Mom4Life Blog

Weekly Giveaway - The Love Handle® Child Walking Tether

Don't forget that TODAY is the last day you can get a free Mom 4 Life shirt with any order of $50 or more!

The Yaya Blanket Customizable Rag Quilts that we featured and gave away last week to Alison, are now 10% off (until next week Thursday night).

 

 

The Love Handle® Child Walking Tether by Liberté Apparel

Suggested Retail Price: $45.00

The Love Handle® is fully self-adjusting and fits children of all sizes from the time they take their first steps as toddlers, and for years to come. The Love Handle® uses no straps, snaps or other fasteners. It is made from durable cotton canvas and lined in lightweight cotton. The Love Handle® has been rigorously safety tested, and will securely support your child while allowing you to control the distance he or she travels. It is comfortable when worn, and easily folds to fit in a purse or diaper bag.

The Love Handle® is available in a variety of hip and sophisticated styles. It is perfect for use in shopping malls, boutiques, fairs, city sidewalks and other crowded areas. The Love Handle® gives today’s multi-tasking parents (and grandparents!) an extra hand, and allows children to express their independence outside the confines of a stroller, while safely within arm’s reach. With The Love Handle® adults look hip, and kids keep their dignity intact.

This unique apparel promotes child safety and improves the lives of parents, grandparents, caregivers and our children.

   To enter this week:
  Click on the link for The Love Handle Child Walking Tether and come back to the blog to tell us where you most fear losing track of your child.  You have until Tuesday the 4th at 9:00 PM PST to enter. Good luck!

Are You Wearing Good Shoes Today? by Angela Gifford

I have a bit of a thing for shoes. I can't help it. It is in the Balzer family blood. We tend to buy shoes first, and then find clothes to go with them. Unfortunately, my collection of forty or so pair that I had pre-motherhood quickly dwindled down to that two good trusty pairs per season as my feet grew a little each pregnancy. I'm finally rebuilding the collection a little here and there.

If you share my passion, you probably have (like me), a justifiable reason for each pair you purchase. After all, the gloom of a rainy day can be handled much more effectively if you have pink, plaid rainboots! Nothing makes a mom feel "hot" again like some high-healed, black leather boots. You can't golf well without golf shoes, and it would be silly to wear sandles in the snow or snow boots to the beach. Shoes have a purpose.

Shoes tend to also make me feel prepared for what I'm facing in the day. If I need confidence, I wear shoes that feel bold, chunky, and powerful. If I feel I need to be a little more light-hearted, I wear my ballet-style flats and glide through the day. If I want to be completely focused on the needs of others and not draw attention to myself in any way, I tend to wear my humble, brown loafers.

Okay, maybe I'm a bit over-the-top with this shoe thing, but I'm not alone. Even Fly Lady suggests that a stay at home mom dress down to her shoes in the morning, so she can face her day prepared for her job. There is something about shoes that makes one feel prepared and ready.

In Ephesians, Paul gives us instructions on how to arm ourselves spiritually and prepare for spiritual warfare. I find it interesting that the armor for the feet is described in this way: "For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared." Ephesians 6:15 NLV

I don't know if your home is like mine, but in my house (filled with testosterone), everything can turn into a battle. Everything somehow can be a sword. Wrestling is the favorite activity. Even our story- time puppet show tonight turned into combat between the octopus and the crab. You may not have four boys like me; but most of our homes often feel like a battle zone. We are either fighting a broken washing machine, stomach flu, or terrible twos. It is always something. God's Word instructs us to be prepared by putting on the peace that comes from embracing the good news in His Word.

I once heard someone compare our role as moms to that of a thermostat, rather than a thermometer. We are to set the temperature of our homes, not just read and react to the temperature. We need to set the tone for peace. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't have any basis for peace in my heart without the assurance of God's Word. I have to intentionally prepare myself on a daily basis to be a peacemaker.

What about you? Are you ready? Have you put good shoes on today?

A new BabyLegs lover

This email was sent to me and with permission I am passing it on to you below.  If you love BabyLegs too than stay tuned. . . we will soon be having some news you will want to hear;):

 

"I just wanted to show off a picture of my 3 month old daughter, Shelby wearing her brand new BabyLegs. My husband and I love them. It makes changing her diaper so much easier, and I love how they cover her legs when I'm wearing her in my Beco.  Before her pants would ride up and her little legs would get cold.  My husband thought they would be silly and a waste of money but he is just as addicted to them as I am.  We were just looking over your wonderful selection trying to decide which ones to order next!" 

Debra Holderman

Free maternity long sleeve shirt

Update: This has been sent out already to a mom in CA.

I have a maternity shirt (long sleeve) size Medium (4-6) that I will give away for free but I would ask for you to pay the $5 for the priority shipping cost.  It is one that I am considering for a Mom 4 Life shirt.

In return I ask that you:

-Be 7-9 months pregnant (because I want to know how it fits a the end of your pregnancy).
-Promise that you will email me the day you get it and let me know how it fits (I especially want to know if it is long enough to keep your belly well covered).

To ask for it, email: info @ mom 4 life . com (removing all spaces) and tell us where you live, beause I need feedback quickly, the closer you are to us the better.

For the rest of you, feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think of it.

One day sale on Mom 4 Life tomorrow!

On Tuesday, October 28th we are having a one day sale to say good bye to our assistant Linda who is now focusing on homeschooling her son.   To get the discount code for the sale you need to be signed up for the monthly newsletter here or call our toll free number (800-928-4905) to place your order and our assistant Angela will add you to the newsletter list when she gives you the discount.

Please note that this one day sale uses a code that cannot be combined with other codes.

The value of compound interest (in parenting) by Heather L.

I was reorganizing my blog categories and I came upon a few old posts that I would like to resurrect.  For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time, I hope you don't mind.  For those of you who are newer, I hope you enjoy;).  I am currently reading a really good book, The Slight Edge--Secret to a Successful Life by Jeff Olson, recommended to me by one of my customers (thank you Elizabeth S.). 

One of the concepts that this book has begun building on is the amazing value of compound interest.  Compound interest is likely not a new concept to you, it wasn't for me.  My husband and I consider ourselves to be wise investors, at least that is our constant goal.  However, when I read the following passage from the book about "The Cost of Waiting" I was floored.

"Let's say you and your best friend are both 24 years old; you both decide you'd like to start putting away $2,000 a year into an IRA so you'll retire at age 65 with over a million dollars.  Your friend starts doing it now.  You wait.  You don't get around to it this year, or next, or the next. . . in fact, you procrastinate for the next 6 years.  At the beginning of year 7, you ask your friend how his IRA is doing.  You are stunned when he tells you that he's finished: after investing $2,000 a year for 6 years at 12%, he's all set.  By the age of 65, the little financial ball he's started rolling will have snowballed into over one million dollars--even if he never puts in another penny!

That's it, you decide, it's time for action.  You start putting in your $2,000 each year.  How many years will it take before you've caught up to your friend?  In other words, by what age will you be able to stop investing your annual $2,000, like he did?  You can't believe your eyes when you see the answer: you're going to have to keep investing that $2,000 every single year until the age of 62!  Your 6 years of procrastination has cost you 33 years of investing--that's 27 more years and $54,000 more invested just to arrive at the same place!"

Amazing isn't it?  Maybe even discouraging if you are past your mid twenties and have not started taking some steps toward your finical goals.  The author goes on to say this, "You are never too old, and it's never to late to start achieving your dreams.  My point is simply that there is a cost to waiting.  It is never too late to start.  It is always too late to wait."

So how does this apply to parenting?  Each day we have the opportunity to invest in the life of our children.  I believe that if we take that roll seriously and seek each day to invest in them with our love, guidance and direction, we will be giving them a future that is rich in self confidence, courage and caring for others.  However, the cost of waiting to make that investment may cause us to miss the best window of influence in their life and may find us working late into our life trying to make up for that lost time.

I pray this week you will find yourself making generous deposits in the lives of your children and that over time you will rejoice as you see the fruits of your diligent investment.

Weekly Giveaway - Yaya Blankets Customizable Rag Quilts

Don't forget that this month you can get a free Mom 4 Life shirt with any order of $50 or more!

The My HodgePodgerie Onesies that we featured and gave away last week to Andrea, are now 10% off (until next week Thursday night).

 

 

Yaya Blankets Customizable Rag Quilts for Baby (small size)

(You get to choose the style and name embroidered)
Suggested retail price $24.95

Every luxurious Yaya Blanket is handmade, freshly washed, tied with a ribbon and tag with care instructions, and comes in a clear bag tied with matching ribbon. Yaya Blankets arrive wrapped pretty and ready to be given as a gift or immediate cuddling.

The luxurious Yaya Blanket is made from 100% extremely plush minky chenille. These beautiful blankets can be customized and come in three sizes.

To enter this week:
Click on the link for the Yaya Blanket and come back to the blog to comment on how you would customize your Yaya if you had one.  You have until Tuesday the 28th at 9:00 PM PST to enter, good luck!

Pull Yourself Together! by Angela Gifford

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave to you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1: 5-9 NIV

When I first met my husband. I was an early bird. I would get up at 5:00 a.m., run to the gym for a workout, shower at the gym, and head to work by 7:00. I was ready for bed by 9:00 p.m. After a few years, though, my zeal wore off. By the time my third baby came, I had established a new, rather hap-hazard routine. I’d stay up until midnight or even later trying to catch up all the things that needed to be done before the next day. Then in the morning, I’d roll out of bed at the last possible minute. I will even admit, that I occasionally dropped my kids off at school in my p.j.s with a coat thrown over the top. I was exhausted when I woke up in the morning and would begin my day completely unprepared for battle. Chaotically swatting my way through each day, I would then end it by staying up until midnight or so trying to catch up. My routine became a viscous cycle that I could not break, and my family was reaping the results.

A long “no school” day revealed weakness after weakness in my parenting and my patience. I felt completely out of control and knew my kids were not turning out at all like I had planned. On my way home from rushing a bill to the post office, my mind was bombarded with guilt and accusations: “You’re a failure.” “You’ve completely lost control.” “You can’t even stay at home and do a good job.” My spirit was crumbling beneath the weight when I pulled up to a four way stop. I stopped and waited for the sign  to turn green , while the cars from the other three directions took their usual turns through the intersection. I’m amazed no one ever honked at me. I was having a moment. Visions of Edna Mode, slapping me across the face, flashed through my head. "Pull! Yourself!" Together!" Finally, I snapped out of it, realized that the sign would never turn green, and sheepishly made my way through the intersection. I knew I had to get my act together.

The next day, I made myself get out of bed at 5:00. O.K. 5:15. I didn’t hear the alarm the first time. I was exhausted, but I told myself (and the devil) that I was getting up to meet with God. I showered, dressed, poured my first Nalgene of water, read Romans 4 (reminding myself that I’ll never be good enough, but it’s o.k. because God credits my account of righteousness by my faith…not my works), stretched, did some sit-ups (my poor c-section abs), and wrote out a passage of Scripture from Joshua chapter one to memorize. The passage was challenging Joshua (and me) to be strong and courageous. I tore into those two words to get a sense of their meaning, and God met with me right there. Part of the meaning of the Hebrew word for “strong” is encourage, seize hold, make repairs, establish oneself firmly, rally strength. The word for “courageous” encompasses determination and persistence.

Oh, Jesus, you know right where I’m at. Right then and there, God told me it was time to rally my strength, establish myself firmly, and be determined to make the repairs I needed to make in my chaotic life.

I’m not sure what you’re facing today; but chances are, you also have an area of life that needs strengthened. The beauty of this passage, though, is the other concept that is also mentioned repeatedly. God promises to never leave us. He says, “ I will be with you. I will never leave you or forsake you. I will be with you wherever you go.” The Hebrew word for “leave” means to hang limp, sink down, be feeble, to be lazy, abandon, leave alone, withdraw, show oneself slack. I laugh just picturing it. God promises never to leave us hanging limp! He won’t leave us feeble, alone, or abandoned. He won’t ever be slack! Rally your strength, sister, for your strength is in Him! Oh, how I cling to that. Know that you can establish yourself firmly, when He is your foundation. You can count on Him to help you make repairs wherever you’ve caused damage. Ask God today to pour a little extra persistence and determination into your spirit. He will not fail you!

I can't imagine . . . by Heather L.

 A Mom 4 Life named Ter, that is a reader of this blog, is going though an amazingly difficult time right now and could really use our prayers and support.  I have been reading her blog ever since I found out that her husband (Bear) has terminal cancer.  Her husband wants so bad to see one more Christmas but they just don't know if this will happen. . . This mom also lost her daughter to a stillbirth about 3 years ago.  My heart cannot even fathom the pain she is going through. I would love for you to visit her blog where she is keeping up with her journey and leave a comment and be in prayer for her and her husband and their family.  I cannot stress enough how much it ment to me to have you guys reading my blog and praying and leaving comments just to let me know you were still sharing this journey with me so I know it would mean a lot to her as well.

When I asked her what I could do to help she said, "Pray for us ... I am struggling to pray myself... I am having a difficult time. He is going downhill fast and I feel like I'm tumbling behind him.  I can't believe I lost my baby girl and now I'm going to loose my husband too.... :( The only comfort I can get is that my little girl will be with her daddy but I wish she could be with her mommy too."

For at least the next 24 hours I will have a "tip jar" on the left side of my blog.  Ter specifically mentioned in her blog that she is getting overwhelmed with the costs of going to the hospital to visit her husband.  She says, "I am also beginning to feel the stress of going to the hospital every day. It takes me about half an hour to drive there each day and half an hour to drive back. Gas is not cheep these days, and it also costs me between $10-15 dollars each day to park my car. I either have to bring my own food or I will have to buy food from their cafeteria. Today I bought myself a wrap for lunch and it cost nearly $6. A bottle of pop is $2 so I try to bring a drink from home."  I asked her for her mailing address and looked it up on Google maps and then searched for nearby gas stations.  There is a Esso station (the Canadian Exxon) nearby and I plan to mail her a Exxon Gift card.  If you would like to also contribute, you are welcome.  The default minimum tip is $2 (payable by PayPal) and if we get together we could really bless her in this way.  All funds sent through the tip jarwill go directly for this purpose and will be sent to Ter directly in the form of an Exxon gas card.

Thanks Mamas!

As a side note, if you typically visit my blog directly and usually go to: http://www.blog.mom4life.com/ you might want to instead visit http://mom4life.typepad.com/mom_4_life/ for the time being.  Typepad is doing some changes on their back end and I have noticed that the blog http://www.blog.mom4life.com/ isn't displaying like it should.  Also, some of you mentioned that you couldn't leave a comment to the post "The problem with light bulbs is that they break" on Sunday.  I am sorry about any frustration this caused, I am not sure what the problem was, it seems to be fixed now.

The Ten Game by Kristina Bjornbak

For a very long time, the only way I was able to get my 4-year-old to pick up his toys was to be very specific, as in, "Pick up that book," or "Put that block away."  Very tedious and just easier and faster to do it myself!  My mother-in-law can always get him to pick up his toys, but let's be honest.  Grandmas have special powers that mere mommies just don't have.

But there is hope.  Now, this may only work on the younger children, but I did find it worked for my 4-year-old.  I call it the Ten Game.  I tell him to pick up ten items and put them away as fast as he can, and call out the number of items he has put away as he does it.  Sounds simple, I know, and even I am shocked that this works.

So if you have trouble getting your little ones to put their toys away, try the Ten Game (or Five, or Fifteen, or whatever number your heart desires).

Your opinion please:)

I would like to get your opinion on a nursing/maternity clothing line.  Will you visit the site and let me know your thoughts? Please note the following suggested retail price approximations:

cap sleeve: $60
tank: $60
3/4 sleeve: $74
hoodie$78
tunic: $78
dress $80

Little Steps in becoming greener by Jamie Ussher

Even though, on my own blog, I strive to write about "green" things, I've been thinking about what "green" really means since being asked to post about that very subject as a contributor on this blog.  There are so many levels of becoming a greener person and greener family.  Does it mean that we all buy electric cars (if we can find them) or better yet, just start walking everywhere?  Should we build green homes, live entirely off the land, get solar panels to generate our homes?  Sometimes I think we are overwhelmed with what it means to go green in our own lives and homes. 

To start off the first Going Green! post I thought I'd share two definitions I've found on "going green".

1. Going Green: A phrase referring to individual action that a person can consciously take to curb harmful effects on the environment through consumer habits, behavior, and lifestyle. (http://www.lohas.com/glossary.html#g)
2. Going green: Taking steps to reduce one's negative effect on the environment.  (http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2007/11/12/focus13.html)

I actually really like these definitions.  They seem to subdue the overwhelming effect of becoming a greener person.  Phrases like "individual action" and "taking steps" help us to remember that it is in the small things we "consciously" do that help to care for our world and families.  So, in honor of that, I thought I'd start a list of a few of the small things that I do each week to take a step in the right direction.  Obviously, in the weeks ahead we will break down the issue further, but please feel free to add any comments about things you do to take small steps to "curb harmful effects on the environment". 

• Use reusable grocery bags - I love this one! So simple and fun!
• Use natural and biodegradable products - I'm slowly doing this more and more.  Charlie's Soap is a company that I love and we use their clothes detergent.  Find them here.
• Meal plan so that food doesn't go to waste - for free basic information on meal planning sign up here (on right side) or to buy a meal plan go here.
• Recycle plastic and paper - another very simple one.  We have a plastic container in a closet (used to be in our garage when we lived in our house) and we take it to a local recycle place once a week.
• Get or buy used clothing when needed.
• Use less water - turn the water off in between brushing your teeth, for example.
• Turn down the heat a bit or turn up the air (or off).  This also helps on bills!
• Have other thoughts?  Please share... 

The problem with light bulbs is that they break by Heather L.

Tonight as I sat at my computer not knowing what to write in order to properly match words to my feelings, I was reminded of a YouTube video that I was saw a while back titled "IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ENERGY SAVER LIGHT BULBS!" it shows a US House representative from the state of Texas addressing the complicated issues surrounding the florescent bulb and the push to require their use by 2014.  As I watched this video again, I found thoughts unrelated to light bulbs swimming though my head.  I cannot guarantee you that they will all make sense but if you will stick with me, I will attempt to convey them to you.  I invite you to first watch this 5 min clip yourself before finishing this post.  I assure you that if nothing else, it will entertain you.  If the bandwidth of your computer will not allow you to easily view videos, you can take a look at this page so that you can at least get a feel for the complicated procedures surrounding the clean up of florescent bulbs.

I am at a place in my life where I have been wounded from the inside out.  The damage is largely inside which makes it tricky for those on the outside (often myself included) to know how the heeling is going.  I find it especially difficult to look around and see so many other women in pain.  I am not alone.  I am hurting and I could make a good guess that you are hurting too.  Maybe not in the same way, although I know some of you are, but pain has a way of seeping everywhere and leaving no one untouched.  Life is complicated and it is really easy to feel helpless when things get difficult.  We can listen to popular opinion that we are here by accident and that will only further promote the problem within our hearts  (because an accidental person with problems is pretty pathetic indeed).  In an attempt to solve this piercing pain, the accidental person can try looking elsewhere for help; to the government perhaps (as stable and assuring as that option is), to our jobs, (if we still have them), to our monetary investments, (if they are still there), to our family (as long as they are still living), we could look to ourselves. . . however the problem with all of these options is that if people are accidental than the entire system is flawed and can't be trusted.  Which of us can do anything on our own to solve our own problems?  If you burn your dinner, you might feel capable of finding a solution.  But there will come a time where you will find yourself in a situation that you can't fix. 

Imagine your life as a large, beautiful room, well furnished and properly decorated with a single florescent bulb hanging from the ceiling.  For many years you enjoy the beauty and comfort of that room.  Many memories are made there and it becomes a place of solace for you.  One day, the bulb that has illuminated your every activity, unexpectedly crashes to the floor. . . do you know what to do to clean up the mess?  Are you prepared?  It may not be a simple as you think and even if you know what to do, have you prepared enough to have the proper materials in place?

The world tries to give us assurance that we are in control, advertises freely the benefits that we should enjoy and glosses quickly over the possible problems that may arise with no true instructions on how to survive the clean up without irreversible harm.  It is a lot like the florescent box, proudly boasting of the energy being saved, while leaving the user totally uninformed about what to do in the wake of an accident.

Another option is for us to turn to the more hopeful opinion that we were created by design.  That designer is bound to know how to fix the hurt within his creation.  I can attest to the fact that pain is present, but I can also testify that I am not alone to bandage my own wounds.  The bulb still shattered, but I have been swept up into safe arms and assured that if I let Him, my God will see to the cleanup left behind.  And not only that, but He has promised me a new home* with no need for a light bulb because He, my God, will give it light.

"I am going away to prepare a place for you, I will come back again and welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am." John 14:3

"The city doesn't need any sun or moon to give it light because the glory of God gave it light."  Revelation 21:23

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you" (Psalm 42:5-6).

Lord, I look to You when I am struck down again by grief. I will depend on You, and I will praise You; for though I am struck down, I am not destroyed. Amen.

*Christ promises that those who give their lives to Him, will enjoy eternity with Him.  Among many other descriptions of what this eternity will include, the Bible gives us the verse in Revelation 21:23.

Crockpot Chili by Heather L.

We went to Goodwill today and I found myself a Crockpot.  I have one already, but it is a ginormus one that could practically cook the Thanksgiving turkey and because it is so big I don't use it much.  So I found a nice smaller one for $5.99 and came home, soaped it up and turned it on.  That baby is now simmering homemade chili.  Here is the quick and easy recipe that was given to me by my father in law if you want to heat up your crock pot too!

Crockpot Chili:
1-1 1/2 lbs Hamburger (browned in a skillet)
1/2 cup diced onion (to taste)
1 1/2 t. Chili powder
1 T. Sugar
1 quart canned tomatoes (chopped or diced)
2 small cans (16 oz.) kidney beans (with the liquid in the can)

Add all ingredients in the crock pot and simmer 2 hours or more, top with cheese or sour cream, enjoy!

Cloth diaper survey just for fun by Heather L.

So after my post on cloth diapering I got curious and thought it would be fun to see where you mamas are at on the topic, want to fill out the survey?  I will share the results:)!

As of Wednesday evening (10/22) here are the results so far:
No = 31% (32)
I am thinking about it = 18% (18)
I use them some of the time = 23% (23)
I use them all the time = 28% (29)

My HodgePodgerie Onesie - Weekly Giveaway

The Baby Clean Fun CD that we featured and gave away last week to Heather (no not me, a different Heather;), are now 10% off (until next week Thursday night).

One long sleeve My HodgePodgerie onesie (you choose the style)
Retail price: $19.99
        

My HodgePodgerie's ties are appliqué fused onto the onesie and then machine stitched for added durability.

The Tie appliqués are sewn so that fraying may occur around the edges. So, as they fray, they will get cuter and cuter with every wash. Some really take on a vintage designer look (which is so cute on kiddos)!  Even if you don't have a boy, this would make a really cute gift to someone who does!

I have a special place in my heart for these as I had one set aside for our little Sawyer to wear before we found out that he would not be born alive. . .

To enter this week:
Click on our new items link on our website and come back to comment on what new item is your favorite!  Note that there are several pages of "new items"' but they are listed in the order added so if you have recently checked our new items page you will not need to look at very many pages. 

Leave your comment before 9PM PST on Tuesday the 28th, good luck!

AND don't forget that this month you can get a free Mom 4 Life shirt with any order of $50 or more!

'Tis the Season (by new guest blogger, Angela Gifford)

Hi! Another guest blogger here! I'm Angela Gifford, and I'm the new Customer Sevice Assistant at Mom 4 Life. I'll be sharing more of my story in weeks to come, but for now...I've been married to my wonderful husband, Bill, for twelve years.  We have four incredible boys, ages 11, 8, 6, and 4. Yes, they were born in six and a half years, during which, we moved six times, and spent five years in grad school. My life of adventure has let me live everywhere from Miami to Chicago to Phoenix to Seattle; but now our family lives tucked away at the bottom of a mountain in North Idaho where deer trot through the yard in the morning to find the apples that dropped overnight and wild turkey strut through in the afternoon. Before joining the Mom 4 Life team, I was a stay at home mom for eleven years. Last year I was a coordinator for MOPS, which is how I came to know and love Heather. I LOVE to read. I love God's Word. I love coffee, and I love friends - and I really love it when two or three of those things can happen together. My biggest passion, though, and my reason for blogging, is to encourage moms with young children in their pursuit of God. You can read more of the Gifford happenings and my somewhat random thoughts at Angela's Musings.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I love fall! I love everything about it. I love the crunch of leaves under my feet, the golden hues carpeting the lawn, blushing apples on the trees, pumpkin patches, hay rides, apple cider, spicy candles, Thanksgiving. There is a special way that the sun shines in the fall - a soft, happy glow, much less intense than the summer sun. If I could make fall last all year long, I certainly would. But alas, it is not to be. Fall transitions to winter, and I have to wait a whole nine months to enjoy it all again.

When I lived in Arkansas, I would wish for fall with an even greater intensity. This northern girl could hardly bare the muggy, buggy, intense heat that summer would bring. I longed for warmth that wasn’t sweltering, for a fresh breeze that might halt the perspiration from pouring down my face. I craved a cool evening to sit outside and refresh, but the nights didn’t even cool down. It was always hot, always humid, and always bulging with insects. I wished I could skip summer altogether. But alas, it was not to be.

Such it is with the seasons of life. As moms of young children, we are in the intense part of life, enduring the heat, the pressure, and constant kinks in our plans. It is the fullest part of life. Sometimes it seems it would be nice to skip it all and move on to the fall, where the sun glows warmly, but isn’t so intense – where we enjoy the fruits of our labor, but could miss some of the heat it takes to produce it. Wouldn’t it be nice if all or our kiddos could be out of diapers, without going through the process of potty training? Or if they all were born knowing how to tie their own shoes?

But alas….it is not to be! You see, there would be no blushing apples without the intense sun to ripen them and no crunching leaves if the summer hadn’t used them first. There would be no pumpkin patches, no dried out hay, and no appreciation for the cool breeze. In the same way, we can’t skip the summer of our lives. It is the season of growth – for us as moms and for the people our kids grow into.

There’s a funny little, lesser-known book in the Bible called, Ecclesiastes. It’s not a place I’d recommend you begin reading if God’s Word is new to you, but there is a passage in there that is pretty well known, thanks to The Byrds: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot….a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to morn and a time to dance….What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. (from Ecclesiastes 3)

It is sometimes difficult for us to grasp the beauty that is to come in its time. I struggle with grasping it when I’m wrestling my four boys through the grocery store, only thinking about getting home before the migraine kicks in. Then I pass an older couple who grin and giggle at my boys, grab my sleeve, lean in close, and say that all familiar phrase (with a twinkle in their eye), "Enjoy it while you can. It goes by so fast!" I politely smile and try not to mutter my response: "Yes. I know."

The seasons do go by quickly. That is something I’m learning even more this fall. I enjoyed eleven years at home with my boys. There were days in the midst of diapers and runny noses and stomach flu that I would have done anything to be somewhere else. Now, I get to serve moms all day at Mom 4 Life. I drop all my kids off at school, and enjoy a quiet office for the day. It is fun….and a little sad. I can’t believe that season is over. There are no more nursings in the middle of the night, no more diapers, no more infant seats….and much less time with my children.

Are you struggling with this season of life? Wishing that things would cool down a bit, and you could enjoy more fruit and less labor? Maybe today would be a good time to ask God to remind you of the seasons yet to come, to help you see the necessity in your current season to produce the joy of the next. I think I'm going to do that right now!

Feedback for the Diaper/Wipee Changing Pad from Baby Jakes

I wanted to share this feedback from Rosie who won the Diaper/Wipee Changing Pad from Baby Jakes  giveaway a while back.  She wrote:

I was the lucky winner of the Baby Jakes Diaper/Wipee Clutch and I wanted to say thank you! It is perfect to keep in the car for when you don't need nor want to bring the whole baby bag with you. Not only is it the right size but the pink, brown and green pocka dots are stylish enough so that it doesn't scream "diaper carrier". Thanks again! Rosie

Moms Saving Money by Heather Ledeboer

A while back a college friend of mine emailed me to let me know she was pregnant with her first.  Her and her husband are very excited but also on a tight budget and she wondered if I had any advice on ways to save money with a baby on the way.  After I sent her a reply with several suggestions I thought that perhaps others would find this topic to be helpful and I am sure would have more ideas to add on to mine.  I have more ideas that will follow so stay tuned!

Ways to save money (idea #1):
Use cloth diapers. 

There are an amazing variety of cloth diapers on the market today and I think it is fantastic to see how popular this option is becoming once again.  I am familiar with several brands, but certainly not all of them.  The vast selection alone can be overwhelming in my opinion.  A few years ago I dove into this world with both feet when I purchased a cloth diapering website.  I knew I needed to quickly learn all I could about this diapering option and set out to familiarize myself as much as I could in a short amount of time.

   

One of my personal favorites became the one size BumGenius brand diapers (one size means they adjust to fit babies 7 pounds - 35 pound toddlers so they will last a long time)!  While not the absolute cheapest version of cloth diaper on the market, (Chinese prefolds, which are more like your basic white rectangle shaped cloth that must be folded, secured and covered with a diaper cover, are likely to be among your cheapest choice) they were easy to use and did the job so well that I was willing to invest a bit more in them for the convenience they had to offer.  As a side note, we JUST got in our newest shipment of BumGenius diapers and we now have four brand new colors!

I quickly learned that investing in a diaper sprayer ($39.95) was going to be well worth it to keep me on the cloth diapering track much longer as I really didn't enjoy the whole poopy diaper cleaning routine (not that anyone does).  There are also diaper liners out there that make cleaning poopy diapers less messy but the ones I have found are not as wide as I would like them to be so there was always a bit of work for the sprayer to do even with the diaper liners helping out (if any of you have found some liners that you really like let me know).  As I weeded my way though all the information available on the topic of cloth diapering I began to document websites and information that I found to be useful hoping to make the learning curve a little less steep for someone else.  Some of the articles I wrote or found on this topic are:

Advantages of Cloth Diapering

Confused and Overwhelmed with Cloth Diapering?  I Was Too. . .

The Cost of Cloth Diapering vs. Disposables & Diaper Services

I know that the initial cost of cloth diapering can really deter many from starting but I would encourage you to read the article above.  Some of the info in that article is included below (the prices listed for cloth depends on what type of diapers you buy and if they are one size or not).  Even if you invest a little at a time, it will be well worth it!  Don't forget that you can often use your diapers for future children as well further extending your savings!  Also, if you order BumGenius diapers we do have discounts for orders of 6 or more.:

	Cloth	Disposables	Diaper Service
First Year	$450	$700	$660
Second Year	$300	$700	$660
Third Year	$160	$700	$660
TOTAL	$800	$2100	$1980

There are several more articles here http://www.mom4life.com/articles.php

If you are interested in trying cloth diapers, I would suggest just buying a few to start with and try them out and if you like them get more as each person has different preferences.  As a side note, I later sold my cloth diapering website because the Mom 4 Life website was my "first love" in the business realm and I wanted to stay focused on what I felt I did best.  However, I did continue to offer my favorite cloth diaper items here on Mom 4 Life.

Going Green! by Jamie Ussher (new guest blogger)!

Hi!  I am Jamie Ussher and am thrilled that Heather has asked me to write regular posts here at the Mom 4 Life Blog!  My regular postings will be on the topic of going "green", which I know a lot of us have thought about in some way or another.  Let me say that we are definitely striving to go green in our family, but it is striving (not having arrived!).  We strive to do a lot of little green things - recycling, cloth diapers, buying used clothes, etc.  I also enjoy being informed about the ways that going green affects our health, families, and budgets.  I'm excited to learn a lot more and pass along information to you!  There are so many ways to green up your life, even just a bit! 

On a more personal note...I've been married to a great man, Clint, for over 6 years.  We have a daughter (Evee) who is 1 1/2 and hope to have more!  My background is in psychology (by degree) and social work (by work experience).  Since we've had our daughter I have mostly been doing work that revolves around our schedule so that Evee can, for the most part, be with me or my husband.  After Evee was born I did some Doula work at a local hospital while we lived in Indiana.  I especially love working with moms and babies in the early postpartum period.  Now, we have recently moved to the east coast.  We are still trying to figure out what the perfect fit is for our family at this stage of life!  So, I'm currently working a couple of odd jobs while my husband is attending graduate school (which is why we moved to the east coast). 

For some randomness about me: I enjoy being a wife and mom, spending time with friends and family, new life, going for coffee, learning new things, meal planning and baking, organizing, wearing my baby, reading novels, researching, crocheting...  (I obviously get excited about a lot of things!)  Ultimately, I am at peace when I give all things over to God and trust Him!  Lastly, I enjoy blogging at my blog - Baby Get Green - which is all about living simple, cheap, and green!

Again, I'm so happy to be here and look forward to getting to know the readership of this fabulous blog!  Thanks for having me!

4titude Award - Nicole Cooley

I want to thank Nicole for being so willing to share her story with us.  What she has experienced is unfortunately more common that any of us would like to admit.  I hate sin and the pain it causes.  But Nicole has found a way to help others though her painful experience and I pray that some of you will find some hope in her words. ~Heather L.

Please share the trial, set back or loss you have experienced:
As a young officer in the military, I was raped by a trusted friend. Later, I made the devastating decision to abort the child conceived during the attack. Both events brought significant pain and trauma into my life which took years for me to overcome. This process is described in my book, Into the Light: Rape, Abortion, and the Truth that Set Me Free, and also on my website: www.nicolewcooley.com

Despite the pain you have endured, what beauty have you seen come out of this?
God has used my experiences as a platform to encourage others. The beauty I have seen is in the faces of others – both women who have chosen life for their unborn children after hearing my story and also for the women who have found hope, as I have, in Jesus Christ for their trials as well. My story has provided a seed of hope. If God has done this wonderful healing in me, then He can do it for them as well. And He can!

To what or to whom do you credit this beauty?
I am a Christian – and only the incredible God I serve could work such an amazing miracle in my life. Through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, a path to my complete healing was made possible. My personal relationship with God, and following His voice in my heart, has enabled me to deal with all the many layers of suffering and pain. One by one, all the hurt has been healed, and a normal physical relationship with my husband has become possible. I believe God delights in taking the messed up “clay” of our lives and, with our permission, remaking us into new creatures. The old hurt no longer holds me back, but has given me the gift of compassion for others and empathy for their struggles.
 

What advice or wisdom do you wish to share with others having been through this experience?
Don’t settle for less than complete healing. Have courage to face your pain – and allow God to walk through it with you. This process takes time – and can be very scary at times. I liken it to God asking us to jump off the high dive at a swimming pool blindfolded without letting us know if there is any water in the pool below! When you’ve been hurt, trust is hard – even trusting God is hard. But, it is worth it. All the work is worth it to live unencumbered by the heavy baggage of the past.

If someone else reading this is going though something similar, do you have any resources to recommend they look into further for help or support?
Please go to my website www.nicolewcooley.com have a page there called, “Help, I’ m Hurting!” On that page I have links to books, ministries, and websites which were helpful in my own healing journey. Most of all, don’t give up! Hang in there and allow God to work in your life too!

 

Baby Clean Fun CD - Weekly Giveaway

The Love Me Baby Me Skin Care that we featured and gave away last week to Virginia, are now 10% off (until next week Thursday night).

This week we are giving away:
Baby Clean Fun CD
Retail price: $14.95

Baby Clean Fun is a CD of 16 short, catchy tunes that turn challenging daily tasks into fun parent-child bonding moments. Changing a diaper, cleaning up after eating, and giving a bath can be hard. How you react in that moment of frustration is so important.  This Baby Clean Fun 

1.The Wake Up Song
2.Mommy Wants Baby to Eat
3.Mr. Washcloth
4.Senor Panito (Mr. Washcloth in Spanish)
5.Gotta Brush
6.Stinky Pants
7.Soap and Bubbles
8.2 Shoes
9.Goin’ Bye- Byes
10. Boo Boo
11. Sunscreen
12. Clean Up Toys
13. Miss Tissue
14. Sir Suds
15. Hold Still (Time to Trim Your Nails)
16. The Goodnight Song

Click here for complete lyrics. 

Songs include:

How do you enter to win?  Simply leave a comment here on the blog telling me which song from the list above would be the first one you would want to learn for your child (or grandchild), good luck!  You have until next week Tuesday at 9:00 PST to enter.

How To Survive A Bad Economy by Randy Robison

I recently had the following devotional sent to me in an email.  I wanted to share it with you in case you, like me, have allowed some concern, worry or even fear to creep into your heart lately because of the economy.  I hope it reaches you where needed as it did me.  Also, as a side note I will be sharing some money saving ideas with you over the next while so I will look forward to getting your thoughts and feedback as I do. ~Heather L.

How To Survive A Bad Economy by Randy Robison:

There’s a lot of talk about the economy these days. The stock market is taking a beating, homes are being foreclosed and the dollar is losing value. The news is full of doom and gloom, so people are worried. Accusations of thievery and mismanagement abound. But when the blame is set aside and the financial intricacies are stripped away, what is the core issue?

Mark Punzo, a friend of the ministry who works at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, recently asked me, “What is something worth?”  It didn’t take me long to reply, “Whatever somebody will pay for it.”  “So what are you worth?” he asked. I admit my first thought went to life insurance actuary tables. My salary times x number of years before I retire… But I knew that wasn’t what he was driving at, so I guessed, “Whatever someone will pay me?” “Whatever someone will pay for you,” he corrected. Then he asked a question that really bent my mind. “What did God pay for you?” Now I got it. God paid for me with His only Son’s blood. It certainly wasn’t the first time I’d heard that principle, but it was the first time I had heard it put that way. It struck me hard. Is that really the value God places on me? Am I worth the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Why don’t I act like it?  "When God spoke that to me,” Mark continued, “He then said, ‘Look at all the people around you. That’s what they are worth to Me, too.’” What incredible value! You, your loved ones, your acquaintances and even the people you don’t know are by far the most valuable things ever created, worth more than any company’s stock, assets or investments.

So why is it that we seem to be more concerned about our retirement plans than our relatives? Why do we react to an economic crisis with more urgency than a spiritual crisis? Do we really see the value in ourselves and in other people that God sees?

I confess that I take people for granted. If I spotted a $20 bill in the gutter, I’d stop to pick it up. But I have passed right by a person lying in the gutter without any second thoughts. I think perhaps my sense of value is askew. As a “responsible” husband and father, I spend time laying up treasure on earth for medical bills, college and (hopefully, some day) retirement. But those things will all pass away. My daughter’s car will eventually break down and rust, but her spirit is eternal. My son’s braces will give him a nice smile for a while, but what kind of man will he be when his teeth are falling out and his looks don’t matter any more?

I have decided to not worry about the economy. Good or bad, God is in control. I can only have one response if I want to hold on to anything of value: invest in the things in which God has invested.
You are worth what God paid for you. So is your spouse, your child and your neighbor. If you want to be rich, don’t look to your bank account. It will fail you. Look to the people in your life and invest in them. Then you will be truly prosperous, no matter what the economy does. And unlike the wealth of this world, you can take it with you forever.

This Week
Don’t worry about the economy; just make good investments. Deposit your time and love into someone’s life.

Prayer
“Father, forgive me for focusing on the temporal things of this earth. Help me to see the value in people that You see and lay up treasure in heaven by investing in them.”

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

At-Least-I-Have Blessings by Kristina B.

I'll admit a shameful secret: I really hate doing housework, and at times I am downright resentful about it.  When I have a pile of laundry to do, or my kitchen is still not clean and it's getting late, I can feel so overwhelmed.

But then I realized something: I have so many at-least-I-have blessings.  Yes, I hate doing the dishes, but I am so blessed that my family does not go to bed hungry at night.  Yes, I hate doing laundry, but at least we have clothes to wear.  And next time I'm irritated because my husband never takes the trash out, I can remember that at least we have a comfortable home to remove trash from.

Next time you feel overwhelmed as parent, spouse, or friend, just remember what blessings brought you these "problems" and see if you don't feel better about it.

Great deal - Henley Dress

We accidentally deleted a few items from our website inventory before we had them all sold.  We are offering them here at a huge discount to avoid having to re-list them on our Mom 4 Life.  The second to last of these bargains is below.

Henley Dress
This Maternity/Nursing henley dress can be worn as a dress, nightgown, or even over a bathing suit in the summer. Made of the same waffle weave cotton as our popular maternity henleys. Can stretch over a big belly or has easy access for nursing. You will never want to take it off!

Retail $59.99, Your Price: $35.99

We currently have in stock: 1 Small Baby Green
(no returns please, free shipping included in the price)

To claim it, contact us!

Great deal - Mini dot lounge pants

THESE PANTS ARE NOW SOLD OUT

Mini dot lounge pants
Lounge around in these cute comfy mini-dot fold-over pants. Great for pregos and non-pregos! Retail $68, Your price: $34.99

We currently have in stock: 1 XLarge Black, 1 Large Faded Black/Grey

To claim it, contact us!

Easy Fall Crafts by Kristina Bjornbak

Fall is here, and for me, that means it's time for some really fun crafts.  So, here's a few you might enjoy doing with your kids:

1. Make a hand print wreath. If you've ever been in an elementary school in the fall, you've probably seen these.  Simply trace your child's hand and cut out as many hand prints as you'd like.  Allow your child to glue them together to make a wreath.  Don't be too concerned if the wreath turns out to be more like a pile.  If you want to be sure that the wreath actually turns out circular, cut out a cardboard ring and have your child glue the hand prints onto the cardboard.  To make it extra special, you could have hand prints of several members of your family and allow them to write special messages on them, like what they love about their family or things they are thankful for.

2. Leaf wreath. Same as hand print wreath, except use leaf shapes.  You can use this as an opportunity to teach your child about leaves changing color.

3. Make leaf rubbings. Select some leaves and lay them out flat.  Put a sheet of paper over top, and have your child color over top of the paper with a crayon.  The shape and some details from the leaves will show through.

4. Make a fall scene. Draw and cut out different items that have to do with fall, such as pumpkins, scarecrows, and corn.  All your child to glue these  onto a piece of paper in whatever arrangement they like.

5. Mini-pumpkin faces. If you haven't noticed, you can now find those teeny-tiny adorable pumpkins for $0.50 to $1.00.  Give your child a dark marker or crayon and let them draw a face or fall scene.

6. Salt dough. Google salt dough and choose your favorite recipe and baking instructions.  There is no end to what you can make with this easy resource.  Make leaf and pumpkin magnets, or fall colored picture frames!  There are two ways to get your dough the color you choose.  One, for younger or messy children, you (the parent) add food coloring to the dough before molding it.  For older children, allow them to paint their creations after baking.  *My little disclaimer* Do not allow young children to use the oven or stove.

Happy crafting!

Great deal - Baby Dot Nursing Dress

This item has sold!

Opps!  We accidentally deleted a few items from our website inventory before we had them all sold.  We are offering them here at a huge discount to avoid having to re-list them on our Mom 4 Life.  Check out the deal below (more to come later):

Baby Dot Nursing Dress
This baby dot nursing dress is hip, soft, and super comfy! Dots on the outside-stripes on the inside. Wear out for the day or lounging around. Built-in soft cup frame and elastic shelf for total breast support. Made of double layer soft jersey. Machine wash cold gentle cycle/line dry.

Retail: $79.99, Your Price: $42.99
(no returns please, free shipping included in the price)

1 Medium Navy in stock

To claim it, contact us!

Painful pants by Heather Ledeboer

Find out about about
Magazine Monday Nominations.

It is interesting how something you greatly look forward to can, when finally achieved, turn out to be so different from what you initially envisioned. 

Remember how anxious I was to retire my maternity jeans?  Do you recall how I attempted the ridiculous feat of trying to squeeze a new post partum body into pre-pregnancy pants?  Recently, I went shopping; deciding it was time to buy myself a pair of jeans.  After several failed attempts, I found a pair that would do.  As a side note: It appears that there have been no major revisions within the retail world of jeans since I last went shopping—somehow men are apparently the only ones that get to choose the length of their jeans right down to the inch.  But alas, there are only so many battles that I can fight, so I will leave that one for someone else.

Upon returning home, it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, my old favorite jeans and my now more post”er” pregnancy hips were ready for another showdown.   I was cautiously optimistic when they successfully passed my knees and still had extra circumference to spare!  And . . . surprise of surprises they actually cooperated as I coaxed them up over my hips (mind you I was doing a little dance to get them fully positioned) . . . and. . . gasp. . . the button and the button hole were actually able to find themselves meeting the need for which they were invented (and I wasn’t even holding by breathJ)!  Now I will be honest, they could still stand to have a little more looseness but let’s not appear ungrateful, they were on (and buttoned) after all!  Wow.

Now to put the icing on the cake--upon seeing me, my husband immediately said, “Are those your old jeans?” J  Granted the poor man has been seeing me trot around the house in my same old maternity jeans for the last 12 months but STILL, it felt great that he noticed (then again, what guy wouldn’t notice skin tight jeans LOL, just kidding hon, I love that you noticed).

For some strange reason that I still have not figured out, these “old favorites” now newly resurrected, are not quite as long as they should be. Exactly how does that happen?  Have any of you had your jeans shorten in length during their pregnancy hibernation?  It seems very strange.

The excitement and fanfare over my newly expanded wardrobe lasted approximately two days.  On day three (which was also very likely my third day wearing my tight and too short pre-pregnancy jeans), I became aware of threads of sadness relating to this seemly happy event.  In a strange sort of way, returning to my pre-pregnancy wardrobe is somewhat bittersweet.  It is another milestone that seems to bury deeper still the pregnancy that ended in silence (I almost said death but, although that description would be accurate, it would not tell the full story as there have been so many accounts of new life that has come from the death).  I tried to explain my sadness to Trent by saying, “It might be how you would feel if I were to give you a hicky and then die shortly after.  As the hicky faded, so would the last physical link that you had to me.”  I certainly would not choose to keep my pregnancy weight so it seems that this is just one of those situations where there is no perfect solution.

Psalm 139:1-6
[wording in brackets are personal additions]

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up.  [You know when I am excited about something as simple as jeans.  You know when I am grieving the separation of my son, my flesh and blood.]  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. [You know when my mind is unexpectedly taken to a place of sadness.]  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  [You see the pain in taking a vacation without our entire family along for the ride or storing away an unused bassinet.]  You know everything I do.  [You see the moments where I collapse in tears.  You are aware of my days of sunshine.] You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.  [You know me well enough to finish my sentences.]  You go before me and follow me.  [You have never left me alone in my pain.]  You place your hand of blessing on my head.  [You carry me when I cannot go forward on my own.]  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

A few photos from our family vacation to Glacier National Park this last weekend:
 

My beautiful family.

And yes in case you were wondering, I AM wearing my jeans in this photo (for the forth day in a row).

Psalm 50:11 says, "I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine."  Amazing to think that the creator of the heavens cares to know about EVERY BIRD in the mountains, how much more does he care to know us. 

Matthew 10:30  "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

Psalm 56:8  "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book."

Love Me Baby me Organic Skin Care Set - Weekly Giveaway

Thank you to all of you who voted on your favorite Mom 4 Life T-shirt design!  Option A was most popular.  You now have the chance to get this shirt for FREE!  In honor of Mom 4 Life's 5th anniversary, during the month of October, order $50 or more on Mom 4 Life and get a Mom 4 Life shirt for FREE!  Don't want to place an order for $50?  No problem, you can still get your shirt here for $19.99!

The Custom Tutu Halter Dress by Little Miss Princess Tutu Designs that we featured and gave away to Annie last week are now 10% off (until next week Thursday night).

This week we are giving away: 

A Love Me Baby Me Precious Pak
Retail price: $34.95

Love Me Baby Me uses natural preservatives rather than parabens.  This special blend of pure, floral extracts is the safest, non-toxic, chemical-free preservative available on the market today.  It has clean fresh scent , with a natural aroma derived from the organic flower extracts.

Who cares what is in skin care products?  I have learned a lot about skin care products from Rosemary, the creator of Love Me Baby Me that has changed the way I buy skin care products.  Once I started realizing how our skin absorbs everything we put on it . . . and did you know that children's skin is 5 times thinner than that of an adult?  As a result, their skin (the largest organ in the entire body) is at much higher a risk for irritation by harsh chemicals found in many skin care products, even by those targeted to children.  To learn more, I invite you to click here to read articles that Rosemary has posted on our blog on this topic, you will come away informed!  I have used the Love Me Baby Me skin care line for my children for the last few years and LOVE IT!  I love knowing that it is safe, it works well and smells great (her new organic line is even better than the original)!

What you can win this week: a sample-size collection of Love Me Baby Me's five amazing products. Each Precious Pak includes a generous 2oz sample of Bubbly Wash, Smoothy Shampoo, Creamy Cream and Hair Putty, with a half ounce jar of the miraculous Butt Balm-the last diaper cream you will ever need!

How to enter: Email 5 or more friends letting them know about the giveaway this week and/or the anniversary special with a link to our blog or website.  Send me a copy of this email as your entry.  My email address is heather @ mom 4 life . com (removing all the spaces).  You have until Tuesday the 7th at 9:00 PM PST to enter, good luck!

Great Deal - 1 in the Oven Comfy Dress

Opps!  We accidentally deleted a few items from our website inventory before we had them all sold.  We are offering them here at a huge discount to avoid having to re-list them on our Mom 4 Life.  Check out the deal below (more to come later):

Comfy Dress
This great tie back dress features a deep v-neck line, long sleeves and is made of super soft supima modal cotton. Perfect paired with leggings or worn alone.

Retail $90, your price $45.99
(No returns please, free shipping included in the price)

We currently have the following in stock: 1 Small Black, 1 Medium black, 1 Medium Cream

To claim it, contact us!

Great deal - 1 in the Oven Mayreau Butterfly Dress

Opps!  We accidentally deleted a few items from our website inventory before we had them all sold.  We are offering them here at a huge discount to avoid having to re-list them on our Mom 4 Life.  The first of these bargains is below (more to come later):

1 in the Oven Mayreau Butterfly Dress
This flattering "during and after" maternity/nursing dress is sure to be a favorite. Has kimono sleeves, an empire waist, banded deep v-neck and layered bust line allow simple but discreet nursing wherever your day takes baby and you. Made of soft modal fabric. Machine wash cold gentle cycle/line dry.   

Retail $92, YOUR PRICE: $49.99

We currently have 1 Large Charcoal in stock (no returns please, free shipping included in the price)

To claim it, contact us!