Thursday, October 31, 2013

Toppy Toddler- Full Coverage Baby-Bib?

I have received a product to use for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation has been received, all opinions are my own.


With littles who are learning to eat, we'd all like a less-mess experience. Toppy Toddler created their No-Mess Baby Bib feeding set to try to help us as parents to get just that experience. 

The set comes with a bib which attaches to a place-mat, which also has a slit for a bowl. The set also comes with the bowl, fork and spoon. 

Our biggest mess maker is chocolate, so I wanted to see if the Toppy Toddler set could cut it with a nice chocolate cookie. I even let Luke keep his white shirt on underneath (it has green arms...but I promise- it's white under there). 

     

For the most part the Toppy Toddler set did well with the chocolate. Luke only ended up with a small line of chocolate on the white part of his shirt. Overall, it is definitely better than if he hadn't had a bib on, and since the placemat was attached there was less mess on his high-chair.

We also tried the No-mess Baby Bib during dinner. The bowl didn't stick to the highchair like it should have, so Luke was able to freely move the placemat portion of the bib around- and he did. I think a big improvement would be to add something to weigh the placemat portion down- but then I'm not sure if it would be machine washable.

I do love the waterproof but washable fabric that this is made of (and there are several different cute designs). If he was drinking, he wouldn't douse himself with his drink, which is a nice thought. Luke still uses sippy cups, though, so thankfully no spills from liquid yet.  We were able to wash this simply with a sprayer in the sink (wouldn't have needed a sprayer, it just was convenient).  You can also toss this into the wash if needed. 

Overall, I think the Toppy Toddler No-Mess Baby Bib can be helpful, and we will be keeping it in our diaper bag for outings. I don't see the need for it at home, personally, as we can plan for any messes better- but when we are travelling it will definitely be beneficial to have some extra coverage available!

You can also check out the Toppy Toddler  $100 gift card giveaway that is ongoing.


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Quick and Easy Halloween Treats!



Halloween is nearly here, and I imagine if you are like me- you likely have to make a treat to send in to school with your youngster. Tonight I made some VERY easy treats that are fun and festive! 

I saw the idea floating around Pinterest and Facebook, so I figured I would try!


I used Fudge Stripe cookies, dark chocolate Hershey Kisses and Duncan Hines frosting, and some sprinkles. 

To make... 

Flip over the Fudge Stripe cookie, apply a bit of frosting to the underside of the Hershey Kiss, place over the hole in the cookie and press down. the frosting will seal the Kiss to the cookie and create a ribbon-like look. I then added sprinkles to resemble the "buckle" on some witches' hats.

These really take such a short amount of time, and can be ready in a snap for a quick fun Halloween treat!

Make YOUR Story, with PlayTown: My Story Maker

This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own. 


PlayTown: My Story Maker is a wonderful new app for kids, ages 3-9.  

This app is free, with some paid options. My kids have really enjoyed the app and telling their stories! I love that the app really encourages imagination. You can add props, pictures, and of course tell your OWN story!



The free PlayTown: My Story Maker app allows kids to create, personalize and narrate stories while bringing their imagination to life! Children have rich imaginations, and it’s the responsibility of a parent to help nurture, encourage and reinforce their children’s’ creative expression.  An active imagination can help develop certain life skills such as communication and problem solving. Here’s how PlayTown works:

Begin your story by selecting an Adventure Play Set; play sets can range from traveling to playing sports to even exploring outer space! There are several free sets, and some that you can purchase too!


My Story Maker invites you to create and build adventures, select your own stages, props, accessories and cast of lovable characters—such as princesses, monsters and jungle friends—and even use personal photos and drawings! Hit the record button and tell us a story!

When completed, see your creation with the play back feature and share with family and friends within the app.

The kids think it is SO much fun to actually TELL their own story. They love to record their story and listen to themselves (and how "funny" they sound). 

PlayTown is FREE to download for Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.co.tk.skt.playdoll) and iOS (http://itunes.apple.com/app/id473909588) and includes 3 Adventure Play Sets. Additional play sets can be purchased for $1.99 each.  For more information please visit www.PlayTownforKids.com and be sure to like the app on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/playtownforkids)  

Friday, October 25, 2013

Take a Moment for Momfeeds #WWSponsored #WWMoms


This post is sponsored by Weight Watchers. I received a three-month trial subscription to Weight Watchers Online. All opinions are my own.


As I sit here writing this, I am thinking about how little spare time I have. I work outside of the home, I am a blogger, and I am a wife and mother to eight children. Life is busy. I remember a time when I used to actually be able to read the magazines I subscribe to (which sadly, currently go untouched). I love reading, but I truly just don't have the spare time- there is always something that has a higher priority rating. 

That said, I also know that I do have a few quick moments in my day where I sit and look at my phone. Usually it's some sort of social media that I am staring at, but recently I checked out Flipboard and Momfeeds. Flipboard is a free app from Google Play or AppStore. This was a new app for me, but I have to say- I'm pretty fond of it. Once you have Flipboard, you can get Momfeeds for free as well. 



For moms who don’t always have time to read their favorite magazines cover to cover, Momfeeds has recipes, tips, deals and news, all served up in bite-sized portions or as I like to say, “mom-style."

I really like Momfeeds. It's a quick read, but I really find it interesting. One of the most interesting articles I read so far was how to find the right color clothing for you. It was really interesting, and I could read it in the few quick moments I had to myself.  There are plenty of interesting articles, though. Here are three others that I found interesting:


For over 50 years, Weight Watchers has helped millions of people lose weight. Momfeeds includes great recipes and tips that can benefit you! Weight Watchers International, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of weight management services, operating globally through a network of Company-owned and franchise operations. WeightWatchers.com also provides innovative subscription weight management products over the Internet and is the leading Internet-based weight management provider in the world. Weight Watchers is a brand that I trust, and I have really enjoyed reading the articles in the Momfeeds online magazine. I hope you take a moment to check it out for yourself, after all...every Mom deserves a moment or two to herself in the day!

Giveaway!
We have two copies of the Weight Watchers Ultimate Chicken Cookbook to award to two randomly selected winners. The hardcover cookbook includes 250 of Weight Watchers' best-ever recipes focusing on this versatile ingredient. Value: $29.99 each.


Enter below in the easy Rafflecopter form!


Monday, October 21, 2013

Stride Rite on #Halloween sponsored


I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Stride Rite. I received products to facilitate my review and thank me for my participation.

Let's think about Halloween... it's only 10 days away after all! We're nearly finished with our Halloween planning; we're just finishing up the final touches on costumes. One thing I think of when I think of Halloween (aside from costumes and candy) is all the walking the littles and I will do. Having a comfortable shoe is so important- but you also want it to go with the costume your child will be wearing. 

Stride Rite has some great Halloween selections. Stride Rite shoes are getting in the Halloween spirit with fun themed shoes! They are offering themed shoes around some of the season’s hottest costumes like Spider-Man, Captain America, Star Wars, Disney Princess and Minnie Mouse, and with a breadth of brands including Stride Rite, Sperry Top-Sider, Keds, Saucony and Jessica Simpson, Stride Rite has the shoe to complement any costume.

We found a great shoe to compliment Luke's monkey costume this year. A little back story, our kids have HUGE feet. They can't wear most shoe brands, so Stride Rite has been a household favorite here for a while with their wide shoe selections. 



These Curious George shoes are absolutely perfect with Luke's costume.


Cute, right? We love Curious George, and these shoes will look great with several other outfits that Luke has. We are also a huge fan of the  SRT™ Soft Motion™ soles, which are soft and flexible and perfect for those newly walking toddlers! 

Another thing we are very aware of on Halloween is Safety. Safety and visibility is important. Stride Rite's 

Racer Lights™ will help keep your little goblins visible while they look for their treats!


These shoes are a huge hit with our 4 year old son. He picked them in blue. 


The fun lights are one of his favorite things, aside from the fact that they are his favorite color! 
I love that he will be seen in the dark, and I know that he is wearing very comfortable and high quality shoes.  Nolyn has loved these and tells us often how much he likes wearing them. They are very lightweight very breathable. 

I can't say enough great things about Stride Rite shoes, and I know that they will be great for the kids this Halloween. Check out the other Halloween pairings they have available, perhaps they have the perfect finishing touch for your child's costume, too!


Helping give kids a #SweetFuture

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Truvia® Natural Sweetener  for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

Hunger is very real....it isn't something that is new but it is something we can do something about. Bolivia is currently having many issues with hunger.

Did you know that:
*Every day, over 40% of Bolivian families struggle to support their children’s most basic food needs.
*Two-thirds of the Bolivian population is below the poverty line
* The majority of the country’s children does not receive the minimum daily caloric intake and are suffering from nutritional deficiencies
*The widespread use of primitive cook stoves resulting in harmful smoke exposure has led to a number of other health issues for families in the community.

Knowing of the hardships faced by these families, the Truvia® brand has committed to working with the World Food Program USA to help provide Bolivian kids and families with a sweeter future.

Thanks to the Truvia® brand’s “Sharing a Sweet Future” charitable initiative, over 34,705 Bolivian school children have already received more nutritionally-balanced school meals, and Bolivian locals have received 68 fuel efficient stoves, allowing another 3,574 students to eat cooked meals in a safer environment. Learn even more about the Truvia® brand’s initiative here.

The Truvia® team created a video series showcasing the everyday hardships experienced by Bolivian family members. You can share these videos on Facebook or Twitter using #SweetFuture to support our initiative.

Share the Truvia® brand’s video on Facebook to support their Sharing a Sweet Future initiative. $1 feeds 4 kids.

Share the Truvia® brand’s video to support their Sharing a Sweet Future initiative. $1 feeds 4 kids.

Follow Truvia on Twitter

Visit Sponsor's Site

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Barney the #BigPurpleDinosaur




BARNEY®: 3MOVIE PACK
Available On DVD October 15, 2013 From
 Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment


  I remember Barney from back when I was a kid. Not so much when I was little (not sure if he    was around when I was small), but when I babysat. Kids seemed to like him then, but none of   my kids really got interested in Barney.... until Annabelle. She LOVES her Big Purple Dinosaur! 

I love that Barney is a kind helpful dinosaur that makes her laugh, sing, and smile! This three    movie pack is absolutely wonderful and captures kids' attention. Here's some more information on Barney 3-Movie Pack
3-DVD Pack SRP:  $19.98
It’s a night of epic proportions filled with imagination, caring, learning, singing and dancing when Barney®: 3–Movie Pack roars onto DVD October 15, 2013 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. This super-dee-duper collection of three feature length movies will fill the hearts of young ones as they enter the land of make believe, have fun making music and celebrate the biggest event of the year – Christmas. The Barney®: 3–Movie Pack DVD will be available for an incredible low price of $19.98.
 
Trusted by moms and adored by children, Barney displays sharing, caring, imagining, dancing and learning on television, online and through live events, home entertainment, toys and publishing. In 2013, Barney celebrates over 25 years of sharing, caring and imagination with the Barney 25 Million Hugs campaign. Barney is inviting fans of all ages to help him reach his goal of sharing 25 million Barney hugs around the world through the site www.ShareBarneyHugs.com and via email, Facebook and Twitter.  
 

THE 3-DVD MOVIE PACK INCLUDES:


Barney: The Land of Make Believe
Join the adventure with Barney, BJ and Baby Bop as they discover anything can happen in The Land of Make Believe! When a lost, young princess from a storybook magically appears, Barney and his friends set out on a quest to help her find her way home. Along the way, they swim with dolphins, see a beautiful mermaid and even meet a magician! Come along for a story as big as your imagination!
 
DVD Bonus Features
·         Barney’s Island Tour
·         Make Believe Music Video
·         Serena’s Dolphin Friends Game


Barney: Let’s Make Music

It's time for a musical adventure at Barney's Fantasy Fair! When a little girl named Melanie dreams of playing her violin in a talent show, Barney, BJ and Baby Bop help her realize her dreams with the help of a new dino friend, Riff, who knows how to find music everywhere! Riff shows the friends all about music and sounds as they sing favorite songs, play games and ride amazing rides! They also discover that some dreams are even bigger than they imagined. So head to the fair, join the fun and let’s make music together!
 
DVD Bonus Features
·         Barney’s Big Balloon
·         BJ’s Elephant Adventure
·         Welcome, Cousin Riff with Song
·         Barney’s Juke Box
 
Barney: Night Before Christmas – The Movie
It’s a memorable Christmas Eve as Barney, BJ and Baby Bop take their friends on a musical journey to the North Pole and bring them face to face with Santa Claus!  The excitement builds as Santa gives his guests a once-in-a-lifetime tour of his brightly decorated home.  The children discover his antique music box, see amazing displays of his favorite toys and climb aboard his train for an incredible ride.  When Mrs. Claus notices that the elves need help finishing up last minute Christmas chores, she escorts the group to Santa’s Toy Factory.  Join BJ, Baby Bop and the children as they wait patiently to hear the sound of sleigh bells and share in the most magical night of the year with Barney!
                                               
DVD Bonus Features
·         2 Holiday read-a-longs: “Barney’s Christmas Surprise” and “Barney’s Wonderful Winter Day”
·         10 sing-a-long songs
·         5 Christmas songs
·         8 interactive games

Year of Production: 2013

Title Copyright: © 2013 Lyons Partnership, L.P.  The Barney name and character, related characters and the overlapping dino spots and Barney and star logos are trademarks of Lyons Partnership, L.P.  Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. and other countries.

Type: TV on DVD
Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Children/Family
Age Target: 1-5 years old
Closed Captioned: English
Feature Run Time: 163 minutes
DVD Format: 4x3 Full Screen (1.33:1)
DVD Audio Status:  English and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital

 Website: www.barney.com
Twitter: @DinoMiteBarney

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Pretty Piggies with Piggy Paint!



I have received product for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.



My daughter, Annabelle, loves to have her nails painted. But, the truth is, most nail polish really isn't all that child-friendly nor is it very healthy. So many nail polishes are created with harmful chemicals. Thankfully Melanie Hurley, the founder of Piggy Paint, was concerned about those chemicals, too. One day, as Melanie was painting her two daughters' fingers and toes, she noticed that their "kid friendly" nail polish ate right through a Styrofoam plate. Yikes. These kids are putting this stuff in their mouths! Yeah, that can't be good. So, the quest was on and eventually Piggy Paint came in with its water based formula that is non-flammable and does NOT eat through Styrofoam!

Annabelle was so excited to receive the Color Me Happy gift set for review. No, really...check out this silly smile to prove it!


See! 

The vibrant, fun colors of Piggy Paint are sure to please your little princess. I know Annabelle LOVES hers. She nearly almost always picks pink, but thankfully Piggy Paint doesn't disappoint and there are different shades of pink to choose from. 

So, one night after her bath, we had a girl's night and painted our piggies... and our fingernails, too, of course. 


She loved her new manicure, thanks to Piggy Paint. 

I loved that we weren't breathing in crazy toxic fumes, and I loved knowing that if she decided to chew off her nail polish- which she does often to get them repainted- it wouldn't be a horrible thing. I would really like to try the low-odor Piggy Paint nail polish remover in the future, too. This month, you can use the code B3G1 to get a free nail polish when you buy 3! These are a great stocking stuffer, or the gift sets can be the perfect gift for the princess in your life!

We are definitely crazy for Piggy Paint, and we are SO thrilled that Piggy Paint is available at Walmart AND Target! You can find out where you can find Piggy Paint near you by checking out the retailers section on the Piggy Paint website.

GIVEAWAY!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Peppa Pig

We received the items below for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

What darling little piglet captures children's attention and brings their imagination to life? Peppa Pig, of course!

We're big Peppa Pig fans here at our house, and have been for quite some time. The animated television show follows the daily adventures of Peppa, a loveable, energetic little piggy who lives with her brother George, Mommy Pig and daddy Pig. Peppa lives in the U.K. and speaks with a sweet and engaging British Accent. They are always playing games, dressing up, going on trips and jumping in muddy puddles (of course, what piggy wouldn't?)!

Peppa Pig airs on Nick Jr., check your local listings for times. 

Of course, the littles don't just want to watch Peppa...they want to play with her, too! Annabelle loves Peppa Pig the most, and she was thrilled to get to play with some new toys sent our way!


We received Bedtime Peppa, Muddy Puddles Bathtime Peppa, and the Peppa Pig and the Busy Day at School. 

Annabelle adores her Bedtime Peppa. This plush piggy is  by Fisher Price and sings lullaby songs, oinks and plays a counting sheep game. It is available at Toys R Us, in stores and online, and will cost about $26.99. 



Above, you can see Annabelle listening to Peppa sing (although you definitely do not need to lay on Peppa to hear her...). Peppa's cheeks light up when she sings and talks, which is nice during the night. Peppa is Annabelle's newest favorite night-time buddy!


Annabelle was also very excited about the Muddy Puddles Bathtime Peppa. See, Peppa played in a bit of mud, and now she's a tad dirty. Kids get to take a nice warm bath and help Peppa and George get clean! Careful of George though, he might squirt some water from his nose if you squeeze him! This toys is available from Toys R Us stores and online. 

*MY* favorite part about this toy... it is easy to open. If you've ever been a parent on Christmas morning (or any other day that a kid gets a lot of presents), you've probably found that your fingers hurt from all the twist ties and finagling of packages. This toy was a pleasant surprise!


You don't have to tear open the whole box! You can just lift the flaps and untie the PAPER ties. Then just remove the plastic that covers the tub and brush. SO much easier than most toys!

Peppa Pig and the Busy Day at School is a beautiful 32 page hardcover book from Candlewick Press. Follow the adventures of Peppa and friends at school as they learn numbers, letters, and enjoy special talent time. This book is available at Toys R Us and select booksellers for $12.99. 

Overall, we had a lot of fun with these products and we were very impressed with the quality and ease of use. Peppa Pig will continue to be a favorite in our house.


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Pampers...giving back the gift of SLEEP! #DDDivas #DivasSleep #sponsored #Giveaway


This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine. 


Let's think for a moment....think back to the time when your firstborn was just a baby. What was the most difficult adjustment you had to make? For me, sleep was definitely different. I couldn't sleep a full 8...or even 6, or 4 hours in a row. My sleep was broken, and by the time baby fell asleep there was just so much to do that I often didn't even get a chance to get the sleep that I probably could have...but then once you do finally fall asleep, the baby wakes up again. The baby's hungry and likely soiled and uncomfortable as well.

By interviewing over 9,000 moms about what was important for their baby, Pampers found the number one unmet need is a diaper that provides superior overnight dryness.  Pampers incorporated this firsthand insight, as well as the brand’s deep understanding of baby and baby’s needs, to design a diaper that both mom and baby can count on for up to 12 hours of overnight protection. All Pampers diapers now have the 12 hours of protection, including their NEW Swaddlers in up to size 5! 

Twelve hours of overnight protection may mean that baby is more comfortable and that baby *may* sleep just a tad bit longer- and yes, that tad bit can make a huge difference (at least to this mom)!

Pampers is making this their gift of sleep to parents everywhere... and Pampers have given me the chance to give the gift of sleep to a family in my community. I was given a gift card with the mission of helping this family relax and hopefully get a little more sleep. 

I chose a family I know with a baby that was born just a week or so after Orrin. They are first time parents, so I know that sleep is something that is definitely missing in these first precious months. 

I decided to head out and find some items that I thought would help them all relax and hopefully get some more rest. Here's what I found.


For baby, we have some lavender baby wash and lotion as well as a sweet lullaby CD, and of course, Pampers Swaddlers (to keep the precious baby girl dry through the night). 

For Mom, we have a lavender scented candle, and a soothing fountain to help lull her relax.

And for Dad, we have a Movie and popcorn- perfect for watching with Mom, laughing a little (or maybe a lot), and hopefully helping them both relax after a rough day.  

I can't wait to give them their basket, and I really hope it does help them get a little more sleep! 

How could someone give YOU the gift of sleep?


Most HILARIOUS video ad I've ever seen.



So, here I was just sitting on the computer, taking a gander at a YouTube video of my kids' class...before I could watch it, I had to watch an ad (of course). So, I'm sitting there- usually I click skip ad as soon as the ad lets me...but this one really caught me. I just couldn't stop watching. I am not getting paid for this post, but this ad was just so genius that I had to share.



Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Whoo's Cute? She's Cute! #Gymboree



I don't know about your kids, but my kids can be rough on clothing. Quality clothing at the right price can be difficult to find. That's why I love Gymboree so much. I love the quality of their clothing, not to mention their fun, limited time collections. We recently were able to review the Bright Owl collection for girls...and it is SO cute!


Annabelle loves owls, probably because Momma likes owls. This gorgeous outfit was one she fell in love with! I love the skirt, and it was one item that amazed me. It looks even better after the first wash!

Here are all the items that we purchased... and all together it only came to a little over $100!

Annabelle's New Wardrobe!



Annabelle is a tall girl. She'll be 3 in just a few days, but she's wearing mostly 4T clothing. We purchased size 4 shirts and dress, and size 3 jeans because I was too afraid that the waste would be too big with a size 4. I have to say, everything fit very well. 


And the quality is definitely not lacking. I know these pieces will be in her wardrobe until she grows out of them- and that's a money saver in itself! 

Gymboree often has amazing sales, and you can earn Gymbucks with your purchases! When you earn Gymbucks, you can get up to 50% off during Gymbucks redemption periods!

Annabelle loved her back to school clothes, and she was adorable on her first day of school!


I don't know about you, but I remember what I wore on my first day of school (a hot-pink skirt with black polkadots, and a black shirt with a cat on it)! 

Do you have a special outfit that is a part of your memories? How about a special outfit of your child's?





Monday, October 7, 2013

Gotta love those Minions! #SneakPeek






On December 10th, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will release DESPICABLE ME 2, the $863 million worldwide box office phenomenon and the year's #1 comedy, on Blu-ray™ and Blu-ray 3D™ Combo Packs, DVD and Digital HD including UltraViolet™!  Bonus features include three all-new mini-movies featuring the mischievous but lovable Minions, deleted scenes, a closer look at the evil minions and much more!

Thursday, October 3, 2013

#StarburstCandyCorn on the Cob!

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Starburst. I received product samples to facilitate my review and promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Celebrate Halloween with Starburst Candy Corn and Tori Spelling's Tasty Tips for Halloween Entertaining!

To celebrate and inspire people to join in on the Halloween season, Starburst Candy Corn partnered with entertaining guru, mom and TV personality, Tori Spelling, to create Tori’s Tasty Tips for Halloween Entertaining!

Starburst is bringing its fans an exciting new twist on one of their favorite candies this Halloween with the introduction of Starburst Candy Corn, a sweet new treat that will liven up Halloween with the same bright, juicy flavors and colors found in Starburst Original fruit chews, combined with the iconic shape and texture of candy corn. Starburst Candy Corn is available at retailers nationwide for a limited time only during Halloween, from August through October 2013.




There are a lot of other fun crafts that you can make with Starburst Candy Corn. I was contemplating making these fun cupcakes for the kids' fall party.




I love the colors of the Starburst Candy Corn, and while I usually think of candy corn as an Autumn treat, I definitely could see these used in the Spring. The vivid colors make for stunning floral designs on cupcakes. I really hope that Starburst brings these back out in the Spring!





I am a huge fan of holidays, pretty much all of them. As a kid, some of my fondest memories are the fun holiday parties at school. So, I often try to find a way to make my children's parties memorable by bringing in creative food.


I was recently provided with the new Starburst Candy Corn to create a craft with. I knew right off the bat that I wanted to do something edible. My goal was to create a candy "corn on the cob". 

I set out to figure out how this could be done. My first attempt was to use a banana and the Starburst Candy Corn. I have to say, this didn't work out. The banana would just separate and break apart when the pieces of candy corn were pushed in. So, back to brainstorming again.

My next idea was to use a Twinkie. It seemed to be something that would work well, but when I started inserting the candy corn into the cake, I noticed that the cake actually pushed the candy corn back out, and once I put several pieces in, the Twinkie, too, started to break apart.

Unfortunately, my edible masterpiece wasn't coming to fruition. So, I had to rethink. To create the fun looking corn-on-the-cob I would have to find something more malleable.

Sticking with the food theme, although not exactly edible in it's used form, I decided to go with cookie dough. I used raw sugarcookie dough for the base of the "corn cob". This worked well, and I was able to make my creation!


 To make this I rolled out the sugar cookie dough into a tube, placed it on a plate, and then started inserting the Starburst Candy Corn to match corn-on-the-cob's pattern. I was nervous at first, as it didn't look like it would turn out very well, but once I had finished the section it really did look neat! 

Although this isn't an edible treat, I think it would make a very colorful garnish on a presentation plate. 









Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Keepin' the Babies Close. #freedomtogether

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boba. The opinions and text are all mine.

I love children. Yes, that may be an obvious statement when coming from a mother of eight, but I really do. It is amazing to see a little person start out as such a defenseless and dependent being into an amazing, independent person. While children grow up, you'll always want to be there for them and connected. That deep bond between a child and parents is something that is truly magical. 

When my children are babies, I baby them. Yes, some may say that they are spoiled- but they ask for so little. When they cry, I pick them up; when they want to be held, I hold them. I remember my first difficult baby. I had had a baby before that didn't like to sleep at night, but this child- he didn't want to be put down EVER. Being that this child was our fifth child- and I was at home alone... I had to tend to our other children. It was a difficult four months until I found out about babywearing. I remember searching online, pleading with other mothers.... "What can I do?!". One mom said, "wear him." Of course, I had no idea about babywearing at the time. I had seen carriers, but I thought they were for people who liked to hike and such. 
A mom in a large family group that I am in said to make a wrap. I am not so crafty- but I did manage to make a very crude wrap out of an old bed skirt (true story!). I searched online to find out the instructions of how to wear a wrap... and he loved it. He REALLY loved it. I loved it, too. He was close to me, safe and secure, and I had my hands free. I could do whatever was needed! At the end of the night I set out on Google to find the best baby wrap out there. 

After reading the reviews I decided on ordering the Sleepy Wrap (now called the Boba Wrap). I was so happy to receive it, and so was Nolyn. From then on, we've been a baby wearing family! I love that we are able to be close to the babies, and still take care of the rest of the children!

Something that we didn't know until later...that baby we had that loved to be held, that baby that LOVED the wrap, well, he loved it so much that he actually started to carry his favorite stuffed animals close to him. This made me realize how special and important that time was. He needed us, he wanted to be carried and to stay close, and we helped him feel loved and secure- and he showed us that by imitating us when playing with his favorite toys. 


We've been baby wearing since Nolyn- and I love the freedom that it gives us. We can do pretty much anything, our hands are free and we don't have the restriction of a stroller. We recently went to the zoo... and I wore Orrin. I couldn't imagine having to push a stroller for him (not to mention the fact that not every place in the zoo is stroller friendly, so we would have missed out on those experiences). 


Whether it's around the house, or out and about, we get to keep our babies close and secure and enjoy the freedom of being able to still be hands free.


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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boba. The opinions and text are all mine.

 
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