Psalty DVD and CD giveaway!

So I recently purchased a few Psalty cd's for Grace. She LOVES them! Now that we have a second one (the first one was always in the car) she listens to it every night! I ask her if she wants to listen to her story or to Psalty and Psalty always wins! Thrifty Nifty Mommy is having a giveaway on her blog for two Psalty DVDs and a CD! I would love to see what Grace thinks of the DVDs. If you want a chance to win visit Thrifty Nifty Mommy's blog, the giveaway ends September 19th.

29 Diapers giveaways

29 Diapers is at it again! She has another great set of giveaways going on, and all cloth event! You can check her out here for your chance to win a softbums omni, a fuzzibunz, a smartipants, and more! Good luck!

Horses

I had the opportunity to take Grace horseback riding last week. I wasn't sure how she would do. If you know Grace, she can be a little chicken about some things. For example, we were at the local pool and I asked her if she wanted to go down the slide with me. She wouldn't no matter how many times I asked her. I even tried bribing her with a box of fruit snacks, lol. Finally she said she would. She did it once and wouldn't go down again.

So they brought the horses out and she got to pet them. I asked her if she wanted to ride one with me and she said yes! She wasn't afraid at all. When we got off I asked if she wanted to ride by herself and she did, no hesitation at all! She had such a great time. I would love to own property and a couple horses someday! Enjoy the pictures!

Grand Rapids Mud Run 2011

At the start...nice and clean!

Up over the barrier

Across the finish line.

And the end result!

I participated in the second annual Grand Rapids Mud Run and I had a blast! It is a 5k run with lots of mud and lots of obstacles. There are mud pits, mud, mud puddles, mud, wall climbs, mud, tunnel crawls, mud, a mud slide and, you guessed it, mud!!!! I had a really great time and look forward to running again next year!

29 Diapers giveaways

29 Diapers has a really awesome Back To School giveaway on their blog right now. TWO readers will each win a $100 gift certificate to www.teacollection.com. They have some really cute clothes! She has another giveaway for a $50 gc to old navy for one lucky reader from CouponChief.com You can find that one here. Check them out for your chance to enter!

Happy Birthday To My THREE Year Old!!!

Blowing out candles!

She loves her Larry the Cucumber birthday card!

I love her smiles!

We played Blues Clues. This is her drawing her clue in the Handy Dandy Notebook.

This is her finding her first clue!

My cute baby Molly.

She was upset about something, but I don't remember what, lol.

Wow, I can't believe Grace is going to be 3 tomorrow!!! She is such a grown up little lady already! We celebrated her birthday yesterday with family. She had a good time. We got her a violin for her birthday and it comes tomorrow, we are both very excited! We are also going to start school tomorrow! Grace can't wait to start school. We asked her what tomorrow was and instead of saying her birthday she said school! Here are a few pictures from her birthday party. I will update with how our schooling is going!

Bootyful Baby Giveaway

Hello everyone. I just wanted to let you know about a giveaway for a Bootyful Baby AI2 diaper at KAMsnaps' blog. It ends May 27th. I reviewed them on my blog this past January. Check it out here. Good luck!

Attention Local Mamas!!!

Bootyful Baby Boutique is hosting Handmade in the Grand Trunk Show this Saturday, April 30th from 10 am - 2 pm. It is a free event that will showcase an amazing variety of beautiful, unique products. These upscale products are handmade by the very talented female artisans that own the following businesses:

-Bootyful Baby Boutique (modern cloth diapers and diapering accessories)
-Chickadee & Me (upcycled woolies)
-Cindy’s Suds (natural products for health & home)
-Cuppycakes Confections (gourmet cupcakes)
-Hip Violet (appliquéd bibs)
-K Bella Bambino (children’s clothing)
-Lil’ Creations Bowtique (hair accessories)
-Mom N Mia Quilts (baby essentials and art buckets)
-Naturally Adorable (reusable snack bags)
-Organic Mamas Shop (jewelry and wool knit items)
-Shoes by Meg (custom painted shoes)
-Yellow Horse Art Studio (stuffed animals)

At the show you will have the opportunity to enter drawings for a variety of free products valued at more than $250! And one of my lucky readers will have the chance to win a $5 credit to Bootyful Baby Boutique and 10 extra bonus tickets to be used in any of the drawings! How generous is that! For your chance to win just follow my blog and comment below with your email address and which business you are most excited to check out!

Win a Coccoro Flash Travel System!

Hi all! I just wanted to tell you about a great blog giveaway. Head over to www.29diapers.com for your chance to win a Coccoro Flash Travel System. It is a convertible car seat and stroller frame. The car seat comes in some cool colors too! The giveaway ends Monday the 18th so you have a few days left to enter!

California Here We Come!

My girls in matching pinafores I made them.

My beautiful ballerina!

I love Molly's gorgeous eyes!

Sister kisses!! Ewwww!

My beautiful girl Molly.

This is how I found Grace sleeping...

Grace is in a Boba on my back and Molly is in an Ergo on the front...just to see if I could. :)

It has been a busy week! Last Friday my DH came home and asked me what I thought about going to California for a few weeks. He travels quite a bit for work. Wednesday it was a sure thing and we are leaving tomorrow morning at 6:30am! It takes quite a bit of work to pick up the lives of four people and go away for three weeks. That is what I have been doing the last few days. I am soooo tired, but I'm up waiting to throw my diaper laundry into the dryer so I thought I'd add a few pictures to my blog. I hope you enjoy them. Hopefully next week I'll have some beach pictures to share!!!

We are all alive and well!

It has been way to long since I have updated the blog. It is so easy to get caught up in life and let this go by the wayside. Let's see, in the last two months quite a bit has happened. Molly has three more teeth and is walking like a pro. She gets into everything and thinks its funny when you tell her no. She is finally sleeping through the night. She just stopped nursing this past Sunday. It makes me sad, but she went two months longer than Grace did, which is good! She still isn't really talking, but she can sign please, all done, and up. I know she's got a light bulb on in there and I am sure once she starts talking I'll be wishing she didn't talk so much!

Grace is such a big girl! She is day potty trained now, with just an occasional accident, usually when she is busy and forgets to go. I tried night time potty training her and she just isn't ready yet. I'm okay with that. She knows all her letters and we are working on her numbers. I want to start teaching her how to read soon. I'm procrastinating a little because I think it is going to be a large undertaking and I'm not a very patient teacher. Grace still cracks me up all the time, at least when shes not driving me crazy with the whining of a two year old. Recently I thought I heard someone in the bathroom in the middle of the night, but I fell back asleep. In the morning I wondered if Grace had gone potty by herself, but when I got up she said she peed her bed. I went into her room and discovered that she had gotten up in the middle of the night, got a towel out of the bathroom, put it on her bed where there was a little wet spot and went back to sleep. She never woke me up, just did it all on her own. Such a goof.

Bob has been busy with work. He has been traveling more than normal the last few weeks. It's good that work is busy, but we miss him when he is gone. I have been busy with bowling the last few weekends, the city and state tournaments. I am looking forward to the national tournament in May, and yes, it may have something to do with being childless for a few days. ;)

I am going to make a concerted effort to update my blog more. I just took a bunch of cute pictures of the girls yesterday and I will try to get them on this week. Also, spring is kind of coming so hopefully we will be able to get out and do more blog worthy things (playing inside day after day gets kind of old!) I hope you all have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by. Also, I do have a review/giveaway for mama cloth coming up so check back!

Charity Raffle for Coupon Mommy of 3

<p><a href="http://www.fabulousfamilyreviews.com/2011/01/giveaway-raffle-for-coupon-mommy-of-3.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Charity Raffle" src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb293/mspeegle/CharityButton.jpg" /></a></p>

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Many of you know of Coupon Mommy of 3 and have heard about her daughter Emily. Fabulous Family Reviews and Giveaways has organized this awesome charity raffle to help raise money for Shannon and her family. Thanks for your support!.  

This is all for little Emily

You can read about Emily's story here.
Shannon's blog
Shannon's Facebook page
Shannon's Twitter

Here are some important details: 

• To enter this giveaway a mandatory $5.00 ($5 = 1 entry) donation is required.  All money is going directly into Shannon's paypal account.  Click here to donate.  


• For every $1.00 over the $5.00 mandatory entry you receive another entry.  Ex. donate $10.00 and receive 1 entry for the first $5.00 and 5 more entries for the other $5.00, total would be 6 entries.  


• Must be 18 or older to win.


• This giveaway is open to US and Canada.  However some sponsors are not able to ship to Canada.  In that case I (Melissa from Fabulous Family Reviews & Giveaways) will be the go between and have the items shipped to me and then I will ship to Canada.  


• Sponsors and bloggers ARE allowed to enter.  Fabulous Family Reviews & Giveaways will be the only one with access to the entries therefore they will not be eligible to win.  Everybody else is fair game.  


• You MAY win up to TWO packages.  If random.org picks you twice I will allow it but if you are lucky enough to be picked a third time then it is somebody else's turn to win.  


• If you are a sponsor or blogger and you win the item you have donated it will be separated from the prize package and be raffled off via random.org as a single prize to all other entrants.  


• If you have any questions at all please email Melissa from Fabulous Family Reviews & Giveaways at fabulousfamilyreviews@gmail.com


• Feel free to comment on this post but it will not count as an entry unless you fill out the giveaway form posted below.   


• If you have not entered a giveaway from Fabulous Family Reviews & Giveaways before it's really simple.  Just fill out the form and add up your entries at the end.  ALL entries will be verified. 


• Here is a Link to all Sponsor's websites, Facebook pages, Twitter pages, and blogs. 


• You also get an extra entry for following all participating blogs on Google friend connect, twitter, and 'Liking' them on Facebook.  So be sure to hop around all blogs below for up to 3 extra entries for each participating blog.


• To learn more about each prize you can view them all here: http://www.facebook.com/FabulousFamilyReviews?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=48511&id=126257537393106

Click on the ChipIn Widget below to donate.  After you donate Click HERE to fill out the entry form.  If you have any questions at all please email Melissa at fabulousfamilyreviews@gmail.com



 Thanks!!!!   







Now on to the fun stuff!!  The prizes you can win!  

Cloth Diapering Package #1

FuzziBunz one-size diaper from Wee Little Changes
Small wetbag in either cars print or vines print (winners choice) from Green Bumkin

1 gender neutral diaper from Mud Butt Cloth Diapers

Bag of Rockin' Green from Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper Detergent
Fitted diaper, winner's choice of in stock diaper or a custom one from Wee Expressions

$25 Gift Certificate from Sew Crafty Baby
Limited Edition diaper (only two of a kind!) from Knickernappies

Wool Longies (boy or girl colors) from Babee Greens
Diaper kit including The Champ diaper, wipes, wet/dry bag, and pail liner from GoGreen Pocket Diapers

$15.00 Gift Card to the The Fruit of Her Hands

2 Little Bundles from AppleCheeks
$5 gift card from HootHootBaby


Cloth Diapering Package #2

Limited Edition diaper (only two of a kind!) from Knickernappies

$5 gift card from HootHootBaby
bumGenius 4.0 onesize pocket diaper from Jennifer's Cloth Diaper Boutique
Go, Baby, Go! 14" X 12" Hot Pink wet bag with orange and lime stripes from Gina Turella Garcia- Go, Baby, Go! Independent Consultant

2 size Medium gPants, a bag of gRefills and a package of gCloth from gDiapers

$10.00 gift certificate to The Ginger Kid

Happy Heinys OS Snaps Puppy Print from Cute N Fluffy Cloth Diapers
$15.00 Gift Card to the ali AND swan

6 pack of organic prefolds with 2 covers and a roll of biosoft flushable liners from Bummis 
Wetbag from Prairie Tales, LLC
LolliDoo Diaper Anonymously donated
Bag of Rockin' Green from Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper Detergent
Fluff's Enough donated a set of Tree Huggin Momma's fleece liners. (*Not pictured)
1 size Medium BabyKicks Hemparoo Joey-Bunz PREMIUM donated by Life With My Littles (*Not pictured)

Cloth Diapering Package #3

Pack of 6 Charlie Banana 2-in-1 eco-diapering system from Charlie Banana
24 oz bag of detergent from Eco Sprout



Cloth Diapering Package #4

Good to Go package from SoftBums

Comfy Rumps Package 

For donating $5.00 you can win 2 diapers from Comfy Rumps.  If you donate $10.00 or more you can win 5 diapers!  7 total diapers being given away.  If you have entered for any of the cloth diaper packages you will automatically be entered to win the Comfy Rumps packages as this was added after the start of the giveaway.  


Baby Package 

Pacific Moby Wrap from Moby Wrap
Key Fob from BabyBug Creations 
Carnival bloom bib & burp cloth set from Designer Bub
Aden & Anais Diwali - Bamboo Muslin Swaddles 3 pack from Kelly's Closet (DiaperShops.com)
Winner's choice of hat from SweetPeas An Bumpkins
Custom shoes, size and print from Clothbaby.org
Fabric covered wipes case from BabyBug Creations
(1) pair of Rock-a-thigh baby socks in winners choice of color from All American Baby Boutique

Custom diaper/wipe case from BabyBug Creations

Gift Basket - Items will include some crinkles, loopies, soakers, reusable lunch sacks, cloth wipes and some baby balm from Hen House Creations (*Not pictured)

Toddler Package

Musical Gear Center toy from Playskool
Toddler Pillow from BobbleRoos

Custom appliqued shirt/onesie from Tiny Toe Creations
Winner's choice of ERGObaby carrier and color choice from ERGObaby

$25.00 Gift Card to The Head said

10 Handmade Birthday invitations of any Disney Character from Moms Saving Money

1 green children's edition of the i like book
$15 gift certificate to EcoMom
Denim apron from Five Talents Boutique
imagiPLAY Counting Octopi toy from The Cloth Experiment (*Not pictured)
Planet Wise Bag Your Snack Stuff gift pack from Nicki's Diapers (*Not pictured)

Girls Package

Custom tutu and matching flower clip from Little Miss Posh
Two girl style pair of BabyLegs from Mom 4 Life
Size 3T dress (pictured) from Cute Factor
Pink & white korker from Lily's Bowtique
$25.00 Gift Card to The Head said


Mom's Package #1

1 BEADtastic book bling from Bouncing Woolies
Pair of FUNKtastic dryer balls (design will vary) from Bouncing Woolies
Wool car freshener (colors will differ, without beads) from Bouncing Woolies
A batch of french pressed soap for the winner from Beck, The Crazy Housewife 
$20.00 Gift Card to Homestead Emporium
Necklace from Avon anonymously donated
Wrap-a-Nap winner's color choice from Wrap-a-Nap
2 - $5 Amazon gift cards anonymously donated
Corn/therapy pillows, facial-sized with flannel cover from Delaynie Cooper Designs (*Not pictured)
Sewing Instructions/PATTERNS/ Tutorials from 2 Teens and a Toddler Boutique

Sewing Instructions/PATTERNS/ Tutorials included:

• -Shopping Cart Cover (Single)


• -Rag Quilt Blanket


• -Boppy Nursing Pillow COVER


• -Crayon Roll


• -Ring Sling


• -I Spy Bag Toy


• *Theseare  for a sewing pattern only, the items pictured are NOT included.

Mom's Package #1

5 - 8x10 original photographs by Samantha Shuman (Fresh Samantha) 

Scentsy Warmer and bar of Scentsy from Independent Scentsy Consultant ~ Lisa Marie
You Go, Girl! Scentsy Bar from Adventures in Abby Land
Pin from Avon anonymously donated
A basket full of bath goodies made by a 7 year old little girl (with help from her Mommy.)  Wash Away Cancer (Beck, The Crazy Housewife)
Wrap-a-Nap winner's color choice from Wrap-a-Nap
4 EasyLunchbox containers and 1 EasyLunchbox cooler bag, winner's choice of color from Easylunchboxes
Corn/therapy pillows, regular sized and one facial-sized with flannel cover from Delaynie Cooper Designs *This is just an example, fabric will differ*
1 couples edition of the i like book
Flat wallet from The Accessory Barn (*Not pictured)

Boba Carrier

Boba Classic 2G, winner's choice of color from Boba Baby Carrier

BabyLegs

$50.00 in BabyLegs products



Sleepy Wrap

Classic Sleepy Wrap, winner's choice of color from Sleepy Wrap

Advertising Package

Enter to win ad space on multiple blogs (more blogs are participating in this than pictured - complete links to come soon!) ** I just wanted to note the winner for this package will be drawn last.  So if you win this you will not be taken out of the running for other prizes.  I know many individuals will enter the giveaways and might not be so interested in this package.  However it would be super cool if you are an individual that wins it and you donate all the ad space to your favorite shop(s)!  It would be a great way to pay it forward! **



Disclosure:  I nor participating bloggers received any monetary donations or item donations for this posting.  This is a charity event and all money goes directly to Shannon Hubbel of Coupon Mommy of 3 for her families unexpected medical expenses, travel expenses, and time off from work.  This is being done out of the goodness of our hearts.   ♥

My Baby is ONE!!!

getting into her diapers...

sucking her sisters toes...goof

So, this actually a few days late because Molly turned one on January 31, but it feels like her birthday is tomorrow because that is when her party is! This last year just flew by, I can't believe she is one!

She is a little crawling machine, but no walking yet. She has taken a few small steps here and there and can stand like a pro, but she hasn't taken off yet. I keep expecting her to just start walking any day now because she is so close! She has a whopping total of TWO teeth, silly girl. She can eat just about anything though. She still nurses three times a day. She cracked me up today. For the first time she tried crawling around while nursing. It took her a second to realize my boob wasn't going with her. Then she tried to nurse in all sorts of silly positions. I love the silly girl!

She has been kind of whiny lately, I am praying that she is not getting sick! Normally she is a sweet little person. This last week she learned how to do "How big is Molly" and play peek-a-boo...well sort of. I have also been working with her to learn sign. She hasn't said any words yet so she communicates with grunts and crying. She learned how to sign please...on me, lol. I kept telling her to say please and she wouldn't, so I squatted down to her level and she signed it on me, so cute!!!

Enjoy these couple of pictures. I will post birthday pictures next week!

Bootyful Baby Boutique Review and Giveaway - Closed!

Let me start this review off by saying how excited I was to be able to try out a local WAHM's diaper! I love trying new WAHM diapers and it is ever better when they live right in town!

The diaper I had the opportunity to review is the Bootyful Baby AI2. Ashley was great and let me choose my color. I chose the plum because it is such a gorgeous color! Actually all of the AI2's are really great colors, very vibrant and rich. Here is a description of the AI2 from the Bootyful Baby website. "Our All-in-Two is a trim-fitting, perfectly sized diaper. The outer layer is polyurethane laminate (PUL). It is waterproof, meaning a separate diaper cover is not required. The inner layer is microfleece - a wicking material that provides a stay-dry feeling for baby. The absorbent insert snaps in to the diaper. It contains four layers of a super-absorbent hemp/cotton blend topped with white microfleece. The edges of the soaker pad are serged in white thread. The diaper has a side-snapping closure system which allows for maximum adjustability. A wonderful feature of the All-in-Two is the ability to only change the insert if the shell of the diaper is not soiled; essentially making this a diaper cover as well. This gives you the convenience of a one-step diaper, at significantly less cost."

I've been using my AI2 for about a month now. The insert is still really soft and stain free after using it about every 2-3 days. I am really impressed that there aren't any stains because Molly loved pooping in it as soon as I put it on the first few times. I don't know what it is with babies pooping in their new diapers!

I started out testing it for a few hours during the day, then moved to nap time, and finally the ultimate test, night time! This diaper was great during the day and at nap time. I never had any leaks and it was tested with all sorts of messes. When I tried it at night it did leak, but I only had the one insert in it. I have a really heavy wetter, but I know that when I get myself some more inserts I can just add one in for night time and it will work like a charm. The inserts are definitely VERY absorbent. It was super heavy in the morning!

I am also impressed with how trim the diaper is. Molly's jeans slide on easily over her cloth booty. That is one benefit of a side snapping diaper. I must say that I was not a huge fan of side snapping diapers. On other brands I tried I always seemed to get leak issues, but the Bootyful Baby did not give me any troubles. It was easy to adjust and it was great to have a little more control over the fit around her slightly chunk chunk thighs. I have a more favorable opinion of side snapping diapers now! The only down of the side snaps is that it was a little more difficult to get on my wiggly 11 month old. That being said every diaper is a little more challenging to get on than it used to be!

Another great thing about this diaper is that the insert fits the cover really well. All the messes were contained on the insert which means you can use the same cover longer while just changing the insert. That is great for maximizing your stash!

Over all these diapers would be a great addition to any stash. They are trim, absorbent, pretty and a great fit. Oh and did I mention that they are so squishy and soft! Wouldn't you like to get your hands on one of these? Well here is your chance! Ashley has graciously offered my readers a chance to win a $15 store credit! Here is how.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win.

Mandatory Entry
1. Follow my blog via GFC. (1 entry)
2. Check out Bootyful Baby Boutique and come back here and tell me what your favorite product she makes/carries is. (1 entry)
Extra Entries
3. Go like Bootyful Baby Boutique on facebook and thank her for the giveaway. (1 entry)
4. Go like The Rabbitt Hutch on facebook. (1 entry)
5. Blog about this giveaway. Please leave a link in your comment! (1 entry)

This giveaway will end January 29 at 10 pm. EST. The winner will be picked via random.org. The winner will be posted on the blog and the winner will be contacted at the email address provided. They will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

Happy New Year

Well, it has been way too long since I have done a real blog post so I thought I would get started on the new year. 2010 was a very good year, fast, but good. I had Molly January 31st, nine months sooner than we were planning on having a baby, but God's plans are better than our own. She has been such a joy. She is a sweet, laid back baby. She always has a smile for you and she has the greatest laugh! She finally got her first tooth! No words yet, but she is getting good at standing without holding on to anything! She will be walking all too soon I am sure!

Grace is growing into a little person (or big person if we are talking about height, lol)! She is going to be three in a few months! She is smart and so funny. She catches on to things so fast and makes the funniest connections. This last week she pointed to my nursing pads and called them my boob circles. She has also started "getting" relationships. I am now HER mommy and Molly's mommy. She also is totally day potty learned! I can't believe what a big girl she is!

We are so blessed. Bob has a wonderful job, we have the two sweetest, funniest girls ever, and the best friends and family. I thank God for the wonderful year we had and look forward to serving him better this coming year.

On a side note, keep your eyes peeled for a couple of cloth diaper reviews/giveaways and a mama cloth review/giveaway in the next couple months!