Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Thanks Mama Review & Giveaway!

Thanks Mama is a wonderful online cloth diaper retailer that carries a great variety of cloth diapers and accessories, potty training pants, baby gear, natural toys and many other items for mom and baby! Thanks Mama carries some of the top cloth diaper brands and they even have created some fabulous cloth diaper packages, so that you can get everything you need in one bundle! Helena is the mama behind Thanks Mama and she not only offers a wonderful selection of fluff and other goodies to shop for, but she also genuinely wants to help with any questions you might have! If you're new to cloth diapering, Thanks Mama has some great resources to help you choose the right size and style of diaper for your little one. They even offer free, personalized diaper recommendation based on your baby's measurements! Thanks Mama also has a Cloth Diaper Information page that can help answer questions you might have about cloth diapers. If you don't find what you are looking for there, Thanks Mama is more than happy to have you contact them and chat with them directly! I think that the customer service at Thanks Mama is just excellent! Helena does a lovely job of adding a personal touch to orders (like the sweet note she sent along with my trainer!) and I really appreciate the emphasis that they put on wanting to help the customers at Thanks Mama!


Helena sent me a FuzziBunz Trickle Free Trainer in the "No Dumping" print to review. I just love the fun print! It makes me smile and little man loves the truck on it! One great thing about the print is that it is digitally printed, so you don't have to worry that it will fade or peel off over time! The overall design on the diaper makes it so that your little one can either pull down the trainer or they can be snapped off (in case of an accident!). Little man still needs a little bit of help when pulling down trainers, but this one is pretty easy for him to pull down, with just a little bit of help. The inner lining of the trainer is super soft minky fabric that allows your little one to feel wetness, but it is still absorbent enough if they do have an accident. The middle of the trainer has a bit of extra padding for extra protection against leaks too. Little man absolutely loves how soft this trainer is! He actually likes to lay down on it like a blanket (when it is clean of course!) and he says, "Soft undies".


 I also really like the dual side snap design that allows for an adjustable fit. Weight-wise, little man is on the end of the weight limit for a medium FuzziBunz Trickle Free Trainer, but he has a thin waist, so I chose the medium size. I found that little man needed a little extra room in the leg area, since the leg band was a little snug on him. So, I was so thankful that the creative minds behind the FuzziBunz Trickle Free Trainer put 2 rows of snaps and when I snapped the leg snap to the furthest snap it was a perfect fit!



The waist band fits little man really well, but in my opinion, the middle area is a bit "poofy". It's not a trim fitting trainer around the mid-section, but the trainer works very well and it's more of an aesthetic thing and I don't think that it affects how well the trainer functions.



Overall, I love the FuzziBunz Trickle Free Trainer! The prints are just adorable and the diaper is so soft! I really like the adjustable side snaps and this is a great trainer for little man to wear, especially when we go out of the house and may have to hunt for a potty! It is definitely nice to have the extra layer of padding sewn into the wet zone on the inside. Also, with the outer of the diaper being waterproof, it is the perfect trainer when we are out and about! I love that it can catch any of his "tiny, tiny accidents" (as little man calls them) and little man loves the truck print and the cozy, soft minky inner! It is definitely a fun and easy trainer to use! I would definitely recommend this trainer to anyone who has a little one headed towards potty training and I absolutely recommend Thanks Mama as a place to shop, whether you are looking for training pants, cloth diapers, items for the nursery, baby gear or something for yourself!

{This is my affiliate link - if you choose to shop by clicking through this link you are helping to support The Little Hedgehog. Thank you!}

You can BUY FuzziBunz Trickle Free Trainers from Thanks Mama. (ARV $21.95)

-OR-

 
 
  You can enter to WIN a FuzziBunz Trickle Free Trainer of your very own!

***Giveaway is open to the U.S. & Canada. Entrants must be 18+ years old. The winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.***

Giveaway will end December 14th at 12:01am EST.

Entries go in the Rafflecopter form below!
You may view Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy
 

Wordless Wednesday: Helping in the Kitchen

Little man is such a big helper! He just loves helping mama in the kitchen!



Happy Wednesday!


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving


Happy Thanksgiving!

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I hope that you all have a very happy Thanksgiving and enjoy time with family and eating tasty treats! We are spending the day with some of my hubby's family. I know we will be spending plenty of time gathered around the table chatting, laughing and gobbling up food that has been prepared with love. We will be playing card games, joking and little man will be doted over all day!

I am so thankful for all that the Lord has blessed us with. I am thankful daily for little man, my hubby, our families, our home and every little thing that God has given us. God has truly blessed our family - He is an awesome God. I love that today is a day for family to gather, spend time together and have fun!

I hope that you all enjoy your day and make many happy memories!






Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Wordless Wednesday {a little late}: Rainy Day Fun

We had a rainy day yesterday...so it was time to bring out some indoor boredom busters! Little man had gotten this fun water color pad when you paint the picture with water and the colors appear on the paper. then when the water dries, the picture is white again and ready to be re-painted! (I think I had just as much fun as little man did!)







Happy Wednesday {...a little late}

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Winner!



Congratulations to Sarah! You won the Tropical Traditions Citrus-Mint Skin Exfoliator Giveaway!


Thank you to everyone who entered and a big thank you to Tropical Traditions for sponsoring this giveaway!





ECOlunchbox Review & Giveaway


 I am excited to be working with ECOlunchbox again and this time I have the pleasure of introducing you to some of the ECOlunchbox stainless steel line of products! {You can read my previous post about ECOlunchbox and their Furoshiki ECOsnacksack HERE} ECOlunchbox was created when founder, Sandra was at a loss for a lunchtime alternative to plastic/vinyl lunchboxes, plastic baggies and awkward, hard to open, plastic containers. So, Sandra worked to develop a lunch kit that was user friendly, healthier for people and the planet too! At ECOlunchbox, you won't find any plastics, disposables, vinyl, PVC, BPA or lead. There's nothing icky that can leach into your food here! All you'll need is a little mealtime creativity and you're set to make a healthy and safe lunch (or breakfast or dinner)!

ECOlunchbox has a wonderful line of products, including stainless steel bento boxes, artisan lunch bags and napkins. Stainless steel lunch items are a wonderful alternative to plastics at mealtime. Plastic is readily available, very versatile and pretty convenient. It sounds good, but there are definitely some growing concerns about how plastics can affect our food and the people who are eating that food. I try very, very hard to avoid as many plastics as I can. I am very careful when it comes to serving, storing and preparing little man's food. The only plastics that I have left in our kitchen are some plastic food storage containers that I haven't been able to switch out for glass or stainless steel yet. I try to swap out a few items at a time (as I can afford it) and my goal is to have a plastic and disposable free kitchen. Every small step counts!

I was thrilled when ECOlunchbox sent little man their ECOlunchtray and ECOdipper to review! They are just his size and a perfect for mealtimes and snacks! The ECOlunchtray is designed to resist stains, odors and residues. It is 100% high-quality, food-safe stainless steel that will not leach anything into your food. The ECOlunchtray has three separate compartments that hold one main and two side dishes. I love that the two side dish compartments are different sizes - the smaller one is perfect for dipping sauces or a little dessert/treat! There is no need to worry about little ones being a bit rough on the tray either, because it is unbreakable! Another bonus is that it is dishwasher safe! A fun, safe meal for your little one, plus easy clean up...sounds perfect!




The ECOdipper is great to have at the table or to take with you when you are out and about running errands, on a picnic or at the park. It is the perfect size to take along in your purse or diaper bag! The ECOdipper can hold about 1/2 cup of dry or wet foods. It is perfect for yogurt, applesauce, cut fruit, nuts, pretzels, cracker, berries...the list goes on! Just keep in mind, that if you are packing something with a bit more liquid in it, the lid is pressure fitted, but not 100% leak-proof, since there is no plastic  used.


I really love the ECOlunchtray and the ECOdipper! They were perfect for every meal and they wiped clean so easily! Little man really had fun using them too. I think that he liked the dividers for the different food compartments and the tray and dipper were sized just right for him to pick up food with his fingers or use his fork to grab it. He really, really loved dipping his foods! Meal time was definitely fun when we were using these! I also liked that since they are stainless steel, they are super light! So, when little man was done eating, he could pick up his tray and hand it to me to help me clear the table. I didn't worry, since the they are unbreakable, and little man is helping me clear the table! 

I definitely think that both the ECOlunchtray and the ECOdipper are wonderful to use. I love knowing that they are free of any harmful chemicals - making them better for little man and the planet at the same time! I highly recommend both of these items if you are looking to get away from plastics for your home and for your little ones lunch!

 Interested in adding some stainless steel items to your little ones lunch rotation? You can BUY the ECOlunchtray (ARV $14.00) and the ECOdipper (ARV $7.00) from the ECOlunchbox website. 

-OR- 

  You can enter to WIN an ECOlunchtray (ARV $14.00) and an ECOdipper (ARV $7.00) from  ECOlunchbox!

***Giveaway is open to the U.S. Entrants must be 18+ years old. The winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.***


Giveaway will end November 30th at 12:01am EST. 

Entries go in the Rafflecopter form below! You may view Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy


Saturday, November 19, 2011

Teach them to be Bilingual at a Young Age - Guest Post From Primrose Schools


Hubby and I have had several conversations about starting to teach little man another language. He loves learning new words and he is really a wonderful little conversationalist for a 2 year old! Hubby and I both think that an early introduction to a foreign language would help him be able to have an ear for accents and pick up new words more easily as he grows up. We love traveling and have been to Europe a few times, including a trip that we took with my family before little man was born! Hubby and I would absolutely love to travel back to Europe and bring little man for his first tour of Europe! It would be such a wonderful experience for little man if he could understand a few words of French or order his pasta in Italian!
Kathleen, from Primrose Schools, reached out to me about doing a guest post about the importance of teaching little ones a second language.  I couldn’t have been happier because it is definitely something that hubby and I are interested in and eager to introduce to little man.  I would like to thank Kathleen for the post and her insight!

Teach them to be Bilingual at a Young Age
Article submitted by Kathleen Thomas on behalf of Primrose Schools

These days steady employment has become scarce as companies downsize and ship jobs overseas. Furthermore, the development of the global economy will lead to even fiercer competition for higher tier employment in the near future. In order to ensure your child has the ability to compete and have a chance for interdependence, it is essential that they have a strong educational background that will increase their opportunity. However, in addition to a general education, it is also important that your child develop a unique skill attractive to employers. Although it is impossible to foresee what your child will be adept at, one particular skill that is universally desired and can be taught at a young age is a second language.

A Bilingual World
As the world shrinks and global interaction becomes more common, it becomes imperative to have people capable of interpreting data, conversation, and ideas involving foreign languages. This is no more indicative than in the United States, where immigrants from a variety of backgrounds interact in a diverse and thriving culture. In fact, most urban centers have become a cultural chessboard, with areas so influenced by their ancestral heritage that English is a second language. For speakers of multiple languages, this provides an employment opportunity not only in these regions but with outside services who count these neighborhoods among their patrons.

Being bilingual not only provides an advantage domestically, but also may become essential in when dealing with global clients. As countries like China and Japan become more dominant player in the business world, it is plausible that another language may usurp English as the primary method of communication. If nothing else, the ability to converse in a client's native language can make a strong impression and build good relationships with foreign business. Other highly sought after languages such as Arabic can contribute greatly to American interests.

Preparation
Conventional wisdom states that children should reach middle school before being taught a second language. However, recent studies have shown that starting at an earlier stage can have far more effective results. Most experts now agree that the preschool years are the optimal period for a multilingual education. Research demonstrates that early childhood is when the brain is most pliable and capable of grasping the fundamental concepts used in language.

While learning two languages at once may sound confusing, according to professors at McGill University in Montreal, it is equally as simple for young children to learn multiple languages as it is to learn one. Countries whose residents speak multiple languages have practiced this strategy for centuries, usually by exposing the child to a completely immersive environment. This can also be observed in children who have visited relatives abroad for an extended period of time.

Consequently, it is important for parents to enroll their child in an educational preschool program that offers total immersion in a language other than English. By developing their bilingual capabilities at a young age, they will be far more capable of reaching fluency as an adult. This simple effort will bloom into a favorable investment not only for their prospective job opportunities but their appreciation of international cultures as well.




Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Winner!


The winner of the 4 pack of Incredibum Bum-boo Incrediwipes giveaway is Sarah Jane!


Congratulations Sarah Jane!

Thank you to everyone who entered and a big thank you to my sponsor Incredibum who made this wonderful giveaway possible!
 
 
 

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday: Riley Farm

Just before little man's 2nd birthday, we took our annual trip up to Riley Farm (where I took the last of my 9 month maternity photos before going into labor 2 years ago!) to take our family photos. This farms holds a bit of a special place in our hearts and my parents joined us this year, and last, to take some photos! Here's some quick pictures I took before the professional (and my best friend) started taking the family photos!








Happy Wednesday!


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Ahhh... Nap Time {Sigh} ...How I Miss Thee!

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Little man seems to want to put the kibosh on nap time lately. Over the last two weeks or so, he has really resisted nap time! And by resisted, I mean, he either doesn't nap or only briefly naps after a good water works session! Little man just turned 2 this weekend (Hooray! Party and celebration pictures to come soon!) and I can't believe that naps could be a thing of the past for us!!! I really enjoy the 1-2 hour nap time break in the middle of the day - it's perfect for catching up on things around the house {or blogging}! (That's why I've been a little scarce lately)

So, about 2 weeks ago, or so, little man just cried through his entire nap time. :( After reading, snuggling and singing in his rocking chair, he would normally cry/fuss/talk for a little after I put him down in his crib, and then he would go to sleep for about an hour to two hours. He's still in his crib, since he hasn't climbed out, or shown any interest in climbing out of it. Then, out of the blue (I don't even know what might have triggered it), he just cried for the entire nap! The sound of little man crying just breaks my heart! I thought maybe it was just a mild rebellion, but it has persisted! 

I have tried holding him in the rocking chair until he falls asleep, laying in our bed with him to try to get him to nap and I've also tried to simply not offer a nap during the day. Holding him works sometimes. We will usually read a few extra books, then turn off the lights and talk and I'll sing to him until he falls asleep. But, since he is heavy and a light nap time sleeper, I am constantly shifting his weight on my arms and then he'll get restless and wake up after about 30 min to an hour. I tell little man that when we just sit in the rocking chair, that we're "resting". Today though, he didn't even want to "rest" with me. He just kept crying "No more resting with mama! All done resting!" Poor, sad baby! I have also tried laying down with him in our bed. This does not work at all. Our room is too bright in the afternoon and there are too many fun things to look at! It is definitely not a restful environment for him and he just doesn't want to lay still and snuggle. {insert sad mommy face} We've also tried offering a nap at different times of the day...still no luck. We have skipped a couple naps and little man actually does pretty well. He stays chipper and energetic, but does get a little tired when his nap time should be {a snack usually helps} and he is a bit hyper towards the end of the day. He is definitely ready for bath time and bedtime when that time rolls around and he goes to sleep like a champ. He usually says "Goodnight mama" happily and as I close the door, I can hear him chattering to his monkeys for a little bit before he drifts off for about 12 hours of sleep.

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I love that he goes to sleep so well at the end of the day and he sleeps like a rock through the night! It is just a hard adjustment for me right now to try to catch up on so many things at the end of the day, especially when I am usually pooped by the time he goes to bed! I love my days and my time with little man; he has been blessed with non-stop energy and a wonderful chatty personality. but, lately I have had a bit of a harder time getting the extra "oomph" to blog at the end of the day. 

I'm really at a loss about nap times! I thought that little ones still took naps until they were a bit older? I would really appreciate any tips, advice or words of wisdom that anyone has! Are naps times over? Is this a phase? Will nap times ever return?



Monday, November 14, 2011

Made With Love Event Winners!


The winners of the Made With Love Event are Alicia E., the winner of Prize Pack #1 and Sarah Knoke, the winner of Prize Pack #2!


Congratulations Alicia and Sarah!

Thank you to everyone who entered and a big thank you to WOOLY ROUNDS, Doodle Graphics, Blossom Pads, My Posh Pads, The Hook Up, Red Letter Ink and TZ Burps!, the sponsors who made this wonderful giveaway possible!


The Made With Love Event!


Welcome to the Made With Love Event hosted by The Reynolds Mom and Seventeen Sirens! This event features at least $25 or more in handmade prizes on each of the participating blogs. I hope that this will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved to learn about some fabulous shops, wahm's and many different types of handmade items, all while being able to feel good about finding products that are lovingly made with care! Be sure to go through the linky below and enter for your chance to win! This event will close on November 13th at Midnight EST. Good Luck!



A set of 4 WOOLY ROUNDS (ARV $28.00) from WOOLY ROUNDS. You can read my Sponsor Spotlight post HERE. 

 
  A print in the winner's choice from Doodle Graphics. (ARV $20) You can read my Sponsor Spotlight post HERE.

An Intro to Cloth Kit from Blossom Pads. (ARV $10) You can read my Sponsor Spotlight post HERE.


 A Sampler Kit from My Posh Pads! (ARV $18) You can read my Sponsor Spotlight post HERE. 

ARV of Prize Pack #1 = $76.00!





   The winner's choice of a free baby or toddler custom item from The Hook Up. (ARV $15 -may vary depending on the item) You can read my Sponsor Spotlight post HERE.

  
An 8x10 print of the winner's choosing from Red Letter Ink. (ARV $20) You can read my Sponsor Spotlight post HERE.


An owl like the one Tara sent me from TZ Burps! (ARV $14) You can read my Sponsor Spotlight post HERE. 

ARV of Prize Pack #2 = $49.00!


***Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only. Entrants must be 18+ years old. Two winners will be chosen randomly. The winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Note: You are not guaranteed to win the package of choice, but I will try to assign packages to the winners based on their preference stated on the mandatory entry.*** 

Giveaway will end at midnight on November 13th at midnight EST.
Entries go in the Rafflecopter form below! You may view Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy.