Valentine's Day

Aside from watching Charlie Brown, our Valentine's Day is just another day. We don't really do anything "special". I mean, I get the dollar fifty hearts with chocolates from Walgreens, and sometimes give the kids cards, but this year, I wasn't feeling it.

I've been sick with an ear infection. 102* fever, and all. Who gets ear infections at over 30 years old?! Me.

Yesterday my hubby took the girl child to a Father/Daughter sweetheart dance at a community Rec Center. They had a blast, until "Whip and Nae Nae" came on.. and my husband said, "Whip? A-No-No."  They decided then would be a great time to go get a snack. They took pictures with Belle, and spun and danced the afternoon away. When they came home, I asked the big boy child, (who's almost the size of man, by the way) if he'd be my valentine and go out on a date with me, despite the fact that I was hopped up on Dayquil & Sudafed. We went to go see 'The Good Dinosaur'. Such a cute coming of age type movie- definitely scarier for little ones, great for the 7 and up group. I digress. We had a lovely evening, and he asked me to be HIS valentine with the other chocolate heart I bought. It was perfectly perfect. Maybe I'm doing something right with him, after all.

My daughter is my artsy one.. she made breakfast in bed for the hubster and I. Scrambled eggs, with a smiley face of ketchup on and around the eggs. So cute. She also made us a card in her crochet club, it was perfect!

I feel like maybe we're doing something right with this one, too. My little guy went Pee-Pee on the potty, so at this rate he WON'T be getting married in diapers, so I guess I'm doing okay with him, too!!

Well, I wish you and yours a happy Sunday-which-also-happens-to-be-Valentine's-Day. Go be with the ones you love, and tell them you love and appreciate them not only today, but every day of the year. Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone.. so enjoy TODAY while you can!

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Blog Re-Launch! Look for the New US in June, We're Back, Baby!!

The last few years have been crazy. We've tried to hold onto our blog and post as often as we can. However, life kept us away from it, due to many factors beyond our control. Some people can work through it, but I, my friends, was just not strong enough.

An update of sorts is due to any of you who still read our blog.. thank you to our faithful subscribers.

Marissa has graduated with her teaching certificate, and we're super excited.

My big guy is moving up to Middle School, and all of his fifth grade fun things are this month.

My daughter is doing very well, now even cuter, with glasses.

My little guy is two today.. Happy Birthday, Zackie!

The road along our marriage has been bumpy, but we're still trudging along- and recently celebrated our 10th anniversary.

My mom passed away a year ago February. It's been the most difficult season of my life, dealing with that grief.

That's basically it, in a nut shell. Don't worry, there will be plenty of stories shared of some of the craziness that is my life. Some of these things I can't even make up if I tried; some are hysterical, and will hopefully have you laughing at me, and with me.

Here I am, prepping, negotiating, and scheduling some amazing reviews and giveaways for the month of June, so bookmark, pin, and share this post and get ready for the new, and improved, 4BabyAndMom.. we're not just for babies or moms, and I can't wait to show you what I mean! 







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Happy July! *WIN 100 Prints from SHUTTERFLY!* Ends 7/13

Summer is under-way, and the memories are rolling in. It's been an INSANE two months here. I cannot believe my new little bundle is already 8 weeks old. Life with three kids is crazy! I honestly have no idea how parents with more than two children live to tell about it... and why they don't warn the rest of us how chaotic three (or more) are!

That being said, I love having a baby in the house again. The coo's and goo's, the new wonder in his eyes as he's seeing things for the first time, learning about everything he touches.. I'm head over heels in love!! The big kids are such great helpers.

Tropical Storm Debby hit us pretty hard. Our block flooded, and we had some water come into the house.. not as bad as some of our neighbors, but it was the first time I've ever experienced a true flash flood. It was kind of scary.

The same view... outside the front of our house within 15 minutes.

Thankfully, our immediate area, no houses were catastrophically affected. In my old neighborhood, where I lived just a year ago, most of the houses in the whole subdivision had 4-18 inches of water in them.
My heart hurts for my old neighbors, many of them lost the entire contents of their house and garage. I am grateful that they are all ok, physically, but emotionally, they all need your prayers.

My mom started chemo this week. Turns out the pain she was feeling by her gallbladder was not her gallbladder.. Her breast cancer (which she's a survivor of- three years this month) settled in her liver. It's been a heck of a journey with my mom. She's a fighter- and she's determined not to let this disease get her.  Any well wishes for her would be greatly appreciated. If you comment on Facebook, she actually reads that. ;)

We were supposed to have a fourth of July get together at our house, but our pool was three and a half inches underwater, and our pump motor is shot. Who knows what we're going to do for the fourth now, but we always manage to pull something together. The fourth of July is one of our family's favorite holidays. We love to grill and share our time with friends and family.

Speaking of friends and family, our family is going to be receiving a very special visitor from up north the week of the 16th, so I'm super excited. The kids have no idea who is coming, just that someone is. This will be the first of our family from New York that will be meeting the baby.

How do you celebrate the fourth of July? What special activities have you been busy with this summer? What kind of memories are you hoping to make this summer???

To help you celebrate family, we are giving you a code for 100 free prints from Shutterfly!

Here's how to win:
Leave a comment on this blog post telling us what you've been up to this summer, what you're planning on doing, or what special memories you're making.

You MUST leave a comment to be eligible to win. If you do not leave a comment, your extra entries will not count.. Seriously- don't bother clicking on the widget if you have not completed that task.

Extra Entries:
Fill out the RaffleCopter widget and complete many opportunities for extra entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Kool-Aid Recipes, Community Events

This post brought to you by Kool Aid. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you drink Kool-Aid when you were a kid? I remember the fat ol' Kool-Aid Man with his smile bouncing down the street with kids in 80's trendy clothing, wanting to be on that commercial. I remember when they first came out with the color changing mix, and thought it was the coolest thing ever! It was always a special treat for me, and brings me back to a  time in my life where things were simple.

Living in Florida, it's important for my kids to stay hydrated when they're playing outside all year long. I'm very blessed with kids that are satisfied with regular H2o, but I love surprising them with a pitcher of Kool-Aid, just like my mom did when I was a child.

Over the years since I've introduced them to Kool-Aid, the kids have picked their favorites, (Alex likes the Blue Raspberry & Abbie loves Kiwi Strawberry), but the one thing they love doing even more is freezing Kool-Aid into ice cubes, or special-shaped cubes using our unique trays.  This summer they realized they could take their ice cube and put them in other flavored Kool-Aid drinks and come up with their own special concoction after the cubes started to melt. They thought it was hysterical and came up with a ton of different varieties. We usually stock up on the packets, because all you do is add sugar, and honestly, the price is unbeatable. They always look forward to having Kool-Aid, because it is a special treat.

Growing up I used Kool-Aid as temporary hair coloring, but what I didn't realize was that there are tons of [functional and] delicious recipes made with Kool-Aid!  From fruit smoothies to delicious desserts, (Key Lime Margarita Pie?!), click here to discover some amazing Kool-Aid Recipes.
Kool-Aid is also very active within the community. They have teamed up with KaBoom! and helped to provide  playgrounds for underprivileged children.

To learn more about this program, or to help contribute, be sure to visit the Kool-Aid Facebook page. Here, you can learn about current programs, activities, get coupons, and learn more about the product. Over the summer, Kool-Aid even hosted a 'Noches de PeliKoola' event for their Hispanic consumers. If you have a few moments, go check it out, and LIKE them, so you can be kept in the loop about any special events or exciting recipes to use Kool-Aid.

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How was your 2011? What are YOU grateful for?

I will not lie. This year was atrocious.

Between the move in April, Alex's possibly incorrect diagnosis of Asperger's in June, Bri's promotion, two cancer scares for me, a death in our family, another school, an unexpected pregnancy, the car being impounded [because of something stupid], and Bri being laid off- my mantra this year has been: put a fork in me, I'm done!

At the doctor's office today, I came to the realization that although this year was the most difficult for us, it made us closer as a family unit.

I am so grateful for the things that I've been blessed with... my kids are beautiful, happy, healthy, and whole. My husband is faithful, honest, hard-working, and loving. My friends are supportive, encouraging, and love me for me. My mother has come through in ways this year that I never expected, but was incredibly blessed by. I am extremely grateful.

Yes, although atrocious, this year has proven my aunt's favorite advice, "This too, shall pass, Lauren. It always does." And my mother's, "They say what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. You are very strong."

Ain't that the truth.

Soooo...... I wanna know-
What are you thankful for this holiday season??

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Walmart + P&G "Field of Vision" Family Movie Night

Having children from 5 to 11, finding a family movie that suits all of our needs is always a daunting task. The girls like cartoon ones, while the boys think that's too babyish, (but secretly enjoy them); they prefer the action movies, and the girls usually don't like it. We usually settle on a "boys movie tonight, girls movie on Friday" type deal.

Not too long ago we had the privilege to review "Truth Be Told," a movie collaborated with families in mind from two very family friendly companies- Walmart and P&G. Well, this month they've made magic again and allowed us to preview their new movie, "Field of Vision".

Through mysterious footage captured on an old malfunctioning video camera, Sinclair High School's star quarterback, Tyler McFarland, learns that some of his teammates have been bullying Cory Walker, a troubled new transfer student.  Aware that sharing this information with the coach might get his friends kicked off the team and ultimately cost the school the state championship, Tyler must choose what's more important: winning or doing what's right. 

The premier of "FIELD OF VISION" is on Saturday,June 11 on NBC at 8pm ET/7pm CT. To watch the trailer and see if this might be something you and your family could enjoy, click on the widget below.



Looks good, huh? Thanks to our friends at Mom Central, Walmart, and P&G, we were able to preview this movie earlier this week. The reviews are back, and we loved it. Abbie liked the horses and the magic camera (video camera), but the story line was a little over her head. She was still attentive through it, but I would definitely recommend this film for elementary school aged kids and up. Everyone else really seemed to like it! Alex recognized the bad behavior the bully was presenting, which opened us up to a whole conversation about bullying. Unfortunately, this is something we have been very familiar with recently. My husband and I thought the movie was a little predictable, but overall, the kids had fun putting together the puzzle pieces as the story unraveled, and we truly enjoyed spending time with the kids while watching "Field of Vision".

So set the DVR, or make sure you're home with some popcorn and drinks, and get ready for another family movie night. Learn more about this great film and the cooperative effort to put more wholesome family films on prime time by visiting the Family Film Night Facebook page.

Are you planning on watching? Who are you going to watch it with? Share your opinions on Family Movie Nights hosted by Walmart and P&G.

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of P&G and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.” As always, these opinions are strictly ours. We hope you enjoy the film as much as we did.

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Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent Review and LIVE Giveaway!

Did you know that the laundry detergent you may be using could contain little-known chemicals called optical brighteners? According to scientific research, these can cause allergic reactions, are toxic to small fish and other aquatic life, and can pollute your waterways.

When ultraviolet light hits optical brighteners coating your clothing, the brighteners convert UV rays into visible light to create an optical illusion. This tricks the eye into thinking the clothing is whiter and brighter, and therefore cleaner than it really is.

So how can you avoid these optical brighteners? Seventh Generation makes it easy because their laundry detergents are not only free of optical brighteners, but they’re also non-toxic . In addition, because Seventh Generation liquid laundry detergents are both hypo-allergenic and biodegradable, you can rest easy knowing you made a considerate choice for your family and the environment.

When washed in a conventional laundry detergent that contains optical brighteners, clothes appear to glow under a black light. When you use Seventh Generation liquid laundry products, you won’t see the same glow on your clothing.

Take a look at the experiment in this photo below. Two identical organic cotton shirts were washed; one was washed in a conventional laundry detergent that contains optical brighteners and the other in Seventh Generation laundry detergent which does not use optical brighteners!

My daughter has sensitive skin, and if I switch detergent she usually breaks out in hives. Even some of those "clear" detergents don't work with her skin. I love Seventh Generation Laundry detergent because it not only cleans clothes well, but it doesn't make her break out in hives. Even the dryer sheets are great for her sensitive skin.

Right now, you can get a jump start on our LIVE giveaway tonight between 8-9pm EST on TWITTER and Facebook. We will be taking all entries received and announcing the giveaway winner at the end of the hour.

So, spread the word by tweeting this below and get your entries started!

Plz R/T: Join the party & Enter to WIN a @SeventhGen Laundry Prize Pack from 8-9pm EST TONIGHT with www.4BabyAndMom.com through #myblogspark

For more information about Seventh Generation laundry products, please visit www.seventhgeneration.com/no-glow, or sign up for their newsletter at http://www.seventhgeneration.com/community. Be sure to visit Seventh Generation on Facebook and on Twitter to “Like” and “Follow”, so that you can keep up with the latest news from Seventh Generation. Additionally, you can click here to save $1 on the purchase of any Seventh Generation Laundry Product.


The prize packs and information were all given to us from Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.

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Just wanted to say..

We wish you a very safe, prosperous, healthy, exciting, blessed, fun, wonderous, amazing, glorious, and wonderful 2011!

Marissa will be graduating college at the end of next semester and her oldest child will be graduating elementary school in June. Lots of changes are going to happen in her world, and she is excited.

This year has definitely been one of the worst for me, in about 15 years. My best memory of 2010? Finding out I did NOT have cancer. My awesome trip to Cleveland comes in as a very, very close second, and I can't wait to go back and learn more about the area. Maybe next time I can bring the family.

I am excited about the many things that 2011 has in store for our family. We have a move coming up, I'll be in another wedding in the fall, and one of my best girlfriends is due to have baby #3 in April. I can't wait!

We genuinely wish the best for you all this New Year!

What was your favorite memory of 2010??

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One of those days.. What would YOU do?

I've been having one of those days today.. You know the kind.

The day where you really start thinking about your life, and what you wanted 10 years ago, and what you've got now, and truly evaluate whether or not a change is needed. In my particular case, a change is imminent, but I need to figure out where that change is going to be. This may sound rambley, and if so I apologize, but I really need to get this out "there".

Last week, we visited NY for a wedding, and it was amazing. We had such a great time, and without romanticizing it completely, we missed it. Don't get me wrong- one of the reasons that we moved when Alex was little was the fact that I didn't want my children growing up as "Long Islanders". Kids have enough pressures on them in the world today, but as a Long Islander, there's a lot more. I noticed it during this trip back, and during many of the other recent trips.

I love being able to roll out of bed, make a cup of coffee, and go and sit on my porch in my snowman pajamas. In New York, I couldn't do that.. because of the whole, "What if the neighbors saw me?"attitude up there. I did (roll out of bed with my jammies and drink my coffee on the porch when I lived up there), but it's a whole different attitude that seems to have gotten worse since we've left.

Now that I'm in Florida, we're struggling with so many different things. Alex and his education, for one. Yes, he's gifted, and Florida recognizes it.. but honestly, what good is recognizing it if his needs still aren't being met?? Brian's job is another. My husband is an electrician for new residential construction. Florida is still building, but the hours just aren't there. We seem to finally get back on a good track, get a couple of inches forward, and then we have a week like this week, where he only worked two days, and his paycheck sends us two feet backward. A family of four in 2010 cannot survive on a weekly paycheck that is worth only two days. I'm starting to panic, because our "back up plan" is starting to fall through, and at the end of this month we need to make a choice.

Are we going to 'start over' down here, where we are, or do we 'start over' somewhere else.

I'm at a loss, because for once in my adult life I honestly have NO IDEA what I want. I want to be closer to our family up north. I want to find a job that will pay us both well.. and again, 4BabyAndMom has been wonderful to us, a blessing that I can't even begin to describe, but I just need something more concrete for our family. I'm not necessarily worried about finding a job for me.. I could apply to do just about anything- secretarial, substituting, retail- it's Brian that concerns me.

I love Pennsylvania, upstate New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, but can I find him a job, us a place to live, and a good school for the kids?? I feel the least resourceful I've felt in my entire life. I don't even know where to begin. I'm exasperated.

No matter what happens, or where our new beginning is going to be, I know that it's going to be difficult, but I just need a direction. Some sort of sign.. a word from God.. something.

What would you do? Pretend that at the end of this month, you are in my shoes, and need to make a drastic change.. what would you do??

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Seven Years Ago

 

Baby, I'm Amazed By You. 

Happy Anniversary.

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Updates and New Winners Announced!

WOO! Back to school is in full force at both 4BabyAndMom households. Both sets of kids are loving their new teachers, and getting along great with their friends. We are officially the moms of a 5th grader, two second graders, and full-time pre-schooler!!

I didn't cry as much as I thought I would, but this week has still been rather emotional, and definitely an adjustment for all of us. My "baby" is in pre-K now, and loves it.. although, she's not too fond of "rest time". Other than that, she's happy and excited every day to see her friends and her teachers.

If you keep up with me on social media sites, you may have caught wind that I've transferred my son for the third time in three years, only a week and a half before school started. Yes, some of you may think I'm crazy for doing so, but I will continue to fight for the right my child has to receive and education he deserves. An education he yearns and thirsts for and was not receiving at the previous school he was attending.

Life as a mom of a gifted child is a lot tougher than "the world" could imagine. It's so hard to really put into words... With the risk of sounding arrogant, it's just as difficult as working with the special needs children I taught years ago. It has very similar obstacles and challenges, but is just as rewarding and fulfilling to see your childs needs being met to the very fullest of their capacity. It's definitely a journey and an experience that I did not sign up for, but am trying to embrace as best as I can. I am learning and growing as a parent with every bump and curve the situation throws at me. I thank you all for the support and encouragement that you've given me through all of these tough times. I can only hope and pray that this new school, new staff, new admin, and new experience gives him everything he could ever hope for and more.

Marissa is getting ready to head back to school herself- classes start on Tuesday! She's eager to have the new semester begin, and today gave me a tour of the campus, as I will be returning back to college in December. We've prepared a bunch of fun reviews and giveaways for the last ten days of the Back to School Bash, and truly hope you have been enjoying our celebration.

Be sure to check the links on our sidebar for our current giveaways and recently ended giveaways. Winners have been announced, and will be contacted this week. If you happen to see your name on the post or winners page, please feel free to contact us first!

Thank you all for participating, as none of this could be possible without you- our readers, fans and followers!

For those of you that have children that have recently started school, or will be starting school soon, we wish you all a very happy, healthy, safe and successful school year!

Wishing You All Of Our Best,

Lauren & Marissa

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Marcal (eco-friendly!) Small Steps Perfect for Back to School!

I was talking with several of my friends before school kicked off this week, and we were all amazed by how many paper products were on our back to school shopping lists. From napkins, to tissues, to requests for rolls of paper towels, it seemed as though the kids were being asked to bring in everything except toilet paper!

This week both my kids and Marissa's kids went back to school. It's been a crazy emotional week, as my 4 year old 'baby' went to school for the very first time. On top of that, I'm still recuperating from a double dose of strep throat, and I'm exhausted. I usually take pride in the fact that I have everything off of the back to school shopping lists way before the night before, but not this year! I found myself at my local mass retailer scavenging for three pronged folders. I was ecstatic that I had the paper goods off of the list all ready to go, thanks to our new friends at Marcal. (Well, except for the tissues, because I used a box of them when I was sick.)

 

I've used many different brands of eco-friendly paper products lately, and although I enjoy the idea of using recycled products, I haven't really been 'over-the-top' for the efficiency of the products I've tried. I have a messy family, I need paper towels and napkins that absorb quickly, without using too many of them. So far the only ones that have met our high standards are the Marcal Small Steps paper towels. There are all purpose napkins as well as dinner napkins, tissues and  we really liked the toilet paper.. (This is coming from a self-confessed toilet-paper-priss).

The Small Steps toilet paper is a 2 ply, strong- yet not totally scratchy, septic safe, recycled bath tissue. It's still not as soft as the thick-super plush kinds, but it's not like wiping with sand paper either. It's a giant leap in the development of recycled toilet tissue.

The facial tissues that I tried were a little scratchy, but no more than the normal regular brands without added lotion or aloe. Unfortunately, I usually buy the ones that are extra soft, but I thoroughly appreciated having the box I did when I thought I was dying of strep throat.

I loved the dinner napkins, and the all purpose napkins are great for putting alongside the kids sandwiches in their lunchboxes. I thought I used all of the tissues I was sent when I was sick, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had one more box. I sent that in with our school supplies, along with a roll of paper towels and some napkins, and felt good that I was sending in many recycled products this year.

One thing I didn't realize before receiving this opportunity was that Marcal has been making recycled paper products for 60 years- way before the 'green movement' or 'going green' meant something in our society. The "Small Steps" line of products signifies the small and easy steps toward making a difference in the world that you can make by using these recycled paper products.

Our new friends at Marcal have offered one of our readers the chance to try 3 new Small Steps products for free! (Winner will be mailed three coupons for any Marcal product up to $5.99)

This giveaway is open to residents of the US. This giveaway will end on August 31, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Please include a valid email address in your comment. If I cannot find a way to contact you I will not. I do try to email all winners, but due to the volume of giveaways offered on our site, delays can be expected. If you catch your name before I email you, please feel free to contact us first. :) Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. This product was provided to me at no cost by Marcal to review. As always, what you have read is strictly the opinion of 4BabyAndMom. Your opinions may differ.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

Please refer to our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to claim your prize!

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Happy August, and 1st Day of our Back to School Bash!

Back to school means so much more than getting the latest and greatest products for our kids. The teens want the latest electronics, and the tweens want some sort of fictional chacacter plus the hottest trends, and the younger ones just want to be cool like the big kids.

Moms.. well, we want the babies to stay babies, the young kids to stay little longer and not be so sassy, the tweens to stop talking back, and the teens to be safe and smart- in everything they do. Or at least that's what I'm told. As a mom of a 7 and 4 year old, this season "Back to School" will bring *me* back to basics..

Back to a routine, back to a schedule, back to the organized chaos which is my life. This year with both of my children in school, I am looking forward to the quiet that will greet me when I come home after dropping them off. Then, I suspect I will get all mushy because my baby is in school, but then, (I hope) I will feel exhilarated. This is my year to take care of me. To take care of my house, and organize it the way I want it. To get my bedroom feeling like the sanctuary it should be for me, and to go back to school to finish my degree. This would be the first time in about 8 years, I'm taking control of my life again. And I deserve it.

So this year, for our Back to School Bash, I decided to do things a little differently. I extended it, for one, and made it a whole month long. Then, I decided that it was going to have a lot more than reviews and giveaways. I want you to come to 4BabyAndMom to find the best Back to School Deals out there, so I started my Under $1 series. I asked some experienced moms and grandmas for their best back to school advice, and many said stuff that had to do with dinner, so I included some food themed reviews, giveaways and recipes exclusively for back to school. And lastly, we lined up many of today's latest and greatest companies to show you some fun, exciting and interesting products you should have this back to school season- around the house, at school, and on the go- for families with kids of all ages!

I really hope you like what we have in store for you. Marissa has been doing a ton of work behind the scenes, and I cannot thank her enough. We make a great team, and are having a blast doing what we do. If you have a product that you would like featured during this event or on 4BabyAndMom in September, please feel free to contact us, as we have very few spaces still available in our line up.

If you are just joining us, grab our button from this post, and make sure you leave a comment so you earn early bird entries into our Back to School Bash giveaways!  (Extra entries will range from 1-5 entries per giveaway!)

Many of our giveaways will be open to residents of USA and Canada, so please be sure to read the print at the bottom of any giveaway. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email at 4BabyAndMom at gmail dot com.

Keep your eyes open a little later tonight for our very first review and giveaway- something I think every home should have! (Which, if you read my blog you'll realize that's a VERY rare thing for me to say!) Happy August!!

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Tomorrow starts our Back to School Bash! Did you RSVP?

Well, I know Lauren put out the announcement and a few of you grabbed our button and posted it to your blog walls or facebook pages, (HUGE THANKS!!) and are earning extra early bird entries for doing so! I'm so excited for the party to start tomorrow!

We have been working very hard behind the scenes trying to get everything ready to go. We will be working with a very diverse and interesting bunch of companies this month- from Marcal, to Elmer's, to Seventh Generations, to Crayola and so much more. We're even going to have a food week, with special deals, coupons, and giveaways from some of your favorite kid-friendly food products!

We've had a couple of questions emailed or facebooked to us regarding the Back to School Bash, and as always we enjoy hearing from you, our readers on anything and everything- especially when a blog party is involved.

Okie dokie-

If you would like to add our button to your Facebook Page, please copy it from here.. Try not to copy it as a jpg, keep the original file type (png). Then go to your Facebook page, in your status update, tell your friends that you are participating in the Back to School Bash @4BabyAndMom-- As you are typing @4BabyAndMom, there should be a bar that comes up underneath and automatically pulls up our fan page. Click it and it will become a hyperlink sending your friends our way. If you are having a problem getting it to show up as a hyperlink, t-y-p-e-s-l-o-w-e-r. Some times Facebook needs to catch it's breath. ;)


Anyway, then click on attach photo, select our back to school bash button, and post it to your wall. Ideally, we would love for you to put our direct domain- http://www.4BabyAndMom.com - in your status update too, but we'll leave that up to you!

I think that's about it! Spread the word and grab a button!

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Missing- One blogger.

Due to a family emergency, I will not be available to post any of the reviews and/or giveaways I intended to post this week. Me, Bri and the kids are fine, but it's been a rough week. If you could please keep our family in your thoughts, it would be genuinely appreciated. I should be back soon, I hope you all understand. If you've emailed me, please know there may be a delay in my response due to this unforeseen circumstance. Thank you again for your patience and understanding.

Warm Wishes,
Lauren & Family

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Is it September yet?

Technically, I should be asking if it was August yet, because that is when both of my kiddos go back to school. Part of me is kidding, but the other part totally isn't.

The kids have been at each other's throat for the past four days, and I'm ready to pull my hair out. A bald bridesmaid would not be pretty, so I am trying to restrain. Today we have appointments up the wazoo.. I know the first week or so is rough (packed with appointments you couldn't get done while the kids were in school)- but dear God, give me strength.

What are you and YOUR family doing this week?

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VistaPrint Photo Book (Dads Like Photos too!) Giveaway!

With Father's Day quickly approaching, finding the perfect gift seems to be getting more difficult year by year. I mean, how many packages of socks can you really get the old man? Golf tees? 'World's Greatest' t-shirts that will only be used to mow the lawn and BBQ? Exactly.

This year, why not delight Dad or Grandpa with a 12x12 photo book from Vistaprint?

New dads, traveling dads, military dads, and experienced dads alike will really enjoy seeing their gorgeous child or children beaming from the 26 high quality pages. The hardcover, leather, or linen cover makes this a cherished gift made to last for years to come.

When I was younger, I had shoe boxes full of photos. Now that everything is digital, I unfortunately do not have great photo organization, outside of my computer. I do, however, have all of my photos uploaded onto several hosting sites because I fear a great computer crash, like the one predicted when we hit the new millennium. All I know is that if (God forbid) all of those sites crashed at once, you all would hear me scream.. no matter where you were located. I have photos from our wedding, through the birth of both children, all the way to our last family holiday or get together. I would honestly lose everything.. hence the need for multiple hosting sites.

My mother collects all of her photos on cds from the drugstore, as she's afraid to upload her pictures onto the computer or a hosting site. (Much like my unrealistic fear of a massive computer crash!) However, the only thing that scares me more is the thought that my photos might be lost forever because one of my children "accidentally" dropped it out of the protective sleeve, and now the disc has a gigantic scratch across it. The great crash the millennium never brought is much less threatening to me.

I've ordered photo books from other companies in the past, and honestly thought that Vistaprint was only for business cards. Little did I know that Vistaprint also offers such great products as Birthday Invitations, Custom T-shirts, and Personalized Mugs.

In an effort to make an impression on our readers, our new friends at Vistaprint is offering our readers an opportunity to win a personalized, 12 X 12 Photo Book. The winner can choose from hard cover, leather cover or linen cover. It includes 26 pages and a variety of layout and design options and free 14-day shipping. The value of the giveaway is over $50.

Here's How:
How do you organize your photos? Are you afraid you'll lose your photos? Have you ever ordered a photo book to share your memories with friends are family? Tell us all about it!

EXTRA ENTRY OPPORTUNITIES:
After the mandatory entry is completed, you may participate in our Extra Entry Opportunities.

• Show that you really LIKE us on Facebook- 4BabyAndMom and Vistaprint. Get exclusive offers, coupons or discounts, and never miss an article or giveaway! (2 extra entries)
  
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• Create your own tweet or R/T the message below, or use the Share button at the bottom of this post to Tweet on Twitter (two per day, please)
  
  

  Win a free 12x12 personalized photo book from @Vistaprint and @4BabyAndMom http://bit.ly/9aJAJw~Ends 6/8

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This giveaway is open to residents of the US. This giveaway will end on June 8, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. Disclosure: I received this opportunity from Team Mom. I did not receive any compensation for this review. Any opinions expressed are 100% that of 4BabyAndMom. Your experience with these products, website and company may differ.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!! 

 Please refer to our WINNERS PAGE for more information on how to claim your prize.

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New Freschetta Flatbread Pizza Review +$1 off Coupon!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Freschetta. All opinions are 100% mine.

We are pizza eaters. We order delivery, we make some from scratch, and we buy frozen brands to keep in the freezer for busy nights. Typically, I love flat bread pizza. Unfortunately, most frozen brands I've tried in the past seem to taste like cardboard.. or concrete. They are either flavorless, or super hard and I've never repurchased them. When I was given the opportunity to review the new 12" Freschetta FlatBread Pizza from Freschetta and Social Spark, I was excited, but wary from my past experiences.

With the coupons I received to try this product, I chose the Zesty Italian flat bread pizza, and the 5-Cheese pizza. The "plain" pizza, as the kids called it, was anything but plain. The thin, crispy crust baked evenly and quickly; the cheese was a perfect blend of mozzarella, asiago, romano, parmesan and provolone, which my picky eaters seemed to devour in minutes.

The Zesty Italian was topped with pepperoni, sausage, Genoa salami, mozzarella and asiago cheeses, with a zesty red sauce.. perfect for my husband and I, who like a little "extra" on our pizza. The ingredients taste fresh and the flavors meld wonderfully; best of all, the pizzas are made with REAL, all-natural cheese.

Freschetta Flat Bread Pizzas are available in four different varieties: Zesty Italian, Roasted Garlic & Spinach, Pepperoni, and 5-Cheese. All in all, I was very impressed by the fresh, flavorful ingredients, and the well-baked crispy flat bread.  Don't take my word for it, print out your $1 off coupon and try out your new favorite flat bread pizza now!

If you're on Facebook, be sure to "Like" the Freschetta page to join in on the discussion, get tips on turning your pizza into a delicious calzone, and more!

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Mother's Day..

Well, I hope you all had a very special Mother's Day with your family. Yesterday, I arrived back in Tampa from a 5 day trip to Cleveland to learn more about the area. I can't wait to publish my article (s?).

I visited with my mom, relaxed around the house, was surprised that while I was away my hubbie survived my son coming down with bronchitis and still managed to paint the doors I've been meaning to finish up. I caught up on some shows off the DVR, and went to bed early.

So, in honor of Mother's Day, I posted a picture of an Orangutan BabyAndMom from the Cleveland Zoo on our Facebook page. As time goes on, I hope you enjoy all of the BabyAndMom pictures that I've taken and found.  If you have any pictures that you'd like featured, feel free to use the Contact Us page, or email us directly at 4BabyAndMom at gmail dot com. Have a great week!!

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April Showers Brings... Mother's Day! (And so much more!)

Is it just me, or is Mother's Day coming a little early this year? I know that it's always the second Sunday in May, but literally last night, I just looked at a calendar and just about fell on my face!

There is so many new and exciting things going on at 4BabyAndMom this spring. Well, first, our family survived our first state competition. (Oh, and as a quick update, Days Inn ended up refunding us the entire nights stay.)

Almost immediately afterward, we had an awesome visit by two sets of family members from up north. During the visit we ate at a Tijuana Flats restaurant for the first time (oh-mi-gosh, I'm in LOVE!) and visited Clearwater, and the beach. We took a boat out to the Gulf of Mexico, and visited Shell Island. The island lived up to its name, as the white sandy shore line was covered with shells all different shapes and sizes. Abbigaile got to drive the boat.. well, she did with her uncle, but she pretended too!

We even found two sea urchin in the water! Out at sea, Alex wanted to go tubing so we let him. He knows how to swim, but he wore a life jacket- just in case. We went slow, and all of a sudden we noticed dolphins in the water around us, and him! He loves dolphins since our Sea World encounter, so he wasn't affected at all. *I* was a little nervous, but I survived. They were beautiful!

After that, Alex's uncle took him on a fan boat to look for alligators. He absolutely loved his week with his relatives, and they spoiled him rotten.. which was a great change, because usually it's Miss Abbie that's spoiled ridiculously.

Anyway- now that our company has officially moved onto bigger and better things, we're starting to get back into the swing of things. We have some great giveaways listed now, and some new ones will be posted soon.

I set a goal for myself. I really want to see if I can get 1000 Facebook Fans. I am going to be putting up a giveaway this week that will either be split- IF my goal is met, one prize pack will go to a Fan only, the other to the readers and commenters here- If I don't make the goal, the two prize packs will be given out to my readers here only. Each prize pack will have an estimated retail value of about $350! I would love it if you could help spread the word by sharing our link or profile on Facebook. Oh, also, our Facebook Fan Page is a direct url now- Facebook.com/4BabyAndMom how awesome is that?!

Keep on the lookout for a beautiful photobook giveaway from VistaPrint (valued at ~$50!) and a giveaway for a 16x20 photo canvas from CanvasPress.com, valued at over $100! I can't wait to share these great companies with you, and many more these next few weeks.

The first week of May I will be heading up to the Greater Cleveland area (aka "Cleveland Plus") for a Family Familiarization Tour. This tour will consist of 4 jam-packed days and will include various stops at family-friendly locations throughout the region including a behind-the-scenes tour of our famous Parade the Circle, stops at the renowned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and an overnight in the Sandusky area (with tours of the area’s indoor waterparks and Cedar Point).Needless to say, I can't wait to go, and then share everything I learned with you all!

Also, after I come home from my trip, you should find some more posts from Marissa. This semester of college is almost over, and she is eager to jump into the blogging wagon in full force. I've spent the last few months trying to teach her anything and everything that I could. I am sure you all will enjoy the wealth of knowledge she brings to this site. 

So that- in a nutshell- is what has been going on over here. Now that that's settled...what are you waiting for? Tell a friend, subscribe by email- so you don't miss a thing, and enjoy the next chapter at 4BabyAndMom!

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