NEW LOOK!

So I'm testing out a NEW look on the blog! Please comment and let me know what you think! I am having an issue still with my gdiapers banner and the NurtureMe Store, so bear with me :)

We are also saying HELLO to a NEW Cover image, compliments of Photography by Kay , which we are really excited about! We figured after almost 3 years, it was time to change it up! <3

Lastly, I want to remind you that Facebook and Twitter are ABLAZE with holiday shopping DEALS and preparing for our #12DaysofChristmas #Seasonofgiving extravaganza which starts DECEMBER 5th!

* Teasers for GIVEAWAYS and Promo deals will start Dec 1st*

Enjoy, and happy giving!! <3

Is there such a thing as Thursday Surf? :) Because I have some GREAT new reads for you!

Most recent post by Sparkle Mama is an incredible post about her and her families journey to financial freedom and inherent inability to feel stable in the moment. Following a financial program, they have ceased paying their mortgage and are paying off all their other debt. They are awaiting a short sale or foreclosure, and are now feeling like temporary guests in their own home, until they have a more concrete plan.

I can relate to that in-between feeling having experienced a foreclosure, as well as my 8 moves in 5 years! Ugh! , I hate it. The stress it causes makes me anxious, and NOT a happy person to be around. So what has Sparkle Mama done in order to feel more like she has a plan? She's pregnant!! :) Yayyyy!

Congratulations Sparkle Mama! 

Natural Parents Network just posted an ironic post (given my recent discussion on my preschooler), on Parenting the Spirited Preschooler. I LOVE LOVE LOVE, did I say LOVE?, the suggestions of checking diet, keeping to a schedule, toddler-wearing, and relating to your preschooler as ways to help with the 'spirited' behavior of a crazy toddler!

I, too, struggle with the discipline and "control" of my preschooler at home and in public when his energy takes over :) I am lucky in that my toddler is typically respectful and overall a good listener, but I was SO glad (and relieved that I wasn't the only one) to read this article!

What were your favorite reads this week?

NNM Update

Given the recent break, I wanted to remind you of a couple features of our blog here at NNM;

-Be sure to check out the NurtureMe Store, which features products mentioned here on the blog.

-Check out some of our new 'buttons' down the sides of the blog- I only place ones I feel very strongly about and encourage you to check them out. Be sure to tell them NNM sent ya!

-If you haven't already, check out my latest guest post over at Spiritual Momma.


and, of course, find NNM on Twitter and Facebook

:)

Happy Summer!

Rock a Bye Booty: Review & Giveaway *CLOSED*

Who wants some fluff? :) 

Our latest product review has been kindly provided by Tanya, the fabulous mama over at Rock a Bye Booty. If you're even remotely familiar with the world of mommy-blogging, you also know you find her name in many other places too :) 

I was sent a fabulous cloth diaper cover, in the Green Bubble print; 

So I am a total moron, and when we first discussed doing this review/giveaway, it did not occur to me that the diaper was a "cover" (clearly after 10 months, I am apparently still a newbie in the world of cloth diapering!). As you've discovered through my various past blogs, we use primarily g Diapers and have recently added Blissful Booty Cloth Diapers to our stash. 

I have no idea how to use pre folds. Is that even what they're called? See, I am a folded-cloth-diaper-moron. Nonetheless, I found an AMAZING use for the diaper cover in our house.... nighttime!

Leaks at night, especially with a cloth diaper, are terrible. It requires washing of sheets, jammies, blankets, toys, and of course, the diaper. In my case, this usually includes a cloth insert, a snap liner, and an outer shell. Booooo... 

To prevent said leaks, I had previously been adding a disposable g liner ON TOP of the cloth liner inside the g pant. (No idea what I'm talking about? see the g diapers website for more info.) Anyways, so this time, I used my regular g pant and cloth liner (minus the disposable insert) and added instead the Rock a Bye Booty diaper cover. Ummm, FABULOUS! 

The inside is this super soft, yet water resistant material that made it so all I had to wash in the morning was the g diaper and insert and NOT her whole bed! I wasn't sure how the fit differs from over a folded diaper, but the cinched sides and wide waist band made it fit snug, and yet was still soft, comfortable, and provided for easy mobility. The material is not in any way starchy or constricting.

Baby A's nighttime diaper leakage is primarily my fault, because I do the "horrible mom" thing of sending her to bed with a bottle. (I know, gasp!) But hey, she sleeps... so don't judge unless you were here the first 6 months. Anyways, so at probably no fault of the g diaper- she leaks right through, almost nightly. And having the disposable AND cloth insert in there were making her little g pant butt super bunchy- sometimes I wondered if she would even be able to move her tiny little legs! :)

The thinness of the Rock a Bye Booty cover is a great alternative in not the only the fact that it prevented the leaks from getting to her clothes or to the bed, but also in the comfort factor! Her cloth diaper butt was a whole lot less... fluffy... : )

* She also sent me the cloth wipes you see in the photo and the fleece material feels SO luxurious, I actually felt guilty using it to wipe her butt! <3

So, wanna WIN some BOOTY of your own??!
* Contest is now CLOSED* 

* Just follow Rock a Bye Booty via Google Friend Connect, or subscribe by email

* Make sure you already follow NurturingtheNaturalMama via Google Friend Connect

To enter, just comment below that you have followed Rock a Bye Booty and NNM (be sure to include your email in your comment). 

WINNER will win this CUSTOM design by Rock a Bye Booty

 

Additional Entries: 

You can enter a second and third time by; 

* Finding and 'liking' Rock a Bye Booty on Facebook 

* Finding and 'liking' NNM on Facebook

For additional entries, comment below if you are following Rock a Bye Booty and/or NNM on Facebook (again, be sure to include your email in your comment). 

* Please add a SEPARATE comment for each action so you get more chances to win! 

BONUS

Share this giveaway on FB or Twitter, and comment below EACH DAY that you do so (leave your email or twitter handle in your comment) and it counts as a new entry EACH DAY! 

Contest ENDS Thursday June 23rd at 7pm EST. Winner will be announced by Friday. 

Goodluck!

DADS ROCK: Father's Day Giveaway WINNERS

Update: DADS ROCK Giveaway, AND THE WINNERS ARE.......

Happy Father's Day!

The WINNER of the $15 Gift Card from Natural Family Supplies is...

Arely Colin

The WINNER of the FREE bag of cloth diaper detergent from Rockin Green   is...

Arely Colin 

The WINNER of the Custom Decal from Educated Mama Decals  is...

Arely Colin

The WINNER of the Moby Wrap (picked using www.random.org) is...

Alicia Tebbetts

The WINNER of the FREE one hour coaching session from Purejoy Parenting   goes to...

Sparkle Mama for her participation <3

The men's suit donated by The Dark Orchid , will go directly to One Simple Wish 
One Simple Wish
1977 N. Olden Ave
#292
Trenton, NJ 08618

Congratulations to all our winners! And we look forward to the 2nd annual DADS ROCK Father's Day Giveaway 2012! 

 

RealMama Week starts Monday June 6th

Guest posts welcome for THIS week! I want to feature RealMamas and issues that affect real mamas!

No blogging experience necessary! So far, you can expect some incredible guest posts by : 

Leslie Potter from Purejoy Parenting

LR Knost of Little Hearts Books (Gentle Parenting Resources) 

Michelle Collins from The Economical Eater

Sarah from  Spiritual Momma 

Feel free to send me your RealMama post via email at mymackey@gmail.com

Rules/Guidelines: 

None. I want authentic pieces from mamas about motherhood, day to day life, the good and the bad, and/or from those who have information or stories that could benefit mamas.

and have FUN! because that's the point of all of this after all :) 

THANK YOU!

Blissful Booty Cloth Diapers *Giveaway* CLOSED

Figured I'd start the Holiday week with a giveaway! (Ok, so my week is starting technically mid-week, but who's keeping track?!)

photo courtesy of www.blissfulbooty.com

Blissful Booty was kind enough to send me a AIO Ultra cloth diaper with a booster to try for baby A. Since I had already used and reviewed their diaper, which I had received as a gift, in my post entitled Newest Additions to Our Stash and LOVED them, I was excited to try them with the booster!

Just as before, the diaper fits comfortably and snug. The fabric, I will repeat, is exceptionally soft and luxurious! And the booster is no exception. It is the same soft and wonderful fleece material with a canvas-ish backing that slips into the folds of the diaper, similar to how a maxi pad secures to your undergarment.

And at first, when I saw the small size of the booster (compared to the g cloth insert for example) I was unsure how much this little piece of fleece could really help. Much to my delight, when I went to change baby A, that little booster had absorbed almost ALL the urine! I was able to just place another booster inside the same AIO diaper to freshen her up! It was great!

I also use my BBCDs without the booster, as they are not a necessity, but they do certainly help with overnight wetness, and as I just mentioned, it occaisonally can save you on extra washes :)

I have mentioned this before as well, but the fit of the BBCD s is great! I love that it has velcro and snaps for a snug and secure fit, and after having used these diapers, I plan to have the alterations place next door to me add some snaps to the gDiapers in my stash that are losing their velcro!

Blissful Booty Cloth Diapers, as you've probably noticed from my blog, my facebook page, and my tweets- are quickly becoming a new fave of mine in cloth diapers and cloth diaper accessories. 

* GIVEAWAY * CLOSED

In honor of their fabulous products, I am also doing a GIVEAWAY of a sample of their cloth wipes (4 in all), a sample bottle of their Heavenly Honeysuckle wipe water concentrate WITH a 4 oz spray bottle, AND a tube of Blissful Booty Lip Balm!

contest winnings shown here

To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Follow NurturingtheNaturalMama via GFC and Comment below that you did so. In your comment, please list your favorite item from the Blissful Booty website (one NOT mentioned in this blog). And GO! <3

Additional Entries: 

Want another chance at winning? Do one or all of the items below, and leave a comment below that you did so. Be sure to include your EMAIL in EACH comment so I can contact you should you win. 
* Each additional entry does need a SEPERATE comment below.

1. Find  Blissful Booty Cloth Diapers and 'like' them on Facebook
2. Follow BBCD on Twitter
3. Find and 'like'  NurturingtheNaturalMama on Facebook
4. Follow NNM on Twitter
5. SHARE this giveaway with your friends! (you can use FB and/or Twitter to enter)

Goodluck to ALL! and THANK YOU to Blissful Booty for this great giveaway!

Contest CLOSES Friday at 9pm EST.

Instinctual Mamas Post: The Joy of Making Your Own Baby Food

Check out my latest guest post over at Instinctual Mamas entitled You Want Me to Eat What?! The Joy (yes, the joy) of Making Your Own Baby Food. Enjoy! 

Be sure also to follow Instinctual Mama's via GFC, and find them and 'like' them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter- and let them know NNM sent you! <3 

NNM NEWS: Guest Post & Reader comments

NurturingtheNaturalMama had our first official guest post, published May 12, 2011, compliments of Mama Eve: Your Natural Parenting Resource

So, if you haven't already, go check out my Top 10 Baby Registry Must Haves. Let me know what your top 10 would be! 

And, of course, visit Mama Eve on Facebook and Twitter and let her know NurturingtheNaturalMama sent you! 

And in response to my recent post on my unfortunate miscarriage, Too Beautiful for Earth: Heaven's Newest Angel Baby, a reader sent me the poem below. I had seen this poem before, but it was just so beautiful that someone would send this to me in a private email. I wanted to share this poem with everyone, even though the reader wanted to remain anonymous (but thank you so much :) ) 

Lullabies
Daddy please don`t look so sad,
Mommy please don`t cry.
I am in the arms of Jesus
and He sings me lullabies.
Please do not try to question God,
don`t think He is unkind.
Don`t think He sent me to you and that
He changed His mind.
You see, I am special
and I`m needed up above.
I`m the special child you gave Him,
the product of your love.
I`ll always be there with you.
So watch the sky at night.
Find the brightest star that`s gleaming.
That`s my halo`s brilliant light.
So Daddy please don`t look so sad.
Mommy please don`t cry.
I am in the arms of Jesus.
And He sings me lullabies.
~Author Unknown

* This post was featured in a Tweet today from NursingBling and her #Newborn Daily: http://paper.li/tag/newborn

NNM NEWS: GIVEAWAY & upcoming guest post

* GIVEAWAY *  


CLOSED 4/28/11 7pm EST WINNER is al_arely! Congratulations!

ONE more day left to enter The Clean Bedroom Giveaway for a $25.00 Gift Card and copy of the Green Babies, Sage Moms book, which includes an introduction by my FAVE Harvey Karp! 

* GUEST POST * 

And, keep an eye out May 12th for my guest post about Newborn Parenting on Mama Eve- Your Natural Parenting Resource!

Find her on Facebook and Twitter 

and let her know NNM sent ya! <3

The Clean Bedroom * GIVEAWAY * CLOSED

CLOSED 4/28/11 7pm EST WINNER is al_arely! Congratulations! 

Did you like my review of the Rejuvenation pillow from The Clean Bedroom ? Wanna win a gift card ??

photo credit: The Clean Bedroom on Facebook

Courtesy of The Clean Bedroom, our winner will receive a $25 Gift Card and their very own copy of Green Babies, Sage Moms 

(which has an introduction by Harvey Karp- author of Happiest Baby on the Block- one of my parenting MUST haves :) )

To Enter: 

1. Comment after the product review  with your favorite product from their website

2. Follow NurturingtheNaturalMama via Google Friend Connect, and comment below that you did so (be sure to include your email in your comment). 

3. Subscribe to The Clean Bedroom blog , and comment below that you did so in a SEPARATE comment (again, be sure to include your email). 

Additional Entries: 

For additional entries, you can do any or all of the following, but each must have a SEPARATE comment below WITH your email to qualify: 

* 'like' NurturingtheNaturalMama on Facebook

* 'like' The Clean Bedroom on Facebook and comment on their wall that NNM sent you!

* Follow NurturingtheNaturalMama on Twitter

* Follow The Clean Bedroom on Twitter

* Share this giveaway on your FB status by tagging NNM and The Clean Bedroom

* Tweet this giveaway

Ok, HAVE FUN! Giveaway is open until Thursday at 7pm EST. Enjoy! <3

* CLOSED* 1st GIVEAWAY! Should have done it earlier..... :)

Allright peeps, for those that enjoyed my review of the Skoy Cloth, I am giving one away!! I've been holding out to figure out the best way to do this lol, but I'm just gonna bite the bullet and go for it! :)

To ENTER;

1. Follow NurturingtheNaturalMama with Google Connect and comment below that you did so
2. Follow Mountaintop Tribe: Our Natural Family Life  with Google Connect and comment below that you did so.
* Be sure to include your name and email in your comment so I can contact you should you win.

For additional entries:
3. 'Like' NurturingtheNaturalMama on Facebook and comment on the wall, tagging Mountaintop Tribe Natural Family Supplies that you're entering to WIN
4. 'Like' Mountaintop Tribe Natural Family Supplies on  Facebook and comment on the wall, tagging NurturingtheNaturalMama that you're entering to WIN
5. Follow NurturingtheNaturalMama on Twitter and comment below that you did so.
6. Follow Mountaintop Tribe on Twitter and comment below that you did so.
* Again, be sure to include your name and email in your comments here on the blog so I can contact you.

WINNER gets a purple SKOY cloth to check out, and get's their name put in TWICE for the next giveaway. (That's right everyone.... the NEXT giveaway! Coming sooooooon...... ) :) 

Winner will be chosen at random on Saturday April 9th, 2011. Good luck!

Also, be sure to Enter Natural Family Supplies' Gear to Go Green Earth Day Sweepstakes!

Nurturing the Nurturer

Just thought this was SO fitting for this blog :) Thank you to The Leaky B@@b for writing it! :)

Check out 22 Ways to Nurture the Nurturer

Fill me in on your favorite Leaky B@@b post!