Nanny to Mommy

Brian the Pekingese Pajamas Review {Whatever Goes Giveaway Hop}

Monday, February 10, 2014

I received the product featured below complimentary to provide this review. I received no other compensation. All opinions are my own.

Welcome to the "Whatever Goes" Giveaway Hop hosted by Mommy's Favorite Things and Mama's Baby Cupcakes.

This hop is an open theme so whatever the blogger wants to showcase goes!! After visiting my giveaway, make sure you use the linky below to take a look at the other bloggers and see what they have to offer! Each blog has a minimum prize package of $25 per winner.

It is a yearly tradition of ours to buy our daughter a new pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve when we read "The Night Before Christmas" at my in-laws and then for the opening of presents on Christmas morning. This year I made a "Night Before Christmas" basket, that included hot cocoa, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" DVD, "The Night Before Christmas" book, and of course a new pair of pajamas. I decided that the Brian the Pekingese® pajamas in pink were perfect to include because I love the philosophy behind them and she also got a very fun plush too.

Angela and Wes Bentley are the creators of Brian the Pekingese®, a full line of night attire and comforts for children and the families that cherish them. Inspired by the Bentleys' family dog, Brian, a fun- and affection-loving Pekingese who immediately took to his new human baby brother, the line is now available for sale in independent children's boutiques.
"Angela and I created the brand after we brought our newborn son home from the hospital," says Wes. "We were pleasantly amazed at how our dog, Brian, bonded with the baby and took to sleeping under his crib to protect him and barking to alert us when the baby cried. Brian instantly became our son's first best friend."
Adds Angela, who is in the fashion industry, "We see our products not just as products, but as a family lifestyle brand that is differentiated by promoting and strengthening the bond with and role of the family dog in young children's lives."

Brian the Pekingese Pajamas Review

I love these pajamas. They are made in the USA from fine 100% prewashed cotton for comfortable softness and resilience to shrinking. The prints are vibrant and impart a sense of joy in the children who wear them. My daughter loves her "doggy pjs". The plush is one of her new best friends.

Brian the Pekingese Pajamas Review

I am excited to share the opportunity to give away a Brian the Pekingese® Pajama set (color of choice, size 18m to 5T) & Plush! Entry is simple, just enter the Rafflecopter below. The only required entry is to comment, winning entries will be verified. Open to US only, must be 18+ to enter.

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Mama's Baby Cupcakes, Mommy's Favorite Things and the "Whatever Goes" participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Mommy Must-Haves Giveaway from Yummi Pouch

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Our collection of mommy must-haves features many fabulous items to pamper your new baby as well as some things for yourself! One lucky mommy will win this amazing gift set!

Undercover Mama

$30 Gift Certificate to Undercover Mama - Retail value: $30
Undercover Mama nursing tanks are the stylish and affordable alternative to an expensive nursing wardrobe. They attach to any bra. Make any shirt a nursing shirt with Undercover Mama.
Undercover Mama is a mom invented, mom owned and mom operated company. Our mission is to provide Nursing moms with stylish and alternative nursing tops that make nursing easier. For more information visit undercovermama.com.

Fairhaven Health

Milkies Milk-Saver and Milkies Freeze - Retail value: $58
The Milk-Saver collects your leaking breast milk as you breastfeed - allowing you to store extra breast milk effortlessly with each feeding! The Freeze provides convenient first-in, first-out milk storage in your freezer (stores as much as 60 ounces!).
Our mission at Fairhaven Health is to develop products to safely and naturally promote fertility, pregnancy wellness, and breastfeeding success. From preconception through pregnancy and nursing, Fairhaven Health is there - every step of the way - to provide clinically-proven products to hel you along your journey to parenthood. For more information visit fairhavenhealth.com.

Healing Hazel

3 accessories of the winner choice - Retail value: $55
Winner may choose from Healing Hazel, Hazelamber or 100% Baltic Amber necklaces and bracelets
Healing Hazel is your One Stop Shop for hazelwood, hazelamber and 100% Baltic Amber necklaces and bracelets. Now in more than 900 retailers in Canada and Usa. The 1st and only brand to meet CPSC (Consumer product safety comission) safety requirements. For more information visit healinghazel.com.

Yummi Pouch

Yummi Pouch Mini set of 6 - Retail value: $14.99
Yummi Pouch Minis are convenient, refillable and reusable food pouches to hold blended snacks for your child. Yummi Pouch Minis feature a resealable bottom opening and top mouthpiece. The contents are enjoyed by removing the large cap and drinking from the spout. Yummi Pouch Minis are great for easily feeding infants homemade blended snacks on the go.
Yummi Pouch reusable food pouches encourage healthy snacks for active kids. Our eco-friendly food pouches are freezer safe, dishwasher safe, BPA-free, Phthalate-free, and can be filled with healthy blended snacks and easily taken on-the-go, no spoon required! For more information visit yummipouch.com.

Ubbi

Ubbi Cloth Pail Liner - Retail value: $17
Using washable diapers? We have just the thing! Ubbi cloth pail liner is a waterproof, odor resistant bag. Bring out the green in your Ubbi diaper pail. Our pail liner is washable and reusable, biodegradable, and TPU coated. It has a 7 gallon (26.4l) capacity and is waterproof, PVC-free and odor resistant. Featuring a drawstring closure and door knob hanger.
Enter the world of Ubbi... where innovative products are created with parents and children in mind. Under the Ubbi name, you will find unique, quality products that are designed to be easy to use, helping to simplify parents' lives while keeping babies as happy and safe as can be! For more information visit ubbiworld.com.

Toofeze

Toofeze Teether - Retail value: $19.99
Toofeze by Oh, That Baby! Ltd. is simply the COOLEST baby teether ever and an invaluable parenting tool. The cool stainless steel disk chills instantly in ice water for fast pain relief. The soft silicone handle is never too cold too. Made from all-natural ingredients, dishwasher safe, pediatrician recommended. Toofeze is award winning and can be engraved to create a unique gift. Ages 3 months+.
Oh, That Baby! Ltd. is a mom/daughter owned and operated company based in Colorado. "Let's face it, every baby cuts teeth. And when they do, everyone else close to them feels their pain! When we relieve a baby's discomfort, we alleviate the stress, frustration and anxiety felt by those around them." The company's mission is to improve the lives of babies and their families during the most difficult phase of development. They believe every baby deserves a Toofeze. For more information visit toofeze.com.

Buttons Diapers

2 one-size Buttons Diaper covers, 2 daytime inserts, & small wet bag - Retail value: $36
A quality and affordable two-in-one diapering system that consists of: wipeable PUL covers, and super-soft absorbent inserts that snap into the covers to stay in place! They fit babies from 9-35 lbs, have two layers of stretchy waterproof PUL throughout, and double gussets at the legs to keep messes in. With 8 adorable colors to choose from, and a tiny red button logo on the back - your wee one will be as cute as a button!
Buttons cloth diapers were born at home. As a husband and wife team, we designed our diapers to be easy to use and affordable for everyone - the way it should be. We believe in keeping our lives simple, even when it comes to diapering. Our company is based in the beautiful Skagit Valley of Northwest Washington, where our family enjoys hiking, biking, sailing, and splashing in puddles. For more information visit buttonsdiapers.com.

Booby Trapper

Eternity Booby Trapper - Retail value: $48
Featuring an exclusive dual-rim design, Booby Trapper is the only nursing cover to keep fabric off the bust area to allow for complete eye contact and air circulation for the nursing pair. We are giving away our extremely popular Eternity pattern, a gender-neutral trendy print.
Designed by a mother of 3, Booby Trapper was born out of a recognized need for a superior nursing cover. Blankets and one-rim covers just wouldn’t cut it as her daughter hated having the fabric flop in her face and she was stuck using her only free hand to hold the fabric away constantly both for air, eye contact and to check for a proper latch. After many trials, Booby Trapper’s revolutionary, dual-suspension design was achieved and now mothers everywhere are able to nurse much more comfortably in public without having to fight with their covers! For more information visit boobytrapper.ca.

Koble

1 Stone Grey and 1 Big Apple Red Portable Changing Shield - Retail value: $70

The evolution of the baby diaper changing pad is here. A large, clean surface in a clever little pouch!
Completely covers all safety approved changing stations - no more disposable changing pads!
Extra large size (27 x 40) shields even the most athletic babies from yucky public spaces
Lightweight durable fabric easily wipes clean is machine washable and machine dryable
Openings in shield allow safety belts to be used when changing on public stations
Quilted body pillow for comfort
Attached storage pouch makes it easy to store changing shield for transport and easy access
Drawstring pouch closes tight to keep changing station germs contained inside
55% Polyester 45% Nylon. Free of BPA, phalates, and PVC. Scandinavian design born in NYC. Made in China.

Koble is Norwegian for "connect". We use Scandinavian design principles to bring you attractive, clever, affordable designs that work to make your life better. Our first line of products are made for the special people who take care of the smallest people - moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nannies, and many more. We know from experience that there are plenty of opportunities to make life easier for these folks! For more information visit mykoble.com.

Omaïki

Mama Maxi pads (2) + Mini-Maxi pads (2) + Bamboo panty liners (2) + snack sacks duo - Retail value: $63.50
Feminine protection starter kit (very comfortable and absorbent, made of bamboo/coton, holds in place with snaps closures) + one Gustö-duo, which includes one snack bag and one sandwich bag (Colors/Prints : winner’s choice)
Omaïki started in 2007, with Anouk & Ariane: moms, best friends and business partners. The brand offers a great and complete line of high-end products, made in Canada: cloth diapers, training pants, night time panties, feminine pads, swim diapers, snack sacks and more... For more information visit omaiki.com.

Enter to win this Fabulous Gift Set! Retail value: $412

Follow the social media pages of your favorite brands to enter this giveaway.

Tip! You are not required to follow all the pages. Each page you follow is simply an additional giveaway entry. If you would like to follow many of the pages, we recommend entering over the course of several days and liking a maximum of 20 pages per day so facebook doesn't flag your account for unusual activity.

This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.
Mommy must have giveaway prizes

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Bloggers participating in this giveaway are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment.

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Benefits of Cord Blood Banking + Enter to Win Babies-R-Us Gift Cards!

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

This is a sponsored post. I received a gift or another form of compensation to write this post. However, I only support and recommend products and companies that I believe in.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I received an email about cord blood banking. Then later at a regular OB visit I received a pamphlet. But honestly I just wasn't given enough information. Then I saw a commercial on TV about cord blood banking and how this women saved her older son's life (who had leukemia) because she had saved her younger son's cord blood. I cried and then did more research.

Through cord blood banking at LifebankUSA, you can collect and preserve potentially lifesaving stem cells, and doing so could one day save the life of your child or a blood relative. You can bank even more stem cells by collecting them from 2 usable sources of stem cell-rich blood: the umbilical cord and the placenta. This service is called Placental and Cord Blood Banking, and it's available only from LifebankUSA. Whether you choose Placental and Cord Blood Banking or Cord Blood Banking alone, there are many important reasons to choose LifebankUSA.

We didn't take advantage of cord blood banking with my daughter. But I am highly considering it with this baby.

LifebankUSA is the only company that offers cord blood, placenta blood and tissue banking-- and the first to release placenta-derived stem cells for a successful transplant. LifebankUSA is a technological leader that is pioneering key medical innovations in the field.

LifebankUSA is spreading the word about the benefits of cord blood banking and giving away THREE $150 Babies-R-Us Gift Cards! How is that for some spending money in your pocket! I created a baby registry with my daughter and decided to go ahead with making one for this little one as well. And OF COURSE I registered at Babies-R-Us. They have everything an expecting mom, new mom, or established mom could ever need.

Entry is simple! Just "Like" LifeBankUSA on Facebook and enter here! Winners will be chosen at random. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. By entering the contest, you understand that you are providing your information to LifebankUSA and not to Facebook.

Hurry and enter! Contest Ends 3/15/14!

This is a sponsored post. I received a gift or another form of compensation to write this post. However, I only support and recommend products and companies that I believe in.

Feel the Love Giveaway Hop {$50 Matilda Jane Clothing Gift Card}

Friday, January 31, 2014

Welcome to the Feel the Love Giveaway Hop hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network.

Love is in the air as Valentine's Day approaches and I've joined with a group of bloggers who want you to Feel the Love this February! Each blogger in this Hop has a giveaway worth at least $25 that you are sure to love!

We have been loving Matilda Jane Clothing for a while now. So I am very excited to have them as a sponsor again for this wonderful giveaway hop.
"It's all about keeping a little girl...a little girl. Keeping her youthful. Keeping her spinning and twirling and carefree. And most importantly, bringing her happiness." – Denise DeMarchis, designer and founder.

One lucky Nanny to Mommy reader will get the chance to win a $50 Matilda Jane Clothing Gift Card.
Entry is easy! Just feel out the Rafflecopter below! Only required entry is to comment. Winner's entries are verified. Must be 18+ to enter, Open to US only.

Enter to #win a $50 Matilda Jane Gift Card during #BMNLove #Giveaway Hop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Once you finished entering my giveaway, hop on over and enter to win the lovely Grand Prize - where you'll find a Maggie Bags Butterfly Bag, a delicious spread of Lovely Candy Co, and a girl's best friend - jewelry thanks to Jewelry in Candles by Karine!

Enter the Grand Prize.

So Easy Being Green, Viva Veltoro, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Feel the Love participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Bringing Home Baby: Birth Plans

Welcome back to our weekly series! This week we are discussing Birth Plans and why you should have one.
I had a birth plan when I had my daughter. But a lot of the things I wanted went out the window because I had to be induced, like being able to walk around to help alleviate labor pains. My mother-in-law scoffed at the idea when she found out I had one, but there are a ton of reasons why you should have one. So let's dig into them.

So what is a birth plan?
According to BabyCenter: "A birth plan is a document that tells your medical team your preferences for such things as how to manage labor pain. Of course, you can't control every aspect of labor and delivery, and you'll need to stay flexible in case something comes up that requires your birth team to depart from your plan. But a printed document gives you a place to make your wishes clear when you have a choice."
You should always talk to your doctor or midwife about your wishes before hand, but it's nice to have a birth plan when you go to the hospital just so the doctors and nurse can stay up to speed on your wishes and needs.

Why do you need a birth plan?
Do you want an epidural, no epidural, or go completely unmedicated?
Do you want a routine episiotomy?
Do you want to breastfeed or formula feed?
Do you want to circumcise or not?
Do you want to bank your child's cord blood?
Do you want to delay your baby's first bath?
Do you want to give your baby a pacifier or not?

These are all questions answered in your birth plan. Hospitals tend to have routines they like to stick to, but your labor is just that...yours. You don't want to feel robbed of a certain experience just because you didn't ask before hand, like having your baby cleaned on your chest so you can start bonding immediately or delay your baby's first bath so you can breastfeed as long as your baby wants to for that first time. Some of the things in a birth plan are routine. But you need to make sure everyone is on board. You have talked to your doctor about your plan and they understand your needs, but that doesn't mean the nurses at the hospital know. You should also talk to your partner/labor team and let them understand your birth plan, so they can get on board and help make sure unnecessary inventions aren't taking over. If you have no certain desires either way or you are a go-with-the-flow type of person, that's great! But even you should still have a birth plan too. It may not be as long or specific as others, but there will be some things that you will want to go one way or the other.

Here is a GREAT list of 10 FREE Printable Birth Plans.

I suggest going through each one and customizing one that's perfect for you. Grab a GREAT & FREE Birth Plan from Earth Mama Angel Baby!

I had a birth plan and no not everything went according to plan, but I am so glad I had one. Some of the things on my birth plan weren't very specific because I truly was go with the flow on most of the topics, but the main things I wanted happened the way I wanted them to and that was because I had a birth plan. So do your research and make an educated decision before diving in. Remember women have been this forever, but you are unique and so is your labor.

Did you have a birth plan? Did everything go according to plan? Looking back, would you change your original birth plan?