Gift Idea for Expecting Moms - The Pregegg!

This post is brought to you by Pregegg.

Are you expecting a baby or know someone who is??!

Then I have the perfect cute little stocking stuffer or gift idea for them! Pregegg is a 'State of the Art’ accurate electronic counter that operates for the full length of your pregnancy on one CR2032 battery.

PregEgg is a fun way to count down the days. Enter your due date and the clock begins! The egg slowly hatches until on the expected day, it opens to reveal a tiny chick. Pregegg™ is a clever 9-month countdown to your baby’s birthday with the display indicating the number of days remaining.

Pregegg™ uses one long life CR2032 lithium battery which is included. Detailed instructions are included and the setup is quick and easy.

The hatched stork is a perfect keepsake to represent the joy of your family’s newest addition!

Buy It:

You can purchase the Pregegg for $19.99 from the Pregegg website.

* This post is brought to you by Pregegg.*

Power Your Pregnancy with @jillianmichaels #YeahBabyBook ! #Giveaway

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

YEAH, BABY!

By Jillian Michaels

Release: November 15, 2016

The Modern Mama’s Guide to Mastering Pregnancy, Having a Healthy Baby, and Bouncing Back Better than Ever!

About the Book: 

You know Jillian Michaels as the world’s leading fitness expert and a renowned nutritionist; but she’s also a proud mother of two. In Yeah Baby!, Jillian, along with her team of top-notch experts, will change everything you think you know about pregnancy, arming you with the most cutting-edge information available, so you can make the right choices for you and your little one.

They will help you navigate the hidden dangers in your immediate environment; understand the check-ups, tests, and treatments your doctor recommends; and provide powerful solutions for all your issues, from heartburn and swollen feet to more serious medical concerns.

Also learn how to optimize every facet of your child’s development, from IQ and long-term earning potential to future level of physical fitness and even taste preferences! Yeah Baby! also features a complete meal plan with delicious, nutrition-packed recipes, and a one-of-a-kind, trimester-specific fitness program, to ensure you bounce back stronger and better than ever.

Expert Dream Team:
· Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, MD is an Ob-Gyn, a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, and board certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine.
· Andrea Orbeck is a PregnancyFitness Specialist who holds an advanced degree in Kinesiology and Intracellular Physiology.
· Katja VanHerle, MD is one of America’s Top Physicians in Endocrinology as named by Consumer Research Council of America.
· Cheryl Forberg, RD is an award-winning registered dietitian, chef, and New York Times bestselling author.
· Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP is a pediatrician who specializes in infant nutrition and breastfeeding.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JILLIAN MICHAELS is a celebrity fitness trainer, author, and television personality known for her appearances on NBC’s The Biggest Loser and Losing It With Jillian, and as the host of Sweat, Inc. on Spike. Her New York Times bestselling books include Unlimited, Master Your Metabolism, The Master Your Metabolism Cookbook, and Making the Cut. She has two children with her partner Heidi Rhoades, a son, Phoenix, and daughter, Lukensia. She lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Learn More Here: 

Learn more at the Official Site

Follow Jillian Michaels on Twitter and Facebook

#YeahBabyBook

Power your pregnancy with the help of celebrity fitness coach Jillian Michaels!

Win It:

Rodale Books is generously offering (1) Copy of Yeah Baby!, Jillian Michaels Body Shred workout tank, and Takeya classic water bottleto a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) Yeah Baby! Prize Pack including: 

· Copy of Yeah Baby!

· Jillian Michaels Body Shred workout tank

· Takeya classic water bottle

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Learn About Placenta Tissue Banking & Enter to Win a New Car Seat!

This post is brought to you by LifebankUSA. All opinions are mine. 

I am sure if you have had a child in the last 10 years or so that you have heard of banking your child's stem cells from the cord blood. It has become a very popular topic with new parents but have you heard of banking blood from the placenta blood stem cells?

Only LifebankUSA offers expectant parents the unique opportunity to bank stem cells from cord blood and placenta blood. Banking placenta blood stem cells makes your cord blood collection even more powerful for the near-term and for the future. It gives you the ability to bank more stem cells which has been shown to increase transplant success and survival rates. And placenta blood contains other types of progenitor stem cells which are expected to play a key role in regenerative medicine.

LifebankUSA, owned by Celgene Corporation, is the only cord blood bank processing material for FDA-approved clinical trials using stem cells from placental tissue. These stem cells are being used to treat patients with serious conditions, including diabetic foot ulcers. LifebankUSA preserves your baby’s placental tissue using the same steps taken for processing stem cells for our FDA-approved clinical trials. No other cord blood company can claim that.

Along with peace of mind, LifebankUSA wants to give parents the chance to win one of THREE Graco 4everTM 4-in-1 Car Seats (valued at $330 each) in a random drawing from entrants in this Facebook contest. 

Enter for your chance to win the baby item that is on EVERY expectant Mom’s baby shower registry! 

And remember, placenta tissue banking is a potential game changer in regenerative medicine. Your child is being born into a world of extraordinary possibilities that include the enormous potential of stem cell banking. Make the most of this once-in-a- lifetime opportunity by choosing LifebankUSA and add placenta blood banking to your cord blood collection, for a very real, proven layer of protection for you and your family.

This post is brought to you by LifebankUSA. All opinions are mine. 

My Top Five Tips for New & Expecting Parents

This post is brought to you by tommee tippee. All opinions are mine. 

Are you a new or expecting parent? 

Are you exhausted, worn out and frustrated? 

Or maybe you just haven't had a new baby in a few years and forgotten what it is really about. Believe me, those hard early months actually do fade in our memories....

Well, I just had baby #3 three months ago and I can tell you that these hard months are VERY fresh in my memory...(in fact, I am still experiencing very little sleep, chaos and exhaustion so bear with any typos or errors in this post :) 

My daughter and me snuggling at birth.

I feel like I have been through it all with my three children and I would love to help any new or expecting parents out there prepare for what you are about to go through. No, you can never be fully prepared for what is about to happen, but I hope these top 5 tips can at least inspire you, encourage you and help you get through these tough months and years of being a new parent! From one sleep deprived parent to another, hope these help! :)

1. Don't feel bad asking for help & have a great support system surrounding you!

My dad helping out with my firstborn son when he was a baby.

This is such an important tip because those first few days, first few months and even the whole first year is VERY CHALLENGING. You will learn so much but be challenged in ways as a parent, spouse and human being that you never imagined! Don't feel like you have to do it all alone or that you have to prove something to yourself...every parent has been in your spot and has had or wanted help. You will be thankful you asked for help, advice, or just a night out...and it's okay to need help!! You aren't failing by asking or needing help and no one will look down on you for it!

2. Be Prepared for ANYTHING!

Yes, you have this ideal picture in your head of what your pregnancy, labor, delivery and first few days with your baby will be like. Facebook and social media tend to give us the sunny disposition of those first few months - cuddling, snuggly babies everywhere, big smiling baby faces and parents with smiles on their faces...even I am guilty of posting these kinds of photos. But that is not real life all the time!

Every one wishes for the perfect everything...and some get it. 

BUT MANY DON'T! 

My advice is to be prepared for everything and then be thankful later on if you don't need to use any of the stuff you have prepared. I have learned this the hard way. All three times I hoped to exclusively breastfeed and wasn't successful. I learned after the first two, to get prepared just in case I would need bottles, formula and a breast pump. This time around with my third child, breastfeeding wasn't completely successful and I was so happy in the depths of exhaustion to already have on hand my favorite bottles for supplementing - the tommee tippee Closer to Nature bottles! My son latched right onto the bottle, ate well with it and we had no trouble switching between bottle and breast!

I love these tommee tippee bottles!

And along with being prepared for anything, be prepared to be ok with the ups and downs that happen. Things might not be ideal or perfect or what you imagined, but you will get through it, your baby will be just fine, and you will be a better parent because of the trials and troubles you went through!

3. You will be SO TIRED...but YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT! 

(no matter how much it feels like you won't!)

Catch a nap whenever you can!

This is probably something I tell myself every day...especially on the days where my son wakes up every hour at night and then during the day the other two children run me ragged with their endless energy. 

I. Will. Get. Through. It.  

AND so will you. It won't feel like it on many, many days but just keep putting one foot in front of the other, one bottle after another, one diaper change after another, and before you know it, your baby WILL sleep through the night, you will start getting more than 2 hours of consecutive hours of sleep and you will wonder where time even went, which leads me to my next tip...

4. Really, really, (really!) cherish each moment! (It REALLY does go by fast!)

I know, I know...this is probably the most frequent advice you receive "They will grow so fast...", "Before you know it, they will be a teenager..a adult...you will be a grandma.", "Cherish these times, they will be grown before you know it".

But you will find out how true this is! 

Even in the days of no sleep, the bouts of crying and the frustrations of those early days, try and take a deep breath, look at your beautiful child and remember how tiny and precious they are! Because in just a few short months they will look so different, will act so different and will be so much bigger!

My third child at his cutest!

You will NEVER get that tiny little baby back that fits so perfectly and snugly in your arms and cuddles so perfectly you while they sleep. You will NEVER get back those moments and someday you will wish you could!

So big already at 3 months!

I know, I know..you are SO TIRED 

(see #3!)

but when you get that precious baby finally asleep on your shoulder and you finally have silence...those are the moments where you take a deep breathe, gaze at your beautiful baby, take a mental picture, and remember how that moment feels! Do that several times a day and you won't regret it!!!

5. Get OUT and Do SOMETHING for YOURSELF!

This is probably the biggest lesson I learned from my first two children and the most important tip for staying sane.

DON'T forget who you are, what you love to do for YOU, and what your loves, talents, and abilities are! 

Don't let the busyness of motherhood consume you and make you an invalid. Get out with friends, family and your spouse and do the things you love!

Yes, the baby will be just fine without you. Yes, your trusted spouse, family member or babysitter can handle it. The baby will be just fine for an hour.

For me, I love to play volleyball and softball several times a week and go out for a dinner date or movie with my husband, sisters or friends! On these precious days, I get to remember who I am as a woman, wife, athlete and friend and I get to get a breather from thinking about everyone else all day long! I always come back refreshed and rejuvenated and ready to be a great mom and spouse again! It might seem like hard work on most days to actually get dressed decently enough to be seen in public, but let me tell you....IT WILL BE WORTH IT!

I hope these tips help you, inspire you, and get you through those 12 AM and 2 AM, (& 4 AM....6 AM...) feedings! :) 

My three precious, beautiful children.

You are an awesome parent, your baby loves you for you (bad hair, tired eyes, wrinkles and all), you will get through this and you are AMAZING!

* This post is brought to you by tommee tippee. All opinions are mine. *

Holiday Gift Ideas for Babies

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Even the babies that aren't born yet and the new babies need gifts at Christmas time to keep them safe and healthy - these two items below are great for pregnant and new moms and their babies!

Give Mom Peace of Mind with Diono: 

Diono's most innovative product to date, the Radian®RXT car seat is designed with your child's security and safety as top priorities. Premium materials and thoughtful safety features like a steel alloy frame, aluminum reinforced side walls, energy absorbing EPS foam, and a five-point harness put your mind at ease as your little one stays safe and sound. The reinforced adjustable head support provides additional side impact protection. Mom won't have to worry anymore about her children's safety - a much needed rest. 

Key Features:

• Full steel frame and aluminum reinforced sides for unmatched safety
• Comfortably seats rear-facing children from 5-45 lbs, forward-facing children from 20 - 80 lbs in a 5-point harness, then converts to a booster for children up to 120 lbs.
• Unique SuperLATCH system that makes installation easy
• It also fits 3 across in most mid-size vehicles, folds flat for travel and is FAA certified
• Booster mode from 50 - 120 lbs (40 to 57 inches)
• NCAP crash tested, the industry benchmark for verifying child seat performance in severe accident conditions

Sip your way to a healthy baby with all natural, delicious Bump Water: 

Essential prenatal vitamins for women shouldn’t have to come just from pills the size of a horse. With Bump Water, they have the supplement you need—and a great tasting refreshing beverage all in one slim bottle. And they’re OBGYN recommended.

Healthy babies start with healthy women. Before you even have a baby in your arms or a bump in your belly, folic acid works hard to give your baby the best start possible. Getting enough folic acid is critical to healthy development and this bottle-for-your-bump is full of it. So take a sip of Bump Water and a big sigh of relief; it's got your folic acid-and a bunch of other baby-nourishing vitamins-covered. 

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Bundle Organics Beverages

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

As you know, I recently had baby #3 and am currently breastfeeding my little guy. Sometimes, with three crazy children running around and keeping me busy, I don't eat as healthy as I want to. But lately I have been feeling better about my diet because I have been drinking Bundle Organics, the first line of organic prenatal juices that is specifically for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. With all the key nutrients recommended for moms and baby, ie. folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, Omega-3, these juices are keeping me hydrated and healthy during these hot summer months.

Bundle Organics is a simple delicious way to get the nutrients you and baby need from one little bottle, Bundle Organics prenatal juices are packed with organic fruits and veggies with an extra bump of essential vitamins for baby’s healthy development. Plus, these juices are pasteurized so you can sip worry-free!

My favorite part is that they are all USDA Organic. These juices contain only the best and brightest organic fruits and veggies. Flavorless produce need not apply.

Plus, these juices supplement prenatal vitamins with an extra bump of key vitamins and minerals for healthy development. Folic acid (200mcg). Check! Calcium (100mg). Check! Vitamin D (60IU). Check! Omega-3 (500mg). Check!

My favorite flavor was the Dark Berry Veggies.

This dream team of super fruits (packed with the antioxidant power of dark berries) and veggies (Yes, you read that correctly. There’s spinach and kale up in here!) add some much needed pow! to your morning, afternoon, evening or I-just-need-to-rest-my-feet-time.

What's in this?

Folic acid: There’s a good reason doctors are enthusiastic about folic acid. It works wonders, helping with cell growth and development.

Calcium: Your little one needs calcium to build those nervous, muscular and circulatory systems. So build, baby, build! Not mention, you need a lot of calcium too!

Vitamin D: Promotes calcium absorption for healthy bone growth, so there’s no stopping your little Hercules-in-training!

Omega-3: The smart stuff! Omega-3 fatty acids support baby’s brain and eye development.

Iron: Your need for iron doubles during pregnancy. Why? It’s an important component of hemoglobin, which ensures your body is carrying enough oxygen to your placenta.

Dark berries: Those mighty, mighty berries are packed with that oh-so-necessary vitamin C for baby’s immune system, potassium for baby’s heart and even folate to protect against birth defects.

Spinach: A folic acid wonder, spinach is also a rich source of beta carotene, which the body can easily convert to vitamin A (it’s recommended women increase their vitamin A intake by 40% when pregnant and by 90% when breastfeeding). Not to mention it’s also packed with potassium and manganese – a heart healthy must-have.

Kale: Packs more iron per calorie than beef, more calcium per calorie than milk and ten times more vitamin C than spinach! And we haven’t even talked folic acid. Can you say super food?

I will be honest...you definitely taste the vegetables in these drinks. These are not super sweet smoothies by any means but they are healthy and I feel good drinking them every time! Plus, they give some flavor to my day opposed to the plain old water I usually drink!

I highly recommend these organic juices if you are pregnant and nursing! They are healthy, packed full of nutrition, organic and will give you the boost you need throughout the day!

Buy It: You can purchase Bundle Organic Beverages for $18 for a 3-pack from the Bundle Organics website. 

* Thank you to Bundle Organics for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Natural Stomach Soothers

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

If you are pregnant like me, then nausea can be just a common symptom of pregnancy! But it doesn't have to be one you just live with! Try Preggie Naturals Chews!

Preggie Pops – natural sucking candies and lollipops to ease morning sickness – just recently launched Preggie Naturals Chews (think Now-n-Laters meet morning sickness)! Like all Preggie Pops products, Preggie Naturals are special formulated with essential oils and natural ingredients that are clinically proven to help fight nausea - like ginger, green tea, lemon, and more. They also include natural vitamins to help boost the energy and immune system of an expecting mom!

These taste really good and did soothe my upset stomach and nausea several times so far in my pregnancy!

And if you aren't pregnant but want to help an occasional queasy stomach naturally, try a couple of other products:

Queasy Drops: Developed by healthcare professionals, Queasy Drops are the natural way to ease a queasy stomach with its effective formulation of essential oils, aromatherapy and a unique delivery method. Queasy Drops are also a great way to help with dry mouth and provide a nice energy boost.

Queasy Pops Kids: The natural way to ease a queasy stomach, with a special formulation of essential oils, aromatherapy and a unique delivery method that's safe for kids.

And if you have to deal with terrible hangovers, headaches and nausea after drinking, try Hangover Sucks.

Hangover Sucks are candies that contain an essential blend of specific vitamins, including Vitamin C, Thiamin, Ribflavin, Niacin, Folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Biotin, and Pantothenic Acid complex (a form of calcium). These vitamins work fast to ease the symptoms of a hangover including headache, upset stomach, dry mouth and mild dehydration.

I am past the stage of morning sickness, but I am definitely going to be using Queasy Drops and Preggie Naturals during labor to ease my dry mouth and nausea that I usually get during labor! I love that it is a natural and delicious way to soothe my stomach!

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Aurorae Northern Lights Yoga Mat & Giveaway

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

With my pregnancy, I have recently started doing and LOVING yoga!! It is the perfect workout to keep my muscles toned but also keep me flexible and ready for labor!

Helping me out with my yoga routine is my new Aurorae Northern Lights Yoga Mat in Purple!

With the flow of the universe's solar winds and the magnetic energy from its ultimate source, the sun, Aurorae's Northern Lights has been created. Dance with nature's spirits and from this incredible Illumination, draw the power and potential within yourself.

It was the feeling at Aurorae that they needed to develop a yoga mat that could draw out the potential that is within all of us. They pushed their engineers to develop a design that replicates the Natural Phenomenon and Energy Source of Northern Lights.

Each individual mat has a uniqueness of its own and no two mats are exactly the same.

I absolutely LOVE my purple yoga mat from Aurorae! It is comfortable, machine washable and the New Northern Lights Design uses an Eco Safe and Biodegradable material/ SGS approved, worlds largest testing agency and is Phthalates/Latex free!

I also love that it is Extra Long (72" x 24" Wide) and 5 mm Thick to absorb impact on joints. There is No Odor and it is Durable and Long Lasting so I can be using this yoga mat for a LONG TIME!

Plus, I love knowing that my mat is the only one out there exactly like it! Each individual mat has a uniqueness of its own and no two mats are exactly the same!

If you enjoy doing Yoga and are looking for a high quality mat that will last, I recommend the Aurorae Northern Lights Yoga Mat!

Buy It: You can purchase the Aurorae Northern Lights Yoga Mat for $39.95 from Amazon.com

Win It: Aurorae is generously offering (1) Northern Lights Yoga Mat to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) Aurorae Northern Lights Yoga Mat

(List Price: $59.95)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Thank you to Aurorae for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Thyme Maternity

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

We all know that pregnancy and maternity clothing can be frumpy, baggy, and out of fashion! So I am always on the search for cute maternity clothing for all you pregnant women out there and for myself when I am blessed with another child!

I am really in love with the maternity fashion from Thyme Maternity! They are more than a leading fashion retailer for pregnant women. They're an international maternity and nursing fashion brand whose family of experts is dedicated to ensuring you look and feel your absolute best throughout your entire pregnancy and after your little one is born.

Every garment is specifically designed with the pregnant body in mind, offering you comfort where you need it most. At Thyme Maternity, every stitch, every button and every piece of fabric is woven into the full-of-life experience they offer each and every Mom-to-be.

They promise to make the Mom-to be look and feel her best by their current maternity styles for every aspect of her life, from casual to work, surrounded by an exceptional customer service.

I absolutely LOVE the Lace Print Tank from Thyme Maternity!

This Thyme Maternity Lace Print Tank is the ultimate fun and feminine style update. The soft jersey fabric feels cool and smooth against your skin and stretches to fit and flatter your growing bump.

The pretty scoop-neckline has raw edge detail and is perfect with a maternity jean short or maternity capri or leggings! It is comfy and stylish in any trimester and even much longer after the baby is born!

I immediately LOVED this tank and it fit perfectly even while not pregnant!

Make sure you check out all the styles from Thyme Maternity! Trendy and super comfortable, their maternity and nursing clothing is designed with the pregnant body in mind so you look and feel your best throughout pregnancy and after baby is born.

Buy It: You can purchase the Thyme Maternity Lace Print Tank for $17.40 from Babies R Us.

* Thank you to Thyme Maternity for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Anita International

One thing I have definitely learned over the span of my last two children is that it is REALLY difficult to find comfortable and flattering lingerie while pregnant and nursing! One thing I was still searching for is a good underwire nursing bra for the days I want a little boost for my "babies". :) I had yet to find one that is comfortable, fits well and works with nursing my daughter.

However, my search ended when I received a great underwire nursing bra from Anita International for review! It not only FITS (which is always a gamble with my ever changing breast size!) but it is really comfortable and works great as a T-shirt bra!

Anita International’s Maternity Collection is a beautiful European line for pregnant moms offering everything from nursing bras to baby sherpas. Anita Maternity is feminine and sexy, yet practical and versatile with options that accommodate up to a I cup. They offer nursing bras with extra-wide openings for convenient breastfeeding and they provide added comfort with foam lining throughout the straps.

I really love their New limited edition designs for 2013 that includes polka dots, florals and stripes in soft and flirty hues!

The bra I received is pictured above! The breathable underwired nursing bra is made of spacer fabric and is suitable as T-shirt bra as nursing pads do not show through. I love that!

The perfectly fitting and particularly flexible underwires are non-restricting and mold to every movement. I really feel comfortable in this bra and I feel a little extra lift that I could definitely use after nursing two children! Plus, it is really easy to nurse in!

I also received two great pairs of their super comfy briefs! I have also had trouble in the past with having underwear be comfortable in that last trimester of pregnancy. These briefs from Anita International solve that problem because the stretch and grow with your growing body! Plus, they give great coverage on the back! :)

So, if you are struggling to stay comfortable in your underwear while you are pregnant or nursing, let Anita International help you find the perfect comfortable bra or underwear to fit your needs! I know they have met mine!

Buy It: You can purchase Anita International’s products at specialty online retail stores as well as retailers in cities nationwide. Anita Maternity retails from $46 - $74. To find a retailer near you and view the entire maternity collection, visit www.anita.com.

If you love this review and my site...

* Thank you to Anita International for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*