Momma T and Family

Sunday, March 31, 2013

My First Shaklee 180 Vlog! #ShakleeBlogger

I recently posted my first Shaklee 180 vlog on YouTube which also happens to be my first vlog ever! In it, I talk about what I've been eating and my eating habits before starting the program. You can see my video here:

Using #Shaklee180 and My New Exercise Routine {#ShakleeBlogger}

As some of you know, earlier this month I started the Shaklee 180™ Program. I was a little late in the game due to illness so I ended up starting Shaklee 180™ on March 6th. My Shaklee 180™ Turn around Kit includes:

Shaklee 180™ Energizing Smoothee Vanilla
Shaklee 180™ Energizing Smoothee Chocolate
Shaklee 180™ Energizing Smoothee Strawberry
Shaklee 180™ Blueberry & Almond Crisp Meal-in-a-Bar
Shaklee 180™ Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Meal-in-a-Bar
Shaklee 180™ Energizing Tea Pomegranate Flavor
Shaklee 180™ Metabolic Boost*
Shaklee 180™ Assorted Snack Bars

TakeLessons.com Spring Sale! 20% off All Lessons!

When I was a child, I dreamed of taking music lessons. I was active in chorus and I had always wanted to learn to play the piano. In high school I was finally given the opportunity to learn! My piano class was one of my favorite classes and I found that playing the piano came naturally. Taking lessons helped shape my piano playing abilities.

Now that I have a child of my own, I want to encourage her to express herself through music if she'd like. Even though she's a toddler, my husband and I have already discussed having her take music lessons when she's old enough. When we come to that point, I will definitely be using TakeLessons to find a teacher in our area.

About TakeLessons.com:

I was recently contacted by Eliza of Ali & Joe, a business that creates fun and quirky custom hand stenciling tees, tanks, onesies and sweatshirts which feature an exciting blend of graphics, text, rhinestones and denim. They are all made by a completely new innovative “color extraction” process developed by Eliza who is a mother of 3. The Eliza & Joe mantra: "Offering newborn through to size 14, keeping it USA based and UK made. She’s covering “did-not-think-about- it-chic” for every age and with no 2 items alike it’s CUSTOM EVERY TIME - just like the kids wearing it!"

Michael Kors Sneakers {#Giveaway} #BabyExtravaganza

This Michael Kors Infant Sneakers post was written by Kim of Party of 5 for the Baby Extravaganza Event which is being co-hosted by Momma T and Family, Rambles of a SAHM, My Four Littles and of course, Party of 5! You can read her review below!

This Momma has a thing for baby shoes. The tinier the better. I know they are pretty much pointless but the cuteness factor, OH MY!

A Monster in Paris coming to 3D BD and DVD 4/16!

Venture into the delightful Parisian cityscapes 1910s and spellbound by the visually opulent family adventure of A MONSTER IN PARIS, directed and written by Bibo Bergeron (Shark Tale) and produced by world renowned filmmaker Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp and Bergeron’s Bibo Films. With an exceptional English-language voice cast of French singing sensation Vanessa Paradis, singer/song writer Sean Lennon, Catherine O’Hara (Penelope), Adam Goldberg (A Beautiful Mind), Bob Balaban(For Your Consideration), Danny Huston (Hitchcock) and Jay Harrington (Private Practice), A MONSTER IN PARIS harkens back to the classic tale of beauty and the beast, and delivers vibrant storyline packed with elegant characters, unforgettable song-and-dance musical numbers and beautiful CG animation that the whole family will enjoy! This critically acclaimed international major motion picture also features enchanting, honey-toned vocals by Vanessa Paradis and Sean Lennon, with music score by popular French singer/songwriter Matthieu Chedid (aka M) and Patrice Renson.

QuirkyBaby, one of the longest-running online babywearing retailers, is offering a lillebaby COMPLETE Carrier to one lucky reader! You can read about QuirkyBaby and owner, Rachel, here!

Disney's Planes Reveals Full Voice Cast! @DisneyPictures

Are you excited as we are to learn that Disney’s Planes has officially revealed the full voice cast for the film! Check out all the awesome details below!

Audiences worldwide are fastening their seatbelts as “Disney’s Planes” prepares to take off this summer. Joining Dane Cook, who provides the voice of Dusty, are Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Cedric the Entertainer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Cleese, Carlos Alazraqui, Priyanka Chopra, Gabriel Iglesias, Roger Craig Smith, Colin Cowherd, Sinbad, Oliver Kalkofe and Brent Musburger. Adding some high-flying flair from a classic feature film are Anthony Edwards and Val Kilmer. Inspired by the world of “Cars” and directed by Disneytoon Studios veteran and aviation enthusiast Klay Hall (“King of the Hill,” “The Simpsons”), “Disney’s Planes” is an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure about Dusty’s dream of competing as a high-flying air racer—and his decidedly unfortunate fear of heights. The film takes off in theaters in 3D on Aug. 9, 2013.

Little Pnuts March Special Deliveries {Review & #Giveaway} #BabyExtravaganza

This following review is from Amanda of My Four Littles and My Four Littles Media who recently reviewed Little Pnuts for the Baby Extravaganza Event which is being co-hosted by Momma T and Family, Rambles of a SAHM, My Four Littles and of course, Party of 5! You can read her review below!

Welcome to the Little Pnuts March Special Deliveries Review and Giveaway!

Hosted by: My Four Littles and Four Littles Media

Sponsored by: Little Pnuts

From Amanda at My Four Littles:

The Devyn Bag {Review} #BabyExtravaganza

The Devyn Bag review below was written by Kim of Party of 5 for the Baby Extravaganza Event which is being co-hosted by Momma T and Family, Rambles of a SAHM, My Four Littles and of course, Party of 5! You can read her review below!

Finding a "diaper bag " that is roomy enough to hold 2 kids stuff is tough. Finding one that hold theirs plus mine is even harder. I refuse to carry to bags with me since I am often carrying much more than I can handle.

Lilo & Stitch, Atlantis, The Emperor’s New Groove 2-Movie Collections on BD/DVD coming 6/11!

This summer, Walt Disney Studios invites you to get into the groove, double the adventure and laugh with friends and family with this trio of 2-Movie Collections for the first time on Blu-ray hi-definition! Check out the following movie collections:

“The Emperor’s New Groove” and “Kronk’s New Groove”

The fun begins with “The Emperor’s New Groove,” featuring an all-star cast and Academy Award®-nominated music by Sting (Best Music, Original Song, Sting, 2000). When the young and spoiled Emperor Kuzco (voice of David Spade) is transformed into a llama by his sinister advisor Yzma (voice of Eartha Kitt) and her henchman Kronk (voice of Patrick Warburton), it takes a thoughtful peasant named Pasha (voice of John Goodman) to restore the kingdom and show Kuzco just how much fun it is to be true to yourself.

The Benefits of DHA and ARA @EarthsBest

If you are a formula feeding mom, you may want to know what DHA and ARA are and why we need them in our baby’s formulas. Dr. Austin Abramson,an expert at Earth's Best, provides the answers to all of your questions below and for more details and to read the full article, visit the Earth’s Best website: The Benefits of DHA and ARA.

“DHA and ARA are essential fatty acids. We use the term "essential" because the human body has limited ability to manufacture these fatty acids, so they must be consumed from outside sources. DHA is a "good" fat that is necessary for proper health and development. DHA is found throughout the body, but is especially concentrated in the eye and brain. DHA makes up about 97% of the omega-3 in the brain and 93% of the omega-3 in the eyes.

Tony Stark needs your help to stop the Mandarin! Answer trivia questions to unlock Tony's armor and send in the reinforcements for a chance to win a trip for two to the IRON MAN 3 world premiere in Los Angeles on April 24th! The sweepstakes started today and runs until this Wednesday! Each day fans can enter for a chance to win tickets and unlock two suits in Tony's armor. Visit Facebook.com/ironman or http://awe.sm/q0PyB for details!

Lansinoh Affinity Pro Double Electric Breast Pump {#Giveaway} #BabyExtravaganza

Kim of Party of 5 recently received the Lansinoh Affinity Pro Double Electric Breast Pump for the Baby Extravaganza Event which is being co-hosted by Momma T and Family, Rambles of a SAHM, My Four Littles and of course, Party of 5! You can read her review below!

When I was pregnant with Peyton I knew I wanted to breastfeed. Well, my pregnancy with her was crazy from the moment those 2 pink lines showed up. Hyperemisis, high blood pressure, pre eclampsia and hellp syndrome. Those all led to an early delivery at 27weeks 5days. Since I knew I wanted to nurse her the Nurses had me pump and they froze my milk for me so that when she was able to "eat" she would have breastmilk aka " liquid gold."

I recently had the opportunity to take E, my nephew Ryan and his mom, Kristin, to Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival at Madison Square Garden in New York City. About the show:

Mickey Mouse and friends rock the world with the stars from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story in their new touring show Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival. Disney hits are remixed to the hottest sounds of today featuring hip hop, pop, swing, reggae, rock, country and much more! The irresistible lineup of performers, including Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy; Ariel, Sebastian and Ursula; Jasmine, Aladdin and Genie; and Woody, Buzz and Jessie; are among the more than 25 Disney stars featured in this jam session fit for the entire family! You can’t resist dancing, singing, playing your air-guitar and laughing with this band of characters! Come join them at Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival for a lively concert experience guaranteed to deliver enough rockin’ memories to last a lifetime.

Easter Hugs #Easter Basket #Giveaway

Welcome to the Easter Hugs Easter Basket Giveaway Hosted by Baby Costcutters, Capri's Coupons, Frugality for Less and Simply Sherryl!

This HUGE basket features an 8-inch plush Easter Bunny, Easter Peeps, 35-page full-size Peeps coloring book, Fruit-flavored bubbles, Jelly beans, 3 Milk chocolate bunny pals, Pastel magic spring, Nerds candies, Spring fruit-flavored Skittles, Starburst fruit gels, 3-piece candy necklace gift set, Carrot patch bag of candy corn!

How To Update A Room With Tile

Amazing room transformations are possible when you update a room using tile. Tile is available in a number of colors, styles, and materials making it one of the most versatile building products for a home. From stone to glass tile in every shade imaginable, there is a seemingly endless variety of tile options to choose from. Furthermore, many people think of tile as simply a flooring material. Homeowners are finding, however, that it can be used for so much more. The following are a few ways to update a room using tile.

Kitchen or Bathroom Backsplash
A backsplash is used to protect walls behind countertops from damage due to cooking spills or water. Backsplashes can also be a beautiful design feature in a room and add drama and color. While other types of materials such as bead board or laminate have been used for backsplashes, tile is by far the preferred material for most people. When choosing a tile material remember that stone can be beautiful and add texture but smooth glass, ceramic, and porcelain tiles are often preferable as a kitchen tile because they are easy to clean and do not have ridges that could trap food or dirt.

EatSmart Precision Premium Digital Bathroom Scale {Review} @EatSmartScales

As some of you may know, I started the Shaklee 180 blogger competition earlier this month. I had a problem though, I didn't have a scale! Our old digital scale had broke almost a year prior and whenever I felt the need to weigh myself, I just headed to my mother's house to use her scale! There are so many things to take in consideration when choosing a scale including accuracy, range, and any other features that a particular scale has to offer.

When looking for any product, I always check out reviews from real customers and other blogs. From my research I discovered EatSmart. I saw that their products have stellar reviews on websites such as Amazon so I decided to reach out to them!

Spring Into Spring $150 Target GC #Giveaway!

Welcome to the "Spring Into Spring" giveaway event sponsored by Famous Free Samples which is the lovely sister site of Tip Hero. This giveaway features some fabulous blogs and a wonderful opportunity to be the winner of a great prize!

Bottle Pets {#Giveaway} #BabyExtravaganza

Kim of Party of 5 received a Bottle Pet for the Baby Extravaganza Event which is being co-hosted by Momma T and Family, Rambles of a SAHM, My Four Littles and of course, Party of 5! You can read about Bottle Pets below.

I will be nursing the new baby but we also bottle feed. I came across Bottle Pets and fell in love with the concept.

Let me tell you a bit about these adorable bottle covers.

Bottle Pets are a plush baby bottle cover created by two moms who tried to find a unique way to make feeding with a bottle a fun event for their kids. The bottle covers conveniently fit around almost all baby bottles,insulate the liquid inside and are MACHINE WASHABLE! They are not only a baby bottle cover, they are also stuffed animals!

Infant and Toddler Easter Basket Ideas!

Last year when searching for items for E's Easter basket, I created a board on Pinterest with some ideas. I went over that board this year and realized that a lot of the items I pinned are appropriate for both Infants and toddlers! See some of my favorites below!

Source: etsy.com viaTrisha @ on Pinterest

Multiple birth is a joyous occasion that is understood and cherished by Little Me. Understanding that expecting a multiple birth is both a magical and a worrisome time in your life; they would like to help you focus on the double, triple, quadruple… adorable smiles and giggles you’ll have coming to you times many!

Little Me is offering a “Welcome to the World” gift after your multiple child birth. To receive your free gift please register for the Multiple Birth Program.

Enjoy!

I never realized how hard choosing a diaper bag would be! There are so many styles, colors, designs, and functions, How was I going to narrow it down to one? There are so many things to take into consideration for this must have item.

7 Day Flash $100 #Giveaway!

Mom to Bed by 8 welcomes you to the 7 Day Flash $100 Giveaway which has been organized by Mom to Bed by 8 and Baby Costcutters!

Could you use some cash? Then this giveaway is for you!

One lucky reader will receive their choice of $100 via paypal or a $100 Visa Gift Card!

This Giveaway ends March 26th at 11:59pm and is open to worldwide, ages 18+. Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

$200 Diapers.com Gift Card #Giveaway

Momma T and Family is very-excited to give YOU the opportunity to WIN a $200.00 Diapers.com Gift Card!

Are you a woman who is trying to conceive, pregnant, or a brand-new Mommy? If so, you need to look into BellyHood.com. Have you not heard of BellyHood.com? Well, it is an online meeting place to talk to and get advice from other moms. The forums are easy-to-navigate and full of useful information. Plus, they have monthly drawings for $10.00 babies"R"us gift cards! I wish I had known about this wonderful community when I was pregnant with E. It's a fantastic resource for New and expecting moms and even moms who are trying to conceive! Blog with Mom and Adventures of 8 have teamed up with a wonderful group of Bloggers to offer you a chance to WIN a $200.00 Diapers.com gift card from BellyHood.com!

Before E was born, I prepared for my breastfeeding journey by buying a pump, a nursing pillow, and other nursing accessories I thought I would need. Then it hit me, Was I supposed to lug around this huge nursing pillow I just purchased? Obviously not, but how was I going to get comfortable while nursing on the go?

Recently I came across the Peek Away 4-in-1 Essentials Nursing Kit which is a handbag, travel nursing pillow, changing pad and nursing cover.

About Peek Away:

Peek Away is a wonderful product that promotes nursing and is an invaluable item for offering moms a nurturing start both for meeting their child's nutritional needs and bonding. Peek Away is committed to producing a safe, fashionable product made with love from people who care about children, life, and family.

Peek Away® was developed by Glen & Natalie Sanders in 2008, after the birth of their second son. Affected by the economic downturn, they were in the process of moving and found themselves traveling a lot. Nursing came easy, but packing a car and shuttling baby’s needs from place to place became very difficult. A pillow small enough to stow in the car, take into restaurants, on airplanes and into families homes was definitely needed along with added features to simplify packing. Filling a need was how Peek Away was born!

Features include:

A detachable shoulder strap doubles as a waist strap to help keep the pillow
in place
built-in diaper changing pad with three panel foam cushion
built-in/removable wipe case
matching oval shaped nursing cover for extra privacy
Large size built-in pocket on nursing cover to act as a burp cloth
nursing cover top viewing window to maintain eye contact with baby
built in storage pockets for keys, diapers, baby clothes
made from washable materials
nursing pillow 14.5"L x 6.5"H x 5.5"W
diaper pad 27"L x 1.25"H x 14.5"W
nursing cover 27"H x 36"W
Total weight 1.55 lbs.

We received the 4-in-1 Essentials Nursing Kit in Trendy Brown which is a gorgeous print. When I first opened the box, I noticed the thickness of the pillow/ bag which was very appealing. I could immediately tell it would be comfortable for mom and baby.

I then opened the the kit into the diaper changing pad and was very impressed with the quality and the padding. Most Changing pads I have encountered have been thin and not very comfortable for baby. The Peek Away does not only look incredibly comfortable for an infant, It has some great features such as the built-in wipe case seen below!

The built in storage pockets are also a wonderful feature. They allow you to sore keys, extra clothing, disposable diapers and other items.

When I was trying to nurse E, I preferred to nurse discreetly. I love that the size of the nursing cover gives you plenty of coverage. It's very light and doesn't feel smothering like some other covers. My favorite part of the cover is hands down the minky pocket that's located on the inside of the cover that acts as a burp cloth!

The Peek Away 4-in-1 Essentials Nursing Kit would make an excellent gift to a nursing mom or mom who plans on nursing! Even if you prefer not to use a cover, The pillow is great to have while your out and about with your nursling! Also as mentioned, the minky pocket on the cover makes an excellent burp cloth!

Buy it!
The Peek Away 4 in 1 Essentials Nursing Kit is available on amazon and on the Peek awaywebsite for $46.98!

Win it!
One lucky reader will win a Peek Away 4-in-1 Essentials Nursing Kit in the Baby Extravaganza event! Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below!

Entry -Form

Disclosure: The opinions expressed in this review are those of Trisha of Momma T and Family. A product was provided free of cost in order to facilitate this review. This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"

Monday, March 18, 2013

LifebankUSA “Peace of Mind” Car Seat #Giveaway

LifebankUSA is the only company that offers cord blood, placenta blood and tissue banking. It is also the first to release placenta-derived stem cells for a successful transplant. The New Jersey-based LifebankUSA is a technological leader that is pioneering key medical innovations in the field. Owned by the Celgene Corporation, a world-class biopharmaceutical company, LifebankUSA also operates a robust donation program and collects cells from anywhere in the US for use primarily in advancing medical research.

Greek Yogurt and Earth’s Best! @EarthsBest

Over the past few years, Greek Yogurt seems to be gaining an even larger fan base and new found popularity. Did you know that Greek Yogurt is packed with even more nutrients than yogurt? It also has a wonderfully delicious and unique taste. Greek Yogurt has nearly double the protein than regular yogurt and has half the amount of sodium found in regular yogurt. It's thicker and creamier than regular yogurt which makes it a great way to fill up without excess snacking!

7 A.M. ENFANT Blanket DUO {Review} #BabyExtravaganza

This 7 A.M. ENFANT Blanket DUO was written by Whitney, Blogger at Rambles of a SAHM for the Baby Extravaganza Event which is being co-hosted by Momma T and Family, Rambles of a SAHM, My Four Littles and Party of 5! You can read her review below!

About the 7 A.M. ENFANT Blanket DUO:

The Blanket DUO is 7 A.M.® Enfant’s cozy accessory fordouble strollers. The bottom portion slips over the stroller frame and can betightened with an elastic drawstring to hold it in place. A center zipperallows children to easily climb in and out of the stroller, one at a time ortogether. A water-repellent finish covers the shell, providing protectionfrom wind and rain with minimal bulk. The blanket is lined with soft fleece that retains heat and will hold up to numerous trips to the washing machine.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray Combo Pack #Giveaway

J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an amazing quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers.

BabyGiraffe Set {Review & #Giveaway} #BabyExtravaganza

The following BabyGiraffe review was written by Kim of Party of 5 for the Baby Extravaganza Event which is being co-hosted by Momma T and Family, Rambles of a SAHM, My Four Littles and of course, Party of 5! You can read her review below!

As a Mom of 3, soon to be 4 I have found that I need a few more hands to help with some of the simpler things.

Here is where BabyGiraffe comes in:

Welcome to The Pin To Win It With Customizo Event!

The Customizo is super easy to navigate with size, color, price, and other options conveniently located to the left of the page. Their design studio allows you to create your own, upload artwork, and they even offer free templates for you to use! The whole process is simple and convenient!

The Original BabyAnkees {Review & #Giveaway}

It was not a proud parent moment- I had wrapped tape around the bunched up sleeper at my daughter’s ankles. I couldn’t think of any other way to keep them from sliding down while she crawled around our playroom. The tape got wrinkly and the noise distracted my daughter. Then the tape became something she wanted to eat- my plan was not working.

A few weeks later I got an email asking of I would like to review The Original BabyAnkees. I quickly googled to see exactly what they were and then excitedly accepted!

Li'l Helper Bottle Holder {#Giveaway} #BabyExtravaganza

This post is from Kim of Party of 5 who recently received the Li'l Helper Bottle Holder for the Baby Extravaganza Event which is being co-hosted by Momma T and Family, Rambles of a SAHM, My Four Littles and of course, Party of 5!

Adding a new baby to our house is going to be crazy! With our youngest just going to turn 4 I often find my hands already full. I plan to nurse the new babe but will most definitely introducing a bottle to this babe so I won't be the only person able to feed him/her.