Monday, June 30, 2014

On The Go With Diono & Little Tikes {Giveaway}

littletikes

Welcome to the Diono/Little Tikes Travel Accessory Giveaway!
Hosted by Conservamom
Conservamom recently came out with her top products for travel with babies and small kids and this set was ranked among them. With fun colors and functionality this set is a must for any home!

Traveling and being on the go with kids can be hard. So here are some great products the team at Diono & Little Tikes came out with to make being on the go easy!

Travel in style with the convenience of these wonderful products that will protect your child from the sun and germs, as well as keeping the car organized and protected from those inevitable baby/toddler messes! 

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Keep all eyes on your little one while you drive. With this fun mirror your little one will have hours of fun exploring and seeing & You'll know they're safe!
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The sun can be brutal hot, let your little one sleep comfy and Cozy with protection from this Roller shade.
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Keep your little one germ free with this great shopping cart cover you can conveniently carry anywhere you go!
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Don't let your car seat suffer through food, tread or more. Protect it with this fantastic car seat mat protector!
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Let's face it kids bring lots of stuff with them, why not keep them organized with this fun car organizer. Perfect for the inside of the car or trunk have everything organized and on hand when on the go!
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Summer can get brutal hot, especially when out and about. Keep your little one cool and safe with this adorable Cozy Coupe Stroller fan. Light weight and made to keep little fingers safe this fan will be your new friend on whatever adventures you go on this summer!

So how would you like to own all these great accessories? Well here's your chance! The wonderful people at Diono & Little tikes will give one winner a set of all these great products that retail together at $89.94
So head below for your chance to win! This giveaway ends on 7/15 at 11:59pm and is open to US only!
Good luck!
Disclosure: Just Me and the Boys is not responsible for the fulfillment of prize. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network.All opinions and experiences are Conservamoms. Open to the US & must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of the giveaway. Conservamom will not be responsible for prize fulfillment. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an Event you can contact Elia At Conservamom

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Kiss Everlasting French Manicure

Thank you Influenster for the Kiss Everlasting French nails!

Image from Influenster.


I hadn't used glue-on nails in many years, probably since high school or college, maybe 9-12 years ago! I don't typically have good luck using artificial nails. My nails have a strange shape that don't seem to form well with artificial nails. Kiss nails are flexible and should conform to your natural nail.

I forgot how easy it was to apply glue-on nails. Kiss nails also have some features that make application easier and the final product look more like natural nails.


Kiss nails come with glue and a cuticle stick. They have multiple sizes, including 4 of the common sizes, in case you have two nails on each hand that would require the same size. Each nail has a tab which not only makes it easier to pick up and place properly on your nail, but each tab has the size number on it and is easy to read. You don't have to flip the nails over and search for the matching sizes. What makes these nails look great once applied is that Kiss nails are tapered. Meaning they are thin at the bottom (cuticle end) and thicker at the top (french tip end). I thought this was what made the nails look more natural. They seemed to blend right into my cuticle.d 

Before applying Kiss nails file (buff if necessary), push back cuticles and clean your nails with rubbing alcohol. 

Apply glue to both your nail and the Kiss nail. Press on and hold for 20 seconds. Remove tab (file if necessary). 


The final result is a quick, clean and easy, natural looking manicure. If you look closely in the picture, you can see an air bubble on my thumb. For some reason I had a hard time getting a good connection between my natural nail and the Kiss nail. This was the first nail to pop off, but it was still on for almost a week. 


This is definitely a brand I would purchase again in the future! 

Buy it: Get the Kiss Everlasting French Manicure in the Endless short style on their website or your local Walmart. 

Connect: With Kiss on Facebook and Twitter! 

How do you like to get that quick manicure? Try the full line of Kiss glue-on or press on nails! 

Disclosure: I received the above product complimentary from Influenster for review purposes. All opinions are my own are honest. 






Thursday, June 19, 2014

38 Week Pregnancy Update


Two weeks to go! Maybe more, maybe less. The waiting game is kind of frustrating. But I am actually very content right now. I feel pretty good. If you read my last update, you may remember me saying that I would probably be ready to have this baby out by now. But that's not the case. She'll come when she is ready (still hard to wrap my head around saying "she"), and I'm ok with that!

In the last couple weeks I have had a bit more swelling my my legs and feet, I even had to buy new tennis shoes! Some days I am affected by it more than others, but when I get the chance (after the boys go to bed), and I put my feet up, the swelling subsides. Both my midwife and my chiropractor advised an increase in protein and water consumption to help alleviate swelling. As far as back pain and other body pain issues, I don't feel as uncomfortable as I did a few weeks ago. I am thinking it may have to do with the chiropractic appointments I have had. I have been seeing Kelly at Flourish Chiropractic in South Minneapolis. She comes highly recommended by my midwife (and many others).

I think that staying active and drinking lots of water is what is making the end of this pregnancy easier than my last.

Bug is really becoming quite the mama's boy. I am starting to feel a bit guilty. He really likes his hugs, cuddles and mama time. We went to the zoo last week, and while he doesn't mind the stroller, he prefers walking or being worn on my back in a mie tai, this one is by Infantino. I will be doing a lot of baby wearing with this new little one coming. I may have to learn and master tandem baby wearing.


He just likes to be close to mommy. While he loves babies and always wants to give them a lot of attention (ie, smothing with hugs and kisses). I'm wondering how he'll do when this baby gets a lot of mommy's attention. As of right now, he doesn't mind sharing my attention with a baby. But that baby never comes home with us, so it will be interesting to see how he does. 

I had my 38 week check up today. All my vitals are good, baby's heartbeat is in the 150's. My midwife sometimes uses the fetal scope to listen to the heartbeat, rather than the doppler. Today I listened to the heartbeat through the fetal scope for the first time. Oh my gosh, so neat to hear! You only hear the heartbeat, none of the whosh whosh you get from the doppler. If you ever have the chance to hear your baby's heartbeat through a fetal scope, do it! She remains head down although she hasn't started to engage into the pelvis, so I won't be expecting her to arrive in the next few days! 

Weight gain... I'm at 40 lbs. According to my midwife I'm tiny. Not exactly how I'd describe myself. According to my "I'm Expecting" app, my weight gain is excessive, but I don't agree with that either. I'm not too concerned about a few extra pounds. 

Baby girl still doesn't have a name. I have a few in mind, but nothing that my husband and I have agreed on yet. 

Are you pregnant? How far along, how are you feeling? Is this your first pregnancy, second? How have your pregnancies compared? 











Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Icky Stick Toilet Ring Remover to the Rescue! {Review}

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


This wonderful product above, the Icky Stick, saved our toilet! Two years ago we started our basement finishing project. While we have almost everything completed, we haven't finished the bathroom. We have a toilet and a bathtub that drains (but doesn't have a faucet to fill). Being that we don't have a vanity or sink in there yet, we don't use the toilet that often, unless the main bathroom is occupied. The toilet sat unused for a couple months. I went in there to use it while my husband was utilizing the main bathroom. I was disgusted by what it looked like! We never used it, yet there was a nasty ring in the toilet bowl. Turns out, the minerals in the water were what caused the ring. No amount of chemicals or scrubbing was getting that ring off! I thought for sure we ruined our toilet by not using it. 

Recently when the opportunity to review the Icky Stick came up I thought I'd give it a try. Honestly, I was skeptical. I didn't think anything would be able to get that ring off the toilet without doing some sort of damage! To my surprise, the Icky Stick removed the ring! 


The directions say to wet the Icky Stick then start gently rubbing the ring or stain. Above you can see just how bad it was and how well the Icky Stick began to work it's magic. As you rub the toilet bowl and the stain with the Icky Stick, you'll see the ring disappear and pumice residue left behind. Also as you are rubbing the toilet bowl, the Icky Stick will take on the shape of the area you are rubbing. 


The before and after pic shows just how great the Icky Stick works! I didn't notice until I was looking back at the pictures that I had missed a couple spots. Besides adding the words, the pictures were not altered. The Icky Stick removed all the mineral buildup with little work and no chemicals!


The Icky Stick doesn't last forever, but even with this tough mineral toilet ring, I only used a little more than 1/3 of the Icky Stick. 

Other great features of the Icky Stick:
  • Clean your toilet without the use of chemicals!
  • It is made from 100% Natural Pumice
  • Can be used on pools, hot tubs, tiles and other similar surfaces
Are you ready to give the Icky Stick a try?

You can purchase it from Groom Industries for $5.49, but they have given my readers a coupon code to get the Icky Stick for only $1! Use code ICKY$1 at checkout to get your Icky Stick for only $1 plus shipping. That is an amazing deal! 

Connect with Groom Industries, the makers of Icky Stick, on Facebook




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.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Helping Families Facing Stillbirth with The Harper Project Soy Candles

Thank you The Harper Project Shop for the candles!



There are many things in life we take for granted. One of those is our children. Not every mother gets to bring her child home after delivery. Stillbirth is a tragic reality for some families. I can't imagine the pain these mothers and fathers go through and I hope I'll never have to experience it. Stillbirth is defined as fetal death after 20 weeks gestation and occurs in 1 in 160 pregnancies (March of Dimes).

Sara, the wonderful mom behind The Harper Project, has had the tragic experience of losing her first baby at 38 weeks gestation, you can read baby Harper's story here.

We all grieve in different ways. This mom has taken her grief and started using it to help other families who are going through the same painful experience.

The Harper Project was started this year as a way to provide mothers and fathers going through stillbirth with a Memory Box and a Mommy Care Kit in the hospital in Harper's memory.  The Memory Boxes include items such as candles, seeds, charm bracelets, small photo frame, small keepsake figurines, baby hats, headbands, layettes and other small items. Mommy Care Kits have personal hygiene items for mom while in the hospital.

She plans on donating Memory Boxes and Mommy Care Kits to the hospital every year on Harper's birthday.

When Sara started The Harper Project she hand-made soy candles to put in each of the memory boxes that would be donated to the hospital. She enjoyed making the candles and decided to sell them in her etsy shop with part of the proceeds going toward The Harper Project Memory Boxes and Mommy Care Kits. She also sells custom nursery art with birth stats.

For review I was given an 8 oz Very Vanilla soy candle in a glass jar, 4 oz Lavender soy candle in a glass jar and a 4 oz Sea Mist soy candle in a tin container.


The candles can be ordered with The Harper Project labels or with a custom label. Soy candles are a slow, clean burning candle. The wicks are a cotton blend that allows for less smoke and soot when burning and blowing out the candle. They are handmade in Minnesota with materials that were made in the USA. 

These candles smell wonderful! My favorite scent is Lavender and the Sea Mist is very unique. 

Buying from The Harper Project Shop will help give light to families who are going through the most devastating loss. Visit The Harper Project Shop Etsy page to buy your soy candles and support families facing stillbirth. 

Visit The Harper Project for more information. 

Disclosure: I received the candles pictured above complimentary to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and are honest. 








Monday, June 2, 2014

Pregnancy Update {35 weeks}

I don't really like to hear women say "I'm ready to be done!" when it comes to pregnancy.

I know that it's hard on the body, especially towards the end. This pregnancy has been better than my second in some ways, but more difficult in others.

But in two weeks, once I hit that 37 week mark, "I'm ready to be done!".

I don't like the idea of rushing labor or using interventions. But I sure will be praying I don't go to 40 weeks!


According to my "I'm Expecting" app, the baby is about 18" long and weighs roughly 5.5 lbs (about that of a honeydew melon). 

Ok, the joys first! I love feeling this little one move around. It is the strangest, most wonderful, alien-like body take-over experience! Seriously, alien-like, but wonderful! I can't believe this is my last pregnancy (or at least the last one we are planning). But at the same time I don't know how my body could take any more! I don't mind when people (whom I know) ask to touch my belly. I love sharing the experience with those who haven't had a previous pregnancy as well as those who have. There is just something really cool about feeling a baby's leg, foot, or bottom inside the womb. But I am not a fan of strangers (or someone I hardly know) coming up and grabbing for my baby bump. If I don't know you [well], don't touch me! Fortunately, that doesn't happen often. 

Names... we still don't have anything picked out yet! It was so easy with the boys. But this girl is really hard to name! I also don't want to give her a name that ends up being on the 'top ten' list for 2014. Both the boys have really common names, which makes things somewhat confusing.

As far as weight gain goes. This pregnancy I have put on 33 lbs so far (my midwife is thrilled about this, my app says it is "excessive"). I gained 47 with Squirrel and 35 ish with Bug. I was hoping to stay under the 35 lb mark with this one, but I don't think that will happen my appetite is through the roof on most days! 

I remember thinking my second pregnancy was rough, but I can't exactly remember how. I can say that the inner hip/groin pain I am experiencing with this one is unlike I had with the other two. There are times where walking is really difficult without a sever waddle and a bit of wincing in pain. I have found that if I keep moving I feel better. I try to do an elliptical workout at the gym at least three times a week and I try to go on at least one walk a day. I have also noticed that if I sleep with a pillow between my legs, the pain is much worse. Where-as the only way I could sleep when I was pregnant with Bug was if I had a pillow between my legs. It's crazy how different each of my pregnancies has been.

I am starting to get swelling my my hands and feet. I am no longer wearing my wedding ring, which I do not like. The swelling in my feet hasn't been horrible. There are times I can't fit into shoes. But if I get the chance to elevate my legs, the swelling goes down w/in 20 minutes or so. 

Exhaustion is an ALWAYS thing. I can't believe how tired I am all the time. Sleeping has been hard, I wake up to everything, then can't fall back asleep. But I'm sure I'll have more of a chance to sleep once all the kids have graduated and moved out of the house, right?

This week we will have the 36 week appointment with my midwife. This appointment she will come to our house to check everything out and make sure we have everything ready for our home birth. I have had a lot of  people ask if I am getting nervous. Well, I'm no more nervous than I was with the other two. I actually feel a bit more relaxed, for the most part. I am getting some anxieties, but not related to being at home. 

I am really praying this baby will decided to arrive a week or two before it's due date. I'm also praying for an easier labor than I had with Bug. His labor lasted days. Before I even got to the hospital I had been having steady contractions for two days that kept me from sleep. I was so exhausted by the time I was in transition that I couldn't take any more and caved to an epidural. This time I won't have that option.

Squirrel and Bug are getting more and more excited. Squirrel tells everyone that his mommy has a baby in her belly. I actually overheard him telling another little girl that on the playground this morning. He is going to be such a helpful and proud big brother. His 5th birthday is coming up in two weeks, the other day he said to me "When I am bigger, like 5, I am going to teach the baby how to crawl!". Bug it obsessed with "baby tummy". He is always asking to see my tummy so he can love on it. He too, will be a great big brother. But as obsessed as he is with babies, I don't think I'll be able to trust him alone in the room with his little baby sibling. 

By the way, it took me three days to write this blog post. Unfortunately blogging has been put on the back burner as I have been choosing sleep! Oh well! 

How about you? What's going on in your life? Marriage, pregnancy, new baby, toddlers, teenagers? Can you relate to my pregnancy or are your experiences different? I'd love to hear about it!