Mom4Life Blog » 2011

Serving trays: the hidden use

By mom4life | Category: Recipes & Kitchen Tips | Posted Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I found a new little kitchen trick quite by accident. We recently had a backyard camp out and I used a serving tray to bring all our food outside. Later after I had washed it and before I stored it away, I realized how useful that little tray could be when I am making a recipe. Instead of making multiple trips to and from the pantry, I simply loaded up the serving tray once and I was set! Easy peasy lemon squeeasy!

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Overnight Bamboobies Organic Reusable Breast Pads – A Mom 4 Life Giveaway

By mom4life | Category: 4 Free Friday Giveaway | Posted Friday, August 26, 2011

San Diego Bebe Eco-Nursing Pillow (for one baby or twins) 20% off!
San Diego Bebe Eco-Nursing Pillow is a deluxe privacy pillow with a comfort bolster for support, comfort and discretion for both mom and baby and is designed GREEN for a new generation of eco-minded mothers and their babies…

Congratulations to Marlena Urbain for winning our San Diego Bebe Eco-Nursing Pillow this week!
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Watch my review video of San Diego Bebe Eco-Nursing Pillow here!

Overnight Bamboobies Organic Reusable Breast Pads
Retail Price: $22.25
Overnight Bamboobies are the biggest and softest pads available, loved by new mamas everywhere. Overnights’ softness prompted one new mother to call Bamboobies “cashmere sweaters for my boobies”!…
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Winner will receive a package of Overnight Bamboobies which contains 2 pairs!

Watch Heather’s review video of Overnight Bamboobies here!

TO ENTER:

Please fill out THIS KWIKSURVEY. Comments on the blog will not count as entries. The survey will ask for your contact information (only for the purpose of contacting you if you win).
You can earn yourself a second entry by watching Heather’s Overnight Bamboobies Organic Reusable Breast Pads video!
You can earn yourself a third entry by promoting our giveaway on your own Facebook page.
The winner will be asked to post a review of the product on our site after they’ve had a chance to use it.
You have until Tuesday night, August 30, to enter. Good luck!

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Messy hair, small underwear & cheap skirts

By mom4life | Category: The Journey of Motherhood | Posted Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Since it is summer I haven’t (thankfully) had too many mornings that have required that I be out the door with all four kids. A few weeks ago however I took Hunter and Ashlyn to Vacation Bible School. I decided to simplify things by not doing my hair. No worries though, I did do it on Sunday so I was already set to go on Monday. It was one of those styles where I make two ponytails and then twist them up into little buns on either side of my head. It looked pretty good on day one, by day two I thought it might even look a little better—more relaxed and messy (you know the good kind of messy). On day three I think it hit its peak, it looked awesome. Day four was a bit of a stretch and I wondered if I might have silently crossed a hygiene barrier. On day five I took out my little buns and discovered lovely curls and waves waiting for me! Want to see what it looked like? Here is a WubbaNub video review I shot on day four:

While my kids were at VBS I used the opportunity to go shopping for school supplies with only two kids in toe. While shopping, I picked up a pack of underwear for Hunter. He just turned eight and I figured it was time he had some new skivvies. The fact that all the rest of his underwear are 4T might have had something to do with that.

While shopping for Hunter’s underpants I passed a table that had girls skirts for $1. Knowing how much Ashlyn loves dresses and skirts I slowed and pondered. “Only $1, do I buy one of each color? No, that seems excessive, just one or two should be fine.” After picking out two skirts and feeling very pleased with my find I headed for the checkout line. The next day when I was once again in this store (because the socks I bought for Hunter were too small and the pants I purchased for him were too big) I noticed that the $1 skirts had been marked up to $2! “What, $2? There is no way I am buying anymore now!” Now tell me, that is a little bit of frugal snobbery isn’t it?

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Nursing Tops: My top 4 picks

By mom4life | Category: Mom 4 Life Product Feedback, The Journey of Motherhood | Posted Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Three weeks after Tanner was born our family was in town running errands. Dinnertime approached so we decided to stop and eat at a new restaurant in town called Wing Stop. I am not sure why, but it seems that the majority of wing eaters are men as Ashlyn and I were the only female customers present. Naturally, Tanner got hungry as we sat down to eat (he is SO good at timing that) so I quickly scanned the small eatery for a “private” corner in which to nurse. As I sat with my back toward the rest of the restaurant as well as its customers, I felt comfortable to nurse freely. In fact I really didn’t concern myself to cover up beyond what would seem practical. That is until Tanner got a nice solid latch and my eyes wandered past the football game playing on the mounted TV screen and over to the security camera pointed directly at my exposed self!

In that moment my mind flashed to recall Jodie’s story who had a very similar experience motivate her to invent the Skinies nursing top and I had to giggle knowing I am not alone in creating an unintended peep show.

However, it is situations like this that make me incredibly thankful that moms have created products to simplify discreet nursing. With four children, it is no longer practical to find a private place to nurse, instead I feel successful if I can find a place to sit. Wearing a nursing top at least keeps my post-partum midsection covered while I wrangle my shirt, my leaking milk and my older kids into submission as I breastfeed.

Here are my favorites:

Glamourmom long tanks:

Pros: The long length of this tank is fantastic and I was even able to wear it throughout my pregnancy. Although I typically use my to layer, it can be worn alone.

Cons: I find that the inside circle nursing holes can be somewhat noticeable through the outer layer (especially on lighter colors) and some moms have mentioned that the holes do not align ideally with their breast.

Undercover Mama:

Pros: I can convert my favorite nursing bra into a tank top with this creative and comfortable invention allowing versatility in my wardrobe while allowing good support. The long length of this top also worked throughout my pregnancy.

Cons: It is limited to use as a layering top as your bra straps are fully exposed. Breast coverage while nursing may be less than with the Glamourmom or Skinies due to the fact that it folds down in the same way that your chosen nursing bra does.

You can see my YouTube Undercover Mama review video here.

Skinies:

Pros: Any nursing bra can be worn with this nursing cami. Cutout holes lay flush against your breast which allows you to layer without concern. Material is stretchy yet supportive providing a slight “holding in” to your post partum tummy.

Cons: Length is slightly less than that of the Glamourmom long tank or Undercover Mama (which may or may not be a con for others). If your bra color contrasts with the color of your Skinies, it may be visible if worn under a light colored top.

Blush t-shirt extender:

Pros: Effectively covers your belly. The length can be customized since the top is not attached to anything. Less fabric=less bulk when layering. Fabric is stretchy and can work for pregnancy as well.

Cons: Coverage is limited to the torso only. Limited to layering use only.

You can see my YouTube Blush t-shirt extender review video here.

What about you? Have a favorite? I would love to hear about it!

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