Born Wild Amber Teething Necklace Review

Kelsey did not wear amber while she was a baby. She drooled so much when she began teething she permanently had a bib on to catch it all and a red chin. By the time I was pregnant with Aubrey, now 19 months, I had heard lots of stories of babies blissfully going through teething with much less crying, pain, and drooling. I decided that was enough for me to give a try.

I am not an expert, but I have noticed a big difference between when she wears it regularly and when I forgot to put it on her for a few days (daycare doesn’t like to let her wear it). Since you can not predict when a tooth will be ready to break through, it is better to be safe than sorry and we try to have her wear it at night at least.

When she was a baby the break-away clasp on the necklace was fine and made me a little more confident in allowing her to wear it all the time. However, once she learned she could pull it off, I was concerned with it getting lost. I recently had the opportunity to try the Born Wild Teething Necklace and it has been nice to have her wearing amber again with it’s screw on clasp. Plus, the string is knotted between each bead so if it broke, we would not have many little beads all over to track down.

This necklace is 100% authentic Baltic amber. While made in a great length for baby and toddler necks, it can also be wrapped around an ankle and tucked into a sock or under a onesie. Or, adults can wear amber too to alleviate pain from a variety of sources including arthritis.

The Born Wild Teething Necklace comes in a little pouch, perfect for a baby shower gift.

Visit Born Wild on Facebook or follow them on Instagram for opportunities to learn more and for chances to win one!

*I received a product in exchange for my honest review.*

Anniversary Gift Tradition

Yesterday was my ninth wedding anniversary. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks but we did manage to sneak in breakfast together the day before and my husband made a great dinner of lamb chops, couscous and veggies. I also got flowers at my office the day of – a perk to working in an office and away from my cats that always attack flowers.

On our first anniversary, we each went with the “traditional” wedding gift concept and have stuck with it since (note the ceramic flower vase). It got me wondering how many other people use them too. It is always a fun challenge to come up with something on theme that is still functional or decorative.

Since the Middle Ages, anniversary gifts have signified the deepening of strength of commitment by the increasing value of the items. Most of us have heard about silver, gold and diamond anniversaries, but there are symbols for the years in between, too. Thankfully, there are a few categories to choose from every year, traditional, modern, alternate, flowers, and gemstones.

While I like an actual item because it’s fun to see it and remember why we have it, anniversary gifts do not need to be expensive or extravagant. Just try to incorporate something into your day to celebrate. Here is what I have given my husband over the past 9 years:

1) Paper (traditional) – We honeymooned in Scotland and purchased an antique looking map. I had in professionally framed for our 1st anniversary and it is currently hanging in our bedroom.

2) Cotton (traditional) – My husband is the chef of the house so I had his name embroidered on a chef hat and apron and got a matching apron for myself.

3) Leather (traditional) – Leather messenger bag and gift certificate towards boots he wanted.

4) Fruits and flowers (traditional) – Edible Arrangement. We also ended up going on a road trip through Toronto and Niagara and still have lots of wine to show for it.

5) Wood (traditional) – I had a little wooden keepsake box engraved with a special message that he could take with him when he deployed.

6) Iron (modern) – We swapped babysitting with another family and went to a driving range to “hit the irons” and have lunch. I think it was one of the first times we left Kelsey with someone during the day.

7) Wool (traditional) – Wool socks.

8) Bronze (traditional) – Bronze-finish pocket watch.

9) Pottery (traditional) – Pampered Chef Stoneware Casserole Dish – did I mention he is the chef of the house? He often says he wants more stoneware so this was a great excuse to get another piece.

Next is 10 years. Double digits. I have tin, aluminum, diamond, daffodil, and blue sapphire to work from. I really want to go on a trip with just the two of us next year. We have some decisions to make in the next few months so we’ll have to put off planning for a bit. Maybe the plane can be the “aluminum” next year. Then again blue sapphire was my engagement ring and our wedding color. I have 12 months to figure it out.

We were married at Deering Estate in Miami, Florida. About this time last year, I was in the area with the girls and I couldn’t resist getting a photo of the girls in almost the same spot we took our wedding pictures. The little one wasn’t too crazy about sitting in the grass. I would eventually like to get one of all four of us there.

How do you celebrate your anniversary?

 

Cordskinz Review and Hippity Hoppity Giveaway Hop!

I was recently contacted by Cordskinz with an opportunity to try out their ingenious little product. Cordskinz are easy to apply tubes that slide on right over the cords of ear buds – any make or model – to keep them from being a tangled mess at the bottom of the your bag.

It’s quite a simple concept but it really has been nice having the skinz on my ear buds. It’s easier to find them and who doesn’t like to personalize their items when it’s easy and convenient? The process was easy. Along with your Cordskinz, the application device comes in an envelope with the instructions. After you line up the pieces, you just gently slide the skinz and the wire of the ear buds along and the tool takes care of the rest. Just a little snip at the end adjusted the skinz length to exactly what I needed.

Best of all, they are only $9.99 each and come in a variety of colors (right now you can get 3 for the price of 2). Stop by Cordskinz on their website and check out their social media channels.

The folks at Cordskinz were generous enough to let me giveaway 2 sets of Cordskinz – 1 for you and 1 for a friend! This giveaway is open to US and ends April 20, 2015, 11:50pm. Winner will be selected and notified by email and have 24 hours to claim their prize. Prize valued at $19.98. Domesticating Michelle is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway; then check out the rest of the Hippity Hoppity Easter Giveaway Hop below. For more chances to win prizes, join us for the Twitter party on April 14, 2015. Good luck!

Welcome to the Hippity Hoppity Giveaway Hop, brought to you by The Hopping Bloggers & Up All Night Blogging!

Hosted by Mama Smith’s Review Blog & Women And Their Pretties

Co-Hosted by: Melanie Meditates, EasterBabe’s Theory, Muscles & Mascara Blog, Cia Says, So Simply Stephanie, Marilyn’s Treats, Our Refuge and Strength, & Life of a Southern Mom

Each blogger participating in this hop has a giveaway with a prize value of at least $15 – and some are much more than that! Be sure to scroll down the whole list and visit them all – there is no limit to how many prizes you can win! There will also be a twitter party on April 14th to go along with this hop with even more chances to win. RSVP for that by clicking here. Good Luck and Have Fun!

DISCLOSURE: Mama Smith’s Review Blog and Women and Their Pretties are not responsible for any of the prize fulfillment. Each blogger is responsible for providing their sponsor with their winner’s contact information.

**I received items to review. All opinions are my own. Domesticating Michelle is not responsible for prize fulfillment.**