Weekly Giveaway – Lollitops…the hat that turns into a purse
By Heather Ledeboer | Category: Mom 4 Life News & Giveaways | Posted Friday, January 30, 2009
(until next Thursday night).
Things to do ahead of time before going into labor by a Mom 4 Life
By Heather Ledeboer | Category: It Worked 4 Me | Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2009
A Mom 4 Life blog reader sent me the following ideas that worked for her:
To make things easier for me I cooked a lot and froze meals. I also washed all of my daughter's clothes and bedding. I washed numerous bottles and pumping gear so I wouldn't have to wash them when I got home from the hospital. I packed earplugs in my hospital bag…so I could sleep before the sleepless nights.
I wash bottles, sippy cups and pumping gear at night so I will have them ready for the morning.
. . .
So now I ask you all, what did you are do you plan to do to make things easier before the baby arrives?
And I will leave a post note here that this simple post has been saved as a draft in my blog since April 25th, 2008. I had a whole slew of posts stored up and ready to schedule right before I was due to give birth to Sawyer. After his death, I just couldn't find a reason to post about things to do to get ready for a newborn and such like that so they have sat as drafts. . . I guess it speaks a bit to my healing to see that I can post this now. The pain is still very much there. I cry at unexpected times and it is still those deep, gut wrenching sobs or the quiet soulful tears. But, the painful connection that was once felt between the subject of birth, representing life and the reality of Sawyers birth that was only death, is beginning to be separated. For this I am thankful.
Check this out, a sandwich bag alternative!
By Heather Ledeboer | Category: Hot New Finds | Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2009
I love products that help me cut down on the amount of waste that I put into the garbage. I also love products that allow me to use less plastic. When I find one that does both, I need to share it with you! the Wrap-N-Mat is pretty great. Did you know that over 20,000,000 baggies are discarded and added to our landfills each day? The environmentally-friendly re-usable wrap replaces the need for sandwich bags and also serves as a place mat providing a clean eating surface anywhere!
WRAP-N-MAT® Wraps are the only RE-USABLE sandwich wrap and place-mat in one. Simply place the sandwich or other snack food on the mat and fold the WRAP-N-MAT® Wrap from left to right, top to bottom. Close the hook and loop tab; it’s that easy. Once opened, the place-mat feature works great at work, school cafeterias or picnic tables. They are easy to clean, just hand wash and air dry. The original size is 12.6” x 12.6”
Features:
* Eco-Friendly
* Perfect for work, school lunches, picnics, or anytime you're on the go!
* Wrap-n-mat can be used over and over.
* Convenient and easy to use!
* Inner lining keeps food fresh.
The main disadvantage that I could find is that they do use plastic in the lining so I am not fully avoiding plastic, just reducing the amount I buy and throw away if they replace my sandwich bags. Thankfully and importantly, the plastic is BPA and Phthalte free. The company mentions this: "Due to the lining, our WRAP-N-MAT® Wraps are NOT intended for hot foods, to be heated or to be microwaved. As with any plastic, placing hot food upon the lining will make it melt." This isn't a big deal as I don't do that in my sandwich bags anyway.
The second disadvantage is that it sounds like it won't last forever (which I guess shouldn't be a huge surprise, not much lasts forever). The company says, "A WRAP-N-MAT® Wrap can last up to six months of use without having to be replaced. A disposable plastic bag can take 1,000 years to decompose." I will be interested to see if indeed it needs replacing around six months.
The last note is that the craftmanship isn't perfect, just a few details like the label and Velco not being sewn in the center, but it is totally fine for holding my food in place so I can overlook that! Now if only they could have had it in something other than a plastic bag for the retail packaging 
. . . !
All in all I like it and look forward to using my new little find and think you might too.
Here is where I first found the Wrap-N-Mat where you can find some other products geared in this same direction of using less plastic. I also encourage you to visit Racheal's blog where she covers different topics related to being eco-friendly. Price on this site is $7.50 for one or $12.25 for two.
I would love to get your feedback on this mom invented product, what do you think?
Here is something unique~the C-Panty
By Heather Ledeboer | Category: Surprize Me! | Posted Monday, January 26, 2009
Just when you thought the g-string was the most interesting version of underwear to come along enters the C-Panty! The C-Panty is mom and MD created underwear specifically designed to address the recovery concerns following a C-section including swelling, scarring, sensitivity and discomfort. A high-quality, pull-on and go panty, C-Panty utilizes an incision area support panel as well as an inner silicone layer. Its innovative patent pending design is just the way to control swelling, comfort and hold in that little incision “pooch” while providing a compressive, moisture retaining area for minimizing scar appearance and scar symptoms.
C-Panty has a gently fluted waistband to prevent the discomfort of elastic on the sensitive healing structures, is seamless and, better yet, C-Panty’s incision compression panel helps hold down that pesky little C-shelf! Well done mom inventor, well done!
Annual preemie onesie drive hosted by a hurting mom
By Heather Ledeboer | Category: Hot New Finds | Posted Monday, January 26, 2009
One of my Mom 4 Life blog readers send me a link to a blog of a mom who says this in her profile:
"I'm 27 and a follower of Jesus Christ. I was blessed with a pregnancy in May of 2007. My daughter Carly was born 12 weeks early and lived for 4 months before passing from a heart defect on 3/9/08. Then one month later much to our surprise we were pregnant again. Things were going great and then suddenly things took a turn for the worst when on 11/7/08 our daughter Hannah was born sleeping. Like I said I'm a follower of Christ and I'm leaning on Him for my strength and courage to make it through each and every day."
Ohhhhh, my heart just aches for her. She knows my pain and MORE! She has found something to do with her pain and I wanted to post it here in case any of you would like to come along side of her cause. The following was cut and pasted directly from her blog, where you can go to find out more. (At the bottom of this post I have a way you can easily help out without moving from your computer).
This is the first annual preemie onesie drive being held by me (Rachel) and Ryan. We are collecting preemie onesies to donate to the babies that are staying in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). Ryan and I had our first daughter Carly in the NICU for 4 months before passing away from a heart defect. I know as well as other preemie parents of children in the NICU know that it's hard for your child to be there. It's hard in many ways. It's hard as far as gas is concerned because of the many daily trips to the hospital. A lot of times one of the parents (usually the moms) quit working to be at the hospital with their child as much as possible. This makes funds tight. Paying bills can become a struggle. And it makes it hard to buy your new little one the cute outfits that moms want to see their child in. So this is why I'm having this preemie onesie drive. To help parents enjoy seeing their little boy or girl dressed in a cute outfit. Carly got a cute outfit while she was in the NICU as a anonymous donation. It made me feel completely blessed. It was nice for someone to do this for her. Being in the NICU is a very stressful time. Some are only there for days while others are there for months and even over a year. Simple acts of kindness fills peoples hearts with happiness. I'm doing this donation in memory of Carly who passed away on 3/9/08. I will deliver the donated onesies on 3/9/09. And plan to do this as an annual thing.
Ways you can become involved…..
1. You can mail donated preemie onesies:
Rachel Mays
8701 Hornwood Ct.
Charlotte, NC 28215
2. You can donate money to go toward the purchase of new preemie onesies.
3. You can place a flyer in your church, staff break room at your job, or local businesses with a box to help gather donations and mail them to the PO Box. (If you gather a large donation I will gladly pay for shipping).
**I will make a flyer and send it to your email to print if you would like to help in that way.
I will keep updated post on onesies received. At the time of donation I will have several pictures to post on that special day. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. You can reach me at either carlynicoleelliotte@gmail.com or at carlynhannah@yahoo.com
Thanks for your help and participation,
Rachel and Ryan
I think it would be super if you want to contribute to this mom's onesie drive. Mom 4 Life has teamed up with My HodgePodgerie and would like to offer you 20% off her super cute onesies if you enter "newborn" in the customer comments during checkout. (We will refund you 20% when we process your order). To make it super easy for you, we suggest entering the shipping address as:
Rachel Mays
8701 Hornwood Ct.
Charlotte, NC 28215
We will email you when your order is processed and you can be assured that Rachel will receive your gift–the newborn size would be a great choice for this drive.
