Sunday, February 8, 2009

Day #8, a little late, but better than never!

It's not a giveaway today, as my blog is more than just a giveaway site. I wanted to take this opportunity to answer a couple of questions that some of my readers have about me and my life.

I had all goals of putting my final touches on this post last night or early this morning, but I was invited to attend a Twitter Tweet Up in Orlando. With the opportunity to go to Sea World and meet new, interesting people, I ended up changing my schedule last night, packing bags and getting clothes in order for today. Then I slept through the alarm, and woke up to my friend knocking at my door. All in all, Alex and I had a special date and an absolute blast! There will be more about Sea World on Tuesday, but for now- it's Q&A time!!

If you have any questions you'd like for me to answer, feel free to comment and ask away! I will either reply here or on another getting to know me post this month! :o)

How long have you been blogging?
I started blogging when we first moved down to Florida (Nov. 2004). I created a mommy blog about my son, for my relatives in NY to stay in touch. I updated it about 2x a month, and got frustrated that nobody was really reading it, and in one angry moment deleted it about a year and a half after it was created. Then, (just this past November), I decided to try it out again. My husbands cousin Sarah had mentioned that she wished there was a spot that she could go to online that could tell her about all of the great sites I shop at and save money with, and any of the advice she usually gets on where to shop for XYZ for a third of the price of a regular shopping experience. With that seed that was planted, the idea to merge my family blog with a "me" blog (shopping, product reviews, money saving ideas, etc) blossomed, and before I knew it 4BabyAndMom emerged!

Where did 4BabyAndMom come from?
Well, it's a long story, but I used to have a very small business that I created products for babies and for moms. I sewed handbags, and cloth toys as well as pillowcase dresses. It only made sense to keep my 4BabyAndMom name when I launched my blog.

How long have you and your husband been together?
Brian and I have been married for 5 years, this past October. We met on New Year's Eve, 1999, and have been together since.

Do you plan on having more children, or becoming a Foster Parent- especially since your recent "addition"?
Hahahahaha. Ha. Um. Yeah. I have no idea. Bri and I always said that we wanted a bigger family. He wanted five, I wanted three or four. He told me that he wanted either 2 or 4, so there was no middle child syndrome. We both think 4 is our magic number, but at this point in *my* life, I feel like I am done. Will I change my mind in another year or two, or after the NewBaby leaves? Only God knows.
As far as becoming a Foster Parent... whew- that's a loaded question. I love being able to provide love and stability for a child in need. I worked the three years before having my son in a school with behaviorially, mentally, physically and emotionally challenged individuals. I loved my job, although it was very tough at times, it was extremely rewarding. The bottom line is, I love helping children! Part of me would love the ability to Foster children, but the fact is, I don't know if I could. I don't know if I am strong enough to let the child go again. At the end of February, we'll have NewBaby for a total of 7 weeks. Right now, we've convinced ourselves that we are "baby-sitting". That seems to be working, but for how much longer? What about Alex and Abbie? They're too young to get it.. These are the questions that race through my head ALL.THE.TIME. when it comes to this whole situation. Ideally, I would love to be able to care for and love another child, and give them that home that they need- but probably not until my children are older and can digest the whole process better.

What do you like to do for fun?
I watch entirely way too much TV, but I also enjoy hanging out with my friends, and snuggling with my family. I like to ride bikes with my kids, and I used to love to run. I have a ton of weight I am trying to lose, so a lot of my "fun" has been swallowed up with that. I love to cook, and can throw almost anything together to make a meal. I have a passion for music, and for painting.. I love to paint! I used to paint murals in the Hamptons, and for friends nurseries and community enrichment projects. I'm pretty laid back, so hanging out with the kids or my friends suits me just fine!

Well, there you go! I hope you learned something new and interesting about me tonight, and if you have any more questions, I'd love to hear from you!

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Saturday, February 7, 2009

For you, Valentine! Sidder Bug Creations Weekend Giveaway! (Day #7)

What do you get when you combine your favorite picture, plus the talent and dedication of the owner and creator of Sidder Bug Creations? Give up? Utterly adorable cards, invitations, and announcements, on quality photo paper, custom made just for you!

Whether you are in the market for newborn baby announcements, holiday cards, post cards or birthday party invitations, the possibilities are endless with Sidder Bug Creations. Custom made, all you need to do is provide your picture(s) and your vision or theme and let the natural talent of designer Sydney do the rest! Sidder Bug Designs started as a hobby but after so many compliments, Sydney decided to take a leap of faith and offer up her designs on the world wide web.

WIN IT!
Just in time for Valentine's day, our friends at Sidder Bug Creations has offered one lucky reader a digital format design of their choice! Think of how cute your little bug would look on a personalized card for his class or family! In need of an announcement or invitation? Choose that instead!

Here's how:
  • Head over to Sidder Bug Creations and tell us about your favorite Valentine card or gift and what kind of custom card you want and why! (Check out her review blog as well,The Opinionated Wife!)
  • Email this post to at least three other friends and CC us at 4BabyAndMom [at] gmail [dot] com!
  • Tweet, Digg or Stumble this giveaway, please include the link! (As much as you want, more thank 1x per day is a-ok!Just make another comment & link back!)
  • Follow this blog and/or subscribe for our feeds!
  • Blog about this contest!
  • Add our button to your sidebar!
  • You get an extra entry in ALL of our giveaways if you follow the directions in this post!!
Special thanks to Sydney of Sidder Bug Designs for sponsoring Day 7 of our Fabulous February Fiesta!
Fine Print: Please include your email or contact information in your comments. YOU MUST post separate comments for each one of the tasks above that you complete. This drawing ends Tuesday 2/10/09 at 11:59pm EST. Any comments posted after that time will be deleted. If you post one reply saying you did all six, you will only receive 1 entry. One lucky winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner will be announced on Thursday 2/12. Thank you for participating!

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Thursday, February 5, 2009

Between Me and You, Honey~Day #6 Review & Giveaway!

Just in time for Valentine's Day, this beautiful relationship keepsake journal could be yours!

When I received the Between Me and You HONEY relationship keepsake journal by Sand Dune Publishing in the mail, I thought surely I would give it to my husband, and have him fill it out for me. The longer I had the book, (and the more I flipped through the pages), the more I contemplated filling it out for him. Brian and I have been through so much together! We've been together 10 years, and married for just over 5. Many couples married for decades haven't gone through the trials of our friendship, courtship and marriage. Answering the questions and reflecting on the years before "us", really helped me to open up to my husband- on paper- for the first time since our premarital counseling. I really feel that it helped me reconnect and remember how and why we fell in love.

The book itself is not the actual gift. Sure, it's physically the gift that will be unwrapped, but the true gift is the words written inside for your special loved one. It's a gift of truth; a gift of hopes and dreams, and the gift of love, all over again. Sand Dune Publishing took it one step further and created an entire line of "Between Me and You" relationship keepsake journals to offer to Grandparents, to girlfriends, to lovers and even siblings. These journals are broken up into six different chapters concerning different phases of your personal relationship with the recipient. All of the questions you never knew how to ask, or even when to ask them- they ask them for you. It's presented in a comfortable, conversational tone so it's simple and easy for your loved one to fill out. The spiral binding allows for even more flexibility, if there's a question or a page that is irrelevant, you can simply tear it out. You can even add your own questions on the blank pages in the back!

I cannot even describe to you how much I wish that this particular line existed when my mother-in-law fell ill with cancer. There are so many things that I wish my children would have known about her, from her- she really was an incredible woman. A relationship keepsake journal such as this, would have been a fabulous way to have her true heartfelt thoughts and memories live forever.

Want it?
Run over to BETWEEN ME AND YOU JOURNALS and pick out the relationship keepsake journals for the friends and family you want to share your love with this Valentine's Day. Be sure to mention that read about them at 4BabyAndMom!

Win it!
Our friends at Sand Dune Publishing have offered a Between Me and You HONEY relationship keepsake journal to one lucky winner in celebration of Valentine's Day and our February Fiesta!

Here's how:
  • Head over to BETWEEN ME AND YOU JOURNALS and share with us your favorite keepsake journal and one question you would ask or share with the recipient on the blank pages in the back.
  • Email this post to at least three other friends and CC us at 4BabyAndMom [at] gmail [dot] com!
  • Tweet, Digg or Stumble this giveaway, please include the link! (As much as you want, more thank 1x per day is a-ok!Just make another comment and link back!)
  • Follow this blog and/or subscribe for our feeds!
  • Blog about this contest!
  • Add our button to your sidebar!
  • You get an extra entry in ALL of our giveaways if you follow the directions in this post!!
Special thanks to Winston, President/Founder of Sand Dune Publishing for sponsoring Day #6 of our Fabulous February Fiesta!
Fine Print: Please include your email or contact information in your comments. YOU MUST post separate comments for each one of the tasks above that you complete. This drawing ends Monday 2/9/09 at 11:59pm EST. Any comments posted after that time will be deleted. If you post one reply saying you did all six, you will only receive 1 entry. One lucky winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, 2/10. Any questions, please click on the Contact Us button on our sidebar. Thank you for participating!

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4BabyAndMom~ WINNERS PAGE!!!!


Current Winners:

There are no current winners. 
Stay tuned for winner info when our latest giveaways have ended. 
Thank you.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Winning contestants, please post here to acknowledge that you've won. After you've posted here, please email us your contact information and prize choice (if applicable, plus color, size, etc) at 4BabyAndMom {at} gmail {dot} com.

Due to the high volume of giveaways on our site, please understand that it is not our responsibility to contact you first. We do try to email and/or tweet the winners directly, but if your information is not clearly in your comment or profile we will not hunt for it. Prizes not claimed after one full week may be re-drawn and the winners will be announced above. Prize selection may vary based on availability of special order items, color choices available, etc. Comparative substitutes may be offered in exchange for seasonal items.

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Hannahmade Soaps & Scrubs! February Fiesta Day #5 Giveaway!

Many commercial soaps are made with a ton of artificial preservatives, and un-natural ingredients that are toxic to our bodies and linked to diseases such as cancer as well as developmental or reproductive toxicity. Don't believe me? Check out this site for the ratings of your favorite soaps, shampoo's and beauty products. The reality is unbelievably disturbing that manufacturers can actually sell that stuff!

So, I decided to start my hunt for more body & family friendly products. During my search, I happened to find HANNAHMADE SOAPS AND SCRUBS. Hannahmade Soaps and Scrubs was created by a young girl named Hannah, that wanted to make soaps with her mom and sell them at local markets. After her success and popularity at the local markets, Hannah wanted to share her hobby and dream with the online marketplace. Don't be fooled by the construction on their site- their products are AMAZING! Made from goat's milk, these soaps are so smooth and luxurious- your skin will feel renewed and rejuvenated after just one use! The products are all custom made with natural ingredients. Hannahmade offers sweet brown sugar scrubs and Dead Sea Salts so you can have a spa experience in your own home! If you are in the market for a new soap that's eco-friendly, safe for your skin and your family, has a great price point- HANNAHMADE SOAPS AND SCRUBS is for you!!


Want It?
Head over to HANNAHMADE SOAPS AND SCRUBS and pick out your favorite products.
Mention that you heard about them here, at 4BabyAndMom for a 10% discount!

Win It!
Our friends at Hannahmade Soaps and Scrubs are offering one very lucky reader a $20 gift certificate for the spa products, and scents that you want!

Here's how!
  • Check out HANNAHMADE SOAPS AND SCRUBS and spend some time getting to know them. Tell me what Hannah bought with her proceeds from the local green market.
  • Subscribe to Hannahmade's feed
  • Email this post to at least three other friends and CC us at 4BabyAndMom [at] gmail [dot] com!
  • Tweet, Digg or Stumble this giveaway! (As much as you want!)
  • Follow this blog on blogger, twitter and/or subscribe for our feeds!
  • Blog about this contest!
  • Add our button to your sidebar!
  • You get an extra entry in ALL of our giveaways if you follow the directions in this post!!
Special thanks to our friends at Hannahmade Soaps and Scrubs for sponsoring Day #5 of our Fabulous February Fiesta!
Fine Print: Please include your email or contact information in your comments. YOU MUST post separate comments for each one of the tasks above that you complete. This drawing ends Sunday 2/8/09 at 11:59pm EST. Any comments posted after that time will be deleted. If you post one reply saying you did all six, you will only receive 1 entry. One lucky winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner will be announced on Monday, 2/9. Any questions, please click on the Contact Us button on our sidebar. Thank you for participating!

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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Bella Bands by Ingrid and Isabel Review & Giveaway! Fabulous February Fiesta~Day #4!

When I was pregnant, I had such difficulties finding jeans that worked for me. I'm 5'10" and during my first pregnancy, was slender with hips until my belly popped. When it popped I was HUGE, or so I thought. While I was pregnant with my daughter, I looked like I ate 5 adults for breakfast! I blew up like a balloon! NOTHING fit me. Pregnancy pants were either way too huge and short in between my legs, or regular jeans just couldn't stretch.. even with a rubber band chain going from the button through the hole and back again. (Come on, you know you've done something like that before!!)

Now I'm on a weight loss journey, 2 years postpartum- so it's not just baby fat any more. Either way, I'm on a very big road to make myself healthy but I've been experiencing problems like I had while pregnant. Some jeans are just way too tight and give me a lovely muffin top, and some are just way too loose, a week after I buy them.

So what is a woman in either situation to do? Thankfully, Ingrid and Isabel created an amazing product called a Bella Band. A Bella Band is a band of stretchy, comfortable, breathable fabric that allows for your too-tight pre-pregnancy pants to stay unbuttoned, stay up, and hide that muffin top- all at the same time. There's no more hiking up your too big pregnancy pants, or pants that don't fit because you're losing that baby weight!

I must admit, I was a little skeptical after browsing on the Ingrid and Isabel website because I felt the models were so perfect. These beautiful little belly bumps, on fairly normal, well toned women didn't really portray me when I was pregnant.. and the postpartum model looked like she was maybe (max!)a size 6. Definitely NOT me. So I contacted the company and bombarded them with a ton of questions; does it really work the same on a plus size mom as it does on the smaller moms? My pants barely stay up now, will they really stay up? Is it comfortable?

Their amazing customer service, (and the answers to my questions!) led me to try Bella Bands out for myself! As soon as I got the package, I put on my Bella Band. Right away, it helped my muffin top tremendously! I was excited! I can honestly say that for the past week or so, I haven't taken off my Bella Band except to bathe and sleep! I think this is one "accessory" that every women should own. It's comfortable, I don't have to worry about my undies peeking out as I bend over to pick up my kids, or my pants falling down. They stay where they are supposed to be- and occasionally I need to adjust them, but it's less than with a belt. It makes me feel good when I am working out, not annoying at all. It looks like it's supposed to be there, and that's one of my favorite parts. My best friend works in fashion, and she thought I was wearing a tank under a favorite shirt of mine! I feel much more confident while wearing my Bella Band and have already begun spreading the word of my new discovery to all of my pregnant, postpartum, and dieting friends!

Want it?
Head over to Ingrid and Isabel and check out the many styles that Bella Bands are offered in. At purchase, be sure to mention that you read their review here, at 4BabyAndMom

Win it!
Our friends at Ingrid and Isabel are offering 4BabyAndMom readers their choice of their favorite color, style and size Bella Band!
Here's how:

  • Head over to Ingrid and Isabel and tell us your favorite style Bella Band, color and size. In your comment, share with us your uncomfortable pregnancy or postpartum clothing experience!
  • Email this post to at least three other friends and CC us at 4BabyAndMom [at] gmail [dot] com!
  • Tweet, Digg or Stumble this giveaway! (As much as you want!)
  • Follow this blog and/or subscribe for our feeds!
  • Blog about this contest!
  • Add our button to your sidebar!
  • You get an extra entry in ALL of our giveaways if you follow the directions in this post!!
Special thanks to our friends at Ingrid and Isabel for sponsoring Day #4 of our Fabulous February Fiesta!
Fine Print: Please include your email or contact information in your comments. YOU MUST post separate comments for each one of the tasks above that you complete. This drawing ends Saturday 2/7/09 at 11:59pm EST. Any comments posted after that time will be deleted. If you post one reply saying you did all six, you will only receive 1 entry. One lucky winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner will be announced on Monday, 2/9. Any questions, please click on the Contact Us button on our sidebar. Thank you for participating!

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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

What Squeaky Shoes! ~Day 3 of our Fabulous February Fiesta!

Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak! WHAT SQUEAKY SHOES! specializes in canvas, vinyl and leather squeaky shoes for both boys and girls. Affordable and adorable, parents, friends and bystanders will giggle and grin at these unique little shoes!

These squeaky shoes are available in many different colors and styles and range from sizes 3-12, (they run a little small, so choose the next size up!)

Buy it!
Head to WHAT SQUEAKY SHOES! and pick out your favorite pairs, add to cart and use paypal to conveniently purchase your squeaky shoes! Use Coupon Code FIESTA to save 15% off of your purchase all month long!

Win it!
Our Friends at WHAT SQUEAKY SHOES! have offered a pair of tennis shoes (pictured above).

Here's how:

  • Spend some time at WHAT SQUEAKY SHOES! and tell us your favorite style shoe (be specific). Come back here and leave us a message with what size and color tennis shoe you'd like to win (pictured above) as well as the other cute shoes you found!
  • Register on WHAT SQUEAKY SHOES!
  • Email this post to at least three other friends and CC us at 4BabyAndMom [at] gmail [dot] com!
  • Tweet, Digg or Stumble this giveaway! (As many times as you want!)
  • Follow this blog and/or subscribe for our feeds!
  • Blog about this contest!
  • Add our button to your sidebar!
  • You get an extra entry in ALL of our giveaways if you follow the directions in this post!!
Fine Print: Please include your email or contact information in your comments. YOU MUST post separate comments for each one of the tasks above that you complete. This drawing ends Friday, 2/6/09 at 11:59pm EST. Any comments posted after that time will be deleted. If you post one reply saying you did all six, you will only receive 1 entry. One lucky winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner will be announced on Saturday, 2/7. Any questions, please click on the Contact Us button on our sidebar. Thank you for participating!

Special thanks to Elizabeth from What Squeaky Shoes for sponsoring Day 3 of our Fabulous February Fiesta!!

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