Luxury Maternity and Nursing Cover [review]

Once you become a mom, the stuff that you take with you when you leave the house seems to multiply! Though I have downsized over the months and years, I try hard to find products that are multipurpose. A maternity and nursing cover that can be worn at least 15 different ways is a must have nursing item for any pregnant woman or nursing mother.

Boho Mama Nursing Cover      

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest. 

The Good	The Not So Good
Made from organic bamboo fabric	Snaps might need reinforcement
Soft and stretchy

The Boho Mama nursing cover is not just a nursing cover, but a must have accessory for every pregnant or nursing mom. The cover is made from organic bamboo with a little bit of spandex. This combination makes for very luxurious feeling fabric. I am a very touch oriented person and want soft items for my child.

The nursing cover is a combination of a true nursing cover and a nursing scarf. The size is a bit bigger than what I would usually wear as a scarf, but I could see myself wearing it during the colder winter months. It's nice that it can just be thrown on like a scarf or a cover for myself instead of stuffing yet another item in the diaper bag. If I do need to put it in the diaper bag, the cover takes up very little space.

Usage: There are many different ways to use the Boho Mama cover, here are some of them:

1. Wear it around your neck like a scarf.
2. Wrap around your shoulders like a shawl.
3. Wrap around the baby as a blanket or swaddle.
4. Use as a cardigan or wrap around yourself.
5. Wrap around baby while baby wearing for extra warmth.
6. Use as a car seat cover.
7. Use as a changing pad.

The beauty of investing in the Boho Mama cover is that it can be used during pregnancy, during breastfeeding, and beyond.

My Thoughts: I really like the Boho Mama cover. Although I am no longer breastfeeding, I still have a 2.5 year old toddler to take care of every day. One of my favorite things about the cover is that I can use it in so many different ways. I like having a blanket/cover type item with me when I leave the house, whether I need to wrap something around my shoulders to stay warm, or I need to change a diaper on the go. The cover is a good size and is similar to my pashmina scarf that I wear all the time. I am 5'4 and have a slim athletic build, so the larger size worked as a good shawl/torso cover.

The Boho Mama luxury nursing wrap is the perfect gift for a baby shower or a sprinkle shower. A classic nursing cover with a modern feel and function will make any mom feel special. Get rid of the big cotton tent around yourself and the baby and cover both of you with breathable, soft fabric.

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Fun To Be ONE [Giveaway]

To celebrate the one year blog anniversary of Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews, I teamed up with other bloggers to bring you this giveaway. Enter below for a chance to win!

Fun To Be ONE Giveaway
Hosted By
Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews

Thank you so much for being a part of my first year. This has been the most amazing adventure for our whole family.  This giveaway is to celebrate how much we appreciate all of you for being our amazing readers. A lot of time and hard work has went into pulling this together. I hope you all enjoy it as much as we do :) 

2 Lucky Winners ***2 Amazing Prize Packs ***$850+ in Prizes
11/14 to 11/28
Open to US 

Prize #1

Prize #2

Two Lucky Winners will receive their very own 
Fun To Be ONE Prize Bundle

Sponsors for this awesome giveaway include:

 *Baby Sonny * Bag Nation * Bow-Tiger * LullaBaby * 
*Lumiere Baby * Mamaway  * Maxx Elite * 
 *Omnitots * TotStuff * Ventein * Zubels*

CLICK HERE 
To see Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews, reviews of these awesome products.

A shout out to my awesome Co-Hosts. I appreciate all of your hard work.

*Deliciously Savvy * Davids DIY * Totally Temberton
MomJunky * Tales From A Southern Mom * Oh My Heartsie Girl  * Sew Crafty Angel * Box Roundup * Dorky Deals*

Thank you so much to all of the bloggers participating in this giveaway. Without you, it wouldn't be quite as exciting or get so big, I appreciate you!

Now for the fun stuff. This giveaway is open to US. There are daily bonus entries for sharing this giveaway on your social media channels.
 I can't ask you to "Like" our pages but, if you see something you like, let us know so we can bring you more of it. 
We LOVE it when you "LIKE" our pages. 

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Thank you for taking the time out to enter into the giveaway. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews at grovesamy81@gmail.com 

Winners will receive the  prizes directly from the participating companies. None of the bloggers participating in this giveaway were compensated or are responsible for the prizes. 

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BeliBea Nursing and Hands-Free Pumping Bra [Giveaway]

In honor of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, I partnered with some other bloggers to bring you a giveaway to support nursing and breastfeeding. Enter below for a chance to win some great prizes!

   

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month Giveaway

Giveaway Dates: 8/26 – 9/10

Sponsors

BeliBea

Robert Rose Publishing

Hosted by:

Michigan Saving and More

Co Hosted by:

Amy & Aron’s Real Life Reviews

Reel Mama

Life in a House of Testosterone

Tales From A Southern Mom

Joyful Gifts By Julie

Deliciously Savvy

ALSO I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANKS TO ALL THE AWESOME PROMOTING BLOGGERS!

One winner will win the BeliBea Nourish Bra

See the review HERE.

and the Baby Care Basics book.

See the post about this great book HERE.

Plus 2 other winners will receive the Baby Care Basics book.

Entry-Form

Disclosure: None of the promoting blogs are responsible for shipping of prizes. This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. You are not eligible if you have won a prize from any of the sponsors in the last 12 month. This Giveaway is valid in the Continental United States Only and Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 9/10/15. The winners will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com.

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#MedelaRecycles Medela Freestyle Pump [Giveaway]

A lot of people might not know that you are not supposed to reuse open breast pumps because breast milk can get inside the motor and can cause contamination of your breast milk. Only closed breast pumps like hospital grade breast pumps can be reused. Read about Medela's breast pump recycling program and enter to win your own Freestyle Pump below!

Hosted by Live Life Naturally

Sponsored by Medela

Medela recycles and you win! This program encourages moms who have finished using their pumps to recycle them through a special program so that moms in need, with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, can have a pump to help nourish their infants.

Read below how the program works and then enter to win!

Medela is proud to announce Medela Recycles, a program focused on helping moms who have finished their breastfeeding journey help another mom start hers. Each pump we receive through Medela Recycles supports the donation of new hospital-grade, multi-use breastpumps and supplies to Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®). The goal is to provide moms with the same high-quality equipment they use at the hospital during their stay at a Ronald McDonald House. This consistency will ease the transition from the hospital to a Ronald McDonald House and give families caring for a baby in the NICU one less thing to worry about. The simple act of recycling your trusted pump through Medela Recycles provides you with both the peace of mind that your pump will be recycled properly with the added benefit of knowing you are supporting another mom on her breastfeeding journey during a challenging time.

If you're interested or know a mom who can help: Medela Recycles FAQs

Connect with Medela on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube

One winner will receive a Medela Freestyle Pump ($399ARV) . 

Ends August 3. Open to US residents only.

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Disclosure: All Natural Katie has not been compensated for this post and is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

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Winner Announcement

The giveaways for the Eco-Friendly Package and the Milk & Joy Organic Teething Necklace have concluded! Thank you to all those that entered! Winners are listed below and have confirmed.

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Lambie and Me Swaddle Blankets [Giveaway]

The beauty and usefulness of swaddle blankets is that they can be used for just about anything. Use it as a blanket to cover the stroller or car seat. Use as a changing mat or nursing cover. Once the baby grows out of the swaddling stage, swaddling blankets can continue to be used. I have been using swaddling blankets as a lap cover for my son when we eat at restaurants. I have even used a swaddle blanket to wipe up a spill. A small investment will guarantee usefulness beyond the baby and toddler years.

Enter to win a 2-pack of Lambie & Me Swaddle Blankets below!

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

Giveaway

Lambie & Me Swaddle Blankets - 2 pack ($27 value)

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Disclaimer: 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.
  

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Organic Teething Necklace [Giveaway]

Just this week, I noticed the baby (14 months old) has been chewing on the wooden crib. I have been waiting for it for a long time as I expected it to occur much earlier. When the baby teethes, he chews on everything and anything. If chewing on something will offer relief, he will chew on it. One of my favorite teething products is a teething necklace. Milk and Joy Organic Teething Necklace offers a variety of textures to soothe any baby's teething pain.

Enter to win an organic crocheted teething necklace of your choice (adult or little girl length) below.

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

Organic Crocheted Teething Necklace ($22-35 value)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: All Natural Katie is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations. All opinions are my own. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
  

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Milk and Joy Organic Teething Necklace [Review]

Just this week, I noticed the baby (14 months old) has been chewing on the wooden crib. I have been waiting for it for a long time as I expected it to occur much earlier. When the baby teethes, he chews on everything and anything. If chewing on something will offer relief, he will chew on it. One of my favorite teething products is a teething necklace. Milk and Joy Organic Teething Necklace offers a variety of textures to soothe any baby's teething pain.

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

The Good	The Not So Good
100% Organic Fabric
Unfinished natural wooden beads
Adjustable length

Subject: 14 month boy

Background: Baby likes to chew on everything to relieve teething pain.

Milk and Joy Organic Cotton Crocheted Necklaces are made with organic cotton and natural wooden beads. The ties are made from the same organic cotton yard and are adjustable. This means that you can adjust the length of the necklace or tie it to something else. I feel comfortable letting my baby chew on the necklace because there are no toxic chemicals going into his mouth. The wooden beads are a perfect size for his little mouth. The wooden beads are substantial enough, but do not weight down the necklace.

The crocheted teething necklace has become my favorite teething toy for Church. The baby can easily reach the necklace if I am wearing him or holding him. He can play with it or chew on it. The best part about the necklace is that it does not fall to the ground when the baby lets go of it because it is tied around my neck. Constantly bending down with the baby to pick up things off the floor is not good for the back and is distracting in Church. The teething necklace is like a toy that is always available. I do not have to worry about checking for dropped toys or teethers.

I have also used this necklace in the jogging stroller. I can tie it to the side and the baby can play with it. There is no risk of him throwing the necklace on the ground during a run or a walk.

Though I am no longer breastfeeding, the necklace can also be used as a breastfeeding and nursing necklace. When babies become easily distracted during breastfeeding, a toy or a necklace can be useful for keeping their attention on the task at hand.

Milk and Joy crocheted teething and nursing necklaces can be washed with mild soap and warm water by gently rubbing the crocheted beads, rinsing and letting air dry. Children under 3 years old should not be left alone with a teething necklace. Please do a safety check before wearing and letting a baby handle the necklace.

If you are looking for a way to keep your baby focused on nursing or offer relief your baby is chewing on everything, I would recommend a crocheted teething necklace from Milk and Joy. Organic cotton and natural wooden beads are the perfect pairing.

Enter for a chance to win an organic crocheted necklace of your choice in the teething necklace giveaway.

Connect with Milk and Joy on Facebook and Instagram.

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.

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Carnival of Natural Mothering: Dear Mama

Carnival of Natural Mothering
April 2014: What You Wish You Knew

Remember when you got your first positive pregnancy test? What do you wish that woman knew? Write a letter of love and encouragement to that awesome mama just starting her journey.

***

Dear Mama-to-be,

First of all, you are going to be the most amazing mama!

Even though the next 9 months seem like they will go on forever, they will fly by. Savor every single moment. Enjoy the journey! Do not worry about reading all of those books you are going to purchase and receive from others. Pick a good book focused on natural birth and go with that one. Otherwise, save the other breastfeeding, parenting, baby care books for the first few months when you will spend most of your days on the couch with a beautiful baby in your arms.

Your thirst for knowledge will make you want to learn everything you can before the baby arrives. All of those books, articles, and blog posts have nothing on your intuition. Connect with the baby during the pregnancy, focus on a natural birth and trust in your motherly instinct. Your instinct and intuition will get you through any situation.

Wear the baby as much as you can! Wear him to sleep, to breastfeed, and just because. Once he starts sitting up, crawling, and walking, you will miss the days when he was a tiny baby and you could just hold him for hours. Wear the baby everywhere!

Remember, you are going to be the most amazing mama!

Love,

Katie

***

>> What would you tell yourself as you were starting out your pregnancy??
  

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Teething Couture Organic Teething Necklace [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. When babies are teething, they love to chew on everything. Additionally, once babies become more aware of their surroundings, they become easily distracted when breastfeeding. A teething necklace can become one of your strategies for keeping the baby happy and focused. Teething Couture uses the latest designer fabrics in GOTS Certified Organic Cotton to create unique teething and nursing necklaces.

Teething Couture Necklace       ($18.00)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% GOTS Certified Organic Fabric
Unfinished natural wooden beads
Adorable designer fabrics

Subject: 10 month boy

Background:
1. Baby likes to chew on everything to relieve teething pain.
2. Baby is easily distracted during breastfeeding.

A Teething Couture necklace is made from GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, wrapped around unfinished wooden beads, and tied with satin ribbon to create a comfortable fit around your neck. I love that Kayla uses organic and natural materials. I feel comfortable letting my baby chew on the necklace because there are no toxic chemicals going into his mouth. The wooden beads are a perfect size  for his little mouth. The necklace has 11 wooden beads covered in fabric that hangs down on your chest. I was afraid that the wooden beads would be too heavy, but the weight of the necklace is just right. The necklace did not weight my neck down at all.

I mostly wear this necklace when attending Church or when wearing the baby at home or outside the home. I have found that the teething necklace has been very useful in Church. He can easily reach the necklace to play with it or to chew on it. The best part about the necklace is that it does not fall to the ground when the baby lets go of it because it is tied around my neck. Constantly bending down with the baby to pick up things off the floor is not good for the back and is distracting in Church. The teething necklace is like a toy that is always available. I do not have to worry about checking for dropped toys or teethers.

I ended up tying knots at the end of the ribbon tie. In case the necklace is not tied tight enough and the baby pulls on it, the knots at the ribbon ends will help to prevent the necklace from coming completely untied.

The necklace can also be used as a breastfeeding and nursing necklace. When babies become easily distracted during breastfeeding, a toy or a necklace can be useful for keeping their attention on the task at hand. Around 7 to 8 months, I started wearing my baby to breastfeed because he would easily get distracted. I wore the necklace while breastfeeding in the ERGObaby carrier. My baby was very interested in chewing and playing with the necklace instead of breastfeeding. He was still distracted and would latch on and off during the breastfeeding session. Either way, the Teething Couture teething and nursing necklace has served the purpose of teething relief very well! The baby immediately took to it and loves holding on and playing with it.

Teething Couture necklaces can be hand washed with soap or detergent and laid flat to dry. Teething necklaces are meant for adult wear only. Children under 3 years old should not be left alone with a teething necklace. Please do a safety check before wearing and letting a baby handle the necklace.

If your baby is chewing on everything, I would recommend a Teething Couture teething and breastfeeding necklace. The designer fabrics are a perfect accessory to any outfit and the baby will love the quick and easy accessing to teething relief.

Teething Couture is offering a coupon code to All Natural Katie readers. Use the coupon code KATIE2 during checkout to receive Free Shipping!

Connect with Teething Couture on Facebook and favorite on Etsy. Kayla also sells adorable teething scarfs to catch baby drool.

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.

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Dairy Fairy to Increase Low Milk Supply [Review + Giveaway]

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

I remember talking with our Doula about our biggest fears for pregnancy and childbirth. At the top of my list was my fear of not being able to breastfeed. My mom and my grandma both had issues with low to no milk supply. After a lot of reading and research, I firmly believe that neither family history nor small breast size impact a woman's ability to breastfeed. My challenges with low milk supply were a combination of several environmental factors that presented themselves at the same time. I have talked to lactation consultations/doctors, other mothers, and read a lot of other women's experiences. I tried supplements, foods, rest, and relaxation. While some things work for some women, most of those did not work for me. When Euphoric Herbals offered an opportunity to review the Dairy Fairy supplement for low milk supply, I jumped on the opportunity. Euphoric Herbals Dairy Fairy is a daily supplement of USDA Certified Organic herbs to help boost low milk supply.

Dairy Fairy (120 Capsules)                              ($38)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
USDA Certified Organic herbs
Easy to swallow capsules
Hand made and hand crafted

Dairy Fairy is a compound herbal formula specifically targeted at nursing mothers that are struggling with low milk supply, little breast change prenatally or are looking for an extra boost in their milk supply. Ingredients: Goats Rue, Fenugreek, Alfalfa, Blessed Thistle, Fennel and Marshmallow Root. All ingredients are USDA Certified Organic so that you can feel confident that you are limiting your exposure to pesticides and toxic chemicals during breastfeeding. Two capsules are taken twice a daily. If there is no increase in milk supply after 72 hours, then you increase to two capsules taken three times a day.

I found the supplements easy to take. The size of capsules is not too big. I did have a little bit of taste of some of the herbs after taking the supplement, but it went away within one hour. Since the Dairy Fairy compound herbal formula includes Fenugreek, I did notice that smell of maple syrup that you often hear about. Then again, if the supplements do increase your milk supply, smelling like maple syrup is probably better than other alternatives. A little deodorant or essential oil will cover the smell right up.

Let's talk about the results. Did my milk supply increase? A little bit. Stress affects my milk supply, so after the holiday travel with a 9 month old, my milk supply decreased a little (size of breasts and volume from the night pumping session). Without supplements, it usually takes me at least one week to get back to the normal level after holidays or stressful periods. While taking the Dairy Fairy supplements, I felt that I returned to my normal milk supply levels a lot quicker.

Although taking the Dairy Fairy supplements did not quite increase my milk supply in the ways that I had hoped, I would still recommend Euphoric Herbals Dairy Fairy to any other mom who is looking to increase her low milk supply or just get an extra boost. Remember that supplements work differently on everyone. What might not work for me might work for you. Effectiveness will vary greatly depending on how old your nursing baby is, if your are exclusively nursing, supplementing, pumping, etc. Choosing Certified Organic supplements with natural ingredients is a smart choice for your body and your baby. Europhic Herbals is here to support your breastfeeding needs!

Euphoric Herbals 15% Off Coupon Code: All Natural Katie. Applies to anything in the store. Expires February 15, 2014.

Giveaway

Euphoric Herbals $20 Store Credit

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

UPDATE: This giveaway ended a few days earlier than originally planned due to the need to submit a winner by the sponsor's deadline. My apologies for misreading the deadline for submitting winners. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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. Please consult your physician before starting on any supplements .All Natural Katie is not responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping. The sponsor will be responsible for shipping the product to the winner of the giveaway.

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