
And now, you have a chance to win one!
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