Free Blogger Opp: All About Blanks $25 GC

All About Blanks is your place for linens. Everything is made from fabric and embroidery options are available. Linens for the baby, for your home, and for your handbags out are just some of the items that are available at All About Blanks. Giveaway for a $25 gift card coming soon!

Hosted By: Mami's 3 Little Monkeys

Two winners will each receive a $25 GC to All About Blanks

Open to US residents

Will run from March 12th through March 26th

Sign-ups close: March 10th

Two free links w/announcement post or pay small announcement fee. Additional links are available for just $0.50 each as well as daily comments and daily votes for $5 each. All payments are to be sent via Paypal to mamis3littlemonkeys@yahoo.com. 

SIGN-UP!

Free Blogger Opp: Monster Bunz Sewing Pattern

Crafters Gather Round for this awesome giveaway coming up! The winner will receive a pattern of their choice from Opulent Monsters and 3 fabric kits to create their Monster Bunz or another project. This is a great way to create your own adorable clothes for your babies. Even if you are an amateur sewer, the fabric patterns will help you to create your own Monster Bunz.

Hosted By: Mami's 3 Little Monkeys

Sponsored By: Opulent Monsters 

PRIZES

BOTH Winners will each receive a pattern of their choice from Opulent Monsters as well as 3 fabric kits to create their Monster Bunz with! Prize Pack is valued at $36.36 - $51.35 EACH! Winner will be able to choose their pattern and gender for fabric kits. 

OPEN TO

Open Worldwide, however winners outside of the US will need to pay shipping. 

EVENT DATES

March 24th at 8am CST - April 7th at 11:59pm CST

Sign-ups Close on March 22nd at 12pm CST 

BLOGGERS! 

Receive TWO FREE links w/announcement post OR pay small announcement fee.

Additional links are available for a small fee, including daily comment and daily vote options. 

All payments are to be sent to mamis3littlemonkeys@yahoo.com via paypal.

SIGN UP NOW!

  

Free Blogger Opp: Beyond the Seam

If you are looking for a new, fun, sensory way to enable your kids to learn the alphabet and their numbers, Beyond the Seam offers a colorful solution! Letters and numbers made from adorable prints are a great eco-friendly toy for your little ones. Giveaway for a Beyond the Seam $50 gift card coming soon!

Sponsored By: Beyond the Seam

Hosted By: Mami's 3 Little Monkeys

Prize: $50 GC to Beyond the Seam (Etsy)

Open Worldwide

Dates: March 18th - April 1st

Sign-ups Close: March 16th

Two free links with announcement post or pay fay small announcement fee. 

Additional links are available for $0.50 each. 

SIGN-UP!

JenJenHouse for Prom Dresses [Review]

Recently, while shopping for a bridesmaid dress, I was surrounded by teenager girls shopping for prom dresses. I began reminiscing about my own prom. I am much more of a girly girl today. I love to wear dresses because they make me feel feminine. If I were going to prom again, I would go all out and find the prettiest, flowy dress to make my statement. JenJenHouse is the global leading online retailers for special event dresses, like prom dresses.

One of the first things that I noticed about JenJenHouse special event dresses is the high end fashion styles. JenJenHouse not only carries your typical prom dresses, but they also carry couture style prom dresses. I love that the variety of dress styles available will meet almost anyone's needs for a prom dress. JenJenHouse recommends the following 2014 prom dresses.

The categories on the left side of the page help to narrow down the selection selection. I love the variety of options to help me select the right dress. I selected A-line silhouette, sweetheart neckline, floor length hemline, and lace up back style. Out of these search results, my favorite dress is the A-Line/Princess Sweetheart Floor-Length Charmeuse Prom Dress with Ruffle Beading Sequins. The dress retails for $184 and can be purchased from JenJenHouse for $129.99. Sizes are available from 2 to 26W. For this dress, tailoring time is 11-13 days and shipping time is 5-6 days. I love that each dress is crafted to order. This makes me confident in buying a special occasion prom dress online versus in a retail store.

The color chart has a large number of colors for each type of fabric. For Charmeuse fabric, I can select from about 30 different colors. I would like to see JenJenHouse improve their website features to allow the color selection to show up in the photo so that I can see the whole dress in the selected color.

Buying a dress for a special occasion like prom can be very expensive and even cost prohibitive if a certain style or dress is preferred. JenJenHouse offers high end fashion and couture style dresses for a lot cheaper than competitors. Each dress is made to order and dresses can be customized to your size for exact fit. Custom tailoring with worldwide shipping makes JenJenHouse a great retailer for your next special occasion dress.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by JenJenHouses.com through Sverve. All opinions are my own.

Cheap Canvas Prints Online [Review]

I feel like I am finally at the point that I can think about home improvement projects again. I am excited about adorning our walls with photographs of our baby. I have been reserving a huge wall in the basement hall for photographs of our baby. The plan is to complement the black frames containing our wedding photos with textured canvas prints of the baby and our new family. Canvas prints are becoming more readily available and more affordable, allowing families to reproduce the look of original oil or acrylic paintings on stretched canvas. Canvas Champ is your go to online retailer for cheap canvas prints online.

8x12 Canvas Print (.75" Wrap)                              ($11.00)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Very affordable	Ships from India
Easy ordering process	Limited customization options
High quality canvas prints
Ready to hang

Canvas Champ offers the cheapest canvas prints online. I was surprised by their extremely low prices. You can order a print as low as $10 for an 8x8 inch canvas print. With such cheap prices, I would consider getting a bigger print, which is usually much more than my budget. The affordable prices are due to the fact that the prints are printed and shipped from India. Although I prefer to purchase products and services from the U.S., I would consider purchasing from an overseas company. Canvas prints can get expensive if you get multiple photos printed or if you print a larger size to hang on a wall behind a couch. I do wonder how environmentally friendly and economical it is to ship from India though.

The ordering process was very easy. I quickly uploaded a high resolution photo and was able to select options like layout, hardware, border options, image effects, and canvas wrap style. Within a couple of minutes, I was ready to place the order. I like that I can quickly order with the Canvas Champ and feel confident in the product that I am going to receive. I would like to see more customization options.

I received an 8x12 canvas print with a 1.5" border wrap (gallery-style wrap) ready to hang on the wall with a standard hook for hanging. I chose the Mirror Image wrap style since my canvas print will hang in a high-traffic area. I decided against the Image Wrap option because the ordering application would zoom in to the photo and then wrap it around. I did not want to cut off any of the people. I am pleased with the Mirror Wrap.

The print arrived in well packaged and protected inside cardboard and plastic bag with a Fragile sticker on the outside. I like all of the protection to ensure that the canvas print does not get damaged during shipping. I had to sign for the package. The print was ready to be hung as soon as I took it out of the package. The canvas print was on the wall within a few minutes. The saturation of the print was not as deep as I expected, so I would recommend increasing saturation manually before ordering.

Canvas Champ offers a quick and easy process to order high quality, affordable canvas prints delivered right to your door. With the frequent discounts and sales, Canvas Champ offers cheap canvas prints online.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

Organic Vitamin C Serum by La Beaute Pure [Review]

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

A few years ago, I walked away from cosmetics. I threw away drugstore bought cosmetic products, except mascara, and began researching non-toxic options. I set my standard high. I wanted 100% all natural ingredients. I researched every product I considered buying and used EWG's Skin Deep Database to understand ingredients and their toxicity. In the past year, I have seen an increase in 100% natural products and their availability, especially online. La Beaute Pure Vitamin C Serum is a natural way to improve the health and feel of your skin.

La Beaute Pure Organic Vitamin C Serum       ($35.99)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
98% naturally derived ingredients 72% organic ingredients	Contains Phenoxyethanol as a preservative
Highest concentration of Vitamin C available	Vegetable Oil is unspecified
No filler ingredients or dilutions
Decreased wrinkles and sun spots

I am always skeptical of beauty products that claim to reduce wrinkles. If they really do reduce wrinkles, they are probably very expensive treatments and regiments that the average person would not be able to support financially. La Beaute Pure Vitamin C Serum is an affordable and easy way to reduce the visibility of wrinkles and improve the look of your skin. La Beaute Pure uses the highest concentration of Vitamin C available suspended in vegan Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid plumps skin cells and protects and restores the skin. The Vitamin C Serum is applied once daily in the morning or in the evening, before moisturizing. The application lasts up to 72 hours.

La Beaute Pure Vitamin C Serum Ingredients: Deionized Aqua (Water), Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (Botanical Hyaluronic Acid), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Carbomer (thickener), Arginine, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol (found naturally in green tea and chicory), Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin (Vegetable oil), Organic Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola Extract), Organic Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail Plant Extract), Organic Pelagonium Gravoleons (Geranium Extract), Organic Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion Extract).

La Beaute Pure Vitamin C Serum contains 98% naturally derived ingredients and 72% organic ingredients. I would like to see the amount of organic ingredients be closer to 100%. Most of the ingredients have low to no toxicity based on EWG's Skin Deep Database. The Vitamin C Serum contains one ingredient that does pose toxicity to the body: Phenoxyethanol (4). Since the Vitamin C Serum contains water, a preservative is needed for shelf life. Otherwise, you would need to use the product within 1-2 weeks and a lot of it would go to waste. I would also like to know what type of Vegetable Oil is used. Since the ingredients list does not state that this oil is organic, it could potentially be GMO Soybean Oil.

Now that we have covered the basics, let's talk about the results! My mom and I both used the Vitamin C Serum for at least 3 weeks. My mom has dry mature skin with wrinkles, sun spots, and overall sun damage. My skin has wrinkles, dry spots, and red spots.

Mom's Results: Skin feels hydrated, softer and more moisturized without using an actual moisturized. Dark sun spots have lightened and are barely noticeable. Wrinkles have smoothed out a little.

Katie's Results: Skin feels hydrated, softer and more moisturized without using an actual moisturizer. Wrinkles have smoothed out a little. Red spots have reduced in color.

Overall, my mom and I experienced good results after using La Beaute Pure Vitamin C Serum for over 3 weeks. Since she had more sun damage, she had more to gain from applying the Vitamin C Serum daily. As for my skin, I can use the Vitamin C Serum as a preventative measure to reduce future sun damage and wrinkling. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to naturally improve the look and feel of your mature and aging skin, give La Beaute Pure Vitamin C Serum a try. The Vitamin C Serum can be purchased on Amazon and it packaged in multiple layers to protect during shipment.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

Keeping the Trash in the Trashcan [#CTWW]

This week's challenge:

This week, pick up litter and dispose of it properly. As you go through your day, pay attention to the area and clean as you go. You might see trash as you walk between your car and your office. Perhaps you'll see plastic bags, etc. in the parking lot of a market. If you enjoy nature walks, browse the side of the trail. Get your kids involved and take litter walks or organize a neighborhood cleanup of a local park. The idea, this week, is to rid the area of litter!

An overfilled recycling box is open to the elements, like wind, that can blow paper and small containers out and down the street. Therefore, I would assume that moving from recycling boxes to recycling bins with lids with reduce the amount of trash that litters the yards on our street. Nope! On every run and every walk, I spot at least one piece of trash in several of the neighboring yards. I assume (hopefully correctly this time) that the trash escapes in between the worker picking up the recycling bin and the contents being emptied into the garbage truck. I also suspect that trash, usually empty cans, gets thrown out of cars that drive down the street. We live in a nice, mature neighborhood, so trash in the yards is not something I expect to see. Therefore, I have formulated a simple plan.

With the warmer weather, I will be getting outside more with the baby. We will bring a bag with us and collect any trash and litter we see in our neighbors' yards. We will then appropriately dispose of it by recycling, trashing, or composting (I have found a whole orange in our front yard before!). Change the World Wednesday challenges us to be the small change that collectively results in bigger changes. The baby and I will the small change to clean up our street. As he becomes older and starts to communicate more, I will ask him to help me find stray trash in our neighbors' yards. This will be a great way to make a positive impact and educate about taking care of the environment and the Earth.

>> How do you keep the trash in the trashcan??
  

Pumpkin Chocolate Granola Bars [Recipe]

A few years ago, I found a granola bar recipe in Food & Wine magazine and started making homemade granola bars. Making my own granola bars allows me to control the ingredients (organic and natural) and create unique combinations. The granola bar base stays the same each time, but the additions like dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, spices, etc. depends on my cravings that day.

Since my freezer is full of homemade pumpkin puree from last Fall, I decided to make some pumpkin goodies. Pumpkin Chocolate Granola Bars are a perfect combination of soft, chewy texture with a little bit of sweetness from the dried fruit and spice from pumpkin pie spice. The pumpkin puree creates the soft, chewy texture without overpowering the rest of the ingredients.

Pumpkin Chocolate Granola Bars

Yield: 12 servings/bars
Prep time: 5 minutes
Bake time: 30 minutes

Dairy Free, Vegetarian (sub maple syrup), Nut-Free (leave out nuts)

Granola Bar Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or other flour like coconut flour)
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)
1 tbsp melted coconut oil (or other neutral cooking oil)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup dried cranberries (or any other dried fruit)
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped (or any other nut) (optional)

Chocolate Topping:
1/8 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 tbsp coconut oil

Note: Instead of the chocolate topping, you can add 1/4 cup of chocolate chips into the batter.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients (rolled oats, whole wheat flour, ground flax seed, pumpkin pie spice, and salt). 
3. Mix in the wet ingredients (pumpkin puree, honey, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract).
4. Stir in the dried cranberries/fruit and chopped walnuts. Mix until combined.
5. Spoon batter into an 8x8 baking dish lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake for 30 minutes.

Chocolate Topping:

1. Melt the coconut oil (I put in a small oven safe dish like a ramekin and place on glass top range over medium-low heat). Remove from heat. 
2. Stir the chocolate into melted coconut oil until completely melted and combined.
3. Drizzle chocolate over granola bars. Chill in fridge.
4. Cut into 12 bars. 
5. Store in refrigerator for 7-10 days.

Organic Baby Teething Toy Block [Review]

We conclude our series of eco-friendly baby teething products and toys. The focus here is on organic and/or natural products sold on Etsy. Babies are going to put these products in their mouth, so buying products made from natural and organic fabrics is a great investment. When babies are teething, they love to chew on everything. A sensory toy (block) with loops, ribbons, and a teething ring is the perfect combination for any baby or toddler. The Bird and Elephant Etsy store features the latest designer fabrics in 100% GOTS Certified Organic Cotton to create the perfect environmentally friendly, organic, natural teething toy.

Organic Baby Teething Toy Block       ($35.00)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% Certified Organic fabrics/threads
Adorable designer fabrics
Natural wooden ring
Wood sealed with US Organic beeswax blend

Subject: 10 month boy
Background: Baby likes to chew on everything to relieve teething pain

I love baby products that have multiple purposes. A product that can serve a specific purpose and double as a toy is a winner in my book. Since the baby puts everything in his mouth, I want to make sure that his toys are non-toxic, provide sensory stimulation, and provide teething relief. I have always liked fabric baby blocks, so when I came across Bird + Elephant on Etsy, I loved the selection of baby teething toy blocks.

Bird + Elephant baby teething blocks are approximately 3"x3". They are made using 100% GOTS Certified Organic fabrics, organic threads and ribbons, a natural wooden ring, and filled with environmentally-friendly, all natural stuffing made from corn sugar. Teething blocks are also available without the wooden ring. The Cranes design block that I received has side with knit fabric and tags and sides with a very soft cotton fleece fabric and tags. The wooden ring is securely tied on, but can be removed for washing purposes. I love the adorable, designer fabrics. The bright colors and contrasting patterns are perfect for any child from newborns to toddlers. I also love that the fabric patterns are gender neutral.

My baby has loved playing with this block. From the moment that I opened it and held it out in front of him, he was excited. We have even played tug-o-war with it. He grabs onto the wooden ring and I grab onto a fabric tag on the opposite side; we gently pull back and forth. Not only is the baby teething block a great sensory and teething toy, but it also helps with motor and social development. The rattle inside is a great attention getter and entertainer.

Care: Remove wooden ring by untying fabric ribbon. Machine wash on gentle with warm water. Air dry or tumble dry on air or low heat setting. Fiber may shift during laundering. Gently massage the block with fingertips to move the fiber back into place.

Beth's inspiration for the high contrast and sensory focused baby teething blocks is heartwarming. She understands what infants, babies, and toddlers need and seeks to provide that through her organic baby teething toys. The high quality materials and certified organic fabrics make Birth+ Elephant products a great addition to any nursery and perfect baby shower gifts. Check out Bird + Elephant teething rings, which coordinate with the teething toy blocks.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned for free to facilitate this review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

Target $25 Gift Card + GE Reveal Bulbs [Giveaway]

Enter to win a $25 Target Giftcard + GE reveal® light bulbs!

A quick and easy way to makeover your home for the New Year is to switch your light bulbs to GE reveal® for clean beautiful light that will make the colors of any room pop. GE reveal® bulbs provide amazing clean full spectrum light that filters out the dull yellows of standard incandescent light bulbs.

Watch this fun and stylish video featuring four hip tastemakers discussing the importance of good lighting and how quick and easy it is to do a reveal® lighting makeover.


GE reveal® light bulbs are now available at Target, where all makeover needs can be purchased in one swoop and with great savings using Target's Cartwheel savings app. With the Cartwheel app, you can browse for savings ahead of shopping or while at Target, you can scan the barcode of any product to see if there is a Cartwheel saving. Download the Target Cartwheel app on your IOS or Android.

You can find a current discount on Cartwheel for 25% off reveal by searching for “GE reveal”. Offer expires 2/28.

We have a great opportunity for you to win this makeover experience. You can enter to win a $25 Target giftcard + GE reveal® light bulbs + a free download of the Herbert Bail Orchestra EP (first track featured in GE Lighting video).

Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Open to the US only. All entries will be verified. Duplicate and invalid entries will be deleted. 

Giveaway

Target $25 Gift Card
GE Reveal Light Bulbs

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: All Natural Katie is not responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping. The sponsor will be responsible for shipping the product to the winner of this giveaway. GE and Target are only providing the product and not running the giveaway.

Winner Announcements

The giveaways for Olives & Pickles Carrier Teething Pads and Ever Bamboo Home Deodorizers have concluded! Thank you to all those that entered! Winners are listed below and have been confirmed.

Enhance Your Home with GE Reveal Halogen Bulbs [Review]

Now that the baby is a little bit older, I feel like I can start taking on home improvement projects again. I like to work in one space at a time, focusing on one room or on one area in a room. A quick and easy way to transform is a room is with lighting. A well light room makes a space more inviting. GE Reveal halogen bulbs replace yellow, dingy lighting with crisp, white light that makes colors and patterns pop, quickly transforming your home from ordinary to extraordinary.

GE Reveal Halogen Bulbs      
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Affordable	Blue bulb color might not match decor
Uses less energy than incandescent
Filters out dull yellow rays

GE Reveal halogen bulbs make colors appear brighter and lighter. Whites look more white and greens are greener. Reveal bulb's unique neodymium glass filters out dull, yellow rays and leaves only vivid surroundings. GE Reveal bulbs use 28% less energy than incandescent bulbs (790 vs. 830 lumens) while providing nearly the same light output. When looking at the variety of light bulbs available for purchase, I believe it is important not only to look at the energy savings, but also at the light output and how it makes the space look. The power of good lighting cannot be underestimated.

I have used soft white incandescent bulbs in my home for a long time. I never gave second thought to the soft white light that gave everything a little bit of a yellow hint, so I was curious to test GE Reveal halogen bulbs to see how the master bathroom would be transformed. GE Reveal bulbs had a higher wattage than the old bulbs, so the lighting was a little bit brighter. I noticed that the door looked whiter and everything seemed brighter and lighter. It felt more like natural outside light.

 

The light bulbs are made from a blue/purple glass, which is what filters out the yellow rays. I did find it a little bit odd that the white light scones had blue light bulbs peeking out from the inside. I am sure that I will get used to it. If you are using GE Reveal bulbs behind a lamp shade, you will never see the blue bulbs.

Be aware of new energy-efficiency standards starting January 1, 2014. Incandescent bulbs will not be available for much longer, but you can choose among other options like GE reveal halogen, CFL, and LED bulbs in addition to GE Lighting’s other energy-efficient options. GE Reveal halogen bulbs are now available almost exclusively at Target and at other retailers nationwide.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free to facilitate this review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil for Energy and Nutrition [Review]

Coconut oil has become one of my favorite all-purpose oils. I mainly use it for cooking and moisturizing, but have also used it on baby's irritated skin, deep conditioner for hair, and consumed internally. In my opinion, every house should have a jar of coconut oil in their pantry. Ayurvedic herbalism has been using coconut oil for thousands for years to keep the heart and the body running smoothly. Elite Gold Solutions Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil supplements offer a quick way to get your daily dose of pure energy and nutrition.

Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 1000mg      
(120 softgels, $19.99 $34.99)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Certified Organic Coconut Oil	Did not experience significant changes
Cold-pressed and unrefined
Vegan and gluten-free
100% coconut oil

Elite Gold Solutions Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil softgels are created from unrefined cold-pressed oil without the use of any solvents during manufacturing. This results in the highest quality and purest coconut oil. The ingredients are pure and simple: Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in a softgel capsule (gelatin, glycerin, water). The supplements contain no sugar, salt, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, milk, egg, shellfish, or preservatives. They are also vegan and gluten-free. I love that the only ingredient, aside from the softgel capsule, is 100% organic extra virgin coconut oil.

Suggested usage is to take 3 softgels, 2 to 3 times daily with meals. I have been taking the supplements in the morning with breakfast. I have not noticed any weight loss, but I do not have much to lose. I work out almost every day, so the biggest benefit I gain from taking the capsules is energy. About 2 weeks ago, the baby started waking up several times per night, in need of comforting, so I have been one tired mama for the past two weeks. I have also continued to work out every day, switching between running and P90X3 workouts. Even though I have been sleep deprived, I was able to get through my workouts and even give a little bit extra effort. I would probably attribute this to the taking the supplement daily.

Elite Gold Solutions offers an easy and convenient way to ingest coconut oil. I like the high quality attributes of the oil. The better the quality and the more unrefined the oil is, the more nutrients and vitamins it offers to provide energy for the body. I have also taken organic, extra virgin coconut oil internally by taking a spoonful from a jar. However, taking a spoonful of coconut oil might not be for everyone. If you prefer taking supplements, I would recommend Elite Gold Solutions Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am not a medical professional. Please consult a physician before beginning any exercise program or taking a supplement. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. All opinions are my own.

Sustainable and Upcycled Giveaway Hop [Giveaway]

In celebration for 1 full year of blogging at Squishablebaby.com, Lauren at The Median Mommy and Lisa at The Squishable Baby are hosting a sustainable and upcycled giveaway hop. They have put together an amazing grand prize featuring bamboo diapers, wool, dryer balls, bamboo, and more - valued at over $150.

They are looking for participants who want to giveaway sustainable and upcycled prizes valued at $15+. Since this is a sustainable or upcycled hop, please sign-up only if you have a sustainable or upcycled item to giveaway. The item can definitely be homemade - and we welcome creativity!  

If you want to participate...

1. Please sign-up in the linky below. At the end of your blog name, please place (US, US/CAN, WW) for delivery options.
2. Fill out the Google Doc form which is located here.
3. Post the HTML and linky (contained in the google doc) on your own blog.  

A week before the hop, you will receive an email with a bit of HTML, which you can put anywhere in your post. 

If you have any questions, please email Lisa (before signing-up) at lisa {at} squishablebaby {dot} com 

Thank you for helping us make this planet a better place - one blog at a time!
 

Made Just for You by Lisa Carrier Teething Pads [Review]

We continue our series of eco-friendly baby teething products and toys. The focus here is on organic and/or natural products sold on Etsy. Babies are going to put these products in their mouth, so buying products made from natural and organic fabrics is a great investment. Those of us who wear our babies in carriers know that babies love to chew and suck on those straps! Once babies have teeth, chewing on the straps can rip the fabric and weaken the integrity of the strap. Made Just for You by Lisa features Carrier Teething Pads and Padded Strap Covers that will be lifesavers for all straps.

Carrier Teething Pads       ($18.69)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Customizable fabrics
Safe in washer and dryer

Subject: 10 month boy
Equipment: ERGObaby carrier
Background: Baby likes to chew on soft structured carrier straps

If you have read my other posts in this eco-friendly teething products series, you will know that some baby accessories are required. I am glad to say that there have been a lot of products that we have avoided purchasing for the baby. We either do without or find a way to use what we already have at home. Carrier teething pads are affordable and reusable. I love that I can reuse the teething pads with the strollers and the car seat straps. Teething pads are a great way to keep drool off fabrics and parts that cannot be easily washed or should not be submerged in water (ex: car seat straps).

Lisa also features padded strap covers that are a little bit slimmer than the carrier teething pads. The padded strap covers will fit stroller and car seat straps a little bit tighter. Although, I had no trouble using the carrier teething pads with the Bob jogging stroller and with the car seat. On the car seat, I moved them higher, over the shoulder pads, so they were closer to the baby's mouth.

There are several different styles of carrier teething pads available on Etsy, depending on what your baby prefers to chew on. My baby likes to chew on fabrics that have a little bit of texture to them (ex: ERGObaby carrier straps) and anything with a little rubber feel to it (ex: Sophie the Giraffe). Made Just for You by Lisa Carrier Teething Pads have an adorable print on one side and a soft minky dot on the reserve side. The baby did not have a preference toward one side or the other. I love that the carrier teething pads help to catch drool!

Made Just for You by Lisa carrier teething pads are safe in the washer and the dryer.

Carrier Teething Pads are a requirement if you ever wear your baby in a soft structured carrier. Lisa also sells a variety of luxury items for moms and for baby, like reusable zippered snack bags and toy tether/clips to make any mom's life easier. Lisa welcomes custom orders. Also, check out her selection of pacifier/Sophie clips at Made Just for You by Lisa.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned for free to facilitate this review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.