The Great Pamper Yourself Blogoversary Giveaway!!- Closed

My blog is drawing close to its one year blogoversary, and while I was not an active blogger early on (I actually did not start to really blog much until June of 2009!), once I started to post more, join blog communities, read other blogs more, and really enjoy sharing through my posts, I became addicted! I love to read great family blogs, love meeting other women who blog, and I love the communities and friendships that evolve around bloggers. I'm so happy that I finally began to really become a part of this cyber-world!

To celebrate my blog's anniversary, I am offering a Pamper Yourself Give-Away Package to one lucky winner! I am including six items in this package that will help any woman look, smell, and feel great! Some of these items have been reviewed on my blog in the past, and some I've just tried and loved. I'm sure you will too!

The Pamper Yourself prize package includes all the following items:

♥ Invisibelt! The flat, undetectable, adjustable belt that makes you look sleeker and slimmer! No bulk, no buckle bump!


♥ Belli Skin Care's Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator, an invigorating body scrub rich with green tea, ginseng and peppermint oil.

♥ Belli Skin Care's All Day Moisture Body Lotion, with lemon oil and chamomile, to deeply moisturize and soothe dry, itchy skin.


♥ Miss Oops Pedicure in a Bottle! Hydrates and exfoliates, no rubbing or washing off required, and with its non-greasy formula, you can apply it, put your shoes right on, and go!



♥ Victoria Secret delicate detergent wash (16 oz bottle)! It smells like VS's perfume Body by Victoria, and you won't believe how your clothes smell after they are washed...it's just heavenly! Everytime I open my lingerie drawer, the most enticing scent wafts out.


♥ Burt's Bees Beeswax Lipbalm, for naturally soft, healthy lips! It soothes, cools, refreshes- made with coconut and sweet almond oil.

Rules For Entry:

1. You must be a follower of this blog! To become one, join on the left sidebar. Current followers get two entries (for loyalty- love my followers!). Current followers should leave TWO comments letting me know they follow (each comment is an entry).

2. For two extra entries, grab my cute new button :) and leave a link to your blog.

3. For three extra entries, blog about this contest, leave me a link to the blog post, and leave THREE separate comments letting me know you did.

4. Please leave an email address with your comments where I can contact you at if you are the winner. If I can't contact you, I have to re-draw. The winner has 48 hours to respond before I draw again. I will post the results once the winner is confirmed.

Open to continental US and Canada. I will draw on my blogoversary (the count-down button is on the left) on September 9th, 2009 at 12 noon EST. Good luck!

The Regal BumbleRide Queen B Stroller 2009

I was recently sent a Queen B 2009 stroller by BumbleRide to review, and I fell in love with this old-fashioned style stroller. It may be the most beautiful stroller on the market. Not only does it evoke the look of the old-fashioned style pram, but it has terrific features that put it in the same class as luxury travel systems that are twice as expensive.

What I love about this stroller:

♥ It's just aesthetically beautiful. I took it for a stroll around my neighborhood, and was stopped multiple times by people asking me what brand it was, and where I got it. There are not many strollers that are just so attractive.


♥ It's roomy! The Queen B has a well-sized seat, large canopy, a large storage compartment underneath, 12 inch air-filled wheels, and it can be expanded with an optional toddler seat to seat two (terrific for me, since I would love to have more than one child). The seat itself can comfortably fit your baby from birth to 45 pounds, and up to 65 pounds combined with the toddler seat. The toddler seat also has a five-point safety harness and foot rest.



♥ The stroller fully reclines for a sleeping baby! I love this. The comfortable seat can be adjusted to a fully flat position, and the foot rest moved up, to totally enclose your baby (a pseudo-bassinet). The seat actually has four levels of recline. It's wonderful for newborns. If you want to go the way of an actual bassinet instead, they offer a beautiful, plush one for babies up to 20 pounds that can even be used without the stroller for babies to nap in.

♥ It's reversible! You can turn both the stroller and bassinet around, so your baby faces you or the world- it's up to you. I love the idea of being able to see my sweet little baby's face while strolling, so this is a wonderful option. It's very easy to do, and has a safety lock to keep it in place, either way.


♥ It's very sturdy and well-made. All the parts are very solid and good quality. This stroller will last for many years, through multiple children, easily. I've compared many strollers in terms of quality and sturdiness, and the Queen B is second to none.

♥ It's easy to put together (no tools required) and to maneuver the different parts (the canopy, the bassinet, the foot rest, etc). I'm five months pregnant and was able to do it all myself.

♥ The Queen B gives a nice, easy ride. The large wheels make strolling it over a bumpy sidewalk easy, and you can even bounce it up and down while standing in place to rock the baby, because the tires are air-filled (it has great suspension).

♥ The handlebar is adjustable, so it's easy for both my tall husband and my petite self to stroll.


♥ The materials are beautiful and well-made. The seat is well-padded for comfort, the canopy and seat are beautifully lined, and it comes in two classic, unisex color options- ruby (a rich, gorgeous red, which is what I have) and lava (black). All the fabrics are easily removed for washing.

♥ It has lots of safety features, including a five-point harness and padded bumper, and a belt to secure car seats in even better (it's already compatible with several car seats, including some that snap onto an included car seat adapter, so this is for extra security).

♥ It's fully-loaded, with an air pump, cup holder, foot muff, rain cover and extra padding all included. The Queen B is a luxury stroller at half the price.


♥ Adorable additions: a peek-a-boo sunroof, a cushioned, removable headrest, and a little pocket to keep a pacifier, your keys, or a small toy within easy reach.

♥ Other positives: it has a brake to lock wheels in place, it's easy to fold closed and to open, and the wheels are easy to remove, but have safety locks, so they can only be manually removed.

Notes:

The Queen B isn't a jogging stroller (you can't really run or jog with it). The front tires turn but the back do not so for sharper turns, you have to lift the front tires a bit. BumbleRide makes a jogging stroller called the Indie for moms who like to exercise.

The Queen B is also not a lightweight umbrella stroller. At 31 pounds, this stroller can't be carried around easily. Its weight makes it very stable and sturdy, but for a lighter weight stroller (especially if you have lots of stairs), BumbleRide offers a 19 pound Flyer, which is also available in beautiful colors and plush fabrics and has a reversible handle. For BumbleRide's full 2009 line of great strollers, click here.

♥ Today My Brother Gets Married! ♥

♥ ♥ Wishing you many wonderful years filled with joy, health, and a beautiful family that bring you peace, happiness, and blessings! ♥ ♥

Slow-Cooker Lasagna

Ingredients:
* 1 pound lean ground beef
* 32 ounce jar of pasta sauce (Italian style or with peppers and olives is yummy!)
* 1/2 box (about 15 pieces) of uncooked lasagna noodles
* 1 medium onion, chopped (optional)
* 2 cups shredded mozzarella
* 2 cups ricotta cheese
* 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
* olive oil to coat
* spices to taste (salt, pepper, dried basil, minced garlic, etc)

Directions:
* Oil the inside of the slow-cooker/crockpot with olive oil.
* Brown the ground beef well a skillet.
* Add the pasta sauce, spices, and onion to the cooked ground beef and stir well. Remove from heat.
* Combine the ricotta and mozzarella cheeses in a bowl.
* In the slow cooker, put 1/4 of the meat mixture on the bottom, layer lasagna noodles on top, and then add a layer of cheese (about 1/3 of mixture). Continue to layer.
* Cook on low setting for about 4 hours (until noodles tender).
* Add parmesan cheese on top, and let sit for about ten minutes (until cheese is melted).


Cut into pieces, serve, enjoy...this tastes great with garlic bread! Very yummy!

A New Look and Special Thanks!

I love the blogging world, not only because I love to share what is happening in my life, but I love to read the blogs of others, make friends, and especially learn from them. I'm a relative newlywed and expecting my first bunchkin, and the wisdom I learn from other women who have already gone down this exciting road is incredible! I am the type who would have tremendous difficulty passing on an award to one other blog, because I find so many to be funny, relevant, endearing, and just lovely.

I have two reasons for writing this Thank You post...I recently became a follower of The Mahogany Way- a great blog by a wife and mom, Darcel, and as a result, two great things happened. The first is that, through her blog, I found Crissy, the fabulous blog designer who designed her blog and then went on to design mine. I wanted something that would look relaxing, evoke the idea of an oasis, and also have a touch of the fairy tale to it- I'm forever a very young soul at heart :) Crissy designed a blog for me that is exactly what I would have loved. I have her button on my right side bar, where you can contact her, see her portfolio, and even blogs she just finished designing. All her designs are unique, and she will work with you to make sure you are happy with the end result. I took a peek at her most recent work since she did mine, and it's terrific! This is the button (it's so funny!):



Here is my cute little button!:


The second reason I was inspired by The Mahogany Way to write this thank you post was her Marriage Monday feature, especially this week's. She posted about how we greet our husbands when they come home. and it made me start to think. I realized that this is something I would like to work on...I'm thinking of how to make his home-coming special everyday, instead of just a "Hi honey! How was work?" tossed over my shoulder as I continue whatever I'm working on, or a quick peck on the lips if I'm close to him. I'd like to show him I'm grateful for what a wonderful husband he is, and for working hard all day so I can stay home.


What do you ladies go to make your husband's homecoming special?

A Smorgasboard of Great Baby Items

I've been coming across some great finds for babies and very small children, and I loved so many, that I made up a top ten list (in no particular order). My mommy/wives group and I have tried many together, so these have passed the test of lots of little ones (and I hope it's helpful to some other new moms out there). Our Top Ten:

1. Vicks Rectal Thermometer...not only does this thermometer get great reviews for being very accurate and easy to use, but the large bulb ensures you do not have to worry about pushing it in too deep. The best part is that the baby barely feels it (no discomfort, no pain!). It is available for about $12.



2. Gramma Gayle's Lap Pads: these water-proof pads are the perfect size (18x18), machine washable, can be tossed in the dryer safely, and come in very attractive prints. I got it in a pink, blue and green handprints design. It's only $6.50, and it's fabulous and beautiful! It's worth picking up a few of these.

3. The Kidco Swivel and Door Latch from Totsafe. I don't think anyone needs to be told that home safety with babies and toddlers is soooo important! Totsafe offers a great selection of safety items, including various cabinet latches, kitchen, bathroom, and electrical safety products, and much more! Their cabinet latches are terrific, totally childproof, yet easy for adults to maneuver. Their customer service is terrific too.

4. PeaPodZ! They are 5" by 2", flexible (to contour to the body), reusable, neat, and non-toxic, and the fact that it looks like a pea pod is adorable! They can be used for adults too.


5. Wubbanub pacifiers- these pacifiers have little plush friends for your baby to hold onto, helping to keep the pacifier in place, and they are easy to find should your baby drop it. Plus, they are so darned cute! Babies have fun playing with them too.

6. Weego Glass bottles- Not only are they non-toxic (no dangerous chemicals in the glass), but they come with non-slip, protective, silicone sleeves in six vibrant colors. I want to get them all!



7. 7th Generation Diapers- I pretty much like anything from this company, and I'm so happy they make baby products as well, such as diapers and baby wipes. Their diapers are non-bleached, fit very well (no leaks!), and non-toxic to a baby's gentle skin. The women in my mom group have nothing but praise for their products! You can find their products in Whole Foods, most health stores, and many other places.

8. Miracle Blanket- I love this product...watch the video here to see how well this works on this adorable baby...you have to scroll down a tad. Swaddling is considered the best way for your baby to sleep early on, and the Miracle Blanket makes it easy. They have a great selection of colors and are very afforable (on the right side-bar, I also listed a discount code). This link to a one minute You Tube video shows home-video of the amazing effects of the miracle blanket on multiple babies.



9. The Tummy Tub- this great product mimics the warmth and coziness of the womb, and is a safe way to bathe your baby from birth. It looks like a bucket (which aren't safe to use!) but it's actually specifically designed to 1. have a safe center of gravity (no tipping over), 2. support the baby while bathing (so the baby doesn't fall under the water), and 3. keep the baby warm (low surface area keeps the water from cooling for at least 20 minutes). It also helps reduce tummy aches newborns often get.

10. What To Expect When You're Expecting and What To Expect The First Year- I read quite a few books to prepare me for pregnancy and the baby's first year, and none, I mean none, are as thorough and helpful as these two books are. I've heard complaints that they are too thorough, but is there such a thing? A book that has everything you need to know at the tip of your fingers is what we need, and if you don't want to know it all, you can always skip around or use the index. I tossed or donated the other books...these two have become my Expectant Mommy bibles.

Secrets of Fascinating Womanhood- Free Download

The book "Secrets of Fascinating Womanhood" (by Zealand Publishing House) is being offered for free in pdf format here. It is based on the 1922 Pamphlets entitled "Fascinating Womanhood" (by authors unknown). The almost-one-century-old pamphlets they are based on teach femininity for all women, married or single, in a way that is eternally relevant and effective.

These wonderful pamphlets have spawned many books in later years that very closely follow its principles and ideas, books that are popular today, such as those by Helen Andelin, John Gray, and Dr. Laura Schlessinger.



The NZ book based on these pamphlets is the story of a married woman facing many difficulties- with her husband, children, self- and how she turns her life around one day at a time, and becomes a lovelier, healther, calmer woman with a life she is happy and proud to have.

The original pamphlets are difficult to read in their on-line format (Harvard library offers them at this link) and the loading of each page may be slow, so printing them out to read is a good idea. The information, wisdom, and ideas they contain are priceless! There is an art to being a graceful, tender and feminine woman, and these pamphlets thoroughly teach them.

Lots of Free Information at Your Fingertips!

Quamat is a web-site that offers lots of free information, from topics such as House and Home, Green Living, Money and Business, Health, Weightloss, Computers, Technology, and much more. These thorough and informative guides are published by Barnes and Noble and available for sale in a hard copy as well (on-line or in their stores) that is both laminated and with holes, to put it into a binder, but the information is all available on-line for free should you not wish to purchase it. They are super concise, about 6 pages long, thoroughly covering the specified topic.

My favorite topics include: first aid and cpr, infant care, healthy eating, and meal planning.

A medley of other topics that may interest you: yoga, MAC basics, estate planning, golf, singing, buying a car, mexican oooking, digital photography, quilting, gardening, holiday planning, scrapbooking, and cooking, and lots more.

Each week there is also a new topic available as a free pdf download. This is a great site for interesting and useful information, and for inspiration and help starting hobbies, projects, getting important things done, and accomplishing milestones (they have a quamut for planning a wedding and paying off your debt!). Hope you enjoy this site!

The Bath Luve

The Bath Luve (pronounced lovey)- is a great new product that helps a parent keep baby warm and comfortable during a bath. The safest way to bathe a baby is in shallow water. Unfortunately, this often leaves the infant cold and unhappy, making bathing difficult for parents. Wisconsin-based momtrepreneur Amy Seckinger came up with a solution to help make both babies and parents happy-- the Bath Luve.

The Bath Luve is 100% cotton and comes in an adorable frog, fish or duck design (I have the fish design). It is used by first soaking it in warm bath water and then gently draping it over the baby. It can be re-soaked and re-draped as often as needed to keep your baby warm and happy! It can also double as a squirt-shield for baby boys.

The material is soft, and the colorful designs are very appealing and entertaining for the baby- and your baby looks just darling wearing a little frog or fish :) It retails for about only $8-10.

This company also sells the Bath Luve Buddy, a soft, absorbent matching bath toy that can be used to wash the baby, or it can be soaked with warm water to squeeze over the baby, helping keep the baby warm without having to remove the Luve.



Bathing your baby should be a fun, bonding experience you'll always remember. This product will help you do it, by making bath time easier and more enjoyable.

♥ A Sunday Scripture ♥

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

~ Proverbs 27:2

It's a BOY!!

We found out we are expecting a boy, and he is wonderfully healthy. I am now 21 weeks along, and my husband and I are so happy. Of course, my darling husband would have been happy no matter what the gender, but we like knowing how to refer to our little bunchkin now :)

I'm about 20 weeks along (he is a big boy!) here:


My parents are especially happy, as my sister is expecting a girl (she is two months further along), so now my parents will have their first granddaughter, and their first grandson right after!

Is this what the moms with sons have to look forward to?




These were sent to me by a friend in an e-mail that circulates the internet (don't know where they originated) but they had me laughing for an hour!

My First Giveaway! -Closed

For my first-ever giveaway, I am offering several items I found, tried, and loved, and wanted to give others a chance to discover also...I'll end the giveaway on my birthday, so this will be the Birthday Bash Giveaway!! I'm really excited to be able to offer this to those following my blog!

The first item is the Topless Undershirt from a company called Blush...these stretchy bands of fabric totally cover the stomach area if you are wearing a (teeny?) top that doesn't reach the top of your (low-rise?) pants/jeans. This is great for women who are pregnant, women who are long waisted, or women who simply have lots of tops that are cut regular yet still show a patch of tummy skin (and you're modest, don't want to show that to everyone in the world!).



It's offered in various patterns and colors...the one in this giveaway is white with gray squiggles (as shown above) for women sized 0-6 (it stretches a lot though, so would probably fit up to a size ten comfortably or a woman who is expecting, for most of her pregnancy, as a more fitted style that is popular today in tees). The Topless Undershirt is a great option for women who like the look of layered clothes, but don't want the bulk of wearing two shirts. It fits from the top of the tummy down and is very comfortable! It hides a lot too (stretch marks? can't close the button of your jeans after a big meal? have lots of low rise jeans but don't like the look anymore? or you just like a splash of color under your tees?). It's also available on their web-site if you can't wait!

The second item is the Mama Mio Boob Tube, a cream for any women (ages 18-80) that wants to make/keep her boobs perky! This cream helps increase the elasticity of the delicate decollatage skin. There are no parabens, colorants, SLS, synthetic fragrances, xenoestrogena, etc...basically, the yucky stuff has been taken out! If you have had children, or just feel like gravity is your enemy, this is a great product for firming and lifting (and safe women pregnant and nursing women). Can't wait to win it? It's available on their web-site.



Boob Tube smells great, feels good, and is made with shea butter, sweet almond oil, rosehip seed oil, CoQ10, avocado oil, and more. Love this product! Mama Mio sells a range of other great products as well on their web-site, if you want to check them out.

Finally, the third item for the great Birthday Bash Giveaway is The Lingerie Handbook, a great book written by the bra specialist and owner of the famous La Petite Coquette (french for "The Little Flirt"), Rebecca Apsan, about every type of lingerie you can imagine. This fully illustrated book thoroughly describes and advises on every undergarment, from bras and shapewear and nighties and teddies, and finally, to exotic lingerie that is often specially measured and fitted, or found only in more upscale boutiques.


This book, published by Workman Publishing in New York, helps you transform from the inside out...if you dress right underneath, all your clothes look better, and you feel better. The Lingerie Handbook even helps you organize your lingerie, build up a basic (and then some) lingerie wardrobe, and teaches you how to take care of these delicate garmets so they last, always look great, and most importantly, do their job of decorating and supporting you, so you always look great.


This is a great coffee table book if you don't have children (there are lots of photos!) and it has terrific information to help your thoroughly stock up on the best, more flattering, useful, and sensuous lingerie, and guide you through the sometimes (initially) confusing world of garters, silk stocking, and alluring negligees. It tells you what is best for different bodies, how to highlight your best qualities, what to wear with certain clothes so you look terrific fully dressed, and more!

Rules For Entry:

1. Become a follower (on the right sidebar) and leave a post below. This is required to enter. If you are already a follower, you get two entries (reward for loyalty!)...just make sure to leave TWO posts. Each post is an entry.

2. Leave a comment below telling me which of the three items you'd like to win. You can enter for all three (just leave three separate comments, one indicating each item you'd like to win). Please include an e-mail I can reach you at for your address if you are a winner.

3. For two extra entries, post a blog about this give-away, and include a link to your blog post (post two comments for each entry).

I will draw on August 8th at 12 noon EST, so please have your entries in no later than August 8th at 8 a.m. Entries after this will not be counted. I'll e-mail the winners and post when I have confirmed winners. The winners must respond within 24 hours before I draw again.

This give-away is open to continental U.S. residents only. If all goes well, I am planning more give-aways, to celebrate my upcoming one year bloggaversary, another for moms and expectant moms, to celebrate my coming to the end of my first pregnancy, and more! Stay tuned....

The Sleep Sheep (and Friends)

The Sleep Sheep by Cloud B is the perfect night-time companion to help calm babies to sleep. It offers, through a sound box, the option of four different, soothing "white noise" sounds, including a heartbeat, whale songs, spring showers, and ocean waves (I love the whale songs and ocean waves!). It attaches to the side of the crib or bed via a velcro tab and its volume control allows you to make it as loud as need be to mask noises that interfere with the baby's sleep. As you can see from the photo, it's absolutely adorable. The Sleep Sheep is also very soft and cuddly, a great companion for a baby or child to snuggle while awake.

The sound box has two timer options (23 or 45 minutes), or you can leave it on indefinately. It includes a Sleep Sheep story, adoption certificate, and batteries, so you are ready to go as soon as you purchase it.



It's great for all newborns and older children who have trouble sleeping, and works amazingly well for adults as well- it put my husband and I to sleep, so he loves it now! The Sleep Sheep also conveniently comes in a travel size, to take on trips, use in a stroller, and more.

Cloud B offers a collection of friends, with the same adorable sleeping faces, that also offer unique, soothing features for different senses. Examples include their Lavendar Puppy (aromatherapy for a soothing sleep- lasts up to five years!) and their Twilight Turtle (projects a constellation of lights onto the ceiling, conjuring up a starry night indoors- for ages two and older) and many other great items.


This is a great item for your own child, or as a gift for a baby shower, or even to borrow for yourself sometimes if you find you are having trouble sleeping! I highly recommend it, and am very impressed with the look and effectiveness of the Sleep Sheep.

Free Box Of Lipton Tea!

Call Lipton at 1-888-435-3639 and follow the automated instructions to receive a coupon for a free box of lipton tea (coupon takes about 6-8 weeks to arrive). You will be asked to punch in your date of birth, then leave your name and address on a voicemail. Visit Lipton's web-site for information on their products and for recipes!

My Terrific Sister-In-Law

My terrific sister in law, who is getting married herself next year to a wonderful man, is throwing me a baby shower. I didn't expect it (in my family, we don't have them, so I didn't bother registering for anything). Now I get to have the fun of going to BuyBuyBaby (a store I'm really fond of now) and actually organizing all my needs in one place. Looking at baby supplies is work that is incredible fun...I imagine my little bunchkin wearing this, bathing in that, strolling around in that...lots of fun!

I already registered for some great products I tried and love (I blogged about some, and will post about other great finds too) and now I'm looking into different strollers, car seats, and cribs...sooo many options! So many new safety (and non-safe) features! It takes time to wade through it all, but it's very interesting and fun for me.

I'm trying to mainly get organic bedding and apparel, though I still don't know the sex of the baby. I'm getting a tad weary of the yellows and greens, lol, and don't fancy the idea of my baby always wearing lime, so I'll probably look for whites, navies, and reds, which are unisex and flattering to all.

Registering is a lot of fun, and any tips and recommendations would be appreciated, by myself, and my friends who are expecting also (we are a large group of women, and we are constantly looking for new information and reviewing new things).

I feel very lucky...and can't wait to throw a baby shower for my sister-in-law one day too!

Happy Independence Day!!

We live in a great, great country. I'm so proud to be an American!

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States. (wikipedia.com)

Pregnant Woman's Helpers 101

Being pregnant is a wonderful gift, because I know a little blessing will soon join our family. Nevertheless, I'm on an endless quest for great products that ease the transition for my ever-changing body along this journey.

I found a great company, Mambino Organics, that makes a great kit called Bun in the Oven. It comes with oh baby! belly butter (softens the appearance of old stretch marks and helps prevent new ones), youth glow omega face complex (a lightweight oil rich in fatty acids that gives skin a radiant glow), moisture me body toning oil (boost collagen production while it firms the areas it's applied to), mandarin creme organic body wash (contains saponified oils of olive & coconut and red mandarin, and does not strip the skin of oils), and kissable lips (a moisturizing lip balm). Everything smells utterly heavenly (the lip balm is unscented), and the ingredients are all 100% organic and pure. How much better can you treat yourself and your baby while pregnant than that?




My favorite product in the kit is the body oil. I put this on my tummy every day, and already know this will be a staple for the duration of my pregnancy. It seems more effective to me than plain cocoa butter, or any other cream or oil I've tried on my tight tummy skin. It contains avocado and jojoba oils, and is scented with pomegranate oil. I love it so much, I find myself applying it multiple times a day, because the smell is so divine and the product is so soothing. I highly recommend it!

The body wash is also a favorite of mine. It is soap- free and contains red mandarin and chamomile essential oils, as well as aloe vera extract. Despite being all natural, it foams very well with a wash cloth or sponge. A friend of mine, who loved the youth glow face complex so much she took it from me, says it helped reduce the redness on her face, so while I didn't try that item myself, I can also post a good review on that as well. It contains evening primrose and hazelnut oils.

As part of their eco-friendly mission, this company packages everything in attractive, 100% recycled and recyclable materials (even the loose fill in the packaging is made from vegetable starch which dissolves upon contact with water), so you'll feel secure and good about both buying and using these products. Everything in this kit is also sold separately on their web-site.

Another great product is the Critical Care Kit For Moms-To-Be by Miss Oops. It contains three products to make the life of an expectant mom easier. First, there are five Popper Stoppers, used to cover a popped belly button when you wear a thin top, or are going to a formal event and want a smooth belly profile in your elegant, clingy maternity gown. My belly button has not popped yet, but the women in my mom group who have tried this say it's great and works well.



This kit also contains a Rescue Sponge, which you use dry to rub out accidents on your clothes, such as deodorant marks or make-up powder. I tried this a few times, and it works great. They are reusable and can be used on any fabric.

Last but not least, Pedicure in a Bottle, an exfoliating cream that does not even need to be rubbed in or washed off...simply apply, and you can put your shoes on immediately (no slippery feeling due to the non-greasy formula). Their web-site does not say this, but since this product contains salicylic acid, diabetics may need to be cautious when using it (or avoid it altogether) and pregnant women should probably ask their doctor first too, just to be sure (it contains salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and menthol, and small amounts can be absorbed systemically- better safe than sorry).

The products in this kit are also sold separately, for those who would just like to try the Popper Stoppers or Rescue Sponge.

My tummy grows bigger each day, my baby is kicking energetically (especially when I'm laying down to sleep!), and I no longer fit into much of my pre-pregnancy clothes (yet don't want to splurge on a wardrobe that I'll only be wearing for a few months before retiring it or giving it to a pregnant friend). I've been told you can save your maternity clothes for the next pregnancy, but based on the clothes that were given to me by others, if you don't use them within a couple of years, they start to look old and outdated.




Luckily, I found the b-buckle, a sort of mini belt that allows you to expand the life of your jeans. It's made of a cotton/polyester blend and has multiple snaps that allow you to adjust it, from the day you start expanding. I am not even halfway through the snaps yet, so my guess is that this product will allow me to wear jeans for another month or two at the very least. If you are a woman who loves to wear jeans often, but aren't fond of maternity jeans with those huge spandex bands on top, this would probably be a great alternative for you. It comes with different designs (mine is a plain black design) and is thick enough to cover the top part of the zipper (if you can't zipper all the way up anymore, like me).

These great finds have been carrying me well through the pregnancy thus far (and I'll be sure to post about any more I come across).