Bath Luve Review and Giveaway!!!

I officially have a new favorite bath product for Natalie!

Everyone hates it when small babies get cold in the bathtub. They don't feel warm or comforted or secure, and they usually start screaming! That happened the first couple of times we bathed Natalie. We started draping wet washcloths over her chest and tummy, which did help, but they didn't provide enough coverage and she usually still got cold. Baths only lasted a few minutes, because we wanted to get her washed and out of the tub quickly so she wouldn't start to cry!

The Bath Luve is a totally genius idea! Not only is it totally adorable (which it IS!), it's also the perfect size to drape over a baby's shoulders and cover their neck, chest, tummy, and private areas. Her arms and legs can still move freely, and it's so soft and keeps her SO warm!

Check out Natalie, smiling and happy in the tub!

She really loves being covered in the tub by her new duck Bath Luve. It keeps her relaxed and happy! You just dip the Luve in the warm water and it stays warm for quite awhile. I really wish I had had one of these when Kirsten was a little baby too!

No more chills and no more tears! It's every mom's dream bath product for their new baby!

This would make such an awesome baby shower gift! The Bath Luve comes in three cute designs, and you can buy them at Kohl's, Babies R Us, or Walmart.com.

They also recently added these adorable Bath Luve buddies. They act like a sponge, adding more warm water to the Luve if it starts to cool off, and they make a great bath toy too!

I'm so excited to host a giveaway for this completely adorable Frog Bath Luve!

Here's how to enter:
*Visit the Bath Luve website and leave me a comment on this post telling me which Bath Luve you think is the cutest!

You can get extra entries if you:
1. Follow my blog!
2. Become a follower of the Bath Luve blog!
3. Tell me how often you give your baby a bath.
4. Mention this giveaway on your blog (and leave me the link) for 5 extra entries!
5. Mention this giveaway on Facebook
6. Tweet about this giveaway

*Please leave a separate entry for each comment. This giveaway will close on August 15'th. Good luck!!!

SnorgTees Review and Giveaway!!!

I found the most awesome online T-shirt shop!
SnorgTees specializes in pop-culture inspired, random, and all-around funny designs.
Here's the one they sent me! I loved that line from Elf, and I think the shirt is totally adorable.

They sell shirts in men's and women's sizes, and they also sell hoodies and have a feature that lets you put their designs on baseball caps, mouse pads, even baby bibs!

They make perfect gifts! I will most definitely be giving some of these shirts as Christmas gifts this year. Doesn't everyone know a guy who needs (not just wants, but needs) a shirt like this one? I can think of two guys who need this, one of whom lives in this house.
(Sorry, Stephen, I ruined the surprise. Because this really will be wrapped up for you and under the Christmas tree!)

They have tons of designs, so they really do have something for everyone!

For the arachnaphobe (yep, that's me! I would wear this one!):

Another fun one for the Office fan. . .

For the Anchorman fan. . . (Hilarious! Love that movie!)

For the Stephen Colbert fan. . .

For the Napoleon Dynamite fan. . .

And you know what's even better?
You can WIN one!!!

I get to do a giveaway of one of these fun shirts!
Here's how to enter:
*Go to the SnorgTees website and tell me which design you like the best and who the shirt would be for if you are the winner!

You can get Extra Entries if you:
1. Follow my blog!
2. Mention this giveaway on your blog (and leave me the link) for 5 extra entries!
3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook
4. Tweet about this giveaway
5. Join the Snorgletter newsletter list on their website.

*Please leave an extra comment for each entry. This giveaway will close on August 15'th at midnight. Good luck!!!

We Have a Winner!!!

Random.org picked the very FIRST winner of one of my giveaways. The Pedoodles giveaway now has an official winner!
And it chose number. . . 19:
Chris and Carrie Elmore said...

Okay- I am now an official follower. Wow- that is my new favorite website. I really like the Frank Fish Hat(infant size)- I have a fettish with baby hats. That would be perfect for the summer days.

Congratulations, Carrie! You win a pair of Pedoodles shoes of your choice for your baby!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered!
I have several more great giveaways going on right now. Click on the links at the top of my sidebar to enter them!

Ways to Beat the Heat!!!

In no particular order, here are the things everyone in the Seattle area has been doing for the past 3 days:

-Melting

-DYING!

-Complaining

-Hiding out in ANY place they can find that has air-conditioning!

Yes, the sad truth is. . . Seattle, land of the perfect summers, is in the middle of a MASSIVE, horrible, absolutely miserable heat wave! We are having record-breaking heat, and there have been three days in a row so far of temperatures in the 90's, nights that don't cool off nearly enough, and NO relief!

Today I was in Bellevue, a half hour from my house, and it was
106 degrees!!!
That is just WRONG!
Stephen put it this way: "Whenever I go outside today, I feel like there should be some casinos, cacti, and all you can eat buffets as far as the eye can see."
Some of you reading this from Vegas or Phoenix are probably thinking I'm a wimp because you get this kind of weather all the time! But tell me. . . do you have air-conditioning in your houses?
Yes I think you do!!!
In Seattle, almost nobody has air-conditioning. Why? Because 99% of the time, we don't need it. Which is fine. Except for when you DO need it, and then you're in a constant state of misery.

I've gone swimming every night this week. Helps for awhile, but then it wears off.

We keep all the fans going and sleep right under the ceiling fan. Helps a little bit, but mostly just blows the hot air around.

I haven't turned on my oven, stove, hair straightener, or any heat-producing appliances since Sunday.

I keep thinking about going on a long drive to nowhere, just to spend time in the car with the AC blasting in my face!

So, from Seattle of all places, here are my favorite ways to. . .
beat the heat!

1. Wear as few clothes as possible. (Yes, Natalie is still smiling, despite these temperatures. She's still sleeping too, even though her room feels like an oven. I don't know how she does it!)

2. Jump through fountains gushing with ice-cold water.

3. Hide out inside large pieces of fruit. (Wait. . . how is that supposed to make us cooler? I guess anything's worth a shot!)

4. Temporarily move into the refrigerator. (Now that dog's got the right idea! I wish I fit into ours!)

5. Hit the beach! And dive right in!

6. Zip down some waterslides!

7. Of course. . . go swimming! All day if possible!

8. Hug your air-conditioner, if you are lucky enough to own one.

That's all for now from the week of never-ending torment and misery.
Please, PLEASE cool off soon!!!

Adorable Etsy Shop. . . Flying Frog Apparel Giveaway!

From time to time, there will be a new feature on my blog. . .
the Adorable Etsy Shop Alert!!!

Etsy is hugely popular these days, and I totally see why! You can find the world's CUTEST things on there, and the prices are usually so great as well! My first featured Etsy shop is. . .

Flying Frog Apparel!

She creates fun children's clothes and accessories using images from her imagination and the world around us. Each piece of unique wearable art is created using everything from recycled home fabrics to contemporary prints.

I love all of these scrap fabric barrettes!

Each pair of barrettes are hand-cut and hand-sewn, and she uses scraps of fabric from various sewing projects. So no two pieces are ever the same, and it's also earth-friendly!

My favorite shirt in her shop right now is this organic pink ostrich T-shirt. It's such a cute and unique design, I've definitely never seen anything like this one before!

And how cute is this fuzzy baby polar bear shirt?
I'm such a sucker for cute animal designs!

Flying Frog Apparel is giving away one set of those cute barrettes!
I wish I was eligible to win!
Here's how to enter:
*Visit her shop and leave me a comment on this post telling me your favorite pair!

Extra entries:
1. Follow my blog!
2. Mention this giveaway on your blog for 3 extra entries!
3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook
4. Tweet about this giveaway

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry, and make sure I have a way to contact you if you are the winner. This giveaway will close on August 14'th.
Good luck!!!

Experiences In My Life!

I saw this on my friend’s blog and I thought it would be fun. Let me know if you do this too! Then we can learn some more things about each other. All you do is bold the things you have done!

1. Started your own blog- Of course!
2. Slept under the stars- I need to do that again! It's been way too long!
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii- LOVE it there! Must go back soon!
5. Watched a meteor shower- That was super cool! (Ruth, if you're reading this, remember you were with me? We talked for hours and watched it!)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland -Tons of times! Best place ever!
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis- I've seen one before, in Utah. I was too scared to touch it.
10. Sang a Solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris- Officially my favorite city in the entire world!
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea- No, but I saw an amazing lightning storm from my cousin's front porch in Kansas!
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch-Playing the piano, cross-stitching
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty- I saw it from a boat, but didn't walk to the top.
18. Grown your own vegetables- Too many of those, when I was a kid.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train- LOTS of times, in Europe and Thailand!
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb- I've petted one, but I don't think I actually held it.
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice- With about 8 other girls. Romantic it was not, but it was really awesome!
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person- I really WANT to!
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors- Some of them, anyway, in Germany.
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language- I learned French in college, but didn't teach myself.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied -From time to time
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person- I saw most of the big sites in Italy, but somehow missed this one!
39. Gone rock climbing- Hurt my leg doing it too! I'm not such a fan of it anymore.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt- It was in the winter, right before they shut down the park, and there were only two other people there! It was very cool!
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa- Want to someday!
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight -I adore the beach!
46. Been transported in an ambulance- thank goodness I haven't!
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing- I've done plenty of lake fishing though.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person- Incredible!!!
50. Been on television- Yep, singing with the BYU choirs. I'm a star. . . at least, on the BYU channel. :)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling- I love scuba diving! It's the best!
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater -Believe it or not, I have never done this!!! I want to!
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China- It's very HIGH on my list of places I want to see!
57. Started a business- well I have a business card, for playing my harp at weddings and events. I don't think it counts as an actual business though.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia- I'd love to see St. Petersburg especially!
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies- I've bought lots of boxes of Thin Mints, never sold them
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason -Love this!!
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma- I really, really hate getting my blood drawn
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check -Not recently, but I've done it before.
68. Flown in a helicopter- In Hawaii! It was very cool!
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy -I'm sure I have boxes of them somewhere.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt -I really want to learn how to do this.
73. Stood in Times Square -Just a few months ago for the first time ever!
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone- My pinky finger, when I was in 7'th grade softball
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle -LOVE it, it's so thrilling!!!
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person -I got to go camping there. I miss camping!
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- I could never do this!
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury -Never been called for jury duty before.
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby- Twice!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake- I lived close to it for awhile, but never actually went there.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone- Who hasn't?
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone’s blog to your own -Yep, just now, except I changed my answers and comments.

Another Final Rose!

Just finished watching the Bachelorette finale, and of course I had to jump on here and write my thoughts on it before I forget them all!

So, for starters. . . I totally knew she'd pick Ed.
KNEW it.
He wasn't one of my favorites, but I can see why she chose him. He's handsome, big and manly, and definitely smart. And you could really see the strength of their connection on their dates together. I thought he was SO sweet on their date tonight, and you could tell his emotions were real. The way he was looking at her, touching her face, and the things he said to her. . . he was melting ME, and I wasn't even there! So I can just imagine how melted into a puddled mess she must have been on that date!
Who else thought it was hilarious that at the end of their date the lights went off in the window and then they showed that shot of the volcano exploding? Now that is just good TV!
It might almost make up for the fact that the entire world now knows that he couldn't, um, perform on their last date before that.
Seriously, though. . . I think she made the right choice for her.

My other thoughts included:

*It was such a dead giveaway that Jillian was going to cut Kiptyn first. Even on their date, when he started talking about his feelings for her, her face looked really sad and you could see in her eyes that she knew she wasn't going to choose him. She wasn't very good at hiding that emotion! I saw no happiness or excitement in her at all, just sadness that she'd have to hurt him.

*Kiptyn really was a sweetheart, especially with the things he said to her after she rejected him. He was a total gentleman and showed a lot of class. He was my favorite from the beginning, and I think he'd make a great Bachelor for the next show!

*Ed's fashion choices? Mostly strange. I really wasn't digging the unbuttoned pink-checkered shirt over the weird green tank top. Especially with the chest hair sticking out the top, it was a total turn-off. Good thing he has a handsome face!

*Poor Reid. The show really did a great job of making that a dramatic moment, that's for sure. And it was a pretty mean trick to pull on Jillian, making him come out right before she was about to choose Ed. I thought for sure he'd come propose earlier in the show, not right before the end! I liked him too, he was a cutie, but his emotions definitely came too late!

*Jillian's white dress was gorgeous, and I really liked the ring Ed gave her.
I hope this relationship lasts! The show needs more success stories and I hope Jillian is happy with Ed.

What did YOU think? I watched the show by myself, so I'd love to hear the thoughts of all of you who watched it!

My Little Natalie!

I'm finally posting these gorgeous pictures of Natalie that were taken when she was almost 2 months old. I wish I had gotten professional photos done of Kirsten when she was that young, because I love how these turned out!

Which one is your favorite?
I think I like #2 the very best, it's just such a pure photo and captures the innocence of a newborn so well! I also love the first one, and the one with the flower headband.

Pleasant Dreamz Pillowcase Review and Giveaway!

I really love the idea behind this company! Keeping It Positive believes that developing a positive mindset and self-image is one of the most powerful life strategies there is, and I couldn't agree more! One of the main things I want to teach my kids as they get older is how to have a positive outlook on life and confidence in themselves. I never would have thought a pillowcase could help instill that in them, but this one really does!

Here's what the pillowcase says:

Isn't that so cool? I love it!
It'll be awesome to put that on Kirsten's pillow as she gets older, especially when she's learning how to read. Until then, I'm putting it on MY pillow. As all moms know, we could definitely use a little positive affirmation in our lives as well!
These pillowcases would make awesome gifts, and you wouldn't even have to wrap them because they come in super cute packages already:

I got the purple pillowcase. The website has a great idea of saying each of your positive affirmations from your pillowcase every night before going to bed. I am going to say mine every morning, to give myself an energizing start to each day. I just love the idea behind these products and think everyone could benefit from having a pillowcase like this, either for yourself or your children or grandchildren.

Debbie, the owner of the company, wants to give a pillowcase to one of my readers!
Here's how to enter:
*Visit her website and then leave me a comment and tell me which color you'll choose if you're the winner, and who the pillowcase will be for!

Extra Entries:
1. Follow my blog!
2. Mention this giveaway on your blog for 5 extra entries!
3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.
4. Tweet about this giveaway.

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry. This giveaway will close on August 11'th. Good luck!!!

*Debbie also provided a coupon code for a 10% discount! Just type "Think Positive" in the comments section of the order form to receive the discount!

Trendy Tadpole Review!

Have I ever mentioned that I loooooove cute baby clothes?
As far as onesies go, this is one of the cutest I've ever seen:

This one came from the Trendy Tadpole, where they sell "hip tops for trendy tots."
I'm definitely a Beatles fan, so I love how this pays homage to such a great song. I'm also a fan of baby girl clothes not always being pink and ruffly. The fabric is really soft, as well as having such an original and cute design!

The Trendy Tadpole website has tons of other fun designs as well!
Julie Pruitt, the owner of the shop, brings pop culture, a hint of nostalgia, and a pinch of fun to every shirt. If I had a boy, I'd really want this one for him:

And I love this one too, whether your kid has Irish heritage or not:

Right now they are offering a seriously amazing deal. . . 50% off! That makes each shirt only $11, whether you want an infant snapsuit or a T-shirt in any size, including women's shirts! I'm considering buying an "All We Need Is Love" shirt for myself! Would it be cute if me and Natalie were matching, or a little weird??? Or I could get one for Kirsten! Matching sisters definitely ARE cute!

To get the discount, just visit their website and use the coupon code: "wholesale".

What's Making Me Happy This Week!

There are tons of things making me happy lately! Here's just a partial list:

1. I got tickets to go see. . . .

YAY!!! I've never been to the tour before, even though I've faithfully watched this show since season one. And this year I'm GOING to see my favorite top 10 ever! I bought the tickets at the Pre-sale and they were already almost gone. So the seats aren't good, but at least they're seats, right? Their Everett, WA show is the very last stop on their tour.
SOOOOOO excited!

2. Listening to the following songs, in my car at a loud volume:
*Halo by Beyonce
*Smile by Uncle Kracker
*Battlefield by Jordin Sparks
*Mad by Neyo
*My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson
*Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolf
*Closer to Love by Matt Kearney
*Hot 'n Cold by Katy Perry

3. Going to see Harry Potter 6 last weekend with Stephen. We are both BIG Harry Potter fans, and we both really liked the new movie. I thought it was so much funnier than all the other ones, despite its creepy/scary/sad moments.

4. Eating a really nice and yummy dinner at El Gaucho steakhouse before the movie. The service was impeccable, the steaks were amazing, and they had a side dish of Coastal Cheddar Mac 'n Cheese that was seriously to die for! We got buy one get one free entrees with the Microsoft Prime card too! Can't beat that!!!

5. Looking forward to the Bachelorette finale. Who do you think she's going to choose? Kiptyn was my favorite from the beginning, but I'm guessing she's going to pick Ed. And I really can't blame her. . . he definitely is handsome! Chris Harrison said it was the most emotional finale he's ever seen out of all the seasons, so I'm anxious to see it!

6. Having friends over to play fun games. My favorite lately is the Settlers of Catan: Cities and Knights expansion. And no, it's not one of those nerdy games like Dungeons and Dragons or anything like that. If you love the original Settlers game, you've got to try the Cities and Knights version! It's more complicted, more challenging, more fun!

7. Getting lots of comments on my blog posts! I know that's just a shameless ploy for more comments, but they really do make me happy!

Unpredictable

I love you Natalie! I'm not complaining about your sweetness or your smiles or your happiness one bit! But can you tell me why. . .

Two nights ago you slept for almost 12 hours straight, from 11 pm to 10:30 am! I thought you were a little miracle baby!!!
And then last night. . .

You were awake almost constantly through the whole night. You just wouldn't settle down! I held you, rocked you, fed you, changed you, did everything I could think of, and you just kept fussing and wiggling. I just don't know what happened!
Why???

And I will never know why.
Little babies are so unpredictable.
Every day and every night brings something new.

It's a good thing I love excitement and variety, isn't it?
I asked for it. . . and I GOT IT.

Switch-Flops Review and Giveaway

Even though I live in Seattle now and love it, I am a true California girl at heart, and I always will be. Anybody who has ever seen me in the wintertime would probably know this is true, because I wear flip-flops. All. The. Time. Rain or shine! Hot or cold! I just love flip-flops. I will walk around an amusement park for an entire day wearing my Reefs and be completely happy about it. I don't like socks and shoes!

So I knew I wanted to try out Switchflops. They're so unique! You choose your basic flip-flop color, and you can buy a ton of different straps that stick right on with velcro. It's such a cool way to change your whole look and match your flip-flops to different outfits without having to own a million different pairs and stuff your closet full of them. I love their slogan. . .
"Change your look, not your sole."

Here's the basic flip-flop pair I was sent:

And the interchangeable strap changes it to look like this:

I love my comfy Reefs, but these just take flip-flops to a whole new level of style!

Lindsay Phillips designed these and the concept actually came from a high school art project. You've got to check out the website and play around with all the different color and design choices. It's really fun! You can see how all the straps look on the different colors of Switchflops.
I love these basic Switchflops (the cute polka dot design actually comes on it)!

And I think this strap is SO pretty! You could wear your casual strap during the day, then just change out the straps to this one for a dressy date night. Just stick the extra straps in your purse!

I really think this is a cool product, and here's how you can enter to WIN your own pair with an extra pair of straps:
*Leave me a comment on this post telling me what you love to wear on your feet!

Extra Entries:
1. Follow my blog!
2. Visit the Switchflops website and tell me which color and strap combinations you like the best.
3. Mention this giveaway on your blog and send me the link for FIVE extra entries!!!
4. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.
5. Mention this giveaway on Twitter.
*Please leave a separate comment for each entry. This giveaway will close on August 6'th at midnight. Good luck winning these great Switchflops!!!

Love Bottle Review and Giveaway!

So what's a love bottle?
In their words, it's a water bottle that's a great-looking, earth-friendly bottle supercharged with a little love. It's made partially from recycled glass, and storing your water in the glass just makes the water taste better!
I definitely think it's the prettiest water bottle I've ever seen.

They have a bunch of cute designs, and all of the designs allow you to write and draw on the printed area, so you can customize your bottle even more if you want. I picked out this pink and black stars design, and I'm not going to draw on mine because I think it's pretty just the way it is!
My favorite thing about it: The ceramic swing-top lid that creates a water-tight seal. This water bottle will never be leaking, you can bet on that!
I also love these things:
*Since lots of people drink one plastic water bottle per day, each love bottle goes a long way towards saving you money and helping the earth!
*The company's mission is to spread love, improve health, create a canvas for self-expression, and help the environment.
*Water really does taste good out of it, no matter how long it's been sitting. Always clean and pure-tasting.
Pretty great!

I also love this super cute water bottle carrier they sent me, so you can just sling your bottle over your shoulder and you're ready to go!
My least favorite thing: The Love Bottle comes in 2 sizes- 500 ml and 1000 ml. I got the larger size, and when it's filled with water it's pretty darn heavy! If you are the winner, you might want to choose the smaller bottle. It would just be easier to carry around.

Want to win a Love Bottle?
How to enter:
*Leave me a comment on this post and tell me how much water you drink in 1 day!

Extra Entries:
1. Visit their website and tell me which design you want if you are the winner!
2. Follow my blog.
3. Mention this giveaway on your blog and leave me the link.
4. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.
5. Tweet about this giveaway.
*Please leave a separate comment for each entry! This giveaway will close on August 6'th at midnight. Good luck!!!

Knuckleheads Clothing Giveaway!

Knuckleheads Clothing wants to give one of my readers this Milo Skate T-shirt!

If I had a boy, I'd definitely want to win this for him. I love the 1950's/surfer-era look this shirt has. If you win, you can choose to get this shirt in any size from 12 months to 8 years!

Go check out their stylin' shop!

Here's how to enter:
*Leave me a comment with your email address!

And here's how to get all those extra entries:
1. Follow my blog!
2. Visit their website and tell me what you like best.
3. Mention this giveaway on your blog, and leave me the link!
4. Mention this giveaway on Facebook
5. Tweet about this giveaway

*Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry! This giveaway will close on August 5'th at midnight.

For the Kids. . . Or the Parents???

Aren't these just the most adorable kid's backpacks you've ever seen???
If Kirsten was old enough to start school, I'd be buying her one right now!

And she'd take her lunch to school in this:

I just adore cute products for kids! Which brings up the question. . . do we buy cute things and fun toys because our kids want them or because we do???

Stephen thinks I buy things for Kirsten and Natalie that I am most drawn to. And I've gotta admit, it's true!!! Especially because neither of them are old enough to ask for specific things yet. I get free reign to pick the cutest stuff for them! But don't guys do the same thing when they have boys??? I remember my Dad spending hours setting up the train set my brother got for Christmas, and I think he played with it more than my brother ever did! We also have a video tape of my Dad building block towers with me when I was little. I went away after awhile, bored with the blocks, but the video stayed on him for the next 10 minutes, happily building his tower! Those blocks might have been for me. . . a little bit. . . but mostly for him! :)

So, on that note, the toys I really want to buy for me (wait, I mean. . . for Kirsten) when she's a year or two older are these:

The completely cute Calico Critter families! Did anybody else play with these when they were little? They've been around for a long time, and I never owned any, but I remember playing with them at a friend's house and loving them!

I had no idea there were so many different families and play sets and different collectible stuff to go with them. Kirsten (and me!) will love them!

And all the cute little animal families will live happily ever after in this amazing house. You can even furnish all the rooms and add wallpaper!

Is it weird that I'm drooling over kid's toys?? Am I crazy? You tell me!

Natalie's Birth Announcement

Here is Natalie's birth announcement, for those of you who didn't get to see it. It scanned a little funny, because of the linen-style paper we used, but I thought it was a beautiful announcement and wanted to be sure to share it with everyone!

It's a double-sided announcement, and this is the other side.

We love Natalie, my little ray of sunshine baby!

Amelie Jo American Baby Boutique Review and Giveaway!

Anna, the President of this boutique, is so sweet! She created her boutique when she was pregnant with her daughter (Amelie Jo), and focuses on safe, organic, American-made baby products and clothing. She sent me this Baby Dry Goods Minky Stroller Blanket to review.

It is now my favorite blanket to use for Natalie! Of course it's adorable, and the "minky" fabric on the inside is sooooo soft. The quality is incredible. It's also the perfect size to take along with us in her car seat, not too big or too small.

Anna has agreed to give one of my readers a $25 e-gift certificate to her online shop!
I can think of so many things I would want to spend this on.
How adorable is this dress?

I also love this wrap skirt for little girls, and it's reversible too!

This knit piggy is just adorable!

A lot of sun-protective clothing isn't the cutest, but this baby bonnet is so sweet and has UPF 50+!

Here's how to enter to win this awesome $25 e-gift certificate:
*Become a follower of Anna's blog and leave a comment on this post letting me know you have done so. She does a lot of great giveaways on her blog as well! And if you leave a comment in her guestbook, you will be automatically emailed a $5 gift certificate, whether you win this giveaway or not!
Ways to get extra entries:
1. Follow my blog.
2. Mention this giveaway on your blog and leave me a link!
3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.
4. Mention this giveaway on Twitter.
5. Leave me another comment telling me what you would want to buy from her shop if you win.
*Please leave a separate comment for each entry so I can accurately choose a winner. This giveaway will close on August 1'st.

Good luck!!!

Debi Derryberry's "Baby Banana" CD Review and Giveaway

I love listening to fun music with Kirsten. Like all 2 year-olds, she loves music and loves to dance around! Our latest favorite is this new CD from Debi Derryberry, who actually does the voice of the cartoon character Jimmy Neutron. It's a really cute CD, and I think any little kid would enjoy it. Kirsten gets a big smile on her face when she hears these songs.

My favorite thing about the CD is the tropical theme. The music is really upbeat, and is a blend of calypso, reggae, jazz, and folk. Debi has a cute voice (I must say she sounds much younger than she is!) and she's won multiple awards such as "Best New Artist for Preschoolers."

Go check out her website to see some music videos and find out more about the fun characters featured on the CD. If you have young kids, you definitely will want to win one of these CD's!

To enter:
*You MUST become a follower of my blog if you aren't already. For one entry, leave me a comment telling me what kind of music you love to listen to with your kids.
Ways to get extra entries:
1. Mention this giveaway on your blog and give me the link!
2. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.
3. Mention this giveaway on Twitter.
*Please leave a separate comment for each entry so I'll be sure to count them all. This giveaway will close on August 1'st.

Good luck!!!

Hip-T Review and Giveaway!

I seriously hate bum cleavage. Who's with me??
As a mom with a baby, it seems like I'm constantly bending over to do diaper changes, pick her up, give her toys, etc. I always layer tank tops underneath T-shirts to avoid that not-so-attractive space between my shirt and my jeans that appears when I bend over.

I was sent a Hip-T to review and I'm really impressed! The idea behind the Hip-T is to cover up that area without the need for so many bulky layers. It covers bum cleavage, hides muffin top, and lengthens any top. I really like their slogan. . . "Cover your assets!"

I got the black one with lace (pictured above), and it really does do a great job of giving coverage without riding up the way shirts do or sliding around.

Want to win one?? I thought so!!
Hip-T is giving one away to one of my readers! Here's how to enter:

*You MUST become a follower of my blog if you aren't already (follow me by clicking the button on my sidebar). Then just leave me a comment on this post!
You can get extra entries if you:
1. Mention this giveaway on your blog and send me the link so I can see it!
2. Mention this giveaway on Facebook
3. Mention this giveaway on Twitter
*Please leave a separate comment for each entry. This giveaway will close on August 1'st.

Blume Girl Review

Blume Girl sent me such a cute personalized onesie for Natalie!

You've got to check out their site. . . they personalize everything, from lingerie to hats. If you need any kind of a personalized gift, this site has got you covered!
The onesie is very soft and fits her well, and my favorite touch is the little crystal above the "i" in her name.

Stephen said Natalie looks like a little mechanic or gas station attendant. And those labels actually were the inspiration for Stacey Blume's creative line. I don't know about you, but I'd say she's the cutest little worker I've ever seen!

You can have the labels say anything you want. I love the Little Sister one!

I am TOTALLY buying this doggie outfit for my cute little teacup yorkie.
Oh wait, that's right. . . I don't have one yet. But when I do get one I know what I'll be getting her for Christmas! She'll be the most stylish doggie at the park!

Get 20% off your entire order when you enter the discount code "SummerFun" at www.blumegirl.com

Pedoodles Giveaway!!!

I'm so excited to host my first giveaway, and for such an adorable product! After I did my Pedoodle shoes review, I was notified that I could also do a giveaway. One lucky reader will win a pair of Pedoodles shoes in your style of choice!

How To Enter:
*You MUST become a follower of my blog (found on the sidebar) if you aren't already. Then go check out Pedoodles.com and leave me a comment letting me know which pair of shoes you'll choose if you're the winner. Easy!!!
Ways to get extra entries:
1. Mention this Giveaway on your blog and include a link to my site (please include a link to your post so I can see it!)
2. Mention this Giveaway on Facebook so all your friends can come enter.

*Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry so I can accurately pick a winner. The winner will be chosen using random.org
*This Giveaway will close on Wednesday, July 29'th at midnight.

Good luck!!!

Pure Joy!

This is how much fun Kirsten had while we were in San Diego. Can you get much happier than that??? I adore the look of pure joy on her face that I captured in this photo.

And that's why she's still in California. My parents really wanted to spend more time with her, so she stayed there with them until later this month. I miss her lots! But I love knowing that she's having such a fun time with Grandma and Grandpa.
I am also learning that's SO much easier taking care of just one baby than a baby and a toddler. I'm getting lots of stuff organized around the house!
Lots more pictures from our trip will be coming soon!

Pedoodles Review

People ask me all the time where I got Kirsten's adorable shoes. Pedoodles makes the cutest shoes for babies and toddlers, and we just love them! She has been wearing them since she was 15 months old and had just started walking, and she still fits in the 18-24 month size right now. I just don't want her to grow out of them!

The shoes are SO soft and comfortable, and also really flexible which is great for early walkers. The velcro straps are so easy and we can put her shoes on in a snap!

Here are some facts about these wonderful shoes:
*Every pair is constructed of premium genuine leather. The breathable material helps to promote healthy conditions around developing feet.
*They are perfect to wear outside, because the PedFlex flat rubber soles provide protection, durability, and traction, while at the same time staying lightweight and flexible!
*They naturally flex and form to any child's changing feet. (This is very true. . . Kirsten's feet are too wide for many brands of shoes, but the Pedoodles shoes have flexed around her feet and fit her perfectly!)
*The absence of any arch support helps to simulate barefoot walking, which experts recommend for new walkers.

On top of all those great features. . . these shoes are just so darn CUTE! I adore the two designs pictured above, and they have many other stylish designs as well. I'm so glad I found these shoes for Kirsten and will definitely be using them for Natalie as well!