Rave and Review

Prince Lionheart Toddler Bundle Prize Pack {Giveaway}

Utimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 16

If you've read our past Prince Lionheart reviews, you already know how much we love the company, their products, and all that they do to make our lives with kids easier, safer, and just plain fun.  From nursery products to travel gear and feeding accessories to adorable ride on toys, sometimes it seems like Prince Lionheart has everything a baby needs. 

Because we love them so much, we are extremely excited to announce that we get to "shower" one lucky reader this holiday season with a prize pack full of Prince Lionheart products we love so much.  That's right, one lucky winner is going to take home a Toddler Bundle that includes the much raved about Two-Stage Seatsaver, a boosterPOD, and a 3-in-1 Universal Drawer ORGANIZER!

As with all of their quality products, they will quickly become necessities and you will wonder how on Earth you survived without them.  From helping you organize, controling mealtime chaos, and for keeping your car looking new, look no further than Prince Lionheart for all your toddler needs!

Find out more about these great products {and all their other awesome gear, toys, and necessities} at http://www.princelionheart.com/
 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win the Prince Lionheart Toddler Bundle pictured above {colors may vary}

To Enter: Sign Up for the Prince Lionheart Newsletter which is sent monthly {Bonus: Just by signing up for their newsletter you are also entered into the Prince Lionheart Monthly Giveaway!}

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Prince Lionheart on Facebook {BONUS: they announce all their sales/promotions/giveaways on their page so you will always be the first to know what this awesome company is up to... like NOW, check out their page for details!}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/VoGr9aDP} and tag Prince Lionheart on Facebook and  R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

I love @PrinceLionheart! Here's hoping I #win the toddler bundle #giveaway from @RaveAndReview! http://t.co/VoGr9aDP

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On December 28th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

98 courtney b said... email subscriber of yours

A big thank you to Prince Lionheart for providing the giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Have you gotten your Cheerios SendCheer Packages yet? #sendcheer #CBias

With Veterans Day just around the corner, we're all thinking of the men and women serving our country.  But, something you don't often think about is that each and every one of those men and women have loved ones who are also sacrificing for their country - by sharing a father, a mother, a spouse, a child. 

We've talked before about the new sendCheer campaign from Cheerios that allows you to thank a military family in your own special way by utilizing their "Cheer" postcards on specially marked boxes, but with the upcoming holiday looming, I thought it would be a good reminder for families out shopping this week.  These special sendCheer campaign packages {available at Walmart and other select retailers} are now on shelves and ready to spread all sorts of Cheer.  While they look a little different from the outside with their dotted lines around the "Cheer" in Cheerios, they still contain the Cheerios your family already loves, which means they're probably already on the shopping list. 

And, spreading the Cheer is easy!  Once finished with your breakfast {or lunch, or snack, or dinner}, you simply cut the pre-addressed Cheer postcard out of the box and write a simple message of thanks and pop it in the mail.  The cards are then forwarded on to a millitary family who will surely appreciate that you took the time to thank them for all that they, and their loved one, are doing for our country. 

While a postcard of thanks is great, but what's truly awesome is that for every card received, Cheerios will donate $1 to the USO to help support programs for military families.  Want to know something else cool?  Cheerios has already donated $150,000 and will donate up to $100,000 more based on the number of postcards received by November 30th, 2012, which equates to a whole lot of much-needed cheer.

About the USO
"The USO is a nonprofit organization that helps lift the spirits of America's troops and their families.  For over 70 years, the USO has provided a touch of home to our troops and their families through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services.  When a loved one is away serving, the USO steps in to be a second family for our military families, providing support and tools."

Want more ways to give back, give thanks, and support our military and their families?  Check out the Cheerios sendCheer Campaign page at cheerios.com.  For more information about USO, including all the awesome programs they have in place to support our troops, visit USO.org.  You can also keep up with the campaign on the Cheerios Facebook page as well as Walmart’s.

This post has been compensated as part of a sponsored charitable opportunity for Collective Bias.  All opinions are 100% ours, we’re excited about this campaign and thought we’d share it with all of you!

Cheerios Send "Cheer" to Military Families and Support a Great Cause #sendcheer #CBias

The men and women who make up our armed forces aren’t thanked nearly enough.  Even though what they do makes a difference in all of our lives, oftentimes people don’t know how to go about reaching out to them and their families to thank them for all that they do.  This fall, Cheerios and the USO are partnering to change that and make sending “Cheer” to military families as easy as enjoying a delicious breakfast.

On specially marked boxes of Cheerios {available at Walmart and other select retailers}, you will find “Cheer” postcards that can be cut out and mailed to military families.  Cheerios is inviting you to show your appreciation by sending a simple message of thanks using their “Cheer” postcards during their sendCheer campaign.  Even better is that for every card received, Cheerios will donate $1 to the USO to help support programs for military families.  Want to know something else cool?  Cheerios has already donated $150,000 and will donate up to $100,000 more based on the number of postcards received by November 30th, 2012!

As someone who comes from a long history of relatives serving in the armed forces on all sides of my family {with two relatives still active today}, I think this is such a cool campaign and I’d love to see it have a huge response nationally.  I love that I can reach out to people who I’ve never met and share my story of thanks with them personally… and that it is so easy that I can do it while I’m enjoying breakfast.  I actually plan on picking up a few of the “Cheer” boxes so we can all participate and write our own messages – wouldn’t that be a fun project for a rainy fall afternoon and a great way to teach kids about what an amazing sacrifice these families make for our freedom?

If your family eats Cheerios like mine does {seriously, I have some in my purse at all times}, why not load up on Cheerios in the next few weeks and give back to military families at the same time?  Remember that these boxes will only be around for a short time so be sure and snag them before they are gone!

For more information on the Cheerios sendCheer Campaign, visit cheerios.com and for information about USO, including all the awesome programs they have in place to support our troops, visit USO.org.  You can also keep up with the campaign on the Cheerios Facebook page as well as Walmart’s.

This post has been compensated as part of a sponsored charitable opportunity for Collective Bias.  All opinions are 100% ours, we’re excited about this campaign and thought we’d share it with all of you!

Dannon OIKOS - My New Favorite Yogurt

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls on behalf of Dannon. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program but my opinions are my own. For more information and recipe ideas, visit www.oikosyogurt.com or www.Facebook.com/oikos. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

When I was at BlogHer earlier this month, I had the opportunity to stop by the Dannon booth and chat with their reps showcasing their OIKOS yogurt.  While at the booth, I got a chance to sample an OIKOS yogurt for myself, and I was shocked at how delicious it was.  And, that’s not just because I was skipping lunch that day and was wandering around an expo hall while starving, it’s because it includes everything I look for in a snack and more. 

While I have tried Greek yogurt in the past and liked the thicker, creamier texture and the added protein, I always found them to be kind of bitter, so I was thrilled to find a variety that I could completely get on board with.  Besides being delicious, I love that OIKOS Greek Yogurt comes a whole line of favors, varieties, and even packages that are perfect for someone like me who eats yogurt daily and doesn’t want the same old thing day in and day out.

Once I got home from BlogHer, I found some coupons in the local paper and went out and loaded up my fridge with OIKOS because my husband and I love it so much.  There is something really satisfying about having a fridge full of yogurt that doesn’t have cartoon characters on it, and I find myself getting excited for lunch just because I know it will include OIKOS yogurt.  Not only is it a great snack when paired with a sandwich or wrap, it’s also a quick and delicious meal if I just add granola and raisins since it’s so filling on its own.

No matter what I’m craving, it seems Dannon Oikos has the cure and I actually feel good eating it. I love that Dannon® Oikos® Plain and Fruit on the Bottom contain 0% fat, while the Dannon® Oikos® traditional blended varieties contain about 3% fat, even though both varieties taste completely indulgent.   Dannon® Oikos® 0% varieties contain active yogurt cultures and range from 80 calories to 130 calories per 5.3 oz. cup.  In addition to low calories and great taste, both varieties are also an excellent source of protein {twice that of most regular low-fat yogurts}!

While participating in this campaign through Clever Collective, I was sent a small gift card to try out some new varieties and found that the word about how delicious they are must have gotten out in a big way, because the shelves at the first store were empty and the second store was almost entirely cleaned off.  After I chose my three cups, the couple behind me promptly got the remaining 3 cups and the store was also sold out.  Yes, it is that good.  Thank goodness I still have a few left on hand in the fridge from when I stocked up before, because three cups doesn’t last our family long at all!

If you haven’t already tried OIKOS, you should find some in your local store and see what all the hype is about.  If you love it as much as we do, you’re going to want to Like the OIKOS Facebook page for coupons, deals, and ideas for using OIKOS for more than just snacking.  You just missed a FREE coupon on the OIKOS Facebook page, but they have announced that more will be coming shortly!

I have partnered with Dannon to help promote the Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt Series.  I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program, which includes writing about the promotion and product.  However, my opinions are 100% my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments - besides, you just can't fake this kind of excitement over a yogurt.

Parent´s Choice Infant Formula {Prize Pack Giveaway & $10,000 College Scholarship Contest}

When I started to combo feed my son, I was totally clueless as to bottle feeding and didn’t even know where to begin.  I remember thinking that I needed to go with the premium infant formula brands in order to give my son the best quality formula and would search high and low for coupons to help reduce the price to a reasonable amount each time I went shopping.  It wasn’t until his pediatrician told me that store brands were her recommendation that I decided to go that route for all his baby formula. 

Here’s some interesting facts provided by Parent’s Choice Formula {the WalMart store brand}:

•    In the US, all infant formulas are subject to the same regulations for manufacture and ingredients required for the growth of healthy babies under the Infant Formula Act.
•    Store brand formulas sold at major retailers are a premium national substitute at a value price and meet the same FDA nutritional requirements as all of the major brands.
•    The quality and safety of the manufacturing of infant formulas are also inspected by the FDA in the same way.

In my quest for the best formula at the best price, I was really excited to hear that Parent’s Choice also offers a $avings Calculator that can show you what you can save by switching brands and compare the savings to national brands.  Parent’s Choice Infant Formula has been helping parents save money for 13 years by offering a store brand formula at roughly half the cost of premium brands – which could save parents approximately $600 a year per infant!*
See how much you could save by clicking here.  You can also register for a free sample of Parent´s Choice Infant Formula by clicking here.

I got to try out some Parent’s Choice samples over the last few weeks and found that the formula mixed well and my son didn’t notice any difference between the Parent’s Choice brand and the one he’s used to.  Since it’s a substantial savings over what I’ve been buying, I’m planning on using the coupons they sent to get a few more containers to get him all the way through his 1st year. 

I also really love the Parent’s Choice Bottle Nurser set they sent which is a bottle/liner design that is similar to Playtex.  This was seriously amazing for our trip to BlogHer as it meant I didn’t have to scrub bottles after each feeding and instead could just toss the liners and wash up the nipple in the hotel sink.  Not only is it easier to clean on the go, it’s also the most efficient bottle travel system I’ve ever tried since you really only need to bring a few bottles in your bag or for days out. 
   
Enter the Parent’s Choice $10,000 College Scholarship:  In partnership with PBM Nutritionals, the largest manufacturer of store-brand infant formulas and nutrition products, Parent’s Choice is helping one family and one student save even more with the "Parent´s Choice Infant Formula" Sweepstakes.  One lucky winner will receive a $10,000 college scholarship in the form of a College Savings 529 Plan.  From now until 11:59pm on August 15th, 2011 you can choose to increase your little one´s chances of attending the college of his or her choice, by "liking" Parent´s Choice Infant Formula on Facebook and filling out the simple form here.  Don't forget to follow them on Twitter as well!

 
One lucky winner will win an awesome prize pack with a 12.9 oz can of Parent’s Choice Premium, a 12.4 oz can of Parent’s Choice Advantage, Two $3.00 off coupons for Parent’s Choice Infant Formula (redeemable at all Walmart stores), Parent’s Choice Starter Set – a complete nurser system that includes a variety of bottles, nipples, liners, leak proof caps and retainer rings!

To enter share how you will spend the money they save by switching to Parent´s Choice Infant Formula

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Let me know you entered the College Scholarship Giveaway

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Check out the baby formula Savings Calculator & enter to win a Parent's Choice prize pack w/ @raveandreview #ravereview http://bit.ly/mSkJfd

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website  (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On September 1st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.
*Total savings with Parent's Choice Infant Formula calculations based on a price per fl oz comparison of Parent's Choice Infant Formulas and their comparable national brands.             

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #56 melissa said...

Subscribed to Rave and Review, Entry #2

The Parent´s Choice Infant Formula product sample, prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by Parent´s Choice through MyBlogSpark.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

BARE Air-Free Bottle - Support the Cause!

It seems like there is a new baby bottle on the market every week, each claiming to reduce colic, air intake, and imitate breastfeeding most naturally.  While I have tried quite a few of these, some with snorkels, some with air vents, and even some that didn’t look anything like a bottle, I haven’t found the bottle holy grail yet.  Priska Diaz felt the same way, so she set about to create the perfect baby bottle and BARE was born.

BARE isn’t about vents, valves, or collapsible containers, it’s about redesigning the bottle all together.  Designed to work much like a syringe that creates a truly air-free feeding that dispenses by suction alone, the BARE bottle is unlike anything I have ever heard of.  I won’t bore you with all the scientific data from their site that shows how the bottle is similar to the breast or how the whole thing works, but I will tell you that I was really excited when I watched the video {note – turn your speakers down before playing} and saw some of the features of the bottle. 

My favorite feature of the BARE would be the fact that you don’t have to tip the bottle upwards to feed since the bottle works with suction, not gravity.  I cannot get my son to grasp the concept of tilting the bottle up to drink no matter how hard I try, so even at 9 months he is still unable to feed himself without digesting mostly air.  There are so many times I would have paid some really big bucks for something such as the BARE Air-Free Bottle which would allow him to feed himself naturally, without spilling, and without worrying about how much air he’s drinking.

BARE is also said to train baby to latch properly, closely imitate a mother’s breast, prevent bacteria, and simplify bottle cleaning, all of which I am really excited about.   Add to the fact that it is made in the US with quality ingredients that don’t contain BPA, PVC, Lead or Phthalate and you can see why everyone is so excited about this bottle.


And, now you can be part of the buzz because between now and July 30th, BARE is inviting parents to visit the BARE KickStarter site and see more about how the bottle works and even to be the first to receive the bottles once they launch!  I am incredibly excited about this project and hope that come January the BARE bottle will be on shelves everywhere.  Here’s your chance to make that happen by taking part in this exciting project!

Find out more at the BARE KickStarter site or at www.bittylab.com

This post was sponsored by BARE and Question Moms, but as always, all opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation influenced our opinion of the product or site.

Milk Nursingwear {Review & Giveaway}

Have you shopped for nursing wear recently?  I have breastfed babies for 26 months in total and during that time I have owned exactly one cute nursing top.  One.  In 26 months.  This means that 99.9% of the time I am wearing my “mom uniform”, a tank top with a cardigan or hoodie, so I can breastfeed easily.  That’s over 2 years of drab-ness, if anyone is counting.

So, when Milk Nursingwear invited me to pick something out of their extensive catalog, I was like a kid in a candy store.  No, make that a baby in milk shoppe… er, something like that.  Somehow that analogy went way wrong, but either way, I was excited. 

When it came time to actually decide what I wanted most of all the things I was drooling over, I narrowed it down to their dresses.  With a summer vacation on the horizon and warm weather on my mind {but NOT on the forecast… oh, Washington… sigh}, I knew that I wanted to get something fun and cool for my warm weather wardrobe.  The moment I laid eyes on the Flirty Halter Dress from Milk Nursingwear in black, I knew it was it. 

And I was even more impressed upon seeing my LBND {little black nursing dress, naturally} in person.  It is made of super soft 95% cotton and 5% lycra which means it is machine washable and unwrinkles upon unfolding, making it perfect for parks or for dressier occasions.  After it was out of the package I immediately had to model it, and found that it was just as flattering as I had hoped.

One thing I loved right away was the adjustable tie that allows you to get the perfect fit, something which I hadn’t realized would be that important.  Because the dress is designed for pregnancy, nursing, and beyond, I really like that I can customize the fit as my shape changes.  Also, instead of  deep V that is a bit much while breastfeeding, the Flirty Halter has a crisscrossed V top that is less revealing but still fun and flirty. 

When wearing for nursing, the top layer of this empire top lifts up revealing a built-in shelf bra with access openings for discreet nursing.  What’s great about this is that it doesn’t look at all like a nursing top when in place, it just looks like a really cute empire waist dress! 

Because I love the fit and finish of the Flirty Nursing Halter Dress, I am looking forward to wearing my LBND for a long, long time, well after I have stopped lactating and have {hopefully} returned to my pre-pregnancy size for good.  For the price and the fact that it can easily be worn well after the babies are grown, I think it is a must-have for pregnant and nursing moms during the warm weather months.

Buy it: The Flirty Halter Dress retails for $49.00 from Milk Nursingwear.  When you purchase, you should join the Milk Money Rewards program and receive one rewards point for every dollar you spend on the site.  Rewards points can be redeemed for dollars off your next purchase at Milk!

http://www.milknursingwear.com/

One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win their favorite item at Milk Nursingwear!

To Enter: You must perform at least one of the following actions to be eligible for the prize drawing. Yes, you can earn 2 entries for doing both!

Tweet the following: "WOW the nursing wear by Milk Nursingwear is so pretty! http://www.milknursingwear.com" OR "Like" Milk Nursingwear on Facebook

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Visit the MilkNursingWear site and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and click on "Like" {this is different than "Liking" them on Facebook!}

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Looking for adorable nursing wear? Enter to #win an item of choice from @MilkNursingWear & @raveandreview #giveaway http://bit.ly/l5FEJu

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (3 extra entries - just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries)

On July 26th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#100 Jason and Anna Pry said...

blogged it: http://freeindeedblogger.blogspot.com/2011/07/milk-nursingwear.html

Thank you to Milk Nursingwear for sending a sample dress for review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Béaba Bib’expresso All-in-One Super Cool Feeding Gadget

I was really lucky and was able to breastfeed my first child for 16 months before switching to bottles, but my second take at breastfeeding hasn’t quite panned out like I had hoped.  First there were supply issues and engorgement, and then there were growth issues and latching problems, and finally the choice was made to supplement with formula as well as give bottles of breastmilk this time around. 

Because I was spoiled with being able to breastfeed for so long the first time, I really didn’t understand the pain that bottles, feedings, and formula can be until just recently.  Now I can see why there are a million and a half gadgets for feeding infants and babies - it’s all about making the whole process a little bit easier on everyone. 

When I first decided we were going to supplement, I mistakenly thought it was going to be more convenient, but that’s before I realized what all was involved in warming, preparing, and cleaning bottle accessories after each feeding.  And, the annoyances just keep coming… first, there’s all the bottles filling up your dishwasher, then you need a way to warm up formula, food, and breastmilk, and finally, there’s the sterilizer to keep everything safe for baby to consume. 

I had seen bottle warmers before when I was registering during my first pregnancy, but even at the time I thought they were a bit silly.  Why buy something that has such a limited lifespan, only does one single function, and takes up so much room if you can make do without?  Recently, I found my answer: because having to “make do” for over a year just isn’t any fun. 

What if I told you that there was a super cool new feeding gadget that solves all of these problems and more?  Introducing the Béaba Bib'expresso, the first all-in-one feeding gadget that allows you to prepare bottles, breastmilk, solid foods and more as well as well as sterilize {and store} your accessories. 

Want to hear more about this clever little machine?
 
Now, instead of heating up water for bottles by running them under incredibly hot tap water or in the microwave {which, FYI, is not recommended}, I can make a bottle of formula with the simple press of a button with no fear of hot spots or burning.  Want to heat up breastmilk or baby food?  Simply fill the water tank and press a button and it heats the water to warm for feeding quickly and easily.  If that wasn’t enough, you can also sterilize and store your bottles and accessories with the Bib’expresso!

Features of the Bib’expresso we’re raving about: As cool as the unit is as a whole, it also comes apart and allows you to use each of its functions separately as your needs change.  The upper water tank and sterilizer/storage compartment are both removable for use without the base and both can be used for other functions even after the bottle stage.  In fact, I use the Bib’expresso daily with my daughter, making her cocoa, cleaning her cups and straws, and heating up foods that don’t do well in the microwave. 

Béaba also makes a homemade baby food maker that could be used with the Bib’expresso, allowing you to warm foods made with their Béaba Babycook {which I have heard wonderful things about}.  While I am loving the Bib’expresso for the bottle stage, I really love that it is perfect for warming homemade baby food.  This is going to be a feature I will use for years and years as my kids eat baby food well after bottles are through, and using the microwave is not recommended for heating from frozen.  To save on counter space, I will simply use the top portion of the Bib’expresso on its own and make defrosting and heating incredibly easy.

Béaba Bib'expresso specs:
•    Bottle preparation in 90 seconds.
•    Safe - The bottle is always at the right temperature thanks to direct water control
•    Practical - direct water flow mixes the powder formula and helps ensure more even temperature
•    Easy to Use - just one hand required to prepare the bottle
•    Removable, ultra-compact bottle and food warmer can be used anywhere
•    Microwavable sterilizer/bottle storage compartment included. Can hold up to three 10 ounce (300 ml) bottles. Protects sterilized bottles from light and dust and keeps them handy and ready to use when preparing baby's bottle.
•    Self-cleaning steam system for in-depth cleaning of the device.
•    Product can be used after baby for preparing beverages with hot water such as tea and hot cocoa.
•    BPA-free.

Buy It: The Bib’expresso retails for $129.95 and you can find it at Amazon.com, PamperedTot.com, and at BeabaUSA.com.  More info, images, and web tutorial videos can be found on the Beaba site.

While Béaba provided me with a Bib'expresso to review, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Béaba, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

Milkies Milk-Savers for Breastfeeding Moms

Whoever said there's no use crying over spilled milk was not a breastfeeding mother.  If you're referring to a bottle of breastmilk that was lovingly pumped that was then spilled, you have every reason to cry. 

And, I have cried over spilt milk.  Twice. 

Seriously, pumping is HARD.  That's why I dread it, make excuses for not doing it, and it's why I've collected roughly 4oz in 4 months {roughly enough for 2/3 of a feeding}. 

But, my best excuse for not pumping just came in the mail.  Granted, it’s not pitched as an alternative to pumping, Milkies are simply marketed as a passive milk collector that you use as you breastfeed.  By simply placing the Milk Saver on the breast you are not feeding with, you can collect the milk that drips while you feed instead of soaking a disposable breast pad that then gets discarded. 

Yes, that’s right, you get to keep the milk that leaks as you feed!  Once collected, you can then pour into a bottle for drinking, add to rice cereal for spoon feeding, or freeze for later.  For someone like me who hasn’t pumped a full feeding yet, the Milk Saver has enabled me to create a few bottles of breastmilk already, and with absolutely no pain!

The first thing that surprised me by the Milk Saver is how soft the sturdy silicon is that it is made of.  When I saw Milkies advertised in the past, I had mistakenly thought they would be thin and rather flimsy like a milk collection bag.  When I pulled it out of the package I realized that the Milk Saver is as well made as it is comfortable.

Milkies are rather large and even though the package says they can fit in any bra, I had a bit of trouble getting it to fit in my underwire nursing bra with the snaps closed.  To solve this, I merely left the bra cup unsnapped while wearing the Milk Saver and it worked perfectly.  When wearing my nursing camisoles the Milk Saver was able to fit in no problem because of the stretch of the fabric, so depending on your tank or bra, you might be able to fully snap your Milkie in comfortably.

While my first feeding with the Milk Saver didn’t collect multiple ounces, I did get a whole lot more than I imagined I would {see image, left} since I honestly didn’t think I was leaking all that much.  The second feeding got even better results {see image, below} and by the time the week was over, I had two full feedings for my son.  Okay, so I’m not going to be stocking my freezer this way, but it’s certainly better than throwing this milk away each week, right?  Even if it’s only one or two nights out a month, it certainly is worth it!

My one regret is that I didn’t try the Milkies Milk Saver right when my son was born when I was suffering from engorgement and each feeding required a new nursing pad on the side I wasn’t feeding on because I was leaking so much.  Imagine what the milk collection would have been on those first few feedings… I might have even had a freezer stock to speak of and would have been able to make it to girls’ night out much sooner!

To find out more, visit MyMilkies.com and see how much milk {and money} you could be saving each month!

A big thank you to Milkies who provided the Milk Saver to be reviewed.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food by Adrianne Hunter

I admit it…I was extremely intimidated when I started making homemade baby food for my daughter.  In fact, I didn’t even attempt it with my oldest because I figured there was no way that I would have the time or energy at the end of an already busy day.  After encouragement from a friend, and help from An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food I’ve conquered my fears and have truly grown to love the process and the high quality food that results from my efforts.

My best advice for someone just starting to make their own baby food?  Make it fun. But, how do you make it fun if you don’t even know where to start?  By reading the new book, An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food, you’ll learn simple and straight-forward ways to make baby food.  The book gives step-by-step instructions and useful tips for all the different stages of eaters, telling you what to make, how to make it, and when. It helps to make the process simple by covering some of the common concerns with homemade food such as storage, and how to prepare food for daycare and travel.

Adrianne Hunter, the author of An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food, offers the following advice for parents who might be considering making their own baby food:

“It’s not as scary as you may think it would be! It’s actually pretty easy as long as you know the basics. Once you have the basics, you can get as fancy as you like or just keep it simple. All you need is a little time and a little knowledge, and the rest is easy. This book gives all the tools you need without all the extra stuff.”

Making homemade baby food is a fun and enjoyable; I’ve even started getting my three year-old involved in the process!  I started making baby food because of the nutritional value, but quickly realized the true cost saving benefits. The amount of money I save from making homemade baby food is shocking and continues to offer just another incentive to homemade.  I never would’ve imagined that I could make my own quality food so cheap and yet so simple.
The cost savings can be huge, especially over time.

Store Bought Baby Food      vs.    Homemade Baby Food
1 oz of Bananas = $0.23               1 oz of Bananas = $0.01
1 oz of Peas = $0.23                     1 oz of Peas = $0.04
1 oz of Sweet Potatoes = $0.23    1 oz of Sweet Potatoes = $0.04
1 oz of Applesauce = $0.23           1 oz of Applesauce = $0.03

An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food covers in detail some of the estimated savings and author Adrianne Hunter says:

"Looking at the store prices, they don’t seem too bad, but if you keep multiplying these prices over and over, serving after serving, it definitely adds up over the months. For example, if you bought a jar of bananas (a typical jar is two ounces) for one meal a day, every day of the week, that is a total of $3.18 a week. Homemade bananas would equal $0.14 for a week. So, by making one serving of bananas, you are already seeing a savings of 12.5 percent over buying one serving. Keep in mind that is only one meal a day. After a while, you will be feeding your baby three times a day not to mention that your baby will be growing, therefore needing larger amounts of food. So, the cost will only go higher and higher …”

If you are thinking about getting started making homemade baby food Adrianne Hunter’s An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food is the perfect tool to lead you in the right direction. The book lives up to its name as far as keeping baby food making simple – and thus enjoyable for Mommy and delicious for Baby!

Check out An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food from Diversion Press or visit Amazon.com to buy

A big thank you to Diversion Press for sending a cookbook to review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.