Glider Gloves Review (For People That Like Using Smartphones in the Winter)

Glider Gloves are my new favorite cold weather accessory! In short, the entire glove is conductive and allows you to easily use your smartphone or tablet with it on. Now more freezing your fingers off to snap a photo for Instagram of your kids playing outside!

Watch it in action then pick up Glider Gloves on Amazon! Get 20% off with code: YV2KLBBS!

I had given up on trying to use the gloves with the one little finger section so I was skeptical if these would work. In addition to being able to use my phone with them on, I like the rubber grips on the inside of the hand that help me hang on to my phone. They have been keeping my hands warm in the early morning chill but these are the lighter weight “Urban” so I’ll have to pick up on a the heavier “Winter” set for the coldest months.

These look very neutral and the material is soft, not at all scratchy like I thought it might be. A nice little bonus is that the tag doubles as a microfiber screen cleaner.

At about $20 a pair (plus free shipping with Amazon Prime) Glider Gloves will make a great present or stocking stuffer for anyone on your holiday shopping list. Get 20% off with code: YV2KLBBS!

 

*This post was sponsored and I was provided with a product to review. All opinions are my own. Post contains affiliate links.*

Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove in Dayton!

Discover endless riches when Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove comes to your hometown!  Disney On Ice sets the gold standard with its newest skating spectacular.  Get tangled up in Disney’s 50 ^th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn and enter the worlds of your other favorite Disney princesses –Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and of course, the one who started it all, Snow White.

Ahoy, Mateys!  Set sail with Peter Pan, the always sassy Tinker Bell and the cantankerous Captain Hook & his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Never Land!  Trek the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the ‘Circle of Life.’  Tick-Tock!  Tick-Tock!  Don’t be late to a very important date with Alice & the Mad Hatter as they march with the Queen of Hearts’ Army Of Cards.  Be sure to see this show full of memories guaranteed to last a lifetime.

In Dayton, Ohio at the Nutter Center from Oct 21-25, 2015, weekday tickets are just $13 – No code needed! Family 4-pack offer: $119 includes 4 tickets, 4 popcorns and 4 lemonades! (Use code FAMD26.)

Purchase your tickets here. Visit and follow Disney On Ice to always know when they are coming to your town on Facebook and Twitter and check out the hashtag #DisneyOnIce

This year, our family costume for Halloween will be characters from Alice in Wonderland with my oldest being Alice, my youngest being the Cheshire Cat, my husband as the Mad Hatter, and myself as the Queen of Hearts. I’ll probably still be working on the costumes right up until Halloween, but if you are looking for some Alice in Wonderland inspiration, check out my Pinterest board.

I am hoping we’ll be visiting family in Florida soon and maybe squeezing in a trip to a Walt Disney World park. If you are planning a Disney visit, check out these pins and if you baby wear, check out the Disney Babywearers group on Facebook. *Warning: If you aren’t sure you can resist decorating everything Disney, don’t click that last link. Also, check out my Ribbon Minnie Mouse Ears for your little mouseketeer.

Are you in or near Dayton, Ohio? Enter to win a 4-pack of tickets to Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove’s opening night in Dayton, Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Giveaway ends October 14, 2015, 11:59pm. Good luck!
Enter giveaway by clicking here!

 

Shut the Front Door, Shutterfly!

I had to take a minute to let you guys know about some offers from Shutterfly. Now is the time to get that vacation photo book made (or baby book that is a year overdue). Stock up on freebies now and hold them for birthdays, holidays, whatever. You still have to pay shipping on most of these offers, but you are still getting a great deal. Just click on the red text below for the product you want to check out.

All customers enjoy one free 20-standard finish page 8×8 hard photo cover photo book with promo code SUNNYBOOK at checkout! Offer valid 6/24-30/2015.

Offer expires June 30, 2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for one free 20-standard finish page 8×8 hard photo cover photo book through shutterfly.com, our mobile-friendly site or Shutterfly apps. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping, and handling will apply. Customer may add options to their 8×8 book (additional pages, StorytellingTM styles and elements, photo book accessories, other cover types, etc.) at additional cost. Alternatively, customer may apply the current price of a 20-standard finish page 8×8 hard photo cover photo book (after taking into account any current discounts on shutterfly.com) toward the purchase of a larger photo book. Not valid on 5×7, 7×9, or 8×8 soft cover photo books, TripPix, prepaid plans, other products and prior purchases. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

All customers enjoy your choice of one free reusable shopping bag or one set of playing cards with promo code PICKAGIFT at checkout! Offer valid 6/24-26/15.

Offer expires June 26, 2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for one free reusable shopping bag or one set of playing cards through shutterfly.com or our mobile-friendly site. Must select one of the two products listed. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Not valid on other products, prepaid plans, prior purchases, orders placed for in-store pick up and purchases made on the Shutterfly apps. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

All customers enjoy your choice of one free kids placemat or one notepad with promo code CHOOSEONE at checkout! Offer valid 6/27-30/15.

Offer expires June 30, 2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for one free kids placemat or one notepad through shutterfly.com or our mobile-friendly site. Must select one of the two products listed. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Not valid on pet placemat, other products, prepaid plans, prior purchases, orders placed for in-store pick up and purchases made on the Shutterfly apps. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

While you are ordering these fun gifts, pick up on a card to go with it by using promo code CARD4U and some prints for yourself.

All customers enjoy 100 free 4×6 prints with promo code 100FREEPRINTS at checkout! Offer valid now until 6/30/15.

Offer expires 6/30/2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for 100 free 4×6 prints through shutterfly.com or our mobile-friendly site. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Not valid on other sizes, other products, prepaid plans, prior purchases, orders placed for in-store pick up and purchases made on the Shutterfly apps. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

Don’t forget, you can get free shipping with orders over $39 by using promo code SHIP39. Go to your account page now and put all of these promo codes in then happy creating!

*Post contains affiliate links.*

FabKids August 2014

I have to admit I did a little happy dance when I find out I was going to get a preview of something from the August 2014 collection of FabKids clothing. I did another little happy dance when I realized it was this funky cool dress that is completely on trend. Just another perk of being a FabMom Brand Ambassador.

Like so many other FabKids pieces, the Ikat Dress, features some nice details like a hot pink zipper on the back and darting in the bodice. I believe the pattern is based off of ikat, an Indonesian dyeing technique used to pattern textiles, and looks like abstract hearts. This “tribal” type look is right up my alley, as far as fashion goes, and my daughter asked to wear it the second she spotted it.

Paired with a pop a color, like these lime green FabKids Fab Soft Leggings, it is going to be a great look for fall and even into winter with some boots. The fabric is a little on the thick side so I think it will great for when the weather starts to cool down. Since my daughter is a little petite, I prefer the cuts that are more fitted on her but I think this style would be flattering on a variety of body shapes.

This dress was a size up on my daughter and a little large for her at this time but should be a better fit as the weather cools down. If you are looking to wear the dress sooner rather than later, I’d order the exact size of your little girl.

Check out all the outfits FabKids has to offer and your first outfit is just $15 plus free shipping! They have sales and specials throughout the year (in fact I just bought 3 dresses for $20 including shipping). I am personally looking forward to seeing the fall pants outfits for girls since my daughter has been enjoying the FabKids pants she already has. Don’t forget to check out their selection of shoes, too.

 

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A little trivia for you! Do you know where the cash register was invented? I’ll give you a hint; it’s where the pop top can, carbonless copy paper, and the airplane where invented. The were all invented right here in Dayton, Ohio! The Riverscape area in downtown Dayton has some fun sculptures commemorating some of them like this cash register and a six pack of pop top cans. Turns out Dayton has had more inventions per capita than any city in the United States.

 

Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure Giveaway (Dayton & Cincinnati, OH)

Ticket Giveaway!!

Wow! My 3 year old is going to love this show. We are a bit of a Disney family and she loves both Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Sofia the First so I know she is going to be up on her feet and singing and dancing along to the Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure and Doc McStuffins Pre-Show Clinic when it comes to Dayton on July 25. It will also be in Cincinnati on July 26. Visiting the characters and watching the Disney Jr. Live! Show was one of the highlights of our last trip to Walt Disney World.

In this original storyline, Mickey and Minnie lead the audience on an exciting adventure that will have families rooting for their favorite pirate, Jake, and Disney’s first little girl princess, Sofia. Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure begins with a special interactive pre-show featuring the loveable six-year-old doctor to toys and stuffed animals, Doc McStuffins. Children and their parents will sing the “I Feel Better” song, along with Doc as she provides tender love and care.

Audiences will then embark on a journey to the magical world of Enchancia, where Sofia, her step-siblings Amber and James, and the entire kingdom are preparing for the annual friendship festival. Sofia has the honor of delivering the perfect gift to her royal subjects at the celebration, and the one-and-only Cinderella visits the castle to help Sofia in her mission to find the right present.

The excitement continues when families cast away to Never Land where Jake and his Yo Ho pirate friends, Izzy and Cubby, are in a race against time to locate a mysterious treasure-filled volcano. Danger, thrills and adventure lurk around every turn when our swashbuckling friends battle Captain Hook for the ultimate prize. Peter Pan makes a special appearance, aiding the team in their heroic quest, and with the help of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust, Jake and his crew fly above the stage in their journey.

To find out more about Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure presented by Feld Entertainment and to purchase tickets, visit disneyjuniorlive.com, or visit us on Facebook at Disney Live! and follow us on Twitter @DisneyLive!

DAYTON
Nutter Center
Fri 7/25/2014 (1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm)

CINCINNATI
U.S. Bank Arena
Sat 7/26/2014 (1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm)

Here’s your chance to win!

Enter this a Rafflecopter giveaway  for your chance to win a family four pack of tickets to a show of your choice between the Dayton and Cincinnati show dates and times above. Share, share, share! since this giveaway is quick and will be over on 7/16/14. Must be 18 or older to win. Winners tickets will be held at will call at the appropriate venue.

While you wait for the show to get here, check out these coloring pages and get a preview on YouTube.

BabiLovLin​ks Child-Friendly Jewelry Review and Giveaway

Thanks for visiting my review of BabiLovLinks Child-Friendly Jewelry and welcome to the Red, White, & Blue Giveaway Blog Hop!

I am happy to share about these Made in the USA necklaces that I received to review. They  can be used as teething necklaces but I enjoy wearing it as necklace even without baby. My preschooler likes to wear it and play with it, too, with supervision. They look like the popular statement and pendant necklaces but are very functional for Mom. While I liked the artistic quality of the Mia design, I opted to try the Kara design to give my daughter something to manipulate, since the pieces come apart on the string and are easily put back together.

BabiLovLinks beads are made from high quality food grade plastics.  The beads contain no phthalates, BPAs, PVCs, lead or latex, and the pigments used in the jewelry are free of heavy metals. I like that is washes easily with soap and water and, unlike a silicone piece I have, I don’t have to worry about dust or animal fur sticking to it.

These necklaces also have a sturdy break-away clasp. I have yet to have it come off on its own while wearing it but it will pull off with pressure. It has been a great addition to the babywearing accessories. It gives baby something to safely play with and put in her mouth that doesn’t take up space and still looks cute once I have put her down. They are available in a variety of color combinations to match your wardrobe.

The best thing about them is that they are designed by Eva Murry, a grandmother of 12, family owned and operated, and completely made in the USA. Stop by BabiLovLinks and check them out today! Use code BLLBLOG2 for 10% off of a BabiLovLinks internet purchase.

Win one! Follow the link below to enter to win a BabiLovLinks necklace of your choice. Giveaway ends July 15, 2014. Your prize will be sent to you by the company. Then, keep scrolling for more information about the Red, White, & Blue Giveaway Blog Hop.

Enter Giveaway Here

 

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Red, White, and Blue Giveaway Hop – a Hop where we celebrate Independence Day, hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network. We’re celebrating the 4th of July with giveaway for a whole 2 weeks, so be sure and hop around to all the great blog giveaways that are linked up in this hop. And be sure to let Step2 help your child go Red White and Blue with this patriotic Choo Choo Train! Don’t miss out on that fantastic Grand Prize!

Click here to visit the Grand Prize giveaway and find the links to the other giveaways in the hop.

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Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

So Easy Being Green, Viva Veltoro, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Red, White, and Blue participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

*I received product for this review. All opinions are my own. BabiLovLinks LLC is responsible for prize fulfillment. Post may contain affiliate links.*

 

 

Maple Hill Naturals Products Review and Giveaway!

I recently had the chance to sample a few of Maple Hill Naturals products. I was sent a 4 pack of Unscented Wool Dryer Balls, Peppermint Essential Oil Soap, and Peppermint Essential Oil Lip Balm to try out. As soon as I opened the box, I knew I was in for a great smelling treat.

Unscented Wool Dryer Balls have been a great addition to the laundry routine. They are very soft and I almost lost one to my daughter who thought it was a great size to play with. I have been using them for towel, bedding, and cloth diaper inserts loads and they have been giving me some soft, fresh smelling laundry. I have one of those smart dryers that adjusts the time accordingly so I set a timer one day with the amount of time that the dryer started at and it did end early. It wasn’t much time, but given that I wash something most days that saved time adds up.

They also have Scented Dryer Balls and DIY Scent Kits to add essential oils to them at home.

Maple Hill Naturals Wool Dryer Balls have a great story. They are made right here in the USA with wool off the sheep from the owner’s father’s farm in West Lafayette, IN. They are made by moms with young kids and completely natural colored with NO harmful and irritating dyes added.

The Peppermint Essential Oil Soap has been wonderful. The peppermint is a nice, refreshing scent to get the day going. It has left my skin feeling soft, I haven’t felt any residue nor drying type of feeling on my skin. I usually use a wash cloth with bar soap and this bar makes a nice lather. It also has oatmeal in the bar which has been great to use on some lovely rough patches that this never ending winter has brought on. I also developed a bit of a cold lately so the burst of peppermint in the shower has helped me breath a little better in the mornings.

All of their natural soaps are made using the old world “cold processing” technique.  No heat or chemicals are added producing a bar rich in natural glycerin and luxurious natural oils.

Finally, I had been experiencing horribly cracked lips with all this dry air when I found out about Maple Hill Naturals. I have used other natural lip balms before that felt too gritty or drugstore lip balms that were too greasy. Peppermint Essential Oil Natural Lip Balm was neither. It left my lips soft but not sticky. It helped heal up my lips and my daughters’ dry lips as well. The scent is nice but doesn’t stay long, which I like.

I have enjoyed these products in my home and, fortunately, Maple Hill Naturals has offered to giveaway a set of 4 Unscented Dryer Balls for one of you to enjoy, too! Visit the Sustainable and Upcycle Giveaway Hop hosted by The Squishable Baby and The Median Mommy for the Domesticating Michelle Maple Hill Naturals Giveaway (3/11-4/1/14).

They have also been gracious enough to share a coupon code DOMESTICATINGMICHELLE with our readers.  This is for 25% off your entire order at Maple Hill Naturals.  Limit 1 coupon per customer.  Offer not valid with any other offers.  Expires 4/18/14.

** I received products to review for free. All opinions are my own. **

Favorite Baby Things

I was thinking today about some of the baby products I can’t live without right now. Most if them I picked up on with my first baby but some are more necessities brought on by living in Ohio this time around.

Car Seat Canopy
With the cold weather we have been having for the past few months, I am happy I decided to pick up on a car seat canopy. It’s great to be able to get Aubrey all situated inside the warm house and get her to the car without getting wet or snow on her. For me, it also doubles as a blanket for her to lay on or for me to out in her while I am carrying her, or even as a nursing cover.
If you are interested in getting one, you can get a Carseat Canopy here for free plus shipping by using our promo code, AOB173. (You can use the same code to purchase a nursing cover if that makes nursing in public easier for you.)

Nasal Aspirator
I am so happy another mom told me about the Nosefrida The Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator when Kelsey was a baby. I never felt like I was actually clearing anything out of her nose with the bulb. With the Nosefrida, I know I’m getting it out and my baby can breathe while she’s nursing. Aubrey has had a cold twice so far and, even though she’s not a fan of it, I am happy. (Yes, it sounds and kind of looks gross but it’s actually very clean.)

Nursing Pillow
I have 3 of them! One for upstairs, one for downstairs, and one that lives in the car. It makes it so much more comfortable to nurse or even just have Aubrey on my lap. With her touch of reflex it lets me lay her down with her being completely flat, and acts as a tummy time support. My older daughter still likes to lay on it for naps, too.
There are several brands out there, but if you are interested in picking one up, get a free one, plus shipping, here with promo code AOB173.

Folex Co. FSR32 Folex Instant Carpet Stain Remover – 32 Fl 0z.
Folex Stain Remover might be the best thing ever. Someone at Home Depot recommended it to my husband and I was skeptical of it but it works. Everything Kelsey has dropped or that shoes have dragged in has come out (full disclaimer: except one mystery spot that we have no idea what it is). We even started spraying it on clothes that suffered from poop-splosions and it gets it out. Baby poop has some serious staining power so anything that gets it out of clothes is a-ok in my book.

Babywearing
Baby Carriers and Slings have been such a help since Aubrey got here. I ended up doing a lot of baby carrying when Kelsey was a baby so I knew I had to be ready for when Aubrey got here. I have been using a ring sling which is pretty easy to get on and off and use in a variety of situations. It makes it easier to keep Aubrey nice and calm while I do things with Kelsey. We’ve been to Christmas tree lightings, drum circles, roller skating (I wasn’t on skates), to Disney On Ice, all around the mall, playdates, etc. It makes it easier when you don’t have to try to get a stroller everywhere while chasing after a 2 year old. I am hoping to upgrade to a soft structures carrier because we would like to get out to the MetroParks around here in the spring and, of course, some Blue Star Museums this summer and I think it will be more secure. Plus, Aubrey is so curious with everything going on around her now I don’t want her sliding around on me when I’m focused on Kelsey.

There you have it. A few of the things that have made things a little better and easier around here. Maybe they will help out in your home, too.

**This post contains affiliate links.**