Do you "LIKE" us?

Well, I hope you do, but what I really mean is, do you LIKE us.. on Facebook?

This year we are hosting giveaways on our blog traditionally, but also on our Facebook wall. Earlier this week I gave out 25 Shutterfly Holiday Cards, several calendars, and have randomly handed out extra free photo cards- just because I was feeling extra jolly.

This week, I have three $10 Plum District gift cards that I want to giveaway. One winner, or three?? If you haven't entered, you can't win. Plum District is like a Groupon type site, only better! Many items are very affordable. Right now you can score a personalized letter from Santa for FREE using the gift card we're giving away! (Not to mention save money on tons of other great gifts & stocking stuffers!)

So... What are you waiting for??? Head over to 4BabyAndMom on Facebook, and enter our contest!! Don't forget to tell your friends for extra bonus entries!

Happy Holidays!

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Holiday Picture Cards by Shutterfly *Review + Giveaway*

It's almost that time of the year again- well, for me, "super-slacker-mom". I'm so far behind on things this year! I tried taking cutesy pictures of the kids in front of holiday themed items like the tree, some lights, etc, but could not get a picture if you paid me.

I tried using some favorite pictures of them through the year, but Abbie went through this really weird growly-grin stage.. and Alex was missing half of his teeth this year. Awkward! Anyway, after messing around on the Shutterfly website for almost two days, I think I came up with a card, but I'm not sure if it's "appropriate" or not. See the thing is- I'm expecting again. 90% of the family and our friends know that, but there's a branch of our extended family that probably don't know (including my father and grandmother, but that's a WHOLE other post) and I'm wondering if I should just send it, so they know, and so I don't have to deal with the whole "I didn't even know you were pregnant" emails/letters/calls... or so the long lost relatives we love but never talk to in Ohio and North Carolina can still feel like they're up to date on our family??? I'm so confused and over thinking it a ton. Bri says it's perfect. What do you think:

Every year we put the little "what we've been up to" blurb in it. :)

I love Shutterfly's Christmas picture cards- mainly because you can personalize them however you want. You want five pictures on the front- doable. Just text inside? Done. Pictures and text? Done. Right now there are fabulous sales going on on all of the photo cards, photo books, photo gifts, and the best of it all is their quality.

Every year, I know the quality of the cards I send out are beautifully printed, well made, and vibrant. The family loves to receive them, and I love to give them. This year, I even participated in a Shutterfly House Party to help excite my friends and family about the awesome products at Shutterfly. I've been a customer since 2004. In fact, if Shutterfly crashed and died, I think I might too. Everything from our wedding, to the birth and growth of both of our kids and on is on that site. I have a brand loyalty to them, for no other reason except I love their products.

So all in all, my cards are ready to be ordered, delivery just around the corner. The only thing we will have to wait for is Santa... Now if Santa only delivered a job for the Hubby, we would be all set.


GIVEAWAY!

WIN Shutterfly Photo Cards! Two winners will be chosen- the first will win 50 free photo cards, the next will win 30! Each winner will receive two valid Shutterfly promo codes to redeem for their favorite flat or folded holiday card!

To enter:
Fill out the RaffleCopter widget below- Please allow a few minutes for the widget to fully load.

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Easy Banana Pudding Parfait (in a Cup) Recipe

I received and email from Kraft today with this easy recipe for two desserts. With the holidays right around the corner, I loved the fact that they were in cups. If I make banana pudding, it's usually in a big bowl. This is simple and quick if you're in a hurry (or in my case, craving it), but not totally unrealistic if you're prepping it for a larger party or gathering. Instead of using two packs, I'm sure you could just use a box of your favorite instant vanilla pudding, and at least a cup of vanilla wafers.

Ingredients for two servings:

12 NILLA Wafers, divided
1/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
1 small banana, cut into 10 slices, divided
2 JELL-O Vanilla Pudding Snacks




Here's How:

CRUSH 10 wafers to form coarse crumbs; place 1/4 of the crumbs in each of 2 parfait glasses. Top each with 1 Tbsp. COOL WHIP, 2 banana slices and half of 1 pudding snack. Repeat layers of crumbs, bananas and pudding.

REFRIGERATE 15 min. Meanwhile, wrap reserved banana slices tightly in plastic wrap; refrigerate until ready to use.

TOP parfaits with remaining COOL WHIP, wafers and banana slices just before serving.

TIP: Toss banana slices with small amount of lemon juice to help prevent them from turning brown. MAKE AHEAD: Parfaits can be stored in refrigerator up to 4 hours before serving.

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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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Burger King Introduces BK CROWN Kids Meal Box *Review + Giveaway*

When I was pregnant with my son, all I craved was Whoppers with extra pickles. It was so bad that I used to ask for the extra pickles in a cup on the side. My brother in law actually worked at Burger King, and would laugh at me going through the drive through to try to avoid being recognized.

Although we don't eat Burger King as often as I did then, my son loves BK now (especially their onion rings); I'm not sure if it correlates, but it sure is a cute story to tell my son. The new BK Crown kids meal is super fun, and full of all of the favorites he enjoys. He loves the new boxes, as they truly give him something fun to play with instead of just a cheap-o toy. He loves wearing the crown, just like I did back when I was 8, and the interactive activities and pieces on the box keep him busy in the back seat, and not teasing his sister- instead he plays with her!

The Burger King Corporation invites kids to tell BURGER KING what matters to them most. BKC has established a fund to help support the Wildlife Conservation Society, National Parks Conservation Association, DonorsChoose.org and Have It Your Way Foundation. By visiting BKCrown.com, kids learn how BKC’s charitable partners make a difference. Upon entering BK CROWNTM/MC Codes and clicking on their favorite cause, each kid’s vote helps BK® choose which charity to give back to, and after they're done with that they can find more games, win prizes and enjoy interactive play.

The hubster really likes to take the kids there as his "special date", so he really loves the new BK Family Bundle. At only $9.99, it comes with a WHOPPER sandwich, WHOPPER JR. sandwich., two small fries, two small soft drinks and a Kids Meal. It's only for a limited time, so I suggest you get to your nearest Burger King and check out their new crown for your little prince, or princess.

To celebrate, our friends at MyBlogSpark and Burger King have offered a sweet giveaway- ($25 BK Gift card!!) to our readers!

Here's How:
Leave a comment below to enter telling us what your child [or you] like most about http://www.bkcrown.com/. Fill our our RaffleCopter widget. If you are having problems, please click the link to this giveaway directly. If that doesn't correct itself, please do not hesitate to contact us. See the widget for extra entry opportunities.








The BK CROWNTM/MC Program prize pack I received,as well as the information and giveaway have been provided by Burger King Corporation through MyBlogSpark

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I never knew I was pregnant- Who's Expecting Now?

You read in tabloids or see the show on TV how people go to the ER with weird pains and find out their pregnant, or in labor, and had no idea. As a mom, I laugh and roll my eyes wondering how you could not know you were pregnant for nine months.

I found out I was pregnant with my son when I was 10 weeks pregnant. I had no real signs or symptoms, in fact, I was on birth control, and was waiting for my 6 week period to stop so I could start my next pack. We tried to conceive our daughter, and succeeded. I was sick from before it was time for me to take an at home test and knew that I knew that I was pregnant.

If you follow us on Facebook, you may have seen that I've been very sick the last year. I had two cancer scares, breast and uterine, and I've been trying to figure out 'what's the matter' for most of this year. I borrowed a glucose monitor because I was sleeping a ton, and urinating a ton more than normal. I took a test about two weeks ago, and sure enough- I found out I am expecting our third!!

"A shock" is not even the phrase to describe my feelings on the topic. The worst part was I had no idea how far along I was. I kept thinking of that show... and I started to freak out. I knew that the last time Dear Aunt Flo decided to rear her ugly head it was July, so I knew I wasn't going to be in labor anytime soon, but other than that, I had no idea how far along I was.

Long story a lot shorter- the last two weeks I have been undergoing a ton of bloodwork, multiple sonograms, and they have decided that I'm due somewhere between May 12 and 19th. I will be having another cesarian, so when I get that date, I will likely post it on Facebook. I have a feeling we will be reviewing a bunch of baby stuff, as the last time I did this was 6 years ago- and man, there's a ton of new baby stuff that's so exciting, I have no words! I'm a little nervous about having three kids, I'll be honest, but both Bri and I are very excited,  now that the shock is wearing off, and the kids can't wait, too.

With Thanksgiving over, and the holidays quickly approaching, I wanted to also give you a heads up that our holiday giveaways will be starting very soon! We have everything from Target Gift Cards to some of Spin Master's HOTTEST toys, to Shutterfly Holiday cards. I can't wait to share it all with you!!  Get ready, tell your friends, and bare with my weird pregnancy stories and pickle cravings. Happy Holidays, 4BabyAndMom readers!!

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Moon Dough new formula= tons of fun and LESS MESS!! *Review*

One of our very first posts was about the fun times (read: it was a "Mischievous Monday" post) Moon Sand brought to our family. Abbie had had a Barnyard play set of Moon Dough and the dough would get stuck in the molds, and crumble so easily.

This was right after it came out, and I believe I said I would never welcome ether product back into our house again. Back then, it was the truth, and it was banned from our house completely.

Our friends at TeamMom sent us an email asking if we'd be interested in trying the new formula of Moon Dough. I literally laughed out loud because I had said I would never allow it back into the house, and I honestly thought I would like it as much as I enjoyed the Moon Sand in this post. 

So the email I got says that the new formula is less crumbly and never dries out. It's odor free, and has a better consistency for molding figures, and for creativity. So we signed up to try out the Moon Dough Push N’ Pop Ocean Pals set or Breakfast set.

We received the Ocean Pals set pictured above, and the kids were ecstatic! They couldn't wait to get their hands on it. I, on the other hand, was quite apprehensive. After setting up a sheet under the dining room table, and getting the dust buster and the vacuum ready, I told the kids they could play with it.

They started playing with the dough, and right away they said they LOVED it! It was squishy, I even tried it myself. It wasn't sandy like the Moon Sand, or as coarse as the original Moon Dough. The sea creatures molded nicely in the Push N' Pop molds, and came OFF of the molds super quick- no pulling, prying or crumbly  mess like the old barn playset.

It really wasn't much more of a mess than playing with other molding clays, home made or store  bought, but it was definitely different- light and fluffy, and for two texture orientated kids, they really enjoyed playing with it! I can't believe I'm going to say this, but.....

If you're looking for an alternative for your typical rainy day activities, definitely check out the new Moon Dough products. My kids loved it, and I'm sure yours will too!!

Special thanks to our friends at TeamMom, who allowed us to give this product another spin, and introduced us to a new favorite.

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