Pampers Swaddlers Sampling

Disclosure: This review was made possible by Crowdtap and Pampers. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

As parents, we all love the small little things that our children do during their first few years of life. We want to cherish those memories forever. Every little thing that your child learns or does is a first and should be recognized by us as parents.

I will never forget when my children came home from the hospital in their teeny little outfits that they swam in. Then as they developed, small little things happened that made me grin from ear to ear. They were all simple things too. A small smile, a first tooth, first pair of shoes, the first haircut, the first step, and even the first fall. 

Sometimes I wish I could relive the feelings of those events over and over. But there are ways to keep the memories a live a little longer, and keep your child comfortable too. With the launch of Pampers Swaddlers in sizes 4 and 5  Pampers Swaddlers are Pampers’ softest diaper ever, and while moms have always loved Swaddlers for their newborns, Swaddlers are now available through size 5! Which means, baby can stay in the diaper mom loves throughout her baby’s diapering years. 

 

 

Over The Mountain and Through the Woods

Disclosure: The Purex brand provided me with a sample of Purex Crystals Fresh Mountain Breeze in exchange for a product review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by another party.

I was very surprised with the ease and effectiveness of these little crystals. The Purex Complete Crystals are very easy to use because they go in at the start of the wash, I have never used the softeners that have to be added later because I am just too busy to deal with it.

I found that the Fresh Mountain Breeze scent is a nice change of pace from the everyday baby smelling fabric softeners. I loved the way my clothed smelled after placing them in the laundry. (Where is my ability to share scents with my readers?)

All of my clothes came out soft, lightly scented, and static free. I noticed that there were no small oil spots on any of my clothing either. The best part, I know that when using Purex Crystals, I am not removing any fire retardants or moisture absorbancy from any of the items that I wash. 

They are 92% natural and not oil based like other fabric softeners so instead of coating the fabric, the crystals infuse the fabric with softness and a light pleasant scent. Purex Complete Crystals Softeners are safe for all laundry and will not harm, wear down or discolor your fabrics like oil-based softeners. Safe for all fabrics, including baby clothes, athletic wear, towels, and whites. Unlike other
softeners, Crystals WILL:

•Retain your athletic wear’s wicking ability which draws sweat away from your body
•Maintain your towels’ built-in ability to absorb water
•Keep your clothes smelling fresh for weeks, not days!

To celebrate the new Fresh Mountain Breeze scent, Purex is hosting the Over The Mountain and Through the Woods Sweepstakes. You can enter here for chance to win $500 or a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Fresh Mountain Breeze


Purex Crystals are a great way to freshen your laundry with ease. Go check them out for yourself!

Tommee Tippee 360° sealer™ Diaper Disposal System Review

Exclusively at Babies“R”Us, the 360° sealer™ individually seals each dirty diaper to help lock in odor

I have never used a diaper disposal system before the  Tommee Tippee 360° sealer™  so I had not expectations. Not that I like going out to the garbage can everytime my child poops, but I have not had any other experiences.

When the Tommee Tippee 360° sealer™  arrived, I was ready to get started. In fact, I was so ready, I forgot to read the instructions (OOPS!). Fortunately, instructions are not really required. Overall it only took about a minute to set up the refill and have the Tommee Tippee 360° sealer ready to go. 

Now it is time for the big test....the poopy diaper test! After dropping in a dirty diaper and a twist of the knob, I was done. Yup, that really is all there was to it. Well, I am still repeating these steps since the dirty diapers have not stopped, but it is so easy that I do not mind.

Inside view. Drop a diaper in!

The plastic refill does not seem like it would do much since it is so thin, but it really does trap in the odor. The only time I noticed any form of "stink" is when I went to dump the bin when it was full.

The pail comes fully assembled

The pail can hold up to 30 diapers

Each refill seals up to 100 diapers

The film contains built-in antimicrobial protection

The color indicator in the film lets you know when you’re running low

The film is made from easy to tear material, making emptying the diaper pail quick and simple

EasiSlide drawer for easy emptying

I have been very happy with the  Tommee Tippee 360° sealer. This is a great  and affordable way to hide stinky diapers and keep away the smell.

Caramel Matchaccino Anyone?

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

What is Matchaccino? It’s a special green tea powder mix made to be as easy and convenient to use as possible. 100% Natural. Just grab a table spoon of the mix, add glass of milk, few ice cubes and blend it.


Since I usually pick up a cup of coffee, not tea, I figured this review may be a little difficult. But I found that it was pretty darn easy.

The first cup that I made, I actually had to modify a little bit. I found that it was a little bitter for my taste and that it needed to be watered down a little bit. The next glass of  Caramel Matchaccino that I made turned out much better. I had to play with the Caramel Matchaccino mix and the water mix until I found what combination worked best for me.

The natural benefits of green tea are great but knowing that this is a low fat, low calorie alternative is just a bonus. Since I am frugal, this is a great way to get a classic Caramel Matchaccino frappe style drink in your home and avoid paying the coffee shop prices. Each serving of Caramel Matchaccino mix will average about $1 per drink when you figure out how many drinks you can get out of a bag. That is way cheaper that having a coffee shop make one for you.


 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.

SodaStream Source Review

I recently received a Soadstream Source from SodaStream USA and was like a kid in a candy store. I did not know where to start. Which flavor soda should I make first? It was a hard decision, but I figured that since I had young children at my feet I would try one of their natural products.

Setting up the machine was very easy. I had to insert the CO2 canister and the actual unit was ready to use. I made sure that I washed the reusable bottle that came with the unit with soap and water to remove and unknown residues from packaging, and then I was ready to go.

Using the SodaSteam was even easier than setting it up!  (Okay, okay, so there was no set up time. Don’t I get credit for washing the bottle?) Attaching the reusable bottle was a little awkward the first time just because I had never done it before, but it got much easier as I made more drinks.

When making your drinks, you need to realize that you are only adding carbonation to water. You do not add the flavoring until the water has carbonation. This will keep the unit from getting clogged and malfunctioning.

When adding the syrup to the water, there is a standard measurement, but you can adjust the level of flavor to your specific taste. Be very careful adding the flavor to the carbonated water. If you pour it in fast you will have a big mess to clean up (trust me, I tried).

I have tried several of the flavors so far, but I am on the hunt for new ones too. I really enjoyed the natural's flavors and would love to see more and more naturals varieties become available in the future. There are unique flavors like black currant pear and apple mango. The naturals also contain real sugar.

The standard flavors and diet varieties all contain some artificial sweetener in them. Since I could adjust the syrup to my taste, they were not too sweet and very refreshing.

Some of the new flavors I found at a local store are definitely fun to try. Flavors like Margarita, Piña Colada, and Cosmopolitan. Watch out! Here comes Grammy with new ways to add flair to her favorite drinks!

I found that I did need to purchase a couple of spare carbonating bottles. One is just not enough (for me). I purchased a twin pack at a local store and filled them with plain water. To make it easier, I stored them in the refrigerator until I was ready to make a drink. By doing this, the beverages were already cold when I made them and they did not require ice right away.

One last little bit of information that i am sure will be helpful. I found that the carbonation would last about 7 to 10 days depending on if a syrup was added and how many times the bottle was opened. There is an expiration date on the carbonation bottles so they will have to be replaced but not for quite some time.

Overall the SodaStream is a great product. They are fun to have around and very easy to use.  I think that this will become the big hit at birthday parties and family gatherings in the future.
This is a great gift idea for anyone that you know. Think of all the possibilities.

Get Ready For Prom

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. 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.”

If you were a teenage girl once, you know that finding the perfect dress is not a quick process. You want just the right color, just the right style, and the perfect fit. No one wants to look just like everyone for their special day. With the Holidays wrapping up and the New Year well under way it is time to start planning ahead. With prom sneaking up on us fast it is time to start thinking about shopping for that perfect prom dress.

Feel free to drive around from store to store look and waiting while your daughter digs through the racks and tries on endless styles and colors. But, there is an easier way to find the perfect dress for her special night. Start looking for a prom dress at DressFirst.com.  You will find styles from floor length prom dresses to plus size prom dresses. 

Maybe your daughter is on the hunt for the perfect floor length dress that will make her stand out from the crowd. She finds a dress that she really likes but really had a color other that what is pictured on the site. Then keep looking. Just because you see a picture on of a blue dress, does not mean that is all that is available. 

If you are looking for a great A-line dress, the A-Line Princess Sweetheart Floor-Length Taffeta Organza dress is a great choice and you can change the coloring from white all the way to a full black. This was the dress that jumped out at me first. This two-tone dress has a little bit of everything to make your princess standout from the crowd. With color options for both the bodice and the skirt, you are sure to have a look that is fit for a princess. 

 

 

Maybe you would like to add a touch of class to that A-line dress.  A-Line/Princess Sweetheart Floor-Length Chiffon Prom dress is a great choice. Adding just a touch of sparkle and a little more class this dress is the perfect fit for a night of dancing and fun.

Maybe an A-Line is not the style that you are looking for. Keep looking; there are dresses that will fit every style and personality.  Or maybe you want a different style to choose your own bodice and skirt colors. There are many to choose from. Dress First is sure to keep your daughter stylish for her prom night without all of the hassle of the mall.