Wordless Wednesday 7/28 One to show the ladies!

I swear he did that on his own. Mommy snapped picture THEN told him how icky it was!

Bloggers On Bourban Trip Overview

I recently got to participate in what was, for me, a trip of a lifetime. July 22-25th I got to spend the weekend with no kids, no hubby's (okay not mine), and 30 bloggers from around the country. This was a meet-up put together by Trisha from MomDot and Leah from Mamavation. Thank you ladies for such a wonderful weekend!

I can not wait to tell you all about my trip and over the next week or so will be going into details every couple of days. If your looking for a vacation spot please come back and read up and why New Orleans may be just the spot for YOU. Also if your a blogger I urge you to come read up as Trisha has promised more of these trips to come.... Maybe the next one can include you!

Meet-ups like these can only happen with the help of fantastic sponsors! Our trip to New Orleans was one for the blogger history books! Take a look at who helped make this trip not only possible but FANTASTIC!

• Collective Bias, Saturday night Dinner at Dickie Brennens
• OpenSky Project, Saturday night Dinner at Dickie Brennens
• Lingerie.com, Ghost Tour on Friday night
• Global Resort Homes, Lunch at Plantation on Saturday
• Harrah’s Casino, Friday night Dinner
• Traveling Mamas, Shannon Lane Coordinated the Saturday events
• Houmas House, Saturday Plantation tour and tickets
• Firefly Vodka, Spirits
• Community Coffee, Saturday Travel to Plantation
• BakeMeAWish, Cakes
• Uprinting, Bloggers on Bourbon banner
• Zazzle, Bloggers on Bourbon shirts
• Black Box Wine

Also what is a Blogger meet-up without swag bag's? I know there is no way Trisha would have one without it! Here is a quick look at all these fantastic companies. Be mindfull because if I have my way you will see alot more from these companies in the months to come!

Photo courtesy of MomDot!

• Boogie Wipes
• Mabels Labels
• EatSmart Precision Pro Kitchen Scale
• OpenSky Project
• Avon
• American Apparel
• Kids Gear wireless headphones, bags, and transmitters
• Ravensburger Hello Kitty Puzzlebooks
• Sesame Street USB
• Kellogs Fiber Bars
• First Impression
• Country Time
• I Love Inns
• SeeHere
• Passion Party Divas
• Kidz Bop CDs
• Print Art Kids
• Simplisse
• Arbor Mist
• Breyers
• Rayovac:  More Power for Your Money
• Incredibundles
• Guthy-Renker
• Marta Montenegro
• Toxic Fat (Dr Barry Sears)
• TheCarbLovers Diet
• Gaiam
• Bremenn
• Parking Target
• Taste of Home magazine and book
• Travel mouse Verbatim
• Fling Bins
• Sunglass Warehouse
• Mamaroo Infant Seat
• FURminator deShedding Tool
• Rudi’s Organic Bakery/Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery       

There were also Two Great Giveaways!

• Earth Footwear
• Wubbzy DVD Set, Anchor Bay Entertainment,

Arts Cow New 200pcs Photo Puzzle - $9.99 shipped

Have fun spending time with your partner whilst putting together your very own personalized photo jigsaw puzzle. Our easy to design editing software offers you the flexibility to either collage the puzzle with various heart-melting photos and you can create a full spread that encompasses your memorable moments together.

Our new 200-piece puzzle makes the perfect gift for lovers, families and friends. “Fitting” for all types of occasions, you can get your puzzle on offer today for only $9.99/each including free international shipping.

Coupon :

Coupon code: NEWPUZZ Expiry Date: 08/13/2010

Use your inspiration and create a perfectly fitting photo gift.
http://www.artscow.com/photo-gifts/Puzzle/Large-Jigsaw-Puzzle-637

Arts Cow Fans Favorite – 2 pcs Dog Tags for $2.49 includes free shipping

Gather around for one of our fans favorite in the shape of these personalized dog tags. Ever since the start of ArtsCow, dog tags have always been a popular item, with its easy-to-design surface, accompanied by its lightweight chain and tag. Not only can you use it as a fashion statement, but also treat it as an accessory, wrapped around your handbag or even your in-car rear view mirror. Today’s promotion starts at only $2.49 for two single sided dog tags and twin sided variations just an extra dollar for a pair, with free international shipping. Coupon :   Coupon code: JULTAGS249 Expires on: 08/12/2010 Note this offer applies to complete range of dog tags, including heart and bone shapes editions. http://www.artscow.com/photo-gifts/dog-tags TIP: when placing your order, please set the quantity to the total number of items required. For example, if you would like to purchase 2 dog tags, please set the quantity to 2.

MIA~ An Explanation

Since winning Mamavation I have been so busy and I am so sorry I have been missing. Now I am at Bob. What is BOB? Bloggers on Bourbon is a trip planned by momdot and Leah from Mamavation. So here I am in New Orleans with 30+ bloggers and I will update you as I can!

Arts Cow~ 5"x7" Prints – 20 pcs for $1.99 includes shipping

Get those special captured moments developed into 5" x 7" prints with a bumper deal that will get our photo-loving members queuing up (well, metaphorically speaking). With another free shipping offer on the table, the latest promotion is set to get the pulses racing.

For only $1.99 with free international delivery for 20 prints, you can afford to dig out photos from your hard drive and developed on 5” x 7” sized prints.

Coupon :

Coupon code: 57PRINTS20 Expires on: 07/31/2010

Offer applies to first 3,000 customers only and can be used with both gloss and matte finish.
http://www.artscow.com/photo-printing

Mamavation Monday Week One as a Mom (17)

(posted on mamavation.com on Wed) So today was my second day as a Mamavation Mom. It is very interesting that in two short days my thinking is already changing. First off I think about everything in terms of how can this raise my heart rate or make this activity into a work out. I loved meeting with Leah yesterday and hearing about this journey I have begun. We were sent workouts for the EA Active and EA Active More Workouts so last night I sat down and set up my workout.



I got to talk with Dr. Renna today and I have to say I feel so charged after our conversation. I am allowed 4 grains per day which need to primarily be whole grains. I am allowed 8 ounces of protein a day; this is going to be the hard one for me. I love meat and so I already told Ken we are buying a food scale because I can not eyeball the whole palm of your hand thing. I am allowed 3 non fat milk servings per day which will be mostly taken as yogurt and cottage cheese (I can not stand milk by itself). Here is the part I LOVE I am allowed 2 servings of fruit (or about 3 cups a day)! I need to eat VERY sparingly pears, plums, peaches, cherries, grapes, and apples because she said they are high in fructose. (Alas avoid high in fructose/glucose foods) I am also to eat 3 servings of vegetables (around 3-4 cups). I learned this which I thought was interesting (you may already know this) corn can not be counted as your vegetable since it is a grain..... which means I can have little to no corn! I am super excited to go grocery shopping tomorrow! 

I told you I set up my EA Active workouts last night. Well I did the 39 minute lower body workout on the More Workouts today... Okay I think Leah is trying to put me in a grave lol. I mean this was so hard but I could tell it will work all the muscles. I would never have put this together for myself. I love it; I mean I did not love it as I am panting and sweating all over my living room. Honestly I thought I might die.... I know the accomplishment I will feel when I can do it *fairly* easily.

I can honestly say I pushed myself harder today than I can remember doing in a while now. I look forward to the Upper Body workout tomorrow on the EA Active and also beginning to implement Dr. Renna's plan. What's for breakfast? 1 cup Special K with 1 cup non fat milk. 1/2 cup berries, and 1 cup of coffee with Almond Milk. YUMMY!!!

Let me know if you would like me to share with you my eating plan or the workouts I am doing! Thank you for your tweets and your constant encouragement. You can keep up with me daily on Bookie Boo Forum to see my steps, what I ate, my water intake,  my exercises, and overall my life changing daily.

I want to thank @SmoothFitness @EASActiveGirl (follow my talk about my workouts via #easactive) @EarthFootwear @ChefsRequested

None of this would be nearly as rewarding without companies such as this. Please give them some love they deserve it!

25 Free Photo Cards from See Here

Please allow up to 5 days for production plus the timeframe of your selected shipping method. Above offers valid only on specified merchandise. Orders must be placed between July 12, 2010 and July 17, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST to qualify. Shipping not included. One usage per promo code. One per person, per household. Promo code must be entered at time of checkout to apply discount. Discounts have no cash value. Noted cost does not include shipping and tax charges.

What could you do with $5,000?

Love winning great prizes? Then don't forget to enter the Solo Cup Company second annual online photo contest with a grand prize of $5,000 for the best photo featuring Solo products!  You'll be able to enter your favorite photos at www.SoloCups4ever.com until August 6th.  In addition to the grand prize, two $1,000 runner-up prizes will be awarded at the end of the contest. By entering, you'll also have the chance to win daily and weekly prizes of gift certificates and Solo products- a great way to extend the fun of summer well into the fall!

I did not receive compensation for this post but was entered into a drawing for a visa gift card. All thoughts are mine and mine alone.

Where does the time go?

So it honestly feel like just the other day that Ken and I brought Caleb into this world. That was the day Ken had his first birth experience, Aaron became a big brother, and I became a mom of TWO boys! That day our world changed was July 10, 2009!

Before long that sweet baby boy was changing before my eyes. He became this baby that was so different from my first and in a way I got to experience motherhood fresh again. Aaron has taken to his brother and is his best friend and little protector. I was so worried about there being jealousy and such but I have never seen even an ounce of it!

It was amazing to watch Caleb go through the milestones. He Sat up at 6 months and crawled only a few days later. He began walking at 7 months and is now basically running! 

3 months and 6 months old

9 months and 12 months old

Here is the Birthday Boy! My mother-ion-law and I made the cake and Caleb devoured it happily. I miss my little baby of a year ago but I look forward to the years ahead. I will always look back on this first year with amazement because although it took 365 days to get here it felt like only a few short weeks!

Happy Birthday my baby man!

Blog Layout Missing?

Please bare with me. I do not know why my layout is missing pieces. I am trying to figure it out and get back to normal!

I'm A Mamavation Mom! Are you a Winner?

So on Monday night it was announced I was one of the next Mamavation Mom's! I can not tell you how excited I am. You can follow my journey through this seven week boot camp at the Mamavation website on Wednesday and Friday's. I want to thank each and everyone of you that voted for me and supported me each day of nominations and voting!



Now onto what I know everyone is waiting for! The winner of the giveaway for one of the items listed below is:

Megan- litlearnhardt8@aol.com said... 204

I voted on my computer

July 7, 2010 10:42 AM 

CONGRATS Megan and thank you for all your support!

The winners has been emailed and have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Thank you to all who entered. If you did not win please keep trying!

Baby BeeHinds Review & Giveaway

I just love Eco Mom and if you follow my blog at all you know I think very highly of the products that you can find on this wonderful site. I had the privilege to host a review and giveaway for their Plum Organics line. If you missed that one then head here to check it out.

Recently I was given the chance to try out Baby BeeHinds Hemp one size diaper on Caleb. I tried to get Ken to do cloth diapering this time but he was completely against it. I think in his mind was still the old school idea of folding and pinning a baby into this white cloth that was no bigger than a hand towel. See when Ken is home I become one of those moms that pace the diaper changing buck to dear daddy. Ken is a sport about it and therefor I have to let him help me decide on diapers and that whole duty.



When we received Baby BeeHinds Hemp diaper I played around with it to truly get an idea of how big and small this diaper could get. I mean Caleb just turned a year old but is still in size two's (though I have moved up into size three just because I have a stock pile of them). ken was shocked at how the diaper was an all in one system with No folding and snaps instead of pins. (See I told you babe) Baby BeeHinds Hemp diapers are so soft and not the old stiff and scratchy things that were put on us when we were a kid.

Caleb seemed to like love his new diaper and boy how cute does he look! I loved that there was no leaking and my baby boy still smelt like a baby boy instead of a pee factory when it was time to change him. Ken was thrilled with this diaper and has since agreed to switch to cloth diapering when we have our next child! This is a huge step in the right direction. You can purchase Baby BeeHinds Hemp diaper on Eco Mom and the retail cost is $23.50.

Want to know another GREAT thing I love about Eco Mom? They have this great membership called the Eco Pass. For only $99 a year you can get free shipping on all orders! That comes out to less than $9 a month; I don't know about you but that is a killer deal! WAIT it gets even better..... right now (and only for a limited time) instead of paying $99 a year you can purchase an Eco Pass for lifetime. Yes you read that right $99 can get you free shipping for LIFE!!!!

~ Baby BeeHinds Hemp diaper saves time. The all in one structure is just snap and go.
~ Baby BeeHinds saves Sanity. No more long fights with baby over diaper changes. Also no more pee smell with the smallest amounts.
~ Baby BeeHinds saves money. The diaper is one size fits all. Growing with your baby allows you to buy 10 -15 diapers and costs about the same as only 10 -15 packs of diapers!

WIN IT: One reader will win a $15 gift certificate to purchase anything on Eco Mom.  Also Eco Mom is offering all my readers a 15% discount good on your first order. Just enter SBBL321 at checkout. This is good till July 31st!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Eco Mom and tell me how you would spend your $15 if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

• Follow my Blog  All About Entering Giveaways (1 entry)
• Subscribe to my blog and verify  (2 entries)
• Follow me, Twitter  and Eco Mom (1 entry)
• Tweet about this giveaway, up to 2x daily  Win a $15 Gift Certificate to @ ecomomceo http://ow.ly/2brgL  Hosted ~ It's all about the Savings @all_about_savin 
• Grab my button and post a link! (2 entries)
• Follow me on Facebook (1 entry)
• Like Eco Mom on Facebook and link this giveaway (1 entry)
• Sign up for Eco Mom's Newsletter (1 entry)  
  

This giveaway will run from 7.14.10 until 7.28.10, please leave separate comments for each entry, winner will be selected via Random.Org  & emailed. They will then 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be drawn. Please see my disclosure policy for details about reviews and giveaways! U.S. residents only please.

Wordless Wednesday 7/14 Happy Birthday 1 year old!

  

Link you YOUR Wordless Wed posts here. Leave a comment on mine and I will visit yours!

Arts Cow~ Photo Key Chains – 2 pcs for $6.99 shipped from ArtsCow

Dear Jessica Bolin,

Photo gifts are a great way to remind yourselves of the people you love. With our range of custom key chains, you can put your photos on these quality-built accessories and take them with you anywhere. Images are held in place with a tough enamel coating and the key chain itself is stylized with a metal chrome finish. Our offer today is perfect for couples with a pair of key chains for only $6.99 with free international shipping. Ideal for a gift to give your other half, whilst holding onto the other yourself, you can be sure your partner will take your keychain with them wherever they are. Coupon : Coupon code: 2KEYCHAIN Expires on: 08/04/2010 Create personalized key chains for your loved one now. http://www.artscow.com/photo-gifts/key-chain-sale Please note the pair of key chains can be of different design and shape. TIP: when placing your order, please set the quantity to the total number of items required. For example, if you would like to purchase 2 key chains, please set the quantity to 2.

Arts Cow Self-designed Doormats from $12.99 Shipped

Our homes are the place of warmth and security and what better way to illustrate this with your own customized doormat. The first thing you see as your enter your house/apartment can be self-designed with images and personalized messages. Using a unique heat dye sublimation technique, the colors are truly represented and fade-resistant. So get your thinking cap on and start creating a welcoming doormat for your visitors to envy over. Today’s promotion has the 24” x 16” mat on sale for $12.99 and its larger version 29" x 19" only $16.99, both with free shipping. Coupon : Coupon Code: LOVEMATS Expiry Date: 07/31/2010 Take your first “steps” to personalized photo gifts from ArtsCow. http://www.artscow.com/photo-gifts/doormats