Thursday, September 30, 2010
Friends and Family Discount for Halloween Costumes
I just wanted to share my friends and family discount with anyone who is interested. The website is http://www.wholesalecostumeclub.com/ and use the code AZA15 at check out. It will give you a 15% discount. Let me know if you have any questions.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Best Piece of Advice I Have for New Moms
If you are a new or expectant mom chances are you are getting advice from everyone and anyone. You will have the opinion of your parents, in laws or significant others parents, probably even from strangers in the grocery store! It can get pretty stressful when you have people pressuring you from every side. You will have one person telling you that you have to breast feed, another telling you to bottle feed. One telling you how great cloth diapers are and another telling you they are a waste of your time. And on and on and on.....
When you have so much advice being thrown in your face you may start to question the choices you have already made or plan to make for your baby. So my advice to you is to simply ignore everyone's advice (except this advice haha). You need to do what works for you! You cannot make your decisions based on what other people think.
Another thing to remember is to be flexible with your plans. You may plan on breast feeding and then realize it just is not working for you or baby. You may plan on having baby sleep in the nursery right away and then decide you would rather keep baby in a bassinettet next to you for a while. Whatever it is you will know what is right. After all what is most important is you and your baby being happy.
So that is my main advice go with your gut and do whatever works. Do not let peoples opinions get to you. The only other big piece of advice I have for your is to enjoy every moment. The time goes so fast. Take as many photographs and write down as many memories as you can! Napping when my son naps has also been really helpful on nights when I get no sleep. The dishes and laundry can wait. It is more important that you be rested and happy so you can have the best time possible with baby.
When you have so much advice being thrown in your face you may start to question the choices you have already made or plan to make for your baby. So my advice to you is to simply ignore everyone's advice (except this advice haha). You need to do what works for you! You cannot make your decisions based on what other people think.
Another thing to remember is to be flexible with your plans. You may plan on breast feeding and then realize it just is not working for you or baby. You may plan on having baby sleep in the nursery right away and then decide you would rather keep baby in a bassinettet next to you for a while. Whatever it is you will know what is right. After all what is most important is you and your baby being happy.
So that is my main advice go with your gut and do whatever works. Do not let peoples opinions get to you. The only other big piece of advice I have for your is to enjoy every moment. The time goes so fast. Take as many photographs and write down as many memories as you can! Napping when my son naps has also been really helpful on nights when I get no sleep. The dishes and laundry can wait. It is more important that you be rested and happy so you can have the best time possible with baby.
Monday, September 27, 2010
What to pack in your hospital bag?
This is a blog for the expectant mothers. One thing that is probably on your mind as your due date approaches is what should you bring with you to the hospital? Personally I packed way too many things that I never even took out of the bag. Here is a list of some of the essentials:
Things for you:
Things for your birthing coach
Things for you:
- Chapstick
- Pillow
- Slippers and socks
- Going home outfit (bring maternity clothes and make it as stretchy and comfortable as possible)
- Nursing bra and nipple cream if you plan on nursing. If you are allergic to lanolin (which I am) make sure to bring your own nipple cream because the kind the hospital will offer you will probably have lanolin in it.
- Underwear that is as comfortable as you can find and that you do not care about
- Headband
- Laptop or MP3 player if you want
- Camera
- Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste
Things for your birthing coach
- 2 Changes of Clothes
- Snacks
- Pillow Blanket
- Going home outfit (Onesie, Pants, Socks, Jacket hat and gloves if it is cold)
- Blanket to go home with
- Carseat
Homemade Baby Food: Do you have the time?
If you already have a child or will be having one soon you may have considered the idea of making your own baby food. You are probably wondering do I have the time? Chances are you do have the time. Making your own baby food is not as difficult or time consuming as you may think. Before I started my son on solids I planned to make my own baby food but was not sure how it would work out. Considering the fact that some nights I cannot even find the time to boil some pasta for dinner, I was not sure when I would find the time to make baby food. I have now learned it is so much quicker and easier than I could have imagined. Now let me just say I have not made anything too difficult yet so I am sure it gets more difficult as your baby starts to eat a wider variety of foods.
The first food that I made for my son was peas. I bought one container of store bough stage 1 peas so I would know about how thin I should make them. To make the baby food I bought a bag of frozen peas, cooked them, and pureed them. That was it I was done! It takes about 5 minutes to cook the peas then maybe about 2 or 3 minutes to put the food in a food processor and puree them. All you do is put the peas in the food processor and then slowly add a little water until it is the right consistency. To store the baby food you do not even need to get anything special if you do not want to. You can simply spoon the puree into ice cube trays freeze and then pop them out and store in tupperwear or ziplocs.
One advantage of making your own baby food is you know exactly what you are feeding to your baby. Another huge advantage is that it is so much cheaper. It costs about $1-$2 for a bag of frozen vegetables versus about $.50 per jar of baby food. You can also use fresh fruits and vegetables if they are in season! So for the price of 2 to 4 jars of baby food you can make about 30 servings. So I think for most people it is worth a shot.
The first food that I made for my son was peas. I bought one container of store bough stage 1 peas so I would know about how thin I should make them. To make the baby food I bought a bag of frozen peas, cooked them, and pureed them. That was it I was done! It takes about 5 minutes to cook the peas then maybe about 2 or 3 minutes to put the food in a food processor and puree them. All you do is put the peas in the food processor and then slowly add a little water until it is the right consistency. To store the baby food you do not even need to get anything special if you do not want to. You can simply spoon the puree into ice cube trays freeze and then pop them out and store in tupperwear or ziplocs.
One advantage of making your own baby food is you know exactly what you are feeding to your baby. Another huge advantage is that it is so much cheaper. It costs about $1-$2 for a bag of frozen vegetables versus about $.50 per jar of baby food. You can also use fresh fruits and vegetables if they are in season! So for the price of 2 to 4 jars of baby food you can make about 30 servings. So I think for most people it is worth a shot.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Natural Teething Solutions
If your baby has not started teething yet be happy. You will be faced with many sleepless nights and many cranky days. If you are breastfeeding you will have a baby who wants to use you as a teether. If your baby has started teething then you know how difficult it can be. When you see your baby in pain all you want to do is provide him with relief. No one wants to see their baby cranky and miserable. So the question is what can you do to provide relief?
There are of course teething toys. There are many different toys out there to provide relief to teething baby’s. There are many options including plastic toys, teething stuffed animals, teething blankets, and cool rings you can put in the fridge. Another option is putting a wet wash cloth in the fridge or freezer and then letting them chew that.
Sometimes the toys are just not enough! If the toys do not work one thing you can do is give your child infant acetaminophen ( check with your pediatrician )or baby oragel. But what if you want a more natural solution?
One thing that has worked great for my son are homeopathic teething tabs. We use either Hyland’s or Little Remedies brands. Both seem to work the same and they contain the same ingredients. I find that teething tabs are best at helping my son to fall asleep when he becomes restless from the pain.
What are some methods you use to provide teething relief?
Check out:
Hyland's Homeopathic Teething Tablets (250 Tablets)
Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether
Little Teethers Tablets-150 tablets
Little Teethers Oral Pain Relief Gel
There are of course teething toys. There are many different toys out there to provide relief to teething baby’s. There are many options including plastic toys, teething stuffed animals, teething blankets, and cool rings you can put in the fridge. Another option is putting a wet wash cloth in the fridge or freezer and then letting them chew that.
Sometimes the toys are just not enough! If the toys do not work one thing you can do is give your child infant acetaminophen ( check with your pediatrician )or baby oragel. But what if you want a more natural solution?
One thing that has worked great for my son are homeopathic teething tabs. We use either Hyland’s or Little Remedies brands. Both seem to work the same and they contain the same ingredients. I find that teething tabs are best at helping my son to fall asleep when he becomes restless from the pain.
What are some methods you use to provide teething relief?
Check out:
Hyland's Homeopathic Teething Tablets (250 Tablets)
Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether
Little Teethers Tablets-150 tablets
Little Teethers Oral Pain Relief Gel
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Making a Baby Registry
If you are an expectant parent one thing on your mind is probably where should I register, and what should I register for?
One thing I learned from my baby shower is do not register for clothes or blankets! Unless you are absolutely in love with an adorable outfit, or want a specific blanket for the nursery do not bother! I was overwhelmed with the amount of clothes that I received at my shower. I cannot even tell you how many clothes we got at the shower that my son never even got a chance to wear. Also any clothes you do get see if it will be the right size for the right season. If your baby is due in May and someone gave you a fleece swaddler in size 0-3 months you will never use it. The only clothes that may be worth registering for is clothes in larger sizes. Trust me you will get tons of the small size clothes. A lot of people will also bring an outfit for the baby the first time they meet him or her. If they gave you a gift receipt your best plan is to return it. The same goes for blankets. We got so many blankets for my son it was crazy. I registered for one blanket and got about 20!
Put items of all price ranges on your registry. Not everyone has $100 to spend on a gift. Some people will get the big items. Others will go in on one big item with some friends. However, most people will probably feel more comfortable buying one moderate priced item or a few inexpensive items. If you put a decent amount of inexpensive items on your registry people will be able to put together a nice basket for you with out having to spend too much. Best of all you will be getting items that you want and need.
Register at more than one store. It is best to register at more than one store that way people can go where ever is convenient for them. This way if someone is running into Target they can get you something off your registry while they are there. This is a good idea because some people may not live near a store you are registering at. Another good reason to register at multiple places is that a lot of stores have some kind of incentive for registering. Some places will give you a gift, gift card, or discount on unpurchased items.
So what should you put on your registry?
The Big Items:
One thing I learned from my baby shower is do not register for clothes or blankets! Unless you are absolutely in love with an adorable outfit, or want a specific blanket for the nursery do not bother! I was overwhelmed with the amount of clothes that I received at my shower. I cannot even tell you how many clothes we got at the shower that my son never even got a chance to wear. Also any clothes you do get see if it will be the right size for the right season. If your baby is due in May and someone gave you a fleece swaddler in size 0-3 months you will never use it. The only clothes that may be worth registering for is clothes in larger sizes. Trust me you will get tons of the small size clothes. A lot of people will also bring an outfit for the baby the first time they meet him or her. If they gave you a gift receipt your best plan is to return it. The same goes for blankets. We got so many blankets for my son it was crazy. I registered for one blanket and got about 20!
Put items of all price ranges on your registry. Not everyone has $100 to spend on a gift. Some people will get the big items. Others will go in on one big item with some friends. However, most people will probably feel more comfortable buying one moderate priced item or a few inexpensive items. If you put a decent amount of inexpensive items on your registry people will be able to put together a nice basket for you with out having to spend too much. Best of all you will be getting items that you want and need.
Register at more than one store. It is best to register at more than one store that way people can go where ever is convenient for them. This way if someone is running into Target they can get you something off your registry while they are there. This is a good idea because some people may not live near a store you are registering at. Another good reason to register at multiple places is that a lot of stores have some kind of incentive for registering. Some places will give you a gift, gift card, or discount on unpurchased items.
So what should you put on your registry?
The Big Items:
- Crib
- Swing
- Bassinet
- Car Seat
- Breast Pump (If you plan on breast feeding)
- Baby Monitor
- Sheets
- Boppy Pillow (or some kind of infant support pillow)
- White Noise Machine ( they are a life saver! )
- Bottle Starter set
- Diapers in various sizes and wipes ( you can never have too many )
- Baby Care Products ( shampoo, lotion, medicine, grooming kit, first aid kit....)
- Play Gym
- Infant Seat
September 2010 Pampers Gifts to Grow Points
If you are a parent or an expectant parent one of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to sign up with as many baby product websites as possible! It is a great way to get coupons as well as samples of the latest products. Even if you think it is something you will never use it does not hurt to sign up. Some great websites to sign up with are diaper companies. Sign up with pampers, huggies, and luvs. All of them will send you coupons, and huggies sent a few samples before my son was born. Even if you do not plan on using the specific diaper brand you never know. You may find that one brand works better for you than the other. If you end up deciding one of the brands is simply not for you I am sure you will be able to find a mommy friend more than happy to take the extra coupons or samples off your hands. Pampers and huggies also have rewards programs. Pampers gifts to grow is a great program. There diapers and wipes have a sticker on them that contains a code. You go to the website type in the code and redeem once you have accumulated enough points. Its as simple as that. Here are some of the free codes to get you started:
GTGTENMONTHCODE = 10 points
WELCOME2PAMPERS = 50 points
GTGCOUPONPOINTS = 10 points
CAREFORNEWBORNS = 10 points
GETSTARTEDNOW10 = 10 points
SepFacebook2010 = 10 points
GTGGETREADYSOON = 10 points
GIFTS2GROWBONUS = 20 points
GTGFIVEMONTHS10 =10 points
All of these codes are valid as of today September 25, 2010. I will try to keep this updated with new points as I find them. Please share any points that you find. Also let me know if you have a problem with any of the codes.
Pampers Swaddlers Newborn 240 Diapers
Pampers Baby Dry Diapers, Size 1, 252-Count
Pampers Swaddlers, Size 2, 184-Count
GTGTENMONTHCODE = 10 points
WELCOME2PAMPERS = 50 points
GTGCOUPONPOINTS = 10 points
CAREFORNEWBORNS = 10 points
GETSTARTEDNOW10 = 10 points
SepFacebook2010 = 10 points
GTGGETREADYSOON = 10 points
GIFTS2GROWBONUS = 20 points
GTGFIVEMONTHS10 =10 points
All of these codes are valid as of today September 25, 2010. I will try to keep this updated with new points as I find them. Please share any points that you find. Also let me know if you have a problem with any of the codes.
Pampers Swaddlers Newborn 240 Diapers
Pampers Baby Dry Diapers, Size 1, 252-Count
Pampers Swaddlers, Size 2, 184-Count
My New Blog
Let me start with why I am starting this blog. My best friend recently started an awesome blog, and it has inspired me to do the same. This blog will be everything and anything that has to do with being a mom. I am a new first time mom. I have an amazing six month old son who is my world. He is my everything. I want this to be a place where other moms can share their comments about their own experiences. I also want this to be a place for new or expecting moms to be able to provide each other with support. This blog will contain great tips on everything from finding great deals, help deciding which products to buy, even making homemade baby food.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)